Mounting system for sink

• US 10,687,620 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Booth, Shawn J., Miller, Jason R., Giefer, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deery, Erin
• Application Number:
  US15/980,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20180258624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 4631-635, 4649, 248201, 2482911, 248146, 248149, 2483121, 312228
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 77/06 for incorporating sinks, with or without draining boards, splash-backs, or the like constructional features of draining boards A47L19/02; sinks E03C1/18
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/18 Sinks, whether or not connected to the waste-pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/33 Fastening sinks or basins in an apertured support
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/335 the fastening means comprising a screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

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.

Claims

1. An apron-front sink assembly, comprising:

a sink comprising a basin having a floor with a drain hole, a rim extending from the basin, and an apron extending laterally across a front of the basin;

a receiving member coupled to a portion of the sink;

a first fastener retained by the receiving member;

a linking member having a first end, which is coupled to the first fastener, and a second end, which extends below the floor of the basin;

a bracket inserted over the second end through a hole in the bracket, so that the bracket engages an underside of the sink; and

a second fastener coupled to the second end to secure the bracket to the underside.

2. The sink assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the linking member threads to the first fastener.

3. The sink assembly of claim 2, wherein the second fastener threads to the second end of the linking member.

4. The sink assembly of claim 3, wherein the linking member is a rod having threads on each of the first end and the second end, and having a non-threaded center section disposed between the first end and the second end.

5. The sink assembly of claim 3, wherein a first portion of the bracket engages the underside of the sink, and a second portion of the bracket engages a support member.

6. The sink assembly of claim 5, wherein the underside is the floor of the basin of the sink.

7. The sink assembly of claim 6, wherein the sink mounts to the support member, so that the rim is supported by the support member, and the second portion of the bracket engages a cleat of the support member.

8. The sink assembly of claim 5, wherein the bracket is U-shaped having a base, the first portion extending from a first end of the base, and the second portion extending from a second end of the base.

9. The sink assembly of claim 1, wherein the underside is the floor of the basin.

10. The sink assembly of claim 9, wherein the bracket is flat.

11. The sink assembly of claim 10, wherein the second portion of bracket engages a support structure.

12. The sink assembly of claim 11, wherein the sink mounts to the support structure, and the second portion of bracket engages a projection of the support structure.

13. The sink assembly of claim 9, wherein the bracket has a base, a first portion extending from a first end of the base to engage the floor of the basin, and a second portion extending from a second end of the base.

14. An apron-front sink assembly, comprising:

a sink comprising a basin, a rim extending from the basin, and an apron extending laterally across a front of the basin;

a receiving member coupled to a portion of the sink;

a first fastener retained by the receiving member;

a linking member having a first end, which is coupled to the first fastener, and a second end;

a bracket inserted over the second end through a hole in the bracket, so that the bracket engages an underside of the sink; and

a second fastener coupled to the second end to secure the bracket to the underside,

wherein the underside is a floor of the basin.

15. The sink assembly of claim 14, wherein the bracket comprises a base;

a first portion extending from the base to engage the floor of the basin; and

a second portion extending from the base to engage a support structure to mount the sink to the support structure.

16. The sink assembly of claim 14, wherein the first end of the linking member threads to the first fastener, and the second end of the linking member threads to the second fastener.

17. A method of installing an apron-front sink assembly, comprising:

coupling a receiving member to a portion of a sink, the sink comprising a basin, a rim extending from the basin, and an apron extending laterally across a front of the basin;

coupling a first fastener to the receiving member;

coupling a first end of a linking member to the first fastener;

inserting a bracket over a second end of the linking member through a hole in the bracket, so that the bracket engages an underside of a floor of the basin of the sink; and

coupling a second fastener to the second end to secure the bracket to the underside of the sink.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling the first end of the linking member to the first fastener includes threading the first end to the first fastener, and wherein coupling the second fastener to the second end of the linking member includes threading the second fastener to the second end.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the floor includes a drain hole.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a cabinet, wherein a first portion of the bracket engages the floor of the basin, a second portion of the bracket engages a projection of the cabinet, and the sink mounts to the cabinet.