US3040338A - Counterline appliance and fastening arrangement therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1962 L. 1 ZELL-:NY l-:TAL 3,040,338

COUNTERLINE APPLIANCE AND FASTENING ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 L. L zELENY ETAL 3,040,338

COUNTERLINE APPLIANCE AND FASTENING ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 19 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 's I D 22 30 2O lo IN V EN TORS fd/lle af. Ze BYGecp/ye 5. b'obrs TTORNEY June 26, 1962 L.' zELx-:NY ETAL 3,040,338

COUNTERLINE APPLIANCE AND FASTENING ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ATTORNEY BY @9F76 55u/Hats June 26, 1962 L. L. zELENY ETAL 3,040,338

COUNTERLINE APPLIANCE AND FASTENING ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to a counterline appliance and tates Patent mounting means therefor, and more especially to an v varrangement for fastening such an appliance in 'position within an opening therefor in a countertop.

The present invention constitutes a continuation-in-part of our copending patent application, Serial No. 710,735, filed January 23, 1958, now abandoned, in which one such appliance was disclosed. In contrast therewith', this application considers the more general subject of mounting and fastening a variety of counterline appliances in a countertop as, for example, a sink having either a single or double bowl, the top burners comprising an electric or gas range or hot plate, a mixing bowl, and so on.

It is apparent from the exemplary appliances noted that the particular utilitarian aspects thereof have little significance with regard to the problem of mounting and fastening the same in position along a countertop. However, with regard to the class of appliances considered herein, each such appliance seats within an opening provided therefor in the countertop, and may be characterized as being of generally sheet-like or planar form in that it has a perimetric rim or ilange that rests upon the upper surface of the countertop. It should be noted that in. this general classification, integral rim appliances (often referred to in the industry as self-rimmed, especially in connection with sinks Where the term self-rimmed bow is also used) have posed heretofore a diicult mounting problem in that fixed fasteners or clamps are carried thereby, and if one or more of such fasteners breaks olf, is stripped, or otherwise becomes ineffective, the entire appliance may be unusable for the reason that the rim thereof cannot be drawn tightly against the countertop at all locations to establish the necessary liquid-tight seal therewith. In contrast thereto, this diiiiculty does not occur with separate rim appliances, for the fasteners are carried by the separate rim which is readily replaced.

As a consequence, the usual practice has been to equip counterline appliances with separate rims which are then fastened at the time of installation both to the appliance and countertop; and to effect such fastening, a great variety of clamping or mounting structures havebeen employed. So far as is known, each of the clamping structures employed to secure separate rim appliances in position along a countertop is characterized by dividing the total clamping force developed between the rim and counter and between the rim and appliance. Further, the manual act of mounting such separate rim appliances is difficult and cumbersome because it is usually necessary to effect a simultaneous clamping between the rim, counter and appliance. We are aware of the fact that an integral rim counterline appliance and fastener therefor has been proposed, but the concept of dividing the clamping force developed by each of the lfasteners has been carried into Such integral rim appliances with the result that there is a tremendous loss in the effectiveness of the `grip or` sealing engagement established between the appliance rim and countertop. Additionally, in these integral rim structures, the fasteners have been xedly located therealong as mentioned hereinbefore, whereby the appliance in its entirety must be returned if one or more of the Xed fasteners becomes unusable.l

In accordance with the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a counterline appliance and 3,040,338 Patented `lune 26, 1962 fice establishing a liquid-tight seal with the countertop. An-

other object of the invention is in the provision of an integral rim appliance and fastening arrangement therefor, wherein the fasteners are quickly and easily interchanged when necessary, and wherein the number of fasteners required for any installation may be determined on the job, whereby an effective liquid-tight seal can be established between the countertop and appliance throughout the entire perimetric length of the latter.

Still another object is that of providing in combination with an appliance having a generally planar marginal flange or edge portion adapted sealingly to engage the upper surface of a countertop, a fastener arrangement including a mounting element carried by such flange along the undersurface thereof and a plurality of fasteners adjustably carried by the mounting element for selective positioning along the length thereof to enable the fasteners to be utilized at the most advantageous locations to lnechanically anchor the appliance to the countertop in sealing relation therewith. n

A further object of the invention is to provide fastener apparatus for securing the rim of an appliance to a countertop, in which the force application developed by each of the fasteners is effectively utilized and appears between the rim and countertop to clamp the rim thereto, and is not dissipated by needless application of a substantial portion thereof to thel rim. Still another object into with ease, and in which a clip or clamping element is engageable with a fastenerelement and undersurface of the countertop to clamp the rim to the countertop.

Yet a lfurther object is that of providing clamping apparatus of the type described, in which the fastener element has an elongated shank, and in which the clip or clamping element engages the shank at two axially spaced locations therealong--one such location being along the plane of force transmission tothe countertop, and the other being intermediate the rst location and the rim of the appliance. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification develops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE l is a broken top plan view of one form of counterline appliance mounted in a countertop, the appliance being an electric range or hot plate;

FIGURE 2 is a broken top plan View `of another form of counterline appliance mounted in a countertop, the appliance being a mixer;

FIGURE 3 is a broken top plan view of still another counterline appliance mounted in a countertop, the appliance being a single bowl sink;

FIGURE 4 is a broken bottom plan view of still another form of counterline appliance mounted in a countertop, the appliance being a double bowl sink;

iFIGURE 5 is an enlarged, broken bottom plan view of a corner portion of the appliance and countertop comlbination illustrated in FIGURE 4;

[FIGURE `6 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 4, but showing the position of one of the lfasteners prior to engagement thereof with the undersurface of Ithe countertop;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional View similar to that of FIGURE 6, but showing the fastener in engagement with the undersur-face of the countertop;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4, and is taken generally in the direction of the arrows along the line 8--8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the clip or clamping element employed in the fastener structures shown in FIGURES 6 through 8;

IFIGURE 10 is a bottom perspective view similar to that of FIGURE 8, but showing a modified fastener structure;

FIGURE ll is a perspective view of the fastener elernent shown in the modified construction of FIGURE l0;

FIGURE l2 is a perspective view of the clip or clamping element used in the modified structure of FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 13 is a transverse sectional View similar to that of FIGURE 7, but showing a lfurther modified fastener assembly;

FIGURE 14 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 15 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14, and showing in schematic form the interior of the wiring box illustrated in FIG- URE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a longitudinal sectional View somewhat similar to that of FIGURE 14, but showing a modified construction; and

FIGURE l7 is a broken bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 16, and is taken along the line 17-17 thereof.

`In the mounting of a counterline appliance in a countertop, thev countertop is first provided with an enlarged opening therethrough of sufficient size so as to accommodate readily the insertion thereinto of any depending portions of the appliance. In the case of a sink, such opening must be of suflicient size so as to accommodate the bowl or bowls of the sink; and in the case of an electric range, the opening must be large enough to receive the deep well, understructure of the burner units and whatever ancillary equipment may be carried by the range. The appliance, whatever its functional utility may be, has a sheet-like or generally planar perimetric flange or rim that is disposed in a generally horizontal plane and overlies the marginal edges of the opening in the countertop. Thus, in mounting an appliance, it is first aligned with the opening in the countertop and is lowered theretoward until the depending portions of the appliance extend into the opening and the rim or perimetric flange engages the upper surface of the countertop. Thereafter, `fastener structure is employed to anchor the appliance in such position and to draw portions `of the rim into tight engagement with the upper surface of the countertop. Preferably, the outer edge .portion of the rim is turned downwardly slightly so that it tends to bite into the countertop, and thus establishes a liquid-tight seal therewith which is of importance especially Iwhere the appliance is a sink.

Considering this arrangement in greater `detail in connection with the drawings, it is seen that FIGURE 1 illustrates a counterline appliance A in the Iform of an electric range or hot plate mounted in a countertop T. The rangeA may be of substantially conventional construction with respect to the cooking or heating facilities provided thereby, and may have one or more burners and a ydeep well. In any event, a considerable amount of understructure is incorporated in such range, and this understructure depends into the opening provided through the counter. In FIGURE 2. the appliance B takes the for-m of a mixer, and the centrally disposed agitator provided thereby is positioned adjacent to the bottom wall of the container, which also depends into the opening provided therefor in the counter T. In FIGURE 3, the appliance C is a single bowl sink, and the bowl thereof depends through the opening in the counter T. In FIGURE 4, the appliance D is a multiple bowl sink, and in the specific with the numeral 18a.

- 4l illustration has two separate bowls that depend through the opening in the counter.

It Will be noted that in each instance, the counterline appliance has a perirnetric flange or rim that is horizontally disposed and overlies the upper surface of the countertop. Further, it is evident that the geometric configuration of the appliance may take varied forms. More specifically, the mixer B shown inIFIGURE 2 has a generally cylindrical configuration, while the appliances A, C and D are generally rectangular. Thus, the counterline appliance may be arcuate or circular, multiple-sided, etc.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 in particular, it is seen that the appliance D is a sink having a pair of depending bowls 10. A sink of such type is generally formed of stainless steel; but with respect to the present invention, it may be made of any other suitable material. Surrounding the bowlsltl is a perimetric flange or rim 11 that is horizontally disposed and defines the upper surface of the sink. If the bowls 10 are not centrally disposed, the flange 11 has a greater area along certain portions of the sink, as in the specific structure shown wherein the flange 11 has a greater width along one longitudinal edge of the bowls. When the appliance is mounted in a countertop, the perimetric flange or rim 11 overlies the marginal edge portion of the countertop that defines the opening therethrough. In FIGURE 4, the counter is denoted with the numeral 12, and it will lbe appreciated that the extent to which the rim overlies the countertop is unimportant so long as the overlie is sufficient to adequately support the appliance. Preferably, as shown best in FIGURES 6 through 8, the flange or rim 11 is provided along the outer edge thereof with a downwardly turned portion 14 that tends to grip or dig into the surfacing 15 that covers the core 16 of the countertop 12. As is well known, the surface covering 15 is generally formed of a yieldable material, such as linoleum, plastic, rubber, etc.; and as a result, the engagement established between the downwardly turned edge 14 of the rim and the surface covering 15 of the countertop tends to define a liquid-tight seal therebetween.

Extending along the undersurface of the rim 11 and flxedly secured thereto is a mounting element in the form of an elongated channel 18 of inverted, generally U-shaped configuration, although the end portions of the channel legs are bent inwardly to define flanges 19 that generally parallel the base of thechannel and consequently the rim 11. The mounting element 1S is formed of metal or correspondingly tough material, for the forces developed between the rim 11 and countertop 12 are applied to the rim through the mounting element. The mounting element may be spot welded or otherwise secured to the rim 11, but is preferably affixed thereto by an adhesive (as shown in FIGURE 13). The adhesive may be one of the commercially available synthetics such as a thermosetting synthetic resin, one of the epoxies for example, or a thermoplastic resin such as one of the rubber base types. If anepoxy resin is used, ordinarily it Will -be cured under heat and pressure although various formulations are available which afford considerable latitude in temperature selection. When force is applied across the rim and mounting element during curing of the adhesive, portions of the adhesive will be squeezed from Ibetween the mounting element and the rim and will form beads, as shown in FIGURE 13 and which are denoted In this figure, the size of the beads 18a is exaggerated to make the illustration clear.

It is clear from FIGURES 6 through 8 that the mounting element 18 is disposed entirely beneath the flange or rim of the appliance, and is spaced inwardly from the outer perimetric edge of such flange so that it can depend freely into the opening in the countertop. Also, the mounting element in the specific forms shown herein, substantially parallels the outer edge of the rim, and is interrupted at least at one point therealong so that fastenersl can -be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom, as will be described morefully hereinafter. The mounting element 18 carried by the appliance D, as shown best in FIGURE 4, comprises four separate sections or segments, one for each of the four edge portions of the appliance. Thus, a plurality of interruption is defined by the composite mounting element, and such interruptions appear respectively at the four corner portions of the appliance. However, if reference is made to FIGURE l, it will be seenthat the mounting element 18 carried by the appliance A is formed in two sections; and thus, interruptions appear only at two of the opposite corner portions of the appliance. In FIGURE 2, the appliance B is of generally cylindrical configuration, as is the rim 11" thereof, and therefore the mounting element 18" has a circular configuration and is provided with but one interruption throughout the entire length thereof. Similarly, the mounting element 18"' carried by the appliance C shown in FIGURE 3 has only a single interruption throughout the entire length thereof, and such interruption appears adjacent to one corner portion of the rim or perimetric flange 11 of the appliance.

Returning again to FIGURES 6 through 8, it is seen' that the mounting element 18 carries one or more fasteners 20, and the precise number of fasteners employed will depend upon the nature of the particular appliance being mounted in the countertop and the size, or more pointedly the perimetric length, of the appliance. FIGURES 1 through 4 make it clear that a plurality of fasteners is used with each of the appliances illustrated. Each of the fasteners is longitudinally movable along the length of the mounting element, and may be inserted thereinto or removed therefrom at ony one of the interruptions along the mounting element. As a result, fasteners may be added in the numbers necessary after the appliance is supported on the countertop; and further, each ofthe fasteners may be moved to a location which is most strategic in the clamping of the appliance to the countertop.

In the exemplary fastener illustrated, it takes the form of an elongated bolt having a head 21 that is slidably received Within the channel or mounting element 18,' and having also a threaded shank that depends from the head Z1 in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the ange 11. In this form of the fastener, the head 21 is square-shaped and is dimensioned so that it is slidably receivable within the channel 18. However, the interior dimensions of the channel and the width of the head Z1 are so related that the fastener cannot rotate with respect to the channel.

Cooperatively associated with each fastener is a clip or clamping element 22 adapted to be drawn upwardly along the -shank of the fastener 20 and toward the mounting element 18 so as to engage a portion of the clamping element with the undersurface of the counter, and thereby to effect a clamping force between the flange 11 and the countertop. The clamping element 22 has a somewhat J-shaped configuration, and a base leg portion Z4 thereof extends axially along the fastener and adjacent to its upper end engages the shank of the fastener. In specific terms, the base 24 is turned laterally at its upper end to define a relatively short, gen erally horizontal upper leg 2S provided with an aperture 25a therethrough that receives the shank of the fastener 20 therein. At its lower end, the base 24 is also turned laterally to define an outwardly extending, generally horizontal lower leg 26 that extends under the countertop 12 and is adapted to engage the same. Preferably, the outer end portion of the elongated lower leg 26 is turned upwardly, as shown at 28, to form a relatively sharp edge adapted to dig into the undersurface of the countertop which, as shown in the drawings, is generally of wooden construction. The lower leg 26 has an'aperture 26a therethrough that is aligned with the aperture 25a, and is also adapted to receive the shank of the fastener 20 therein. Both of the apertures in the clamping element 22 have a slightly greater diameter than that of the shank of the fastener 20 so that initially the clamping element is freely movable axially along the fastener.

Means are provided to urge the clamping element 22 upwardly along the fastener 20 and toward the mounting element 1S so as to engage the elongated leg 26 of the clamping element with the undersurface of the countertop. In FIGURES 4 through 6, such means comprises a nut 36 that threadedly engages the shank of the fastener. FIGURH- 7 and 8 show the relative positions of the perimetric -ange 11, countertop 12, fastener 20 and yclamping element 22. as the nut 30 is tightened against the lower elongated leg of the clamping element to effect the `clamping action between the flange and the upper surface of the countertop.

A modified fastener structure is illustrated in FIG- URES lO through 12, inclusive; and since the only structural variation is found in the fastener and clamping element, the same numerals as those used heretofore to identify the perimetric fiange, countertop, and mounting element are again employed. However, with respect to the fastener and clamping element, the numbers correspondingto those used hereinbefore are primed to indicate structural variation. In this form, the fastener 20 comprises an elongated bolt having a head 2.1 that is generally cylindrical so as to permit rotation thereof within the channel or mounting element 18. Depending from the head 2l is a threaded shank that terminates at its lower end in a slot 31 adapted to receive the blade of aV screwdriver therein. While a nut might be employed as with the fastener 20y and clamping element 22 to tighten the clamping element, lWe prefer to thread the aperture 26a in the elongated lower leg '25 of the clamping element Z2. so that it can threadedly engage the shank of the fastener 20. Thus, to draw the clamping element 22 upwardly toward the countertop and mounting element, the fastener 20 is rotated by means of a screwdriver or similar instrument having a blade which can be inserted into the slot 3l; and because of the threaded character of the aperture 26a, the clamping element 22 moves upwardly along the fastener when 'the fastener is turned or rotated in the appropriate direction. Otherwise, the structure and its function is the same as that heretofore described, and it is evident that the head Ztl of the fastener will be dimensioned so that it is freely slidable longitudinally along the channel or mounting element 18.

vA further modified fastening arrangement is illustrated in FIGURE 13, and it varies from those heretofore described only in that it embodies the principles of the rapid or quick fastener which is sometimes referred to as the Tinnerman fastener. Thus, the fastener 20" has a cylindrical head 2l which permits the fastener to be rotated in the channel 18, and the lower end of the fastener is slotted so as to receive a screwdriver blade. The fastener `22 may be constructed exactly like the fastener 22, but the nut 30" is slotted and tongued so that it can be pushed upwardly along the shank of the fastener 26 without rotating one with respect to the other. Of course, final tightening may be accomplished by rotating the fastener 20 if this should be re-v quired. It may be noted that the lower elongated leg 26 of the clamping element could be slotted and tongued so as to/define a quick-type fastener such as that provided by the element 30", thereby eliminating the need for the element 30".

The invention heretofore described may also be used in slightly varied environments to effect broadly the clamping of one element to another. FIGURES 14 through 17, inclusive, show arrangements exemplary of such uses. For example, it is ordinarily customary to provide a wiring box in association with an electric range or hot plate so as to facilitate the connection of the various heating elements with the incoming power line, and to fuse each of the heating elements where this spaanse may be either required or desirable. In this particular connection, a problem has always existed of establishing a satisfactory ground connection between the appliance per se or the exposed metal surfaces thereof and the incoming ground line. Such a ground connection is necessary for, without explanation, it will be apparent that if the exposed metal surfaces of the appliance are not grounded, a serious hazard is presented to those persons using the appliance.

FIGURE 14 illustrates a wiring box secured to the undersurface of the appliance A of FIGURE l, and the 'oox is in engagement with sucnundersurface to establish both a mechanical and electrical connection therewith. The box is denoted with the numeral 32, and is equipped along the upper surface thereof with a plurality of projections or protuberances 33 that actually engage the undersurface of the appliance and space the top wall of the wiring box therefrom. This larrangement permits a cover 3d to be readily removed from the wiring box and to be replaced thereon, and affords access to the interior thereof. The box 32 is held in engagement with the appliance by means of the fastener 20 heretofore described which is slidably carried by the channel or mounting element 18' and by a clamping element 22". The fastener, clamping element and nut 30 are similar to the embodiment heretofore described in connection with FIGURE 13, and the only variation is that the bottom leg 26 of the clamping element is somewhat longer. Thus, the same channel 18' used in securing the appliance to the countertop T is also employed in mounting the wiring box 32, and precisely the same fastener and clamping element may 'also be used but, as illustrated, it may be advantageous in some installations to elongate slightly the lower leg of the clamping element. FIGURE 15 shows schematically the circuit connections provided by the box 32, and it enables the various conductors 35 through 38 leading to the individual heating elements to be connected by suitable fusing to the incoming line 39. It should be noted that the ground line is connected directly to the wiring box 32, and consequently the rim of the appliance is also then electrically connected through the box and protuberances 33 thereof to the ground line.

FIGURES 16 `and 17 illustrate a slight variation in that the wiring box 32 is secured directly to the mounting element or channel 18', and therefore the protuberances 33 may be omitted since the channel spaces the box from the undersurface of the appliance and thus permits removal and replacement of the box cover 34. This configuration is most suitable where the channel 18 is welded to the perimetric flange -ll of the appliance for then the appliance is electrically connected to the box through the channel. In this construction, it is preferable to employ a pair of fasteners and clamping elements which, as shown in FIGURE 17, are oriented along the axis of the channel i8. Any of the fasteners and clamping elements heretofore described may be employed; but in the specific illustration, the fastener 20, clamping element 22 and nut 30 are used.

In all forms of the invention set forth above, one component is effectively and positively clamped to another; and in particular, counterline appliances of various types are clamped in position along a countertop so as iixedly to relate the appliance thereto and at the same time to establish a liquid-tight seal between the rim or perimetric ange of the appliance and the countertop. It should be mentioned that in actual installation, the workman may place a layer of plumbers adhesive between the upper surface of the countertop and the downwardly turned edge portion of the perimetric liange to supplement the desired sealing relationship. Great flexibility is afforded the workman in installing the appliance for he can determine on the job the number of clamping structures required to compensate for warpage or other irregularities in the countertop and to supplement the anchorage of the appliance to the countertop at areas of particular stress.

Moreover, there is never a need to discard an appliance or return the same, for the danger of an appliance being unusable because of insufcient or inoperative fasteners is obviated,

Not only are the fasteners selectively positionable along the mounting element or various segments thereof, but the clamping force developed in each unit is transferred to the rim of the appliance only through the fastener-and mounting element. Consequently, a division of the developed force or dissipation thereof does not appear in this construction; but rather, such forceis effectively utilized. Each clamping element engages the shank of ya fastener therefor at two axially spaced locations therealong-one being along the line of force transmission to the undersurface of the countertop (that is to say, along the plane dened by the lower elongated leg 26 of the clamping element), and the other intermediate this plane and the rim of the appliance. This arrangement reinforces and strengthens the clamping element, and prevents deformation thereof without using heavy expensive metal for the clamping element.

It will be noted that in all embodiments of the invention, force application to the flange or rim of the appliance is imparted thereto through the mounting member or channel extending along the undersurface thereof, except for the force developed between the rim and underlying marginal edge portion of the countertop. Thus, neither the fastener nor clamping element bear directly against the underside of the flange, and distortion o'r other damage to the ilange which frequently accompanies such an undesirable force application is obviated. This particular concept is illustrated perhaps most clearly in FIGURE 13, wherein the clamping element 22" bears directly against the channel 18. Proper selection of the gauge and/ or treatment of the clamping element enables the bottom, laterally extending leg thereof to have a yield point such that it will give when a force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied thereto, and such predetermined force will be less than the force that will cause deformation of the appliance rim upon tightening of the fastener and clamping element.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In an appliance adapted to be mounted in an opening therefor extending through the plane of a horizontally disposed `and generally planar counter; the cornbination comprising a ange carried by said appliance and extending laterally outwardly therefrom for overlying engagement with the counter along the marginal edges of the opening therein, an elongated mounting channel iixedly secured to the underside of said appliance flange laterally inwardly of the outer edge thereof and extending therealong for dependency into the opening, said channel including two substantially parallel and downwardly extending side walls having laterally and inwardly directed channel anges on the lower edges thereof with the facing edges of said channel flanges being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other, a fastening member including a head disposed in said channel on said channel flanges and a threaded shank extending downwardly from said channel between said channel flanges, said head 4being slidable along said channel flanges to accommodate selective positioning of said fastening member at any desired point along the length of said channel in the counter opening and having portions thereon engaging said side walls of said channel to limit rotation of said fastening member about the axis of said shank and with respect to said channel, a clamping member including a clamping leg and a stabilizing leg interconnected at the adjacent ends thereof by a base,

said clamping leg having ian aperture therein adjacent to said base freely receiving said shank therethrough for free rotation with respect thereto and a clamping surface on the outer end thereof bearing against the underside of the counter, said stabilizing leg having an aperture therein adjacent to said base freely receiving said shank therethrough for free rotation with respect thereto and bearing thereagainst, and a threaded nut threadedly engaging said shank and bearing yagainst the underside of said clamping leg for producing a force between said fastening member and said clamping member to draw said Iappliance ange downwardly into rm engagement with the upper surface of the counter.

2. The appliance set yforth in claim 1, wherein said clamping member is formed of sheet metal and said clamping leg and said stabilizing leg thereof are disposed substantially parallel to each other, and the outer end of said clamping leg is bent toward the plane of said stabilizing leg.

3. The lappliance set forth in claim 1, wherein said fastening member is a bolt having a square head with opposed ats spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance between said side walls of said channel.

-4. The appliance set forth in claim 1, wherein said channel is secured to said appliance `flange by synthetic resin adhesive.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,027,397 Adam May 28, 1912 1,596,317 Skinner Aug. 17, `1926 2,182,480 Lowry Dec. 5, 1939 2,508,662 Carper May 23, 1950 2,523,760 Hayner Sept. 26, 1950 2,624,605 Ratte Jan. 6, 1953 2,650,523 Zwick Sept. 1, =1953 2,672,621 Drain Mar. 23, 1954 2,736,527 Maier Feb. 28, A1956 2,789,615 Allen Apr. 23, 1957 20 2,818,579 Katz Jan. 7, 1958

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