Drawer for sink cabinets

Abstract

A sink-side cabinet drawer designed to utilize the dead space in cabinets by curving the sink-side of the drawer around the bowl of a sink or underside of a countertop appliance. The drawer is installed by removing the veneer drawer panel from the sink cabinet and affixing a bottom mounting slide for support and guided movement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to cabinetry and more particularly, this invention relates to a drawer assembly that, when closed, accommodates the dead space around the bowl of a sink beneath the counter top.

2. Problems in the Art.

Storage is always an issue in any household and cabinets are the preferred form of storage in kitchens and bathrooms. The space beneath the counter top and around the sink has long be unusable space or dead space. Most cabinets utilize a vanity panel to simulate the look of the surrounding cabinets and provide the illusion of drawers beneath the sink. Taking advantage of dead space provides additional storage capacity and improved household organization.

The patent literature is filled with novel inventions to get more useful space out of the same living space. Many patents specifically address utilizing dead space in cabinetry in bathrooms and kitchens.

A novel approach to utilization of dead space behind a sink is demonstrated in Japanese Patent 2003144260, Side Panel for Counter-Supporting Sink Stand with Space Opening, by Abe Takeshi (May 20, 2003). The '260 patent describes to use of a sliding drawer that extends from across the back of the cabinet parallel to the wall and behind the sink. However, this invention requires the sink containing cabinet to be the terminal cabinet so that access is possible from the side of the cabinet.

Yet another invention, described in Japanese Patent 2000236964, Kitchen Cabinet by Toru et al. (Sep. 4, 2000), utilizes the dead space beneath the cabinets and above the floor through the use of drawers. A similar invention, Japanese Patent 2003339462, Drawer Structure Under Sink by Hiroyuki (Dec. 2, 2003) applies the concept of the '964 patent specifically to cabinets which contain sinks. Both the '964 patent and the '462 patens fail to utilize the dead space around the bowl of the sink under the countertop.

One such invention is described by European Patent Application 282238, Storage Device for Kitchen Furniture filed on Mar. 4, 1988. The '238 patent application describes hingedly mounting the false drawer panel and affixing a thin tray to the interior so that when the panel is pulled out it rotates along an axis at the bottom of the panel to expose an open tray for storage. This is markedly different from the present invention in that the drawers are not hingedly attached, but are functioning drawers that engage a rail system to allow the drawer to slide parallel to the counter top.

An invention more similar to the present invention is described by Inui Junko in Japanese Patent 2003299532, Drawer Member (Oct. 21, 2003). The '532 patent describes rectangular drawers which slide alongside the bowl of a sink under a countertop. However, the '532 patent fails to utilize the dead space between the bowl of the sink and the front of the cabinetry beneath the countertop.

Yet another variation on drawers utilized with sink supporting cabinetry is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,296, Cabinet and Undersink Drawers by McGilton (Apr. 27, 2004). The '296 patent is designed to slide at the bottom of the cabinet beneath the sink and fit around the trap and drain beneath an installed sink but not encompassing the bowl. The '296 invention fails to utilize any dead space at all and only provides a slidable shelf at the base of the sink cabinet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Cabinet drawers having opposing side surfaces, a front side, and at least one sink side, and a bottom. The sink side may be curved to better fit around the bowl, or multiple pieces to form a polygon which accommodates the shape of the sink bowl when recessed within the confines of the cabinet. The cabinet drawer includes mounting fixtures and slides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cabinet and drawer in an open position from the front of the cabinet.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective overhead view of the preferred embodiment of the cabinet and drawer from the sink side of the drawer.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the bottom of the preferred embodiment of the drawer showing the mounted slide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the drawer of the present invention. The sink cabinet drawer 10 includes a front panel 11, a floor panel 14, an cabinet-side panel 12, a rear panel 13, a first sink-side panel 17, a second sink-side panel 15, and a third sink-side panel 16 connecting the first 17 and second sink-side panels 15 wherein the sink-side panels are joined such that they curve around the bowl of the sink and take advantage of dead space below the counter and between the sink and cabinet walls.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. The drawer 20, includes a cabinet drawer slide 21 mounted on the bottom side of the floor panel 24 of the drawer. The cabinet drawer slide could alternatively be mounted beside or above said drawer. The cabinet drawer slide 21 is received into a cabinet drawer slide sleeve 22 at the rear of the drawer 20 and connecting under the rear panel 23. Additional methods of attachment, such as systems that form a key/lock groove common in woodworking or simply resting the drawer on the underlying cabinet frame are anticipated by this invention.

Alternative embodiments would allow for custom fitting around various sink bowls. The sink side of the drawer could be constructed in a curved shape rather than angling the straight sides of the drawer around the bowl. A curved side would take greater advantage of dead space than the preferred embodiment but would conceivably be more expensive to fabricate.

An additional embodiment would allow for one drawer to curve around the front side bowl. A further embodiment would allow for three drawers to be utilized to cover the dead space between the sink bowl and the front of the cabinet.

The drawers are anticipated to be crafted from similar materials to the cabinets into which they are being installed. Common materials include wood, synthetic wood products, plastic, metal, or any similarly suitable material known to those skilled in the art of cabinetry. Since the vast majority of sink cabinets possess veneer drawer panels, the preferred method of installation is to remove these veneer panels, install a cabinet drawer slide, and then install the present invention. If a veneer is not present then cutting a sufficiently dimensioned orifice for the drawer will become necessary. An alternative to retro-fitting existing cabinets with the present invention is to install cabinets with the present invention as an elected option.

The preferred method for mounting the present invention is to utilize a bottom mounted slide since it is impractical to utilize a slide on the sink side of the drawer due to the inconsistent width of the drawer body. Such slides are known to those skilled in the art of cabinetry. Another alternative embodiment would utilize a side mounted slide on the side of the drawer opposite the sink in addition to the bottom mounted slide for additional support and stability.

This invention is also useful in laboratory settings, in cabinets with countertop installed appliances, in cabinets with plumbing, or to utilize dead space around under-counter appliances like garbage disposals and small water heaters to name a few non-limiting examples.

Claims

1. A sink cabinet drawer comprising side panels, a front panel, and a floor panel; said side panels being fittedly assembled so as to curve around the bowl of a sink when the drawer is fully closed.

2. The drawer of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a floor panel with a bottom side and a top side;

(b) a front panel with a front side and a rear side;

(c) a rear panel with a front side and a rear side;

(d) a cabinet-side panel;

(e) at least one sink-side panel, wherein said at least one said sink-side panel connects to said front panel in front of a sink bowl of a sink and projects towards said front side of said rear panel in a curvilinear manner; and

(f) means for slidably mounting said drawer within a cabinet.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said at least one sink-side panel is curved.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said at least one sink-side panel is comprised of multiple straight panels connected so as to curve around the bowl of a sink before connecting to said front panel.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said panels are comprised of the group consisting of wood, synthetic wood, plastic, fiberglass, metal, and similarly rigid materials commonly utilized in cabinet construction.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for slidably mounting is a cabinet drawer slide mounted beneath said drawer and affixed to said cabinet.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for slidably mounting is a cabinet drawer slide mounted beside said drawer and affixed to said cabinet.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for slidably mounting is a cabinet drawer slide mounted above said drawer and affixed to said cabinet.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one drawer is utilized to provide storage around the bowl of the sink.

10. A sink cabinet drawer comprising side panels, a front panel, and a floor panel; said side panels being fittedly assembled so as to curve around the bowl of a sink when the drawer is fully closed; said floor panel possessing a bottom side and a top side; said front panel possessing a front side and a rear side; said rear panel possessing a front side and a rear side; said side panels possessing a first surface facing said sink and a second surface facing said away from said sink; said side panels further comprising at least one sink-side panel, wherein said at least one said sink-side panel connects to said front panel in front of the sink bowl of said sink and projects towards said front side of said rear panel in such a way as to allow storage between said sink bowl and said cabinet; and means for slidably mounting said drawer within a cabinet.

11. The method of increasing cabinet storage space by replacing the veneer drawer panels on the front of a sink cabinet with drawers that curve around the bowl of the sink.