Sink with wheelchair access

• US 5,566,404 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Standard Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: American Standard Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Laughton, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US08/473,624
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 4/619, 4/630, 4/631, 4/650
• US Class Current: 4/619
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 1/04 Basins connected to waste pipe E03C1/12; Jugs; Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/18 Sinks, whether or not connected to the waste-pipe

Abstract

A sink for disabled persons. The sink is designed for use in the kitchen or in the bathroom. It includes at least one wide side ledge adequate for the placement of a faucet assembly, alleviating the problems associated with rear ledge faucet assembly placement. The bottom of the sink is designed to accommodate one in a wheelchair or sitting position.

Claims

1. A sink for use in a kitchen comprising:

a rear wall;

a front wall;

a first side wall opposed to a second side wall, said side walls adjoining said front wall and said rear wall;

a bottom floor adjoining lower edges of said rear wall, front wall and side walls, said bottom floor being substantially flat, said rear wall, front wall, side walls and bottom floor defining a basin;

first and second planar ledges extending horizontally outwardly from upper edges of said first and second side walls, respectively;

a faucet assembly mounted on one of said first and second planar ledges, said faucet assembly including a spout and a control handle mounted on one of said planar ledges, said spout having a discharge opening directed downwardly towards said bottom floor into said basin, said control handle positioned proximate and forward of said spout and adjacent and proximate a front edge of said ledge whereby a user can easily access said control handle from the front of the sink, said spout adjacent said handle;

and a drain opening positioned in said bottom floor, said drain opening adjacent a lower edge of said rear wall and a lower edge of one of said side walls.

2. The sink of claim 1 wherein said planar ledge with said faucet assembly mounted thereon is said first planar ledge.

3. The sink of claim 2 wherein said first planar ledge is greater in width than said second planar ledge.

4. The sink of claim 3 further comprising third and fourth planar ledges extending horizontally outwardly from an upper edge of said front and rear wall, respectively.

5. The sink of claim 4 wherein said first and second planar ledges extend a length of said side walls.

6. The sink of claim 5 wherein said third and fourth ledges extend a length of said front and rear wall, respectively.

7. The sink of claim 4 wherein said first ledge and said second ledge adjoin said third ledge and said first ledge and said second ledge adjoin said fourth ledge.

8. The sink of claim 7 wherein said faucet assembly further includes a spray nozzle.

9. The sink of claim 8 wherein said spray nozzle is positioned intermediate said spout and said control handle.

10. The sink of claim 4 wherein said first, second, third and fourth planar ledges are equal in length.

11. The sink of claim 10 wherein said sink is adapted to be installed in a counter having a square opening including right, left, front and rear sides.

12. The sink of claim 11 wherein said sink is adapted to be installed such that said first planar ledge with said faucet assembly is positioned against said rear side of said opening.