UNDERMOUNT WORKSTATION SINK

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63/635,650, filed Apr. 18, 2024, entitled “WORKSTATION SINK” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to sinks, specifically to undermount sinks with a workstation such as a cutting board.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims herein and are not admitted as being prior art by inclusion in this section.

An undermount sink is attached to the underside of a counter while a top mount sink rests on a rim. Since an undermount sink is mounted from below, the undermount sink is secured to the underside of a counter by silicone adhesive and/or brackets. A workstation sink allows a user to utilize the area directly over the sink for kitchen tasks such as cutting, chopping, slicing, drying dishes, and washing and draining produce. However, current market undermount sinks have not been optimized for use as a workstation and have many drawbacks.

SUMMARY

Existing challenges associated with conventional workstation sinks are overcome by the presently disclosed undermount workstation sink. One embodiment of the present disclosure is an undermount workstation sink which includes a basin with a bottom, a back side wall, a front side wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall. The undermount workstation sink further includes a mounting edge along a top perimeter of the basin. The mounting edge along the back side wall and the front side wall extends out perpendicular from the top perimeter of the basin a first length and the mounting edge along the right side wall and the left side wall extends out perpendicular from the top perimeter of the basin a second length. The first length is about double the second length.

In aspects, the mounting edges along the back side wall and the front side wall are configured to be attached to a countertop with a positive reveal so that the mounting edges provide a support surface for placement of a workstation accessory.

In aspects, the mounting edges provide a support surface for placement of the workstation accessory with a top surface of the workstation accessory being flush with a top surface of the countertop to which the undermount workstation sink is attached.

In aspects, the undermount workstation sink is attached to the countertop with silicone adhesive.

In aspects, the mounting edge along the back side wall and the front side wall extends out from the top perimeter of the basin about 1.25 inches.

In aspects, the mounting edge along the right side wall and the left side wall extends out from the top perimeter of the basin about 0.75 inches.

In aspects, the undermount workstation sink is attached to the countertop with silicone adhesive applied to an outer portion of about .75 inches of the mounting edge along the back side wall and the front side wall when the undermount workstation sink is attached to the countertop with a positive reveal.

In aspects, the undermount workstation sink is stainless steel.

In aspects, the mounting edge has a thickness of about 0.25 inches.

In aspects, the workstation accessory is a cutting board.

In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for providing a top surface of a workstation accessory flush to a countertop. The system includes the countertop, the workstation accessory, and an undermount workstation sink attached to a bottom surface of the countertop. The undermount workstation sink includes a basin with a bottom, a back side wall, a front side wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall. The undermount workstation sink further includes a mounting edge along a top perimeter of the basin. The mounting edge along the back side wall and the front side wall extends out perpendicular from the top perimeter of the basin a first length and the mounting edge along the right side wall and the left side wall extends out perpendicular from the top perimeter of the basin a second length. The first length is about double the second length.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method for a providing a top surface of a workstation accessory flush to a countertop. The method includes placing a workstation accessory on a mounting edge along a back side wall and a front side wall of an undermount workstation sink. The undermount workstation sink is attached to a bottom side of the countertop with a positive reveal. The undermount workstation sink includes a basin with a bottom, a back side wall, a front side wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall. The undermount workstation sink further includes a mounting edge along a top perimeter of the basin. The mounting edge along the back side wall and the front side wall extends out perpendicular from the top perimeter of the basin a first length and the mounting edge along the right side wall and the left side wall extends out perpendicular from the top perimeter of the basin a second length. The first length is about double the second length.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above and below, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side cut-out view of an undermount workstation sink mounted to a countertop in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an undermount workstation sink mounted to a countertop in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a side cut-out view of an undermount workstation sink mounted to a countertop with a workstation accessory in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an undermount workstation sink in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. An undermount workstation sink 10 may include a basin 20 including a bottom 22, a back side wall 24, a front side wall 26, a right side wall 28, and a left side wall 30. Undermount workstation sink 10 may be constructed from stainless steel, ceramic, aluminum, quartz, composite, solid surface materials, granite composite, fireclay, copper, concrete, and iron/steel. Undermount workstation sink 10 may be any size sink which may be utilized in a bathroom, bar, workstation, kitchen, outdoors, or other suitable area for placement of a sink. In some examples, undermount workstation sink 10 may be a 32″ long sink or a 57″ long sink, however, all suitable size sinks are contemplated. Undermount workstation sink 10 may also include a mounting edge 40 along a top perimeter of basin 20. Mounting edge 40 may project out perpendicular to the top edges of walls 24, 26, 28, and 30 of basin 20. Mounting edge 40 may project out perpendicular to back side wall 24 and front side wall 26 a first length 50 and may project out perpendicular to right side wall and left side wall a second length 55. First length 50 may be about double second length 55. First length 50 may be from about 1.0 to about 2.25 inches and second length 55 may be from about 0.5 inches to about 1.0 inches. In an example, first length 50 may be about 1.25 inches and second length 55 may be about 0.75 of an inch. Mounting edge 40 may be about 0.25 inch thick. An adhesive 60, such as silicone, and mechanical clamps, may be applied to mounting edge 40 to secure undermount workstation sink 10 to an underside of a countertop. Adhesive 60 may be applied to an outer portion of about 0.75 of an inch of a top surface of mounting edge 40 to secure undermount workstation sink 10 to an underside of a countertop. First length 50 of mounting edge 40 along the back side wall and the front side wall may be configured to be attached to a countertop with a positive reveal so that the mounting edges provide a support surface for placement of a workstation accessory. First length 50 may provide both an outer portion of first length 50 of about 0.75 of an inch for adhesive 60 to be applied to mount and secure undermount workstation sink 10 to an underside of a countertop and a second inner portion of first length 50 which may provide a support surface for placement of a workstation accessory.

FIG. 2 is a side cut-out view of an undermount workstation sink mounted to a countertop in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 2 that are labeled identically to components of FIG. 1 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

As previously stated, undermount workstation sink 10 includes basin 20, with bottom 22, back side wall 24 and front side wall 26, and mounting edge 40. Bottom 22 may include a drain 210. Undermount workstation sink 10 may be mounted to a countertop 200 from below by adhesive 60 along about an outer 0.75 inches of mounting edge 40 and with mechanical clamps 220 applied to mounting edge 40. When a conventional undermount sink is mounted to a countertop from below an inner edge of the countertop cutout may be flush with the side walls of basin 20 of the undermount sink. As shown in FIG. 2, undermount workstation sink 10 may be installed with a positive reveal and an inner portion 50A of length 50 may be exposed due to the positive reveal installation. Inner portion 50A may be a distance below a top surface 200T of countertop 200 equal to a thickness 230 of countertop 200 when mounting edge 40 of undermount workstation sink 10 is mounted flush with a bottom surface of countertop 200. Distance 230 may be any countertop thickness and may be from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches. Inner portion 50A of length 50 may have a length of about 0.5 inches to about 1.0 inches. Inner portion 50A of length 50 may provide a support surface for placement of a workstation accessory.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an undermount workstation sink mounted to a countertop in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 3 that are labeled identically to components of FIGS. 1-2. will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

Undermount workstation sink 10 may include a workstation accessory 300. Workstation accessory 300 may be a cutting board, a platform with one or more bowls or containers, a platform with a colander, a drain or drying rack, a lid or top for outdoor and indoor use, or any other workstation accessory. Workstation accessory 300 may be configured to span across undermount workstation sink 10 from front side wall 26 to back side wall 24 and to be supported by first lengths 50A. Workstation accessory 300 may be placed upon inner portions 50A and provide a workstation for a user to utilize for performing tasks at undermount workstation sink 10. Inner portions 50A may be configured so that when workstation accessory 300 is supported by inner portions 50A, a top surface 300T of workstation accessory 300 is flush with and the same height as top surface 200T of countertop 200.

FIG. 4 is a side cut-out view of an undermount workstation sink mounted to a countertop with a workstation accessory in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components in FIG. 4 that are labeled identically to components of FIGS. 1-3 will not be described again for the purposes of brevity.

As shown in FIG. 4, workstation accessory 300 may span across undermount workstation sink 10 from back side wall 24 to front side wall 26. Workstation accessory 300 may be supported by inner portions 50A. Inner portions 50A may support workstation accessory 300 so that a top surface 300T of workstation accessory 300 is essentially flush with and the same height as top surface 200T of countertop 200.

An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a workstation accessory such as a cutting board which is flush with a countertop and prevent damage to the countertop from knife blade strikes along the edges of the cutting board. An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a workstation accessory which is flush with the countertop, so the accessory is incorporated with the countertop instead of being below the countertop. An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a workstation accessory such as a cutting board which is flush with a countertop making it easier for a user to perform cutting and chopping. An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may provide an undermount workstation sink which does not include an additional accessory trailing within the basin area.

An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may reduce a cost of manufacturing an undermount workstation sink as folding of the stainless steel with expensive proprietary tools is not required like a traditional workstation sink. An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may further reduce a cost of manufacturing as not requiring folding, may reduce a cost for experienced technicians and as well as reduce defects due to manufacturing defects which could occur during the folding and polishing process. An undermount workstation sink in accordance with the present disclosure may provide a workstation sink with inner dimensions that do not vary from a standard sink to a workstation sink, unlike a typical workstation application which will lose+/−1″ of inner bowl space from a standard sink, resulting in a work area which is about 1.0 inches smaller and giving the end user less workspace. The foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods, and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and/or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.