Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6611972
-
Patent Number
6,611,972
-
Date Filed
Friday, November 9, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 2, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Huson; Gregory
- Huynh; Khoa D.
Agents
- Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 004 619
- 004 650
- 004 620
- 004 624
- 004 675
- 004 678
- 004 625
- 004 626
- 004 516
- 004 5201
- 004 5202
- 004 5203
- 137 801
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A sink comprising a basin and a faucet assembly foldably mounted relative to the basin. The faucet assembly is rotatable between an upright position wherein the faucet assembly protrudes out from the basin and a folded position wherein the faucet assembly is received within the basin. Another embodiment comprises a sink assembly including a sink housing including a conduit rack and a receptacle for a sink with such a foldable faucet assembly. The sink assembly may further include one or more slidable table portions or a pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position. A serving cart, a gardening cart and a barbecue station, each including a sink with a foldable faucet assembly and a slidable table portion or pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to sinks and portable storage cabinets and, in particular, to a sink with a foldable faucet assembly and a multi-purpose portable support cabinet.
2. Description of the Invention Background
Over the years, outdoor and garden or backyard activities have become increasing popular. However, workplace and family demands in today's busy lifestyles often leave little time to organize and assemble all the necessary gear, such as gardening implements or food preparation and serving utensils prior to commencing such activities and then for cleaning and reorganizing such equipment after the activity is over. Gardening or barbecue accessories, for example, are often stored haphazardly out of sight in garages or basements and in boxes for extended periods of time,.such as during the cold weather months, and then have to be retrieved at a moment's notice for the first warm and sunny afternoon.
In addition to convenient storage, easy access to a sink for cleaning outdoor equipment and utensils of the various outdoor activities is particularly desirable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,708 to Lee discloses a foldable kitchen sink that includes two support members that are hinged to each other such that their upper surfaces may be deployed in a facing folded position or in a coplanar unfolded position. One support member has a dishwasher bucket mounted thereto; the other support member has a grille mounted thereto. The sink can be folded and transported, but does not include a faucet assembly for connection to a water supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,929 to Haley discloses a portable modular cart and game table that includes a faucet assembly and a sink basin mounted on the upper surface of the cart. A cover is connected to the cart and is movable between a first position that overlies the sink basin and a second position providing access to the sink basin. The faucet assembly is rotatable 360 degrees and collapsible, so that the faucet assembly assumes the upright position when the cover is in the second position and collapses axially when the cover is in the first position. The location of the faucet assembly occupies desirable counter top area which could be used to support utensils and other items.
There remains, therefore, a need for a sink with the faucet assembly that can be installed on outdoor equipment and that includes features that overcome the limitations, shortcomings and disadvantages of other sinks without compromising their advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention meets the identified needs, as well as other needs, as will be more fully understood following a review of this specification and drawings.
One embodiment of the invention includes a sink comprising a basin and a foldable faucet assembly mounted on the basin. The faucet assembly is rotatable between an upright position wherein the faucet assembly protrudes out from the basin and a folded position wherein the faucet assembly is received within the basin.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a sink assembly comprising a sink housing including a conduit rack and a receptacle for a sink with a foldable faucet assembly. The sink assembly may further include one or more slidable table portions. One or both table portions may be removable and useable as serving trays, and they may have surface receptacles. Another embodiment of the sink assembly may include a pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position.
The invention also includes embodiments of a serving cart, a gardening cart and a barbecue station, each including a sink with a foldable faucet assembly and a slidable table portion or pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position. The barbecue station may include a utility receptacle with a corresponding lid and an enclosed storing space with divided compartments, drawers and trays, which are accessible by opening one or more doors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings illustrating embodiments of the present invention:
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of an embodiment of a sink with a faucet assembly in the upright position according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a top view of the sink of
FIG. 1
;
FIG.
3
(
a
) is a partially exploded sectional view of the sink and faucet assembly of
FIG. 1
with some components shown in cross-section;
FIG.
3
(
b
) is an exploded view of an embodiment of a flow control valve of FIG.
3
(
a
);
FIG.
3
(
c
) is a partial sectional view through the actuator stem shown in FIG.
3
(
a
);
FIG.
3
(
d
) is a front view of an embodiment of a first mounting cover incorporated in the sink assembly of
FIG. 1
;
FIG.
3
(
e
) is a front view of an embodiment of a second mounting cover incorporated in the sink assembly of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a top view of the sink of
FIG. 1
with the faucet assembly in a folded position;
FIG. 5
is a side view of the sink of
FIG. 1
with the faucet assembly in a folded position;
FIG. 6
is an isometric view of an embodiment of a sink assembly incorporating the sink of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 7
is an isometric view of the sink assembly of
FIG. 6
with the sink covered;
FIG.
7
(
a
) is an exploded view of an embodiment of the sink assembly of
FIG. 6
;
FIG.
8
(
a
) is top view of an embodiment of a connecting manifold shown in
FIG. 7
;
FIG.
8
(
b
) is a sectional view of the manifold of FIG.
8
(
a
) taken along axis VIIIb—VIIIb of FIG.
8
(
a
);
FIG. 9
is an isometric view of another embodiment of the top portion of the sink assembly of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 10
is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of the top portion of the sink assembly of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 11
is an isometric view of an embodiment of a cart incorporating the sink of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 12
is a partial exploded view of an embodiment of the cart of
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 13
is a front isometric view of yet another embodiment of a cart incorporating the sink of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 14
is a rear isometric view of the cart of FIG.
13
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it is to be understood that standard components or features that are within the purview of an artisan of ordinary skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the various embodiments of the invention are omitted from the drawings to enhance clarity, even when such features may otherwise be necessary for the function of a sink embodying the invention. In addition, it will be appreciated that the characterizations of various components described herein as moving, for example, upwardly or downwardly, or being vertical or horizontal, are relative characterizations only based upon the particular position or orientation of a given component for a particular application.
FIGS. 1 and 2
depict an embodiment of a sink
100
according to the invention. The sink
100
includes a basin
102
having a drain
104
. A two-sided drain stopper
106
, shown in more detail in
FIG. 3
, may be used to strain liquid exiting the basin through the drain
104
or to plug the drain
104
. The basin
102
may be produced and assembled from food-grade materials when the sink
100
is to be used for food preparation and serving. It will be appreciated, however, that the basin
102
could be fabricated from a myriad of other suitable materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc., and be provided in a variety of different shapes. The sink
100
may also include a soap tray
110
and other support surfaces, which may be molded in the basin
102
. A faucet assembly
108
is mounted on the basin
102
and includes a discharge neck
112
, a handle
114
or other suitable lever or knob for controlling liquid flow through the faucet assembly
108
.
As indicated above, this embodiment of the sink
100
also employs a unique and novel faucet assembly
108
. In this embodiment, the faucet assembly
108
includes a faucet housing
116
that pivotally supports the discharge neck
112
on the basin
102
. More particularly and with reference to FIGS.
3
(
a
) and (
b
), the faucet housing
116
is generally hollow and may be fabricated in two pieces that are retained together by, for example, screws, adhesive, etc. The skilled artisan will readily appreciate that by employing screws to affix the portions of housing
116
together, the user can quickly disassemble the housing
116
to replace any of the components therein.
The faucet housing
116
supports a flow control valve
120
that includes a valve housing
122
that is supported in the faucet housing
116
by a mounting collar
121
that includes an inlet conduit barb
128
. See FIG.
3
(
b
). An O-ring
123
is fitted between the valve housing
122
and the collar
121
. The inlet conduit barb
128
defines an inlet passage
129
. Likewise, an outlet mounting flanged connector
130
is supported through an O-ring on the valve housing
122
opposite the inlet conduit barb
128
and defines an outlet passage
132
therethrough. The discharge neck
112
may be rotatably received on the outlet mounting flanged connector
130
for rotational travel thereon about an axis “A—A”. See FIG.
3
(
a
). Rotatably supported in the housing
122
between the inlet passage
129
and outlet passage
132
is a flow control member
124
. The flow control member
124
has a flow passage
125
therethrough that, when aligned with the inlet passage
129
and outlet passage
132
, permits a fluid entering through the inlet passage
129
to flow through the valve
120
.
In the embodiment depicted in FIG.
3
(
a
), an actuator stem
136
is attached to a side connector
127
of the valve housing
122
. The actuator stem
136
is rotatably supported in a portion of the faucet housing
116
, as shown in FIG.
3
(
c
), and has a handle
114
attached thereto. The handle
114
permits the user to selectively rotate the flow control member
124
′ about an actuator axis “B—B”. Thus, when the flow control member
124
′ is rotated such that the flow control passage
125
is aligned with the inlet passage
129
and the outlet passage
132
, fluid can flow through the valve
120
. If the flow control passage
125
is oriented at a ninety-degree angle to the inlet passage
129
and the outlet passage
132
, no fluid is permitted to pass through the valve
120
.
A supply conduit
124
, which is coupled to a source of liquid, passes through a hole
142
in the faucet housing
116
. In this embodiment, the supply conduit
124
may comprise a section of flexible hose which is coupled to the inlet conduit barb
128
by, for example, conventional means, such as a hose clamp
139
. A flanged mounting bushing
144
that has a passage therethrough supports the supply conduit
124
where it enters the faucet housing
116
. As can be seen in FIG.
3
(
a
), the mounting bushing
144
also provides a means for pivotally coupling the faucet housing
116
to the basin
102
. Protruding put through a hole
146
in an opposite side of the housing
116
is a mounting peg
148
. The mounting peg
148
is provided with a flanged portion
150
that is larger than the hole
146
to prevent the mounting peg
148
from passing completely through the hole
146
. The flanged portion
150
may include grooves that mate with corresponding protrusions in the faucet housing
116
to retain the mounting peg
148
in position. Alternatively, a biaser cavity
152
may be provided in the housing
116
for supporting a biasing member in the form of a spring to bias the mounting peg
148
in an outward direction away from the faucet housing
116
.
To install the faucet assembly
108
on the sink, the faucet housing
116
is inserted into a cavity
156
in the sink
102
. The cavity
156
may include a first mounting enclosure
158
receiving the mounting bushing
144
and a second mounting enclosure
160
receiving the mounting peg
148
. A first mounting cover
162
may be inserted over the top of the first enclosure
158
. The first mounting cover
162
snaps in over the mounting bushing
144
and secures it in place. Similarly, a second mounting cover
164
may be inserted over the top of the second mounting enclosure
160
, snapping in over the mounting peg
148
. See FIGS.
3
(
a
),
3
(
d
) and
3
(
e
). The first mounting cover
162
and the second mounting cover
164
may also be secured to the basin
102
with hidden fasteners, such as screws that are threaded from the outer surface of the basin through holes located on molded surfaces of the first and second mounting enclosures
158
,
160
.
Other ways of supporting the faucet housing on the basin of the sink are within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the mounting bushing
144
and the mounting peg
148
may be received within respective holes in the walls of the basin, in connection with the embodiment described above that includes a spring in the biasing cavity
152
. The spring facilitates retention of the mounting peg
148
in its respective hole to retain the faucet housing
116
in the basin
102
. It will be appreciated, however, that such arrangement would permit the faucet assembly
108
to be detached from the basin
102
, if desired, for storage purposes, repair purposes, etc.
When the mounting bushing
144
is received in the first mounting enclosure
158
and the mounting peg
148
is received in second mounting enclosure
160
, the person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the faucet assembly
108
can pivot about an axis “D—D” defined by the mounting bushing
144
and mounting peg
148
. See FIG.
3
(
a
). In particular, the faucet assembly
108
may be pivoted through an angle of approximately ninety degrees from an upright position shown in
FIG. 1
, wherein at least a portion of the faucet assembly
108
protrudes from the basin to other positions including a folded storage position inside the basin
102
, such that the entire faucet assembly
108
is below a plane “E—E” defined by the top
103
of the basin
102
. See FIG.
5
. The basin
102
may include a retainer
113
that releasably retains the faucet assembly
108
in the folded position. The retainer
113
may be fabricated as an integral part of the basin
102
, by molding, for example. The rear surface of the faucet housing
116
may include two symmetric pivot detents
117
, which may be attached or molded thereon, to facilitate pivoting the faucet assembly
108
against an interior rear surface
111
of the basin
102
and to stabilize the faucet assembly
108
in the upright position.
In one embodiment of the invention, the above-described sink
100
may be employed in a sink assembly, generally indicated as
200
. The sink assembly
200
may include a sink housing
202
that has a top portion
204
with a top surface
203
and a mounting bracket
206
. See FIG.
6
. The top portion
204
includes a top recess
208
in which the sink
100
may be received. The sink assembly
200
may be fabricated from blow molded plastic or other suitable processes and materials that are relatively lightweight and that can withstand the elements, if stored outside. However, the sink assembly
200
could also be fabricated from a myriad of other materials such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.
The sink assembly
200
may be mounted on a wall or other convenient structure and may include a rack
210
for coiling a garden hose
212
or other conduit therearound. The rack
210
may have a convenient storage compartment
214
formed therein for holding sprinklers, nozzles, sprayers etc. The storage compartment
214
may have a cover
216
with a handle
217
for opening and closing the cover
216
or may be fitted with a drawer (not shown).
The sink assembly
200
may also include a pair of table portions
220
that are slidably affixed to the sink housing
202
for moving between open positions shown in FIG.
6
and closed positions shown in FIG.
7
. Each of the table portions may have, for example, a protrusion
230
that slides into a mating recess
231
formed by guides
232
on the top portion
204
of the sink housing
202
. See FIG.
7
(
a
). The top portion
204
may be provided with stops to prevent the table portions
220
from sliding completely off the sink assembly
200
. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the table portions
220
may slide either together or independently of each other on the top portion
204
of the housing
202
to fully expose, partially cover or completely cover and protect the sink
100
when the faucet assembly
108
is in the folded position, and provide work and preparation surface area.
The sink housing
202
includes an inlet opening
222
for connection with the water supply conduit
124
, and an outlet opening
224
for connection with a draining conduit
138
. See
FIG. 7
, and
FIG. 3
(
a
) for the sink
100
. The supply and draining lines may be conveniently connected through a connecting manifold
170
, shown in FIGS.
8
(
a
) and (
b
), that can be mounted on a side
225
of the sink assembly
200
, either by conventional fasteners, such as screws or by snap-fitting on the side
225
of the sink assembly
200
by means of resilient snap lugs
172
, which are, for example, integrally molded on the connecting manifold
170
, when the connecting manifold is made of plastic material. The connecting manifold
170
includes a manifold outlet
174
and a manifold inlet
176
. A manifold outlet or drain connector
184
may be inserted through the manifold outlet
174
and connect the drain conduit
138
to an extension drain conduit
185
, and a manifold inlet connector
186
may be inserted through the manifold inlet
176
and connect the fluid supply conduit
124
to an extension supply conduit
183
.
An alternative embodiment of a top portion
304
for the sink assembly
200
of
FIG. 7
is shown in FIG.
9
. The top portion
304
has a top surface
303
and includes a top receptacle
308
in which the sink
100
may be received, and a table portion
320
that is slidably attached to the top portion
304
in the manner described above and can be positioned to cover the sink
100
when the faucet assembly
108
is in the folded position. The table portion
320
may be removable and may also be used as a serving tray. The table portion
320
may also have molded depressions or surface receptacles
323
for safely supporting cutlery or dinnerware, cans, bottles, or other items. The top portion
304
may also include a working surface
322
on the other side of the sink
100
.
Yet another embodiment of a top portion
404
for the sink assembly
200
of
FIG. 7
is shown in FIG.
10
. In this embodiment, the top portion
404
has a top surface
403
and includes a first top receptacle
408
in which the sink
100
may be received, and a second top receptacle
409
that may be used for storage of food items, plants, etc., and may receive a basket
432
with divided compartments. In this embodiment, the first receptacle
408
is separated from the second receptacle
409
by a center wall portion
410
. The top portion
404
may include table portions
420
that pivot about sides
422
to fold down, and a first lid
430
and second lid
431
pivotable about the back side
434
of the top portion
404
to either expose or cover the first top receptacle
408
or the second top receptacle
409
, respectively.
The sink
100
of
FIG. 1
may also be mounted on a serving or garden cart
500
or a barbecue station
700
, or on other suitable structures and cabinets, portable and non-portable, as shown in
FIGS. 11-13
. The serving cart
500
may include a frame
501
with a plurality of legs, such as, for example, a pair of support legs
503
and a pair of wheeled legs
505
, on which a top panel
504
is supported. The serving cart
500
may also have two support legs
503
and only one wheeled leg
505
or four support legs or four wheeled legs, etc. The top panel
504
includes a receptacle
508
for receiving the sink
100
and may also have a work surface
522
. The top panel
504
may also include a table portion
520
that can slide over and cover the sink
100
, when the faucet assembly
108
is in the folded position. The table portion
520
may be removable and may also be used as a serving tray. A partial view of one embodiment illustrating the engagement of table portion
520
with the top panel
504
is shown in FIG.
12
. The table portion
520
includes symmetric protrusions
530
that engage corresponding recesses
531
formed in slide guides
532
.
The serving cart
500
may also include a rack
511
mounted on the back of the top panel
504
for supporting, for example, cups, cans or bottles, and a towel rack
513
integrally formed or mounted on the front side of the top panel
504
. The serving cart
500
may also include a bottom panel
516
having one or more storage receptacles
518
for holding separately wet and dry items, such as, for example, drinks or ice and packaged food, respectively. When the table portion
520
is removed or slid over the sink
100
, the serving cart
500
can be easily wheeled by pushing the handle
526
, which is also partially supporting the table portion
520
in its extended position. The large wheels
528
mounted on the pair of the wheeled legs
505
facilitate portability of the serving cart
500
.
The serving cart
500
may also be used for gardening and planting uses. The rack
511
may be used for holding gardening tools.
FIGS. 13 and 14
show a cart
700
that may be well-suited for use as a barbecue preparation station or a garden center. The cart
700
has a frame
701
and a top panel
704
that includes a sink receptacle
708
and a utility receptacle
710
, for preparing or storing items. The cart
700
may also include a pair of extension plates
720
that can fold down by pivoting about respective sides
722
of the top panel
704
. The cart
700
may further include an enclosed storage space
739
below the top panel
704
. The storage space
739
is accessible through one or two doors
732
that are pivotably attached to the frame
701
, and may include a storage drawer
734
, a divided utensil or spice/condiment tray and a compartment
738
for larger items, such as charcoal/grill accessories, and other bulky containers, such as oil and vinegar bottles, marinade bottles, salt containers, etc. The cart may include hooks
740
for barbecue or other serving utensils, a paper towel holder
742
, and a garbage bag holder
760
. The cart
700
may also include a pair of pivotable lids
731
and
730
for covering the food receptacle
710
and the sink receptacle
708
respectively. The lids
731
and
730
may pivot over respective back edges
751
and
750
of the top panel
704
. The extension plates
720
may also pivot to fold over the closed lids
730
and
731
. Additional tool or utensil holders
770
may be provided in the back of the cart for other uses
Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the details, materials and arrangement of parts may be made within the principle and scope of the invention without departing from the invention as described in the appended claims. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
- 1. A sink comprising:a basin; and a faucet assembly comprising a discharge neck coupled to a faucet housing, the faucet housing movably supported on the basin and selectively rotatable between an upright position wherein at least a portion of the discharge neck protrudes out from the basin such that in operation the discharge neck discharges a stream of water receivable in the basin, and a folded position wherein the faucet assembly is received within the basin for storage, wherein the faucet assembly comprises: a control valve supported within the faucet housing and coupled to the discharge neck; and a supply conduit coupled to the control valve.
- 2. The sink of claim 1, wherein the faucet assembly includes a flow control valve.
- 3. The sink of claim 1, wherein the basin has a top portion which defines a plane and wherein the faucet assembly is located completely below the plane when in the folded position.
- 4. The sink of claim 1, wherein the faucet housing includes a pivot detent that is in contact engagement with an interior surface of the basin when the faucet assembly is in the upright position.
- 5. The sink of claim 1, wherein the basin further comprises a retainer that releasably retains the faucet assembly in the folded position.
US Referenced Citations (17)