Adjustable sink with cabinets

March 24, 1970 e. l. gipson 3,502,384

ADJUSTABLE SINK WITH CABINETS

Filed April 5, 196S 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR.

ethel g/psoa/,

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E. L. GIPSON

3,502,384

ADJUSTABLE SINK WITH CABINETS

March 24, 1970

Filed April 5, 1968

Sheets-Sheet 2

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BY

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United States Patent Office

3,502,384

Patented Mar. 24, 1970

3,502,384 ADJUSTABLE SINK WITH CABINETS Ethel L. Gipson, Foley, Ala.

(Rte. 1, Box 171, Elberta, Ala. 36530)

Filed Apr. 5,1968, Ser. No. 719,150 5

Int. CI. A47b 51/00; E03c 1/18

U.S. Cl. 312—228 4 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

In combination, a pair of cabinets each presenting an upper counter surface; a unitary sink structure slidably mounted between said cabinets; spring means biasing said sink structure to an upward position with its upper surface flush with said cabinets; latch means operable from the front of the sink means for locking said sink means in either upper or lower position and cabinet means below said sink means normally storing seating means when said cabinet is in its upper position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sink and cabinet combination which is conventional in appearance but in which the sink structure is vertically adjustable between two positions and is firmly locked in either of said two positions.

A sink structure of the type here under consideration is decidedly heavy and merely to make available two different vertical positions would leave the housewife facing a very considerable task, particularly in restoring the structure to its upper position.

Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a counter force which will make the sink easily movable between either of two vertical positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure aforesaid which, when the sink is in its uppermost position, automatically provides storage space for seating means under the sink, said seating means normally being concealed and inconspicuous.

The above and other objects will be made clear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the general arrangement of parts;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2—2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3—3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the sink showing in detail the latching means.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 designates the structure as a whole. The combination is made up of a left-hand cabinet section 12 and a right-hand cabinet section 14. The sections 12 and 14 are joined at the top by a conventional backboard 16 which extends the full width of the combination. The section 12 has a conventional counter top 18 with a drawer 20 and a cabinet equipped with a door and shelves, the cabinet being designated 22.

The right-hand cabinet has a counter 24 with a drawer 26 and lower cabinet structure 28. The selection between drawer and cabinet structures is entirely optional.

The sink structure 30 is conventional and divided into a pair of bowls 32 and 34 with a small auxiliary “sink” 36 between the bowls 32 and 34 and the conventional spigot arrangement 38.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the bowls 32 and 34 have drainage outlets 40 connected to flexible pipes 42. The auxiliary sink 36 has a similar flexible drainage pipe 44, all of which converge on a conventional U-trap 46.

The sink structure 30 is supported at each comer by a tubular column 48. A horizontal bar 50 is secured to the end cabinet 12 and a similar bar is similarly placed and secured to the end cabinet 14. The columns 48 are slidable within the bar 50 attached to cabinet 12 and within the bar 52 attached to cabinet 14, as best seen in FIGURE 3. Each of the columns 48 has mounted in its interior and bearing at its upper end on the sink 30 a compression spring 54 which, at its lower end, bears on a transverse pin 56 resting on one of the bars 50 or 52. It will be clear from the foregoing that the sink 30 easily may be raised and lowered manually with only moderate pressure so as to make the sink available to the housewife while she is either in a standing or sitting position.

Near the front panel of the sink 30 are mounted latch buttons 60 and 62. Each of these is connected to a latch rod 64 and each rod is biased inwardly by a compression spring 66 which surrounds the rod 64 and bears against a pin or washer 68 secured to the rod 64, as best seen in FIGURE 4.

The rods 64 are guided in fixtures 70 of which one is secured to the cabinet 12 and the other to the cabinet 14. At its opposite end each rod 64 has a latch member 72, best seen in FIGURE 4.

The members 72 engage in a lower opening 74 or in an upper opening 76 formed in angle irons 78 with one angle iron 78 secured to the cabinet 12 and the other to the cabinet 14. With the latch 72 engaged in either of openings 74 or 76, the sink 30 is locked in either its upper or lower position, depending upon the selection of the openings. Due to the spring 66, the latches engage automatically when an opening is reached and obviously other openings could be provided at intermediate positions. The sink 30 is unlocked simply by simultaneously pulling outwardly on the knobs or handles 60 and 62.

A door 80 is secured to the cabinet 12 and a similar door 82 is similarly hinged or secured to the cabinet 14 so that when the sink is in the upper position shown in FIGURE 1, these doors may be closed to conceal the space below the sink 30. There is thus defined a convenient storage space in which a chair 84 may be stored when the housewife desires to work at the sink while standing up. If the sink chore appears to be prolonged, she may open the doors 80 and 82, withdraw the chair 84 to a convenient position, pull on the latches 60 and 62, and lower the sink to a convenient position from which she can work seated.

While certain specific structures have been described and disclosed herein, it is not intended to limit this invention to the precise details of construction illustrated.