AU645298B2 - Sink with flush mounting accessories - Google Patents

Description

4 *6 -T Form PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (OR IG INAL) FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: *?eamplete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: See. Published: Priority: PJ9391 30th March 1990 *...RAlated Art: 0 5* *S S Name of Applicant: jaress of Applicant: TO FE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT McILWRAITH DAVEY PTY. LIMITED 34 York Street Richmond, Victoria Actual Inventor: HALFORD CO., Address for Service: Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 49 51 York Street, S 02 07-7'. 6 0 3 9 1 Sydney N.S.W.

Complute Specification~ for ilia invention onflIod: SINK WITH FLTUSH MOUNTING ACCESSORIES.

The followving statement is a full description of this inverntion, including the best method ol performing it known to US: -2- This invention relates to sinks of the kind comprising one or more bowls and at least one draining area, and particularly to such sinks as are designed for kitchen use, being mounted in a bench top or other work surface.

It is known to provide such sinks with accessories such as colanders, cutting boards and draining boards, but such products have had limited success due to the 10 lack of integration which has been achieved between 6 los the sink and the accessories, and between the accessories themselves.

O.

In one form, the present invention seeks to provide an 15 alternative approach to the problem of integrating such accessories with the sink, and in particular provides an arrangement which allows the accessories to be mounted in a flush, coplanar manner. In some preferred forms the invention also provides an 20 alternative approach to the integration of such accessories as between each other.

00 S. see 9 O 0 The invention will now be described by reference to a presently proposed embodiment, although of course it .o 25 is to be understood that the invention lies in the broad principles of design behind this embodiment, rather than in any of the details of the following diclosure.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sink embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a lateral section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I r -3- Fig. 4 is a partial cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a lateral cross-section of the large bowl taken on the line 5-5 of Fi.g 1; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a draining board for use with the sink of Figs. 1-3; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 8-8 1 0 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a colander; a a8 S" Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken on the line a 15 11-11 of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a colander cover; Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a plan view of an overflow cover; a S 20 Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14; and Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14.

Sa 25 The illustrated sink, which is preferably constructed of stainless steel or of a plastics material, comprises a large bowl 11, a smaller bowl 12 which is approximately one half the size of the large bowl, and a draining area 13 which, in this particular embodiment, is located, to the right of the small bowl 12. The bowls 11 and 12 are separated by a region 14 which includes lands 15 for the location of taps, detergent dispensers and other devices none of which are shown here, and a central overflow region 16 lower than the lands 15, which provides diainage communication between the bowls.

-4- The crucial difference between the sink of the present invention and those of the prior art will be explained first by examining the illustrated sink in the region of the draining area 13. In conventional practice, this area is planar and is sloped downwardly towards the adjacent bowl, and is connected with the horizontal peripheral flange 24 which constitutes the upper surface of the sink in the region surrounding the draining area, by means of a web the depth of 10 which increases towards the bowl.

S It will be observed in Figs. 2 and 3 that the drainage .4 area 13 of the illustrated sink is sloped inwardly 0 5from each of the sides of the sink as well as in the direction of the bowl, allowing the area 13 to be surrounded by a horizontal flange 17 at the foot of a web 18 which is of constant height. This flange and the web 18 are continued around the edges of the bowls .and the inter-bowl overflow region 16.

po Typical of the accessories which are used with the illustrated sink is the draining board 20 of Figs. 6, 0 0 7 and 8. The draining board comprises a ribbed draining surface 21 surrounded by a peripheral formation comprising an outer flange 22 which depends from a web 23. The outer dimensions of the draining board 20 are such that the flange 22 neatly fits within that portion of the peripheral web 18 surrounding the large bowl 11 and the lower edge of the flange 22 is coplanar with the underside of the draining surface 21 at its lowermost point, while the height of the flange 22 corresponds to the height of the web 18. In this way, by virtue of the horizontal flange 17, and in contrast with the prior art, the draining board when in place covering the large bowl, lies flush with the upper surface of the sink, represented by the flange 24.

Adjacent the lower end of the draining surface of the draining board, an aperture 25 is provided in the web 23 through which water may drain to the sink.

The web 18 is relieved at 19 in the end wall of the large bowl to enable the draining board readily to be lifted by the fingers.

If, in a further example of a flush mounting accessory, a cutting board (not shown here) is °e provided, the thickness of which corresponds to the height of the web 18 and the outside di-,ensions of

S

which are such that it fits neatly within the confines of that web, this also will fit neatly over the S• 15 draining surface 13 and over the large bowl in a :00 similarly flush manner. To assist in lifting away the cutting board from the draining surface 13, the web 18 is relieved at 19 at the end of the draining surface remote from the small bowl.

964 In Figs. 9-13 there is illustrated an example of an accessory suitable for mounting within the small bowl of sa 12, again, characteristically, in a flush manner. A colander 26 is provided with an apertured bottom 27 and an upper peripheral flange 28 which will rest on the flange 17 with a gap between its periphery and that flange. The colander lid 29, which is preferably apertured so that it may act also as a small draining board, is provided at its periphery with a web 23 and flange 24 substantially identical with those of the draining board 13. The flange 14 fits over the flange 28 and within the web 18 and, like its counterpart on the draining board 13, is of the same hight as the web 18.

Preferably the dimensions of the small and large bowls, and the colander and colander lid, are modularised so that not only will the colander and its lid fit neatly in and over the small bowl, but these will also fit side by side with the colander in the large bowl and the colander cover covering the remainder of the large bowl.

With accessories designed in accordance with these principles, a most functional and attractive working environment can be created. When not separately in use, for example, the draining board, cutting board, 66*0 eags colander and colander cover may all be stored on (and o9o9 in) the sink, with the upper surfaces of all units coplanar and flush with the sink itself.

OS *9 S* To enhance the coplanarity of the upper surface of the ensemble, while providing a further useful sink function, there may be provided an overflow cover 29 (Figs. 14-16) dimensioned to fit over the overflow 20 region 16, with side flanges 30 equal in height to the o O depth of the surface 16 below the flange 24, and open 0 00 ends which fit over step portions 31 at each end of the overflow region. The Eurface of the overflow ee cover is apertured for drainage, and the side flanges 30 relieved at intervals for the same purpose. When in position, the overflow cover not only completes the e5 flush surface of the accessories, but also serves as a So.: draining support for such items as sponges and scouring pads.

While the invention has been described in its application to a "one and one half bowl" sink, it will be appreciated that with appropriate modifications, it is also applicable to other kinds of sinks, such as double or single bowl sinks. It will be understood also that other accessories may be added or substituted, and that the details of construction -7described and illustrated herein are given by way of example only.

A

COWS

o e.g.

S. Ob S S

S

C*

S C *0 S. S.

C C S

C

S.

S

S

C #0 SC C S. OW S C S S

C.

CS S

COOS

C

S S *5

Claims (10)

1. A sink comprising a bowl, a draining region having a surface sloping downwardly towards said bowl, a substantially horizontal peripheral flange surrounding the sink, a substantially vertical web of constant height extending dowvnwardly from the inner edge of the peripheral flange, and an inner flange extending inwardly from the bottom of said web and connected with the draining board.

2. A sink according to claim 1 wherein the draining region is formed continuously with said inner flange.

3. A sink according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein *the said inner flange substantially surrounds said bowl and the wall of said bowl extends downwardly from the inner edge thereof. e e

4. A sink according to any preceding claim further comprising a removable accessory dimensioned to fit within said web, the height of said accessory at the J" periphery thereof being substantially equal to the height of said web.

A sink according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a removable cutting board the thickness of which is substantially equal to the height of said web.

6. A sink according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising an accessory having a substantially vertical peripheral wall dimensioned to fit within said web and having a substantially constant height substantially equal to the height of said web. -e-

7. A sink according to claim 6 in which said accessory is a removable draining board comprising a draining surface connected with the upper edge of said wall and sloping downwardly towards one end of said board.

8. A sink according to claim 7 further comprising a drainage aperture i.i said wall at said one end of said board.

9. A sink according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a portion of said web is outwardly relieved to facilitate removal of an accessory located within said web. C

10. A sink substantially as described herein with C.. reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 3rd day of November 1993 4, McILWRAITH DAVEY PTY. LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: HALFORD CO. *C C C