GB2219498A

GB2219498A - Fastener for mounting sink in worktop opening

Info

Publication number: GB2219498A
Application number: GB8910968A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gernot Dolch
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1988-05-13
Filing date: 1989-05-12
Publication date: 1989-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-12
Also published as: DE3816804A1; CH679228A5; DE3816804C2; GB2219498B; NL8901123A; GB8910968D0

Description

2 1.9 4 9 DEVICE FOR FASTENING FITTED SINKS The invention relates to

devices for fastening a fitted sink in an opening in a worktop or other support panel. Typically, such a sink has a peripheral edge with an elastic seal located beneath the edge to be supported on the edge of the installation opening of a supporting panel. The sink can be fixed by means of several fastening means or devices which are each arranged in the space between the peripheral edge of the installation opening and the sink. Each fastening means or device comprises a holder which can be connected to the sink, a tightening claw on the holder which can be set to the thickness of the supporting panel, and a tightening screw which guides the tightening claw and can be screwed in a threaded part in the holder.

Such devices serve to secure the fitted sink in the installation opening in horizontal and vertical directions, in order to ensure a seal against liquids of all types. The fitted sink therefore has to be permanently braced against the supporting panel; e.g. a kitchen work surface or worktop via the peripheral seal.

Known fastening devices largely meet the above mentioned conditions, but they are either difficult to manipulate and/or too costly to produce. Examples are known from European Patent Pulication Nos. 0 029 079 and 0 128 772. These fastening devicess are applied to the periphery and are mounted outside the installation opening not in the same angular position, since they always have pivotable parts. It has to be taken into consideration that the installation openings are made by hand in wooden or plastic panels by means such as 2 compass saws, and therefore have considerable tolerances to a given shape and size. In practice, the seals do not always make a perfect fit and manipulation is affected if only one person is performing the work and there is no special tool aid to hand. Under such conditions, particular care must be taken to bring about the introduction of the fitted sink together with the fastening means which are disposed over its periphery.

The present invention seeks to facilitate the manipulation of the device during installation despite an inexact installation opening, and at the same time to make its manufacture cheaper, i.e. to simplify the esign of the fastening means. To this end, the invention provides a fastening device for use in securing a sink to a worktop, such sink having an-edge with a seal therebeneath for engaging the worktop, which device comprises a holder; a first adaptable connection for attaching the holder to the sink edge; and a claw on the holder for tightening against the underside of the worktop to clamp it between the claw and the sink edge, wherein the holder forms a guide surface for eventual alignment against the worktop between the claw and the sink edge, at least a portion of the guide surface extending on the opposite side of the connection from the claw, and the relative orientation of the holder and connection being such that upon attachment of the connection to a said sink edge the guide surface and claw are inclined away from the line of eventual alignment against the worktop, whereby attachment of a plurality of devices around a said sink edge enables a said sink to be lowered into an opening in a said worktop, such lowering causing the guide surfaces of the devices to engage the worktop and adapt the connections to align the guide surface against the worktop between the claw and said sink edge.

3 According to the invention each entire fastening means or device is inclined with an external supporting surface in its fastening position over the upper edge of the inside of the installation opening. In the use of the device, starting from the point at which at least one adaptable connection is attached to the fitted sink, the tightening claw is located in a space between the edge of the installation opening and the fitted sink, and the entire fastening means can be set up on the edge by lowering the fitted sink. Each device can thus be installed with its supporting surface upright against the inside of the installation opening, and the fitted sink can be centred with respect to the supporting panel by all the fastening means or devices. This enables is fluctuations in shape and tolerances of the installation opening to be accommodated, and brings about centring of the fitted sink during the lowering phase, the holders resting against the edge of the installation opening, and with adjustment (bending or bracing) of the connection permitting the guide surface to rest against the inside of the installation opening in the installation position. After inserting the sink, use of the invention only requires the tightening of the tightening screws. Moreover, the fastening means or devices can be produced economically.

The shape, configuration and dimensioning of devices of the invention can vary, depending on expenditure and the requirement to have to operate the joint fairly frequently, more frequently or even only once, i.e. installing the fitted sink and dismantling it again later. Thus, provision can be made for the connection to include a hinged joint, particularly for multiple insertions and dismantling. However, for an average number of installation and dismantling processes, it is sufficient for the connection to 4 comprise an angled bent plate component. For economic production, the holder may be made of plasticisable synthetic material, and the joint or connection comprise a flexible bar or arm.

Preferred embodiments of the invention include a screw for tightening the claw against the underside of a said worktop, the holder comprising a section formed with a female thread for receiving the screw. Provision may be made for the holder to form a first portion defining the guide surface, a second portion extending generally parallel to the first portion and spaced therefrom, the section formed with the female thread extending from the second portion. The first and second portions can compensate for fluctuations in measurements by permanent deformation or by spring tension. A guide gap for a guide portion of the tightening claw can be formed between the first and second portions of the holder.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment, the fitted sink (which is made of high-grade steel), the fastening device and the supporting panel in partial section at the start of the installation; Figure 2 shows the partial section of Figure 1 after completion of the installation; Figure 3 shows the partial section of Figure 1 after tightening of the tightening screw in the tightening claw; Figure 4a shows the fastening device of Figure 1 in a front view; Figure 4b shows the fastening device of Figure 1 in a side view; Figure 5 shows a second embodiment, the fitted sink (which is made of plastic), the fastening device and the supporting panel in partial section at the start of the installation; Figure 6 shows the partial section of Figure 5 after installation; Figure 7 shows the partial section of Figure 5 after tightening of the tightening screw in the tightening claw; Figure 8a shows the fastening device of Figure 5 in a front view; Figure 8b shows the fastening device of Figure 5 in a side view; Figure 9 shows a third embodiment, the fitted sink (which is made of plastic), the fastening means (the holder of which is made of plastic) and the supporting panel in a partial section at the start of the installation; Figure 10 shows the partial section of Figure 9 after installation; Figure 11 shows the partial section of Figure 9 after tightening of the tightening screw in the tightening claw; Figure 12a shows the fastening device of Figure 9 in a front view; Figure 12b shows the fastening device of Figure 9 in a side view.

6 The device for fastening a fitted sink 1 which has a peripheral sink edge 2 is provided by means of an elastic seal 3 arranged beneath the sink edge 2. The seal 3 is supported on the edge 4 of the installation opening 5 of a supporting panel 6.

The fitted sink 1 is fixed by means of a plurality of fastening devices 7, described below, which are distributed over the circumference and are located in a space 8 between the edge 4 of the installation opening and the fitted sink 1.

The fastening devices 7 comprise in each case a holder 9 which can be connected to the fitted sink 1 and which has a tightening claw 10. The tightening claw is adjustable to the thickness 11 of the supporting is panel 6. For this purpose, the holder 9 has a threaded part 12. A tightening screw 13 is guided in the threaded part 12 and in the tightening claw 10.

The holder 9 is provided with a joint 15 in the region 14 allocated to the seal 3 above the supporting panel 6 (in order to produce an oblique attachment), which joint is a hinged joint, angled bent plate component 16 (as shown) or in the case of a plastic holder 9 consists of a flexible bar 17. This forms a section 17a of a first arm 18.

In addition, the holder 9 has this first arm 18 which is fastened to the joint 15 and which extends to a fastening point la on the fitted sink 1, where the arm 18 is either fastened in a peripheral rail 1b (Figure 1 to 3) or by screws lc. The latter is suitable for plastic fitted sinks 1.

A second arm 19, which forms part of the holder 9, carries the threaded part 12. A third arm 20, which forms a straight, external supporting surface 21 on the inside Sa of the installation opening 5, likewise forms part of the holder 9. This supporting surface 21 first 7 rests on the edge 5b of the installation opening 5 (Figures 1 and 5) to come to rest parallel fully on the inside Sa of the installation opening 5 during the continued lowering of the fitted sink 1 (in the direction of arrow 22). This centres the fitted sink 1 and all the fastening devices 7 are brought into the operative position at the same time.

When producing the fastening means 7 and before the insertion of the fitted sink 1, at least the second arm 19 and the third arm 20 each form parallel sections 23 (Figure 8b). The first arm 18 may also be pre-bent (Figure 4b). After the insertion of the fitted sink 1, the second arm 19 and the third arm 20 maintain these parallel sections 23.

is Between the second arm 19 which carries the threaded part 12 and the third arm 20 which has the straight external supporting surface 21, there is formed a guide gap 24 for an angled arm 25 of the tightening claw 10.

With suitable dimensions, the joint 15 may serve as a support for the seal 3 in order to avoid the displacement of the seal 3 during the lowering of the fitted sink 1.

In Figures 9 to 12b, both the fitted sink 1 and the holder 9 are made of plastic. Here the joint 15 is formed as the first arm 18 by the flexible bar 17 with a straight section 17a.

In all embodiments, the connection defined between the holder 9 and the sink edge 2 may be made resiliently flexible if desired.

8 1 claims 1. A fastening device for use in securing a sink to a worktop, such sink having an edge with a seal therebeneath for engaging the worktop, which device comprises a holder; a first adaptable connection for attaching the holder to the sink edge; and a claw on the holder for tightening against the underside of the worktop to clamp it between the claw and the sink edge, wherein the holder forms a guide surface for eventual alignment against the worktop between the claw and the sink edge, at least a portion of the guide surface extending on the opposite side of the connection from the claw, and the relative orientation of the holder and connection being such that upon attachment of the connection to a said sink edge the guide surface and claw are inclined away from the line of eventual alignment against the worktop, whereby attachment o f a plurality of devices around a said sink edge enables a said sink to be lowered into an opening in a said worktop, such lowering causing the guide surfaces of the devices to engage the worktop and adapt the connections to align the guide surface against the worktop between the claw and said sink edge.

Claims

2. A fastening device according to Claim 1 wherein the guide surface

extends on both sides of the adaptable connection.

3. A fastening device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the adaptable connection comprises an hinged joint.

4. A fastening device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the adaptable connection comprises an angled bent plate.

9 5. A fastening device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the holder comprises a plasticisable synthetic material, and the adaptable connection comprises a flexible arm.

6. A fastening device according to any preceding Claim including a screw for tightening the claw against the underside of a said worktop, the holder comprising a section formed with a female thread for receiving the screw.

7. A fastening device according to Claim 6 wherein the holder comprises a continuous length of strip material.

8. A fastening device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the holder comprises a first portion defining the guide surface, a second portion extending generally parallel to the first portion and spaced therefrom, the section formed with the female thread extending from the second portion.

9. A fastening device according to any preceding Claim wherein the claw comprises a guide portion extending adjacent the holder behind the guide surface.

10. A fastening device according to Claim 8 and Claim 9 wherein the guide portion of the claw extends between the first and second portions of the holder.

11. A device for fastening a fitted sink with a peripheral sink edge and an elastic seal located beneath the sink edge, supported on the edge of an installation opening of a supporting panel, the sink being fixable by means of several fastening devices arranged between the peripheral edge of the installation opening and the fitted sink, each device comprising a holder which can be connected to the fitted sink, a tightening claw on the holder which can be set to the thickness of the supporting panel and a tightening screw which guides the tightening claw and can be screwed into a threaded part in the holder, wherein in each case before installing the sink an entire device is inclined with an external supporting Y surface in its fastening position over the upper edge of the inside of the installation opening and facing the fitted sink forms a joint, starting from which at least one adaptable first arm is fastened to the fitted sink, the tightening claw being located in a space between the edge of the installation opening and the fitted sink, whereby the entire fastening means can be set up on the edge by lowering the fitted sink and can be installed with its supporting surface upright against the inside of the installation opening, the fitted sink being centred with respect to the supporting panel by all the devices.

12. A fastening device for use in securing a sink to a worktop substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 to 8, or Figures 9 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.

Publis tied 1989 atThePatentOffice. State House, 6671 High Holborr- London WCIR4TF. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques Ad. St Mary Cray, Kent. Con- 1/87