US2762062A - Protective cover for surfaces at sinks - Google Patents

Description

S p 1956 G. w. BARTON 2,762,062

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR SURFACES AT SINKS Filed June 18, 1951 IN V EN TOR. aerald WBarZOn/ ATTORNEY United States Patent PROTECTIVE COVER FOR SURFACES AT SINKS Gerald W. Barton, Flint, Mich.

Application June 18, 1951, Serial No. 232,185

1 Claim. (Cl. 4189) The present invention relates to protective attachments for covering surface areas of table tops and walls adjacent sinks and for draining water splashed thereon into the sinks.

The invention is especially adapted for use in conjunction with kitchen cabinet structures having sinks built into table tops of cupboards and with linoleum covering said table tops and lower portions of vertical back walls of the cabinets. In some cabinets of this type, a single piece of linoleum is used to cover the horizontal flat table top and the vertical back wall by providing a coved cornet and bending the linoleum around the curvature of the cove; while in other cases, the edges of separate pieces of linoleum are joined at the corners by metal strips. Usually, the pieces or portions of linoleum with cutouts for the sink openings slightly overlap the continuous fiat rims of the sinks and have metal strips around the edges of the cutouts that are cemented together with the linoleum to the rim of the sinks. Such joints, together with the fact that the table tops are usually flat, cause build-ups of higher elevations completely around the sing opening preventing any possible drainage with a result that the linoleum, besides being discolored, deteriorates by continual accumulation of water thereon and permits seepage of moisture into the underlying wood of the table tops. This moisture, prior to its damaging of the Wood by rot, causes the wood to swell and Warp, thus breaking cemented joints and permitting a greater quantity of water to enter the wooden structural parts to cause further destruction thereto.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a protective cover for surfaces of linoleum at a sink where water is most commonly splashed, which is constructed and arranged for draining water splashed thereon into the sink, which is of a material impervious to moisture, and which is adapted to be applied to newly installed cabinets to prevent damage thereto or for a repairing attachment to cover up discolored and damaged linoleum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantially L-shaped protective cover for surfaces of linoleum around a sink and adapted for slight alterations thereto for effecting watertight attachment to varying cabinet constructions and especially different manners of linoleum application to the cabinet.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved protective cover for linoleum at sinks which is simple and substantial in construction, which can be manufactured economically, which can be conveniently attached in place, and which will be thoroughly efiicient and practical in use.

These, together with various auxiliary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated, by way of examples only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a cabinet showing the improved protective cover attached in place for draining water into a sink;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is another vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the protective cover attached to a different type of linoleum application to a cabinet;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, vertical cross section through the unattached protective cover and showing in dotted lines slight alterations made to the cover for attachment to a different type of linoleum application;

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the invention wherein the protective cover completely surrounds the opening to the sink; and

Figire 7 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, attention is directed first to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate 'a portion of a cabinet having a back wall it), together with a lower front wall 11, supporting a table top 12 into which is built .a sink 13. The walls 10 and 11 and the table top 12 are usually constructed of wood, either solid boards or plywood, which must be protected against moisture to retain their proper sizes and shapes. Where the sink 13 is arranged in the table top 12, there is provided an opening 14, and the wood at the edges of the opening is rabbeted, as at 15, to a depth equal to the thickness of a continuous flat rim 16 on the sink located therein and flush with the upper surface of the wood table top. The linoleum 17 that covers the wood table top 12 also has a cutout for the sink which is of a size that the edges of the cutouts slightly overlap the rim 16 of the sink, as at 18, where said edges are confined in a recessed metal molding 19 extending around the sink opening and attached to the Wood table top by screws 20.

When a single piece of linoleum 17 is to cover both the wood table top 12 and a short portion of the back wall 10, the corner joining said table top and back wall usually is coved, as at 21, for permitting a gradual bending of the linoleum; while in other instances where a separate piece of linoleum 22, as shown in Figure 4, is to cover the back wall 10 and a joint is to be made in the linoleum at said above-mentioned corner, metal strips 23 are secured in the corner and retain the edges of the pieces of linoleum in place. Other metal strips 24 and 25 engage and attach the forward and upper edges, respectively, of the linoleum in place.

The improved watertight cover 26 forming the subject of this invention is constructed of plastic, hard rubber, or other similar, semi-rigid material molded L-shape in cross section, providing a pair of thin walls 27 and 28 joined along longitudinal sides and arranged at substantially right angles to one another for covering linoleum surfaces rearwardly of the faucets of the sink, the wall 27 covering a horizontal area of the table top, while the wall 28 covers a vertical area of the linoleum surface on the back wall 10. The longitudinally extending, joining portions of the walls 27 and 23 are curved, as at 29, gradually merging the walls into one another.

Each end of the cover 26 is ribbed, as at 30, along the ends of the Walls 27 and 28 and curved joining portions 29 to form upstanding and forwardly directed ledges for eliminating to a great extent water splashed on said cover from running past the ends of the walls. The substantially horizontal wall 27 and curved portion 29, in addition to having the upstanding ribs at each end,

Patented Sept. 11, 1956 v are also provided with dependingribs 31 directly under and parallel with said upstanding ribs upon which the cover is adapted to rest when in place on a cabinet.

The: underiedgeszofx therribs- 3-1'ncan :bealtered': in shape' to conform to the curvaturerof: a covet 21: shown". in Figure 2 or to the profilerof-a'metalstrip 23,'shown*=.in

Figure 4, and also shown by dotted lines-in. Figure. 5.'

Further alterations a'srindicatediby the dotted lines-'32 in Figure 5 are sometimes required tothef'orward-pontions? of the ribs for extending-:properly. over the metal strip 19 and: any unevenness in'the; linoleum due to the insertion of the retaining edgerof the: molding; 19 underv the linoleunr- Thewabove: alterations are essential when fitting the cover to some types and different 'size's of, constructions in orderito provide Watertightseals under the wall 27 and to maintain :theislightrinclinationi ofthe 'wall 27 to bemassuredythatzwater will :notstand thereon;

The forward edge of the inclined wall..27 is turned said edge with athelin'oleum.v Countersunk screws 35' extending through the vertical wall28 and threaded into the wooden rear wall 10 of the 'cabinet'hold the cover in place, while waterproof cement 36, used as'a filter, is applied under the inclinedwall 27 between the-end ribs 31' and downwardly curved front edge 33'and aids in supporting as well as retaining-said: inclined wall in. place.

Referring 'to'Figures 6 and 7 wherein thereis shown a modified form of the invention, the cover is of-a lengthslightly in excess ofthelength of the sink, and the substantially horizontal wall is extended forwardlybeyondr the front of the sink for providing a construction that completely surrounds the sink. Inthis case, the horizontal wall 37 has a large, rectangular opening 38"tl1erein of a. size slightly less than the insideiofthe metal'lincleum-retaining molding 19 and slightly greater than the opening ofthe sinki13: with the-edges around 'said opieik ing 38 turned downwardly, as at 39, andin contacfiwith thecontinuous flat'rim .16 of. the sink. Along the -oppo'- site ends and front edge of the horizontal wal1"37-,ta depending rib 40 is provided which is adapted to contact the linoleum on three sides of the sink'and support said edges at higher elevations than other portionsof the wall for. drainage into the sink. A pair of countersunkscrews- 41, one at each. end of. the horizontal wall, and waterproof cement 42 thereunderibetween ribs 40'and down turned. edges-39" support and retain the horizontal" wall;

in place.

While the embodimentof the invention shown-in Fig:

ures 6 and]. does not lend-.itselffor. usetwithtas-tmany. different sizes of cabinets and sinks as does the form shown in the preferred embodiment, it is to be under} stood that both forms may be made in various sizes and shapes to fit diiferent cabinet-type sinks.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjuncw tion with the accompanyingidrawings, it is believed. that a clear understanding of the construction, operation, and

advantages of the-device 'will be quite apparenttothose? skilled in this art. A more detailed'description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. 7

It is to -bezunderstood, howevem that even though there is herein shown and-described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and full intendment of the invention.

What is claimedis:

A. protective attachmentfor 'covering short' areas at joinedvertical: and horizontal finished surfaces at andadjacent sinks; said: attachment comprising an: angled" member having a vertical upstanding wall and a slightly-f inclined-horizontal wall for covering-joined portions of said vertical and horizontal=finished surface areas, de

pending-marrow ribs extending. across" the: entire opposite.

ends of said. inclined horizontal wall adapted to have the horizontal lower" edges thereof altered to conform/to :the: contourof'said horizontal finished surface andengage said surfacethroughoutthe length of said ribs and thereby space'saidhorizon'tal wall inclined from said'horizontal' finished. surfacefordrainage into a sink, a-do'wnturned edge along the: forward portion'of said inclined: horizon tal wall that has'its' ends joined to the forward endsiofi said depending ribs,-and'..meansattachingwsaidi angled" member for watertight engagement with said finished 'sur-' faces.

References Cited in the: filei of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS 511,197 Denegar, Dec. 19, 1893 1,544,430 Brown June 30,, 1925 1,605,573 St'edm'aii Nov. 2, 1926 1,854,987 Fradl' Apr. 19, 1932- 19281058 Kennison Sept. 26, 11933 2,001,423 Hbrner .a May 14, 1935 2,227,581 Henderson Jan. 7, 1941' 2,274,317' Bonnell Feb. 24, 1942 2,310,952 Greer Feb. 16, 1943" 2,449,465 Flaker Sept. 14, 1948 2,596,735 Suarez May 13,1952 2,614,014'

Stanitz Oct. 14, 2"

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