Patent Abstract:
A portable sink having a sink module and a hot and cold water outlet connected to a spigot and a used water outlet from said sink connected to a cabinet mounted on wheels having at least one door to access the interior thereof. At least one tank for fresh water and a reservoir for used water is mounted in the cabinet. An electrical connection for powering a pump and a heater connected to the outlet of the pump has an outlet connected to the hot water outlet and a connection from the pump to the cold water outlet. A hammer arrester diminishes line surges and fluidic pounding from the pump, and a flow check valve prevents back flow to the fresh water tank.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of this invention resides within the field of food dispensing and water dispensing portable kiosks, bars, and related items. It more particularly involves those types of beverage dispensing carts and portable cafes that are used to provide various fast food items in a portable manner. To this extent it involves the washing and maintenance of food service items and the hands and other portions of a food service operator in order to maintain a degree of cleanliness in the dispensing of food. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The prior art with regard to food dispensing and cleanliness pertaining thereto has not been addressed with regard to outdoor and portable food dispensing carts. Such food dispensing carts are becoming more popular in such areas as corporate locations, office environments, malls, and shopping areas. Such food carts are sophisticated at this point wherein they can provide multiple prepared foods and beverages as well as limited food preparation on the cart. 
     In order to provide such food preparation and cleanliness, the health authorities have generally requested and in many cases demanded that the purveyor of such food have access to health facilities and in particular an area where they can wash their hands. Many times to date, the food dispensing carts had to be in an area where a building with restroom facilities or sinks provided such cleaning and sanitary conditions. As can be appreciated, this created an inconvenience and a problem for those dispensing and purveying food. 
     This invention solves the problem by providing a portable sink for cleanliness and health. The sink specifically has a fresh water source and a reservoir for the used water which is referred to as gray water. The sink has a faucet with hot and cold running water, the hot water being provided through a heater. Additionally thereto, an electrical outlet provides for heating and pumping of the water on a continuum. Further enhancement, of the overall health facilities provided by the sink is enhanced by a towel dispenser and a soap dispenser. 
     The entire unit is a portable unit and can be moved on casters or wheels. It is of a light weight plastic material which allows for not only portability but ease of handling. Further to this extent, the invention has ease of maintenance and operating capabilities not known in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In summation, this invention comprises a portable sink with hot and cold running water having a fresh water supply, a heater, a pump, and certain regulators and controls for allowing the flow of hot and cold water from a spigot into a sink and for further retention by a reservoir after use. 
     More specifically, the invention comprises a portable sink mounted on rollers or casters. The housing and mounting includes a separable sink portion and cabinet portion. The sink portion has a sink, soap dispenser, faucets, and a spigot for hot and cold water. 
     The cabinet is mounted on wheels and houses four tanks of water, two of which are fresh water tanks and the other two are used water or gray water tanks. 
     In order to heat the water, an electrical inlet provides heat through a switch outlet box to a heater having heater coils and controls. The heater is supplied by water from the fresh water tanks through a pump under pressure. In order to provide for safety, a bypass valve or blow tube compensates for over pressure. 
     The pump also provides cold water to the spigot outside of the circuit of the water heater for an appropriate mixture of hot and cold water through the spigot. 
     In order to provide for and compensate as to pressure irregularities and pumping irregularities, a hammer arrester is placed in the line. The hammer arrester leading from the pump allows for absorption of pressure irregularities through the arrester so that a smooth and moderated transit of water takes place as delivered from the pump. 
     The water heater and controls including the switch outlet and pump are mounted on a water heater rack and control panel. The water heater rack and control panel can be removed for servicing, giving it ready access to a user. Further to this extent, the fresh water tanks and gray water tanks can be moved and rotated from their respective positions in an easy and facile manner by merely opening the front doors of the sink cabinet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a frontal perspective view of the sink and cabinet of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of the sink and cabinet with the doors opened and fragmented. 
     FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the sink and cabinet detailing the area of the water heater controls and other portions as seen in the direction of lines  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a sectioned top plan view of the water tanks and the heater and controls as seen in the direction of lines  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view, as partially sectioned through one of its walls, of the water heater rack and control rack which can be removed from the cabinet. 
     FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the side wall of the cabinet and structure as seen through circle  6  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a line diagram and schematic view of the water and control flow path. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Looking specifically at FIG. 1 it can be seen that a cart  10  has been shown with a cabinet portion  12  and a sink portion  14 . The cabinet portion  12  and the sink portion  14  can be referred to also as the cabinet module and the sink module. 
     The cabinet module has two doors  16  and  18 . The two respective doors  16  and  18  are supported on hinge points that can be seen in the way of hinge elements at the upper and lower portions in the form of elements or knuckles  20  and  22 . These respective hinge elements or knuckles have an intermediate hinge portion between them, and on the cabinet itself as opposed to the doors, formed as intervening hinge portions  24  and  26 . 
     The hinge elements  20  and  22  are supported by a three inch long pin at the bottom namely through hinge portion  22  to the respective cabinet, and with a lock clip. A pivot pin is also inserted through portions  24  and  26  as well as in portion  20  to effectuate a hinge element so that the doors  16  and  18  can be opened and closed. 
     Doors  16  and  18  are frictionally secured with a hook and striker to allow them to be retained in closed relationship to the cabinet  12 . A pair of opening handles  17  and  19  are cut into the doors  16  and  18  to allow easy access by merely positioning one&#39;s hand and pulling the openings. 
     The cabinet  12  is supported by four wheels or casters, two of which are wheels  30  and  32 . Wheels  30  and  32  are stationary rigid casters. A pair of swivel wheels  34  and a second swivel wheel in a like position which is not seen also supports the cabinet. These respective swivel wheels have a brake element which can be seen in FIG. 2 in the form of the little brake pedal  36  that can be pressed downwardly to prevent the wheels  34  from turning. The wheels and casters can be of any configuration but are shown supported by brackets. These brackets can be substituted, and the wheels  30  and  34  supported in any other suitable manner. 
     The sink module  14  has a stainless steel two cavity sink  40  that is within the sink module. The sink module has a standard stopper in the form a basket stopper and is drained as will be seen hereinafter through a line to the used or gray water tanks. The sink module incorporates handle areas  42  supported by brackets extending from the sink module  14 . The handle areas  42  can be locked to a kiosk of the type that is shown in Design Patent Application Serial No. 29/091,005 and connected as an entire unit. This effectively allows for a food server and a sink to be placed in connected relationship. Also, the handles  42  can be not only locked to a service cart but can be used independently as a towel rack. 
     At the back of the sink module  14  is a raised apron  46 . The raised apron  46  circumscribes the sink in part to protect from back splashing as well as supporting a towel rack  48  and a soap dispenser  40 . This allows one to use the sink with soap and water while later drying ones hands. The back splash panel or apron can be formed in any suitable manner such as a cowling or in the U shaped configuration around the sink module  14  as shown. 
     Attached to the sink module  14  is a spigot  52  and a hot water faucet  54  and cold water faucet  56  both with connections to a source of water. These respective faucets  54  and  56  allow water to pass from the spigot  52  into the sink area for washing ones hands. 
     Looking more specifically at FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen that the sink module  14  and the cabinet  12  have been formed as two respective portions. These two respective portions are formed by rotational molding and then attached at a later point in time. As can be understood, this provides for an ease of molding as well as attachment and dis-attachment of the two respective portions namely sink module  14  and cabinet  12 . It also provides for access downwardly into the interior of the cabinet and the equipment therein. 
     The respective rotational molding operation is such wherein it provides for a polyeurethane foam as can be seen in FIG. 6 namely urethane foam  60  with a polyethylene surface  62 . The polyethylene surface  62  and foam can be utilized in any particular manner so as to effect a firm and rigid sandwich structure forming the entire cabinet and sink module. Other foam sandwich configurations, wall configurations and materials instead of the polyethylene material for the wall surface can be utilized. Also, it should be understood that the polyeurethane foam core namely polyeurethane foam  60  provides for stiffening as well as insulation and sound absorption. 
     Looking again more specifically at FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  it can be seen that the cabinet area has a total of four tanks. Specifically, a pair of fresh water tanks  66  and  68  are shown on the right side of FIG.  2 . Used water tanks  70  and  72  are shown to the left side. The two respective tanks  70  and  72  can be referred to as gray water tanks after use of the water. The respective tanks  66  and  68  are connected for pumping water for cold water usage as well as hot water usage in the manner that will be described hereinafter. The foregoing tanks  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  comprise the fresh water reservoirs respectively and used water reservoirs and must be filled and removed respectively after their contents have been utilized and filled. 
     Looking more specifically at FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that a water heater  80  has been shown. The water heater  80  has a control panel  82  with an on/off switch  84  and a dial  86  for purposes of controlling temperature. This respective control panel  82  allows the water heater  80  to maintain hot water in the system. 
     The water heater  80  can be made of a plastic exterior surface with foam cell material for insulating the heater. It has a heater element interiorly thereof which can be in a metal or stainless container. It can be a metal tank or it can be stainless with the heating element passing therethrough on the interior portion of the heater  80 . The heater element can be a looped wire coil or any other type of known electrical element wherein a passage of water therethrough is heated by either an electric heating element or other means of electrical heating to heat the water passing through the coil. 
     An inlet connection  90  and outlet  92  is provided for the water passing into the heater  80  to be heated and then passed to the hot water outlet, which is controlled by the hot water faucet and inlet  54 . 
     In order to control the unit electrically, a switch outlet box  100  is shown having a cord  102  connected thereto and a plug  104 . This provides power to the system. The switch outlet box  100  has a light  106  to indicate when the unit is on and a switch  108  which provides the function of being an on/off switch. Two respective outlets shown as a duplex outlet  110  provide the outlet for plugging in the pump to be referred to hereinafter and the heater  80 . 
     A pump  112  is shown mounted by four bolts to the water heater and mounting rack  116 . The water heater and mounting rack  116  is shown with a side wall  118  having a lifting handle  120  and a sliding or pulling handle  122 . The rack  116  has two bracing walls  124  and  126  that are connected to a bottom portion  128 . 
     Pump  112  as previously stated is mounted to the rack  116  and specifically on the wall  118 , by the four respective bolts. 
     The pump  112  fundamentally is of a diaphragmatic type having an electrically powered diaphragm that is within the general area  130 . 
     The heater  80  has been provided with what can be referred to as a flow and pressure relief system in the form of a fluid connection  170 . Relief is provided through a tube  172  or conduit that can be referred to as a blow tube that turns downwardly and terminates at an opening  174 . An opening that is indexed thereto namely opening  176  is provided in the rack  116  so that tube  172  can pass therethrough. This allows for overflow or relief of any pressure therein through the tube  172 . 
     In order to complete the water circuit, a hammer arrester or what can be referred to generally as a flow moderator for variable pressure flows has been provided, namely hammer arrester  180 . The hammer arrester  180  is formed with an inlet  182  that allows the flow from the pump  112  to pass therethrough and then through an outlet  184 . Interiorly of the hammer arrester  180  is a piston and cylinder that moderates the flow of water pressure surges. Water surges are accommodated and the commonly known effect of “hammering” in a water line is diminished. 
     In order to connect the outlets of tanks such as tanks  66  and  68 , an outlet  190  is provided. These outlets  190  are such wherein they can be connected to hose couplings or other couplings so that flow can pass therethrough to the pump  112 . In order to fill the tanks  66  and  68 , inlets  192  are provided in each tank. 
     The used water or gray water passes into tanks  70  and  72  through inlets  196  at the top of each tank connected to the outlet of the sink. 
     In order to lift the tanks  66  and  70 , handles  198  and  200  are provided respectively in tanks  66  and  70 . 
     Each respective tank and its connections such as connections  192  and  196  can be provided with a threaded coupling or any other means to connect a hose or outlet in the way of a conduit thereto. In particular, looking at FIG. 7, it can be seen that the outlet from tank  66  which is a five gallon fresh water tank is drawn or pumped from its outlet by pump  112 . The outlet of pump  112  is then delivered through the inlet  182  of the hammer arrester  180 . This tends to moderate and limit the line banging or “hammering” which could possibly happen through surges of the pump  112 . 
     The outlet from the hammer arrester  180 , namely outlet  184  is delivered to a T  220 . The T  220  allows water to flow into the heater  80  while at the same time going to the cold water inlet and faucet  56 . Water from the T  220  can be directed to the cold water connection  222  or to the hot water connection  224  after being heated. Furthermore, T  220  can be equipped with a non-reverse flow valve so that flow will not be allowed to flow back into the system. Also, connections to the tank outlets such as outlet  190  can be provided with a reverse flow function as well as other portions in the lines to prevent flow of any water back into the fresh water system. 
     The water from the hot portion of the T outlet namely outlet  224  flows into the inlet of the heater inlet  90 . After it is heated it flows from outlet  92  of the heater to the hot water faucet and connection  54 . Both connections obviously  54  and  56  are connected to the spigot  52 . Outlet from the sink  40  can flow by gravitation through sink outlets  230  and  232  to the inlet  196  of the used or gray water tanks  70 . Thus it can be seen that the entire circuit of the respective flow from the fresh water tanks  66  and  68  to the used or gray water tanks  70  and  72  provides for fresh water that can be used for washing purposes. 
     The unit is controlled and powered through the electrical connector namely electrical connector  100  which is in turn provided with a circuit breaker. It has an on/off switch  108  and a light  106  to indicate the on/off condition. Duplex outlets  110  provide the power to the respective pump  112  and to the heater  80  providing for the complete electrical circuit to allow the system to work. 
     Various sensors can be utilized to allow initiation of pumping such as when pressure drops, the pump  112  starts to pressurize the outlet as a consequence of pressure dropping through the opening of outlets  54  and  56  when the faucets are turned. Also, other sensors can be utilized to provide discrete inlets to the heater  80  or to the cold water circuit in any suitable manner. Various back flow and pressure relief members can be utilized throughout the system for preventing back flow and over pressurization. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that this invention is a substantial step over the art of providing for a portable sink to be used by the food service industry.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0