Mounting system for sink

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492010-B2
Application number	US-201113325768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2011
Priority date	Mar 4, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet, the mounting system comprising:
a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink;
a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom surface of a floor of a basin of the sink;
a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket;
a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure; and
a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom surface.

2. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving structure comprises a channel having a downwardly facing opening.

3. The mounting system of claim 2 , wherein the channel includes two upwardly extending flanges that form a ledge within the opening that is configured to support the first connector.

4. The mounting system of claim 3 , wherein the first connector comprises an enlarged head that is configured to overlap the ledge.

5. The mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the first connector is a nut having an internal thread that corresponds to an external thread on the first end of the linking member.

6. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving structure is configured to be coupled to an underside of the rim near an outer surface of a sidewall of the basin.

7. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a substantially U-shaped member having an aperture configured to receive the linking member.

8. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a substantially flat member having an aperture configured to receive the linking member.

9. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises a nut having an internal thread that corresponds to an external thread on the second end of the linking member.

10. A sink configured to be supported by a cabinet, the sink comprising:
a basin;
a rim outwardly extending from an upper end of the basin; and
a mounting system for securing the sink to the cabinet, the mounting system comprising:
a receiving structure configured to be supported under the rim of the sink;
a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a floor of the basin of the sink;
a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket;
a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure; and
a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the floor of the basin of the sink.

11. The sink of claim 10 , wherein the receiving structure is coupled to an underside of the rim.

12. The sink of claim 11 , wherein the receiving structure comprises a first receiving structure coupled to the underside of the rim along a left side of the basin and a second receiving structure coupled to the underside of the rim along a right side of the basin.

13. The sink of claim 10 , wherein the receiving structure comprises a channel having a downwardly facing opening.

14. The sink of claim 13 , wherein the first connector is configured to slidably engage the channel so that a clamping location can be selectively moved by an installer.

15. The sink of claim 13 , wherein the first connector is configured to be fixedly coupled to the channel in a predetermined position.

16. The sink of claim 10 , further comprising an apron coupled to the rim and defining a front portion of the sink, the apron having a front surface extending vertically below the rim and laterally between a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, the first and second side surfaces each having a front vertical lip that extends laterally to an outer periphery of the rim and a rear side wall portion, wherein the rear side wall portion is recessed relative to the front vertical lip and the outer periphery of the rim.

17. The sink of claim 16 , wherein the first side surface of the apron and the second side surface of the apron are configured to at least partially overlap a front face of the cabinet.

18. The sink of claim 16 , wherein the basin and the apron are formed of a metal sheet material.

19. A method of securing a self-rimming sink relative to a countertop, the self-rimming sink having a floor, a sidewall extending generally upward from the floor, and a rim extending outward from the sidewall, the sink having a channel coupled to an underside of the rim, the sink at least partially supported by a base cabinet, the base cabinet having a projection, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a linking member into the channel;
positioning a bracket about a lower end of the linking member such that a first lateral end of the bracket engages the floor of the sink and a second lateral end of the bracket engages the projection of the base cabinet; and
coupling a securing mechanism to the lower end of the linking member to at least partially secure the bracket relative to the base cabinet and the sink.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein an upper end of linking member includes a first connector; and wherein inserting the linking member into the channel comprises slidably engaging the first connector in the channel.

Assignees

• Booth Shawn J
• Miller Jason R
• Giefer James S
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Booth Shawn J
• Miller Jason R
• Giefer James S

Classifications

• E03C1/335

  the fastening means comprising a screw · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A47B77/06 Primary

  for incorporating sinks, with or without draining boards, splash-backs, or the like (constructional features of draining boards A47L19/02; sinks E03C1/18) · CPC title

• E03C1/18

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

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title