Abstract:
A mounting part for an apparatus to be mounted into a cut-out of a countertop includes a rail member having a front wall with a plurality of notches, and a latch member defining an internal cross-sectional space for receiving the rail member in a manner such that the latch member is able to travel along the rail member. The latch member has a front wall with an extension having a terminal end that extends inwardly towards the rail member and which is adapted to be seated in one of the notches, with the latch member being pivotable with respect to the front wall of the rail member. A catch member is pivotably secured to the latch member, the catch member having an end edge for contacting the underside of a countertop. The mounting part also includes a pull member for pulling the latch member and the catch member upwardly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a mounting-part, such as a kitchen sink, stove top, or the like, which is to be mounted in a cut-out in a countertop. 
       2. Description of the Prior Art 
       [0002]    Kitchen sinks are usually mounted in a cut-out in a countertop, with the mounting-part being bent from sheet metal (e.g., stainless steel sheet), and resting with its edge regions, which extend beyond the cut-out, on the countertop. Kitchen sinks are usually provided with numerous mounting elements below the edge region, which elements can engage the countertop and with the above-mentioned edge region merging into a sloped splash wall towards the interior of the mounting-part. At the lower end of the splash wall, the other common functional areas of the mounting-part follow, such as a sink basin, drainer, or the like. 
         [0003]    A general problem for integrating such kitchen sinks lies in fact that the mounting elements that engage the countertop are accessible from the bottom only. The assembly is therefore awkward and must occur in a tight space. Additionally, a considerable expense in production technology is necessary in order to integrate the mounting elements at the edge of the sink. 
         [0004]    Generally the sink is provided with mounting bars near its exterior sides extending downward, which extend into the cut-out of the countertop and at which numerous mounting elements are arranged in spaced-apart manner around the circumference of the sink. The mounting bars are either separate parts welded to the bottom of the sink, or they are directly formed by several folds of the rim of the sink. Thus, the sink is provided with a crimped rim, which first extends inwardly towards the cut-out of the countertop and then extends downwardly inside the cut-out of the countertop. Both arrangements lead to an increased production expense of the sink. Additionally, they require a relatively wide overhang of the edge region of the sink so that sufficient space remains for the mounting bars (and in particular for the fastening elements) between the sink basin and the cut-out of the countertop. These problems exist regardless of whether the mounting elements are embodied as clamping screws, or as autonomously acting bracing springs. 
         [0005]    To address these problems, attempts have been made to mount the sink to the countertop using an adhesive. Unfortunately, such adhesive connections have not proven reliable in the long run. 
         [0006]    Thus, there remains a need for a kitchen sink mounting mechanism that overcomes the drawbacks described hereinabove. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a mounting part for an apparatus to be mounted into a cut-out of a countertop. The mounting part includes a rail member having a front wall with a plurality of notches, and a latch member defining an internal cross-sectional space for receiving the rail member in a manner such that the latch member is able to travel along the rail member. The latch member has a front wall with an extension having a terminal end that extends inwardly towards the rail member and which is adapted to be seated in one of the notches, with the latch member being pivotable with respect to the front wall of the rail member. A catch member is pivotably secured to the latch member, the catch member having an end edge for contacting the underside of a countertop. The mounting part also includes a pull member for pulling the latch member and the catch member upwardly to cause the curved terminal end to be seated into a different notch, and to cause the end edge of the catch member to contact the underside of a countertop. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a kitchen sink having a plurality of mounting parts according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the mounting part of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the mounting part of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting part of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the mounting part of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side plan view showing the mounting part of  FIG. 1  on a kitchen sink. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional countertop  10 , which rests on a bottom cabinet. A sink  12  according to the present invention can be formed from a single-layer of sheet metal (e.g., stainless steel), and can be installed in a cut-out  18  of the countertop  10 . The sink  12  has a basin  14  and other conventional components that are usually found in kitchen sinks, including but not limited to a faucet, a drainer, etc. The sink  12  has a horizontal, single-layered edge region  16  that extends beyond the cut-out  18 , before it merges inwardly into a steeply sloped splash wall  20 . The edge region  16  and the splash wall  20  have the same constant thickness as the other areas of the sink  12 . The edge region  16  and the splash wall  20  also extend in the circumferential direction around the entire sink  12 . The lower end of the splash wall  20  is bent horizontally inwardly and in the position of the cross-section according to  FIG. 6 , it acts as a frame for the basin  14  welded thereto from below. It is also possible for the basin  14  to be formed immediately into the sink  12  by way of deep-drawing such that the lower end of the splash wall  20  transitions into the basin  14  in a single piece. 
         [0016]    The edge region  16  is slightly bent downward at its exterior edge towards the splash wall  20 . This results here in a tight pressure against the countertop  10  and allows the gap developing behind the fold between the edge region  16  and the countertop  10  to be filled with silicone. 
         [0017]    Additionally, it is essential that the splash wall  20  is sized such that it can immediately accept mounting parts  30  on its exterior side. These mounting parts  30  can be spaced apart around the circumference of the splash wall  20 , and as illustrated herein, there can be six mounting parts  30 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , each mounting part  30  has a U-shaped rail member  32 , a traveling latch member  34 , a countertop support member  36 , a catch member  38  pivotably secured to the latch member  34 , a locking and release mechanism  40  positioned inside the latch member  34 , and pull member  42 . 
         [0019]    The rail member  32  is generally U-shaped and elongated, having a front or base wall  50  and two side walls  52 . A plurality of angled slits or notches  54  are arranged in a vertical row along the base wall  50 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each slit or notch  54  has a generally rectangular opening with an angled ramp  53  extending into the opening of the slit or notch  54 . A pair of aligned holes  56  are provided along the side walls  52  to receive opposite shafts of a roller bar  58  that is retained between the side walls  52  at the location of the holes  56 . The pull member  42  is flexible wire or strong string member and is supported like a pulley on the bar  58 , with the pull member  42  extending out of an opening  55  on the base wall  50  so that the pull member  42  extends along the outside of the base wall  50  and terminates at an enlarged head  60 . The opposite end of the pull member  42  has a loop  62  through which a user can insert a finger or a tool (e.g., a screwdriver). 
         [0020]    The latch member  34  has four walls, a longer front wall  64 , two side walls  66  and  68 , and a rear wall  70 . The side walls  66  and  68  and the rear wall  70  are about the same dimension and function to encircle a space inside the latch member  34  that will allow the rail member  32  to be fitted loosely inside. The front wall  64  has an upper extension  72  that supports a pair of opposing ears  74  on its front surface. The catch member  38  has a pair of ears  76  that are aligned with and correspond to the ears  74 , and each of the ears  74  and  76  has a hole provided therethrough for receiving a shaft  78  that is inserted through the holes of these ears  74  and  76  so as to provide a pivoting connection of the catch member  38  at the location of the ears  74 . A resilient member  138  (e.g., spring) is carried on the shaft  78  and is adapted to normally bias a curved base section  96  of the catch piece  38  (described below) towards the rail member  32 . The latch member  34  also has a lower extension  80  that that is curved or arched inwardly, with a terminal end  82  of the lower extension  80  adapted to be inserted into one of the plurality of slits or notches  54 . In addition, the latch member  34  also has an elastic tongue  81  cut from a central portion of the front wall  64 , with a curved extension  83  arched inwardly, with another terminal end  85  of the tongue  81  adapted to be inserted into one of the plurality of slits or notches  54 . 
         [0021]    The support member  36  has a an L-shaped piece that includes a vertical central section  86  having a horizontal support section  88  extending from one edge thereof, with the horizontal support section  88  adapted to be seated flat against the underside of the edge region  16 . Two arm pieces  90  extend horizontally from the other edge of the vertical central section  86  and are seated on the top edges of the side walls  52 . The arm pieces  90  support the underside of the lower end of the splash wall  20 . 
         [0022]    The catch member  38  has a curved base section  96  where the ears  76  are provided on opposite ends. A tongue  98  extends from the lower edge of the base section  96  and has an opening  102  that allows for the end of the pull member  42  to extend therethrough so that its enlarged head  60  is secured outside the tongue  98  to secure the tongue  98  to the end of the pull member  42 . See  FIG. 2 . A flexible elongated grabber piece  104  extends at an angle from the upper edge of the base section  96 , and has a concave upper edge  106  (i.e., extending inwardly towards the base wall  50 ) with two end points  108  that extend outwardly. The grabber piece  104 , and in particular, the end points  104 , are adapted to contact and grip the underside of the countertop  10  when the kitchen sink  12  has been installed. 
         [0023]    The locking and release mechanism  40  includes a generally cylindrical member  110 , a pusher  112  and a screw  114 . Referring also to  FIG. 5 , the cylindrical member  110  has a circular threaded bore  120  that extends from the bottom of the cylindrical member  110  to about the center thereof, and an elongated slot  122  that extends from the top of the cylindrical member  110  to about the center thereof. The bore  120  and the slot  122  can overlap each other, as best shown in  FIG. 4 . The pusher  112  is a thin piece having an opening  124  at one corner that allows for the pusher  112  to be pivotally connected inside the slot  122  via an opening  126  in the cylindrical member  110  and a shaft  128 . The pusher  112  also has an angled edge  130  that faces the inside of the slot  122 , and a pushing edge  132  opposite the angled edge  130 . The screw  114  is adapted to be threadably screwed into the threaded bore  120 , and as the screw  114  advances into the bore  120 . it pushes against the angled edge  130 , causing the pusher  112  to be pivotably pushed outward from the slot  122  (see arrow  134  in  FIG. 5 ). If the screw  114  is removed from the slot  122 , the pusher  112  will naturally pivot back into the slot  122  under the force of gravity. 
         [0024]    In operation, a plurality of mounting parts  30  can be spaced apart around the circumference of the splash wall  20 , and as illustrated herein, there can be six mounting parts  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the horizontal support section  88  is seated flat against the underside of the edge region  16 . At the beginning of installation, the screw  114  is slightly threaded into the slot  122  so that the screw  114  does not push against the angled edge  130  of the pusher  112 . Since the edge  130  is angled, the screw  114  will only start pushing against the edge  130  when it is screwed further into the  120 . In this pre-installation position, the spring  138  normally biases the base section  96  of the catch piece  38  towards the rail member  32  along the pivot axis defined by the shaft  78 . Since the latch member  34  is also carried and pivoted along this same pivot axis of the shaft  78 , the front wall  64  of the latch member  34  is also biased (pivoted) towards the rail member  32 , which in turn causes one of the terminal ends  82  and  85  of the extensions  80  and  83 , respectively, to be pushed into and against a corresponding slit or notch  54 . 
         [0025]    The sink  12  is then placed through the cut-out  18  of the countertop  10 , and then the user opens the cabinet door under the countertop and pulls down on the loop  62 . With a strong pulling force on the loop  62 , the pull member  42  will pull the latch member  34  (and the support member  36  carried thereon) upwardly until the grabber piece  104  (and in particular, the end points  104 ) contacts the underside of the countertop  10  so as to grip the countertop  10 . Since one of the terminal ends  82  or  85  is secured in a specific slit or notch  54  prior to pulling of the loop  62 , a good pulling force (e.g., using a screwdriver inserted through the loop  62 ) is required to force the terminal end  82  or  85  out of its slit or notch  54  and to cause it to click through the adjacent slits/notches  54  until one of the terminal ends  82  or  85  reaches the slit/notch  54  where the grabber piece  104  contacts the underside of the countertop  10 . In addition, the angled ramps  53  allow the terminal end  82  or  85  to be slid into the next slit/notch  54  upon receipt of the pulling force. At that point, one terminal end  82  or  85  will be secured in the new slit/notch  54  and cannot be removed, thereby ensuring a secure grip of the grabber piece  104  against the underside of the countertop  10 . 
         [0026]    The distance between the terminal ends  82  and  85  is preferably about greater than the distance between adjacent notches  54  by a factor of 0.5. Therefore, the distance between the terminal ends  82  and  85  can be 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, (etc.) times the distance between adjacent notches  54 . The reason for this arrangement is to provide for a more secure grip of the end points  104  against the underside of the counter-top. Specifically, if only one terminal end  82  or  85  was provided, it would be possible for the one terminal end to be secured inside a slit/notch  54  with a slight gap existing between the end points  104  and the underside of the countertop  10 . But by providing two separate terminal ends  82  and  85  that are spaced apart by a distance that is greater than the distance of adjacent notches  54  by a factor of 0.5, it is now possible for one terminal end  82  or  85  to be secured inside a notch  54  with the other terminal end  85  or  82  outside all the notches  54 , so as to provide a closer fit and a smaller gap between the end points  104  and the underside of the countertop  10 . Here, the distance between adjacent notches  54  can be about 2 mm, so the distance between the terminal ends  82  and  85  can be 3 mm, 5 mm or 7 mm. 
         [0027]    To remove or un-install the sink  12 , the user will need to screw the screws  114  into the bore  120  so that the screw  114  pushes against the angled edge  130 . As best shown in  FIG. 5 , when the screw  114  pushes against the angled edge  130 , it pivots the pusher  112  outwardly, thereby pushing the terminal ends  82  and  85  away from the slits/notches  54  against the bias of the spring  138 . This allows the latch members  34  to be slid downwardly to separate the end points  104  from the underside of the countertop  10 . 
         [0028]    Thus, the present invention provides a mounting part  30  that can be very easily and quickly deployed to grip the underside of the countertop  10  and secure a kitchen sink  12  to a cut-out  18  in the countertop  10 . The user simply pulls the loop  62  on the pull member  42  and the installation is complete. To remove the kitchen sink  12 , the user simply screws the screws  114  into the bores  120 , pulls down the latch members  34 , and removes the kitchen sink  12  from the cut-out  18 . The mounting part  30  has a simple construction which minimizes production costs. 
         [0029]    The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.