SECONDARY SINK

EVIER ECONOMISANT L'EAU

English Abstract

A water saving apparatus includes a bowl-like container having a open top, a bottom, a
front and a back. The top of the container slopes downwardly from the front to the back
thereof. The container has a pedestal on the bottom thereof and a drain hole in the
bottom extending through the pedestal. A drain pipe extends from the drain hole.There is a fitting for compressing the pedestal against a flat surface. The container may
be flexible, having a suction cup-like pedestal.

French Abstract

Appareil économiseur d'eau comprenant un contenant en forme de cuve, ouvert sur le dessus et muni d'un fond, d'une partie avant et d'une partie arrière. Le dessus du contenant est en pente vers le bas, de sa partie avant vers sa partie arrière. Le contenant comprend un socle, au fond, et un tuyau d'évacuation, au fond, à travers le socle. Le tuyau d'évacuation est raccordé au trou d'évacuation. Une pièce de quincaillerie permet d'installer le socle sur une surface plate, une pression étant exercée sur cette surface par le socle. Le contenant peut être souple, muni d'un socle du type à ventouse.

Claims

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A water saving apparatus, comprising:
a bowl-like container having an open top, a bottom, a front and a back, the top
sloping downwardly from the front to the back thereof, the container having a
pedestal on the bottom thereof and a drain hole in the bottom extending through
the pedestal;
a drain pipe extending from the drain hole;
means for compressingly fitting the pedestal against a flat surface.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has a bowl with a base
having a front, a back and sides, the pedestal extending outwardly beyond the
front, the back and the sides of the base.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drain pipe has exterior threads,
the means for compressingly fitting being a nut received on the threads of the
drain pipe.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drain pipe has a top with a
flange thereon, the container having a recess about the drain hole which closelyreceives the flange.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the drain pipe has a sleeve therein
which extends downwardly from the flange, the sleeve having a screen mounted
therein.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pedestal has a bottom, the means

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including a gasket on the bottom of the pedestal about the drain pipe.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bottom of the pedestal is flat.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, where the container is flexible, the pedestal
having a convex top and a concave bottom, the container having an annular
projection on the bottom thereof about the drain hole and extending away from
the pedestal and having means for releasably connecting the container to the
drain pipe.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for connecting is a
plurality of spaced-apart angular ridges about the projection.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drain pipe has a top with a
flange received adjacent the bottom of the pedestal, exterior threads and a nut
received on the threads.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container has an inside with a
recess extending about the drain hole, a sleeve extending within the recess and a
screen extending across the sleeve.
12. An apparatus for saving water, comprising:
a sink;
a pivotable faucet mounted adjacent the sink;
a bowl-like container positioned within reach of said faucet to divert water from
the sink;

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a closed storage tank; and
a drain connecting the storage tank to the container.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drain has a stackless vent
thereon.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tank has a tank drain connected
thereto.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the drain has an overflow conduit
connected thereto.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the container has an open top, a
bottom, a front and a back, the top sloping downwardly from the front to the
back thereof, the container having a pedestal on the bottom thereof and a drain
hole in the bottom extending through the pedestal.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the container has a base with afront, a back and sides, the pedestal extending outwardly beyond the front, the
back and sides of the base.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the container is wherein the
container is flexible, the pedestal having a convex top and a concave bottom, the
container having an annular projection on the bottom thereof about the drain
hole and extending away from the pedestal and having means for releasably
connecting the container to the drain.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the container is mounted on the sink.

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20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the container is mounted on a
counter adjacent to the sink.

Description

SECONDARY SINK
21219~3
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatuses for saving water normally wasted and, in particular,
to secondary sinks for receiving water normally wasted when a faucet is run prior to
filling a container with drinking water.
It is recognized that a large amount of water is wasted in the average household and this
contributes to the strain on water resources, particularly in water short areas. One
example is the loss of potable water down the drain as the faucet is run prior to filling
a glass or other container with drinking water.
Many different al~palaluses have been developed in the past for purposes of saving
water. For example, United States Patent No. 3,594,825 discloses a water circulation
system for a trailer or boat where water from the shower or basin is directed to a flush
toilet. United States Patent No. 5,228,152 to Fraley shows a water saving toilet and
bathroom fixture system. There is a sink mounted to a fixture base above the toilet tank.
Water f'rom the sink is diverted into the tank.
United States Patent No. 5,165,456 to Woolman shows a diverter apparatus for saving
fresh water wasted when the water is run prior to obtaining hot water for a shower or
the like. A valve is used to accomplish this function.
Chinese Patent 89107088 shows how water from a water-saving pool goes to a separate
reservoir for washing mops of the like.
United States Patent No. 5,073,997 shows a built-in sink including a garbage chute. The
chute is intended for solid waste.
However, the prior art does not reveal a simple inexpensive device which can be readily

- 21219~3
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mounted on or adjacent existing sinks at which is capable of receiving and saving potable
water normally lost down the sewer from the sink.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an illlproved water saving apparatus capable
of being easily mounted adjacent or within existing sinks and which can receive and save
water normally lost down the sink.
10 It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved water saving apparatus which
can be attached to a closed container by a drain and readily sealed against an existing
sink or counter.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an il~lproved water saving apparatus
15 which is low in cost compared with the potential water saved.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an hllproved water saving apparatus
which is rugged and reliable to use.
20 In accordance with these objects, there is provided a water saving apparatus comprising
a container having a bowl with an open top, a bottom, a front and a back and which
slopes duwnwardly from the front to the back thereof. The container has a pedestal on
the bottom thereof and a drain hole in the bottom extending through the pedestal. A
drain pipe extends from the drain hole. There is means for compressingly fitting the
25 pedestal against the flat surface.
Preferably the pedestal extends uulwaldly beyond the front, the back and the sides of the
base of the container.
30 The invention also provides an apparatus for saving water which includes a sink with a

2~219~3
pivotable faucet mounted adjacent the sink. There is a bowl-like container positioned
within reach of the faucet to divert water from the sink. A closed storage tank is
connected to the container by a drain. The container may be mounted in the sink or on
a counter adjacent to the sink.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective, partly schematic view of an apparatus for saving water including
a sink and a faucet shown in broken lines, a container for receiving fresh water normally
10 lost down the sink, a storage tank and a drain connecting the container to the storage
tank;
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the container;
15 Fig. 3 is a top plan of the container;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the container mounted
on a counter; and
20 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing an alternative embodiment of the invention
made of a flexible material and mounted on a sink.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
25 Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a water saving apparatus 10 including a container
12 positioned within reach of a pivotable faucet 14 mounted adjacent a conventional sink
16. In this example the sink 16 has two portions 18 and 20, but the invention isapplicable to all types of sinks. Also in this example the faucet is mounted on the sink
although alternatively the faucet could be mounted on the counter adjacent to the sink.

- 2121943
The container 12 is connected to a drain 22 equipped with a conventional trap 24 and
a stackless vent 26. Such vents are known and are, for example, sold under the trade
mark Pro Vent.
5 The drain is connected to a closed storage tank 28 which has a drain 30 fitted with a
valve 32 and an overflow line 34 on the drain.
Referring to container 12 in more detail, Fig. 2-4 illustrate that the container has a bowl
35 having an open top 36, a bottom 37, a front 40 and a back 42. The container slopes
10 downwardly at the top thereof from the back to the front as best seen in Fig. 4. This
shape tends to conserve more water because the high back catches water splashed by the
faucet.
The container in this embodiment has a pedestal 44 at the bottom 38 of the container
15 12. There is a drain hole 46 in the bottom of the container which extends through the
pedestal. In this embodiment the pedestal has a front 48, a back 50 and sides 52 and 54.
The bowl 35 has a base 58 at bottom 37 above the pedestal having a front 60, a back 62
and sides 64 and 66. It may be seen in Fig. 2 and 4 that the front, back and sides of the
20 pedestal extend oulwardly beyond the front, back and sides of the base in this example.
There is a drain pipe 70 extending from the drain hole 46 duwllw~rdly from the
container. The drain pipe has a top 72 provided with an exterior flange 74. There is an
annular recess 76 inside the container extending about the drain hole 46 which closely
25 receives the flange 74.
The drain pipe 70 has exterior male threads 76, as shown best in Fig. 4, equipped with
a nut 78. In this example the drain pipe extends through an aperture 80 in a convention
kitchen counter 82 adjacent to sink 16. A gasket 84, of rubber or a similar elastomeric
30 substance, is fitted between bottom 86 of the pedestal, which is flat in this example, and

2121943
the top 88 of counter 82. The nut and gasket serves as means for compressingly fitting
the pedestal against the flat surface formed by the top of the counter.
There is a sleeve 90 received within the top of the drain pipe 70. The sleeve has an
exterior flange 92 at the top thereof received within a corresponding annular 93 at the
top of the drain pipe. The sleeve has an interior flange 94 at the bottom thereof. A
screen 96 is fitted on top of the flange 94 and served to keep solids from going down the
drain pipe into the storage tank.
Fig. 5 shows a container 12.1 according to another embodiment of the invention. The
container is generally similar and like numbers are used for like parts with the additional
designation ".1". Whereas container 12 is made of a rigid material, such as rigid plastic,
container 12.1 is made of a flexible material such as a softer, flexible plastic. Such a
material may be prefelled for a number of reasons. For one thing, there is less likely
to be breakage of glasses or the like if they accidentally hit the container, particularly
when used by children. For another thing, this allows the container to be sealingly
mounted without the need of a separate gasket as in the previous embodiment.
In this example a pedestal 44.1 has a convex top 45 and a concave bottom 47. This
allows the pedestal to function in a suction cup-like manner to seal the container against
the flat surface, in this case directly on the sink 16.1. However this embodiment could
also be mounted on the counter as with the previous embodiment.
The container has an annular projection 94 on the bottom thereof extending about drain
hole 46.1 and away from the pedestal 44.1. The projection has means for releasably
connecting the container to drain pipe 70.1. In this instance the means includes a series
of spaced-apart annular ridges 95 extending about the projection 94.
In this example the drain pipe 70.1 has its annular flange 74.1 mounted on the sink 16.1
about opening 98 there through. The nut 78.1 compresses the flange against the top of

21 21~43
the sink with the gasket therebetween. The container is pushed dowllwafdly with the
projection 92 inside the drain pipe until the container is held tightly in place.
In this example the sleeve 90.1 with its screen 96.1 are fitted directly into a
5 corresponding shaped recess about drain hole 46.1 in the container instead of being
fitted within the drain pipe as in the previous embodiment.
It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details described
above are by way of example only and can be deleted or varied without departing from
10 the scope of the invention which is to be interpreted with reference to the following
claims.

Representative Drawing