The present disclosure relates to sinks and, more particularly, apron-front sinks.
Sinks with aprons, which are also sometimes referred to as farmhouse sinks, are a popular type of sink used in residential and commercial applications. Such sinks can be constructed from various materials including fireclay, copper, steel, and the like, and also from composite materials such as engineered stone, which is a composite material made from crushed stone that is bound together by an adhesive such as a polymer resin.
Sinks of this style are typically formed or fabricated to a desired shape in which a sink basin includes an apron, which is visible from the front of the cabinet or stand into which the sink is installed. While various materials can be used to provide a desired aesthetic effect, when the surrounding cabinets or décor is updated, the sink and other fixtures often require replacement. Sinks in general, and especially apron sinks, are heavy and typically require modification of the base cabinet when a different sink is installed because of the modifications that are required to install the original sink and remove a front portion of the cabinet to accommodate the apron. Replacement of a base cabinet along with the sink will typically increase the cost and complexity of a remodeling project.
In one aspect, the disclosure describes a sink. The sink includes a basin body having a generally concave shape that forms at least one sink basin, a top flange integrally formed with the basin body, the top flange extending around the at least one sink basin, an apron connected to a front edge of the top flange, a replaceable panel removably connected onto the apron, and a fastening system disposed between the replaceable panel and the apron, the fastening system releasably connecting the replaceable panel to the apron.
In another aspect, the disclosure describes a method of using a sink having a replaceable panel connected to an apron. The method includes providing a basin body having a top flange integrally formed with the basin body, the top flange extending around the at least one sink basin. The method further includes providing an apron extending from a front edge of the top flange, and removably connecting a replaceable panel to the apron using a fastening system disposed between the replaceable panel and the apron.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure describes a method of assembling a sink having a replaceable panel connected to an apron. The method includes providing a sink having an apron, installing the sink into a cabinet section, and releasably securing a replaceable panel to the apron of the sink. In one embodiment, the method further includes removing the replaceable panel from the apron while the sink is installed into the cabinet section, and releasably securing a second replaceable panel to the apron of the sink while the sink is installed into the cabinet section.
The present disclosure is applicable for fixtures such as sinks that have aprons and, more particularly, to an apron sink having a removable or replaceable panel that is releasably connected to a front of the apron. A sink 100 installed in a cabinet section 102 is shown in
An outline view of the sink 100 installed into the base cabinet 104 with the surrounding structures removed for illustration is shown in
An outline view of the sink 100 is shown in
As can be seen from
The sink 100 advantageously includes a fastening system 300 to removably attach the replaceable panel 118 onto the apron 212 and/or shelf 214 so that the replaceable panel 118 can be replaced without removing the sink 100 or adjusting any of the plumbing or drain connections. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening system 300 includes cooperating fasteners with openings in the sink. More specifically, as shown in
When installing the replaceable panel 118, the fastener 310 and spring washer 316 are loosely secured to the back side of the replaceable panel 118 before inserting the head 318 of the fastener 310 and also the spring washer 316 through the central opening 306 of the apron 212. This can be done twice, once on either side of the apron 212. The replaceable panel 118 along with the two fasteners 310 inserted through their corresponding central openings 306 are then slid along the sink 100 such that the bodies of the respective fasteners travel along the corresponding slot 308. The thickness of the apron 212, which is now disposed between the head 318 and the rear face of the apron 212 causes the spring washer 316 to compress and maintain a clamping force between the replaceable panel 118 and the apron 212 of the sink 100. To secure the replaceable panel 118 and prevent sliding when the replaceable panel 118 is at its final position relative to the sink, two retaining screws 322 can be inserted into mating threaded openings 324 at the bottom face of the replaceable panel 118 through corresponding holes 326 formed in the shelf 214, as shown in
As can be appreciated, the process to remove the replaceable panel 118 from the sink 100 for replacement can be the reverse of the installation procedure. For removing the replaceable panel 118, the two screws 322 can be removed and the replaceable panel 118 slid along the slots 308 in the apron 212 such that the fasteners 310 move towards their respective central openings 306. When the spring washers 316 and corresponding heads 318 of the fasteners 310 are aligned in the central openings 306, the replaceable panel 118 can be removed and replaced with a different replaceable panel 118.
The fastening system 300, while described relative to fasteners and spring washers can be embodied in different configurations. For example, the fasteners can be replaced by hooks that engage slots formed in the apron, or with slots formed in the replaceable panel that engage rails protruding from the front surface of the apron 212. Moreover, while the sink 100 can be made of stainless steel, it can be constructed with other metals or materials including composite materials such as engineered stone. The replaceable panel can be made from any desired material such as quartz (natural or man-made), ceramic, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (e.g., carbon fiber), other composite materials, canvas, leather, glass, a tiled substrate, porcelin, a translucent material, stainless steel, other metals, or wood, which can be solid or veneered wood, and the like. The panel including paint, plastic coating(s), plastic wrapping(s), powder coating or other treatments. Further, while the replaceable panel 118 is shown having a smooth finish, it can include any type of finish and/or include a relief design. The replaceable panel may also be made from two or more connected structures and may include components such as lights (LEDs), electronic displays, speaker elements (e.g., Bluetooth-enabled), and the like. The above alternatives may be applied to any or all of the sink embodiments disclosed herein.
Turning to the embodiment of
The sink 400 may be formed with an apron 412 integrated into the front wall 422 as shown in
The sink 400 of
The apron 412 may include a rectangular front face 416 facing outwardly relative to the sink 400 and a shelf 414 that extends horizontally away from the apron. The apron 412 may include a plurality of stud-receiving spring clips 418, that are configured to reside in openings 419 in the apron. The openings 419 may be rectangular sockets formed in the apron 412 and optionally also the front wall 422.
The clips 418, which are shown in detail in
The ball studs 427 may be formed on or attached to a plate 429 that itself is attached, by any suitable fastener, such as screws, nails, adhesive, and so on, to a replaceable panel 431. Alternatively, the ball studs 427 may be attached directly to the replaceable panel 431. Each plate 429 may be a planar metallic or plastic composite body, or made of any suitable material. In one embodiment, each one of a pair of spaced plates 429 includes a spaced pair of ball studs 427.
The replaceable panel 431 may be made of natural or artificial wood, composite materials or any suitable material as detailed above. In the illustrated embodiment, the positions of the ball studs 427 may be such that the panel 431 may be installed in any orientation be inserting each ball stud in a respective clip 418 so as to position the panel in a visually and/or functionally desired orientation. After the panel 431 is secured in position, one or more retaining fastener 433, such a screw, may be installed into a side of the panel through the shelf.
The embodiment of
A sink basin 520 is surrounded by a front wall 522, a back wall 524, two sidewalls 526 and a floor 528 that includes a drain opening 530 (
The apron 512 includes stud-receiving structures, which may be in the form of directional keyholes 535 formed therethrough that are configured to secure a replaceable panel 531 (
The keyholes 537, 539 each have an opening 551 and a slot 553 extending from the opening. The opening 551 has a greater diameter than the slot 553. The slot 553 may taper by narrowing away from the opening 551. In some embodiments, the keyholes are oriented horizontally as in
The opening 551 of the upper one of the first pair of keyholes 537 is positioned radially inwardly from the slot 553 and may be generally circular with a size and shape that is configured to receive a button stud 527 therethrough (
A lower one of the second pair of keyholes 539 has the same configuration and orientation as that of the upper one of the first pair of keyholes 537. A replaceable panel 531 that is to be installed horizontally onto the apron 512 by sliding the panel from the right direction and secured by moving the panel to the left (as oriented in the figure) will have button studs 527 that are positioned on the panel such that one of the button studs aligns with the lower one of the second pair of keyholes 539 and the other one of the button studs aligns with the upper one of the first pair of keyholes 537.
A panel 531 that is to be installed onto the apron 512 by sliding the panel from the left and secured by moving the panel to the right (as oriented in the figure) may have button studs 527 that are positioned on the panel such that one of the button studs aligns with the upper one of the second pair of keyholes 539 and the other one of the button studs aligns with the lower of the first pair of keyholes 537. This is made possible by reversing the orientation of the openings 551 and slots 553. In other words, the upper one of the first pair of keyholes 537 has the same configuration as the lower one of the second pair of keyholes 539 and the lower one of the first pair of keyholes is reversed from the upper one of the first pair and has the same configuration as the upper one of the second pair of keyholes. Accordingly, the panel 531 may be installed from either the left or right side of the sink 500, which increases installation options of the sink. Advantageously, when the sink 500 is installed against a wall or other barrier structure on one side of the sink, the panel 531 may be installed from the accessible other side of the sink.
Referring to
In the configuration shown in
A further embodiment is shown in
In one embodiment, the slots 617 are each configured to vertically, upwardly receive a tongue, tab, or similar element of a panel 631. Alternatively, the slots 617 may be formed in the apron 612 to horizontally receive a tongue, tab, hook, or similar feature formed on or attached to the panel. The apron 612 may also include openings, holes or slots 634, for receiving therethrough structural features of the panel 631.
The panel 631, turning to
For example, the panel 631 may includes a pair of spaced tabs 633 that extend upwardly from a top rear surface 635 of the panel. The tabs 633 are shaped and sized to be slidably received within the slots 617 of the sink 600 to hold the panel 631 onto the apron 612. The rear surface 635 may also include a pair of spaced studs 637 adjacent a bottom of the panel 631. The studs 637 may be threaded. The studs 637 are shaped and sized to be received through the openings 634. As seen in
Turning to the embodiment of
Specifically, the adapter plate 741 includes tabs 633, studs 637, and fasteners 639, which are configured as in the embodiment of
The adapter plate 741 may be a single piece construction with the brackets formed or punched from the material itself, or of multipiece construction with the brackets welded or otherwise fixed thereon. The adapter plate 741 may be made of a metal material, plastic, composite or any suitable material. For strength, the adapter plate 741 may be a rectangular sheet of material or may in the form of a “picture frame” with a central opening to reduce weight and material. In one embodiment, the left and right brackets 749, 751 are near the outer edges of the adapter plate frame and the upper and lower brackets 745, 747 are near the inner edges of the adapter plate frame.
In
It will be appreciated that a variety of fastening devices, assemblies, materials, and methods may be used to fasten a panel (e.g., element 531) to a sink such as that disclosed herein and that one or more methods may be used in combination. For example, the panel may be attached to one of an apron (e.g., element 512) or the front wall of the sink with an adhesive material. The adhesive may be applied to the panel and the apron at an upper end and/or lower end thereof to adhere the panel to the apron or the front wall. Also, adhesive may be applied to the panel at a top side of the panel and an underside of a sink flange or similar horizontal structure extending from the apron. The adhesive may be a suitable glue or tape, such as double-sided adhesive tape. The panel may be fixed similarly to the sink or apron with hook and loop fastener material. The adhesive and/or fastener material may be of a type that permits the panel to be released from the element to which it is attached, for example, with an application of heat and/or force to permit the substitution of a different panel for the existing panel and thereby a modification of the sink structurally, functionally, and/or ornamentally can be performed.
A panel may be attached to one of an apron (e.g., element 512) or the front wall of the sink with one or more magnets. The magnets may be attached to one or both of the panel and the apron at an upper end and/or lower end thereof to magnetically attach the panel to the apron or the front wall of the sink. In embodiments where one or more magnet is attached to only one of the panel or the sink, the other of the panel or sink may include a ferromagnetic material so as to provide magnetic attraction between the magnet and the ferromagnetic material. The one or more magnet may be applied to the panel at a top side of the panel and/or an underside of a sink flange or similar structure extending from the apron.
The panel may be suspended from the top and front of the sink by a structural hook element, e.g., as a curved hook or hanger shape, which is sized and shaped to engage a correspondingly shaped top or front element of a sink and thereby suspend the panel from the sink. The hook element may be arcuate or angular and may be formed as a unitary, single-piece construction with the panel or may be a separate part attached thereto. The assembly of the sink and panel with hooking elements may include a spacer element on one or both of the sink apron and the panel to orient the panel in a vertical orientation after installation of the panel on the apron or sink.
The front of the sink or the apron may include a pocket or receptacle that is shaped and sized to receive a panel and to display the panel at the front of the installed sink. The pocket may be open at the top, side or bottom and may include a slot into or through which the panel may be inserted. The panel may include a fastener to retain the panel in the pocket, as in an example where the slot or slit is formed in the bottom or side of the apron. The pocket may include a door or cover that may be fastenable in a closed condition to close the slot and retain the panel therein.
The panel may include a tapered or non-tapered dovetail feature at a rear side or top side thereof, for example, which fits to a corresponding tapered or non-tapered dovetail slot in the sink or apron. The pin of the dovetail can be on either the panel or the sink. The dovetail joint may be horizontal such that the panel is inserted sideways into the slot of the sink or apron and may be configured to self tighten as the panel is inserted. The slot may be a non-tapered and square or rectangular and the panel may have a corresponding tab or tongue that fits into the slot. The panel may be held in position in the slot alone or in combination with other fastener devices, such as screws, bolts, key and key-hole assemblies, snap clips, and so on. Alternatively, the panel may be held in position in the apron only with fastener devices, such as screws, bolts, key and key-hole assemblies, snap clips, and so on. The panel can be held in position by a plurality of key hole or T-slots and corresponding stud structures. Furthermore, the panel can be secured in place with a cam-activated locking device.
Similarly, the panel may include a hook feature that engages a corresponding hinge joint that is formed on an underneath of the sink flange at the front thereof. The panel hangs from the hinge joint and may be inserted sideways or hung directly from the hinge joint.
In another embodiment, the panel is held on the apron by a solenoid that incorporates a locking pin. The pin is caused to be inserted into a corresponding opening in the panel by energizing, through an electric circuit, a solenoid. The circuit is provided with a suitable electric current and may include a switch. Actuation of the switch to permit the solenoid to be provided with electrical current withdraws the pin(s) and permits the panel to be disconnected from the apron and replaced by an alternative panel or the original panel. When the switch is manipulated to cause the circuit to open, the pin, which is biased in a panel engaging condition, is inserted into the openings and holds the panel in position. Alternatively, the solenoids can be configured to withdraw the pins when provided with current.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/398,578, filed Jan. 4, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 15398578 | Jan 2017 | US |
Child | 15864717 | US |