US20130185865A1

US20130185865A1 - Water Collection Tray and Cabinet

Info

Publication number: US20130185865A1
Application number: US13/750,732
Authority: US
Inventors: Tom Joehnck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-25
Filing date: 2013-01-25
Publication date: 2013-07-25

Abstract

A sink cabinet system that includes a water collection tray disposed over a sink cabinet's floor that collects water from m joints, hoses and fixtures located above and inside the cabinet. In one embodiment, a single large collection tray is used that includes a full extending bottom panel, two raised sidewalls, a rear wall, and a front wall. Formed on each sidewall is a lateral extending flange that either abuts against the inside surface of the side panels or extends into an optional horizontal slots formed on the cabinet's side and rear panels. Mounted over the rear wall is a detachable drip shield with a diagonally aligned top flange. Also, formed on the floor of the tray is a elevated platform upon which an electric moisture detector may be placed. In a second embodiment, the large single tray is replaced by two half trays connected together by a detachable drip plate.

Description

This utility patent application is based upon and claims the filing date benefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No. 61/590/453) filed on Jan. 25, 2012.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the following patent document contains original material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to sink cabinets with collection trays that collect water leaking from water pipes, fixtures, hot water tanks, valves and hoses located inside the sink cabinet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many homeowners and landlords are forced to replace or repair sink cabinets damaged by undetected leaks from water pipes, fixtures, valves and hoses inside the sink cabinet. Unfortunately, some leaks drip slowly and go undetected for several days or weeks causing substantial damage to the sink cabinet and the surrounding walls and floors. In most instances, the leaks caused by loose or improperly aligned plumbing joints, fixtures or water tanks or cracked hoses and tubes located above the door opening. In some instances, the water drips vertically and forms a pool on the cabinet floor and can be easily located but look upward. In other instances, the water will drip onto a lower pipe or tube that carries it away a form a pool at a remote location. Unfortuately, the remote location may be located along the back panel of the cabinet and can to undedected for several days. Once the remote pool is detected, tracing the drip back to the original leak can be difficult.
Many homeowners and landlords will place a collection bin, such as a pan, a pitcher or a small bucket, on the floor of the cabinet directly under the source of the leak to temporarily collect the water and prevent further damage. Unfortunately, the storage space under a cabinet is usually limited by a drain trap, a garbage disposal, a dishwasher drain hose, by hot and cold water hoses, and by dish cleaning supplies that can prevent proper placement of a collection bin directly under the leak.
What is needed is cabinet with a low profile, water collection tray that fully covers the floor of a sink cabinet. What is also needed is a water collection tray that abuts tightly against or engages the side panels and the back panel of the cabinet so that water that any drips along side panels and back panel are automatically deposited in the collection tray and not on the floor of the cabinet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above stated need is met by a sink cabinet water collection tray system that includes a sink cabinet with a collection tray positioned over the floor of the cabinet that collects water leaking from various joints, hoses, and tanks located inside the cabinet. The water collection tray is designed to fit over and completely cover the entire floor of the cabinet. Gaps between the tray and the side panels and back panels are covered so that water may not drip through.
The water collection tray includes a bottom panel, two raised sidewalls, a raised continuous rear wall, and a raised front wall. Formed on each sidewall is a lateral extending flange that either abuts against the inside surfaces of the cabinet's two side panels or extends into a horizontal slot formed on the cabinet's side panel. Mounted over the rear wall of the collection tray is an optional drip shield with an inward directed, diagonally top flange that directs water that drips onto the cabinet's back wall into the collection tray. Also, optional caulking may be used between the side panels and the flanges and between the back panel and the drip shield to create a water-proof seal therebetween.
Sink cabinets are square or rectangular-shaped boxes with front and top openings. The cabinets have parallel flat side panels, and a flat back panel, and a flat planar floor. The side panels that are usually perpendicularly aligned with the back panel and floor.
There are two types of sink cabinets—a sink cabinet with an unobstructed front opening and cabinet with a front opening divided by a vertical center support. In one embodiment the invention comprises a large single tray configured to cover the entire floor of a cabinet. The single tray extends fore to aft and transversely across the entire cabinet floor. The tray has two side panels that extend upward and include an upper, outward extending flange surface that either abuts the cabinet's side panels or extends into a lower horizontal slot formed on each side panels. In one embodiment, the tray may includes a vertical rear panel which attaches to a separately attached drip shield or it may include integrally formed flange surface that can act as a drip shield. In one embodiment, the flange surface abuts the cabinet's back panel or extends into a lower horizontal slot formed on the back panel. By including a flange surfaces, water that drips against the cabinet's side or back panels, is automatically collected into the tray. Optional caulking by me applied to prevent leakage and to provide a finished appearance.
In another embodiment, the water collection tray is made up of two small water collection half trays that when aligned over the floor of the cabinet, fully cover and protect the floor. Each half tray includes a vertical interior sidewall that is longitudinally aligned with the interior sidewall on the opposite half ray. The opposite sidewalls may include a flange surfaced that abut the cabinet's side panel or a horizontal slot. Each half tray may have a vertical rear panel with or without a flange surface. During assembly, the two flat interior sidewalls are aligned in parallel configuration and held together with an optional elongated cap that covers the gap formed between the two trays to prevent drips of water from seeping into the gap and collecting on the cabinet floor.
During assembly, the large and half trays can be easily inserted and removed from the cabinet by sliding it directly inward and outward through the front opening. Depending on the type of hinges used on the doors, the doors may have to be detached from the cabinet to move the tray inward and outward through the front opening.
Also formed on the bottom panel of the full length tray and the two half trays is an optional, raised mounting area upon which an electric moisture detector may be placed A water sensor attached to the moisture detector is positioned on the bottom panel of the tray. When water is detected in the bottom panel, an audio alarm is generator informing the tenant or the owner that water has been detected in the bottom panel. The single tray or two half trays may be distributed with a battery operated moisture alarm that is placed on each raised mounting area on each tray.
In one embodiment, a single large collection tray and the two small collection half trays are sold and distributed as separate items to be used with a standard 30, 36, 42, or 48 inch sink cabinet with flat continuous side and rear panels. In another embodiment, the trays are sold and distributed with a 30, 36, 42 or 48 inch modified cabinet with horizontal slots formed on the side and rear panels that receive the flange surfaces on the side and rear surfaces of the trays.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, front perspective view of a sink cabinet system showing the placement of the large single water collection tray or two small water collection trays in a sink cabinet.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective of the large water collection tray with a detachable drip shield raised above the tray's rear wall.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the large water collection tray shown in FIG. 2 with the drip shield removed.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the large water collection tray shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the large water collection tray positioned inside a cabinet and showing how the drip shield when attached to the rear wall and abutted against the cabinet's back wall.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the drip shield.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the drip shield.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the drip shield.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view the two water collection half trays.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the two half trays with the elongated cap detached and shown in a raised position above the two tray's inside sidewalls.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a half and showing how the drip shield is abutted against the cabinet's back wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the accompanying FIGS. 1-11, there is shown a sink cabinet system that includes a sink cabinet with a water collection tray (denoted as 20 or 60) disposed over the cabinet's floor 12 designed to collect water from leaks that can occur at any location under the cabinet 6. In a first embodiment, the water collection tray 20 includes a horizontal bottom panel 22 that fully covers the cabinet's floor 12. The tray 20 includes two raised sidewalls 24, 26, a raised rear wall 30, and a raised front wall 34. In the embodiment shown in the Figs, the tray 20 is rectangular with parallel sidewalls 24, 26 and parallel rear and front walls 30, 34. It should be understood, however, the tray 20 may be square or a polygon with sidewalls 24, 26 and with rear and front walls 32, 34 may not be parallel.
Formed on each sidewall 24, 26, is a lateral extending flange 25, 27, respectively, that either abuts the inside surface of the cabinet's side panels 8, 10, respectively, or extends into a horizontal slot 9, 11, formed on the side panels 8, 10, respectively. In the first embodiment, the rear wall 30 is a flat vertical surface. Mounted over the rear wall 30 is an optional detachable drip shield 40 with a diagonally aligned top flange 42.
The tray 20 has a depth (i.e. distance from front to rear) slightly less than the depth of the cabinet 6 thereby forming a narrow gap between the tray's rear wall 30 and the cabinet's back panel 7 that allows the top flange 42 on a drip shield 40 attached to the rear wall 30 with a diagonally and abutted to the back panel 7 as shown in FIG. 5. Optional caulking 48 may be used between the side panels 8, 10 and the flanges 25, 27, respectively, and between the back panel 7 and the drip shield's top flange 42 to create a water-proof seal therebetween.
In a first embodiment, the water collect tray 20 is a single, large tray designed to cover the entire floor 12 of a cabinet 6. The tray 20 must be used with a cabinet 6 that has a single, wide front opening 13 and without a center vertical support member so that the tray 20 can be easily inserted or removed from the cabinet 6 through the front opening 13.
The tray 20 is designed to cover the entire bottom panel of a standard cabinet (15-48 inches in length) and 24 inches wide. The sidewalls 24, 26 and rear walls 30 are approximately ¾ inches in height and the flanges 25, 27, on each sidewall 24, 26, respectively, are approximately ½ inch wide. The front wall 34 is approximately ½ inches in height. In one embodiment, the length of the tray 20 is approximately ½ inch longer so that the outer edges of the flanges 25, 27 may slide into horizontal slots 9, 11 formed on the side panels 8,10, respectively.
As stated above, the depth of the tray 20 must be approximately 1 to 1-½ inches less than the depth of the cabinet 6 so that the drip shield 40 may be diagonally aligned on the rear wall 30 and abutted with the back panel 7. The overall length of the drip shield 40 is approximately the same as the overall length of the rear wall 30. of the single tray 20. The tray 20 also includes a raised platform area 50 for the moisture alarm 120. The platform area 50 measures approximately 3×3 inches and is elevated approximately ⅛ to ¼ inches above the floor 22.
In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 9-11, the water collection tray (denoted generally as 60) is made up of two small water collect half trays 62, 62′ that are placed side-by side over the floor 12 of the cabinet 6. Each half tray 62, 62′ includes a flat interior sidewall 64, 64′ that enables them to be joined and held together with an elongated cap 75 that covers the gap formed between the two trays 62, 62′ and prevents drips from seeping into the gap and collecting on the floor 12. Attached to the rear walls 66, 66′of the two small trays 62, 62′, is an elongated drip shield 80, 80′, respectively. Each tray 62, 62′ may also include a raised moisture mounting area 102, 102′, respectively, upon which an electric moisture detector 120 may be placed.
In the second embodiment, the depths (front to rear dimensions) of the two smaller trays 62, 62′ are equal and approximately ½ the depth of the cabinet 6. The sidewalls 66, 66′ and rear walls 69, 69′ on each half tray 62, 62′ are approximately ¾ inches in height and the flanges 67, 67′ on each outside sidewall 66, 66′ are approximately ½ inch wide. The front wall 63, 63′ is approximately ½ inches in height. The overall length of the two half trays 62, 62′ is sufficient so that outer edges of the two flanges formed on the outside sidewalls 67, 67′ may slide into horizontal slots 9, 11 formed on the cabinet's side panels 8, 10. In the embodiment shown, two drip plates 80, 80′ are used on the two half trays 62, 62′. It should be understood that the two drip plates 80, 80′ may be placed with one single elongated drip plate similar to drip shield 40. The overall length of the two drip plates 80, 80′ are approximately the same as the overall length of the two trays 62, 62′. The widths of the two trays 62, 62′ must be approximately 1 to 1-½ inches less than the width of the cabinet so that the drip plates 80, 80′ may be diagonally aligned on the rear wall and abutted against the rear panel 7. The raised areas 102, 102′ for the moisture alarm detector 120 measure approximately 3×3 inches and is elevated approximately⅛ to ¼ inches above the floor of an inch.
The joining cap 75 is an inverted U-shaped structure and is sufficient in width to snap fit over the inside surfaces of the two inside sidewalls 64, 64′. The length of the joining cap 75 is approximately equal to the depth of the two smaller trays 62, 62′.
The above trays 20 and 60 are can be used with a standard sink cabinet that has continuous flat side panels and rear panels. The flanges surfaces and the drip shield abuts the cabinet's side panels and rear panels. In other embodiment, the trays 20 and 60 are used with a modified sink cabinet that includes lower horizontal slots formed on the side panels and rear panels. The slots are aligned and configured on the side panels and rear panels to receive the flange surfaces on the trays sidewalls and rear wall (or the drip shield).
Distributed with or separately with each tray or as a kit made up of a cabinet and one or more trays, is a battery operated moisture alarm 120 that is placed on each raised areas 50. 102 on each tray 20 or 62, 62′.
In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

I claim:

1. A sink cabinet system that is less susceptible to damage to the cabinet's side panels, back panel, a floor caused by leaks from a water source located inside the sink cabinet, the system comprising;

a. a water collection tray with two opposite raised sidewalls, a raised back wall, a raised front panel and a bottom surface, said tray being configured in size and shape to cover the floor and extend between the side panels of a sink cabinet; and,

b. means for directing water flowing along the side panels or back panel into the water collection tray.

2. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 1, further including a raised platform formed the bottom surface configured to hold a moisture sensor in an elevated position on the tray.

3. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for directing water is a drip shield with an inward directed, diagonally aligned flange surface that extends laterally and abuts the cabinet's side panel or rear panel.

4. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 1, further including a laterally extending flange surface formed on both the side panels or the rear panel.

5. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 4, further including a horizontal slot formed on the side panel or rear panel configured to receive the flange surface on the side panel or rear panel.

5. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the water collection tray is made of two half trays aligned over the bottom surface of the cabinet.

6. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 5, further including a joining cap 75 that holds the two half trays together over the bottom surface of a cabinet.

7. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 6, wherein the means for directing water is a drip shield with an inward directed, diagonally aligned flange surface that extends laterally and abuts the cabinet's side panel or rear panel.

8. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 5, further including a laterally extending flange surface formed on both the side panels or the rear panel.

9. The sink cabinet system, as recited in claim 8, further including a horizontal slot formed on the side panel or rear panel configured to receive the flange surface on the side panel or rear panel.

10. An apparatus for collecting water that drips onto the floor of a cabinet from a water source located inside the cabinet, comprising:

a. a water collection tray configured to cover the floor of the cabinet, the tray includes a two opposite raised sidewalls, a raised back wall, a raised front panel and a bottom surface, the raised sidewall each including an outward extending flange surface that abuts side panels located on the cabinet;

b. a drip shield attached to the back wall of the tray, the drip plate includes a inward directed, diagonally aligned flange surface that extends into the water tray and extends laterally to abuts a rear panel on the cabinet.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the water collection tray is made of two half trays aligned over the bottom surface of the cabinet.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further including a joining cap that connects the two half trays together.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further including drip plates attached to each said half tray that extends laterally to abut a rear panel on the cabinet.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further including drip plates attached to each said half tray that extends laterally to abut a rear panel on the cabinet.