Sink Cover

Abstract

The present invention is a sink cover including a body portion having a drain sleeve thereon that is positioned in engagement with the drain of a sink. The sleeve is engaged with a collar the holds the body portion in the sink over the drain, and allows the body portion to be rotated. A shroud is connected to the body portion or the collar at one end and to the edge of the sink at the opposite end to provide a continuous surface over the surface of the sink that directs fluids and other materials on implements being cleaned over the sink cover through cover and into the drain opening without contacting the surface of the sink.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to draining devices, and more specifically to a sink cover formed with a tray having a drain connectable to the drain of a sink and having a shroud extending therefrom to cover the interior of the sink.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When applying a coat of paint to a desired surface, many different types of implements are employed to enable the paint to be more easily applied to the surface, including various types of brushes and rollers. After these implements have been used, they need to be cleaned in order to remove any remaining paint on the implements such that they can be used again to apply a different coat and/or color of paint to a surface.

When these implements are being cleaned, most often the implements are placed within a sink so that the paint can be washed off of the implements to flow down the drain of sink after being removed from the implement. However, the paint being removed from the implements, when contacting the surface of the sink, can stain the sink surface, which is a highly undesirable situation.

As a result, it is desirable to develop a device that enables the painting implements to be cleaned in a sink but that also prevents the paint being removed from the implements from contacting and staining the surface of the sink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sink cover is provided that includes a tray that can be positioned within a conventional sink and which has a drain opening that can be engaged with the drain formed in the surface of the sink. By positioning the tray in the sink in connection with the drain in the sink, any paint removed from the brushes and rollers over the tray is collected by the tray and directed through the drain opening in the tray into the drain for the sink without contacting the surface of the sink.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a shroud is connected to the tray to expand the coverage of the sink surface by the device. The shroud is connected opposite the tray to the sides of the sink, such that the shroud completely covers the entire surface of the sink to completely prevent any paint removed from the brushes and rollers from contacting the surface of the sink.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a collar is rotatably secured to the tray around the central drain opening in the tray. The collar is dimensioned to be securely positioned within a conventional sink drain, thereby holding the tray in position with regard to the sink drain. Further, because the tray is rotatably connected to the collar, when the collar is engaged with the sink drain, the tray can be rotated within the collar to position the tray in the desired angular position within the sink.

According to still a further aspect of the present invention, the tray includes a number of engaging surfaces formed thereon that assist in removing the paint from the brushes and rollers.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a removable sink cover tray and collar for covering a sink surface constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tray and collar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the collar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the collar of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a shroud connected to the tray and collar of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a sink cover tray constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The tray 10 is formed with a body 12 and a central sleeve 14 extending outwardly from the body 12. The body 12 is preferably formed of a lightweight, fluid-impervious material, such as a plastic material, to assist in the formation and ease of use of the tray 10. The body 12 can have any desired shape, but in a preferred embodiment is made to be generally square in shape. The body 12, regardless of the particular shape of the body 12, has an outer periphery 16 with at least one and preferably a pair of raised edges 17, and an inner periphery 18 that defines an aperture 20 around which the central sleeve 14 is disposed. The aperture 20 is preferably located in the center of the body 12, but can be disposed in any location within the body 12 as desired. The body 12 is formed with a sloping surface 22 extending from the raised edges 17 on the outer periphery 16 to the inner periphery 18, such that the outer periphery 16 is higher than the inner periphery 18. Due to this configuration, any fluids or other materials present on the body 12 are directed by gravity along the surface 22 towards the central aperture 20. The sloping surface 22 on the body 12 can be formed with any desired slope, such as a straight, angled slope or a curved slope, as desired. The sloping surface 22 can additionally be formed of multiple sloped sections, each which direct materials thereon towards the central aperture 20.

The sloping surface 22 can also include a number of engagement members 24 disposed thereon. The engagement members 24 can have any desired configuration and can be formed integrally or separately from the sloping surface 22 on the body 12. The members 24 protrude outwardly from the sloping surface 22 in any desired configuration to engage an implement (not shown) being cleaned over or on the tray 10. Preferably the members 24 are disposed on the sloping surface 22 in a manner that conforms generally to the slope of the surface 22 on which the members 24 are formed, such that the members 24 assist in directing any fluids or other materials on the sloping surface 22 towards the central aperture 20. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the engagement members 24 are shaped similarly to the ridges (not shown) present on conventional paint trays (not shown) to aid in the removal of paint or other fluids from the implements being cleaned on the tray 10. Also, the members 24 are formed or disposed on the surface 22 in an angled orientation that directs any fluid or materials thereon along channels 25 defined between the members 24 that are directed towards the center of the body 12, and the central aperture 20. The body 12 can also include a number of collection chambers 27 thereon that are disposed at location spaced from the central aperture 20 in order to collect any fluid or materials on the sloping surface 22 that do not flow directly to the aperture 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the central sleeve 14 can be formed separately from, or integrally with the body 12, and of the same or similar materials used to form the body 12, and is positioned on the body 12 to completely surround the central aperture 20. The sleeve 14 has an upper end 26 secured to the body 12, and a lower end 28 spaced from the upper end 26. Preferably the sleeve 14 tapers from the upper end 26 to the lower end 28 to enable the sleeve 14 to more easily be engaged within the drain (not shown) of a conventional sink. The sleeve 14 also includes a peripheral ring 30 located between the upper end 26 and the lower end 28.

The ring 30 provides an attachment point for a locating collar 32 that can be releasably engaged with the ring 30. The collar 32 is formed as a separate component from the body 12, of the same or similar materials used to form the body 12, and includes an upper flange 34 and a lower conduit 36 extending away from the flange 34. The conduit 36 defines a central passage 37 therein and includes a number of inwardly extending sections 38. The sections 38 are pivotable with respect to the remainder of the conduit 36 and include a recessed portion 39 that operates to engage the ring 30 and secure the collar 32 to the sleeve 14, while also providing a small amount of clearance between the collar 32 and the sleeve 14 between each of the sections 38. Additionally, the recessed portions 39 on each of the sections 38 can also slide along the ring 30, such that the collar 32 can rotate with regard to the sleeve 14. The conduit 36 also tapers inwardly from the upper flange 34 downwardly along the conduit 36, similarly to the sleeve 14.

The lower end of the conduit 36 is sized to be easily insertable and engageable within the drain opening of the sink, such that the conduit 36 will be securely held by the frictional engagement of the conduit 36 with the interior of the drain opening. Additionally, the ability of the sections 38 on the conduit 36 to slide along the ring 30 enables the sleeve 14 and the body 10 to rotate within the conduit 36, such that the body 10 can be positioned in a desired rotational position within the sink.

Looking now at FIG. 6, a shroud 40 is connected to the cover tray 10. The shroud 40 is formed of a sheet of generally flexible, but fluid-impervious material, such as a plastic material, preferably having a large rectangular or ring-like shape that conforms to the exterior dimensions of conventional sink designs. The shroud 40 has an inner periphery 42 and an outer periphery 44. The inner periphery 42 has a shape that conforms to the shape of the collar 32, defining a generally circular opening therein, and includes a number of attachment members 46 spaced around the inner periphery 42. The attachment members 46 are preferably formed as adhesive strips other suitable members that are releasably securable to the flange 34 of the collar 32, such that the collar 32 and the shroud 40 can form a generally unitary surface. Alternatively the attachment members 46 can be positioned on the flange 34 of the collar 32, such that the shroud 40 can be secured to the collar 32 in the same manner.

Also, the outer periphery 44 of the shroud 40 includes a number of attachment members 48 that are securable to the edge or outside of the edge of the sink. Due to the shape of the shroud 40 conforming to the shape of a conventional sink, the attachment members 48 can be positioned directly over the edge of the sink with which the cover tray 10 is utilized. By securing the attachment members 46 and 48 to the collar 32 underneath the body 10, and the sink, respectively, the shroud 40 forms a continuous surface with the collar 32 over the entire sink, such that no paint, or other fluids or materials, can pass between the shroud 40 and the collar 32, thereby protecting the entire surface of the sink.

In addition, when a fluid or material falls onto the shroud 40 instead of onto the body 12 of the tray 10, the fluid is not directed onto the tray 10, as the shroud 40 is secured to the collar 32 beneath the sloping surface 22 of the tray 10. However, due to the space defined between the conduit 36 and the sleeve 14 by the inwardly extending sections 38 on the conduit 36, any fluid that falls onto the shroud 40 will be directed inwardly towards the collar 32, and can flow downwardly along the shroud 40 and through the space between the conduit 36 and the sleeve 14, and ultimately into the sink drain.

Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A sink cover comprising:

a) a sleeve having an upper end and a lower end engageable within a drain opening of a sink; and

b) a body engaged with the upper end of the sleeve, the body having at least one sloping surface extending downwardly towards the sleeve.

2. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a collar releasably engaged with the lower end of the sleeve.

3. The cover of claim 2 wherein the collar is rotatably engaged with the sleeve.

4. The cover of claim 3 wherein the collar includes a number of inwardly engaging sections that are releasably engageable with the sleeve.

5. The cover of claim 4 wherein the sleeve includes a peripheral ring that is engageable with the inwardly extending sections.

6. The cover of claim 3 wherein engagement of the collar with the sleeve defines a number of spaces between the collar and the sleeve.

7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one sloping surface of the body includes a number of engagement members thereon configured to assist in removing fluid from an implement pressed against the engagement members.

8. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a shroud connected to the body around the periphery of the body.

9. The cover of claim 8 wherein the shroud includes a number of first attachment members on the shroud that are connected to the body.

10. The cover of claim 2 further comprising a shroud connected to the body around the periphery of the collar.

11. The cover of claim 10 wherein the shroud includes a number of first attachment members on the shroud that are connected to the collar.

12. The cover of claim 11 wherein the shroud includes a number of second attachment members disposed opposite the first attachment members an adapted to be secured to an edge of the sink.

13. The cover of claim 10 wherein the collar includes a number of first attachment members thereon that are engageable with the shroud.

14. A method for providing a removable cover for a sink, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sink cover including a sleeve having an upper end and a lower end engageable within a drain opening of a sink, and a body engaged with the upper end of the sleeve, the body having at least one sloping surface extending downwardly towards the sleeve;

b) engaging the lower end of the sleeve with the sink drain; and

c) cleaning at least one implement in the sink over the sink cover.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the cover further includes a collar releasably engaged with the lower end of the sleeve and the method further comprises the steps of:

a) engaging the collar with the sleeve prior to engaging the sleeve with the sink drain; and

b) engaging the collar with the sink drain.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the sleeve is rotatably engaged with the collar, and further comprising the step of rotating the body with regard to the collar after engaging the collar with the sink drain.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the sink cover further includes a shroud connected to the body around the periphery of the body, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

a) attaching the shroud to the body prior to engaging the body with the sink drain; and

b) attaching the shroud to the edge of the sink after engaging the body with the sink drain.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the sink cover includes a collar releasably engaged with the lower end of the sleeve and the step of attaching the shroud to the body comprises attaching the shroud to the collar.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the body includes a number of engagement surfaces thereon, and wherein the step of cleaning the at least one implement comprises engaging the at least one implement with engaging surfaces.

20. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of disposing of the sink cover after cleaning the at least one implement.