Double sink with integral colander

Abstract

A double-basin sink with an integral colander is provided. The sink includes an first basin and a second basin and a foraminous surface between the first basin and the second basin. The foraminous surface may be the wall that separates the basins or the bottom surface of the first basin. Liquid from the first basin is able to flow into the second basin through the openings in the foraminous surface. The sink may also include an attachment for covering the openings or changing the size or shape of the openings.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/473,235, filed on May 23, 2003, and which is related to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/479,565, filed on Jun. 17, 2003. The priority of the prior applications is expressly claimed and their disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to sinks, and in particular to sinks for use in any setting where it is desirable to separate liquids from solids. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel double-basin sink.

[0003] Many kitchens include a food preparation area on a counter or island for preparing vegetables and other items. Most such food preparation areas include a prep sink that is used for washing food before serving or cooking. Known prep sinks typically include a single, relatively small square or rectangular sink. While helpful, it is often the case that there is a need to use the sink in the prep area while a vegetable or salad is draining after being washed. It is also often the case that it would be more convenient to be able to wash and drain foods without the need for using a separate colander, and without tying up a prep sink while the food is being washed or is draining after being washed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention solves the problem by providing a double basin sink that includes an integral colander between the two sink basins, permitting water or other liquid from a first sink basin to drain to a second sink basin while retaining the solid in the first sink. In one embodiment, the integral colander comprises a foraminous wall separating the two sink basins. In another embodiment, the integral colander comprises one sink with a foraminous bottom surface that communicates with a second sink. The second sink is preferably below the level of the first to facilitate draining, and is connected to a drain like a normal sink.

[0005] This double basin sink with an integral colander could be used in kitchens or any other setting where it is desirable to conveniently separate liquids from solids. For example, the double sink with an integral colander could be used in bathrooms, laundry rooms or in industrial applications, such as parts cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The nature, principle and utility of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of the sink of the first embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the sink of the first embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the sink of the first embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sink of FIG. 3 along line I-I.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the sink of the second embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the sink of the second embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of the sink of the second embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the sink of FIG. 7 along line II-II.

[0015] The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The same numbers are used for the same part or portion throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the first embodiment. The sink of the first embodiment, shown at 10, includes an upper sink 12 and a lower sink 14 separated by a colander wall 16. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sloped wall 18 between the two sinks 12 and 14. The sloped wall 18 facilitates the flow of liquid from the upper sink 12 through the colander wall 16 and into the lower sink 14. The lower sink 14 comprises a drain 20 and a sloped bottom surface 22 to allow for liquid drainage. Alternatively, rather than having one sink at a higher level than the other sink, the two sinks may be may be at the same level. In addition, the upper sink 12 may also comprise a drain.

[0017] The colander wall 16 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a top view of the sink 10, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 along line I-I. The novel and critical feature of the invention is the wall 16 separating the upper and lower sinks. The wall 16 includes openings 24 that permit liquids to drain to from the upper sink 12 to the lower sink 14, while retaining solids in the upper sink. The colander wall 16 could be an integral part of the sink or could be removable to facilitate cleaning. In addition, the colander wall 16 could be made of a different material than the rest of the sink. For example, the sink could be made of porcelain while the colander wall 16 could be made of a metal screen or mesh.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the openings 24 in the wall 16 are vertical slots, but the invention is not limited to any specific configuration or shape of opening. In other embodiments the openings can be rounded, square, rectangular, oval, star-shaped, triangular, polygonal, trapezoidal, and can be arranged in any suitable pattern. The openings can also be of any desired size, although naturally if too large, they would not function effectively.

[0019] FIG. 4 also shows that the central vertical slot extends down to the bottom of the sink to permit complete drainage of the sink. In other embodiments more than one of the openings could extend to the bottom of the sink as well.

[0020] In another embodiment an attachment is provided that slips over the side wall and which includes differently sized openings, or which temporarily covers the openings 24 in wall 16.

[0021] FIGS. 5-8 show a second embodiment of the invention at 30 which includes a first sink 32 and a second sink 34. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 along line II-II. FIG. 8 clearly shows that the wall 46 separating the first sink 32 and the second sink 34 is solid.

[0022] Second sink 34 includes a foraminous bottom wall 36 that is positioned above the bottom wall of the first sink 32. As shown in FIG. 7, the openings 40 in bottom wall 36 can be elongated openings as shown, or can be of any desired shape and arrangement desired, so long as the openings provide adequate drainage. Beneath the bottom wall 36 of the second sink is a sloped wall 38 that communicates with first sink 32 and directs liquid draining from the second sink 34 to the first sink 32 and into the drain. First sink 32 includes a drain 42 in the bottom wall that communicates with the drainage system of the building. The foraminous bottom wall 36 could be an integral part of the sink or could be removable to facilitate cleaning. In addition, the foraminous bottom wall 36 could be made of a different material than the rest of the sink. For example, the sink could be made of porcelain while the bottom wall 36 could be made of a metal screen or mesh.

[0023] As with the previous embodiment described, a cover can be provided which includes differently sized openings or which temporarily covers the openings in the foraminous bottom wall 36 as needed.

[0024] In the second embodiment the openings 40 in the bottom wall 36 are vertical slots, but the invention is not limited to any specific configuration or shape of opening. In other embodiments the openings can be rounded, square, rectangular, oval, star-shaped, triangular, polygonal, trapezoidal, and can be arranged in any suitable pattern. The openings can also be of any desired size, although naturally if too large, they would not function effectively.

[0025] The upper and lower sinks can be square, rectangular, round, oval, or any desired shape that provides a common wall between the two sinks. The invention can be formed of any suitable material such as, but not limited to, metal, ceramic, enameled metal, porcelain, stone, resin, clay, wood, concrete, glass, plaster, paper or polymeric materials.

[0026] The sink basins may be made of one or more material while the foraminous surface may be made of a different material. The invention is preferably a metal casting, but any other method of shaping the material into the desired configuration will achieve the advantages of the invention.

[0027] While the invention has been described by reference to the illustrated embodiment, those of skill in the art will appreciate that there can be numerous modifications to the illustrated embodiments that are nonetheless within the scope of the invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A sink, wherein the sink comprises:

a first basin comprising a first bottom surface;

a second basin comprising a second bottom surface; and

a wall between the first basin and the second basin,

wherein at least one of the wall and the first bottom surface comprises at least one surface opening.

2. The sink of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first basin and the second basin comprises a drain.

3. The sink of claim 1, wherein the first bottom surface is higher than the second bottom surface.

4. The sink of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface opening is in the wall and the at least one surface opening extends to the first bottom surface.

5. The sink of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface opening is a vertical slot.

6. The sink of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface opening is rounded, square, rectangular, oval, star-shaped, triangular, polygonal or trapezoidal.

7. The sink of claim 1, further comprising an attachment that fits over the at least one surface opening.

8. The sink of claim 7, wherein the attachment comprises at least one attachment opening.

9. The sink of claim 8, wherein the at least one attachment opening is of a different size than the at least one surface opening.

10. The sink of claim 8, wherein the at least one attachment opening is of a different shape than the at least one surface opening.

11. The sink of claim 7, wherein the attachment covers the at least one surface opening, thus preventing liquids or solids from flowing from the upper basin to the lower basin through the at least one surface opening.

12. The sink of claim 1, wherein the sink is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, ceramic, enameled metal, porcelain, stone, resin, clay, wood, concrete, glass, plaster, paper and polymeric materials.

13. A double-basin sink, wherein the sink comprises a surface with at least one surface opening that provides a direct connection between a first basin and a second basin.

14. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first basin and the second basin comprises a drain.

15. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein a depth of the second basin is less than a depth of the first basin.

16. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein the surface is at least one of a wall between the first basin and the second basin and a bottom surface of the second basin.

17. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface opening is a vertical slot.

18. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface opening is rounded, square, rectangular, oval, star-shaped, triangular, polygonal or trapezoidal.

19. The double-basin sink of claim 13, further comprising an attachment that fits over the at least one surface opening.

20. The double-basin sink of claim 19, wherein the attachment comprises at least one attachment opening.

21. The sink of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the wall and the first bottom surface that comprises the at least one surface opening is removable.

22. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein the surface with the at least one surface opening is removable.

23. The sink of claim 1, wherein the first basin and the second basin are made from a first material and the at least one of the wall and the first bottom surface that comprises the at least one surface opening is made from a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material.

24. The double-basin sink of claim 13, wherein the first basin and the second basin are made from a first material and the surface with the at least one surface opening is made from a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material.