Abstract:
A coupling system for securing a sink to a drain pipe includes a flange connector having a drainage channel and a peripheral flange. A support member for supporting the sink has a drainage channel. Engagement structure secures the flange connector to the support member such that the drainage channel of the flange connector communicates with the drainage channel of the support member. A sink system and method for installing a sink are also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to sinks, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for securing sinks to drain pipes.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Sinks can be secured to drain pipes by means of a number of different types of connections. These connections typically involve threaded fittings which are secured to the sink from a position below the sink. Significant time and effort is usually required to install or replace the sink. Sinks with ornamental designs made from different materials have become popular. Glass and ceramic sinks in particular are prone to chipping, scratching and breakage, and must be replaced when such damage occurs. Even if such damage does not occur, many consumers may wish to replace a sink for aesthetic purposes or to add accessories to the sink. Unfortunately, a significant amount of time is required to make these replacements, particularly in large buildings and hotels.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A coupling system for securing a sink to a drain pipe includes a flange connector having a drainage channel and a peripheral flange. A support member for supporting the sink has a drainage channel. The support member also has connection structure for connecting to the drain pipe. Engagement structure is provided for securing the flange connector to the support member such that the drainage channel of the flange connector communicates with the drainage channel of the support member and the sink is secured between the flange connector and the support member.  
           [0004]    The engagement structure can include cooperating threads on the flange connector and the support member. The support member can have a main body portion and an extension. The structure for connecting to the drain pipe can be provided on the extension.  
           [0005]    At least one gasket can be provided for sealing against leakage. A gasket can be provided between the support member and the sink. A gasket can be provided between the peripheral flange of the flange connector and the sink. The support member can include a recess in the main body portion for receiving the gasket. The gasket can be annular and has an interior opening that is dimensioned to permit passage of a portion of the flange connector that engages the support member. The system can also include a mounting ring, which can be used to secure the support member  14  to a countertop.  
           [0006]    A method for installing a sink includes the steps of connecting a support member for supporting the sink to a drain pipe. The support member has a drainage channel and structure for connecting to the drain pipe. The sink is placed onto the support member and is supported by the support member. The sink has a drain opening which is positioned over the drainage channel of the support member. A flange connector is positioned over the sink and a portion of the flange connector is connected to the support member. The flange connector has a peripheral flange which engages the sink so as to secure the sink to the support member when the flange connector is engaged to the support member.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    There are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a coupling system for a sink.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a sink system according to the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an alternative sink system in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    There is shown in FIG. 1 a coupling system  10  according to the invention. The coupling system includes a support member  14  and a flange connector  18 . A first gasket  22  and second gasket  26  can also be provided.  
         [0012]    As shown in FIG. 2, the support member  14  has a drainage channel  30  and can have a shoulder  34  for supporting a sink  40 . For purposes of the invention, a sink can be any type of suitable structure for receiving and draining any suitable type of fluid such as water. The support member  14  can have structure for engaging drain pipe  44 . An extension  48  can be provided with threads to engage cooperating threads on the drain pipe  44 . In the embodiment shown, the extension  48  has male threads  52  which can be adapted to engage cooperating female threads  56  on an interior surface of the drain pipe  44 . It is possible, however, to dimension the extension  48  such that the drain pipe  44  fits within the extension  48 , and in this embodiment the drain pipe  44  would be provided with male threads and the extension  48  would be provided with female threads. Other structure for engaging the support member  14  to the drain pipe  44  is also possible, including various fittings adapted for that purpose.  
         [0013]    The flange connector  18  can have a drainage channel  60 . The flange connector  18  has structure for engaging the support member  14 . The flange connector  18  can be tubular and have male threads  64  which engage cooperating female threads  68  on the support member  14 , although other engagement structure is possible. The drainage channel  30  of the support member  14  can communicate with the drainage channel  60  of the flange connector  18  when the flange connector  18  is engaged to the support member  14  to permit water or other suitable fluids to flow from the sink, through the flange connector  18 , the support member  14 , and into the drain pipe  44 .  
         [0014]    The flange connector  18  can also have a flange  72 . The flange  72  can extend about the periphery of the flange connector  18  and can be dimensioned such that it will not pass through the drain opening  78  of the sink  40 . The flange  72  can press firmly against the sink  40  when the flange connector  18  is engaged and tightened to the support member  14 . As such, the flange  72  can add to the watertight integrity of the engagement between the flange connector  18  and the support member  14 . In addition, the flange can also increase the stability of the system  10  once a sink  40  has been installed.  
         [0015]    The flange connector  18  can also have structure for engaging drain devices such as a drain hat (not shown). Alternatively, the flange connector  18  can support a pop-up drain plug (not shown). Male threads  80  can be provided to engage female threads of the drain hat or drain plug to be coupled to the flange connector  18 . An opening  84  in the flange connector  18  can be provided to permit water or any other suitable fluid to flow from the sink  40  to the drainage channel  60 .  
         [0016]    It is preferable to seal the sink  40  against the support member  14  to prevent leaks. The gasket  22  can be provided for this purpose. The gasket  22  can be annular to allow the flange connector  18  to extend through the gasket  22  into the drainage channel  30  of the support member  14 . The gasket  22  can be made out of any suitable material such as rubber or silicone. In one embodiment, the support member  14  has a main body portion  86 . A recess  88  can be provided in the main body portion  86 . The gasket  22  can be received by the recess  88  to secure the gasket  22  in position. The gasket  22  should be dimensioned such that, when it is positioned in the recess  88 , it can extend above the shoulder  34  so that it will be partially compressed by the sink  40  when the flange connector  18  is tightened against the support member  14 .  
         [0017]    The flange  72  can be sealed against the sink  40  to prevent leaks. A gasket  26  can be provided and can be compressed between the flange  72  and sink  40  when the flange connector  18  is tightened against the support member  14 . Other sealing methods, such as the application of caulks and other sealants, are possible.  
         [0018]    In operation, the support member  14  can be connected to the drain pipe  44 . The gasket  22  can be positioned on the support member  14 , such as in the recess  88 . The sink  40  can then be placed onto the shoulder  34  of the support member  14 , with the drain opening  78  substantially aligned with the drainage channel  30 . The flange connector  18  can then be positioned through the opening  78  and into the drainage channel  30  of the support member  14 . The flange connector  18  is then tightened to the support member  14 , whereupon the flange  72  presses against the sink  40  to secure the sink  40  in position against the support member  14 . The drain device, such as a drain hat or pop-up drain plug, can then be connected to the flange connector  18 , as by threads  80 .  
         [0019]    Replacement of the sink is accomplished by removing the drain device and disconnecting the flange connector  18  from the support member  14 . Alternatively, the flange connector  18  can be disconnected from the support member  14  without removing the drain device. The sink  40  can then be lifted from the shoulder  34  of support member  14 , and replaced with another sink. The flange connector  18  is then reconnected as previously described. As such, the inventive arrangements permit the installation and removal of a sink  40  merely by coupling or decoupling a single component (the flange connector  18 ) to or from a drain pipe.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 shows an alternative coupling system  10  within contemplation of the inventive arrangements. Similar to the coupling system  10  described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the coupling system  10  shown in FIG. 3 can have a flange connector  18 , a support member  14 , a first gasket  22 , a second gasket  26  and a drain hat (not shown) or a pop-up drain plug (not shown). In addition, the support member  14  of this particular arrangement can include a drain extension  48 . Although FIG. 3 illustrates the drain extension  48  and the support member  14  as a unitary piece, it mist be noted that the invention is not limited in this regard; the drain extension  48  and the support member  14  can be separate components, and the drain extension  48  can be detachably coupled to the support member  14 .  
         [0021]    In one arrangement, the drain extension  48  can include male threads  90  and can also include female threads  92 . As shown in FIG. 3, the female threads  92  can be used to engage a drain pipe  44  having cooperating male threads. Alternatively, the male threads  90  can be used to engage a drain pipe  44  having cooperating female threads. Moreover, other structure for engaging the support member  14  to the drain pipe  44  is also possible, including various fittings adapted for that purpose.  
         [0022]    The coupling system  10  of FIG. 3 can also include a mounting ring  94 . The mounting ring  94  can include cooperating threads for engaging the male threads  90  of the drain extension  48 . In one arrangement, the supporting member  14  can be placed on a countertop  96 , which can include an aperture  98  for receiving the drain extension  48 . The support member  14  can also have a substantially flat bottom surface  100  to enable the support member  14  to rest on the countertop  96 . A third gasket  102  can be positioned between the bottom surface  100  and the countertop  96  to ensure a proper fit. The third gasket  102  can be silicone, rubber or any other suitable material. The mounting ring  94  can be used to secure the countertop  96  to the support member  14 . If desired, another gasket (not shown) can be positioned between the mounting ring  94  and the countertop  96 .  
         [0023]    To install a sink  40 , the drain extension  48  of the support member  14  can be inserted through the aperture  98  of the countertop  96 . The support member  14  can rest against the third gasket  102 . The drain extension  48  can then be secured to the drain pipe  44 , and the mounting ring  94  can be used to secure the support member  14  to the countertop  96 . Similar to the operation described in relation to FIG. 2, the gasket  22  can be positioned on the support member  14 , and the sink  40  can then be placed onto the shoulder  34  of the support member  14 . The flange connector  18  can then be coupled to the support member  14 , and the drain device (not shown) can then be connected to the flange connector  18 . Replacement of a sink can be in accordance with the procedure described above in relation to FIG. 2.  
         [0024]    The components of the invention can be manufactured from standard plumbing materials, including metals and plastics. The invention can be made in a variety of different styles and sizes without departing from the principals of the invention. In addition, this invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.