GB2302277A

GB2302277A - Fixing a sanitary appliance to a worktop

Info

Publication number: GB2302277A
Application number: GB9512336A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hisanori Kato; Ryunosuke Takahashi; Klaus Steinmetz; Joachim Niehaus
Original assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Current assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Priority date: 1995-06-16
Filing date: 1995-06-16
Publication date: 1997-01-15
Also published as: GB9512336D0

Abstract

A hook and loop fastener 12, 14 is used for fitting an fitting appliance such as a sink to a worktop 6. The loop side 14 is attached to a hanger 16 on the underside of the sink near the rim 8, and the hook side 12 is attached to the worktop 6 below the level of the worktop surface 10. The hook side 12 is preferably integrally moulded of themoplastics material. The loop side 14 is pulled downwards and then pressed against the hook side 12, holding the sink rim 8 against the worktop and placing the fastener 12, 14 in shear.

Description

A FITTING FOR AN APPLIANCE SUCH AS A SINK The present invention relates to a fitting for fixing an appliance on a worktop, and in particular to a fitting for fixing an appliance such as a sink or basin in place in a cut out in a worktop.

Existing fittings for fixing a sink in place on a worktop typically comprise a two part hook arrangement.

One part is attached to an eye or hanger on the sink, and the other grips the underside of the work top. The parts are pulled together by a screw to pull the rim of the sink onto the work top surface. This holds the sink in place and an elastomeric seal is clamped between the rim and work top surface to provide a water tight seal.

The prior art fittings are expensive, being formed of small metal parts of complex shape and high stiffness, and they are difficult to manipulate in the confines of the cupboard space beneath the sink. Adjustment of the sink during installation is difficult, and the screws may corrode, making it difficult or impossible to release the sink without breaking the fittings or the hanger on the sink.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a fitting for fixing an appliance to a worktop, the appliance having a rim which bears on the worktop surface, the fitting comprising a hook and loop fastener, a first part of the fastener being attached to the underside of the appliance near the rim and the second part being attached to the worktop below the level of the worktop surface, the first and second parts of the fastener being brought together to fix the appliance in place.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of fixing an appliance relative to a cut out in a worktop, the appliance being supported on the worktop surface, the method comprising attaching a first part of a hook and loop fastener to the underside of the appliance, attaching the second part of the hook and loop fastener to a wall of the cut out in the worktop below the level of the worktop surface, pulling the first part of the fastener downwards to urge the appliance against the worktop, and urging the first and second parts of the fastener together while the first part is under tension.

Preferably the first part of the hook and loop fastener which is attached to the appliance is the loop side, and the hook side of the fastener is attached to the worktop.

Preferably the hook and loop fastener is oriented so that the force holding the appliance rim against the worktop acts substantially in the direction of shear of the fastener.

Preferably the loop side of the fastener has a flexible base material, and in particular has an elastic base material.

Preferably the hook side of the fastener is substantially rigid. The hook side may be injection moulded, with a body portion which is attached to the worktop and hooks which are integrally moulded on an engagement surface of the body portion.

The hook and loop fastener can be readily released by peeling apart the hook and loop parts and is resistant to corrosior.. Thus, the invention provides a fitting which is easy to operate in the confined space beneath the appliance and allows the appliance to be removed and adjusted easily.

The invention is particularly suited to fixing a sink or wash basin in place in a cut out in the work top. It may also be suitable for other appliances such as cooker hobs.

Other, preferred, features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.

The invention will be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 illustrates in cross-section a sink mounted on a worktop; Figure 2 is a detail on circle A of Figure 1, illustrating a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view which illustrates the attachment of a loop side of a hook and loop fastener of the embodiment of Figure 2 to the sink; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a hook side of the hook and loop fastener of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a first modification of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 6 illustrates a second modification of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a sink 2 which is mounted in a cut out 4 in a worktop 6. A rim 8 of the sink bears on the upper surface 10 of the worktop. The sink is fixed in place by a fitting which pulls the sink rim 8 down on to the worktop upper surface 10. This arrangement is well known.

Figures 2 to 4 show a fitting forming a first embodiment of the invention, utilizing a hook and loop fastener 12, 14 for fixing the sink 2 in place. A hanger 16 is attached at one end 18 to the underside of the sink 2 near the rim 8, for example by spot welding, and has an eye 20 at a free end 22.

The loop side 14 of the hook and look fastener is fixed to the eye 20 by a releasable hook 24 which has an eye 26. The hook allows swivelling and pivoting movement of the eye 26 relative to the hanger 16. Such hooks are marketed, for example, by YKK Corporation under the reference number LN-R. The backing material 28 of the loop side 14 is secured in place around the eye 26, for example by stitching. Preferably the backing material 28 is of stretchable elastic material such as a polymer maternal and has nylon loops 30 woven into the material 28 as is well known in the art.

The hook side 12 of the fastener is an injection moulded tapered block 32 of thermoplastic synthetic resin material having hooks 34 integrally moulded on an engaging surface 36 which forms an acute angle with a back surface 38. The block 32 is fixed to the wall 40 of the cut out 4 in the worktop 6 by a screw 42.

An elastomeric seal 44 is sandwiched between the rim 8 and worktop surface 10.

With some hook and loop fasteners, water can soften the material, particularly nylon loop material, and so cause the fastener to lose it strength.

The top of the block 32 has a sloping surface 43 facing the wall 40, to form a drain or gutter 45. If any water penetrates the seal 44 to flow down the wall 40, it will be directed away from the engaged hooks and loops 34, 30.

To install the sink 2, the user is provided with a template to make the cut out 4 of the required size and shape. The position of the hook blocks 32 are marked on the template and correspond to the position of the hangers 16 on the underside of the sink 2. The blocks 32 are fixed in position by screws 42, and the loop side parts 14 are hooked on the hangers 16. The sink is then lowered into the cut out 4, with the seal 44 being positioned between the rim 8 and worktop surface 10.

The loop side parts 14 are then pulled downwards to urge the rim 8 against the worktop surface, stretching the loop side part 14 and causing some compression of the seal 44. The loop side part 14 is then pressed against the hook 34 on the engaging surface 36 of the block 32, to engage the hook and loop fastener 12, 14.

The upward force at the seal 44, and the stretching of hook side backing material 28, applies a shearing force to the hook and loop fastener 12, 14 in the plane of the engaging surface 36. Hook and loop fasteners provide a strong gripping force when used in this mode and so the sink is held firmly in place.

To release the sink 2, the fasteners 12, 14 are released by peeling the loop side 14 away from the hook side 12, which can be achieved with a much lower force.

The hook and loop fasteners 12, 14 are formed of synthetic polymer materials are resistant to corrosion, allowing the sink to be readily released and re-fixed.

Also, the fasteners themselves may be readily replaced if required and are relatively inexpensie to produce.

While the fastener is preferably configured so that the separating force on the fastener acts in shear, hook and loop fasteners will also function effectively when used in tension, ie. a force perpendicular to the engaging surfaces. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a wide variety of loop sizes and hook designs are available, and the particular designs used will be selected to meet the anticipated forces on the fastener.

Figures 5a and 5b show a modification of the hook side fastener 12a. The hook side fastener 12a is moulded in the form of a clip having a resilient J-shaped body 47.

The body 47 has a central web 49 and opposite walls 50, 52 which are angled towards one another. The walls 50, 52 are then spread apart to grip the edge of the cut out 4. Hooks are moulded on the web 49 the lower wall 52 so that the loop side part 14 may be wrapped arourd the hook side part 12a. The part 12a may be secured to the worktop additionally by a screw (not shown) or adhesive.

In the modification of Figure 6, the hook side part 12b is similar to the embodiment of Figures 2 and 4, but has a lip 54 which bears on the underside of the worktop 6.

In the modification of Figure 7, the hook side part 12c includes an upper wall 56 with a channel 58 which locates a waterproof seal 60 on which the rim 8 bears.

The upper wall 56 extends around the perimeter of the sink 2. Engaging parts 62 having integrally moulded hooks 30 and extend down from the upper wall 56 in the region of the hangers and are fixed to the wall 40 of the cut out 4 by screws 42.

Where the hook side part engaging surface is vertical the hanger 16 is preferably positioned vertically above or overlapping the engaging surface so that the force applied to the fastener is still in shear. In particular, it is desirable to avoid any tendency to peel the loop side part 14 from the hook side 12 part when the fittings are in place.

Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments, and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fitting for fixing an appliance to a worktop, the appliance having a rim which bears on the worktop surface, the fitting comprising a hook and loop fastener1 a first part of the fastener being attached to the underside of the appliance near the rim, and the second part of the fastener being attached to the worktop below the level of the worktop surface, the first and second parts of the fastener being brought together to fix the appliance in place.

2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, in which the first part of the fastener is the loop part and the second part of the fastener is the hook part.

3. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the loop part of the fastener has an elastic base material.

4. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the hook part of the fastener comprises a body having hooks on at least one face thereof.

5. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, in which the body of the hook part of the fastener is wedge shaped, and the hooks are moulded on a surface which is, in use, at an angle to the plane of the worktop surface.

6. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, including means for directing water away from the mating surfaces of the hook and loop fastener.

7. A fitting as claimed in claims 4, 5 or 6, in which the hook part of the fastener is adapted to be attached to the worktop by a screw.

8. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the hook part of the fastener has a lip which engages the underside of the worktop.

9. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, in which the body of the hook part of the fastener is of resilient material and is in the form of a clip which clips over an edge of a cut out which is provided in the worktop for receiving the sink.

10. A fitting as claimed in claim 4 or 9, in which hooks are provided on a surface of the body which extends along the underside of the worktop.

11. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which a channel for locating a seal on the surface of the worktop is integrally formed with the body.

12. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the hook part is integrally moulded.

13. A fitting as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 12, wherein the appliance is a sink or basin.

14. A method of fixing an appliance relative to a cut out in a worktop, the appliance being supported on the worktop surface, the method comprising attaching a first part of a hook and loop fastener to the underside of the appliance, attaching a second part of the hook and loop fastener to a wall of the cut out in the worktop, below the level of the worktop surface, pulling the first part of the fastener downwards to urge the appliance against the worktop, and pressing the first and second parts of the fastener together while the first part is under tension.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, in which a resilient seal is provided between a rim of the appliance and the worktop surface.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the first part of the fastener is the loop side, and the second part of the fastener is the hook side.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein the force tending to separate the hook and loop parts is a shearing force.