Dual capacity sink

Abstract

A dual capacity sink has two basins divided by a divider which extends to a much lesser height than the peripheral walls of the sink. In one capacity the sink is capable of holding a volume of fluid, such as soap or rinse water, in one or both of the basins up to the top the divider. In this capacity, the basins can be used individually, for example, one to wash and one to rinse. In another capacity the sink is capable of holding a second volume of fluid using the two basins and also the available space in the sink above the divider. In this second capacity the sink effectively becomes a large single basin sink. There is sufficient fluid in the sink above the divider for submerging items that are larger than either of the basins individually. A method of washing items in such a sink is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60 / 652,469, filed on Feb. 11, 2005.STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to wash basins, and in particular to kitchen sinks. [0004] Kitchen sinks are well known. They can be formed of any number of materials, such as ceramics, metal, cast iron, polymers, etc, and have a bottom and upright side walls defining an open volume of space. This volume can be divided into two or more basins by one or more intermediate partitions that extend between the sides walls. Double basin sinks are common in kitchen applications, see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. D203,802 and D478,970. The basins can be of equal or different size and configuration, and each basin usually has a stoppable drain at the bottom. [0005] The partition in double basin kitchen sinks is typically referred to as a divider...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The dual capacity sink can provide three fluid zones, one in each of the basins and a third above the divider and the basin zones. Each zone can thus be used for a different purpose. For example, small items or items that require soaking can be contained in one or both of the basin zones at the bottom of the sink, while other items, such as large pots or baking sheets, could be washed in the zone above the two basins. The cleaning of items in the upper zone would not be inhibited by the items in the basins.

[0017] Thus, the dual capacity sink of the present invention provides a marked improvement over conventional sinks. Its low height divider allows the sink to effectively be two sinks in one. The sink can be a double basin sink allowing containment of one or more lesser volumes of water for washing (and rinsing) smaller items. And, the sink can be a large, single basin sink for washing large items. In other words, it provides increased capacity for washing large items without losing the functionality of the double basins. The low divider also facilitates transferring items, especially heavy items, between the basins, and provides more clearance, and thus less obstruction, between the sink and faucet.

Problems solved by technology

However, this comes at the cost of dividing the overall size of the sink, typically into about two halves.

Since the capacity of the sink is made smaller by dividing it into two basins, double basin sinks cannot fully submerge certain large items as well as single basin sinks of equal rim size.

Thus, the conventional sinks require a tradeoff between the functionality of double basins and the capacity of a single basin.

This long-standing problem has not been adequately addressed by the prior art.

Another problem is that the tall dividers of conventional double basin sinks often acts an obstruction.

Since the space between the divider for faucet is typically small, many taller items must be set down into a basin to be rinsed or filled, which is inconvenient if that basin is being used.

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