Smart sink

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11795672-B2
Application number	US-201916710307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed is a sink assembly including a basin, an apron, and an apron module. The basin includes a floor and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the floor. The floor and the plurality of sidewalls together define a reservoir configured to receive fluid therein. The apron module is disposed within the volume and includes an audio system. The apron module may be sized to be fully received within the volume.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sink assembly, comprising:
a basin comprising a floor and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the floor, the floor and the plurality of sidewalls defining a reservoir that is configured to receive fluid therein:
an apron spaced apart from a front sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the basin to form a volume therebetween, the apron including a lower wall, the apron further including perforations in the lower wall to allow sound to be directed through the apron; and
an apron module disposed within the volume, the apron module comprising an insert that is removably coupled to the apron and an audio system that is housed within the insert,
wherein the insert further comprises a housing having a housing body that defines an at least partially enclosed space, and wherein the audio system is coupled to the housing body and disposed at least partially within the enclosed space,
wherein the perforations are in the form of a grill that is coupled to the housing body, and wherein the grill defines a portion of a lower wall of the apron when the apron module is engaged with the sink assembly.

2. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apron module is sized to be fully received within the volume.

3. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apron comprises a top flange extending outwardly from a top portion of the front sidewall and a forward wall extending downwardly from the top flange, wherein the apron module is coupled to the forward wall.

4. The sink assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lower wall extends from the forward wall in a perpendicular orientation relative to the forward wall, wherein the lower wall defines an opening providing access to the volume.

5. The sink assembly of claim 4 , wherein the opening is sized to receive the apron module therein.

6. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the audio system comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a speaker, a surface transducer, and a microphone.

7. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apron module further comprises a virtual assistant.

8. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apron module further comprises a control system operably coupled to the audio system, wherein the control system comprises a processor and a user interface operably coupled thereto, and wherein the user interface is accessible from a surface of the apron.

9. The sink assembly of claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises an indicator having a light source that is configured to illuminate an area adjacent the sink assembly.

10. The sink assembly of claim 9 , wherein the light source projects light away from the lower wall of the apron when the when the housing apron module is coupled to the apron.

11. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apron module further comprises a control system operably coupled to the audio system, wherein the control system comprises a transceiver that is configured to communicatively couple to the apron module to a sink device disposed remote from the apron module, and wherein the sink device comprises at least one of a faucet, a garbage disposal, a soap dispenser, a water filtration system, a self- cleaning sink mechanism, or a dish rinsing device.

12. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the grill is flush with the lower wall.

13. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the grill is spaced apart from the front sidewall of the basin forming a gap therebetween.

14. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower wall defines an opening, and wherein a width of the housing perpendicular to the front sidewall of the basin is less than a width of the opening.

15. The sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the apron includes a forward wall spaced apart from the front sidewall of the basin, the forward wall defining a lip that extends rearward toward the front sidewall.

16. A sink assembly, comprising:
a basin comprising a floor and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the floor, the floor and the plurality of sidewalls defining a reservoir that is configured to receive fluid therein;
an apron spaced apart from a front sidewall of the basin to form a volume; and
an apron module disposed within the volume, the apron module comprising an audio system,
wherein the apron module further comprises a housing having a housing body that defines an at least partially enclosed space, and wherein the audio system is coupled to the housing body and disposed substantially within the enclosed space, and
wherein the housing further comprises a grill that is coupled to the housing body, and wherein the grill defines a portion of a lower wall of the apron when the apron module is engaged with the sink assembly.

17. The sink assembly of claim 16 , wherein the grill is flush with the lower wall.

18. The sink assembly of claim 16 , wherein the grill is spaced apart from the front sidewall of the basin forming a gap therebetween.

19. The sink assembly of claim 16 , the apron including perforations to allow sound to be directed through the apron, wherein the perforations are disposed along at least one of the lower wall, a side wall, or a top flange of the apron.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Eilmus Niels J
• Rexach Rafael A
• Morehouse Kristin S
• Ellingsen Steven F

Classifications

• E03C1/182 Primary

  connected to the waste-pipe · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• E03C1/12 Primary

  Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto (drainage devices in floors E03F5/04); Sinks {(wash-basins not connected to the waste-pipe A47K1/04)} · CPC title

• E03C1/18 Primary

  Sinks, whether or not connected to the waste-pipe · CPC title

• E03C1/186

  Separate partition walls, lids, protecting borders, or the like, for sinks · CPC title