U.S. patent application number 10/820384 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for sink with attachable decorative panel.
Invention is credited to Jumalon, Joe.
Application Number | 20050223486 10/820384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35059016 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050223486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jumalon, Joe |
October 13, 2005 |
Sink with attachable decorative panel
Abstract
A sink with attachable decorative panel. A panel having an
attachment portion and a front face with a decorative treatment is
attached to the front surface of a sink.
Inventors: |
Jumalon, Joe; (Sherwood,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRDWELL & JANKE, LLP
1100 SW SIXTH AVENUE
SUITE 1400
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
35059016 |
Appl. No.: |
10/820384 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/619 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 77/06 20130101;
A47K 1/04 20130101; A47B 2220/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/619 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A kitchen apparatus, comprising: a sink having a front surface
including a first attachment portion; a panel having a second
attachment portion and a front face including a decorative
treatment; and at least one attachment member for joining said
first and second attachment portions.
2. The kitchen apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sink comprises a
recess on said front surface adapted to receive said panel.
3. The kitchen apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and said
second attachment portions are adapted to allow said panel to be
affixed and subsequently removed from said front surface of said
sink without substantial damage to either said panel or to said
sink.
4. The kitchen apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front face of said
panel is decorated with three-dimensional decoration.
5. The kitchen apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel is
constructed of metal.
6. The kitchen apparatus of claim 5 wherein said panel is
constructed of a metal different from that of said sink.
7. The kitchen apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment member
comprises at least one bolt.
8. The kitchen apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment member
is a weld.
9. A kitchen counter assembly comprising the kitchen apparatus of
claim 1.
10. A method for displaying a decorative treatment on the front
surface of a kitchen apparatus, comprising: providing a sink having
a front surface including a first attachment portion; providing a
panel having a second attachment portion and a front face including
a decorative treatment; and attaching said panel to said front
surface of said sink by joining said first and said second
attachment portions by means of at least one attachment member.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said sink further comprises a
recess on said front surface adapted to receive said panel.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising removing said panel
from said sink without substantially damaging either the panel or
the sink then subsequently attaching a second panel to said
sink.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein said front face of said panel is
decorated with three-dimensional decoration.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein said panel is constructed of
metal.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said panel is constructed of a
metal different from that of said sink.
16. The method of claim 10 further comprising attaching said panel
to said front surface of said sink using at least one bolt.
17. The method of claim 10 further comprising attaching said panel
to said front surface of said sink by welding.
18. A method for providing a kitchen apparatus with a decorative
treatment, comprising: manufacturing a sink having a front surface
including a first attachment portion; separately manufacturing a
panel having a second attachment portion and a front face including
a decorative treatment; and affixing said panel to said sink by
joining said second attachment portion of said panel to said first
attachment portion of said sink with at least one attachment
member.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said sink further comprises a
recess on said front surface adapted to receive said panel.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein subsequently said panel may be
removed from said sink without causing substantial damage to said
panel or to said sink.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein said front face of said panel is
decorated with three-dimensional decoration.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein said panel is constructed of
metal.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein said panel is constructed of a
metal different from that of said sink.
24. The method of claim 18 further comprising affixing said panel
to said front surface of said sink using at least one bolt.
25. The method of claim 18 further comprising affixing said panel
to said front surface of said sink by welding.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In designing and constructing high quality home kitchens, it
is desirable to provide an attractive sink as a key component of
the overall decorative effect. Many different designs of sinks and
the fixtures associated with them have been developed to complement
the different styles popular in kitchen designs. However in this
highly competitive market, new decorative effects are always in
demand particularly for high-end homes.
[0002] Most home sinks are adapted to be placed within a recess in
the countertop such that the top of the sink is accessible and
visible but the front face of the sink is concealed behind
paneling, cabinet doors, etc. However, a variety of sink known as a
farm sink has become popular. Farm sinks are characterized by a
front surface of the sink itself being displayed on the vertical
front face of the cabinet or counter in which it is installed
instead of being hidden behind facing. Such farm sinks are
generally formed of an attractive metal such as bronze or stainless
steel, and the attractive metal tone that shows on the vertical
front face of the counter adds to the decorative ambience of the
kitchen design.
[0003] While many farm sinks have simply a smooth metal surface on
the front, some farm sinks have added decorative texturing, such as
matt finishes or peening, to add to the visual interest of the
surface. However, such treatments cannot be provided without
providing the entire sink. Inventories of sinks having alternative
surface treatments must be held, either at the manufacturer or at
the point of sale, or sinks must be custom manufactured or ordered
to match a desired sink (e.g. bronze) with a desired surface
treatment (e.g. matt finish). This causes cost, lead-time, or both
to increase.
[0004] In addition, a wide variety of decorative treatments cannot
be produced without accepting the high costs of custom manufacture.
It is impossible for a manufacturer to anticipate all of the
decorative treatments that could be desired, and it is impractical
to carry more than a few of the possibilities in inventory.
[0005] It is also the case, for at least some types of decorative
treatments, that producing the decorative treatment is complicated
by the structure of the sink and is therefore more costly than if
produced on some other article.
[0006] Yet another problem with the prior art is that the farm sink
is typically an expensive article and if the purchaser's taste
changes so that he or she no longer likes the decorative treatment,
he or she must purchase a whole new sink.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a sink with an attachable
decorative panel that solves the aforementioned problems of the
prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, a kitchen
apparatus is provided comprising a sink with an attachable
decorative panel. The sink has a front surface including a panel
attachment portion adapted to receive the panel. The panel has a
front face including a decorative treatment and a sink attachment
portion whereby the panel may be affixed to the sink. There is at
least one attachment member for joining the panel to the sink.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The FIGURE shows an exploded view of a kitchen apparatus
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] Referring to the FIGURE, a kitchen apparatus 8 according to
the present invention is shown. The kitchen apparatus includes a
sink 10, preferably but not necessarily one that is known in the
art as a farm sink. A farm sink is a counter-mounted sink that is
not free standing, and that possesses a front surface that is
visible after the sink is installed in the counter. However, a sink
of the freestanding variety that has legs and is not integrated
into a counter but where the front surface is nevertheless visible
when the sink is configured for use may be used without departing
from the principles of the present invention. The sink 10 is
equipped with a basin 11 with a drain hole 9 for connection to a
drain, and with one or more faucets 14 for introducing water into
the basin. The faucets are typically not manufactured with the sink
but are added during or after installation of the sink. Side
flanges (not shown) may be provided whereby the sink is laterally
supported by the adjacent countertop, to which the side flanges are
attached and caulked. The basin 11 forms a depression in a
generally horizontal surface 13, which is typically flat and which
typically surrounds the basin circumferentially. Depending
downwardly from a front portion 13a of surface 13 is a front
surface 12 of the sink. The front surface 12 is typically
substantially vertically oriented, but this is not necessary. In
the preferred farm sink embodiment, a gap 15 is typically provided
between the basin and the front surface 12 to allow the sink to be
additionally supported by a structural element of the counter in
which it is installed that runs laterally through the gap. The
front surface 12, which is visible after sink installation,
conceals this structural element. The sink is generally constructed
of metal as a single unit by casting, but could also be formed
through other techniques such as the bending, cutting and welding
of sheets of metal.
[0011] If the front surface of the sink is plain in texture, as is
the case with most farm sinks currently on the market, the natural
color and texture of the smooth metal contribute their visual
qualities to the overall visual impression of the kitchen counter
and sink assembly. However the decorative attractiveness of a
featureless metal surface is limited. Even if as mentioned above
the metal surface is textured by peening or other working of the
surface, the improvement is relatively small. It is the intent of
the present invention to provide a means whereby this visual
quality can be enhanced to a greater degree and in a wide variety
of ways. This is accomplished through the introduction of a panel
20 which may embody a large number of different types of decorative
treatments that will enhance the appearance of the front of the
sink as it is placed in a kitchen.
[0012] The panel 20 embodies a decorative feature and may be any
article that the user desires to display on the sink 10. The panel
is shown in the FIGURE as a substantially flat panel, however the
panel may have any geometric configuration. The panel preferably
has substantial thickness, so that it is sufficiently rigid to be
self-supporting without being attached to the sink. Accordingly,
panels are preferably formed of materials such as metals of various
types, stone, wood, plastic, ceramic or other material of adequate
strength, but not including such insubstantial objects as a
flexible plastic sheet like a decal or a very thin sheet of metal
such as foil. The panel may be formed of the same metal of which
the sink is preferably formed, e.g., bronze, nickel, or stainless
steel, or it may be formed of other materials such as a different
type of metal, stone, ceramic, wood, glass, or other materials that
may be carved, cast, molded, coated, etched, painted, enameled,
engraved or otherwise modified, worked or shaped to provide a
decorative treatment. A panel may even be featureless, the
decorative enhancement resulting only from the different color of
the metal used or contrasted with the metal of which the sink is
constructed, or a different color or texture resulting from
processes such as anodizing, sandblasting and so forth. But
preferably the panel is decorated with images that add to the
visual interest of the sink, such as landscapes, natural images,
abstract designs, human figures and similarly decorative
subjects.
[0013] Preferably the images on the panel are in relief, i.e.
three-dimensional, for example bas-relief images depicting
decorative objects or scenes, but a two-dimensional image that is
painted or applied in other ways to the front face of the panel may
be used without departing from the principles of the present
invention. It is entirely consistent with the principles of the
invention if the decoration on the panel is obtained by a
combination of processes, for instance molding figures in relief,
then enameling them to provide added color.
[0014] At least one attachment member is used to affix the panel 20
to the front surface 12 of sink 10 so that the decorative treatment
on the front face of the panel is visible when the sink is
installed. The attachment member may be of various different types
such as are well-known in the art, such as bolts, welds, glue, or
hook and loop fasteners and which are suitable for the form of the
panel. The FIGURE shows bolts 24 used as attachment members, the
bolts passing through holes in the panel and being secured to the
sink either by screwing into threaded holes in the front surface of
the sink or by means of nuts screwed onto the bolts behind the
front surface of the sink.
[0015] The front surface 12 of the sink comprises a panel
attachment portion 16 which is adapted to receive the panel 20. In
addition, the front surface 12 is preferably adapted to frame the
panel, such as by providing a recessed portion 12a that is adapted
to fit the panel, but this is not essential. The panel attachment
portion of the front surface comprises any area or feature of the
front surface where the panel may be attached, including holes
which may be threaded to receive bolts 24, or a flat area where the
panel may be affixed by gluing or through the use of a hook and
loop fastener, or regions of the front surface 12 where spot or
bead welds may be used to affix the panel to the front surface. It
is thus apparent that the character of the panel attachment portion
of the sink will depend upon what type of attachment member is used
to affix the panel.
[0016] On the panel 20 a sink attachment portion 22 is provided
whereby the panel may be affixed to the front of the sink 10 by an
attachment member. The sink attachment portion may, similarly to
the panel attachment portion, differ depending upon the nature of
the attachment member used; for instance if bolts are to be used as
attachment members, the sink attachment portion includes the holes
in the panel where the bolts 24 pass through; if spot welds are
used as attachment members, the sink attachment portion includes
the edges or corners of the panel where the spot welds are to be
located. It is also possible that the sink attachment portion may
simply comprise the rear surface of the panel itself, such as when
the panel will be affixed to the sink by means of glue, such as
industrial strength epoxy resin. If the panel is attached by a bead
weld, the sink attachment portion is the entire edge of the
panel.
[0017] While it is consistent with the present invention that the
selected panel be permanently affixed to the sink so that removal
of the panel after installation would cause damage to the panel or
to the sink, preferably the panel is attached by some reversible
means such that the panel may be later removed and a different
panel substituted if the sink owner wishes to vary the decorative
artwork. The attachment member is preferably of a type that allows
for easy removal of the panel after attachment without causing
damage or at least significant damage to the panel or the sink. For
instance, bolts 24 are preferred attachment members. Thus, bolts
which may be undone, or spot-welds which may be readily cut or
pried free, may be used to reversibly attach the panel to the front
of the sink. If glue is used, it may be of a strength designed to
allow the panel to be pried off the face of the sink without damage
to panel or sink. A hook and loop fastener may be used. Thus it is
readily apparent that if affixation of the panel to the sink is
reversible, not only may the panel be affixed to the sink prior to
installation of the sink in the counter but it may be affixed to
the sink after the sink is already fully installed. This feature
also allows for replacement of the panel bearing the decorative
images or treatment in a sink that is already in place in the
kitchen counter.
[0018] Thus the present invention provides a sink that may be
manufactured in a cost-effective manner but yet allows a wide
variety of decorative features to be incorporated while allowing
for the seller of such sinks to offer a good degree of flexibility
to potential buyers.
[0019] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the
foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description
and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of
such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the
features shown and described or portions thereof, it being
recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited
only by the claims which follow. It will doubtless be obvious to
those of ordinary skill in the art that there are other embodiments
employing these principles that are not described in detail
herein.
* * * * *