US3324483A

US3324483A - Portable sink

Info

Publication number: US3324483A
Application number: US411163A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel P Conroy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-11-13
Filing date: 1964-11-13
Publication date: 1967-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-13

Description

June 13, 1967 D. P. CONROY 3,324,483

' PORTABLE SINK Filed Nov. 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR D NHEL, coNQoy ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 R C NROY 3,324,483

PORTABLE SINK Filed Nov. 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 49 L @1 w A L Ii 5* /7 /6 H F165. 5 29 I Fis6 4 U 6 Q 6' a 5 Z INVENTOR DANHEL D. CONQOY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,324,433 PORTABLE SINK Daniel P. Conroy, Amityville, N.Y., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Nov. 13, 1964. Ser. No. 411,163 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-187) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a portable sink, and more particularly to a portable, lightweight, washing sink that will provide heated water to field surgeons for scrubbing.

An object of this invention, is to provide a compact, foldable, inexpensive, lightweight, easily assembled, heated-water, portable washing sink capable of being easily carried by one person.

Anther object is to provide a gravity flow water system for a sink wherein the rate of flow is adjustable by means of a valve upstream from a full on-ofr" type faucet valve.

Anther object is to provide a hot water system wherein the heater operates only when the faucet is open.

The structural features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the full-assembled sink;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation showing the construction of the catch basin;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sink base and vertical support member;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the faucet assembly, with the waterproof covering removed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the water heater mounting plate; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction bulb used to start water flow in the sink.

Referring to the drawings, the sink is supported by base 1. Base 1 consists of horizontal members 2, crossmember 3, base platform 4, and platform support 5. Base extensions 6 are pivotally mounted at 7 and are unfolded to extend the base when the sink is assembled. Platform support 5 is connected to members 2 by hinges 8, and to platform 4 by fastener 9. Vertical support 10 is pivotally connected to lugs 11 of base 1. Latch 12 locks vertical support 10 in operating place. Base platform 4 is connected to support 10 by hinges 13. When in collapsed position, platform 4 is folded parallel to vertical support 10, support 5 is folded parallel to members 2, extensions 6 are folded back within the dimensions of members 2, and support 10 is folded parallel to members 2.

To attach basin 14, vertical support extensions 15 are inserted in support 10, and the insert plugs 16 of basin frame 17 are placed in the open ends of extensions 15. Frame members 17 as well as 2, 3, 6, and 10 are preferably made of square extruded aluminum. Waterproof fabric basin 14 is draped over frame 17 and secured by a friction fit and by snap-on buttons 18. Metal outlet 19 is provided at the bottom of basin 14.

Faucet assembly 20 consists of faucet support 21, spout 22, ball valve 23, needle valve 24, elbow-actuated handle 25, cam 26, and microswitch 27. Support 21 is placed over frame 17 and secured thereto by a clip 28 and by :bar 29 which is pivotally connected to support 10 at 30 and releasably connected to support 21 at 31. Microswitch 27 is supported by platform 32 which is bolted 3,324,483- Patented June 13, 1967 to support 21. The microswitch 27 is of the roller actuator type and is located on platform 32 so that when handle 25 is turned, cam 26, attached to handle 25, causes roller plunger 33 to actuate the microswitch. Microswitch 27 is conventional, one suitable example being Minneapolis- Honeywell Company Type No. BAFl-ZRZN8-LH. The entire switch-actuator-cam assembly is preferably encased in waterproof covering 34. Ball valve 23 is a conventional full on-off valve such as the Salisbury Ball Valve No. 350. The turning of handle 25 from the center position causes valve 23 to open and permit flow of water. The rate of water flow is controlled by conventional needle valve 24, located upstream from valve 23. A No. 115 SAE needle valve is suitable for this purpose.

The water heater used with this invention is conventional, such as the Model M1 instant heater made by Landam Products Corporation of Great Neck, New York. The heater consists of heating unit 35, expansion chamber 36, on-off switch 37, and mounting plate 38. The heater is attached to platform 4 by rotating mounting plate 38 so as to engage the plate tabs under thumb screws 39. Thumb screws 39 are then tightened to secure the heater.

In operation, a water source such as a standard Army five-gallon can, is elevated so as to provide at least two feet of head. Adaptor 40 is inserted into the can closure and inlet hose 41 is connected to heater 35. Feed hose 42 connects the heating unit to the faucet assembly. Microswitch 27 is connected to heater 35 by waterproof electrical conductor 43. Electrical lead 44 is connected to an outside power source and ground conductor 46 is connected to heater 35 and to ground. When handle 25 is turned from the center position, ball valve 23 is caused to open and microswitch 27 is actuated by cam 26. With valve 23 open, water is allowed to flow from the source, through the heating unit, the the spout. The rate of flow is predetermined by adjusting valve 24. The actuation of microswitch 27 turns on the water heater. By this system, water flowing at approximately one quart per minute and at approximately degrees Fahrenheit can be obtained. If desired, a standard, foot-operated detergent dispenser 45 can be attached to basin frame 17.

To start the gravity flow of water, the heater switch 37 is placed in the off position, the faucet handle is turned to open valve 23, and the suction end of a double-acting suction bulb 46 is inserted into spout 22. The action of the bulb evacuates the water feed lines. When water begins to flow, the bulb is removed and the primed faucet is closed.

The sink weighs only approximately 25 pounds, can be assembled by one man in five minutes, will raise the water temperature 60 degrees in 30 seconds, and will fold into a suitcase-like container occupying a volume of no more than two and one-half cubic feet. This transporting compactness and simplicity without sacrifice of high performance characteristics is the essential feature of this invention.

I claim:

1. A portable sink comprising:

(a) 'a collapsible base;

(b) a vertical basin support which is pivotally connected to the base;

(c) a foldable waterproof catch basin attached to the vertical support;

(d) faucet means connected to a water supply and to the vertical support; and

(e) heating means located between the water supply and the faucet, to heat the water.

2. The portable sink described in claim 1, wherein the heating means is a fast-acting electrical Water heater which operates only when the sink faucet is open.

3. A portable sink comprising:

(a) a collapsible base;

(b) an expandable, vertical basin support which is pivotally connected to the base;

(c) a catch basin consisting of a frame and a waterproof, foldable fabric removably attached to the frame;

(d) faucet means connected to a water supply and to the vertical support, said faucet having valve means independent of the faucet handle for regulating the rate of flow of the water; and

(e) electrical heating means attached to the sink base to heat the water before it reaches the faucet.

4. The portable sink described in claim 3, wherein the electric heater is controlled by the faucet handle through 4 a microswitch so that the heater operates only when the faucet is open, wherein the faucet valve is of the full onoff type, and wherein the rate of water flow is controlled by a needle valve located upstream from the faucet valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 516,438 3/1894 Hurst et a1. 1376l3 1,163,536 12/1915 Henriksen 2l9309 X 1,200,394 10/ 1916 Robinson. 1,685,364 9/1928 Kopatz 219309 1,856,805 5/1932 Call 248-166 2,371,830 3/1945 Langdon 137613 X 2,500,215 3/1950 Swearingen 24846 FOREIGN PATENTS 249,650 4/ 1926 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

2O HAROLD J. GROSS, Examiner.

Claims

1. A PORTABLE SINK COMPRISING: (A) A COLLAPSIBLE BASE; (B) A VERTICAL BASIN SUPPORT WHICH IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE BASE; (C) A FOLDABLE WATERPROOF CATCH BASIN ATTACHED TO THE VERTICAL SUPPORT; (D) FAUCET MEANS CONNECTED TO A WATER SUPPLY AND TO THE VERTICAL SUPPORT; AND (E) HEATING MEANS LOCATED BETWEEN THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE FAUCET, TO HEAT THE WATER.