AU730410B2

AU730410B2 - Height adjustable sink

Info

Publication number: AU730410B2
Application number: AU48481/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: George Andrew Palos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-20
Filing date: 1997-12-18
Publication date: 2001-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-18
Also published as: AU4848197A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification Standard Patent HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE KITCHEN SINK r.

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S S The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me: HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE KITCHEN SINK This invention relates to improvements in devices for adjusting the height of a kitchen sink.

For many people the inability to have a kitchen sink that is at comfortable working height to clean crockery and cutlery can cause discomfort in the lower back, neck and shoulders and for those- people suffering from pain as a result of injury, a disability of the spine and/or neck or from chronic back and/or neck pain in ordinary people by having to place their spines in an 'off centre' of gravity position by over reaching to carry out work at a kitchen sink that is not able to address this issue.

These problems are alleviated by the present invention which provides for a height adjustable kitchen sink with a curved front edge, contained within a kitchen sink unit that also has a curved front edge, and, is raised above its normal position, that being level with the curved kitchen sink unit, by a lifting mechanism mounted under the curved kitchen sink unit. This lifting mechanism effectively raises the height adjustable curved kitchen sink to a desired comfortable working height. This invention goes above current building construction pertaining to kitchen sinks which restrict standard kitchen sink units to a fixed height and to a standard straight front edge.

In one form of the invention the lifting mechanism comprises of a right and left threaded worm drive with bearings at each end of the worm drive and mounted on extended brackets beneath the curved kitchen sink unit. To each right and left thread of the worm drive there is a pivot arm support bracket attached to each respective right and left thread. There is attached, to each support bracket, an aluminium pivot arm with pins at each end. The top of each pivot arm is attached by pins to an aluminium platform which is fastened to the underside of the height adjustable curved kitchen sink. A detachable O crank handle is attached to the right and left threaded worm drive's front facing end and in a clockwise rotation causes both pivot arms to merge toward each other along the worm drive, thus, effectively raising the height adjustable curved kitchen sink to the desired comfortable working height.

Alternatively, winding the detachable crank handle in an anti-clockwise rotation causes both pivot arms to separate from each other along the worm drive, thus, effectively lowering the height adjustable curved kitchen sink to its normal position which is level with the curved kitchen sink unit. The raised height adjustable curved kitchen sink is guided by slides which are attached to the extended brackets beneath the curved sink unit giving the height adjustable curved kitchen sink added stability and rigidity. A water seal is adhered to the outer edge of the curved kitchen sink unit, so when the height adjustable curved kitchen sink is in its raised position, provides a water barrier for any run-off from draining crockery and cutlery.

In another form of the invention, the height adjustable curved kitchen sink is raised with the use of an electric motor suitable for lifting a weighted height adjustable curved kitchen sink. The electric motor is housed on an extended bracket in a position which is lower to, and at the rear of, where the right and left threaded worm drive is positioned. The electric motor rotates the right and left threaded worm drive with the aid of a belt, causing the- pivot arms merge towards each other along the worm drive, thus, effectively raising the height adjustable curved kitchen sink to the desired comfortable working height.

The right and left threaded worm drive may me made of steel- or other suitable material such as aluminium.

The pivot arms, pivot arm support brackets, platform, pins, brackets and slides may be made of aluminium or other suitable material such as steel.

The water seal may be made of rubber or other suitable material such as plastic.

The electric motor may be of an approved electrical device that is suitable- for lifting and lowering a weighted height adjustable kitchen sink.

The belt for the electric motor may be made of rubber or other resilient material such as rubberised cloth.

The detachable crank handle may be made of aluminium or other suitable material such as steel.

The height adjustable curved kitchen sink may be made of stainless steel or other suitable material such as acrylic.

The curved kitchen sink unit may be made of stainless steel or other suitable •0.-material such as acrylic.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show both examples of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1.1 and FIG. 1.2 shows an example of the external view of a height adjustable curved kitchen sink according to this invention.

"FIG. 2.1 and FIG. 2.2 shows the application of a height adjustable curved kitchen sink and the location of the lifting mechanism beneath the height adjustable curved kitchen sink.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up perspective of the lifting mechanism according to this invention.

With reference to FIG.1.1 it can be seen that the height adjustable curved kitchen sink according to this invention comprises of a non stationary height adjustable curved kitchen sink 1 comprised of stainless steel or acrylic and contained within a curved kitchen sink unit 2 in its normal position.

FIG. 1.2 refers to the height adjustable curved kitchen. sink 1 in its raised.

position with the detachable crank handle 2 attached. FIG.I.2 also refers to the exposed water seal 3 comprised of rubber when the height curved adjustable kitchen sink is in its raised position.

FIG.2.1 and FIG.2.2 refers to the height adjustable. curved kitchen sink in operation according to this invention.

FIG. 2.1 refers to a top view of the. height adjustable-curved kitchen sink 1 contained within a curved kitchen sink unit 2 coupled with a cross section 3 of the lifting mechanism beneath the curved kitchen sink unit.

FIG.2.2 refers to the cross section of the lifting mechanism in detail. It can be seen that the right and left threaded worm drive 1 consisting of steel is supported at thelower ends of brackets 2 and. 3. On each of the right and left threads of the right and left threaded worm drive are attached a pivot arm support bracket 4 and 5 and each with their respective threads. On each pivot arm support bracket 4 and 5 and attached by pins are pivot arms 6 and 7 respectively. The pivot arms 6 and 7 are attached by pins to the supporting platform 8 consisting of aluminium which is fastened to the underside of the height adjustable curved kitchen sink 9. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink 9 is raised above the curved kitchen sink unit 10 by either rotating in a clockwise rotation a detachable crank handle 11 consisting of aluminium for manual operation causing both pivot arms 6 and 7 to merge towards each other along the worm drive 1 or by using a suitable electric motor 12 for automatic operation. A suitable electric motor 12 is mounted on bracket 13 which is at a position lower than and at the rear of where the right and left threaded worm drive 1 is located. The electric motor 12 rotates the right and left threaded worm drive I by a belt 14 consisting of rubber and causing the pivot arms 6 and 7 to merge towards each other along the worm drive effectively raising the height adjustable curved kitchen sink to a desired comfortable working height. When raised, or lowered from the raised position, by the lifting mechanism according to this invention the height adjustable curved kitchen sink is guided by slides 15 and 16 respectively. The slides and 16 are fastened to the inward facing side of each of the brackets 2 and 3.

The slides 15 and 16 effectively provide added stability and rigidity to the height adjustable curved kitchen sink 9 when it is in the raised position. A water seal 17 consisting of rubber is fastened to and following the contour shape of the outer edge of the curved kitchen sink 10 between the curved :I kitchen sink unit 10 and the height adjustable curved kitchen sink 9, providing an effective barrier against any run-off water draining from crockery and cutlery that may permeate between the curved kitchen sink unit 10 and the height adjustable curved kitchen sink 9 when it is in the raised position.

FIG. 3 refers to close-up perspective in detail of the operation of the lifting mechanism according to this invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 the right and left threaded. worm drive 1 is fastened to bearings 2 and 3 which are fastened to brackets 4 and 5 respectively. To each right and left thread of the worm drive 1 there are attached pivot arm support brackets 6 and 7. To each pivot arm support brackets 6 and 7 and attached by pins 8 and 9 are attached pivot arms 10 and 11. Each pivot arm and 11 is attached by pins 12 and 13 to a platform 14 which is fastened to the underside of the height adjustable kitchen sink. To each bracket 4 and and attached to the inward facing side of brackets 4 and 5 are slides 15 and 16. To the front facing side of the right and left threaded worm drive 1 is the attaching device 17 for the detachable crank handle.

By the use of the height adjustable curved kitchen sink of this type the crockery and cutlery to be cleaned will be at the desired working height that is both comfortable and has less stress on the spine for performing such work.

Coupled with an ergonomically designed curved kitchen sink unit this invention will address the need to have work performed close to the body. It will help alleviate pain and stress of the spine of those people who have a disability or who are suffering from chronic pain of the spine or any ordinary person who is conscious of their posture whilst performing work at the kitchen sink.

It will be realised that the height adjustable curved kitchen sink according to this invention is not restricted to the form of a detachable crank handle for manual operation as shown in the example, but may use a suitable electric motor for automatic operation to carry out the work.

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Claims

1. A height adjustable curved kitchen sink contained within a curved kitchen sink unit and comprising of a lifting mechanism located beneath the curved kitchen sink unit that permits the height adjustable curved kitchen sink to be raised to a desired comfortable working height.

2. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises of a right and left threaded worm drive with bearings attached to each end of the right and left threaded worm drive mounted onto the lower end of brackets with slides and having one end of the pivot arms attached by pins to pivot arm support brackets on each of the right and left threads of the right and left threaded worm drive and having the other end of the pivot arms attached by pins to a platform that is fastened to the underside of the height adjustable curved kitchen sink.

3. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of claim 2 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises of a detachable crank handle attached to the front facing end of the right and left threaded worm drive for manual operation.

4. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises of a suitable electric motor with belt attached ~to a bracket at the rear facing end of the right and left threaded worm drive and which is in a position lower than the right and left threaded worm drive for automatic operation.

The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of claim 1 wherein the height adjustable curved kitchen sink and curved kitchen sink unit have a front facing end which is of a curved design. o

6. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of claim I wherein between the height adjustable curved kitchen sink unit has a water seal S•fastened to the outer edge of the curved kitchen sink unit providing an effective water barrier.

S7. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of any one claims 1 to 6 wherein the height adjustable curved kitchen sink and the curved kitchen sink unit is made of stainless steel or-any other suitable material.

8. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of claim 2 wherein the right and left threaded worm drive is made of steel or any other suitable material

9. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of any one claims 1 to 6 wherein the electric motor belt and water seal are made of rubber or Rany other suitable material.

The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of Claim 4 wherein the electric motor belt is made of rubber or any other suitable material.

11. The height adjustable curved kitchen sink of any one claims 1 to 6 wherein the brackets, slides, pins, pivot arm support brackets, pivot arms and platform are made of aluminium or any other suitable material. *oo e¢ a f 4 4b** *a a ft. *ft The continuing claims defining the invention are as follows:

12. A height adjustable curved kitchen sink that is contained within a curved kitchen sink unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. GEORGE ANDREW PALOS 16 TH DECEMBER,1997 *:D0 Dep*