This patent disclosure related generally to sinks and, more particularly, to undermount sinks and a method of mounting such sinks.
Kitchen sinks may be mounted employing an undermount design, wherein clips are used to secure outer flanges of the sink to the underside of a surrounding countertop material. In such a configuration, parts of the sink, except a faucet and faucet controls, remain below the surface of the countertop. To attach the sink to the underside of the countertop, holes are typically formed in the countertop material and an anchor or other attachment device is installed into the hole. The sink is typically attached to the anchor or attachment device with a fastener and clip or bracket. Accordingly, there is a significant amount of hardware and labor involved in attaching a sink to a cabinet in this fashion.
In connection with many tasks related to the use of sinks, it is common to have various items such as soap, rags, drain stoppers, etc., disposed in and around the sink. Typically, these items rest in an unorganized manner near the sink or in the sink basin and may be inconvenient to the sink user. Further, storing or otherwise placing soiled items in areas outside the sink is aesthetically displeasing and can soil those areas.
In an embodiment, the disclosure describes an undermount sink and countertop combination for use with a sink cabinet. The sink cabinet includes a sink-receiving opening and a sink cabinet width and depth. The sink includes a basin that is sized and shaped to be received within the sink-receiving opening. The basin includes side wall portions, an upper outer perimeter surrounding the side wall portions, and a bottom portion. A mounting flange extends from the upper outer perimeter of the basin. The mounting flange is shaped to rest atop the cabinet and underneath the countertop and is sized with a mounting flange width and depth substantially equal to the sink cabinet width and depth.
In another embodiment, the disclosure describes a method of mounting an undermount sink to a sink cabinet. The method includes applying a first amount of adhesive to one or both of the sink cabinet and a lower flange surface of a mounting flange of the undermount sink. The mounting flange is set atop the sink cabinet and the first amount of adhesive secures the sink to the sink cabinet. A second amount of adhesive is applied to one or both of an upper flange surface of the mounting flange and a countertop. The countertop is set atop the mounting flange in contact with the second amount of adhesive to secure the sink in position.
Referring to
The sink 100 includes a basin 102. The basin 102 is sized and shaped to perform typical kitchen duties therewithin, such as retaining wash water, items to be washed, and so on. The basin 102 may include a back wall portion 104, a front wall portion 106, a right side wall portion 108 and a left side wall portion 110. The back wall portion 104, a front wall portion 106, a right side wall portion 108 and a left side wall portion 110 in combination define an upper outer perimeter of the basin 102.
The back wall portion 104, front wall portion 106, and the right and left side wall portions 108, 110 may be planar, curved or combinations of flat and curved shapes as is well known. Although the sink 100 illustrated in
The basin 102 also includes a bottom portion 112 that extends to all of the side wall portions 104, 106, 108, 110 and closes the basin 102. The bottom portion 112 is shaped to drain to a drain opening 114, typically formed in a lowermost elevational position within the basin 102.
The sink 100 includes a rim or mounting flange 116 that may extend from and surround the basin 102 at or near an uppermost elevational rim position, i.e., the upper outer perimeter of the basin. The mounting flange 116 may fully peripherally surround the basin 102 or partially surround the basin. The mounting flange 116 extends substantially horizontally in a plane from the basin 102 and is sized and shaped to overlap with and be supported by structural members of a cabinet on and/or in which it is received. The details of the structural relationship of the mounting flange 116 and cabinet are set out in detail in
The mounting flange 116 includes a front mounting flange portion 118, a right side mounting flange portion 120, and a left side mounting flange portion 122. The mounting flange 116 may also include a rear mounting flange portion 124, which in the illustrated embodiment also forms the faucet deck. The mounting flange 116 may extend horizontally outwardly about ¾ inches or more from the side wall portions 104, 106, 108, 110. The mounting flange 116 is sized and shaped to be received and rest atop the structural panels of a cabinet in which it is installed as will be described in detail hereinbelow (see
The sink 100 may include an apron 134. The apron 134 depends from edge of the front mounting flange portion 118 and defines a space 136 (see
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In an embodiment, the rear mounting flange portion fits atop the rear panel 156. In an embodiment, the sink basin 102 is sized and shaped Bw, Bd to occupy the entire width and depth of the interior space 150 of the cabinet 140. The apron 134 has a width Aw that is the same as the cabinet width Cw. The sink space 134 is shaped and sized to accommodate the cross member 158 with the apron 134 in front of and in close proximity to or in contact with the cross member.
The sink 100 may be installed by applying, in the form of bead or layer, for example, adhesive and/or sealant material to the top of the cabinet panels 152, 154, 156, 158. After the sealant material is applied to the cabinet 140, then the sink mounting flanges 118, 120, 122, 124 are positioned on the adhesive and/or sealant material. The adhesive/sealant material may be a conventional silicone based material.
After the sink 100 is fitted atop the cabinet 140, an application adhesive/sealant material is applied to the right side mounting flange portion 120 and the left side mounting flange portion 122 and the countertops 146, 148 are fitted to respective first side cabinet and second side cabinets 142, 144. The countertops 146, 148 overlap the right side mounting flange portion 120 and the left side mounting flange portion 122 and the weight of the countertops 146, 146, in combination with the adhesive/sealant material secure the sink 100 atop the cabinet 140 without the need for any other fasteners, clips, hardware or modifications to the countertops, cabinets or sink. Thus, a substantial time and material savings can be realized.
Another embodiment of a sink 200 according to the disclosure is shown in
The sink 200 includes a basin 202. The basin 202 is sized and shaped to perform typical kitchen duties therewithin, such as washing dishes, and so on. The basin 202 may include a back wall portion 204, a front wall portion 206, a right side wall portion 208 and a left side wall portion 210. The back wall portion 204, front wall portion 206, and the right and left side wall portions 208, 210 may be planar, curved or combinations of flat and curved shapes as is well known. The back wall portion 204 differs from the above embodiment, in that the back wall portion extends upwardly to form a backsplash 270. The backsplash 270 may be in the form of a planar extension of the back wall portion 204. The backsplash 270 may include at least one opening 230 for receiving plumping for installation of a faucet (not shown).
Further, the backsplash 270 may include optional magnetic elements 272, including a material to which magnets will magnetically attach. In one embodiment, the magnetic elements 272 are sheets of ferromagnetic material positioned and attached to the back side 274 of the backsplash 270.
In certain embodiments, the sink 200 can be constructed of a non-ferromagnetic material such that a magnet cannot be attached directly to a surface of the sink. In such embodiments, such as non-ferromagnetic stainless steel sinks or porcelain sinks, the ferromagnetic element 272 can be attached to the sink 200 to attract a magnet to the sidewalls 204, 206, 208, 210 and/or backsplash 270 of the sink. As shown in
The basin 202 also includes a bottom portion 212 that extends to all of the side wall portions 204, 206, 208, 210 and closes the basin 202. The bottom portion 212 is shaped to drain to a drain opening 214, typically formed in a lowermost elevational position within the basin 202.
The sink 200 includes a mounting flange 216 that may surround the basin 202 at or near an uppermost elevational position of the basin. The mounting flange 216 may partially surround the basin 202. The mounting flange 216 extends substantially horizontally from the basin 202 and is sized and shaped to overlap with and be supported by structural members of a cabinet in essentially the same manner as the above embodiment, in which it is installed.
The mounting flange 216 includes a front mounting flange portion 218, a right side mounting flange portion 220, and a left side mounting flange portion 222. The mounting flange 216 may extend horizontally outwardly about ¾ inches or more from the side wall portions 204, 206, 208, 210. The mounting flange 216 is sized and shaped to be received atop the structural panels of a cabinet in essentially the same manner as the above embodiment. The sink 200 may include an apron 234. The apron 234 depends from edge of the front mounting flange portion 218 as in the above embodiment.
The sink 200 is installed into a cabinet in the same manner as in the above embodiment. However, the backsplash 270 may be configured to be mounted with the backsplash positioned flush or nearly flush to an adjacent surface.
Referring to
After the sink 200 is fitted atop the cabinet 240, an application adhesive/sealant material is applied to the right side mounting flange portion 220 and the left side mounting flange portion 222 and the countertops 246, 248 are fitted to respective first side cabinet and second side cabinets 242, 244. The countertops 246, 248 overlap the right side mounting flange portion 220 and the left side mounting flange portion 222 and the weight of the countertops, in combination with the adhesive/sealant material, secure the sink 200 atop the cabinet 240 without the need for any other fasteners, clips, hardware or modifications to the countertops, cabinets or sink. Thus, a substantial time and material savings can be realized from the method of mounting a sink according to embodiments presented herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” 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 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.