Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02948407 2016-11-08
Adapter Device for a Sink
Specification
The invention relates to an adapter device according to Claim 1 for creating a
support for at least
a first basin with certain first dimensions, preferably standard dimensions,
in or on a second
basin with second dimensions differing from the first dimensions.
The invention furthermore relates to the combination of a cited adapter device
and at least a first
basin as well as to a sink with at least one sink basin and with such a
combination.
Normalized containers, so-called gastro-norm or GN-containers are widely used
in the food
industry and which make possible a simple exchange of food containers by the
using of
normalized sizes. Such containers are used in particular in food-processing
operations as well in
large kitchens. They are based on a standard which was determined in 1964 by
the Swiss Union
for Hospital-, Home- and Common Gastronomy and the Swiss Hotel Operators'
Union. The
cited containers are especially suited for preparing hot and cold foods, but
also for storing and
removing foods. Cf., for example, the entry in the
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastro-Norm for more
properties of GN containers and their dimensions.
When such containers are used in celebrations or the like even in the private
area, the problem
regularly results that traditional (kitchen) sinks are not adapted to the
normalized dimensions of
the containers. It is therefore usually not possible to suspend a GN container
for example into the
sink basin of a traditional kitchen sink in order to clean it, fill it or to
preserve food (for example
soup). However, it can hardly be expected for private persons to keep
additional, specially
designed kitchen furniture which is compatible with the normalized outer
dimensions of the GN
containers already for reasons of space.
The invention has the basic problem of helping to make it possible to use GN
containers even in
the private area without having to permanently keep special kitchen devices
with the
corresponding place requirement to this end.
This problem is solved by the invention by an adapter device with the features
of Claim 1, by a
combination with the features of Claim 13 and by a sink with the features of
Claim 14.
Advantageous further developments of the adapter device according to the
invention constitute
subject matter of subclaims.
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The invention suggests an adapter device for creating a support for at least
one basin with certain
first dimensions, preferably normalized dimensions, in or on a second basin
preferably a sink
basin, with second dimensions deviating from the first dimensions, which
adapter device
comprises:
- at least two support elements parallel to one another;
- at least two connecting elements which connect the support elements
transversely to
the longitudinal extension with one another;
which connecting elements can be modified in their longitudinal extension,
wherein a given
maximum longitudinal extension of the connecting elements defines a first
distance between the
support elements which is adapted to the first dimensions so that the first
basin can be placed by
one of its edges onto the support elements.
A combination according to the invention and consisting of an adapter device
(according to the
invention) and at least one first basin, preferably in the shape of a GN shell
or of aa GN container
provides that the first basin can be suspended or is suspended between the
support elements of
the adapter device.
A sink according to the invention with at least one sink basin and with a
combination according
to the invention is distinguished in that a dimension of the sink basin
forming the second basin
corresponds approximately to a length of the support elements so that the
adapter device can be
deposited or is deposited with facing ends of the support elements or with the
connecting
elements in opposing edge areas of the sink basin.
Therefore, it is possible by using the adapter device according to the
invention to suspend a first,
preferably normalized basin into one or on a second basin which is preferably
a sink basin of a
traditional kitchen sink, even though the second basin has per se dimensions
which are not
compatible with the dimensions of the first basin. To this end the adapter
device is constructed in
such a manner that in the case of a given, maximum longitudinal extension of
the connecting
elements a first distance is defined between the support elements which is
adapted to the
(normalized) first dimensions of the first basin. In this manner the first
basin can be set by its
edge onto the support elements. Since the connecting elements are constructed
to be modifiable
in their longitudinal extension, in addition to the described state of maximum
longitudinal
extension a smaller, folded-together state can also be realized in which the
adapter device of the
invention can be put away or stored in a space-saving manner when it is not
needed.
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The adapter device of the invention can be readily adapted to a plurality of
existing, traditional
kitchen sinks by an appropriate dimensioning of the connecting elements and
support elements,
wherein the only requirement is that the latter have at least one sink basin
whose inside
dimensions are large enough to receive at least one type of GN container.
A first further development of the adapter device of the invention provides
that the support
elements are constructed as support rods. These support rods can have a round
cross section
without the invention being limited to such a construction of the support
elements.
It proved to be advantageous if two support elements are present per side of
the adapter device
which can extend parallel to one another. In particular, such a design
contributes to the stability
of the adapter device.
It can be provided in another construction of the adapter device of the
invention that given
maximum longitudinal extension of the connecting elements the support elements
are arranged in
a plane.
In order to ensure the most place-saving storage of the adapter device when
not in use, another
further development provides that a preferably minimum longitudinal extension
of the
connecting elements which is reduced in comparison to the maximum longitudinal
extension of
the connecting elements defines a second distance between the support
elements. This second
distance can be a minimum distance in which the support elements are minimally
separated from
each other in order to make possible an especially space-saving storage.
An especially advantageous further development of the adapter device of the
invention provides
that the connecting elements are formed by a number of chain links. The chain
links can be
connected to each other by pairs in an articulated manner, for example by
providing appropriate
bolts or pins, wherein the cited support elements can be arranged on the
terminal chain links. It
proved to be especially advantageous if the chain links are constructed to be
substantially plane
on their free outer sides on which they enter in contact with the sink.
It proved to be advantageous for the striven-for, most space-saving storage of
the adapter device
if the chain links lie flat always in pairs on each other with their
particular free outer sides with
the cited, second distance between the support elements. This results in an
optimal space-saving
arrangement.
As already mentioned, the adapter device is not limited to an embodiment of
the connecting
elements in the manner of linked chains. Alternatively, it can be provided,
for example, that the
connecting elements are formed from a number of telescopable, i.e., which can
be pushed
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together, and preferably rigid individual elements. The adapter device can be
reduced in size and
stored when not being used even in this manner.
Alternatively, it can also be provided that the connecting elements are
constructed in the manner
of slidable lattice grates which can assume a first, extended state and a
second, contracted state in
order to realize the two usage states of the adapter device.
Alternatively, it can also be provided that the connecting elements are formed
from individual
elements which can be connected, especially inserted, clamped or locked to
each other. In this
manner adapter devices can be realized which can be modified between a first
usage state and a
second, space-saving storage state.
The connecting elements can basically also be designed as simple slack,
bending elements such
as bands or the like.
In order to protect the sink material and/or to create the most advantageous
friction bearing
possible, another further development of the adapter device of the invention
can provide that the
connecting elements comprise a substantially continuous coating at least on
one of their support
surfaces, which is preferably constructed at least at the maximum longitudinal
extension of the
connecting elements. The coating can be formed from an elastic material such
as rubber or the
like.
As was already indicated above, an extremely preferred further development of
the adapter
device of the invention is distinguished in that the cited first distance
between the support
elements is formed in such a manner that a GN shell or GN container can be
suspended by its
edge between the support elements.
Accordingly, a combination of the invention consisting of an adapter device
and at least one first
basin, preferably a GN shell or a GN container provides that the shell or
container can be or is
suspended between the support elements.
It is accordingly provided in a sink of the invention with at least one sink
basin and with a
previously cited combination that a dimension of the sink basin forming the
second basin
corresponds approximately to a length of the support elements, optionally with
the addition of a
projecting length, so that the adapter device can be or is placed in opposing
edge areas of the
sink basin.
It can be provided in a further development of this idea that the sink
comprises a step in the cited
edge areas of the sink basin in the area of which step the adapter device with
its connecting
elements can be placed. In this connection it is merely required that the
adapter device
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CA 02948407 2016-11-08
corresponds, as regards the length of its support elements and the combined
dimension of the
cited length of the support elements and the width dimension of the connecting
elements which
optionally follows on both sides, to a corresponding inner dimension of the
sink basin.
It can also be optionally be provided in this connection that given the
connecting elements, the
support elements arranged between them can be replaceable, for example,
detachable-pluggable.
The connecting elements must be adapted, as regards their maximum longitudinal
extension, to a
corresponding dimension of the (standardized) first basin. The adaptation to a
certain second
basin (the sink basin) results via the (inner) length of the support elements.
In this manner an
adaptation of the adapter device to almost any sinks can take place via the
relatively simply
constructed support elements.
Other properties and advantages of the invention result from the following
description of
exemplary embodiments using the drawings.
Figure 1 shows an adapter device according to the invention in its
unfolded state
with maximum longitudinal extension of the connecting element;
figure 2 shows the cooperation of the adapter device of figure 1
with basins with
different dimensions;
figure 3 shows the usage of the adapter device according to the
invention from
figure 1 with a kitchen sink; and
figure 4 shows the adapter device from figure 1 in its collapsed
state.
Figure 1 shows an adapter device according to the invention which is
designated in its entirety
with the reference numeral 1. Figure 1 comprises different views of the
adapter device 1, namely,
a first side view a), a second side view b) and a top view c). The adapter
device 1 serves to create
a support for at least a first basin with certain first dimensions, which
first basin is preferably a
standardized basin or a shell, which is shown in more detail in figures 2 and
3. The preferred
location of the support to be created is a second basin, in particular a sink
basin, for example, a
kitchen sink which second basin comprises dimensions deviating from the
dimensions of the first
basin, wherein the cited dimensions of the second basin are in particular
greater than
corresponding dimensions of the first basin.
To this end the adapter device 1 comprises at least two parallel support
elements for the first
basin, which support elements are designated in figure 1 by reference numerals
2a to 2d and can
be readily recognized in particular in illustration lc). In the embodiment
shown the support
elements 2a to 2d are support rods with a round cross section which can be
constructed, for
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CA 02948407 2016-11-08
example, from high-grade steel. According to the view in figure lc two support
elements 2a, 2b
and 2c, 2d are provided per side of the adapter device 1 which extend parallel
to each other. As
results in particular from the views in figure la and figure lb. the support
elements 2a to 2d in
the shown, folded-out state of the adapter device I are arranged in a common
plane.
Connecting elements 3a, 3b are provided between the support elements 2a to 2d
transversely to
their longitudinal extension and connect the support elements 2a to 2d to each
other. As already
results from the fact that figure 1 shows the folded-up state of the adapter
device, the connecting
elements 3a, 3b are constructed so that they can be modified in their
longitudinal extension,
wherein the given maximum longitudinal extension of the connecting elements
3a, 3b shown in
figure 1 defines a first distance A between the support elements 2a, 2b and
2c, 2d, which distance
A is adapted to the cited, first dimensions of the first basin, so that the
(not shown) first basin can
be placed by its edge on the support elements 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d. This will be
discussed in more
detail further below.
According to figure lc the cited, first distance A is defined between the
particular inner support
elements 2b and 2c but without such a definition being obligatory. In
practice, the first distance
A defines a free distance in which area a placed-on first basin can extend
through the adapter
device I. The basin edge then lies in the area of the support elements 2a, 2b
and 2c, 2d and can
extend, for example, into the intermediate space between the support element
pairs 2a, 2b and 2c,
2d.
As can be readily gathered in particular from figure I a, the connecting
elements 3a, 3b are
formed in the embodiment shown from a number of chain links 3c to 3e of which
only a few are
explicitly designated for reasons of clarity. Adjacent chain links 3c to 3e
are connected to each
other in an articulated manner by pins or bolts 3f, which will not be further
discussed in detail
here. As can also be seen in particular from figures la and 1 c, the chain
links 3c are constructed
to be relatively longer and wider in comparison to the chain links 3d, wherein
the chain links 3d
are received between front continuations 3g of the longer chain links 3c. The
already mentioned
pins or bolts 3f are also present in this area. Furthermore, the longer chain
links 3c comprise
projections 3h on their outer sides relative to the entire device 1, the
function of which
projections will be discussed in detail further below.
Due to the relative movability of the chain links 3c, 3d, the already
mentioned ability to modify
the connecting elements 3a, 3b in their longitudinal extension results, which
will be discussed in
more detail further below using figure 4.
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The already mentioned terminal chain links 3e are those chain links on which
the support
elements 3a, 3b and 3c, 3d are arranged. As figures la) and lb) furthermore
show, the chain
links 3c, 3d, 3e and therefore also the support elements 3a, 3b are formed
substantially plane on
their free outer sides (above and below in figure 1a), b)) and on their free
outer side in order to
define a plane support surface in this manner.
The already mentioned terminal chain links 3e comprise the cited frontal
projections 3g only on
one side, in which area they are connected to an adjacent chain link 3d. On
the other side the
chain links 3e are rounded off and formed without the cited projections and
therefore form the
closure of the connecting elements 3a, 3b.
Figure 2 shows in several partial illustrations a) to c) how the adapter
device 1, described in
detail using figure 1, cooperates in its folded-out state with a first basin 4
which first basin 4 is
preferably a GN container (GN: Gastro-Norm).
As results in particular from figure 2a), the cited, first interval A between
the support elements
2b, 2c is selected so that the container 4 can fit between them with its
standardized (longitudinal)
dimension and rests with its circumferential edge 4a on the support elements
2a, 2b and 2c, 2d. A
length L (cf. figure 2b) of the support elements 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d and
therefore of the inside
distance between the connecting elements 3a, 3b is selected in such a manner
that first basins 4
with different widths can be received in the adapter device 1, as shown in
comparison to figures
2a) to 2c). In figure 2c) a relatively narrow GN container 4 is suspended in
the adapter device 1.
The GN container 4 according to figure 2a) is constructed to be wider in
contrast thereto and the
GN container 4 according to figure 2b) extends substantially over the entire
width of the adapter
device 1 between the connecting elements 3a, 3b.
Figure 3 shows how the adapter device 1 is preferably used in a traditional
kitchen sink 5, which
kitchen sink 5 is let into a work plate 6 in a known manner. The sink 5
comprises in addition to a
fitting bed 5a along with fitting 5b and a drip area Sc, in the present case
an individual sink basin
5d with runoff 5e. The sink basin 5d has regular dimensions which are not
compatible with the
(standardized) dimensions of the GN container 4 (cf. figure 3b)). In order to
create help here, the
adapter device 1 is deposited on or placed on the upper edge of the sink basin
5d by one of the
flat support sides of the connecting elements 3a, 3b in the area of an
(optional) step 5f so that the
support elements 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d bridge the sink basin 5d. Then, the GN
container 4 can be
suspended in-between so that it ¨ in spite of the incompatible dimensions ¨ is
arranged in the
area above the sink basin 5d, for example, for filling or cleaning purposes.
It is merely required
in this connection, and to coordinate the adapter device I as regards the
length (cf. figure 2b)) of
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the support elements 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d with the corresponding dimensions of
the sink basin 5d to
¨ optionally provide the already mentioned step 5f on the sink 5. This
coordination can take
place either in that a correspondingly constructed adapter device 1 is
provided for a given sink 5
or it can be alternatively provided ¨ and not limited to the special design
according to figure 1 ¨
-- that the chain link 3e receiving the elements 2a to 2d is designed in such
a manner that the
support elements 2a to 2d are detachably inserted in it in order to be able to
adapt the adapter
device 1 to different sink dimensions.
Given an appropriate dimensioning of the adapter device 1, the side
projections 3h (cf. figure 1)
serve for the lateral fixing of the adapter device 1 to the sink 5 in the area
of the discussed step
-- 5f.
It can be appropriate, separately from the concrete design of the adapter
device 1 according to
figure I, to provide at least the connecting elements 3a, 3b in the area of
the surfaces at which
they interact with the sink 5 with a preferably elastic coating, for example,
a rubber coating in
order to protect the sink material and to create an optional frictional
pairing.
-- In conclusion, the figure 4 with partial illustrations a) to d) shows the
adapter device 1 according
to figure 1 in a second, folded-up state in which it can be stored and stowed
in an especially
place-saving manner when it is not needed. In figure 4 all elements of the
adapter device 1 are
provided with the same reference numerals as in figure 1, so that a detailed
description is no
longer required.
-- As can be readily gathered from figure 4, it is possible as a result of the
articulated connection of
the chain links 3c to 3d to place them on one another in a paired and space-
saving manner (cf. in
particular figure 4c)), which brings about the already-mentioned space-saving
storage state. In
this manner a minimum longitudinal extension of the connecting elements which
is reduced
compared to the maximum longitudinal extension of the connecting elements
according to figure
-- 1 is achieved, which simultaneously defines a second distance between the
support elements 2a,
2b and 2c, 2d wherein the support elements 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d are minimally
separated from each
other.
As a person skilled in the art readily recognizes, figure 4a shows the adapter
device 1 in a top
view while figures 4b and 4c show different side views of the adapter device
I. Figure 4d is an
-- isometric view of the adapter device 1.
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