Patent Publication Number: US-2015074902-A1

Title: Sink clip

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/879,323 filed Sep. 18, 2013, the complete disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a clip or bracket for installing a sink, and in particular to a clip or bracket that holds the sink in position as the caulking or adhesive cures, which will then permanently hold the sink. 
     For sinks that are installed in an opening of a countertop, one aspect of the installation is to assure that the sink is properly positioned and centered in the opening. This can be a time-consuming task requiring multiple measurements and repositioning of the sink. In addition, another problem is that during the process of caulking or adhering, the sink to the countertop, it may be bumped or moved so that it is no longer centered in the proper position. 
     One prior art remedy is to provide a positioning clip on the sink. Prior art positioning clips consisted of an angled metal bracket of which one angled leg is bonded or adhered to the sink. The other angled leg contains a cutout for receiving a metal tab therethrough. The other end of the metal tab contains a threaded hole for receiving a screw. When the sink is positioned in the opening of the countertop, the installer crawls beneath the sink and tightens screws extending through each tab against an underside of the countertop to temporarily secure the sink in position until the caulking or adhesive can cure. 
     Use of the prior art clips or brackets and tabs/holding screws is cumbersome, time-consuming, and requires an installer to work in an uncomfortable and limited space when tightening the holding screws. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clip and method for temporarily positioning and holding a sink during the installation process until the caulking or adhesive can cure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a clip is provided for use in positioning a sink during installation to temporarily hold the sink in position until the caulking or adhesive cures. The clip may have a base portion extending in a planar orientation for at least a portion thereof; a resilient leg attached to and extending at an angle from one side of the base; and protrusions extending outwardly from one side of the resilient leg. 
     The protrusions may have a teeth-like configuration, and the protrusions may also be made of a resilient material. The clip may have a molded unitary configuration and may be molded from an ABS plastic material. 
     The base may include a plurality of notches, where at least some of the notches can extend through the thickness of the base. The base may also include bevels through the thickness thereof at the edges of the notches. The notches may be widest on the side of the base from which the leg extends. At least one notch can extend inwardly from each side edge of the clip. 
     The leg may form an acute angle with the base, and the protrusions may extend into the acute angle. Alternately, the leg may form an obtuse angle with the base and the protrusions may extend into the obtuse angle. The leg may also have an arched configuration. The base may include an outer curved end where it may extend toward the leg to a side opposite the side of the leg having protrusions extending therefrom. 
     In another embodiment of the subject invention, a method is provided for temporarily positioning a sink during installation that includes the steps of providing a sink having a top ledge; providing a countertop having a hole therethrough for receiving the sink; providing a plurality of clips; attaching the clips to outer sides of the sink; placing a bottom end of the sink through the hole in the countertop until the top ledge of the sink is against the countertop and the clips engage sides of the hole in the countertop to position the sink therein; applying a caulk or adhesive material; and allowing the caulking or adhesive material to cure to permanently hold the sink in place. 
     The sink may be fiberglass and the method may include the step of pressing the clips into the fiberglass when wet to bond the clips to the sink. The clips may have a base that is bonded to the sink along a back side thereof, and a resilient leg may extend from a top side of the base of the clip. 
     The legs of the clip may include protrusions, which may extend in a teeth-like configuration. The protrusions may engage the sides of the hole in the countertop. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pair of sinks in an upside down position having clips in accordance with the subject invention attached thereto, ready for installation; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a first clip attached to an underside of the flange of the sink in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the clip of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the clip of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear end view of the clip of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front end view of the clip of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the sink of  FIG. 1  showing clips being mounted thereto; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the sink of  FIG. 1  being installed in an opening in a countertop using the clips; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view with the sink of  FIG. 1  temporarily positioned in the countertop of  FIG. 8  using the sink clips; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the sink of  FIG. 1  with a caulking being applied between the sink and countertop for permanent placement of the sink; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a second clip shown attached to outer sides of the sink in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the clip of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a front end view of the clip of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the clip of  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the clip of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a sink assembly is shown, generally indicated as  10 . Sink assembly  10  can be formed from any of the well-known materials or processing methods used therefor. In one embodiment, sink assembly  10  may be molded from fiberglass materials. Sink assembly  10  includes a pair of sink basins  12   a,    12   b,  each having a respective drain opening  14   a,    14   b;  an upper ledge  16  from which sink basins  12   a  and  12   b  extend; a flange  18  extending from upper ledge  16 ; and a plurality of first clips or brackets  20  and second clips or brackets  22  attached to sink assembly  10  as described in detail below for use in positioning sink assembly  10  during installation. 
     Basins  12   a  and  12   b  each include, respectively, bottoms  24   a,    24   b ; and side walls  26   a,    26   b.  Clips  20  are bonded, adhered or otherwise attached or bonded to a bottom side of flange  18 , and clips  22  are bonded, adhered or otherwise attached to the outside of side walls  26   a,    26   b  as shown in  FIG. 1  and described in further detail below. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , details of clip  20  are provided. Clip  20  may be made from any suitable material having sufficient toughness and resiliency. One such acceptable or suitable material is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Clip  20  may be manufactured from several pieces and bonded, adhered or otherwise attached together. However, clip  20  may also be molded as a unitary integral member. In the embodiment shown, clip  20  includes a base  30  and a leg  32  extending from one side of base  30  at an angle thereto. Clip  20  also includes a series of projections or protrusions  34  extending from leg  32  into the acute angle formed between leg  32  and base  30 . In the configuration depicted, protrusions  34  have a linear teeth-like configuration, similar to that of a gear. 
     Base  30  also includes a plurality or series of notches  36  which extend through the thickness of the base. Notches  36  extend inwardly from side edges  38  of base  30 , and in the embodiment shown, are aligned with the notches extending inwardly from the opposite side edge  38 . Notches  36  also include beveled edges  40  so that the openings of notches  36  on the side of base  30  from which leg  32  extends is wider than on the opposite side of the base. The notches and bevels help in the bonding or attaching of base  30  to sink assembly  10  as described in further detail below. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 11-15 , details of clip  22  are depicted. Many aspects of clip  22  are similar to that of clip  20  and it may be manufactured in a similar manner and from similar materials. Also, as with clip  20 , clip  22  includes a base  50 , a leg  52  attached to and extending from one side of base  50 , and projections or protrusions  54  extending from leg  52 . Leg  52  extends from base  50  at an angle thereto; however, protrusions  54  extend into the obtuse angle created between leg  52  and base  50  rather than the acute angle as with clip  20 . Furthermore, leg  32  of clip  20  extends in a generally planar orientation whereas leg  52  extends in an arched configuration in the embodiment shown. Similar to protrusions  34 , protrusions  54  have a linear teeth-like configuration similar to that of gear. Base  50  also includes notches  56  extending through the thickness thereof. In the configuration shown, clip  22  includes a total of six notches  36  with three extending inwardly from each side edge  58  of base  50 . Notches  56  also include beveled edges  60  so that the opening of notches  56  on the side of base  50  from which leg  52  extends is wider than on the opposite side of the base. As noted above regarding clip  20 , the notches and bevels help in the bonding or attaching of base  50  to sink assembly  10  as described in further detail below. Base  50  also includes a curved end  62 , which extends upwardly toward the opposite side of leg  52  from which projections  54  extend. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , mounting and use of clips  20  and  22  will be discussed. In one method of manufacture, sink shells are molded from a plastic material and then sprayed on the exterior thereof with fiberglass. While the fiberglass is still wet, bases  30  of clip  20  are pressed onto the underside of flange  18  and bases  50  of clips  22  are pressed to side walls  26   a,    26   b  as shown in  FIG. 7 . If the clip is made from ABS plastic, this bonds to the fiberglass through a chemical reaction. Notches  36  and  56  in respective bases  30  and  50 , as well as, respective beveled edges  40  and  60 , enhance the bonding process and holding of the bases to the cured fiberglass. Once the curing process is complete, the edges of the sink can be cut and prepped so that the sink is ready for installation. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the sink is initially placed in an opening (not shown) of the countertop  70  at an angle (see  FIG. 8 ) so that clips  20  engage the back side of the opening in countertop  70 . Then, the front side of sink assembly  10  is pushed down while holding the faucet side against the countertop. Pushing down firmly makes sure the sink fits flush on countertop  70  (see  FIG. 9 ). Projections  34  and  54  snap into place along the side edges of the opening in countertop  70  so that the teeth of the projections grip the countertop holding the sink flush against countertop  70 . 
     Next, caulking  72  can be applied using a caulking gun  74  or other known methods as shown in  FIG. 10  around the edges of sink assembly  10  and in the crack between the sink and countertop  70 . A high grade of color matched or clear silicon may be preferable to permanently hold the sink assembly  10  in place. 
     While the invention has been taught with specific reference to these embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the sink basin may have one, two, three or more basins in the shape of the basin and/or ledge/flange may be varied as desired. Furthermore, more or less clips may be used and the placement of the clips may be varied. It should also be appreciated that the shape of the projections may be varied or even eliminated and that the curvature, length, and angle of both the leg and base of the clip may be varied. In addition, the number, position, size, beveling, and thickness of the notches may be varied or eliminated or certain aspects may be changed or eliminated. The notches do not necessarily have to extend completely through the thickness of the base. 
     The described embodiments are to be considered, therefore, in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, the scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the description.