Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a sink having at least one
basin and an opening into which a disposal shaft for
conducting waste into a garbage container that is located
below can be inserted so as to be releasable.
Sinks of this kind with an integrated waste disposal shaft
are known in numerous embodiments, for example, in DE-OS 35
01 443 and in DS-PS 36 39 723.
For practical reasons, the disposal shaft should be made as a
releasable insertion element that can be inserted into the
sink from above, so that its upper projecting edge lies on
the sink, whereas its lower end opens out into the garbage
container. This means that the housewife can easily remove
the disposal shaft from the sink and clean off any residual
garbage that has remained on the inside wall of the shaft.
However, this releasable arrangement of the disposal shaft
gives rise to sealing problems on the upper side of the sink,
for, on the one hand, penetration of water into the waste
opening is to be avoided, and on the other, no unpleasant
odours should be allowed to rise from the interior of the
garbage container.
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It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this
` problem. The disposal shaft makes a tight fit in the sink,
although, as was previously the case, it must still be easy
to remove it from the sink.
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According to the present invention there is provided a sink
comprising at least one basin provided with an opening into
which a disposal shaft for the disposal of waste into a
garbage container located below can be inserted so as to be ;
releasable, said sink opening incorporating an annular collar
extending in a peripheral direction and somewhat downwards
from the sink, said collar holding the disposal shaft with no
free play in a radial direction at at least two peripheral
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areas that are spaced apart vertically, a snap connection
being provided between the collar and the disposal shaft,
said snap connection being effective in an axial direction.
This results in the advantage that the area of the sink that
is critical for the passage of water is sealed off not by the
removable shaft, but by the collar that remains in the sink.
~ Thus, it is no longer necessary to pay attention to the
j simple removability of the shaft, but the connection can be
¦ designed between the collar and the sink while considering
! lo only the seal that is to be produced.
1 A further important advantage of the collar lies in the fact
;, that it holds the shaft on its peripheral surface. This
means that it is held in a far more stable fashion within the
sink. The collar serves as a guide when the 6haft is
inserted into the sink, and this simplifies the proper
positioning of the shaft relative to the garbage container, -;
in particular if the lower end of the shaft is to extend into
an opening in said garbage container.
8y doing this, the sliding seat of the shaft is moved from
the area that is vulnerable to moisture and, on the other
hand, one achieves a more stable and tighter guide for the
shaft.
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In the case of stainless steel sinks, it is recommended that
the collar be formed as a separate unit. Preferably, the
2~ collar consists of elastic material so that it will snap into
the opening in the sink and require no additional connecting
~ elements.
.
To this end, the collar can have at its upper end an outer
` groove that can snap into an angled portion of the sink
opening that extends upwards. In order to improve this
sealing effect, the upper face side of this groove extends
obliquely downwards and outwards relative to the surface of
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Z~)~9751
the sink while forming a wedge space opposite the previously
mentioned angled portion . This prevents any liquid rising
by capillary action.
However, within the context of the present invention, the
collar can also be formed in one piece with the sink. This
is recommended particularly in the case of plastic sinks,
when the collar can be moulded or cast directly onto the
sink.
In both these cases, it is recommended that at least at its
lower end the collar taper inwards locally and then enclose
the disposal shaft. The collar can then be in the form of a
lip that surrounds the disposal shaft elastically.
Finally, it is possible that at its upper outer periphery
also serves the collar as an inner sliding guide for a cover
that can be installed on it.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of
;~ example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 is a front view of a built-in sink with the
associated cupboard beneath it; and
Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross section that shows the
i mounting of the di~posal shaft in the sink.
The sink, which is referenced 1, incorporates a basin 2 and -
to the left of this a smaller flat depression 3 and to the -~
right of this an opening 4 for the disposal shàft. A collar ~ ~
;; S is installed in the opening 4 (this will be described in ~-
detail below). This in turn supports the disposal shaft 6.
` The disposal shaft opens through an opening 7 in a cover 8
~ into a garbage container 9.
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In the course of the attempted separation of waste into
composting kitchen waste, on the one hand, and such waste as
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is destined for the garbage can, on the other, the sink
preferably has two disposal shafts located one behind the
other and which open out into separate sections of the
garbage container 9.
Reference is made to figure 2 to show the sealed installation
of the disposal shafts in the sink. Figure 2 shows the
I collar 5 as a separate structural element that, because of
i its elasticity, can snap into the opening 4 in the sink. To
this end, the collar 5 has a projecting upper edge and
beneath this a groove 10 that encloses an angled portion at
the edge of the opening 4. The shape and dimensions of this
groove are so selected that once the angled edge of the
opening of the sink has snapped into position, it is seated
firmly and tightly in the opening. At its lower end the
collar 5 continues in the shape of a lip 5a that is turned
inwards, whereas it has an inner groove 5b at the top. These
two areas lie closely against the disposal shaft 6 to hold it
in position.
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In addition, the groove 5b is undercut so that the angled`~ 20 upper edge of the disposal shaft snaps into the groove 5b.
Of course, the collar 5 could lie against the shaft 6 to its
whole length. The removal of the shaft is simplified,
however, if it is enclosed only locally by the collar.
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Finally, the opening can be closed by a cover 11 that is
indicated by the dashed line. This cover has edges that are
curved downwards and these enclose the collar 5 and thus seal
the opening 4 tightly. A recess grip lla makes it simpler to
raise the cover.
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Figure 2 shows clearly that the upper edge of the protective
shaft 6 that is difficult to seal has been removed from the
water carrying portion of the sink. Instead of this, the
sink opening is formed by a firmly mounted and
correspondingly tight element, namely the collar 5. At the
same time, the collar 5 acts as a secure mounting for the
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disposal shaft 6.
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