Patent Publication Number: US-8973179-B2

Title: Portable camping sink

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward a portable camping sink and more particularly, toward such a sink that is easily transported and assembled and that can be supported on the trunk of a tree for use, thereby not requiring legs or similar support structure. 
     Camping in the woods has been a popular activity for generations. This is frequently done while participating in other activities such as hunting but many people enjoy camping solely for the experience of temporarily living in the outdoors. 
     There are, of course, many levels of camping depending on how rough or rustic the campers desire to experience. Some people own campers or similar vehicles that are essentially small traveling homes that include kitchens and toilets and other modern facilities. These vehicles can be self contained and/or can hook up to water and electric at commercial camp sites. Other commercial camp sites are available in many locations where campers can pitch tents but which have toilets and sinks available at central locations for use by the campers. 
     Diehard campers, however, prefer to be away from all such modern facilities and carry with them everything that they need. Although they wish to “rough it” they still wish to maintain adequate hygiene. In particular, if a clean, fresh water stream is not available, they still wish to have the ability to wash their hands and face and to wash dishes and other eating utensils. For such people, a number of portable sinks have been proposed over the years that are intended to provide at least these conveniences. Prior art portable camping sinks are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,594,938 to Leavitt; U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,392 to Miller and U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,376 to Herbert. 
     The above prior art camping sinks and others that may have been available, however, suffer from numerous deficiencies. All prior art sinks known to applicant include legs for supporting the sink on the ground or must be supported on a table or the like. None includes shoulder straps or the like for ease of carrying and most do not include auxiliary compartments or shelves for housing accessories or for assisting in the use of the sink. In essence, no prior art portable camping sink has been shown to be satisfactory. 
     There is, therefore, a need for a portable camping sink that is easy to transport and assemble at a camp site that does not require the use of a stand or of legs and which includes auxiliary compartments and shelves that make the use of the sink easy and convenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable camping sink that is compact and can be easily carried. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable camping sink that can be easily set up for use at a camping site. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a portable camping sink that does not require a stand or legs and which can be easily attached to a tree trunk. 
     In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a portable camping sink that includes a hollow rectangularly shaped housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, left and right side walls, a rear wall and an open front. A sink basin is hinged to the front of the bottom wall and is movable between a closed position where it substantially closes the open front of the housing and an operative position where it is at an angle of approximately 90° to the plane of the open front where it can function as a conventional sink. Locks and straps are provided for maintaining the basin in either its inoperative or operative positions. A separate water container is provided that has a size and shape allowing it to be inserted into the housing. The container includes a spout that overlies the basin when the basin is in its operative position. Racks or shelves are hinged to either side of the housing. The portable sink includes straps that allow it to be suspended from the trunk of a tree during use. Shoulder straps attached to the bottom wall allow a person to carry the camping sink on his or her back. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is front perspective view of the portable camping sink of my invention and showing the same in its fully open and operational condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side perspective view of the portable camping sink in its closed condition but supported on a tree; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side perspective view of the invention showing the same being used by a camper; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  but showing the sink in a partially open condition; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the portable camping sink being carried by a camper using shoulder straps secured to the sink, and 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the portable camping sink being carried by a camper. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  a portable camping sink constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as  10 . 
     The portable camping sink  10  is comprised of several component parts including a substantially rectangularly shaped housing  12  having a top wall  14 , a bottom wall  16 , a left wall  18 , a right wall  20  a rear wall  22 , an open front and a substantially hollow interior  24 . A sink basin  26  is supported in a second rectangularly shaped housing  28  that is hinged through the use of one or more hinges  30  to the front of the bottom wall  16  of the housing  12 . 
     The housing  28  along with the sink basin  26  is movable essentially between two positions. The first is an inoperative position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , where it substantially closes the front of the housing  12 . The second position is an operative position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , where it is at essentially a 90° angle to the plane of the open front of the housing  12 . 
     As shown best in  FIG. 2 , straps  32  and  34  extend between the housing  28  and the top wall  14  of the housing  12  to maintain the basin  26  in the inoperative position, when desired. Appropriate snaps, hooks or buckles or similar connectors are provided for attaching the straps  32  and  34  to the housings  12  and  28 . This is, of course, by way of example only. Those skilled in the art will undoubtedly find numerous other means for maintaining the basin  26  in the inoperative position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Similarly, straps  36  and  38  that extend from the side walls  18  and  20  of the housing  12  to the sides of the housing  28  maintain the sink basin  26  in the operative position. Again, appropriate snaps, hooks, or buckles or the like are provided to attach the straps  36  and  38  to the housings  12  and  28 . And, again, this is by way of example only as numerous other means can be provided for maintaining the sink basin  26  in its operative position while still allowing it to move between its operative and inoperative positions. 
     The portable camping sink  10  does not have its own water supply or reservoir, per se. Rather, a separate rectangularly shaped plastic water container  40  is provided. The water container  40  may be a 5 or 7 gallon plastic container and is sized to fit within the hollow interior  24  of the housing  12 . The water container  40  includes a handle  42  at the top  44  thereof for ease of carrying as shown in  FIG. 6 . The water container  40  also includes a spout in the form of a nozzle or spigot  46  adjacent one edge of the top  44  as shown in  FIG. 4   
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , when the water container  40  is placed into the hollow interior  24  of the housing  12 , the spout of the spigot  46  extends out slightly to be positioned over the sink basin  26 . The spigot  46 , of course, has an appropriate manually operated valve so that one can open and close the spigot to allow water to flow from the container  40  into the sink basin  26  when desired. While not shown, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the sink basin  26  may also be provided with an appropriate drain adjacent the bottom thereof to allow water in the basin to drain therefrom. 
     When the water container  40  is not in the hollow interior  24  of the housing  12 , cooking utensils, dishes and the like can be stored therein. See  FIG. 4 . This is particularly useful space for holding these objects when the portable camping sink is being carried from place to place. Obviously, these items must be removed before inserting the water container  40  in place. 
     The portable camping sink  10  also includes a pair of side racks  48  and  50  hinged to the left and right side walls  18  and  20  respectively of the housing  12 . The side racks  48  and  50  are hinged to the side walls  18  and  20  so as to be movable between an inoperative position as shown in  FIG. 4  and an operative position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In the inoperative position, straps or buckles or the like  52  and  54  cooperate with complimentary connectors on the top wall  14  of the housing  12  to maintain the side racks  48  and  50  in their inoperative position. Similarly, straps  56  and  58 , extending between the housing  12  and the racks  48  and  50 , respectively, maintain the racks in their operative positions as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     The racks  48  and  50  may be used for holding dishes or cooking utensils or the like before or after cleaning in the sink basin  26 . For this reason, one or both of the racks may include a wire dish drainer  60  or substantially any other known dish or utensil holder or support. Furthermore, one or both of the racks  48  and  50  may be provided with an appropriate drain to allow water to drain therefrom. 
     For ease of carrying the portable camping sink  10 , it is provided with a pair of shoulder straps  62  and  64 . See  FIGS. 2 and 5 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the shoulder straps  62  and  64  are secured to the outside of the bottom wall  16  of the housing  12 . Thus, when the person  66  is carrying the portable sink  10 , the bottom wall  16  rests against his or her back  68 . This is, of course, by way of example as the shoulder straps could be attached elsewhere. As should also be apparent to those skilled in the art, the shoulder straps may be provided with means to adjust the length thereof. 
     In lieu of legs for supporting the portable camping sink  10  in a vertical position and in lieu of simply placing the sink on a table or similar support surface, the sink of the present invention is intended to be supported on a tree. This is accomplished by the use of a rope or strap  70  or the like that surrounds the trunk  72  of a tree. In its simplest form, the rope  70  has loops  74  and  76  at the ends thereof. After the rope passes around the trunk  72 , one loop  74  is passed through the other loop  76  and a carabineer  78  or the like secured to the top wall  14  of the housing  12  is attached to the loop  74 . In this way, the rope  70  tightens around the trunk  72  as the camping sink  10  pulls down on the end of the rope  70 . After the portable camping sink  10  is suspended from the trunk  72 , a strap  78  attached to the rear wall  22  surrounds the trunk  72  to stabilize the sink. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.