Sink with wheelchair access

• US 5,561,871 A
• Filed: 04/03/1996
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Standard Companies Incorporated (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Original Assignee: American Standard Companies Incorporated (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Inventors: Laughton, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US08/625,678
• Time in Patent Office: 188 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 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 mounting to a wall for use in a bathroom 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, said side walls extending substantially perpendicular from said rear wall and substantially parallel to each other;

a bottom floor adjoining lower edges of said rear wall, front wall and side walls, said bottom floor having an interior surface and an exterior surface inclining upwardly from said rear wall to said front wall for providing ample room and access for sliding a wheelchair thereunder, and an exterior of said front wall curving convexly, 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 including a spout and a control handle mounted on one of said first and second 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;

a drain opening positioned on said bottom floor; and

said rear wall extending vertically such that it is capable of being mounted flush with a vertical bathroom wall.

2. The sink of claim 1 wherein said drain opening is adjacent the lower edge of said rear wall and the lower edge of said first side wall.

3. The sink of claim 2 further comprising a third planer ledge extending horizontally outwardly from a upper edge of said front wall.

4. The sink of claim 3 wherein said rear wall extends above said first, second and third planar ledges.

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

6. The sink of claim 5 wherein said third ledge extends the length of said front wall.

7. The sink of claim 6 wherein said first ledge and said second ledge adjoin said third ledge.

8. The sink of claim 7 wherein said faucet assembly is mounted on a forward end of one of said planar ledges.

9. The sink of claim 8 wherein the width of said third ledge is less than the widths of said first and second ledges.