Sink unit

Abstract: There is disclosed a sink unit of one piece formation (10) which comprises at least one bowl (11, 12) and an adjoinging drainer (13). The unit (10) is adapted to be mounted on an apertured worktop (14) with the bowl(s) (11 and 12) located in an aperture or cut out (15) and the drainer (13) being supported by an adjoining supporting surface (16) of the worktop (14). The underside of the drainer (13) is provided with one or more strengthening ribs (17) which engage the supporting surface (16) in order to support the drainer (13).

Description: This invention relates to a sink unit which is intended to be mounted on a working surface or "work top", and which includes at least one bowl and an adjoining drainer. In modern kitchen installations, the sink unit is usually mounted in position in an aperture or apertures formed or provided in a work top, and the sink has at least one bowl and an adjoining drainer. The bowl and the drainer are usually of one piece formation, and in the past were made of cast iron, but more recently have been made of stainless steel and plastics material, such as polycarbonates and suitable thermoplastic materials. When sink units have been made from fairly stiff materials, such as marble, ceramic or asterite plastics material, the sink unit itself has sufficient rigidity to withstand any loadings applied to the unit in use. However, with the use of the more plyable modern materials, the drainer area especially of the sink suffers from flexing problems and has a generally unstable feel about it, especially when heavy utensils are placed on the drainer area. However, in the interests of saving in material costs, it is necessary for the wall thickness of the sink unit (mouldings or pressings to suit manufacturing convenience) to be reduced as much as possible, but there is a limitation as to how thin the walls can be made by reason of the loss of rigidity which inevitably accompanies wall thickness reduction. It is the present practice for the entire sink unit (usually a large bowl, an adjacent smaller bowl and an adjoining drainer) to be lowered into position into a single aperture formed in the work top, and the unit has a peripheral flange which bears upon the edge region of the aperture. Typically, the support for the unit is provided by a peripheral margin about 10 mm wide, and the remainder of the unit is therefore unsupported and is freely suspended from the peripheral margin. Bearing in mind the loading which will be applied to the unit when one or both bowls are filled with water and dishes, and with heavy utensils, such as pots placed on the drainer, this applies substantial internal stresses to the wall structure of the sink unit by virtue of the sole support provided via the narrow peripheral margin along the work top aperture edge. This therefore imposes a restriction on the minimum acceptable thickness to which the wall of the unit can be reduced, especially since flexing of the unit under load may cause anxiety or dissatisfaction in the minds of the users of the unit. It is known from DE-A-1944959 to make a one-piece sink and drainer unit which is mounted on the top edge of a housing containing a dishwasher unit. However, the drainer unit is only supported along the edges of the housing and is mounted by a sliding fit along these edges. Furthermore, the drainer unit has a moulded plastics foam on its underside so that it is of substantial thickness. By contrast, the invention is concerned with a sink unit of one-piece formation which is mounted in a work top in such a way that, despite the relative thinness of the drainer unit, the drainer still is adequately supported. It is also known from CH-A-165101 to provide a sink and drainer unit, in which the drainer is of thick construction having an elastic coating on its upper surface. The rigidity of the sink and drainer unit enables the combined units to be mounted on the upper edges of the walls of a lower cupboard. This known unit therefore does not address the problem which is solved by the invention, namely of providing a means providing rigidity to the drainer unit of a one-piece sink and drainer unit having small wall thickness for economy of material. The present invention therefore has been developed with a view to providing a sink unit of one-piece formation which can be better supported on a kitchen work top than in existing kitchen installations, and which also has improved internal strength. According to the invention there is provided a one-piece sink unit mounted in an apertured work top and comprising at least one bowl located in an aperture in the work top, and having a drainer adjoining the bowl, characterised in that the drainer is supported by a supporting surface of the work top adjacent to the aperture, and in that one or more strengthening ribs are provided on the underside of the drainer to engage the supporting surface. Therefore, in the mounting of the sink unit in the apertured work top, it is only necessary to form one aperture for the bowl, and the drainer is supported via its strengthening ribs on the adjoining supporting surface of the work top, and this therefore contributes significantly to increased rigidity of the sink unit, thereby permitting reduction in wall thickness of the one-piece formation without unacceptable loss of strength or rigidity. Preferably, the unit is moulded from plastics material or pressed from stainless steel, and may be provided with a large bowl and an adjacent smaller bowl, and with the drainer adjoining the smaller bowl. The underside of the drainer is preferably provided with a number of strengthening ribs arranged in successive V-formations and which may follow the contour on the upper side of the drainer. If required, foam or other padding may be provided between the underside of the drainer and said supporting surface. One embodiment of sink unit according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a one-piece sink unit according to the invention and mounted in position on an apertured kitchen work top; and, Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembled sink unit and work top. Referring now to the drawing, a sink unit of one-piece formation is designated generally by reference 10 and comprises at least one bowl and an adjoining drainer. The illustrated embodiment is provided with one large bowl 11, an adjacent smaller bowl 12, and a drainer 13 which adjoins the smaller bowl 12. The unit 10 is adapted to be mounted on an apertured work top 14 with the bowls 11 and 12 located in an aperture or cut-out 15 and the drainer 13 being supported by an adjoining supporting surface 16 of the work top 14. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the underside of the drainer 13 is provided with one or more strengthening ribs 17 which engage the supporting surface 16 in order to support the drainer 13. Therefore, in the assembly of the sink unit 10 on the work top 14, the bowls 11 and 12 are located in an aperture 15 in the work top 14, and are freely suspended in position along a peripheral flange 18 which is secured down onto the underlying marginal portion of the edge of the aperture 15, but the drainer 13 is supported by the supporting surface 16 of the work top 14 via the strengthening ribs 17, whereby this significantly increases the strength and rigidity of the sink unit, thereby permitting reduction in wall thickness of the one piece formation, as compared with existing sink mounting assemblies in which the drainer is unsupported except along its margins, and without unacceptable loss of rigidity of the assembly. As can be seen from Figure 2, the ribs 17 are arranged in successive V-formations and which follow the contour on the upper side of the drainer. The sink unit 10 is preferably made of moulded plastics material, and by virtue of the construction of the unit 10, it is possible to reduce the size of the aperture normally provided in a work top to accommodate existing sink units, by virtue of the arrangement such that the work top surface itself is used to support the drainer, and also to provide more support around the or each bowl of the sink unit.

Claims: A one-piece sink unit (10) mounted in an apertured work top (14) and comprising at least one bowl (11, 12) located in an aperture (15) in the work top, and having a drainer (13) adjoining the bowl (11, 12), characterised in that the drainer (13) is supported by a supporting surface (16) of the work top (14) adjacent to the aperture (15), and in that one or more strengthening ribs (17) are provided on the underside of the drainer (13) to engage the supporting surface (16). A sink unit according to Claim 1, characterised by a large bowl (11) and an adjacent smaller bowl (12), and with the drainer (13) adjoining the smaller bowl (12). A sink unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the underside of the drainer (13) is provided with a number of strengthening ribs (17) arranged in successive V-formations. A sink unit according to Claim 3, characterised in that the upper side of the drainer (13) has a contour following the pattern of the strengthening ribs (17). A sink unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised by foam or other padding provided between the underside of the drainer (13) and said supporting surface (16).

Inventors: FARR RON, FARR, RON
Applicants: ASTRACAST PLC
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E03C1
IPC codes: E03C1