Patent ID: 12241243

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1shows a three-dimensional schematic view of a section of a front corner region of an apron sink according to an embodiment of this invention.

In detail,FIG.1shows a section of a left front corner of an apron sink1. The apron sink1has a flat circumferential surface2in the form of a wide protrusion, which merges into a front apron4in the front area and into a side apron3at the side. The planes of front apron4and side apron3, surface2and side apron3, and surface2and front apron4each form an angle40,41,42of about 90 degrees. The left side ofFIG.1shows a section of a countertop5, in which the apron sink is installed flush with the surface. Between the surface2, which is largely horizontal in the installation position, and the front apron4, a first transition area10is formed having a first edge with a first radius51such that a rounded transition is formed from the surface2to the front apron4. For instance, the first radius51can be in the range of 1.5 mm to 4 mm. Furthermore, a second transition area11with a second edge21is formed from the surface2to the side apron3shown. This second edge21has two sections30,31, which have a different radius54,53, such that in each case there is a transition from the surface2to the side apron3. The radius53can be formed to be 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, for instance.

For instance, the length60of the section30along the surface2may be 2 mm to 100 mm, preferably 50 mm to 70 mm. The length61of the second section31is more than five times that of the length of the first section30of the second edge21. In this case, the radius51between the surface2and the front apron4is larger than the radius54of the second section31of the second edge21, but larger than the radius53of the first section30of the second edge21in the two front corners of the apron sink1, that is, in the corners adjacent to the front apron4. The section31with the radius54has a radius of 0 mm, in other words an edge is formed between the side apron3and the surface2. Here, not only the second transition area11is milled, but largely the remaining areas of the left and right side aprons and the rear panel6are milled except for the sections30and the front apron4.

Along the area of the surface2extending from the bottom right to the top left inFIG.1, the radii54,53of different sizes merge at least steadily, in particular continuously. Finally, there is also a rounded transition with radius50in the third transition area12from the front apron4to the side apron3. For instance, the radius50can be between 5 mm and 200 mm, preferably between 7.5 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm. Furthermore, the transition from the first radius51to the radius53of the second edge21with a third edge52, which is a continuously changing radius, takes place in the third transition area12.

FIGS.2and3each show three-dimensional schematic view of a section of the front corner region of an apron sink according to one embodiment of this invention.

In detail,FIG.2shows a three-dimensional view according toFIG.1without the countertop5, wherein parts of the side apron3in the area90have been removed, for instance by milling, and at the same time the radius54of the second section31of the second edge21has been formed to be an edge8(radius 0 mm). A “hard” transition has been created between the two radii53and54of the two sections30,31of the second edge21, that is, the transition is steady but not continuous.

In the illustration ofFIG.2, the section31, into which the edge8has been milled, has a protrusion70with respect to the section30, which has not been milled, i.e. the side apron3is produced in this area with a correspondingly large material thickness to allow the protrusion70on the one hand, and the edge8in the section31on the other hand.

Alternatively, in a further embodiment ofFIG.3, it is also possible to provide a recess80instead of the protrusion70, i.e. the remaining part of the side apron3in the area30protrudes accordingly. This offers further advantages for a flush-mount installation of the apron sink1.

FIG.4shows steps of a method according to one embodiment of this invention.

In detail,FIG.4shows steps of a process for providing a sink for a sunken or flush-mount installation.

The method comprises the steps outlined below.

In a first step S1, a sink with a surface, at least one side apron and one front apron is manufactured.

In a further step S2, a first edge is formed in a first transition area from the surface to the at least one front apron.

In a further step S3, a first edge is formed in a second transition area from the surface to the at least one side apron.

At least one of the steps S1-S3 is performed in that the second edge has at least one first and one second edge area of different sizes, wherein the first edge area is disposed adjacent to a third transition area from the at least one front to one side apron, and in that the first edge area of the second edge is formed to merge continuously into the first edge, wherein the first edge area of the second edge is smaller than the first edge, and wherein the size of the first and/or second edge is determined on the basis of a radius of the transition from the surface to the at least one side apron and/or from the surface to the front apron.

In summary, at least one of the embodiments of the invention has at least one of the advantages listed below:Simple and inexpensive to manufacture,High flexibility with regard to different installation types, in particular flush-mount installation and sunken installation,High level of visual appeal,Easy demoldability from a casting mold when the sink is manufactured as a cast part.

Although this invention has been described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto and can be modified in a variety of ways.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1Apron sink2Surface3Side apron4Front apron5Countertop6Rear panel8Edge10First transition area11Second transition area12Third transition area20First edge21Second edge30First edge area/section31Second edge area/section40,41,42Angle50Radius of curvature51,53,54Radius edge52Third edge60,61Length70Projection80Recess90Area