Patent Abstract:
A utility sink system is disclosed comprising a sink and a bucket. The sink has a basin extending from an upper edge to a drain. The bucket has walls extending to a lip and has at least one opening formed therein. The lip is configured to contact the upper edge of the basin such that the bucket is suspended in the basin. The at least one opening of the bucket, in addition to facilitating handling, may provide a form of overflow when the bucket is suspended in the basin of the sink, such that the at least one opening places an interior volume of the bucket and the basin of the sink in communication with one another. Further, the at least one opening of the bucket may provide a pouring spout.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to sinks. In particular, this invention relates to utility sinks such as laundry sinks. 
         [0004]    Although many clothes are laundered using modern washing machines and dryers, some types of fabrics still require hand washing. Although washtubs for hand washing fabrics were once commonplace, it is now rather rare for individuals to have a dedicated washtub. Thus, most hand washing, if not performed by a professional cleaner, is done using an available sink. 
         [0005]    Typically, hand washing of clothes and other fabrics is performed by plugging the available sink, filling the sink with water of an appropriate temperature, adding cleaner, and allowing the fabrics to soak. After scrubbing the clothes, the sink is drained and the clothes are rinsed. The clothes may then be wrung out and hang dried. 
         [0006]    However, it can be inconvenient to commit a sink to washing clothes and fabrics since this renders the sink temporarily inaccessible for other uses such as, for example, the washing of hands or other items. As many utility sinks are used for a variety of purposes, surface of the sink can become soiled. Particularly when these substances are oily or could stain the clothes, it may be undesirable to use an all-purpose sink for hand washing. 
         [0007]    Hence, a need exists for improved means of hand washing fabrics. In particular, there is a need for a better way to hand wash fabrics that does not require the use of antiquated devices, such as washtubs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a utility sink comprising a sink and a bucket. The sink has a basin extending from an upper edge to a drain. The bucket has walls extending to a lip and has at least one opening formed in a side portion of the walls. The lip is configured to selectively contact the upper edge of the basin such that the bucket is suspended in the basin. The at least one opening of the bucket, in addition to facilitating handling, provides a form of overflow when the bucket is suspended in the basin of the sink, such that the at least one opening places an interior volume of the bucket and the basin of the sink in communication with one another. 
         [0009]    Additionally, the bucket may have a structure conducive to the openings performing as pour spouts. The side portion of the walls may extend from a base portion of the walls at a non-right angle. The at least one opening may be located on the walls proximate a radiused transition between the side portion of the walls and the lip. Thus, the at least one opening may located on a non-vertical plane that promotes pouring out of the handles at relatively low angle of tilt for the bucket. 
         [0010]    Further, a portion of the lip may raises around the at least one opening in the bucket such that the at least one opening is accessible from between the sink and the bucket. In this way, the bucket may be removed or lifted from the sink in an ergonomic manner. 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the invention, when the bucket is suspended from the upper edge of the sink, the lip covers at least half of the upper edge. Additionally, a rack can be placed on a floor of the basin to cover the drain and may further support the bucket. 
         [0012]    The present invention can further include a shallow tray having an outer rim that selectively mates with the lip of the bucket. The shallow tray can have at least one opening formed therein. When the shallow tray mates with the lip of the bucket, the at least one opening of the shallow tray can nest over the at least one openings of the bucket. The shallow tray may include a plurality of holes formed therein. The shallow tray may also include a central larger hole that facilitates the hanging of the shallow tray between uses. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the invention a utility sink is provided comprising a sink, a rack, a bucket, and a shallow tray. The sink has a basin extending from an upper edge to a drain. The rack is placed on a floor of the basin such that the rack covers the drain. The bucket has walls extending to a lip and having at least one opening. A side portion of the walls is angled away from a base portion of the bucket. The at least one opening is located on the walls proximate a radiused transition between the side portion of the walls and the lip. Accordingly, the at least one opening is not located on a vertical plane. Further, a portion of the lip is raised around the at least one opening in the bucket. The shallow tray has an outer rim that selectively mates with the lip of the bucket. The at least one opening of the bucket, in addition to facilitating handling, provides a form of overflow when the bucket is positioned in the basin of the sink and filled with water. This overflow is possible because the at least one opening places an interior volume of the bucket and the basin of the sink in communication with one another 
         [0014]    Thus, the present invention provides a utility sink for the hand washing of fabrics that has a removable bucket. When the bucket is suspended above the basin of the sink, the bucket can be filled with water for the hand washing of clothes. The bucket openings place the interior volume of the bucket with the basin such that when the water level in the bucket exceeds the height of the openings, the water in the bucket overflows into the basin and can flow down the drain. 
         [0015]    Moreover, once the bucket is filled with water, the bucket can be temporarily removed from the basin of the sink to make the sink available for other uses while hand washing, soaking, and the like of clothes is performed in the bucket. Then, the bucket may either be returned to the sink, or one of the openings may be used as a pour spout to empty the water contained in the bucket back into the sink to drain. 
         [0016]    When the bucket is suspended above the basin, this configuration also provides a form of overflow rinsing. The clothes to be rinsed are placed in the bucket which is suspended in the basin. Water from a faucet fills the bucket until the water begins to overflow from the openings of the bucket into the basin. The continual flow of water into and out of the bucket rinses the clothes contained the bucket. Because the clothes do not cover the drain, the chance that the drain will be blocked during rinsing is minimalized. Thus, clothes can be rinsed without close observation by the cleaner. 
         [0017]    These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as the preferred embodiment is not intended to be the only embodiment within the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a utility sink with a bucket, a shallow tray, and a base tray shown removed from the sink; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the utility sink with the bucket positioned in the basin of the sink; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the utility sink with the bucket positioned in the basin of the sink and the shallow tray placed over the bucket; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sink; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the sink taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the sink along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bucket; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the bucket; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of the bucket along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is another cross-sectional side view of the bucket along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the shallow tray; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the shallow tray; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of the shallow tray along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is another cross-sectional side view of the shallow tray along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the utility sink  10  is shown which includes a sink  12  with a basin  14 , a rack  16  (shown hung on a wall in  FIG. 1 ), a bucket  18  (shown on a countertop  20  in  FIG. 1 ), and a shallow tray  22  (shown hung on the wall in  FIG. 1 ). A faucet  24  that provides water extends over the sink  12 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the sink  12  has a flanged portion  26  that extends from the basin  14 . As shown, the flanged portion  26  of the sink  12  is rectangular with rounded corners. The flanged portion  26  may assist in supporting the sink  12  in the countertop  20 . The flanged portion  26  and the basin  14  meet an upper edge  28  of the basin  14 . The upper edge  28  provides a radiused transition between the flanged portion  26  and the basin  14 . The basin  14  then extends down along side walls  30  to a base  32  of the sink  12 . The base  32  of the sink  12  has a drain  34  which can be connected to a waste water pipe (not shown). 
         [0034]    As the side walls  30  basin  14  extend from the upper edge  28  down towards the base  32  and the drain  34 , they angle slightly inward (i.e., towards the drain). Likewise, the base  32  angles slightly downward to the drain  34 . This geometry encourages any water filling the basin  14  to be directed towards the drain  34 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7-10 , further details of the bucket  18  are shown. The bucket  18  has walls including a base portion  36  and side portion  38  extending to a lip  40 . The side portion  38  angle outward from the base portion  36 . The side portion  38  have a transition  43  into the lip  40 . The walls have at least one opening  42  formed therein. As shown, the bucket  18  has two such openings formed proximate the transition  43  spanning the side portion  38  of the walls and the lip  40 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11-14 , the shallow tray  22  is shown in further detail. The shallow tray  22  has a flat portion  44  having a plurality of holes  46 . The flat portion  44  can also include a large hole  48  that may be suitable for hanging the shallow tray  22  from a hook  49 , such as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , so that the shallow tray  22  can be dried. The flat portion  44  has short side walls  50  that extend to an outer rim  52 . At least one opening  54  is formed in the shallow tray  22 . As shown, the shallow tray  22  has two openings  54  formed in the short side walls  50  and outer rim  52 . 
         [0037]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the utility sink  10  is shown with the rack  16  inserted into the bottom of the sink  12  and the bucket  18  received in the basin  14 . In this arrangement, the lip  40  of the bucket  18  contacts the upper edge  28  of the basin  14  of the sink  12  to suspend the bucket  18  in the basin  14 . It is contemplated that in some configurations, the lip  40  may cover at least half of the upper edge  28  of the basin  14 . 
         [0038]    The rack  16  may provide additional support for the bucket  18 , particularly if the bucket  18  is filled with water. Further, the rack  16  covers the drain  34 . The rack  16  has a structure that permits water to flow past the rack  16  and down the drain  34 , but will prevent items such as clothing from clogging the drain  34 . For example, the rack  16  may have a mesh surface similar to the shallow tray  22  or be a wire tray. 
         [0039]    It is also contemplated that the bucket  18  may not be suspended in the basin  14 , but rather solely supported by the rack  16 . Such a configuration would require constructing the rack  16  and bucket  18  such that for a given sink depth, the lip  40  of the bucket does not engage the upper edge  28  of the sink  12 . In such an arrangement, it is contemplated that as the openings  42  would still be in the basin  14 , that the openings  42  could still perform an overflow function and, as the bucket  18  sits on the rack  16  so that the bucket does not block the drain  34 , the overflow water would be permitted to flow down the drain  34 . 
         [0040]    Importantly, when the bucket  18  is suspended in the basin  14  (or placed on a rack  16  in the basin  14 ), the openings  42  of the bucket  18  place the inner volume of the bucket  18  and the basin  14  in fluid communication with one another. Thus, when the bucket  18  is filled with water by the faucet  24  and the water level in the bucket  18  reaches the openings  42 , the excess water overflows through the openings  42  and into the basin  14  of the sink  12 . 
         [0041]    It should be appreciated that in addition to providing overflow capabilities, the openings  42  of the bucket  18  may serve as a pouring spout. This may be beneficial when the bucket  18  is filled with water, the clothes and cleaner are placed in the bucket  18 , and left to soak outside of the basin  14 . When the water in the bucket  18  needs to be emptied, the bucket  18  may be tilted such that the water runs out of one of the openings  42 . The openings  42  may be formed on a non-vertical surface for surface to easy pouring. For example, if the openings  42  are formed on the angled side portion  38  of the walls as shown, it reduces the angle at which the bucket  18  must be tilted before pouring action begins (i.e., the water level will more quickly approach the openings  42  when the side portion  38  of the walls are angled). 
         [0042]    Further the openings  42  of the bucket  18  can serve as handles for lifting the bucket  18 . In one form, the lip  40  is raised around the openings  42  such that, when the lip  40  contacts the upper edge  28  of the basin  14 , the openings  42  can be accessed from between the bucket  18  and the sink  12 . This provides an ergonomic structure for lifting as the fingers of the individual lifting the bucket  18  from the sink  12  can go into the openings  42  from the outside, rather than the inside, of the bucket  18 . 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the utility sink  10  of  FIG. 2  is shown with the shallow tray  22  further placed on top of the bucket  18 . The outer rim  52  of the shallow tray  22  may mate with the lip  40  of the bucket  18 . In this arrangement, the openings  54  of the shallow tray  22  may nest or partially nest in the openings  42  of the bucket  18 . This arrangement makes it easy to lift both the bucket  18  and the shallow tray  22  at the same time. When using the openings  42  as a pouring spout, it is also contemplated that the outer rim  52  of the shallow tray  22  may be held against the lip  40  of the bucket  18 , such that pouring can occur out of unobstructed openings  42  while retaining any solid items, such as clothing, in the bucket. 
         [0044]    The shallow tray  22  may also be used as a scrubbing surface during the hand washing of fabrics. In particular, the plurality of holes  46  located in the flat portion  44  provides a surface with sufficient abrasion for scrubbing while also permitting the water to pass through it. It is contemplated that scrubbing may occur when the shallow tray  22  is mated to the lip  40  of the bucket  18  or when the shallow tray is separated from the bucket  18 . 
         [0045]    Thus, the present invention provides a utility sink that can be used to hand wash clothes or other fabric items. As the bucket  18  can be suspended in the basin  14 , hand washed clothes are less likely to come into contact with contaminants found on the inner surface of a basin  14  of the sink  12 . Moreover, since the bucket  18  can be removed from the sink  12  during soaking, the utility sink  10  can be used for other operations while the clothes are being soaked. 
         [0046]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to washing clothes, it is contemplated that the utility sink may be useful any application in which it is desirable to have a bucket that can be suspended by, but is also removable from, a basin. 
         [0047]    Many modifications and variations to this preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the described embodiment. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0048]    The invention provides a utility sink for the hand washing of clothing.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3