Abstract:
A sink comprising a basin and a faucet assembly foldably mounted relative to the basin. The faucet assembly is rotatable between an upright position wherein the faucet assembly protrudes out from the basin and a folded position wherein the faucet assembly is received within the basin. Another embodiment comprises a sink assembly including a sink housing including a conduit rack and a receptacle for a sink with such a foldable faucet assembly. The sink assembly may further include one or more slidable table portions or a pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position. A serving cart, a gardening cart and a barbecue station, each including a sink with a foldable faucet assembly and a slidable table portion or pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position. It is emphasized that this Abstract is provided to comply with the rule requiring an abstract that will permit a searcher or other reader to ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.  37  CFR  1.72 (b).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to sinks and portable storage cabinets and, in particular, to a sink with a foldable faucet assembly and a multi-purpose portable support cabinet..  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Invention Background  
           [0004]    Over the years, outdoor and garden or backyard activities have become increasing popular. However, workplace and family demands in today&#39;s busy lifestyles often leave little time to organize and assemble all the necessary gear, such as gardening implements or food preparation and serving utensils prior to commencing such activities and then for cleaning and reorganizing such equipment after the activity is over. Gardening or barbecue accessories, for example, are often stored haphazardly out of sight in garages or basements and in boxes for extended periods of time, such as during the cold weather months, and then have to be retrieved at a moment&#39;s notice for the first warm and sunny afternoon.  
           [0005]    In addition to convenient storage, easy access to a sink for cleaning outdoor equipment and utensils of the various outdoor activities is particularly desirable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,708 to Lee discloses a foldable kitchen sink that includes two support members that are hinged to each other such that their upper surfaces may be deployed in a facing folded position or in a coplanar unfolded position. One support member has a dishwasher bucket mounted thereto; the other support member has a grille mounted thereto. The sink can be folded and transported, but does not include a faucet assembly for connection to a water supply.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,929 to Haley discloses a portable modular cart and game table that includes a faucet assembly and a sink basin mounted on the upper surface of the cart. A cover is connected to the cart and is movable between a first position that overlies the sink basin and a second position providing access to the sink basin. The faucet assembly is rotatable 360 degrees and collapsible, so that the faucet assembly assumes the upright position when the cover is in the second position and collapses axially when the cover is in the first position. The location of the faucet assembly occupies desirable counter top area which could be used to support utensils and other items.  
           [0007]    There remains, therefore, a need for a sink with the faucet assembly that can be installed on outdoor equipment and that includes features that overcome the limitations, shortcomings and disadvantages of other sinks without compromising their advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention meets the identified needs, as well as other needs, as will be more fully understood following a review of this specification and drawings.  
           [0009]    One embodiment of the invention includes a sink comprising a basin and a foldable faucet assembly mounted on the basin. The faucet assembly is rotatable between an upright position wherein the faucet assembly protrudes out from the basin and a folded position wherein the faucet assembly is received within the basin.  
           [0010]    Another embodiment of the invention includes a sink assembly comprising a sink housing including a conduit rack and a receptacle for a sink with a foldable faucet assembly. The sink assembly may further include one or more slidable table portions. One or both table portions may be removable and useable as serving trays, and they may have surface receptacles. Another embodiment of the sink assembly may include a pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position.  
           [0011]    The invention also includes embodiments of a serving cart, a gardening cart and a barbecue station, each including a sink with a foldable faucet assembly and a slidable table portion or pivotable lid for covering the sink when the faucet assembly is in the folded position. The barbecue station may include a utility receptacle with a corresponding lid and an enclosed storing space with divided compartments, drawers and trays, which are accessible by opening one or more doors. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    In the drawings illustrating embodiments of the present invention:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a sink with a faucet assembly in the upright position according to the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a top view of the sink of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3( a ) is a partially exploded sectional view of the sink and faucet assembly of FIG. 1 with some components shown in cross-section;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3( b ) is an exploded view of an embodiment of a flow control valve of FIG. 3( a );  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3( c ) is a partial sectional view through the actuator stem shown in FIG. 3( a );  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3( d ) is a front view of an embodiment of a first mounting cover incorporated in the sink assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3( e ) is a front view of an embodiment of a second mounting cover incorporated in the sink assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a top view of the sink of FIG. 1 with the faucet assembly in a folded position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a side view of the sink of FIG. 1 with the faucet assembly in a folded position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a sink assembly incorporating the sink of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the sink assembly of FIG. 6 with the sink covered;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7( a ) is an exploded view of an embodiment of the sink assembly of FIG. 6;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8( a ) is top view of an embodiment of a connecting manifold shown in FIG. 7;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8( b ) is a sectional view of the manifold of FIG. 8( a ) taken along axis VIIIb-VIIIb of FIG. 8( a );  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the top portion of the sink assembly of FIG. 7;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of the top portion of the sink assembly of FIG. 7;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a cart incorporating the sink of FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12 is a partial exploded view of an embodiment of the cart of FIG. 11;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 13 is a front isometric view of yet another embodiment of a cart incorporating the sink of FIG. 1; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 14 is a rear isometric view of the cart of FIG. 13. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]    Referring now to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it is to be understood that standard components or features that are within the purview of an artisan of ordinary skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the various embodiments of the invention are omitted from the drawings to enhance clarity, even when such features may otherwise be necessary for the function of a sink embodying the invention. In addition, it will be appreciated that the characterizations of various components described herein as moving, for example, upwardly or downwardly, or being vertical or horizontal, are relative characterizations only based upon the particular position or orientation of a given component for a particular application.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an embodiment of a sink  100  according to the invention. The sink  100  includes a basin  102  having a drain  104 . A two-sided drain stopper  106 , shown in more detail in FIG. 3, may be used to strain liquid exiting the basin through the drain  104  or to plug the drain  104 . The basin  102  may be produced and assembled from food-grade materials when the sink  100  is to be used for food preparation and serving. It will be appreciated, however, that the basin  102  could be fabricated from a myriad of other suitable materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc., and be provided in a variety of different shapes. The sink  100  may also include a soap tray  110  and other support surfaces, which may be molded in the basin  102 . A faucet assembly  108  is mounted on the basin  102  and includes a discharge neck  112 , a handle  114  or other suitable lever or knob for controlling liquid flow through the faucet assembly  108 .  
         [0035]    As indicated above, this embodiment of the sink  100  also employs a unique and novel faucet assembly  108 . In this embodiment, the faucet assembly  108  includes a faucet housing  116  that pivotally supports the discharge neck  112  on the basin  102 . More particularly and with reference to FIGS.  3 ( a ) and ( b ), the faucet housing  116  is generally hollow and may be fabricated in two pieces that are retained together by, for example, screws, adhesive, etc. The skilled artisan will readily appreciate that by employing screws to affix the portions of housing  116  together, the user can quickly disassemble the housing  116  to replace any of the components therein.  
         [0036]    The faucet housing  116  supports a flow control valve  120  that includes a valve housing  122  that is supported in the faucet housing  116  by a mounting collar  121  that includes an inlet conduit barb  128 . See FIG. 3( b ). An O-ring  123  is fitted between the valve housing  122  and the collar  121 . The inlet conduit barb  128  defines an inlet passage  129 . Likewise, an outlet mounting flanged connector  130  is supported through an O-ring on the valve housing  122  opposite the inlet conduit barb  128  and defines an outlet passage  132  therethrough. The discharge neck  112  may be rotatably received on the outlet mounting flanged connector  130  for rotational travel thereon about an axis “A-A”. See FIG. 3( a ). Rotatably supported in the housing  122  between the inlet passage  129  and outlet passage  132  is a flow control member  124 . The flow control member  124  has a flow passage  125  therethrough that, when aligned with the inlet passage  129  and outlet passage  132 , permits a fluid entering through the inlet passage  129  to flow through the valve  120 .  
         [0037]    In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3( a ), an actuator stem  136  is attached to a side connector  127  of the valve housing  122 . The actuator stem  136  is rotatably supported in a portion of the faucet housing  116 , as shown in FIG. 3( c ), and has a handle  114  attached thereto. The handle  114  permits the user to selectively rotate the flow control member  124  about an actuator axis “B-B”. Thus, when the flow control member  124  is rotated such that the flow control passage  125  is aligned with the inlet passage  129  and the outlet passage  132 , fluid can flow through the valve  120 . If the flow control passage  125  is oriented at a ninety-degree angle to the inlet passage  129  and the outlet passage  132 , no fluid is permitted to pass through the valve  120 .  
         [0038]    A supply conduit  124 , which is coupled to a source of liquid, passes through a hole  142  in the faucet housing  116 . In this embodiment, the supply conduit  124  may comprise a section of flexible hose which is coupled to the inlet conduit barb  128  by, for example, conventional means, such as a hose clamp  139 . A flanged mounting bushing  144  that has a passage therethrough supports the supply conduit  124  where it enters the faucet housing  116 . As can be seen in FIG. 3( a ), the mounting bushing  144  also provides a means for pivotally coupling the faucet housing  116  to the basin  102 . Protruding out through a hole  146  in an opposite side of the housing  116  is a mounting peg  148 . The mounting peg  148  is provided with a flanged portion  150  that is larger than the hole  146  to prevent the mounting peg  148  from passing completely through the hole  146 . The flanged portion  150  may include grooves that mate with corresponding protrusions in the faucet housing  116  to retain the mounting peg  148  in position. Alternatively, a biaser cavity  152  may be provided in the housing  116  for supporting a biasing member in the form of a spring to bias the mounting peg  148  in an outward direction away from the faucet housing  116 .  
         [0039]    To install the faucet assembly  108  on the sink, the faucet housing  116  is inserted into a cavity  156  in the sink  102 . The cavity  156  may include a first mounting enclosure  158  receiving the mounting bushing  144  and a second mounting enclosure  160  receiving the mounting peg  148 . A first mounting cover  162  may be inserted over the top of the first enclosure  158 . The first mounting cover  162  snaps in over the mounting bushing  144  and secures it in place. Similarly, a second mounting cover  164  may be inserted over the top of the second mounting enclosure  160 , snapping in over the mounting peg  148 . See FIGS.  3 ( a ),  3 ( d ) and  3 ( e ). The first mounting cover  162  and the second mounting cover  164  may also be secured to the basin  102  with hidden fasteners, such as screws that are threaded from the outer surface of the basin through holes located on molded surfaces of the first and second mounting enclosures  158 ,  160 .  
         [0040]    Other ways of supporting the faucet housing on the basin of the sink are within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the mounting bushing  144  and the mounting peg  148  may be received within respective holes in the walls of the basin, in connection with the embodiment described above that includes a spring in the biasing cavity  152 . The spring facilitates retention of the mounting peg  148  in its respective hole to retain the faucet housing  116  in the basin  102 . It will be appreciated, however, that such arrangement would permit the faucet assembly  108  to be detached from the basin  102 , if desired, for storage purposes, repair purposes, etc.  
         [0041]    When the mounting bushing  144  is received in the first mounting enclosure  158  and the mounting peg  148  is received in second mounting enclosure  160 , the person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the faucet assembly  108  can pivot about an axis “D-D” defined by the mounting bushing  144  and mounting peg  148 . See FIG. 3( a ). In particular, the faucet assembly  108  may be pivoted through an angle of approximately ninety degrees from an upright position shown in FIG. 1, wherein at least a portion of the faucet assembly  108  protrudes from the basin to other positions including a folded storage position inside the basin  102 , such that the entire faucet assembly  108  is below a plane “E-E” defined by the top  103  of the basin  102 . See FIG. 5. The basin  102  may include a retainer  113  that releasably retains the faucet assembly  108  in the folded position. The retainer  113  may be fabricated as an integral part of the basin  102 , by molding, for example. The rear surface of the faucet housing  116  may include two symmetric pivot detents  117 , which may be attached or molded thereon, to facilitate pivoting the faucet assembly  108  against an interior rear surface  111  of the basin  102  and to stabilize the faucet assembly  108  in the upright position.  
         [0042]    In one embodiment of the invention, the above-described sink  100  may be employed in a sink assembly, generally indicated as  200 . The sink assembly  200  may include a sink housing  202  that has a top portion  204  with a top surface  203  and a mounting bracket  206 . See FIG. 6. The top portion  204  includes a top recess  208  in which the sink  100  may be received. The sink assembly  200  may be fabricated from blow molded plastic or other suitable processes and materials that are relatively lightweight and that can withstand the elements, if stored outside. However, the sink assembly  200  could also be fabricated from a myriad of other materials such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.  
         [0043]    The sink assembly  200  may be mounted on a wall or other convenient structure and may include a rack  210  for coiling a garden hose  212  or other conduit therearound. The rack  210  may have a convenient storage compartment  214  formed therein for holding sprinklers, nozzles, sprayers etc. The storage compartment  214  may have a cover  216  with a handle  217  for opening and closing the cover  216  or may be fitted with a drawer (not shown).  
         [0044]    The sink assembly  200  may also include a pair of table portions  220  that are slidably affixed to the sink housing  202  for moving between open positions shown in FIG. 6 and closed positions shown in FIG. 7. Each of the table portions may have, for example, a protrusion  230  that slides into a mating recess  231  formed by guides  232  on the top portion  204  of the sink housing  202 . See FIG. 7( a ). The top portion  204  may be provided with stops to prevent the table portions  220  from sliding completely off the sink assembly  200 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the table portions  220  may slide either together or independently of each other on the top portion  204  of the housing  202  to fully expose, partially cover or completely cover and protect the sink  100  when the faucet assembly  108  is in the folded position, and provide work and preparation surface area.  
         [0045]    The sink housing  202  includes an inlet opening  222  for connection with the water supply conduit  124 , and an outlet opening  224  for connection with a draining conduit  138 . See FIG. 7, and FIG. 3( a ) for the sink  100 . The supply and draining lines may be conveniently connected through a connecting manifold  170 , shown in FIGS.  8 ( a ) and ( b ), that can be mounted on a side  225  of the sink assembly  200 , either by conventional fasteners, such as screws or by snap-fitting on the side  225  of the sink assembly  200  by means of resilient snap lugs  172 , which are, for example, integrally molded on the connecting manifold  170 , when the connecting manifold is made of plastic material. The connecting manifold  170  includes a manifold outlet  174  and a manifold inlet  176 . A manifold outlet or drain connector  184  may be inserted through the manifold outlet  174  and connect the drain conduit  138  to an extension drain conduit  185 , and a manifold inlet connector  186  may be inserted through the manifold inlet  176  and connect the fluid supply conduit  124  to an extension supply conduit  183 .  
         [0046]    An alternative embodiment of a top portion  304  for the sink assembly  200  of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 9. The top portion  304  has a top surface  303  and includes a top receptacle  308  in which the sink  100  may be received, and a table portion  320  that is slidably attached to the top portion  304  in the manner described above and can be positioned to cover the sink  100  when the faucet assembly  108  is in the folded position. The table portion  320  may be removable and may also be used as a serving tray. The table portion  320  may also have molded depressions or surface receptacles  323  for safely supporting cutlery or dinnerware, cans, bottles, or other items. The top portion  304  may also include a working surface  322  on the other side of the sink  100 .  
         [0047]    Yet another embodiment of a top portion  404  for the sink assembly  200  of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, the top portion  404  has a top surface  403  and includes a first top receptacle  408  in which the sink  100  may be received, and a second top receptacle  409  that may be used for storage of food items, plants, etc., and may receive a basket  432  with divided compartments. In this embodiment, the first receptacle  408  is separated from the second receptacle  409  by a center wall portion  410 . The top portion  404  may include table portions  420  that pivot about sides  422  to fold down, and a first lid  430  and second lid  431  pivotable about the back side  434  of the top portion  404  to either expose or cover the first top receptacle  408  or the second top receptacle  409 , respectively.  
         [0048]    The sink  100  of FIG. 1 may also be mounted on a serving or garden cart  500  or a barbecue station  700 , or on other suitable structures and cabinets, portable and non-portable, as shown in FIGS.  11 - 13 . The serving cart  500  may include a frame  501  with a plurality of legs, such as, for example, a pair of support legs  503  and a pair of wheeled legs  505 , on which a top panel  504  is supported. The serving cart  500  may also have two support legs  503  and only one wheeled leg  505  or four support legs or four wheeled legs, etc. The top panel  504  includes a receptacle  508  for receiving the sink  100  and may also have a work surface  522 . The top panel  504  may also include a table portion  520  that can slide over and cover the sink  100 , when the faucet assembly  108  is in the folded position. The table portion  520  may be removable and may also be used as a serving tray. A partial view of one embodiment illustrating the engagement of table portion  520  with the top panel  504  is shown in FIG. 12. The table portion  520  includes symmetric protrusions  530  that engage corresponding recesses  531  formed in slide guides  532 .  
         [0049]    The serving cart  500  may also include a rack  511  mounted on the back of the top panel  504  for supporting, for example, cups, cans or bottles, and a towel rack  513  integrally formed or mounted on the front side of the top panel  504 . The serving cart  500  may also include a bottom panel  516  having one or more storage receptacles  518  for holding separately wet and dry items, such as, for example, drinks or ice and packaged food, respectively. When the table portion  520  is removed or slid over the sink  100 , the serving cart  500  can be easily wheeled by pushing the handle  526 , which is also partially supporting the table portion  520  in its extended position. The large wheels  528  mounted on the pair of the wheeled legs  505  facilitate portability of the serving cart  500 .  
         [0050]    The serving cart  500  may also be used for gardening and planting uses. The rack  511  may be used for holding gardening tools.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 13 and 14 show a cart  700  that may be well-suited for use as a barbecue preparation station or a garden center. The cart  700  has a frame  701  and a top panel  704  that includes a sink receptacle  708  and a utility receptacle  710 , for preparing or storing items. The cart  700  may also include a pair of extension plates  720  that can fold down by pivoting about respective sides  722  of the top panel  704 . The cart  700  may further include an enclosed storage space  739  below the top panel  704 . The storage space  739  is accessible through one or two doors  732  that are pivotably attached to the frame  701 , and may include a storage drawer  734 , a divided utensil or spice/condiment tray and a compartment  738  for larger items, such as charcoal/grill accessories, and other bulky containers, such as oil and vinegar bottles, marinade bottles, salt containers, etc. The cart may include hooks  740  for barbecue or other serving utensils, a paper towel holder  742 , and a garbage bag holder  760 . The cart  700  may also include a pair of pivotable lids  731  and  730  for covering the food receptacle  710  and the sink receptacle  708  respectively. The lids  731  and  730  may pivot over respective back edges  751  and  750  of the top panel  704 . The extension plates  720  may also pivot to fold over the closed lids  730  and  731 . Additional tool or utensil holders  770  may be provided in the back of the cart for other uses  
         [0052]    Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the details, materials and arrangement of parts may be made within the principle and scope of the invention without departing from the invention as described in the appended claims. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.