Food preparation sink

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315978-B2
Application number	US-201414553727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2014
Priority date	Apr 7, 2008
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

Food preparation sinks are disclosed which have an integral raised work area that is rinsed by an automatic system. Food waste or the like present in that area can be washed into a sump above a drain, and the weight of the waste and water in the sump is enough to automatically drive them through a baffle to a garbage disposal, without requiring the baffle to be manually opened. An automatic controller system coordinates water flow and garbage disposal operation, and the water supply can be linked to the sink below the sink rim to save counter top space. In some forms multiple rinsing nozzles are provided which pulse in altering fashion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A food preparation sink, comprising:
a first end wall;
a second end wall disposed opposite the first end wall;
a first planar sidewall extending between and directly coupled to each of the first and second end walls;
a second planar sidewall extending between and directly coupled to each of the first end wall and the second end wall; and
a bottom wall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, the bottom wall including:
an elongated sloped portion;
a transition; and
a drain floor;
wherein the sloped portion provides a raised work area relative to the drain floor that is configured to allow for food preparation thereon, wherein the sloped portion slopes downward from the first end wall toward the transition, and wherein the drain floor extends from the second end wall toward the transition.

2. The food preparation sink of claim 1 , wherein the sloped portion continuously slopes downward from the first wall to the transition, such that a majority of the bottom wall slopes downward.

3. The food preparation sink of claim 1 , further comprising a rim extending about the first and second end walls and the first and second sidewalls.

4. The food preparation sink of claim 3 , wherein the rim forms a continuous planar surface.

5. The food preparation sink of claim 4 , wherein the rim enables the sink to be installed in a first drop-in configuration and in a second undermount configuration relative to a countertop.

6. The food preparation sink of claim 3 , wherein the first and second planar sidewalls extend between and are coupled to each of the rim and the drain floor.

7. The food preparation sink of claim 1 , wherein the raised work area that is configured to provide a food preparation surface to support food thereon is essentially a rectangular area having a length, which is between the end walls, that is greater than a width, which is between the sidewalls.

8. The food preparation sink of claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder portion that extends downward from the sloped portion, wherein the drain floor and shoulder portion define a sump, and wherein the drain floor is a generally planar surface defining a drain hole therethrough.

9. A food preparation sink, comprising:
a bottom wall;
a plurality of wall portions extending upward from the bottom wall to define a rectangular shaped basin; and
a flat drain floor provided between a first wall portion of the plurality of wall portions and the bottom wall;
wherein the bottom wall comprises:
a concave portion extending from a second wall portion of the plurality of wall portions;
a shoulder portion extending toward the flat drain floor; and
a convex portion extending between the concave portion and the shoulder portion, wherein at least one of the concave and the convex portions has a continuous slope having a length greater than a height.

10. The food preparation sink of claim 9 , wherein the convex portion is elongated and has a continuous slope.

11. The food preparation sink of claim 10 , wherein the concave portion has a varying non-uniform slope.

12. The food preparation sink of claim 9 , further comprising a rim extending outward from an upper edge of each of the plurality of wall portions to form a continuous coplanar surface and enable mounting of the sink in a first drop in configuration and in a second undermount configuration relative to a countertop.

13. The food preparation sink of claim 9 , wherein the shoulder portion extends downwardly to the drain floor, which forms a recessed sump and includes a generally planar surface having a drain hole extending therethrough.

14. The food preparation sink of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom wall is configured as a food preparation surface.

15. The food preparation sink of claim 9 , wherein the convex portion is an essentially elongated rectangular area.

16. A food preparation sink, comprising:
a first end wall extending downward from a rim a first distance;
a second end wall extending downward from the rim a second distance greater than the first distance;
a first planar sidewall extending between and directly coupled to each of the first and second end walls;
a second planar sidewall extending between and directly coupled to each of the first and second end walls; and
a bottom extending between the first and second end walls and including a food preparation portion, transition portion, and a drain portion having a flat portion with a drain opening in the flat portion, wherein the food preparation portion slopes downward from the first end wall toward the transition portion, and wherein the drain portion extends from the second end wall toward the transition portion.

17. The food preparation sink of claim 16 , wherein the food preparation portion defines a varying non-uniform sloped portion extending downward from the first end wall toward the transition portion.

18. The food preparation sink of claim 17 , wherein the sloped portion defines a length and a height, wherein the length is greater than the height.

19. The food preparation sink of claim 16 , wherein the flat portion of the drain portion is recessed downwardly from the food preparation portion forming a sump.

20. The food preparation sink of claim 16 , wherein the rim defines a continuous planar surface and is configured to enable mounting of the sink in a first drop in configuration and in a second undermount configuration; and wherein the first and second planar sidewalls extend between and are directly coupled to each of the rim and the drain floor.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Aykens Steven R
• Booth Shawn J
• Bostedt Thomas J
• Loeck Jonathan P

Classifications

• 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

• E03C1/182

  connected to the waste-pipe · CPC title

• E03C1/048

  supplying water through two or more openings around or along one side of the water-basin · CPC title