Magnetic sink accessory system

Abstract

A magnetic sink accessory system for use with a sink having interior and exterior surfaces. The magnetic sink accessory system includes a ferromagnetic accessory belt configured to be disposed at least partially surrounding the exterior surface of the sink. The accessory belt includes an elongate flexible band and a plurality of ferritic metal pieces disposed in spaced relation along at least a portion of the flexible band so as to allow for the accessory belt to conform to contours of the exterior surface of the sink. The system includes a magnetic accessory attachment device including a body and a magnet disposed within the body such that when the body is placed near the interior surface of the sink in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic accessory belt, the magnet draws the body against the interior surface of the sink due to a magnetic attraction between the magnet and the accessory belt.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A magnetic sink accessory system for use with a sink having interior and exterior surfaces, the magnetic sink accessory system comprising:
 a ferromagnetic accessory belt configured to be disposed at least partially surrounding the exterior surface of the sink, the accessory belt including an elongate flexible band and a plurality of ferritic metal pieces disposed in spaced relation along at least a portion of the flexible band so as to allow for the accessory belt to conform to contours of the exterior surface of the sink; and   a magnetic accessory attachment device including a body and a magnet disposed within the body such that when the body is placed near the interior surface of the sink in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic accessory belt, the magnet draws the body against the interior surface of the sink due to a magnetic attraction between the magnet and the accessory belt.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory belt further comprises an adhesive strip having a first adhesive side adhered to at least one of the plurality of metal pieces and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory belt further comprises an adhesive strip having a first adhesive side adhered to the flexible band and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible band further comprises a first adhesive side adhered to the plurality of metal pieces and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , further comprising a covering tape adhered to the accessory belt so as to overlap the accessory belt, the covering tape configured to secure the accessory belt to the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 5 , wherein the covering tape is made from a sealing material so as to substantially prevent moisture from reaching the accessory belt. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory belt is configured to fully surround the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic element connected to opposite ends of the accessory belt so as to create a closed loop with the elastic element and the accessory belt, the elastic element configured to resiliently hold the accessory belt against the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tension spring assembly including first and second tensioning straps connected by an elastic element, the first tensioning strap connected to a first end of the accessory belt, and the second tensioning strap connected to a second end of the accessory belt so as to create a closed loop with the tension spring assembly and the accessory belt, wherein the elastic element is configured to resiliently hold the accessory belt against the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the magnetic accessory attachment device has first and second external surfaces, and wherein the magnet is configured to draw the first external surface against the interior surface of the sink due to the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the accessory belt, and the magnet is configured to draw the second external surface against a non-magnetized ferromagnetic portion of a sink accessory so as to removably attach the magnetic accessory attachment device to the sink accessory. 
     
     
         11 . A ferromagnetic accessory belt for use with a sink having interior and exterior surfaces, the ferromagnetic accessory belt comprising:
 an elongate flexible band configured to be disposed at least partially surrounding the exterior surface of the sink;   a plurality of ferritic metal pieces disposed along at least a portion of the flexible band, the flexible band forming a connection between adjacent metal pieces;   wherein the plurality of ferritic metal pieces are disposed in spaced relation to one another so as to allow the flexible band to conform to contours of the exterior surface of the sink, and wherein the plurality of ferritic metal pieces are configured to provide a magnetic attraction to a magnetic accessory attachment device disposed on the interior surface of the sink.   
     
     
         12 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive strip having a first adhesive side adhered to at least one of the plurality of metal pieces and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink. 
     
     
         13 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive strip having a first adhesive side adhered to the flexible band and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink. 
     
     
         14 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible band further comprises a first adhesive side adhered to the plurality of metal pieces and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink. 
     
     
         15 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 11 , further comprising a covering tape adhered to at least one of the flexible band or the plurality of metal pieces so as to overlap the flexible band or the plurality of metal pieces, the covering tape configured to secure the accessory belt to the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         16 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 15 , wherein the covering tape is made from a sealing material so as to substantially prevent moisture from reaching the flexible band and the plurality of metal pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 11 , further comprising an elastic element connected to either end of the flexible band so as to create a closed loop with the elastic element and the flexible band, the elastic element configured to resiliently hold the accessory belt against the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         18 . The ferromagnetic accessory belt of  claim 11 , further comprising a tension spring assembly including first and second tensioning straps connected by an elastic element, the first tensioning strap connected to a first end of the flexible band, and the second tensioning strap connected to a second end of the flexible band so as to create a closed loop with the tension spring assembly and the flexible band, wherein the elastic element is configured to resiliently hold the accessory belt against the exterior surface of the sink. 
     
     
         19 . A magnetic sink accessory system for use with a sink having interior and exterior surfaces, the magnetic sink accessory system comprising:
 a ferromagnetic accessory belt configured to be disposed at least partially surrounding the exterior surface of the sink, the accessory belt including an elongate flexible band and a plurality of ferritic metal pieces disposed in spaced relation along at least a portion of the flexible band so as to allow for the accessory belt to conform to contours of the exterior surface of the sink;   an adhesive strip having a first adhesive side adhered to at least one of the flexible band or the plurality of metal pieces, and a second adhesive side configured to adhere to the exterior surface of the sink so as to secure the accessory belt to the sink;   a covering tape adhered to the accessory belt so as to overlap the accessory belt, the covering tape configured to secure the accessory belt to the exterior surface of the sink;   a magnetic accessory attachment device including a body and a magnet disposed within the body such that when the body is placed near the interior surface of the sink in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic accessory belt, the magnet draws the body against the interior surface of the sink due to a magnetic attraction between the magnet and the accessory belt.   
     
     
         20 . The magnetic sink accessory system of  claim 19 , wherein the body of the magnetic accessory attachment device has first and second external surfaces, and wherein the magnet is configured to draw the first external surface against the interior surface of the sink due to the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the accessory belt, and the magnet is configured to draw the second external surface against a non-magnetized ferromagnetic portion of a sink accessory so as to removably attach the magnetic accessory attachment device to the sink accessory.