Sink and cabinet guards

A method, system, apparatus, or device to protect a sink or a cabinet. An apparatus may include a substrate, a guard wall, a first fastening wall, and a second fastening wall. The substrate may extend along a plane and include a top surface and a bottom surface. The guard wall may extend along at least part of a perimeter of the substrate. The first fastening wall may extend downwardly from a first edge of the substrate. The second fastening wall may extend downwardly from a second edge of the substrate.

BACKGROUND

In many homes and businesses, a significant investment is made into cabinets, such as wood or wood faced cabinets. In kitchens, laundry rooms, and other rooms with sinks, the cabinets may include a cabinet top with a sink to wash items, fill water containers, and otherwise access water. As individuals use the sinks, water and other substances may splash from the sink and fall to the face of the cabinets along the cabinet tops and/or below the sink. The splashes may discolor, warp or otherwise damage the cabinets. Additionally, as items are placed in the sink and/or taken out of the sink, the items may hit and damage the sink or the cabinets.

SUMMARY

A method, system, apparatus, or device to protect a sink or a cabinet. In one example, the apparatus may include a substrate that extends along a plane and includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The apparatus may include a guard wall that extends along at least part of a perimeter of the substrate. The apparatus may include a first fastening wall that extends downwardly from a first edge of the substrate. The apparatus may include a second fastening wall that extends downwardly from a second edge of the substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed sink and cabinets guards will become better understood through a review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered and not depart from the scope of the embodiments described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, the contemplated variations may not be individually described in the following detailed description.

Homes and businesses often include multiple rooms with cabinets. The cabinets may serve as a place to store objects. The cabinets may also serve as an aesthetically pleasing decoration for the homes and businesses. The cabinets may represent a costly investment, especially when the cabinets includes wood material.

For some rooms, a sink may be integrated into the cabinets or attached to the cabinets. Individuals may use the sinks to wash items and/or get water from a faucet of the sink. For example, an individual may use a sink in a bathroom or laundry room to wash his/her hands. In another example, an individual may partially fill the sink with water in a kitchen and use the water to clean objects, such a dishes, pots, pans, cups, silverware, and so forth.

During use of the sink, water, food, or other substances may splash from the sink and fall onto the cabinets. The splashes may discolor, warp or otherwise damage the face of the cabinet under the sink. Additionally, as items are placed into the sink, used in the sink, and/or taken out of the sink, the items may hit the sink and/or the cabinets. When the items strike the sink and/or cabinet, the strike may damage the sink and/or cabinets. For example, as an individual uses a sink in a kitchen to wash pots and pans, the individual may accidentally strike the pots and pans against a side or edge of the sink or cabinets. As the pots and pans strike the sink or cabinets, the strike may chip, bend, or scratch the sink or cabinets, reducing the value and aesthetic appeal of the sink or cabinets.

Implementations of the disclosure address the above-mentioned deficiencies and other deficiencies by providing a method, system, device, or apparatus to guard and protect the sink and/or cabinets during use. The guard may attach to the sink or cabinets and provide a protective substrate that shields the sink and/or cabinets from liquids, strikes, and other damage. In one embodiment, the guard may include a substrate that extends along a plane that attaches to a surface of the sink or cabinets. The substrate may include one or more guard walls that extend upward from the plane of the substrate. The guard wall(s) may provide a barrier to catch liquids, such as water that may accidentally leave the sink, such as water that splashes from the sink as dishes are being washed. The substrate may include a channel to direct the liquids back into the sink. The substrate may also include one or more fastening walls that extend downward from the plane of the substrate. The fastening wall(s) may hang over an edge or lip of the sink or cabinets to reduce or eliminate a movement of the substrate, thereby keeping the guard in place during use.

FIG. 1Aillustrates a guard100attached to a sink102, according to an embodiment. The sink102may be a fixed basin with side walls104, a bottom wall, a water supply106, and a drain. The side walls104and the bottom wall may form a closed container that may hold water that is supplied by the water supply106. The water supply106may be a faucet that attaches to a water pipe. When the faucet is in an open position, the faucet may allow water to flowing into the sink102. When the faucet is in a closed position, the faucet may stop the water from flow into the sink102.

The side walls104and the bottom wall may form a water-tight bowl that may hold water and other objects within the bowl. The drain may be located along a side wall104or the bottom wall. When the drain is closed, the sink102may hold the liquids and other objects within the bowl. When the drain is open, the drain may allow the liquids and other substances to drain from the bowl into a conduit leading away from the sink102. For example, the drain may be connected to a pipe connecting to a sewage system or a water recycling system.

In one embodiment, the sink102may be attached to a cabinet108. For example, the cabinet108may include a lip110with an opening that extends around a perimeter of the sink102. In one example, the lip110may be part of a countertop of the cabinet108. In another example, the cabinet108may refer to a single a cupboard, bureau, bookcase, chest of drawers, sideboard, dresser, credenza, highboy, tallboy, wardrobe, chiffonier, armoiré, wall unit, countertop, and so forth. In another example, the cabinet108may refer to multiple cupboards, bureaus, bookcases, chests of drawers, sideboards, dressers, credenzas, highboys, tallboys, wardrobes, chiffoniers, armoirés, wall units, countertops, and so forth. In one example, the lip110may be a portion of the cabinet that extends around an edge of an opening that is shaped to receive the sink102. The sink102may include a rim112that extends over at least a portion of the lip110of the cabinet108. For example, the rim112may be an outer perimeter edge of the sink102that extends perpendicularly from one or more side walls104of the sink102. The rim112may be attached to the lip110of the sink102so that the lip110of the sink102may rest on top of the rim112and at least a portion of the rim112overlaps the lip110. In one example, the rim112may be attached to the lip110with adhesive, a fastener, caulk, and so forth. In another example, the rim112may rest on top of the lip110and remain in place via gravity and friction.

In another embodiment, the sink102may be integrated into the cabinet108. The rim112may be integrated into the lip110of the cabinet such that the rim112is not exposed to a view of the user. In one example, the rim112may be mounted to a bottom side of the lip110such that the sink appears to be integrated into the cabinet, also referred to as an under-mounted sink.

The guard100may be configured to attach to the lip110and/or the rim112. In one embodiment, the guard100may include a substrate116. The substrate116may be a planar or flat substrate that may attach or rest on the lip110and/or the rim112. For example, the lip110and/or the rim112may form a flat or horizontal plane. In another example, the lip110and/or the rim112may form a substantially flat or substantially horizontal plane, where the lip110and the rim112are slightly uneven with each other (such as one extending above the other by 1 mm-25 mm). The substrate116may rest on the flat or horizontal plane and extend along another flat or horizontal plane that runs parallel to the flat or horizontal plane of the lip110and/or the rim112. In one example, the substrate116may attach to the lip110and/or the rim112by a fastener. The fastener may be a suction cup, adhesive, screws, magnets, and so forth. In another example, the substrate116may attach to the lip110and/or the rim112by a friction fit and/or gravity.

The substrate116may be made of a material that may protect or shield the sink102and/or cabinet108from liquids, strikes, and other damage. In one example, the substrate116may be a material such as plastic, rubber, polyurethane, and so forth that may absorb or disperse strikes from objects and provide a protective cushion against the objects damaging the sink102and/or cabinet108. The plastic, rubber, polyurethane, or other material may be a relatively soft and non-abrasive material that may not scratch or mark the sink102and/or cabinet108as the guard100attaches to or rests on the lip110and/or the rim112. In another example, the substrate may be metal that is rust-resistant and may be a durable material to withstand multiple strikes without damage.

The substrate may include one or more guard walls118that extend upward from the plane of the substrate116. In one example, the guard walls118may extend perpendicularly from the plane of the substrate116. In one embodiment, the guard walls118may extend along multiple sides or edges of the substrate. For example, the guard walls may extend along each side of the substrate116and along a back of the substrate116to provide a barrier to catch liquids, such as water that may accidentally splash from the sink. The front of the substrate may not include a guard wall118so that liquids and/or other substances caught by the guard walls118and the substrate116may flow back into the sink102. The front of the substrate may be the portion of the substrate facing the sink102. In one example, the substrate116may include a channel to direct the liquids and/or substances back into the sink102. In another example, the substrate116may gradually taper downwardly toward the sink to direct the liquids and/or other substances toward the sink102.

The substrate may also include a back fastening wall120and a front fastening wall122. In one embodiment, the back fastening wall120may extend from a back side of the substrate116downwardly toward the ground or a bottom of the sink102and/or the cabinet108. For example, the back fastening wall120may be coplanar to a guard wall118at the back of the guard100and perpendicular to the plane of the substrate116. The back fastening wall120may extend below the plane of the substrate116. In another embodiment, the back fastening wall120may be attached to or part of the guard wall118at the back of the guard100. For example, the back fastening wall120may be a portion of the guard wall118at the back of the guard100that continues to extend downwardly toward the ground or the bottom of the sink102and/or the cabinets108. In one example, when the guard100is attached to the lip110and/or rim112, the back fastening wall120may hang over an outer edge of the lip110of the cabinet108. The back fastening wall120may reduce or eliminate a movement of the guard100and keep the guard100in a fixed and stationary position.

In another embodiment, the front fastening wall122may extend from a bottom surface approximate a front side or portion of the substrate116downwardly toward the ground or a bottom of the sink102and/or the cabinet108. For example, the front fastening wall122may extend perpendicularly from the plane of the substrate116and extend below the plane of the substrate116. In another embodiment, the front fastening wall120may be attached to or be part of the substrate116at the front of the guard100. As discussed above, guard100may include an open face at a front of the guard100to allow liquids and/or other substances to be caught by the guard walls118and be channeled back into the sink102. The front fastening wall122may extend downwardly or perpendicularly from the substrate116to aid in fastening the guard100to the lip110and/or rim112while not obstructing the liquid and other substances from being channeled back into the sink102.

In one example, when the guard100is attached to the lip110and/or the rim112, the back fastening wall120may hang over an outer edge of lip110of the cabinet108. In another example, when the guard100is attached to the lip110and/or the rim112, the front fastening wall122may hang over an inner edge of the rim112. The front fastening wall may include multiple sub-walls122a-dthat may be adjusted to accommodate sinks102and cabinets108with various sizes of lips110and rims112, respectively.

The back fastening wall120may extend over the outer edge of the lip110and the front fastening wall122may extend over the inner edge of the rim112, the guard100may conform around a portion of the cabinet108and the sink102to reduce or eliminate a movement of the guard100and keep the guard100in a fixed and stationary position. In one example, the guard100may be removably attached to the sink102and the cabinet108such that when the guard100is attached to the sink102and the cabinet108the guard is fixed and stationary and when a user desires to remove the guard100from the sink102and cabinet108, the guard may be easily removed. In one example, when the back fastening wall120extends of the lip110and the front fastening wall122extends over the rim112, they may form a friction fit with the lip110and the rim122.

FIG. 1Billustrates the guard100including protrusions124extending upwardly from the substrate116, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 1Bare the same or similar to some of the features inFIG. 1Aas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise. As discussed above, the substrate116may be made of a material that may protect or shield the sink102and/or cabinet108from liquids, strikes, and other damage. The substrate116may also include the protrusions124extending upwardly from the substrate, relative to the lip110and the rim112. In one example, the protrusions124may extend perpendicularly from the plane of the substrate116. In one embodiment, the protrusions124may provide an abrasive surface for an individual to scrub an object126. In one example, the object126may be silverware or dinnerware. In another example, the object126may be a pot, a pan, a pitcher, a container, or another object washed in the sink102.

In one embodiment, the protrusions124may be bumps, lumps, knobs, hooks, filaments, and so forth that extend from the plane of the substrate116. In another embodiment, the protrusions124may be a sponge or a sponge material, bristles, a foam, and so forth that cover at least a portion of a top surface of the substrate116. In one example, the protrusions124may be made of flexible material, such as rubber or polyurethane, that may flex or bend as the object126is scrubbed against the protrusions124. In another example, the protrusions124may be a stiff or inflexible material, such as a hard plastic or metal, that may not flex or bend as the object126is scrubbed against the protrusions124. The protrusions124may aid a user as they wash objects in the sink102because the individual may not need to use a separate sponge or scrubbing device to remove particles from the object126. Additionally, the protrusions124may be connected to the substrate116that is fixed to the sink102and/or cabinet108and remain stationary as the object126is scrubbed against the protrusions124. In one embodiment, when the substrate116remains stationary and fixed, the protrusions may provide a fixed scrubbing surface for the user to scrub against while removing particles from the object126that may be difficult to remove using a conventional non-stationary scrubbing apparatus. In another embodiment, the protrusions may be removably connected to the substrate116. For example, when the protrusions124are a sponge or a foam, the sponge or foam may be removed from the substrate116so that the sponge or foam may be used to further clean the object126and/or so that the individual may wash the sponge or foam.

In one embodiment, the protrusions124may extend across the entire top surface of the substrate116between the guard walls118. In another embodiment, the protrusions124may extend across a first portion of the top surface of the substrate116and a second portion of the surface of the substrate116may not include the protrusions124. For example, the substrate116may include an indicia portion128where indicia may be printed or inscribed onto the substrate116. The indicia may include a logo, instructions, a disclaimer, and so forth.

In another embodiment, the first portion of the top surface of the substrate116may include protrusions124with a first shape and the second portion of the top surface of the substrate116may include protrusions with a second shape. For example, the protrusions124with the first shape may be bumps that extend from the top surface of the substrate116that a user may use to remove a first substance from the object126and the protrusions128with the second shape may be hooks that extend from the top surface of the substrate116that a user may use to remove a second substance. The differently shaped protrusions124may also be used by the user to scrub different types of objects or different shapes of objects against. In another embodiment, the differently shaped protrusions124may be intermixed across the surface of the substrate116. The particles or substances removed from the object126may include food particles, oil, rust, biodegradable material, non-biodegradable material, and so forth.

FIG. 1Cillustrates the guard100protecting the sink102and cabinet108from a strike by an object130, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 1Care the same or similar to some of the features inFIGS. 1A-1Bas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise. As discussed above, the guard100may be attached to a portion of the sink102and/or the cabinet108.

When the guard100is attached to the sink102and/or cabinet108, the guard may provide a protective buffer to shield the sink102and/or the cabinet108from being struck by the object130. For example, the object130may be a dirty pot or pan that an individual is washing in the sink102. As the individual washes the object130, the individual may accidentally or carelessly strike the object130against the sink102and/or the cabinet108. When the sink102and/or the cabinet108are unprotected, the strike may damage the sink102and/or the cabinet108.

The guard100may protect the sink102and the cabinet108from the strike by providing a protective buffer between the object130and the sink102and/or the cabinet108. When the individual is washing the object130and accidentally or carelessly moves to strike the object130against the sink102and/or cabinet108, the guard100may absorb the force of the strike to protect the sink102and/or cabinet108from being damaged. In one example, to absorb the force of the strike, the guard100may be formed from a force-absorbing material that flexes and disperses the force across the guard.

The material may be rubber, plastic, polyurethane, and so forth. In another example, to absorb the force of the strike, the guard may have a minimal thickness so that the force is dispersed across the guard100and not through the guard100to the sink102and/or cabinet108. In one embodiment, any part or portion of the guard100may be at least6millimeters (mm) thick. In another example, the protrusions124of the guard100may further absorb the force from the strike as the protrusions124may flex and bend as the object130strikes the protrusions.

FIGS. 1A-Cillustrate a sink102with a single basin, however the single basin is not intended to be limiting. For example, the sink102may include two basins, where one of the basins may be for rinsing objects and the other basin is for washing the objects. In another example, the sink102may include multiple basins. The guard100may be attached to a sink102with a single basin or a sink with multiple basins. The size and shape of the sink102is not intended to be limiting. The size and shape of the sink102may vary based on a size or shape of the cabinet(s)108, a configuration of a room where the sink102is located, and/or a personal preference of an individual desiring to use the sink.

FIG. 2Aillustrates a bottom perspective view of the guard100, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 2Aare the same or similar to some of the features inFIGS. 1A-1Cas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise. As discussed above, when the guard100is attached to the lip110and/or rim112, the back fastening wall120may hang over an outer edge of lip110of the cabinet108and the front fastening wall122may hang over an inner edge of the rim112inFIG. 1A.

As a width of the lip110and/or the rim112inFIG. 1Amay vary, the front fastening wall may include multiple sub-walls122a-dthat may be adjusted to accommodate sinks102and cabinets108with various sizes of lips110and/or rims112, respectively. Each of the sub-walls122a-dmay be spaced apart by a defined amount. In one example, the sub-walls122a-dmay be spaced apart by 5 mm. In another example, the sub-walls122a-dmay be spaced apart by 15 mm.

In one example, when the width of the lip110and/or the rim112is relatively small, such as approximately 25 mm, the sub-wall122dmay hang over the inner edge of the rim112while the back fastening wall120may hang over the outer edge of the lip110. In another example, when the width of the lip110and/or the rim112is relatively large, such as approximately 50 mm in width, the sub-walls122b-dmay be removed from the substrate116and the sub-wall122amay hang over the inner edge of the rim112while the back fastening wall120may hang over the outer edge of the lip110. The number and spacing of the sub-walls122a-dare not intended to be limiting. For example, the guard100may include a single sub-wall when the guard is not adjustable for the width of the lip110and/or the rim112. In another example, the guard100may include multiple sub walls to increase or decrease an adjustability of the guard for the width of the lip110and/or the rim112.

In one embodiment, an edge of one or more of the sub-walls122a-dmay be perforated along an edge attaching the sub-walls122a-dto the substrate116so that an individual may tear one or more of the sub-walls122a-dfrom the substrate116. In another embodiment, the sub-walls122a-dmay be made of a material that may be cut by the individual to decrease the number of sub-walls122a-dfor a relatively wide lip110and/or rim112.

In one embodiment, one or more of the sub-walls122a-dmay include protrusions202a-c. In one example, the protrusions202a-cmay each be a bump or hump extending from the front surfaces of the sub-walls122a-dand at least partially extending along a height or y-axis of the sub-walls122a-d. In another embodiment, one or more of the sub-walls122a-dmay include grooves204a-c. In one example, the grooves204a-cmay each be a channel or a depression extending into the back surfaces of the sub-walls122a-dand at least partially extending along a height or y-axis of the sub-walls122a-d.

In one embodiment, the spacing and location of the protrusions202a-calong the front surface of the sub-walls122a-dmay correspond with the spacing and location of the grooves204a-calong the back surface of the sub-walls122a-d. For example, the spacing and location of protrusion202aalong the front surface may correspond with the spacing and location of groove204aalong the back surface, the spacing and location of protrusion202balong the front surface may correspond with the spacing and location of groove204balong the back surface, and the spacing and location of protrusion202calong the front surface may correspond with the spacing and location of groove204calong the back surface. The number, spacing, size, and location of protrusions202a-cand/or grooves204a-cis not intended to be limiting. For example, the sub-walls122a-dmay include a single protrusion or groove and/or multiple protrusions or grooves.

The substrate116may include grooves206a-c. The grooves206a-cmay each be a channel or depression extending into the bottom surface of the substrate116and at least partially extending along a width or x-axis of the substrate116. The number of grooves206a-cis not intended to be limiting. For example, the substrate116may include a single groove or multiple grooves.

In one embodiment, the spacing and location of the protrusions202a-calong the front surface of the sub-walls122a-dmay correspond with the spacing and location of the grooves206a-calong the bottom surface of the substrate116. For example, the spacing and location of protrusion202aalong the front surface of the sub-wall122amay correspond with the spacing and location of groove206aalong the bottom surface of the substrate116, the spacing and location of protrusion202balong the front surface of the sub-wall122amay correspond with the spacing and location of groove206balong the bottom surface of the substrate116, and the spacing and location of protrusion202calong the front surface of the sub-wall122amay correspond with the spacing and location of groove206calong the bottom surface of the substrate116. The number, spacing, size, and location of the grooves206a-care not intended to be limiting.

In another embodiment, one or more of the sub-walls122a-dmay be used to level a height of at least a portion of the substrate116. For example, the lip110of the sink102and the rim112of the cabinet108inFIG. 1Amay create an uneven surface for the guard100to rest on when the guard is attached to the sink102and/or cabinet108.

In one example, to level the guard100so that the substrate116extends along a relatively flat and horizontal plane relative to the sink102, one or more of the sub-walls122a-dmay be inserted below the substrate116to level or slope the substrate116. In another example, to raise a height of a back portion of the substrate116above a height of the front portion of the substrate116so that the substrate116slopes downwardly toward the sink102, one or more of the sub-walls122a-dmay be inserted below the substrate116to level or slope the substrate116. The substrate116may be sloped downwardly so that liquids and other substances may be directed from the substrate116into the sink102by gravity. In one example, the downward slope may range from 1 degree to 15 degrees. In another example, the downward slope may range from 1 degree to 50 degrees.

In one embodiment, to level or slope the substrate116, one of the sub-walls122a-d(such as122d) may be detached from the substrate116. When any sub-wall122a-cis detached from the substrate116, any sub-wall122a-cmay be placed below the substrate116with the protrusions202a-cbeing inserted into the corresponding grooves206a-c.

When a single sub-wall122a-dis insufficient to level or slope the substrate116, multiple walls may be stacked beneath the substrate116. For example, the first sub-wall122aand the second sub-wall122bmay be removed from the substrate116. Once removed, the protrusions202a-cof the first sub-wall122amay be inserted into grooves206a-cand the protrusions202a-cof the second sub-wall122bmay be inserted into grooves202a-cof the first sub-wall122a. The number of sub-walls used to level or slope the substrate116is not intended to be limiting. For example, a single sub-wall or multiple sub-walls may be used to level or slope the substrate116.

FIG. 2Billustrates the sub-walls122c-dbeing detached from the substrate116ofFIGS. 1A-2A, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 2Bare the same or similar to some of the features inFIGS. 1A-2Aas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise. As discussed above, the sub-walls122c-dmay be removed from the substrate116in a variety of ways. For example, an edge of the sub-walls122c-dmay be perforated along an edge attaching the sub-walls122c-dto the substrate116so that an individual may tear the sub-walls122c-dfrom the substrate116. In another embodiment, the sub-walls122c-dmay be made of a material that may be cut by the individual to decrease the number of sub-wall122c-dfor a relatively wide lip110and/or rim112.FIG. 2Bshows the sub-wall122dhas been removed from the substrate116and the sub-wall122cis in the process of being detached from the substrate116.

FIG. 2Cillustrates the sub-wall122dbeing detached from the substrate116ofFIGS. 1A-2B, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 2Care the same or similar to some of the features inFIGS. 1A-2Bas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise. As discussed above, the sub-wall122amay be removed from the substrate116. Once the sub-wall122ahas been detached from the substrate116, the protrusions202a-cof the sub-wall122dmay be inserted into the corresponding grooves206a-calong the bottom surface of the substrate116, as shown inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 2Dillustrates the sub-walls122c-dleveling or sloping the substrate116relative to the lip110and the rim112, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 2Dare the same or similar to some of the features inFIGS. 1A-2Cas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise. In one embodiment, the sub-walls122c-dmay be removed from the substrate116and be used to level a height of at least a portion of the substrate116relative to the lip110and the rim112.

In one embodiment, the lip110of the sink102and the rim112of the cabinet108inFIG. 1Amay create an uneven surface for the guard100to rest on when the guard is attached to the sink102and/or cabinet108. For example, the lip110may extend to a height above a horizontal plane of the rim112when the sink102is installed to the cabinet108.

In one embodiment, the sub-walls122cand122dmay be inserted into the grooves206a-cofFIG. 2Ato level the guard100so that the substrate116extends along a relatively flat and horizontal plane relative to the lip110and the rim112so that the guard may retain substances splashed into the guard from the sink102or drain the substances back into the sink102. For example, to level the substrate116, the sub-walls122cand122dmay be detached from the substrate116. When the sub-walls122cand122dare detached from the substrate116, the sub-wall122dmay be placed below the substrate116with the protrusions202a-cof sub-wall122dbeing inserted into the corresponding grooves206a-c. In this example, the protrusions202a-cof sub-wall122cmay be inserted into the corresponding grooves204a-cof sub-wall122c.

In another embodiment, when the user of the guard100desires the guard100to slope downwardly toward the sink102at a defined angle so that liquid or other substances may drain from the guard into the sink, the user may remove one or more additional sub-walls122aand/or122b. For example, when the user desires a slight downward slope of the guard100(such as a 1-15 degree downward angle), the user may detach the sub-wall122aor122bfrom the substrate116. In one example, the user may detach sub-wall122aand leave sub-wall122battached so that sub-wall122bmay be used to aid the guard in remaining connected to the sink102and cabinet108while having the sub-wall122aavailable to slope the guard100downward. In this example, the protrusions202a-cof sub-wall122amay be inserted into the grooves204a-cof sub-wall122cto change the guard from being substantially level with the lip110and the rim112to sloping downwardly toward the cavity of the sink102. The number of sub-walls used to level or slope the substrate116is not intended to be limiting. For example, a single sub-wall or multiple sub-walls may be used to level or slope the substrate116.

Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed embodiments that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Embodiments embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same embodiment or a different embodiment and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the embodiments described herein.