Patent Grant
11814833
The disclosure generally relates to sinks and, more particularly, to utility sink systems.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Conventional utility sinks provide a basin that is sized and shaped to receive and temporarily store water flowing from a faucet and/or household or commercial items, such as wash buckets or paint cans, therein. Conventional utility sinks are useful for washing or temporarily storing items but lack additional features that would improve the versatility and usability of the utility sink.
It would be desirable to create a utility sink that improves upon the characteristics of conventional utility sinks. For example, it would be desirable to create a utility sink that provides additional storage for a variety of household or commercial items. More specifically, it would be desirable to create a utility sink having a shelf beneath the basin and a removable tray that may be used in conjunction with a hose of a faucet for supporting various items in or above the basin.
It would also be desirable to provide a utility sink that is easier to transport to a user. An easily transportable utility sink may include separated legs which may minimize the size of the container required to transport the sink basin portion and the separated legs. However, utility sinks that have easily removable legs often have compromised structural integrity. As can be seen, there is a need for an improved utility sink system that provides additional storage options, can be easily transported to a user, and is structurally enhanced.
In concordance with the instant disclosure, a utility sink system and method that provides additional storage options, can be easily transported to a user, and is structurally enhanced, has been surprisingly discovered.
In one embodiment, a utility sink system can include a basin having a base wall and a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. A leg can be permanently coupled to the basin. A shelf can be permanently coupled to the leg. The shelf can encapsulate a portion of the leg.
In another embodiment, a kit for a utility sink system can include a basin having a base wall and a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. A leg can be configured to be permanently coupled to the basin. A shelf can be configured to be permanently coupled to the leg. The shelf can be configured to encapsulate a portion of the leg.
In a further embodiment, a method for assembling a utility sink system can include providing a basin having a base wall and a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, a leg configured to be permanently coupled to the basin, a shelf configured to be permanently coupled to the leg. The method can further include performing one of coupling the leg to the basin and coupling the shelf to the leg.
In certain embodiments, a utility sink system is provided that includes a basin, a leg, and a shelf. The basin may include a base wall and a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. The leg may be permanently coupled to the basin. The shelf may be permanently coupled to the leg. The shelf may include a first surface and a second surface. In certain embodiments the leg may include an upper leg and a lower leg. The upper leg may be disposed between the basin and the first surface of the shelf. The lower leg may extend outwardly from the second surface of the shelf. In certain embodiments, the upper leg may be integrally formed with the basin; e.g., the upper leg and basin may be part of a unitary structure formed by injection molding. The utility sink system may further include a tray configured to be disposed on or within the basin.
In certain embodiments, the shelf may encapsulate a portion of the leg. In a specific example, the shelf may accept each of a terminal end of the upper leg and a terminal end of the lower leg. Advantageously, by encapsulating a portion of the leg with the shelf or accepting a portion of the leg into the shelf, the structural integrity and the strength of the utility sink system may be enhanced.
In certain embodiments, a ledge may be disposed on the interior of the sidewall of the basin. In a specific example, the tray may further include an array of slats. The tray may be configured to support an item disposed on the tray while permitting a liquid to pass through the array of slats. The tray may include a handle. The handle may be an opening disposed through the tray. The handle may be an elongated opening configured to permit a user to grasp the tray through the opening. The handle may further include a cylindrically shaped opening configured to permit a hose or a faucet head to be disposed therethrough. The tray may include a plurality of support structures. In certain embodiments, the support structures may be disposed in an X-formation, a V-formation, or both. Advantageously, the orientation of the support structures may enhance the structural integrity of the tray. One skilled in the art may select any orientation of the support structures, within the scope of the present disclosure.
In certain embodiments, the base wall of the basin may have a plurality of braces. In certain embodiments, the braces may be disposed in an X-formation, a V-formation, or both. Advantageously, the orientation of the braces may enhance the structural integrity of the basin. One skilled in the art may select any orientation of the braces, within the scope of the present disclosure.
In certain embodiments, the utility sink system may include a foot removably coupled to the leg. In a specific example, each of the foot and the lower leg may include complementary threaded portions configured to removably couple the foot to the lower leg. The complementary threaded portions may also provide a way to adjust the positioning of the utility sink system, when necessary, for instance, where the utility sink system is placed on an uneven or unlevel surface. The foot may include one or more ridges extending along a vertical length of the foot. The ridges may militate against the foot from slipping within a hand of a user, where the user is coupling the foot to the lower leg. The ridges may further reinforce the foot with respect to the weight of a remainder of the utility sink system, including any contents or liquids therein. The foot may further include a means of anchoring the utility sink system to a surface. In a specific example, the means of anchoring the utility sink system may include an aperture in the foot. The aperture in the foot may be configured to permit a user to bolt, stake, or otherwise couple the utility sink system to the surface.
In certain embodiments, the utility sink system may include a rack. The rack may be permanently disposed to the basin. The rack may include a drying means. In a specific example, the drying means may include one or more recessed surfaces and one or more fins extending from the one or more recessed surfaces. The recessed surface may be oriented substantially transverse to the sidewall of the basin. The fin may be configured to support an object (not shown), allowing any liquid (not shown) to drain onto the recessed surface. The recessed surface may be further disposed at an angle configured to direct the liquid (not shown) into the basin. The rack may further include one or more openings. Such openings may be configured to accept a faucet assembly and/or a hose therethrough.
In certain embodiments, the utility sink system may include a removable dish. The removable dish may include a center wall. The dish may further include an L-shaped flange which may be configured to be disposed over a sidewall of the basin. Advantageously, the L-shaped flange may permit the removable dish to be quickly disposed on and removed from the basin. One skilled in the art may select other suitable designs for the removable dish, within the scope of the present disclosure.
The rack may further include a rear wall that may be oriented substantially transverse to the rack. In certain embodiments, the rear wall may be oriented at an angle of 90 degrees from the rack. The rear wall may extend upwardly from the rack. Advantageously, the upwardly extending rear wall may be configured to provide a splash rack feature. In certain embodiments, the rear wall may extend downwardly from the rack. Desirably, the downwardly extending rear wall may permit the utility sink system to be coupled to a wall.
In certain embodiments, the utility sink system may include a kit. The kit may include a basin, a leg configured to be permanently coupled to the basin, and a shelf configured to be permanently coupled to the leg. In certain embodiments the leg may include an upper leg and a lower leg. In a specific example, the basin may include a basin detent. The basin detent may be configured to be inserted into an aperture in the upper leg. Where the basin detent is inserted into the aperture in the upper leg, the basin may be permanently coupled to the upper leg. In certain embodiments, the upper leg may include a leg detent configured to be inserted into a hole disposed in the shelf. Where the leg detent is inserted into the hole in the shelf, the upper leg may be permanently coupled to the shelf. In a specific example, the shelf may further include a shelf detent and the lower leg may further include a lower leg aperture. Where the shelf detent is inserted into the lower leg aperture, the lower leg may be permanently disposed to the shelf. Advantageously, the kit may permit the utility sink system to be packaged in a smaller volume of space, thereby enhancing the shipment and transportation of the system.
Various ways of assembling the utility sink system are provided. Certain methods may include a step of providing the basin, the leg configured to be permanently coupled to the basin, and the shelf configured to be permanently coupled to the leg. Next, the method may include a step of performing one of coupling the basin to the leg and coupling the leg to the shelf. The step of coupling the basin to the leg may further include inserting the basin detent into the aperture in the leg. The step of coupling the leg to the shelf may further include inserting the leg detent into the hole disposed in the shelf. The foot may be coupled to the leg in another step. The tray may be inserted into the basin in another step.
Advantageously, the utility sink system provides additional storage options, can be easily transported to a user, and is structurally enhanced.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture, and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as can be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps can be simultaneously performed.
The terms “a” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items can be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. The term “about” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that can arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments can alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application.
Disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter can define endpoints for a range of values that can be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X can have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping, or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X can have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there can be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms can be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer, or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, can be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms can be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below”, or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Unless otherwise stated in this disclosure, the phrase “permanently coupled” may be interpreted to mean inseparable without damaging one or more of the coupled components. For example, two components may be permanently coupled by having a detent of one component received within an aperture of the other component, where decoupling of the two components would necessitate shearing or fracturing all or a portion of the detent received within the aperture.
As shown in
The basin 102 can include a base wall 108 and at least one side wall 110. The base wall 108 can include a drain formed therethrough. In certain embodiments, the drain can be configured to be in communication with a plumbing system (not shown) and can be configured to allow liquid or other debris to pass from the basin 102, through the drain, and into the plumbing system.
As shown in
The lip 118 can include a rack 120 extending therefrom. The rack 120 can be permanently coupled to the basin 102. The rack 120 can include a drying means 122. In a specific example, the drying means 122 can include one or more recessed surfaces 124 and one or more fins 126 extending from the one or more recessed surfaces 124. The recessed surface 124 can be oriented substantially transverse to the sidewall 110 of the basin 102. The fin 126 can be configured to support an object, such as a bar of soap (not shown) while allowing any liquid to drain onto the recessed surface 124. The recessed surface 124 can be downward toward the basin 102 to direct the liquid into the basin 102. The rack 120 can further include a plumbing coupling 128. The plumbing coupling can be configured to accept a faucet assembly 130 and/or a hose therethrough.
The rack 120 can further include a rear wall 132 that can be oriented substantially transverse to the rack 120. In certain embodiments, the rear wall 132 can be oriented substantially perpendicular to the rack 120. The rear wall 132 can extend upwardly from the rack 120. Advantageously, the upwardly extending rear wall 132 can be configured to provide a splash rack feature. In certain embodiments, the rear wall 132 can also extend downwardly from the rack 120. Desirably, the downwardly extending rear wall 132 can permit the utility sink system 100 to be coupled to a wall, as desired.
As shown in
As shown in
In certain embodiments, as shown in
With reference to
The first end of the upper leg portion 148 can be disposed in the basin 102. In certain embodiments, the upper leg portion 148 can be integrally formed with the basin 102. In other embodiments, as shown in
Each of the second end 154 of the upper leg portion 148 and the third end 156 of the lower leg portion 150 can be disposed in the shelf 106. In particular, as shown in
With reference to
In particular, with reference to
It should be appreciated that the upper shelf detent 170 and the second end detent 174 can be oriented in opposite directions, for example, as shown in
The utility sink system 100 can include a foot 180 removably coupled to each one of the legs 104. In particular, each one of the feet 180 can be disposed on the fourth end 158 of the lower leg portion 150. Each one of the feet 180 and the fourth end 158 can include complementary threaded portions 182, which are configured to removably couple the foot 180 to the fourth end 158. The complementary threaded portions 182 can also provide a means to adjust the positioning of the utility sink system 100, when necessary, for instance, where the utility sink system 100 is placed on an uneven or unlevel surface.
Each foot 180 can include one or more ridges extending along a vertical length of the foot. The ridges can militate against the foot 180 from slipping within a hand of a user, where the user is coupling the foot 180 to the lower leg portion 150. The ridges can further reinforce the foot 180 with respect to a weight of a remainder of the utility sink system 100, including any contents or liquids therein. The foot 180 can further include a means of anchoring the utility sink system to a surface. In a specific example, the means of anchoring the utility sink system may include an aperture in the foot 180. The aperture in the foot 180 can be configured to permit a user to bolt, stake, or otherwise couple the utility sink system to the surface.
The present disclosure further contemplates the kit 200 for the utility sink system 100, for example, as shown in
The present disclosure further contemplates the method 300 for assembling the utility sink system 100, for example, as shown in
The method 300 can include providing a step 304 of permanently coupling the leg 104 to the basin 102. In particular, the upper leg portion 148 can be coupled to the basin 102. The first end 152 of the upper leg portion 148 can be inserted into the corner 160 of the basin 102. The basin detent 164 can be inserted into the aperture 166 on the first end 152 of the upper leg portion 148 thereby permanently coupling the upper leg portion 148 to the basin 102.
The method 300 can include a step 304 of permanently coupling the leg 104 to the shelf 106. In particular, the upper leg portion 148 of the leg 104 can be permanently coupled to the shelf 106 and the lower leg portion 150 of the leg 104 can be permanently coupling to the shelf 106.
The second end 154 of the upper leg portion 148 can be inserted into one of the openings 168 of the shelf 106. The upper shelf detent 170 can be disposed in the second end aperture 172 thereby permanently coupling the upper leg portion 148 to the shelf 106. The third end 156 of the lower leg portion 150 can be inserted into one of the openings 168 of the shelf 106. The third end aperture 176 can receive the lower shelf detent 175 thereby permanently coupling the lower leg portion 150 to the shelf 106. It should be appreciated that the third end aperture 176 can also receive the second end detent 174 thereby permanently coupling the lower leg portion 150 to the upper leg portion 148.
The method 300 can include a step 306 of coupling the foot 180 to the leg 104. In particular, the foot 180 can be disposed on the fourth end 158 of the lower leg portion 150. The threaded portions 182 of the fourth end 158 and the foot 180 can cooperate to removably couple the foot 180 to the leg 104.
Advantageously, the utility sink system provides additional storage options, can be easily transported to a user, and is structurally enhanced.
While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure, which is further described in the following appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/193,130, filed on May 26, 2021. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country |
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| 110507232 | Nov 2019 | CN |
| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20220381018 A1 | Dec 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63193130 | May 2021 | US |
