Portable sinks

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable sink units of par- ⁵ticular utility to campers and to others requiring a sink unit for use in the country or under other circumstances in which a permanent sink is not available.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a |θ portable sink unit which is versatile in use and which can readily be dismantled and reassembled in what is referred to herein as a “stowed disposition” in which it occupies a substantially reduce volume and in which it can consequently be easily transported in an automobile truck or other restricted 15 space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sink unit which can be detachably mounted on a wheeled dolly to facilitate its movement.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a portable 20 sink unit having a water basin which can be adjusted to any one of a number of heights for maximum convenience in use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable sink unit of the aforementioned type and having a built-in electrically operated water pump which can be operated from 25 an existing cigarette lighter receptacle of an automobile.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable sink unit in which various water flow conduits or pipes and an electrical supply cord of such a unit can be accommodated within the unit both conveniently and accessibly when the unit 30 is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broadest scope, the present invention provides a portable sink unit comprising a water tank having a top sur- 35 face supported by sidewalls, a plurality of upstanding support members slidably received within bores extending downwardly within said sidewalls from said top surface of said water tank, said upstanding support members defining at their upper ends a basin-supporting frame, means for releasably en- ⁴θ gaging said upstanding members for maintaining said basinsupporting frame at an adjustable desired height above said water tank, and a water basin having a peripheral flange adapted to be disposed in supported engagement with said basin-supporting frame, and said water basin being adapted ⁴⁵detachably to be held against said top surface of said water tank by disposition of said basin-supporting frame upwardly of said water basin with said upstanding support members extending from said basin-supporting frame downwardly through apertures in said peripheral flange of said water basin and into said bores within said sidewalls of said water tank.

Other objects, features',and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ⁵⁵

The invention will now be described merely by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a portable sink unit in accordance with the present in- 60 vention and showing the unit in its operative assembled configuration and showing in exploded disposition the cover of a compartment which is usefully provided in the unit for housing a water discharge conduit;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the portable sink unit of 65 FIG. 1 showing the unit in its stowed configuration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the electrically operated water pump of the portable sink unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the portable sink 70 unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating in greater detail how the several structural components thereof fit together when the unit is assembled in its stowed configuration; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the portable sink unit generally indicated therein at 10 comprises a water tank generally indicated at 11 and having front and rear walls 12 and 13 respectively and sidewalls 14 and 15. The top surface 16 of the water tank 11 is, in accordance with a useful feature of the invention, provided with an upstanding central portion 17 dimensioned so as to be received within a water-receiving portion 20 of a wash basin or water basin generally indicated at 21 when the latter is disposed in inverted disposition on the top surface 16 of the water tank 11 as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail. The base of the water tank 11 is indicated in the accompanying drawings at 18 while the peripheral rim or flange of the water basin 21 is indicated therein at 19.

The water tank 11 is shown in the accompanying drawings as having a generally rectangular horizontal configuration but it will readily be appreciated that other configurations are equally within the scope of the invention. It should be noted that, when used herein and in the appended claims in this context, the expression “generally rectangular” is intended to include water tanks having generally square horizontal configurations.

Extending downwardly from the top surface 16 of the water tank 11 and in proximity to each corner thereof, there are provided bores 22,23, 24 and 25 within which there are disposed upstanding support members or rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 respectively The rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 are secured at their upper ends to horizontal frame members rods 30, 31, 32 and 33 which define a basin-supporting frame generally indicated at 34 and adapted to support the aforementioned water basin 21 in a manner which will be more fully understood as the description herein proceeds.

Each of the aforementioned bores 22, 23, 24 and 25 is provided with a means for releasably engaging the respective one of the rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 for maintaining the basin-supporting frame 34 and consequently the water basin 21 at an adjustable desired height. In the particular unit shown in the accompanying drawings, each such releasable engaging means comprises a bolt 36 threadingly received within a bore extending through an appropriate one of the walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 Of the water tank 11 for inner terminal engagement with the rod 26, 27, 28 or 29 disposed therein. Two of the bolts 36 can be seen in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with another useful feature of this invention, each of the rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 is formed with longitudinally extending undulations 37 for selective engagement by a respective one of the bolts 36 for the purpose of preventing accidental slipping of the rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 in the respective bores 22, 23,24 and 25.

The portable sink unit 10 is usefully provided with side basins 39 and 40 which have the same general configuration and dimensions as the water basin 21. In the particular unit 10 shown in the drawings, each of the side basins 39 and 40 is provided with a perforated base and is intended for use as a dish drainer. It is equally possible, however, to provide one of these basins with a solid base and a drain hole to allow its use as a rinsing basin and it is also within the scope of the invention to use but a single such side basin or even to dispense with the provision of such side basins completely.

From FIGS. 1 and 4, it will be seen that each of the side basins 39 and 40 has a peripheral rim or flange 41 integrally formed with a pair of hooklike lugs 42 which are received within corresponding slots 43 formed in the peripheral flange 19 of the water basin 21 for support by that flange 19 when the sink unit 10 is assembled in its operative configuration as shown in FIG. 1. When the portable sink unit 10 is to be assembled into its stowed configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the water basin 21 and the side basins 39 and 40 are inverted into nesting disposition against the top surface 16 of the water tank 11 as will best be understood by reference to FIG. 4. It will now be seen that, when the water basin 21 and the side basins 39 and 40 are disposed in such inverted nested disposition as

3,594,830 shown in FIG. 2, the aforementioned upstanding support rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 extend downwardly from the basin-supporting frame 34 through openings 44 provided for this purpose in the peripheral flanges 19 and 41 of the water basin 21 and of the side basins 39,40 respectively.

Further support for the side basins 39 and 40 when they are disposed as shown in FIG. 1 is provided by arms generally indicated 46 which are pivotally mounted for movement between the laterally extended positions shown in FIG. 1 and the retracted positions shown in FIG. 2 in which they are disposed along respective ones of the frame members 30, 31, 32 and 33. To this end, each arm 46 comprises an upper generally horizontal member 47 and a lower sloping member 48 terminally secured to the respective upper member 47. At their inner ends, each of the members 47 and 48 is provided ¹ $ with a collar 49, 50 respectively which collars are rotatably supported around a respective one of the upstanding support rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 fixed collars 51 and 52 respectively secured to the respective upstanding support rod. Small clips 2θ 53 of any appropriate design are usefully provided on the upper members 47 for holding the arms 46 against the respective frame members 30, 31, 32 and 33 when the sink unit 10 is assembled in its stowed configuration as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a threaded ₂5 sleeve 55 is provided in the upstanding central portion 17 of the top surface 16 of the water tank 11. A pump mount generally indicated at 56 externally threaded at 57 and 58 at its upper and lower ends respectively is threadingly received in this sleeve 55 and has a water pump 59 and an electric motor 30 60 housed in recesses 61 and 62 therein. A drive shaft 63 interconnects the motor 60 and the pump 59, In the particular construction shown in FIG. 3, the pump mount 56 comprises a lower member 64, an upper member 65 and an intermediate adapter 66. 35

The lower member 64 of the pump mount 56 carries the thread 58 and includes the housing 61. An axial bore 67 extends upwardly through the member 64 and is provided at its lower end with a male coupling 68 on which a water supply conduit 69 extending downwardly into the water tank 11 is 40 detachably secured. The upper end of the bore 67 is in fluid communication with a water inlet of the pump 59 while a discharge outlet of the pump 59 is in fluid communication with a radial bore 70 extending through the lower member 64 of the pump mount 56. At its radially outer end, the radial ⁴⁵bore 70 is provided with a coupling 71 for the releasable attachment thereto of a water transfer conduit 72 which is provided at its other end with a hooklike end portion 73 for engagement over the flange 19 of the water basin 21 as will best be understood by reference to FIG. 1. Water flow through the ⁵⁰pump 59 is indicated schematically at 74 in FIG. 3 is broken lines. The internal construction of the pump 59 will not be described herein since any suitable pump may be used in the units of the invention.

The upper member 65 of the pump mount 56 carries the thread 57 and includes the motor housing chamber 62. A recess 75 is provided in the upper surface of the upper member 65 and a handle 76 is provided in this recess 75 to permit manual rotation of the pump mount 56. An electrical cord 77 extends radially outwardly from the motor 60 through the body of the upper member 65 below its threaded portion 57. Radial bores 78 are also provided in the top member 65 for the flow therethrough of hot air from the motor 60. The intermediate adapter 66 of the pump mount 56 is provided at its 65 upper and lower ends with peripheral lips 79 which engage corresponding recesses in the upper and lower members 65 and 64 respectively. The component members 64, 65 and 66 of the pump mount 56 are shown in FIG. 4 as being secured together by screws 80. An axial bore 81 in the adapter 66 free- 70 ly accommodates the shaft 63 while radial bores 82 in this adapter 66 permit the flow of cooling air to the motor 60.

It will now be understood that, with the water transfer conduit 72 uncoupled from the coupling 71, the electrical cord 77 may be wound around the pump mount 56 between the upper 75 and lower members 65 and 64 thereof for storage of this cord 77 within the body of the water tank 11.

A recess 83 of appropriate configuration is also provided in the central portion 17 of the top surface 16 of the water tank 5 11 for accommodating the water transfer conduit 72 when not in .use, while a handle 84 is also provided in portion 17 for carrying the water tank 11 with water therein.

The portable sink unit 10 is also provided with a water discharge or waste conduit 85 which is detachably coupled to a water outlet 86 in the base of the water basin 21. When not in use, the conduit 85 can be stowed in a compartment 87 provided within the sidewall 15 of the tank 11. This compartment 87 is provided with clip fasteners 88 and 89 for holding the ends of the waste conduit 85, and a threaded stub shaft 90 is provided centrally of the compartment 87. A flush-fitting compartment cover 91 is retained in position by a wing nut 92 which can be screwed onto the shaft 90,

In accordance with yet another useful feature of this invention, the water tank 11 of the portable sink unit 10 is provided in its sidewall 14 with a second handle 93 by means of which the unit 10 can be carried when it is assembled in its stowed configuration as shown in FIG. 2.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the portable sink unit 10 is provided with a wheeled dolly generally indicated at 94 and on which the water tank 11 is detachably secured and supported. For this purpose, the water tank 11 is provided with generally horizontal pins 96 in proximity to the lower edge of each of its sidewalls 14 and 15. The dolly 94 comprises a first dolly frame 97 having side members 98, transverse members 99 and a curved handle 100. Axially spaced apart ground-engaging wheels 101 are suitably mounted at the lower ends of the side members 98.

A second dolly frame 102 comprising side members 103, transverse members 104, and forwardly disposed ground-engaging supporting legs 105 is pivotally mounted on the first dolly frame 97 for pivotal movement between a forwardly extending position as shown in FIG. 2 and in broken lines in FIG. 4 for supporting the water tank 11 thereon and a retracted position in which it is disposed in substantially the same plane as the first dolly frame 97 by movement in the direction of the arrow ‘A’ of FIG. 4. For this purpose, a main pivot pin 106 is provided near the lower end of each of the side members 97 for extending through an opening 107 formed at the rear end of the respective side member 103 of the second dolly frame 102, a helical compression spring 108 being retained on each pin 106 inwardly of the respective side member 103 by a split pin 109. A second pin 110 is provided near each of the pivot pins 106 for engagement with a second opening 111 provided at the rearward end of the respective side member 103 of the second dolly frame 102 so as to maintain this frame in its extended position as shown in FIG. 2.

A clasp 115 is provided on each of the side members 103 of the second dolly frame 102 for engaging the aforementioned pins 96 so as detachably to hold the water tank 11 in position on this frame 102. Each clasp 115 comprises a hook 16 for engaging the respective pin 96 and each such hook 116 is connected to a helical tension spring 117 which is in turn loosely connected by rings 118 about a respective one of the side members 103 of the second dolly frame 102.

For use, the several structural components of the portable sink unit 10 are assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the water basin 21 and the side basins 39 and 40 being set at the desired height by loosening the bolts 36 and sliding the rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 in the bores 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively and then retightening the bolts 36. Water is pumped as required from the water tank 11 by the pump 59 into the water basin 21 through the water transfer conduit 72. It will readily be appreciated that the transfer conduit 72 can also be used, if desired, to supply rinsing water to the side basins 39 and 40.

Electrical energy is supplied to the motor 60 for driving the pump 59 by the cord 77 which is usefully fitted with a connector-adapter for insertion into an existing cigarette lighter receptacle of an automobile. The use of a battery-operated

3,594,830 motor is not, however, precluded. When it is desired to fill the water tank 11 with water, this may be done by carrying the tank 11 by the handle 84 to a suitable water source, for example, to a spring, stream or well. Alternatively, the water tank 11 may be wheeled on the dolly 94 to avoid the need for manually carrying the tank 11. Yet another possibility is to provide a reversible pump 59 so that such a pump can also be used to pump water into the tank 11.

When it is desired to dismantle the sink unit 10 after use, the transfer conduit 72 is uncoupled from the coupling 71 and disposed in the recess 83. The discharge or waste conduit 85 is similarly uncoupled from the water basin 21 and disposed within the compartment 87 being retained therein by clips 88 and 89. The cover 91 is then secured in position by the wing nut 92.

The electrical cord 77 is then wound around the pump mount 56 in the manner already described and this mount is then screwed into the sleeve 55 by the use of the handle 76. The water basin 21 and the side basins 39 and 40 are then removed from the support frame 34 and the arms 46 respectively and, with the bolts 36 loosened and the supporting rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 temporarily removed from the bores 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively, the basins are inverted and placed in nesting disposition on the top surface 16 of the water tank 11 as will readily be understood by reference to FIG. 4.

The support rods 26, 27, 28 and 29 are then passed through the respective peripheral openings 44 in the basins 21, 39 and 40 and into the respective bores 22, 23, 24 and 25 and again secured in place by the bolts 36. The supporting arms 46 are then pivoted inwardly and secured by means of the clips 53 to respective ones of the frame members 30, 31, 32 and 33 as already explained with reference to FIG. 2.

In its stowed configuration on the dolly 94, the unit 10 can easily be wheeled to an automobile for storage or conveyance in the truck of such an automobile, the water tank 11 then being usefully released from the second dolly frame 102 by unfastening the clasps 115 and the handle 93 then being used for lifting the water tank 11 with the basins 21, 39 and 40 secured thereto into such a truck. To facilitate stowage of the dolly in an automobile trunk, the side members 103 of the second dolly frame 102 are pulled slightly inwardly to disengage the pins 110 from the openings 111 against the actions of the springs 108 to allow the second dolly frame 102 to be pivoted in the direction of the arrow ‘A’ (FIG. 4) substantially into the same plane as the first dolly frame 97.

Although the sink units of the present invention can be manufactured from a wide range of materials, many of the components herein described are usefully formed as moulded items of a suitable plastics material.