Abstract:
The present invention relates to a water vessel comprising a shell; a closable storage compartment integrated to the shell; and a closure member displaceable between an open position to provide access to the storage compartment and a closed position to substantially prevent liquid contained in the shell to leak into the storage compartment. It also relates to a closable storage compartment in combination with a water vessel and a method for integrating storage space to a water vessel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of US provisional patent application 60/536,739, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1) Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to improvements for water vessels such as sinks, showers, bathtubs, tub showers, and spas, etc. More specifically, it relates to a water vessel including at least one storage compartment therein to store various items, such as kitchen brushes, rubber gloves, soaps, nail cutters, razors, scourers, sponges, scrub brushes, and the like.  
         [0004]     2) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Water vessels, such as sinks, showers, bathtubs, tub showers, and spas, are usually devoid of storage space which could be useful for storing small and medium-size items.  
         [0006]     For example, kitchen sinks provided with one or more storage spaces would be of interest, especially for storing kitchen and scrubbing tools that are still humid after use. These tools are usually stored in a plastic or a wood container on a shelf close to the sink where water contained in the tool slowly evaporates. If the container is located in a closed space such as a drawer or a cabinet, undesirable odors can be generated due to bacterial formation or merely evaporation. Sponges, scrubbers, and other moist cleaning items harbor bacteria and promote bacterial growth since they provide warm, moist breeding ground for bacteria.  
         [0007]     Similarly, storage space is desirable in showers, bathtubs and tub showers to store various items such as sponges, shampoo, nail cutters, razors, soaps, etc.  
         [0008]     Moreover, when stored in a drawer in a nearby cabinet, these tools are not easily accessible during daily tasks. Leaving them on the bottom surface of either the sink basin, the shower, the bathtub or the tub shower is not desirable since it provides the warm, humid, moist conditions on which germs thrive. Leaving them on the counter top is neither desirable for most people for appearance reasons.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage space for water vessels that allows an easy access to the items usually used therewith.  
         [0010]     One aspect of the invention provides a water vessel comprising: a shell; a closable storage compartment integrated to the shell; and a closure member displaceable between an open position to provide access to the storage compartment and a closed position to substantially prevent liquid contained in the shell to leak into the storage compartment.  
         [0011]     A second aspect of the invention provides a closable storage compartment in combination with a water vessel having a shell, the storage compartment being integrated to the shell and having an opening accessible from within the shell, and a closure member for selectively closing the opening.  
         [0012]     Another aspect of the invention provides a method of integrating storage space to a water vessel. The method comprises: providing a water vessel having a shell; providing a storage compartment in an inner surface of the shell; and providing a closure member for selectively closing the storage compartment.  
         [0013]     In this specification, the term water vessel is intended to mean any container that can contain water for domestic uses such as a sink, a shower, a bathtub, a tub shower, and a spa. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1 . is a perspective view of a sink including two tilt-out drawers according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sink block having a sink basin including two cells according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an hinge assembly for the tilt-out drawer according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sink including a closable storage container according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bathtub including a sliding drawer shown in an open position according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shower including a sliding drawer shown in a closed position according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a water vessel with an integrated closable storage compartment or hideaway receptacle or container. More specifically, the water vessel shown in FIG. I is a standard sink basin  10  having a shell  12  with four side walls  14  extending upwardly from the perimeter of a bottom surface  16  in which a drain  18  is provided. The sink basin  10  can include a top flange  20  and, possibly, a front facade and a backsplash member (not shown). The sink basin  10  can be mounted to a kitchen island (not shown), a cabinet (not shown), a counter top, on a wall, or the like. The sink basin  10  can be any shape such as circular or oval.  
         [0023]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , it is seen that two accessory storage containers  24  are mounted in two openings  26  formed in the side walls  14  of the sink basin  10 . The accessory containers  24  can be mounted to any side walls  14  of the sink basin  10  as shown or, alternatively, it can be incorporated in the bottom surface  16  ( FIG. 4 ). As it will be explained in more details hereinafter, the accessory containers  24  can be provided in the form of a tilt-out drawer or a sliding drawer, or the like.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , it will be seen that each container  24  includes a cell  30  and a receptacle  32  that will be described more in detail later. The cell  30  has a bottom wall  36 , two lateral side walls  38 , a back wall  40 , and an upper wall  42 . Preferably, the bottom wall  36  is slightly inclined towards the sink basin  10  to allow residual water to flow into the sink basin  10  and, eventually, to escape through the drain  18 . The cell  30  can also be directly connected (not shown) to the drain  18  as it will readily be understood by one skilled in the art.  
         [0025]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , it is seen that a receptacle  32  is pivotally mounted in each cell  30  by means of hinges  46  ( FIG. 3 ). One skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one receptacle  32  can be mounted in a cell  30 . The receptacle  32  has a front wall  50 , and a back wall  52 , two lateral side walls  54 , and a bottom wall  56 . The bottom wall  56 , as illustrated, is in the form of a screen and it is designed to allow residual water to flow outside the receptacle  32  and aerate the latter to reduce bacterial growth. The receptacle  32  pivots between an open position and a closed position inside the cell  30 . In the closed position, the front wall  50  is designed to cover the opening  26 , in juxtaposed position with respect to the side wall  14  of the sink basin  10 , and prevents water infiltration inside the cell  30  and the receptacle  32 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown that the front wall  50  also acts as a closure member  60 . Referring now to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that a closure member  60  can be mounted to the front wall  50  of the receptacle  32  by any technique known to one skilled in the art. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that the front wall  50  and the closure member  60  can be the same member.  
         [0026]     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that the hinge  46  includes a pin  62  having a first portion  64  and a second portion  66 . The first portion  64  has a larger diameter than the second portion  66  and includes an aperture  68  therein. The pin  62  is inserted into an opening  70  in the lateral side wall  38  of the cell  30 . The diameter of the opening  70  is larger than the diameter of the second portion  66  but smaller than the diameter of the first portion  64 . Therefore, the first portion  64  abuts the lateral side wall  38 . The pin  62  is fastened to the cell  30  by means of fasteners  72  such as screws, bolts, and any other fastening means known to one skilled in the art. The second portion  66  of the pin  62  is inserted into a groove  74  defined in the lateral side walls  54  of the receptacle  32  and pivots therein. For a higher safety and a smoother pivoting mechanism, the second portion  66  of the pin  62  can be covered with a cap  76  made of a rubber material that is slightly compressed when the second portion  66  is inserted into the groove  74 .  
         [0027]     The hinge  46  is not restricted to the construction illustrated in  FIG. 3  and may include any pivoting means known to one skilled in the art for tilt-out drawers. For example, it can be pins (not shown) mounted in the lateral side walls  54  of the receptacle  32 , or alternately in the lateral side walls  38  of the cell  30 , so as to allow the rotation of the receptacle  32  therearound. To facilitate the insertion of the receptacle  32  in the cell  30 , spring loaded pins can be used.  
         [0028]     The container  24  also includes an abutment member to smooth and stop the closing operation. Referring to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that three abutment members  78 ,  80  are mounted to the cell  30 . The first two abutment members  78  are mounted to the lateral side walls  38  of the cell  30  (only one is shown). The abutment members  78  is preferably made of a rubber material and inserted in an opening  84  in the lateral side walls  38  and fastened to the cell  30  by means of fasteners  72  such as screws, bolts, and any other fastening means known to one skilled in the art. When the receptacle  32  reaches its closed position, the closure member  60  abuts the abutment member  78  and stops smoothly the pivoting movement of the receptacle  32 . A second abutment member  80 , preferably made of a rubber material, is mounted into a hole  86  located in the back wall  40  of the cell  30 . Again upon reaching its closed position, the receptacle back wall  52  abuts the abutment member  80  and stops smoothly the pivoting movement of the receptacle  32 . The abutment member  80  can be mounted to any part of the receptacle  32  that abuts another part of the cell  30  or the shell  12  of the sink basin  10  while pivoting the receptacle  32 . Of course, the abutment member  80  can be disposed anywhere provided the pivoting movement is stopped and smoothness is achieved when closing the receptacle  32  inside the cell  30 . It can be disposed either on the cell  30 , on the back wall  52  of the receptacle  32  or on the front wall  50  of the receptacle  32 , and the like. The abutment member  80  is preferably shock absorbent, for example it can be made of a rubber material.  
         [0029]     In a closed position of the receptacle  32 , the interior of the container  24  should normally be sealed from the sink basin  10 . To achieve this, a seal (not shown) can be disposed on the side wall  14 , along the perimeter of the opening  26 , in a manner such that the front wall  50  of the receptacle  32  abuts the seal in the closed position of the receptacle  32 . The seal should prevent water infiltration inside the cell  30  and/or the receptacle  32 . The seal can also be disposed along the periphery of the inner surface  88  of the front wall  50  in a manner such that the seal abuts the inner face of the sink basin  10  in the closed position of the receptacle  32 .  
         [0030]     As mentioned earlier, the container  24  can include a sliding drawer (not shown) instead of a tilt-out drawer as shown in the above-mentioned figures. In that case, instead of a hinge or a pin, the container  24  includes a rail (not shown). In both cases, the pin, the hinge, and the rail act as guides for the movement of the receptacle  32  between an open and a closed positions.  
         [0031]     It is not necessary that the container  24  includes a cell  30 . The container  24  can only include a receptacle  32  that communicates with the drain  18  to eliminate residual water therefrom. This is a modification that is obvious to one skilled in the art. In that case, the lateral vertical side walls can extend outwardly from the opening  26  and the hinge(s) for a tilt-out drawer or the rail(s) for a sliding drawer are mounted thereon. Another possibility is that the container  24  includes a lower surface that extends outwardly from the opening  26  and the hinge(s) for the tilt-out drawer or the rail(s) for sliding drawers are mounted thereon.  
         [0032]     Furthermore, the container  24  can include only a cell  30  and a closure member  60 , such as closure plate or a front wall, that pivots or slides between an open and a closed positions. In that case, the cell  30  itself constitutes the receptacle  32 .  
         [0033]     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a sink basin  10  similar to the one of  FIGS. 1-3  wherein the container  124  is positioned on bottom surface  16  of sink basin  10 . The container  124  includes a receptacle  132 , which has four lateral side walls  154  and a bottom surface  156 , and a closure member  160 . The bottom surface  156  communicates directly or indirectly with the drain  18  to eliminate the residual water therein. The closure member  160  is removably disposed over the receptacle  132  to cover the opening  126  formed in sink basin  10 . The closure member  160  can pivot or slide between an open and a closed positions of the receptacle  132 . It can also simply be removed from the receptacle  132  when the user wants to have an access thereto. The container  124  also includes a seal (not shown) between the closure member  160  and the sink basin  10  to prevent water infiltration in the receptacle  132 . A similar container  124  including only a fixed receptacle  132  and a closure member  160  can also be mounted to the side walls  14  of sink basin  10 .  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a standard bathtub  210  having a shell  212  with four side walls  214 , a bottom surface  216 , and a drain (not shown). One skilled in the art will appreciate that the bathtub  210  can have any shape. An accessory container  224  is mounted in an opening  226  formed in a side wall  214  of the shell  212 . The accessory container  224  can be mounted in any side walls  214  of the bathtub  210  as shown or in the bottom surface  216  (not shown). As it will be explained more in details later, the accessory container  224  can include either a tilt-out drawer or a sliding drawer, or the like.  
         [0035]     The container  224  has a cell (not shown) similar to the one described above for the sink basin. The cell includes a receptacle  232  with a front wall  258 , a back wall (not shown), four lateral side walls  254 , and a bottom wall  256 . The receptacle  232  is slidingly mounted in the cell by means of rails  258 . The receptacle  232  is similar to the one describe hereinabove. One skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one receptacle  232  can be mounted in each cell.  
         [0036]     The receptacle  232  slides between an open and a closed position inside the cell. In the closed position, the front wall  250  is designed to cover the opening  226 , in juxtaposed position with respect to the side wall  214  of the bathtub  210 , and should also prevent water infiltration inside the cell and the receptacle  232 .  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a standard shower  310  having a shell  312  with side walls  314 , a bottom surface  316 , and a drain  318 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the shower  310  can have any shape or can be made of any material. An accessory container  324  is mounted to the side walls  314  of the shower  310 . The accessory container  324  can be mounted to or in any side walls  314  of the shower  310  as shown or in the bottom surface  316  (not shown).  
         [0038]     The container  324  has a cell  330  similar to the one described above for the sink basin  10  and the bathtub  210 . The cell  330  includes a receptacle  332  with a front wall  358  that is slidingly mounted in the cell  330  by means of rails (not shown). The receptacle  332  is similar to the one described hereinabove. One skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one receptacle  332  can be mounted in each cell  330  and that the receptacle  332  can be pivotally mounted therein by any means known in the art.  
         [0039]     The receptacle  332  slides between an open and a closed positions inside the cell  330 . In the closed position, the front wall  358  is designed to prevent water infiltration inside the cell  330  and the receptacle  332 .  
         [0040]     Preferably, in all cases, the closure member replicates the shape of the water vessel portion where it is mounted. The bottom surface of the container preferably communicates directly or indirectly with drain to eliminate residual water therein.  
         [0041]     The container of the present invention can have various shapes as will be understood by one skilled in the art. The closure member can include a handle to facilitate the opening and the closing. To facilitate the opening of the container when it is in the shape of a tilt-out drawer, the hinge can be located in the middle portion of the receptacle. The tilt-out drawer can pivot when a slight pressure is applied on the lower portion of the closure member.  
         [0042]     Preferably, the closure member such as front wall is made of the same material as water vessel. The container is preferably made of an antirust material. The water vessel is preferably Pointless, unitary to inhibit bacterial growth and to promote better hygiene and is made of stainless steel. The sink is not limited to a kitchen sink but can be applied to any type of sinks. One skilled in the art will appreciate that all the features described for a sink having a container therein can be applied to a shower, a bathtub and the like.  
         [0043]     The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. One skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one container can be mounted to a water vessel and that the shell of a water vessel can include more than one opening. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.