Rim overflow

Abstract

A sink assembly provides an enhanced overflow system for an under-counter mountable sink. The sink has an overflow cutout with an open top formed adjacent an upper rim of the basin of the sink. When the sink is mounted to the bottom surface of a counter top, the sink and counter together form an overflow opening, thereby permitting the overflow to be more easily concealed and increasing the fill capacity of the sink. Methods of installing such sink assemblies are also disclosed.

1 . A sink assembly, comprising:
 a counter having a top surface and a bottom surface, with an opening extending through the counter;   an under-counter mountable sink mounted to the bottom surface of the counter about the opening, the under-counter mountable sink having:
 a basin having walls extending from an upper rim down to a drain opening; 
 a drain passage extending from the drain opening; 
 an overflow cutout formed along the upper rim of the basin, the overflow cutout having a lower lip below the upper rim and an open top; and 
 an overflow channel extending from the overflow cutout to the drain passage to place the overflow cutout in communication with the drain passage; 
   wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the counter and the overflow cutout together define an opening of the overflow channel such that if a water level in the basin exceeds the lower lip of the overflow opening, water flows over the lower lip, into the overflow channel, and into the drain passage.   
     
     
         2 . The sink assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the counter serves as a wall of the overflow channel. 
     
     
         3 . The sink assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealant located between the upper rim and the bottom surface of the counter. 
     
     
         4 . The sink assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sealant forms a seal between the upper rim and the bottom surface of the counter. 
     
     
         5 . The sink assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sealant forms a seal between the upper rim and the bottom surface of the counter proximate the overflow channel. 
     
     
         6 . An under-counter mountable sink, comprising:
 a basin having walls extending from an upper rim down to a drain opening;   a drain passage extending from the drain opening;   an overflow cutout formed along the upper rim of the basin, the overflow cutout having a lower lip below the upper rim and an open top; and   an overflow channel extending from the overflow cutout to the drain passage to place the overflow cutout in communication with the drain passage;   wherein the under-counter mountable sink is mountable under a counter and, if so mounted and if a level of water in the basin exceeds the lower lip of the overflow cutout, the water would be able to flow over the lower lip, through the overflow channel, and into the drain passage.   
     
     
         7 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 6 , wherein the under-counter mountable sink comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         8 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the overflow cutout is positioned within one-half inch of the upper rim of the under-counter mountable sink. 
     
     
         9 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 6 , wherein the under-counter mountable sink defines only a portion of the overflow channel, such that the open top can permit a counter to form another part thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 6 , wherein the upper rim has an inner periphery and an outer periphery substantially equally spaced from one another about a perimeter of the upper rim except proximate the overflow channel in which a distance between the inner periphery and the outer periphery is locally decreased to provide the overflow channel. 
     
     
         11 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 6 , wherein a wall of the basin doubles as a wall of the overflow channel. 
     
     
         12 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 6 , wherein the overflow channel in part extends at an angle towards the drain passage. 
     
     
         13 . The under-counter mountable sink of  claim 6 , wherein the overflow channel places the basin in communication with the drain passage below the drain opening. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing an under-counter mountable sink to a counter to form an overflow, the under-counter mountable sink having:
 a basin having walls extending from an upper rim down to a drain opening;   a drain passage extending from the drain opening;   an overflow cutout formed along the upper rim of the basin, the overflow cutout having a lower lip below the upper rim and an open top; and
 an overflow channel extending from the overflow cutout to the drain passage to place the overflow cutout in communication with the drain passage; 
   the method comprising:   mounting the under-counter mountable sink to a bottom surface of the counter such that the bottom surface of the counter and the overflow cutout each define a portion of the overflow opening.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a seal between the counter and the under-counter mountable sink.