Hanging or storage means attachable to a sink
The object of the invention is a hanging or storage means attachable to a sink, comprising an attachment assembly (2, 3) for attaching the hanging or storage means (1) to a sink (8, 9, 10). The attachment assembly comprises an attachment magnet (2) connected to the hanging or storage means (1) and a separate counter-magnet (3) attached on the backside of the sink (8) or basin (9). The mutual attractive force of the magnets (2, 3) is designed to provide a detachable attachment of the hanging or storage means (1) through the wall material (10) of the sink (8) or basin (9) on the upper surface of the sink (8) or on the inner surface of the vertical wall (10) of the basin (9). The invention facilitates the hanging and storage of various kinds of equipment and accessories, such as a dishcloth, relating to the kitchen sink.
The invention relates to a hanging or storage means attachable to a sink, comprising an attachment assembly for attaching the hanging or storage means to a sink.
The storage of especially a dishcloth in connection with a sink is problematic. For example, a dishcloth placed on the water tap is disturbingly visible, hinders the use of the tap as a water supply, and may fall into the sink and become wet, which is unhygienic. Various racks and a storage bar (U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,123) fastened in the sink with suction pads have been suggested for storing the dishcloth. The fastening of such racks and bars, or keeping them fastened is, however, problematic. Their design and the possibilities of placing them in connection with the sink are also not always the best possible. Work on and around the sink also involves many other accessories and equipment, the use of which would be facilitated by their detachable attachment to the sink. Finding a functional attachment solution would in fact make it possible to develop new kinds of accessories and instruments.
The aim of the invention is to solve the above problem and to provide a hanging or storage means of the above-mentioned type, which is easily attachable to any desired location on the sink and also easily detachable and re-attachable.
This aim is achieved by means of the invention, on the basis of the characteristics disclosed in the appended claim 1. The dependent claims disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.
The attachment according to the invention using an attachment magnet and its counter-magnet on either side of a sink wall makes it possible to freely select the place of attachment and the design of the hanging or storage means for a variety of uses. In design and choice of material, aesthetic aspects may also be taken into account so as to match the design of the hanging or storage means with the design of the sink. A particular advantage of the magnet attachment according to the invention is that following detachment, the hanging or storage means is automatically guided to the correct place of attachment originally selected as desired by the user and subsequently changeable, if necessary.
The invention is illustrated in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The bar-like hanging or storage means 1 may be in the shape of an arch or handle and the attachment surfaces of the attachment magnets 2 at its opposite ends are either on the same plane or essentially at a 90° angle with respect to one another. The attachment surface of the attachment magnet is typically plane-like, but may also be curved to correspond to the comers of the basin 9 or the curvature of a round sink.
In the embodiments shown, the hanging or storage means 1 is a straight or curved bar, on one or both ends of which, or in the vicinity of the ends, is an attachment magnet 2. In some of the variations shown in
As appears from the above examples, the invention is suitable for attaching a variety of different hanging or storage means to the kitchen sink or its basin. Further examples not disclosed herein are sieves attachable to the vertical wall of the basin 9 for handling foodstuffs, or cups, for example, for cooling eggs. The term “hanging or storage means” should, therefore, be understood broadly to cover all kinds of accessories and instruments relating to work taking place at the kitchen sink. It is obvious that in addition to the above, many more applications can be found for the attachment device according to the invention and the invention is not in any way limited regarding the design or intended use of the attachable hanging or storage means.
Claims
1. A hanging or storage means attachable to a sink, comprising an attachment assembly for attaching the hanging or storage means to a sink, wherein the attachment assembly comprises an attachment magnet connected to the hanging or storage means and a separate counter-magnet attachable on the backside of the sink or basin, the mutual attractive force of the magnets being designed to provide a detachable attachment of the hanging or storage means through the wall material of the sink or basin on the upper surface of the sink or on the inner surface of the vertical wall of the basin.
2. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment magnet is fixed so as to be a part of the hanging or storage means or a part of a holder onto which the hanging or storage means can be detachably and replaceably attached.
3. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the counter-magnet is provided with an adhesive which attaches the counter-magnet in place in the desired position on the backside of the sink or basin.
4. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a protective film on the surface of the attachment magnet to prevent the surface of the sink or basin from being scratched.
5. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging or storage means is a straight or curved bar on one or both ends of which, or in the vicinity of the ends, is an attachment magnet.
6. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bar-like hanging or storage means is attached only at one end, while the other end is free.
7. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two attachment magnets are adjacent to one another at the same end of the bar-like hanging or attachment means and at least two counter-magnets are correspondingly located adjacent to one another on the opposite side of the wall of the sink or basin.
8. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bar-like hanging or storage means is in the shape of an arch or handle and the attachment surfaces of the attachment magnets at its opposite ends are either on the same plane or essentially at a 90° angle with respect to one another.
9. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment magnet is coated with rubber or a similar high-friction material.
10. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage means is a container with an attachment magnet in its base.
11. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging or storage means is a bar-like articulated lever, which can be turned about its articulated shaft into different positions.
12. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are several attachment magnets in a joint holder and correspondingly several counter-magnets in a joint counter-holder.
13. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein two or more counter-magnets are fixed to an intermediate support, which keeps the counter-magnets at a distance from one another as an integral structure.
14. A hanging or storage means as claimed in any claim 1, wherein one or more attachment magnets are placed in a watertight casing.
15. A hanging or storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging or storage means is selected from the group consisting of a hanging bar for a dishcloth, a hanging bar or hook for a dishwashing brush, a pump container for washing-up liquid, a sieve for foodstuffs, a drying rack for cutlery, and a cup-like dish on the side of which is an attachment magnet.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 11, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2009
Inventor: Miika Mansikkamaa (Lohja)
Application Number: 12/308,189