Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
IPL-0041-CA
FARMHOUSE SINK SYSTEM WITH A RIMLESS METALLIC SINK AND METHOD
OF FORMING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a farmhouse style sink system
incorporating a rimless
metallic sink that is significantly more durable and hygienic as compared to
traditional
farmhouse sink systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Farmhouse sink systems include a farmhouse sink frame having a sink
basin incorporated
therein, wherein the farmhouse sink frame is typically mounted below a
countertop, flush with
the top of an underlying cabinet or cabinets, thereby providing the unique
"farmhouse" look and
feel. Traditionally, farmhouse sink systems are formed from any number of
materials of
construction including, but not limited to, fireclay, cast iron, porcelain,
quartz, granite, or marble,
just to name a few. As is well known in the art, over time, the materials
typically used to
construct farmhouse sink systems are susceptible to chipping, cracking, etc.
Furthermore, a
number of these materials are notorious for being difficult to thoroughly
clean due to the
somewhat irregular surface condition on the inside of the farmhouse sink
basin.
[0003] In a typical installation of a farmhouse sink system, an opening is
created in a cabinet or
cabinets which is dimensioned to receive a farmhouse sink frame therein. The
supporting
framework is secured to portions of the cabinet or cabinets adjacent to the
opening created to
receive the farmhouse sink frame. The supporting framework is positioned such
that the top
surface of the farmhouse sink frame is in line and level with the top surface
of the cabinet or
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cabinets. It is also typical for a farmhouse sink frame to include an apron
which extends
outwardly from the front face of the cabinet or cabinets.
[0004] Next, and access opening corresponding generally to the dimensions of
the farmhouse
sink basin is created through a portion of a countertop. Silicone sealant is
applied between the
interface along the lower surface of the countertop and the top surface of the
farmhouse sink
frame. The silicone sealant is typically fully cured in about 24 hours, after
which time a faucet,
drain, and any other plumbing appurtenances are installed to the farmhouse
sink frame, and a
typical farmhouse sink system is ready for use.
[0005] As noted above, the materials typically used to construct farmhouse
sink systems are
susceptible to chipping, cracking, etc., and a number of these materials are
difficult to thoroughly
clean due to the somewhat irregular surface condition on the inside of the
farmhouse sink basin.
As such, it would be highly beneficial to provide a farmhouse sink system
which combines the
highly desired aesthetic appeal of the "farmhouse" sink style with a stainless-
steel sink basin for
substantially improved durability and hygiene. A further advantage may be
realized by
providing an improved farmhouse sink system having a farmhouse sink frame
which is
constructed of a lightweight and durable material.
[0006] It would also be extremely beneficial to provide a system to retrofit
an existing farmhouse
sink system with a rimless metallic, e.g., stainless steel or copper, sink
basin to overlie and
conceal a damaged original farmhouse sink basin, thereby substantially
improving durability and
hygiene of the existing farmhouse sink system. It would also be advantageous
to provide a new
farmhouse sink system having typical materials of construction, such as, but
not limited to,
fireclay, cast iron, porcelain, quartz, granite or marble, which further
comprises a rimless
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metallic sink basin, once again, to substantially improve durability and
hygiene of the new
farmhouse sink system.
[0007] Those known farmhouse sink systems also fail to combine the classic
beauty of the
farmhouse kitchen sinks with a more modern, easy to maintain, and more
structurally stable
metallic washbasin.
[0008] Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as
discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention provides a farmhouse sink system with a rimless metallic
sink that
overcomes the herein fore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known
devices and
methods of this general type and that includes a recessed mounting flange that
rests on a
substantially rigid, e.g., stainless steel, frame which sits on stone
footings. A stone box is then
dropped on to the sink structure and adhered on with acrylic liquid bonding
agents. The rimless
edge of the stainless-steel sink is preferably not flush with the stone box
top surface, but rather it
is recessed under a lip around stone box.
[0010] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in
accordance with the
invention, a farmhouse sink system with a rimless metallic sink having a
cabinet assembly with a
lower support surface, a countertop having an upper surface, a lower surface
coupled to the
cabinet assembly, and defining a sink access opening therethrough and spanning
to the lower
support surface of the cabinet assembly. Further, the invention includes a
farmhouse sink frame
having a sidewall with a top surface at least partially superimposed by and
mounted below the
lower surface of the countertop, with a lower surface opposing the top surface
of the sidewall of
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the farmhouse sink frame, defining a sink frame access opening therethrough,
and an upper lip
extending laterally inward toward the sink frame access opening on at least
two opposing sides
of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame. The assembly also includes a
metallic sink disposed
within the sink frame access opening, having a sidewall coupled to a bottom
wall to define, with
an inner sidewall surface of the sidewall of the metallic sink, at least one
bowl. The metallic sink
includes a mounting flange member laterally extending outwardly from an outer
sidewall surface
of the sidewall of the metallic sink, and having a rimless upper edge disposed
along and around
the sidewall of the metallic sink and superimposed by the upper lip of the
farmhouse sink frame.
A sink mounting frame assembly may be utilized that includes a metallic lower
horizontally
oriented frame member disposed proximal to the lower support surface of the
cabinet assembly
and a longitudinally oriented metallic frame member separating and vertically
displacing, with
respect to the lower horizontally oriented frame member, an upper horizontally
oriented metallic
frame member directly coupled to the mounting flange member.
[0011] In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the
upper horizontally
oriented metallic frame member is coupled to the sidewall and upper lip of the
farmhouse sink
frame through an adhesive bonding layer, thereby forming a unitary structure.
[0012] In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the
adhesive bonding
layer surrounds at least a portion of the upper horizontally oriented metallic
frame member and
the mounting flange member. The adhesive bonding layer may also be directly
coupled to a
lower surface of the upper lip and is of thickness of approximately 1-2
inches.
[0013] In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present
invention includes the
upper lip having an inner periphery surface at least partially defining the
sink access opening,
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wherein the upper lip defines a lip channel spanning inwardly into the upper
lip from the inner
periphery surface and haves the rimless upper edge disposed therein.
[0014] In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the
mounting flange
member extends continuously around a circumference of the outer sidewall
surface of the
.. sidewall of the metallic sink.
[0015] In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the upper
horizontally
oriented metallic frame member encloses and defines an upper frame aperture
with the metallic
sink disposed therein and with the mounting flange member seated around a
perimeter of the
upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member.
[0016] In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the
mounting flange
member is recessed uniformly below the rimless upper edge.
[0017] In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the
lower support surface of
the cabinet assembly supports at least 90% of an overall weight defined by the
farmhouse sink
frame, metallic sink, and metallic sink mounting frame assembly.
[0018] In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present
invention also
includes a plurality of support footings directly coupled to the lower
horizontally oriented frame
member and directly coupled to the lower support surface of the cabinet
assembly.
[0019] In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the
plurality of support
footings are of a substantially rigid material and selectively translatably
coupled to the lower
.. horizontally oriented frame member.
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[0020] In accordance with an exemplary feature of the present invention, the
upper lip is
disposed at an upper terminal edge of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame
and includes the
top surface of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame that continuously
surrounds an upper
periphery of the farmhouse sink frame.
[0021] In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the
sidewall encloses the
bottom wall defining the at least one bowl. Additionally, the metallic sink
may be either of a
stainless steel or copper material.
[0022] Also in accordance with the present invention, a farmhouse sink system
with a rimless
metallic sink is disclosed that includes a farmhouse sink frame having a
sidewall with a top
surface for mounting underneath a lower surface of a countertop, with a lower
surface opposing
the top surface of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame, defining a sink
frame access opening
therethrough, and an upper lip extending laterally inward toward the sink
frame access opening
on at least two opposing sides, of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame.
The assembly may
also include a metallic sink disposed within the sink frame access opening,
having a sidewall
coupled to a bottom wall to define and enclose, with an inner sidewall surface
of the sidewall of
the metallic sink, at least one bowl, having a mounting flange member
laterally extending
outwardly from an outer sidewall surface of the sidewall of the metallic sink,
and having a
rimless upper edge disposed along and around the sidewall of the metallic sink
and superimposed
by the upper lip of the farmhouse sink frame. The assembly may also include a
sink mounting
frame assembly with a metallic lower horizontally oriented frame member and a
longitudinally
oriented metallic frame member separating and vertically displacing, with
respect to the lower
horizontally oriented frame member, an upper horizontally oriented metallic
frame member
directly coupled to the mounting flange member, wherein the upper horizontally
oriented
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metallic frame member is coupled to the sidewall and upper lip of the
farmhouse sink frame
through an adhesive bonding layer, thereby forming a unitary structure.
[0023] Also in accordance with the present invention, a method of forming a
farmhouse sink
system with a rimless metallic sink is disclosed that includes the steps of
placing a top surface of
a sidewall of a farmhouse sink frame adjacent to a support surface, the
farmhouse sink frame
having a lower surface opposing the top surface of the sidewall of the
farmhouse sink frame and
vertically displaced a length from the support surface, defining a sink frame
access opening
therethrough, and an upper lip extending laterally inward toward the sink
frame access opening
on at least two opposing sides of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame,
the upper lip having a
lower surface. Next, a user may insert the rimless upper edge of a sidewall of
a metallic sink,
rimless upper edge first, into the sink frame access opening until reaching
the lower surface of
the upper lip to define a periphery channel, wherein the sidewall of the
metallic sink is coupled
to a bottom wall to define and enclose, with an inner sidewall surface of the
sidewall of the
metallic sink, at least one bowl, and have a mounting flange member laterally
extending
outwardly from an outer sidewall surface of the sidewall of the metallic sink,
wherein the rimless
upper edge is disposed along and around the sidewall of the metallic sink. The
process may also
include inserting an upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member of a
sink mounting frame
assembly, upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member first, into the
sink frame access
opening until reaching a lower surface of the mounting flange member and to
surround the outer
surface of the metallic sink, wherein the sink mounting frame assembly has a
metallic lower
horizontally oriented frame member and a longitudinally oriented metallic
frame member
separating and vertically displacing, with respect to the lower horizontally
oriented frame
member. The upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member and/or the sink
mounting
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frame assembly may have a plurality of support footings each directly coupled
to the lower
horizontally oriented frame member and each having a terminal end surface
defining a support
plane disposed and opposing the top surface of a sidewall of a farmhouse sink
frame. Next,
process would include inserting a malleable adhesive material into the
periphery channel and
around the outer sidewall surface of the sidewall of the metallic sink and an
inner surface of the
sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame and then allowing the malleable adhesive
material to cure,
harden, and form an adhesive bonding layer coupling the upper horizontally
oriented metallic
frame member and the sidewall and upper lip of the farmhouse sink frame,
thereby forming a
unitary structure.
[0024] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied
in a farmhouse
sink system and method of forming the same, it is, nevertheless, not intended
to be limited to the
details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made
therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of
equivalents of the
claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the
invention will not
be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant
details of the invention.
[0025] Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention
are set forth in the
appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed
herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are
merely exemplary of
the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
structural and
functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
merely as a basis for
the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in
the art to variously
employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
structure. Further, the terms
and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to
provide an understandable
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description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims
defining the features
of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention
will be better
understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction
with the drawing
figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of
the drawings are
not drawn to scale.
[0026] Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be
understood that the
terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not
intended to be limiting. The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are defined as
one or more than
one. The term "plurality," as used herein, is defined as two or more than two.
The term
"another," as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms
"including" and/or
"having," as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The
term "coupled,"
as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly,
and not necessarily
mechanically. The term "providing" is defined herein in its broadest
sense, e.g.,
bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to
someone or
something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
Also, for purposes of
description herein, the terms "upper", "lower", "left," "rear," "right,"
"front," "vertical,"
"horizontal," and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in
the figures and is not to
be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said
orientation may be
changed based on the user's perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is
no intention to be
bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical
field,
background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
[0027] As used herein, the terms "about" or "approximately" apply to all
numeric values,
whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of
numbers that one of
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skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having
the same function or
result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to
the nearest
significant figure. In this document, the term "longitudinal" should be
understood to mean in a
direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the farm farmhouse sink
system spanning
from a top surface of the sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame to the lower
surface of the
sidewall of the farmhouse sink frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to
identical or
functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together
with the detailed
description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification,
serve to further illustrate
various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in
accordance with the
present invention.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of a
farmhouse sink system
with a rimless stainless-steel sink in accordance with the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment of a
farmhouse sink system with a rimless stainless-steel sink in accordance with
the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of a
stainless-steel sink in
accordance with the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 3B is a top view of one illustrative embodiment of a stainless-
steel sink in
accordance with the present invention.
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[0033] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of a
stainless-steel sink
seamlessly mounted in a farmhouse sink frame in accordance with the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 5 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the stainless-steel
sink and the
farmhouse sink frame of FIG. 4.
[0035] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the stainless-steel sink mounted
in the farmhouse
sink frame of FIG. 5.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of one illustrative embodiment
of a stainless-steel
sink mounted in a farmhouse sink frame in accordance with the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of one alternative illustrative
embodiment of a
farmhouse sink system with a rimless stainless-steel sink in accordance with
the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrative of one method for the
installation of a farmhouse
sink system with a rimless stainless-steel sink in accordance with the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 10 a fragmentary perspective view of a cabinet assembly having a
farmhouse sink
system with a rimless metallic sink coupled thereto in accordance with one
embodiment of the
present invention.
[0040] FIG. 11 an exploded view of the farmhouse sink system with the rimless
metallic sink
coupled thereto in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
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[0041] FIG. 12 a sectional view of the farmhouse sink system with the rimless
metallic sink
coupled to a cabinet assembly and countertop in accordance with one embodiment
of the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 13 a perspective bottom view of the farmhouse sink system with the
rimless
metallic sink coupled thereto in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0043] FIG. 14 a partially exploded view of the rimless metallic sink and the
sink mounting
frame assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 15 a sectional view of the farmhouse sink system with the rimless
metallic sink
coupled thereto and disposed in an installation configuration and position in
accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 16 a process flow diagram depicting a method of forming a
farmhouse sink system
with a rimless metallic sink in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of
the invention that
are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better
understood from a
consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing
figures, in which like
reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments
are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
[0047] The present invention is directed to a farmhouse sink system with a
rimless stainless-steel
sink generally as shown as at 10 throughout the figures. With reference to the
illustrative
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embodiment of FIG. 1, a farmhouse sink system with a stainless-steel sink 10
includes a cabinet
assembly 15 and a countertop 20. As further shown in the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 1, a
farmhouse sink system with the stainless-steel sink 10 further includes a
farmhouse sink frame
30 having a stainless-steel sink 40 seamlessly installed therein. With
continued reference to the
illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1, the farmhouse sink frame 30 is operatively
disposed between
the cabinet assembly 15 and a sink access opening 26 through the countertop 20
and below an
upper surface 22 thereof, in accordance with known installation methods as
discussed above with
regard to the related art.
[0048] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment of a
farmhouse sink system with the stainless-steel sink 10 in accordance with the
present invention.
As may be seen from FIG. 2, countertop 20 has a sink access opening 26 formed
there through.
In at least one embodiment, a sink access opening 26 comprises a generally U-
shaped
configuration. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a sink
access opening 26 may be
dimensioned so as to align with an outer periphery 49 of a bowl 42 of a
stainless-steel sink 40.
Alternatively, a sink access opening 26 may be dimensioned slightly larger
than an outer
periphery 49 of a bowl 42 of a stainless steel sink 40 such that a portion of
a top surface 32 of a
farmhouse sink frame 30 is exposed and forms a lip or ledge around the outer
periphery 49 of the
bowl 42 of the stainless steel sink 40, such as is shown in the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0049] Looking once again to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, the
farmhouse sink system
with a rimless stainless-steel sink 10 further comprises a farmhouse sink
frame 30. As shown in
the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2, the farmhouse sink frame 30 is
affixed to a lower
surface 24 of the countertop 20 proximate to a sink access opening 26. As will
be appreciated by
those of skill in the art, a farmhouse sink frame 30 in accordance with the
present invention may
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be formed from any number of materials of construction including, but not
limited to, fireclay,
cast iron, porcelain, quartz, granite or marble, just to name a few. In at
least one embodiment, a
farmhouse sink frame 30 in accordance with the present invention is formed of
acrylic. The
interface between the lower surface 22 of the countertop 20 and the top
surface 32 of the
farmhouse sink frame 30 may be sealed with any appropriate water-resistant
sealant such as, by
way of example only, silicone.
[0050] As further shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, a stainless-
steel sink 40 is
under mounted into a farmhouse sink frame 30. A mounting assembly 50
comprising at least one
mounting bracket 52 is affixed to the sidewall 46 of the stainless-steel sink
40 below a rimless
upper edge 48 thereof. The at least one mounting bracket 52 is utilized to
under mount the
stainless-steel sink 40 to the farmhouse sink frame 30.
[0051] Turning next to FIG. 3A, a perspective view of one illustrative
embodiment of a
stainless-steel sink 40 in accordance with the present invention is shown. A
stainless-steel sink
40 includes at least one bowl 42 having a drain 44 disposed through a lower
surface thereof. As
will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, and as illustrated in FIG.
3B, a stainless-steel sink
40 could comprise a plurality of bowls 42 separated from one another via a
recessed divider 43,
each bowl 42 having a corresponding drain 44. Looking further to the
illustrative embodiment of
FIG. 3A, the stainless-steel sink 40 comprises a sidewall 46 at least
partially defining the
configuration of the bowl 42. The sidewall 46 of the stainless-steel sink 40
has a rimless upper
edge 48 disposed there around, the rimless upper edge 48 defining an outer
periphery 49 of the
stainless-steel sink 40.
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[0052] With continued reference to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3A, a
mounting
assembly 50 is affixed to a portion of the stainless steel sink 40 to
facilitate mounting the
stainless steel sink 40 into the farmhouse sink frame 30, as described in
further detail below. A
mounting assembly 50 in accordance with the present invention comprises at
least one mounting
bracket 52 affixed to a portion of the sidewall 46 of the stainless-steel sink
40. As shown in the
illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3A, the mounting assembly 50 comprises a
single continuous
mounting bracket 52 extending around the entire sidewall 46 of the stainless-
steel sink 40. As
will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a plurality of mounting
brackets 52 independent of
one another may be affixed to different portions of the sidewall 46 of the
stainless steel sink 40,
in lieu of the single continuous mounting bracket 52 as shown throughout the
figures. As further
shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3A, a mounting bracket 52 is
affixed to the
sidewall 46 of the stainless-steel sink 40 at a predetermined mounting depth
54 below the rimless
upper edge 48 of the stainless steel sink 40. More in particular, a
predetermined mounting depth
54 shall be equal to the thickness of a sink mounting aperture 36 formed
between a top surface
and an interior bottom surface 34 of a farmhouse sink frame 30 as discussed in
further detail
below. In at least one embodiment, a predetermined mounting depth 54 has a
tolerance of
between 0.0 and -1.0 millimeters.
[0053] Turning next to FIGS. 4-7, one illustrative embodiment of a farmhouse
sink frame 30
having a stainless-steel sink 40 seamlessly installed therein is presented.
More in particular, FIG.
4 is illustrative of one embodiment of a stainless-steel sink 40 seamlessly
installed in a
farmhouse sink frame 30. As may be seen from FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, a rimless
upper edge 48 of
the stainless-steel sink 40 is essentially coplanar with a top surface 32 of
the farmhouse sink
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frame 30. FIG. 4 further illustrates a farmhouse sink frame 30 having an apron
38 extending
outwardly from the stainless-steel sink 40 along the front of the farmhouse
sink frame 30.
[0054] FIG. 5 is an exploded bottom perspective view of a stainless-steel sink
40 and a
farmhouse sink frame 30 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
present invention.
As an initial matter, as may be seen from the illustrative embodiment of FIG.
5, a farmhouse
sink frame 30 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present
invention comprises a
recessed interior bottom surface 34 and an exterior bottom surface 35. A sink
mounting aperture
36 is formed through the interior bottom surface 34 of the farmhouse sink
frame 30. More in
particular, a sink mounting aperture 36 comprises an inner periphery 37 which
is dimensioned to
correspond to the outer periphery 49 along the rimless upper edge 48 of the
sidewall 46 of the
stainless-steel sink 40. In at least one embodiment, the tolerance between an
inner periphery 37
of a sink mounting aperture 36 of a farmhouse sink frame 30 and an outer
periphery 49 along a
rimless upper edge 48 of the stainless steel sink 40 is less than 1.0
millimeter.
[0055] As further illustrated in FIG. 5, a mounting assembly 50 comprises a
continuous
mounting bracket 52 is affixed around and encircling the entire sidewall 46 of
the stainless-steel
sink 40. Turning next to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 6, the mounting
bracket 52 abuts
against the interior bottom surface 34 of the farmhouse sink frame 30.
[0056] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of one illustrative embodiment
of a stainless-steel
sink 40 mounted in a farmhouse sink frame 30 in accordance with the present
invention. As may
be seen from FIG. 7, a portion of a mounting assembly 50, i.e., a mounting
bracket 52, is
securely attached to a portion of a sidewall 46 of a stainless-steel sink 40.
It will be appreciated
by those of skill in the art that a mounting bracket 52 may be securely
attached to a sidewall 46
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of a stainless steel sink 40 by any of a variety of means including but not
limited to welding,
adhesives, such as, by way of example only, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin
or a polyester resin,
or via mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. It will
further be appreciated that a
combination of means may be employed in order to further assure that a
mounting bracket 52 is
securely attached along and around a sidewall 46 of a stainless-steel sink 40.
As will be further
appreciated by those of skill in the art, a mounting bracket 52 may be
securely attached to a
sidewall 46 of a stainless steel sink 40 prior to delivery to an installation
site, however,
alternatively, one or more mounting bracket 52 may be securely attached to a
sidewall 46 of a
stainless steel sink 40 at the installation site during installation of the
present farmhouse sink
system with a rimless stainless steel sink 10.
[0057] With further reference to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 7, a
portion of a mounting
bracket 52 is securely attached to a portion of the interior bottom surface 34
of the farmhouse
sink frame 30. As before, any of a variety of appropriate attachment means may
be utilized to
securely attach a portion of a mounting bracket 52 to the interior bottom
surface 34 of the
farmhouse sink frame 30, such as an adhesive including, by way of example
only, an acrylic
resin, an epoxy resin or a two-part epoxy resin. In such an embodiment, the
adhesive is permitted
to flow through the apertures through the mounting bracket 52 and onto the
underside of a
portion of the mounting bracket 52 to further facilitate securely attaching
the mounting bracket
52 to the interior bottom surface 34 of the farmhouse sink frame 30. In at
least one other
embodiment, a mechanical fastener 58, such as a screw or bolt, is utilized in
order to securely
attach a portion of a mounting bracket 52 to the interior bottom surface 34 of
the farmhouse sink
frame 30. In at least one embodiment, a mounting clip (not shown) may be
utilized in
combination with a mechanical fastener 58. As will be appreciated by those of
skill in the art, a
17
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combination of an adhesive and a mechanical fastener 58 may be utilized in
order to further
assure that a mounting bracket 52 is securely attached to the interior bottom
surface 34 of the
farmhouse sink frame 30.
[0058] Looking again to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 7, a farmhouse
sink system with a
rimless stainless-steel sink 10 in accordance with the present invention
further comprises a
sealing assembly 60. The sealing assembly 60 includes an upper seal 64 which
is applied along
and around the upper interface 62 between the inner periphery 37 of sink
mounting aperture 36
of the farmhouse sink frame 30 and the outer periphery 49 around and along the
rimless upper
edge 48 of the sidewall 46 of the stainless steel sink 40. In one embodiment,
the upper seal 64
comprises an adhesive, such as, by way of example only, an acrylic resin, an
epoxy resin or an
epoxy glue which is securely bonded to both the farmhouse sink frame 30 and
the stainless steel
sink 40, thereby providing an essentially impervious seal over and along the
upper interface 62.
In an alternate embodiment, the upper seal 64 comprises a polyester resin to
securely bond to
both the farmhouse sink frame 30 and the stainless-steel sink 40, once again,
providing an
essentially impervious seal over and along the upper interface 62. In further
embodiments, the
upper seal 64 comprises an adhesive such as, by way of example, an acrylic
casting resin, a
polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, an epoxy resin or an epoxy glue, or
combinations thereof.
As will be appreciated, the upper seal 64 will serve to prevent water,
moisture, bacteria, food,
and/or other debris such as may be encountered in a sink environment from
entering into the area
between the farmhouse sink frame 30 and the stainless steel sink 40, in
particular, into and
through the upper interface 62 there between. In at least one embodiment, an
upper seal 64 may
be sanded or ground down as needed to remove any rough edges or overspills so
as to assure a
seamless interface between the inner periphery 37 of the sink mounting
aperture 36 of the
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farmhouse sink frame 30 and the outer periphery 49 around and along the
rimless upper edge 48
of the sidewall 46 of the stainless steel sink 40.
[0059] In at least one further embodiment, a top coat 65 is applied to the
upper seal 64 wherein
the top coat 65 is selected based on the color of the top surface 32 of the
farmhouse sink frame
.. 30 so as to camouflage the presence of the upper seal 64. The top coat 65,
in at least one
embodiment, comprises a color matching acrylic, epoxy or polyester resin
selected to simulate
the color of the top surface 32 of the farmhouse sink frame 30. In yet one
further embodiment,
the upper seal 64 and/or top coat 65 may be further finished by sanding,
buffing, etc., so as to
further camouflage the presence of the upper seal 64, thereby enhancing the
overall seamless
appearance between the stainless steel sink 30 and the farmhouse sink frame 30
along the upper
seal 64, such as is shown best in FIG. 1.
[0060] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of one alternative illustrative
embodiment of a
farmhouse sink frame 30 with a rimless stainless-steel sink 40 in accordance
with the present
invention. Unlike the illustrative embodiments of the present invention as
shown in the preceding
figures, the embodiment of FIG. 8 comprises a top mounted rimless stainless-
steel sink 40. As
before, the stainless-steel sink 40 comprises a sidewall 46 at least partially
defining a bowl 42,
wherein the bowl has a drain 44 disposed along a lower portion thereof. Also
as before, the
stainless-steel sink 40 has a rimless upper edge 48 which at least partially
defines an outer
periphery 49 around the sidewall 46 of the stainless-steel sink 40.
[0061] Turning next to the farmhouse sink frame 30 of the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 8, as
before, the farmhouse sink frame 30 has a top surface 32 and, in at least one
embodiment, an
apron 38. The farmhouse sink frame 30 in accordance with the embodiment of
FIG. 8 has a
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recessed interior bottom surface 34', however, unlike the prior embodiments of
the present
invention, the interior bottom surface 34' is accessible through the top of
the farmhouse sink
frame 30. Further, the sink mounting aperture 36' which is at least partially
defined by inner
periphery 37' is configured in the shape of a sink basin. As before, a
farmhouse sink frame 30
may be constructed of any of a number of materials of constructions including,
but not limited to,
fireclay, cast iron, porcelain, quartz, granite, or marble, just to name a
few. In at least one
embodiment, a farmhouse sink frame 30 is constructed of an acrylic or other
engineered plastic
material.
[0062] To effect installation, a bonding agent is applied to the interior
bottom surface 34' and
along the sidewalls of the farmhouse sink frame 30, and the stainless steel
sink 40 is inserted
through the sink mounting aperture 36' until the rimless upper edge 48 of the
stainless steel sink
40 is substantially coplanar with the top surface 32 of the farmhouse sink
frame 30. Any voids
between the upper rimless edge 48 of the stainless-steel sink 40 and the top
surface 32 of the
farmhouse sink frame 30 are filled in with boning agent. As before, after the
bonding agent fully
cures, sanding or grinding may be utilized to remove any rough edges or
overspills, so as to
assure a seamless interface between the upper rimless edge 48 of the stainless
steel sink 40 and
the top surface 32 of the farmhouse sink frame 30.
[0063] As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the top mounted
rimless stainless-steel
sink 40 in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 8 may be
utilized to retrofit an
existing farmhouse sink. In particular, in at least one embodiment, the
farmhouse sink frame 30
in accordance with the alternative illustrative embodiment of FIG. 8 comprises
a used farmhouse
sink basin 30. As before, a farmhouse sink may be constructed of any of a
number of materials of
constructions including, but not limited to, fireclay, cast iron, porcelain,
quartz, granite, or
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marble, just to name a few. After years of use, the interior surfaces of a
farmhouse sink shown
signs of wear, sometimes even forming cracks and leaks. As such, the present
invention may be
utilized to revitalize and even repair an existing farmhouse sink via a top
mounted rimless
stainless-steel sink 40 sized for insertion and secure installation into an
existing farmhouse sink
basin 30.
[0064] As noted above, the present invention further comprises a method for
the installation of a
farmhouse sink system having a stainless-steel sink. More in particular, and
with reference to the
illustrative embodiment of FIG. 9, the present invention comprises a method
the installation of a
farmhouse sink system having a stainless-steel sink, generally as shown as at
100.
[0065] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention,
the present method
100 comprises fabricating a stainless-steel sink with a rimless upper edge
110, wherein the
rimless upper edge defines an outer periphery there around. The present method
100 further
comprises creating a sink mounting aperture through a farmhouse sink frame 120
between a top
surface and an interior bottom surface, wherein the sink mounting aperture
comprises an inner
periphery dimensioned to receive an outer periphery of a rimless upper edge of
a stainless steel
sink therein.
[0066] With reference to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 9, the present
method 100 also
comprises positioning at least one mounting bracket at a predetermined
mounting depth 130
below the rimless upper edge of the stainless-steel sink. In at least one
embodiment of the
present method 100, a mounting bracket comprises a continuous mounting bracket
which
completely encircles a sidewall of the stainless-steel sink. In at least one
further embodiment, the
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present method 100 comprises positioning a plurality of mounting brackets at a
predetermined
mounting depth 130 below the rimless upper edge of the stainless-steel sink.
[0067] The present method 100 further includes securely attaching at least one
mounting bracket
to the sidewall of the stainless-steel sink 140, wherein the at least one
mounting bracket is
positioned a predetermined mounting depth below the rimless upper edge of the
stainless-steel
sink. In one further embodiment, the present method 100 comprises securely
attaching a plurality
of mounting brackets to the sidewall of the stainless steel sink 140, wherein
each of the plurality
of mounting brackets is positioned a predetermined mounting depth below the
rimless upper
edge of the stainless steel sink.
[0068] As may be seen from FIG. 9, the present method 100 also includes
inserting the rimless
upper edge of the stainless-steel sink through the interior bottom surface of
the farmhouse sink
frame and into the sink mounting aperture 150. In accordance with one further
embodiment of
the invention, the present method 100 includes securing the stainless-steel
sink to the interior
bottom surface of the farmhouse sink frame via at least one mounting bracket
160.
[0069] With reference once again to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 9, the
present method
100 further comprises applying an upper seal along an upper interface 170,
wherein the upper
seal is disposed between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink
and the inner periphery
of the sink mounting aperture through the farmhouse sink frame. The upper seal
prevents water,
moisture, bacteria, and debris from entering between the rimless upper edge of
the stainless-steel
sink and the farmhouse sink frame.
[0070] In at least one further embodiment, the present method 100 comprises
applying a top coat
over the upper seal 180, so as to camouflage the presence of the upper seal.
The top coat, in at
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least one embodiment, comprises a color matching acrylic, epoxy or polyester
resin selected to
simulate the color of the top surf ace of the farmhouse sink frame.
[0071] Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made
to the describe
embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing
description and
shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense.
Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims
and their legal
equivalents.
[0072] Specifically, with reference to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the
present invention is
shown coupled with an existing cabinet assembly 1004 and countertop 1006
having many of the
same, if not identical, features and functional described above. More
specifically, the cabinet
assembly 1004 may include a lower support surface 1210 and a plurality of
cabinets with doors
coupled thereto. The countertop 1006 includes an upper surface 1008, a lower
surface 1200
coupled to the cabinet assembly 1004, and defines a sink access opening 1202
therethrough and
spanning to the lower support surface 1210 of the cabinet assembly 1004. The
farmhouse sink
system 1000 with a rimless metallic sink 1002 is coupled to the cabinet
assembly 1004 and
countertop in a beneficial way that reduced the stress and other forces
subjected on the
countertop 1006 or adjacent structure of the cabinet assembly 1004 supporting
the countertop
1006
[0073] FIGS. 11-12 depict an exploded and sectional view of the sink assembly,
respectively.
Said figures, along with the others depicted herein, show several advantageous
features of the
present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be
provided in several
shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers
and functions of
the components. When installed on the cabinet assembly 1004 and countertop
1006, the
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IPL-0041-CA
farmhouse sink frame 1010 includes a sidewall 1012 with a top surface 1014 at
least partially
superimposed by and mounted below the lower surface 1200 of the countertop
1006. In some
embodiments, the top surface 1014 of the sidewall 1012 may be visible from an
overhead view
of the farmhouse sink frame 1010 when installed. With reference to FIGS. 11-
13, the sidewall
1012 includes a lower surface 1300 opposing the top surface 1014 of the
sidewall 1012 of the
farmhouse sink frame 1010 and defines a sink frame access opening 1100
therethrough. As
discussed above, the farmhouse sink frame 1010 may be beneficially of a
material such as
quartz, natural stone, etc., i.e., different than the metallic sink 1002. The
sink frame access
opening 1100 may be partially or completely enclosed. The farmhouse sink frame
1010
beneficially includes an upper lip or flange 1204 extending laterally inward
toward and
terminating in the sink frame access opening 1100 on at least two opposing
sides 1206, 1208 of
the sidewall 1012 of the farmhouse sink frame 1010. In one embodiment, the
upper lip 1204 is
disposed at an upper terminal edge of the sidewall 1012 of the farmhouse sink
frame 1010 and
includes the top surface 1014 of the sidewall 1012 of the farmhouse sink frame
1010. Further,
the upper lip 1204 may continuously surrounds an upper periphery or
circumference of the
farmhouse sink frame 1010. The lower surface 1300 of the sidewall 1012 of the
farmhouse sink
frame 1010 may continuously surrounds the lower periphery of the farmhouse
sink frame 1010
and may define a planar surface that is configured to be flush with or
proximal to (i.e., at or
within 1-2 inches) a portion of the cabinet assembly 1004 (as depicted in FIG.
10).
[0074] Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the metallic sink 1002 is disposed within the
sink frame access
opening 1100, having a sidewall 1016 coupled to a bottom wall 1018 to define,
with an inner
sidewall surface 1024 of the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002, one or
more bowls 1020.
The sidewall 1016 may encloses the bottom wall 1018 and define the one or more
bowls. As
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IPL-0041-CA
discussed above, the bottom wall 1018 may define a drain (centrally or
otherwise located
thereon) that is operably couplable to a plumbing assembly. The metallic sink
1002 is
beneficially of a durable, resilient, substantially rigid, and/or water-
resistant material such as a
stainless steel or copper material. As used herein, the term "wall" is
intended broadly to
encompass continuous structures, as well as separate structures that are
coupled together so as to
form a substantially continuous external surface.
[0075] The metallic sink 1002 beneficially includes a mounting flange member
1026 laterally
extending outwardly from an outer sidewall surface 1028 of the sidewall 1016
of the metallic
sink 1002. In one embodiment, the mounting flange member 1026 may extend
continuously (or
discontinuously) around a circumference or perimeter of the outer sidewall
surface 1028 of the
sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002. The mounting flange member 1026 may
also be
partially located and disposed on two opposing sides of the sidewall 1016 of
the metallic sink
1002.
[0076] The metallic sink 1002 also includes a rimless upper edge 1022 (as
shown in the figures)
disposed along and around the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002 and that
is beneficially
superimposed by the upper lip 1204 of the farmhouse sink frame 1010. In one
embodiment, the
mounting flange member 1026 is recessed uniformly below the rimless upper edge
1022, e.g., a
distance of approximately 1-3 inches. In some embodiment, the mounting flange
member 1026
is located proximal to the rimless upper edge 1022. The mounting flange member
1026 may be
pre-formed with the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002 or may be directly
coupled thereto
using mechanical methods such as fasteners or welding. In one embodiment, the
upper lip 1204
includes an inner periphery surface 1114 at least partially defining the sink
access opening 1202,
whereby the upper lip 1204 defines a lip channel 1214 (approximately of a
depth matching the
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IPL-0041-CA
thickness of the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002). The lip channel
1214 may span
inwardly into the upper lip 1204 from the inner periphery surface 1114 and
have the rimless
upper edge 1022 disposed therein, thereby giving an outer appearance that
discreetly conceals
the rimless upper edge 1022.
[0077] Beneficially and with reference to FIGS. 11-14, the assembly may
utilize a sink
mounting frame assembly 1102. In one embodiment, the sink mounting frame
assembly 1102
may consist of a plurality of frame members that are substantially rigid and
may be separately
formed and coupled together or uniformly and pre-formed together. For example,
the sink
mounting frame assembly 1102 may include a metallic lower horizontally
oriented frame
member 1104 disposed proximal (as defined above) to the lower support surface
1210 of the
cabinet assembly 1004 and a longitudinally oriented metallic frame member 1106
separating and
vertically displacing, with respect to the lower horizontally oriented frame
member 1104, an
upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member 1108 that is directly
coupled to the mounting
flange member 1026. In one embodiment, the metallic lower horizontally
oriented frame
.. member 1104 encloses and defines a lower frame aperture 1120 and may
include one or more
lateral support frame elements 1302, 1304 that flank and provide access to the
drain 1406.
[0078] The upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member 1108 may also
enclose and define
an upper frame aperture 1116 for the metallic sink 1002 to be received and
disposed therein. As
seen best in FIG. 12, the mounting flange member 1026 is seated around a
perimeter of the
upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member 1108. As such, the weight of
the metallic
sink 1002 may be principally supported by the sink mounting frame assembly
1102 and, if
utilized, one or more support footings 1112a-n that may be directly coupled to
the lower
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horizontally oriented frame member 1104 or other part of the sink mounting
frame assembly
1102.
[0079] More specifically, as best seen in FIGS. 11-14, the one or more support
footings 1112a-n
may be directly coupled to the lower support surface 1210 of the cabinet
assembly 1004, which
.. takes the weight of the metallic sink 1002 and other components of the
assembly. As such, the
plurality of support footings 1112a-n are of a substantially rigid material
operably configured to
withstand the weight of the metallic sink 1002 and other components of the
assembly without
failure, e.g., stainless steel, ceramic, stone, etc. In one embodiment, the
lower support surface
1210 of the cabinet assembly 1004 supports at least 90% of an overall weight
(e.g.,
approximately 80-1001bs) defined by the farmhouse sink frame 1010, metallic
sink 1002, and
metallic sink mounting frame assembly 1102. The lower support 1210 may be
material forming
the enclosed cabinet floor, 2x4 (or other dimension) wood plank, etc.
[0080] The plurality of support footings 1112a-n may be coupled or fastened to
and/or
selectively translatably coupled to the lower horizontally oriented frame
member 1104 using one
.. or more fastener(s) (as depicted best in FIG. 11). In some embodiments, the
plurality of support
footings 1112a-n may be movable up and down longitudinally using a tongue-and-
groove
coupling configuration.
[0081] Referring back to FIGS. 11-12, the upper horizontally oriented metallic
frame member
1108 can be seen as coupled to the sidewall 1012 and upper lip 1204 of the
farmhouse sink frame
1010 through an adhesive bonding layer 1110, thereby forming a unitary
structure, i.e., said
structures move as one unit. The adhesive bonding layer 1110 may surround at
least a portion of
the upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member 1108 and the mounting
flange member
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1026. Further, the adhesive bonding layer 1110 is directly coupled to a lower
surface 1212 of
the upper lip 1204 and is of thickness of approximately 1-2 inches. Therefore,
an inventive and
effective system for utilizing a farmhouse sink system with a rimless metallic
sink has been
disclosed and depicted.
__ [0082] FIG. 11 and FIG. 15 will be described in conjunction with the
process flow chart of FIG.
16. Although FIG. 16 shows a specific order of executing the process steps,
the order of
executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain
embodiments. Also,
two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with
partial
concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted in FIG. 16
for the sake of
brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps included in
FIG. 16 can be
combined into a single process.
[0083] More specifically, a method of forming a farmhouse sink system 1000
with a rimless
metallic sink 1002 is disclosed in FIG. 16 that begins at step 1600 and
immediately proceeds to
the step 1602 providing and placing the top surface 1014 of a sidewall 1012 of
a farmhouse sink
frame 1010 adjacent to a support surface 1500. Said another way and as
depicted best in
comparison to FIG. 11, the assembly is formed by first inverting the farmhouse
sink frame 1010
180 relative to its installed position. The farmhouse sink frame has a lower
surface 1300
opposing the top surface 1014 of the sidewall 1012 of the farmhouse sink frame
1010 and
vertically displaced a length from the support surface 1500, defining a sink
frame access opening
__ 1100 therethrough, and an upper lip 1204 extending laterally inward toward
the sink frame
access opening 1100 on at least two opposing sides 1206, 1208 of the sidewall
1012 of the
farmhouse sink frame 1010, wherein the upper lip 1204 has a lower surface
1212.
28
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IPL-0041-CA
[0084] Next, the process moves to step 1604 of inserting a rimless upper edge
1022 of a sidewall
1016 of a metallic sink 1002, rimless upper edge 1022 first, into the sink
frame access opening
1100 until reaching the lower surface 1212 of the upper lip 1204 to define a
periphery channel
1508. The periphery channel 1508 may completely surround the perimeter of the
sidewall 1016
of the metallic sink 1002 or may be located on one or more sides thereof. The
sidewall 1016 of
the metallic sink 1002 is coupled to a bottom wall 1018 to define and enclose,
with an inner
sidewall surface 1024 of the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002, at least
one bowl 1020, and
has a mounting flange member 1026 laterally extending outwardly from an outer
sidewall
surface 1028 of the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002. The rimless upper
edge 1022 may
be disposed along and around the sidewall 1016 of the metallic sink 1002 or
otherwise as
described above.
[0085] Next, the process moves to step 1606 of inserting an upper horizontally
oriented metallic
frame member 1108 of a sink mounting frame assembly 1102, upper horizontally
oriented
metallic frame member 1108 first, into the sink frame access opening 1100
until reaching a lower
surface 1502 of the mounting flange member 1026 and to surround the outer
surface 1028 of the
metallic sink 1002. As seen best in FIG. 14, a significant portion or
longitudinal length of the
sink 1002 extends or is otherwise disposed through both the upper frame
aperture 1116 and the
lower frame aperture 1120. The sink mounting frame assembly 1102 has a
metallic lower
horizontally oriented frame member 1104 and a longitudinally oriented metallic
frame member
1106 separating and vertically displacing, with respect to the lower
horizontally oriented frame
member 1104, wherein the upper horizontally oriented metallic frame member
1108 and the sink
mounting frame assembly 1022 may have a plurality of support footings 1112a-n
each directly
coupled to the lower horizontally oriented frame member 1104. The one or more
support
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IPL-0041-CA
footing(s) 1112a-n may each have a terminal end surface 1506 defining a
support plane 1504
disposed and opposing the top surface 1014 of a sidewall 1012 of a farmhouse
sink frame 1010.
In one embodiment, four support footings 1112a-n are utilized and may be
adjustable or set to a
particular height of the overall assembly that allows the top surface 1014 of
a sidewall 1012 of a
farmhouse sink frame 1010 to be flush with the underneath surface of the
countertop.
[0086] Next, the process to step 1608 of inserting a malleable adhesive
material 1110 (as
discussed above, e.g., liquid acrylic, epoxy, or another type of bonding age)
into the periphery
channel 1508 and around the outer sidewall surface 1028 of the sidewall 1016
of the metallic
sink 1002 and an inner surface 1118 of the sidewall 1012 of the farmhouse sink
frame 1010. The
thickness of the periphery channel 1508 may vary but may be approximately 1-3
inches in length
uniformly spanning around the outer sidewall surface 1028 of the sidewall
1016. While still
inverted in the position shown in FIG. 15, the malleable adhesive material is
allowed to cure,
harden, and form an adhesive bonding layer 1110 coupling the upper
horizontally oriented
metallic frame member 1108 and the sidewall 1012 and upper lip 1204 of the
farmhouse sink
frame 1010, thereby forming a unitary structure. The unitary structure is then
ready for
installation as described above without damaging or transferring significant
weight to the
countertop. The edges where the top surface 1014 of a sidewall 1012 of a
farmhouse sink frame
1010 meet the countertop or cabinet may be finished off with a sealing
material, such as
caulking.
[0087] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary
embodiments
discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For
example, while the
embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this
disclosure also
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includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments
that do not
include all of the above described features. The invention is defined by the
claims.
31
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