GB2267639A - Circumdrainer corner sink system - Google Patents

Abstract

An adaptable corner sink system in which the configuration of its drainage area and bowl/s, provide maximum space efficient use of a corner washing/draining facility. The drainage area 24, is formed between the embodiments rear edges 15-16 and the bowls 18, to provide an efficient drainage performance, whilst maintaining an area of sufficient size to cater the bowl capacity. The preferred embodiment has a releasable decor facia panel 26 which can be:- A. Retained form an integral and visible front edge of the embodiment, thereby creating a "SIT ON SINK", where the sink is seen from a front elevation, supported by a standard cabinet beneath it. B. Removed allowing the embodiment to be set into a larger surrounding worktop, thereby becoming an "INSET SINK" supported within the underlying worktop by the embodiments surrounding flange FIG 4b. C. Replaced by a decorative material, compatable with surrounding/supporting furniture, combining the integrated appearance of an "INSET SINK" with the benefits of total surface area coverage of a "SIT ON SINK", to form the embodiment into an "INTEGRATED SIT ON SINK". <IMAGE>

Description

CIRCuIDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adapatable washing and draining facility, designed for installation into corner orientations of a kitchen or similar work surface.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In recent times, the demand to produce kitchen appliances, apparatus and devices to improve environmental conditions and enhance the aesthetic appearance of kitchens has engaged considerable innovation and design technique.

There is ever the need to improve technology, and much attention is presently being direct towards the effecient use of available space, and simplyfying the technicalities of installation.

Designers of domestic kitchen equipment and furniture base their designs in the main on square or rectangular outline shape, and to date have not sufficiently addressed the requirements of corner formations, to produce "space efficient" washing/draining facilities.

It is the principal aspect of the present invention to provide an adaptable, space efficient, ergonomically functional and technically superior washing/draining facility, which can be adapted to form three difference sink types, suitable for installation into otherwise wastefull corner area 5.

DRAINAGE CAPACITY It is a functional requirement of any kitchen washing facility, that the drainage area's provided, should be of sufficient size to adequately cater for the capacity of its washing bowl/s.

IE: The greater the capacity to wash, the greater the need for drainage area/capacity. Furthermore, there is overwhelming evidence in the form of conventional washing facilities presently available that the drainage surface area ie.

length [Al x width LB3 FIG. 1 should be equal to, if not larger than its corresponding bowl area ie. C x D FIG 1.

DRAINAGE EFFICIENCY Wherever this "Bowl Capacity = Drainer Capacity" principal has been applied to date, the length of drain run, FIG 1.A ie. The direction in which "draining" water will flow to dissipate from the drainer surface, is approximately as long as the drainage area width/ FIG 1.B.

In addition wherever this principal is not applied, the functional requirement of sufficient drainage area is not achieved, particularly in existing corner washing facilities presently available FIG 2.

By a modification of the drain run A x drain width B ratio it is possible to increase the functional efficiency of draining whilst maintaining the principal of bowl capacity = drainer capacity. Eg. by positioning the drainage area FIG 1.24 between the rear edges 15/16 and the bowl 18, increasing the drain area width to a maximum FIG 1. B-l and decreasing the drainage run FIG 1. A-l to a minimum, any fugaive water will take less time to dissipate from A shorter drain run, than a conventional drainage configuration of equal surace area with a longer drain run. Thereby creating a technically more efficient drainage facility, whilst maintaining a functionally adequate drainage capacity.

INSTALLATION VERSATILITY The embodiment hereafter described as Unit 14, has strucutral features which enable the user to form three different types of sink from one system.

Firstly by retainins unit 14's releasable decor facia FIG. 3. 26 the resultant sink type is a "SIT-ON-SINK", where the sink is seen from a front elevation, and has no supporting worktop directly beneath it.

Secondly, by removing the decor facia 26 Unit 14 can then be set into a larger/urrounding and supporting worktop. FIG 7. 30, supported by it's surrounding overlap flange - FIG 4 - 4b.

Thereby becoming an "INSET SINK".

Thirdly by replacing the decor facia 26 with a decorative material which is compatable with the adjacent kitchen furniture, unit 14 becomes an "INTEGRATED SIT-ON SINK" combining the advantages of full surface area coverage of "sit on sinks", with the integrated appearance and hygenic installation principals of "inset sinks".

CTRCU1DRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Shows a plan view of conventional sink and drainer, compared to the "CIRCUMDRAINER SINK".

Figure 2 Illustrates vaious plan views of existing designs for "INSET" corner kitchen sinks.

Figure 3 An example of the "CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM".

Figure 4 Illustrates a section through a "CIRUMDRAINER CORNER SINK", showing "fireclay" as an example structural material.

Figure 5 Illustrates alternative plan layouts of the "CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM".

Figure 6 Shows a "CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK", with an alternative drair-lage system.

Figure 7 Illustrates the "CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK" as an "INSET SINK".

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Figure 1 shows a conventional sink top 34 with the bowl cavity 10 and drainage area 12. It will be seen that the drain-run A, ie. the direction in which fugative water flows to drain away, is approximately equal in length, to the drain area width, in terms of simple measurement. It will also be seen that the resultant area is approximately equal to the horizontal area of its sink bowl. In addition there is also shown a plan view of a CIRCUMDRAINER SINK 14, with drainage area 24 and bowl 18. It will be seen that the drain run, A-l is far shorter than its conventional equivalent A, while its width demension B-1 is far greater than B.The CIRCUMDRAINER DRAINER, having a shorter distance for fugative water to travel, will dipose of the fugative water in less time than a conventional drainer of comparable surface area, and must therfore be more efficient.

Figure 2 shows a number of plan views of corner inset sinks currently available.

Each design includes the bowl cavity 10 with the exit aperture 11 and drainage areas 12 on the surrounding space shapes.

The two tap positions 13 are indicated at various locations on the separately shown designs. It can be seen from the outline shape indicated by the double lines "X" that a considerable "waste" of unused space exists with each design. Similarly the said designs provide poor drainage areas, have limited bowl sizes, and require extra large worktops to accommodate them most of which is wasted! Furthermore the poor functional performance of these example sinks is incumbant in each design, as each bowl and drainer facility is limted by their accomModating bodies, which are themselves limited in size by the proximity of the adjacenet wortop joints. Indeed by virtue of the inherent - inadequate drain areas's of the said examples, the adjacent wortop joints always remain wet areas, which can harbour bacteria and invariably lead to the breakdown of said joints.

Attention is therefore drawn to Fig 3 which shows in outline the "CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM, UNIT 14,illustarated in it's "SIT ON SINK" mode.

By reducing the length of the back edge 15 and increasing the lengths of the four angular sides 16, "UNIT 14" can be adjoined to the vertical walls of the kitchen or other corner structure.

This configuration does not limit the dimensional options of the bowl 18, and also enables the remaining surface area of UNIT 14, to become a substantial and practical draining facility. By forming the draining facility 24 between the "UNIT 14's" rear edges 15/16 and its bowl 18 the principal of bowl capacity = drainer capacity is maintained, with a technically efficient, "minimum drain run". The tap aperture in this instance, is provided central to "UNIT 14" and in lie with the drainage aperture 20. Shown separated from "UNIT 14" are a number of accessories which can be fitted within the bowl 18 to convert UNIT 14 into a kitchen workspace during the preparation of food stuffs [uegetables etc.] for cooking.

Fig 3 illustrates this feature and shows the chopping board 21, which could also be formed on the left hand side if preferred.

The solids waste receptacle 22 is designed to sit within the bowl 18, and could be formed to provide a plurality of functions ie. colander, inner bowl, utensil or cutlery holder etc. No claim to originality for the accessories is considered in this specification, since such items would be "obvious" and not new.

The plate rack 23 is a mobile accessory and may be placed at any convenient position on the draining area 24 suiting right or left handed persons.

The "UNIT 14" may be constructed in stainless steel, ceramics, enamelled steel, plastics, resins or composites and may comply in design with know terminology such as "flush mounted fixing", and "inset fixing". It could also be adapted to suit sinks not designed for corners. IE: Straight lines of furniture.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown a section through the "UNIT 14" which clearly identifies the bowl 16, the waste aperture 20 arid the top hole 19, in a ceramic material. The overflow channel is indicated by numeral 25. At the leading edge [right, as viewed] is provided a disposal decor fascia 26 which could be devised to colour-match other kitchen decor. In the preferred embodiment a stainless steel "trim" as shown in scrap view 3a could be provided which would be releasably attached to the leading edge of a stainless steel version of the "UNIT 14". Figure 3b illustrates a method of fixing a ceramic "UNIT 14" to any worksurface which includes a simple clamp 27 set-screwed into the body 28 of the "UNIT 14" and tightened against the underside of the worksurface 29.In this embodiment the periphery edges of the "UNIT 14" would be drawn down on to a polyurethane sEal 30 by the pressure exerted on the said "UNIT 14" by the clamp27. Obviously, more than one such clamp would be provided to ensure evenness of pressure on to the seal 30.

According to figure 5, there is provided for the "UNIT 14" a purality of bowl and drainer shapes and sizes. Further description of these alternatives is considered unnecessary, since any variation of bowl or drainer configuration may be built into the surface of "UNIT 14" without hinderence to, or detracting frorn the "UNIT 14s" fundamental - structural ability to convert to any one of three types of sink. ie. "SIT-ON", "INSET" or "INTEGRATED SIT-ON SINK".

Figure 6 shows an example of "UNIT 14" with an alternative form of drainage area, ie. Drainage Trays 31 which guide their fugative water into a central UTENSIL BOWL 34. Suspended above their respective positions on the "UNIT 14" are moulded pvc plate racks 32, which, when housed in their drainage trays 31, form a "flush" draining area with the top surface of "UNIT 14".

Scrap view 6/A shows a section through the plate rack, incorporating a variance of plate sizes. Depicted above the central utensil bowl 34 is a pvc utensil dish 33, with a plurality of draining holes through its base, to exit any excess water from the utensils held within.

Figure 7 illustrates a CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK in its "INSET" mode. Whereby the decor facia 26, has been removed and discarded, allowing "UNIT 14" to be inset into a larger surrounding and supporting worktop 30, if preferred.

It has been shown in this specification that an adapatable sink system can be provided to make maximum efficient use of a corner work surface, in a selection of materials, whilst improving the "draining performance" of a given area, and simplifying installation procedures.

Claims (5)

1. A corner sink system, wherein a sink unit has a removable decor facia 26, that enables the embodiment to be installed with three individual methods of installation, thereby providing the structural means to form the embodiment into any one of three individual sinks types.

A. By retaining the removal decor facia 26 the embodiment retains a "SIT ON" SINK format Fig. 3 wherein the sinks front edge is visible from a front elevation and in addition, the sink body has no supporting worktop immediately beneath it.

B. By removal of its decor facia 26, the embodiment can be set into a larger surrounding and supporting worktop.

Fig 7. 30, the embodiment is then suported within worktop by the sourrounding flange Fig 4. 4b, thereby becoming an "INSET SINK" C. By replacing its rernovable decor facia 26, with materials compatable with surrounding kitchen cabinets and worktops, eg. The decorative wooden trim of an adjacent worktop.

Combining the integrated appearance or an "INSET SINK" with the advantages of the total surface coverage of "SIT ON" SINKS, the embodiment becomes an "INTEGRATED-SIT ON" SINK.

2. A CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM as claimed in claim .1., wherein the drainage area 24 is formed betweeen the sink bowl 18, and the embodiments rear edges 15 and 16, the shape of which combines a mimumum drain run length Fig 1 A - 1. with a maximum drain area width B - 1.

3. A CIRCUWIDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM as claimed in claims 1 & 2 wherein the configuration of its drainage area and bowl/bowls ensures space efficient use of the usable corner surface area available, providing technical and ergonomic advantages.

4. A CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM as claimed in claims 1, 2 & 3 wherein the complete unit may be releasably secured to adjacent walls, worktops and cabinets.

5. A CIRCUMDRAINER CORNER SINK SYSTEM as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, & 4 in which a multitude of bowl and draining systems of all shapes, sizes and types, food preparation accessories, waste systems soap dispensers and water supply systems, may be incorporated, to enhance the functional performance of a washing/draining facility, with a kitchen or similar environment.