Sink and method of installing same

Abstract

A method of installing a sink ( 1 ) in a worktop cut-out ( 11 a ), including: a) providing a sink ( 1 ) made at least partly from a resin-compound material, with a bowl ( 2 ), an outlet opening located in the bottom wall ( 3 ), and a circumferential rim ( 5 ) located at an upper edge and extending outwardly from a bowl side wall ( 4 ); a number of resilient clamping elements ( 6 ) arranged on the outside of said bowl ( 2 ) adjacent the rim ( 5 ), which in a free or uncompressed state thereof, extend outwardly beyond the rim ( 5 ), and provide in a loaded or compressed state thereof, a clamping force out-wardly from said side wall ( 4 ), at least some of the clamping elements ( 6 ) being at-tached to the sink in respective recesses (R) arranged in the side wall ( 4 ) or in a transition region between the side wall ( 4 ) and the rim ( 5 ); b) making the worktop cut-out ( 11 a ) with a larger dimension than an area circumscribed by the rim ( 5 ) but smaller than an envelope around the clamping elements ( 6 ), defining a cut-out side wall ( 11 b ) extending perpendicular to an upper surface ( 11 d ) and a lower surface of said worktop ( 11 ); c) placing the sink ( 1 ) centered in the cut-out ( 11 a ) by the clamping elements ( 6 ) being compressed between the cut-out side wall ( 11 b ) and the sink ( 1 ).

1 . A sink, made at least partly from a resin-compound material, the sink comprising:
 at least one bowl ( 2 ) with a bottom wall ( 3 ) and a circumferential side wall ( 4 );
 at least one outlet opening ( 3   a ) located in said bottom wall ( 3 ); 
   a circumferential rim ( 5 ) located at an upper edge of said bowl ( 2 ) around an outside thereof, said rim ( 5 ) extending outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ) by an extent (E);
 a plurality of resilient clamping elements ( 6 ) arranged on the outside of said bowl ( 2 ) adjacent said rim ( 5 ), said clamping elements ( 6 ), in a free or uncompressed state thereof, extend outwardly beyond the extent (E) of said rim ( 5 ), and said clamping elements ( 6 ) are configured to provide, in a loaded or compressed state thereof, a clamping force outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ), at least some of said clamping elements ( 6 ) being attached to the sink in respective recesses (R) arranged in said side wall ( 4 ) or in a transition region (T) between said side wall ( 4 ) and said rim ( 5 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The sink ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a value of said extent (E) is between 2.5 mm and 6 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The sink ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said rim ( 5 ) is a solid material. 
     
     
         4 . The sink ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said clamping elements ( 6 ) are compressible inwardly toward said side wall ( 4 ) such that the clamping elements do not extend outwardly beyond said extent (E) of said rim ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . The sink ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a clamping force per unit length of said side wall ( 4 ), as caused by said clamping elements ( 6 ) in said loaded or compressed state thereof, is essentially evenly distributed around the sink ( 1 ), by at least one of adapting a number of the clamping elements ( 6 ), and adapting a mutual spacing between individual ones of the clamping elements ( 6 ), or adapting a clamping force of individual ones of the clamping elements ( 6 ). 
     
     
         6 . The sink ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said clamping elements ( 6 ) comprise at least one spring element which having a hook-shaped cross section with a first leg ( 6   a ) extending essentially parallel to said side wall ( 4 ) and downwardly from said rim ( 5 ), a second leg ( 6   b ) extending outwardly from said first leg ( 6   a ) and from said side wall ( 4 ), and a third leg ( 6   c ) extending outwardly from said second leg ( 6   b ) and from said side wall ( 4 ) as well as parallel to said first leg ( 6   a ), and in said free or uncompressed state of said clamping elements ( 6 ), said third leg ( 6   c ) at least partially overlapping with said first leg ( 6   a ). 
     
     
         7 . The sink ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a free end portion ( 6   d ) of said third leg ( 6   c ) is further angled outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . A workplace comprising a sink ( 1 ) made at least partly from a resin-compound material, said sink comprising:
 at least one bowl ( 2 ) with a bottom wall ( 3 ) and a circumferential side wall ( 4 );   at least one outlet opening ( 3   a ) located in said bottom wall ( 3 );   a circumferential rim ( 5 ) located at an upper edge of said bowl ( 2 ) around an outside thereof, said rim ( 5 ) extending outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ) by an extent (E);   a plurality of resilient clamping elements ( 6 ) arranged on the outside of said bowl ( 2 ) adjacent said rim ( 5 ), said clamping elements ( 6 ), in a free or uncompressed state thereof, extend outwardly beyond the extent (E) of said rim ( 5 ), and said clamping elements ( 6 ) are configured to provide, in a loaded or compressed state thereof, a clamping force outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ), and at least some of said clamping elements ( 6 ) being attached to the sink in respective recesses (R) arranged in said side wall ( 4 ) or in a transition region (T) between said side wall ( 4 ) and said rim ( 5 ); and   a worktop ( 11 ), having a cut-out ( 11   a ) therein, in which said sink ( 1 ) is installed, said cut-out ( 11   a ) defining a cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) extending essentially at right angles with respect to an upper surface ( 11   d ) and a lower surface of said worktop ( 11 ), said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) is located opposite said rim ( 5 ), and said sink ( 1 ) is centered within said cut-out ( 11   a ) by said clamping elements ( 6 ), which are compressed between said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) and said sink ( 1 ).   
     
     
         9 . The workplace according to  claim 8 , wherein a distance or gap between said rim ( 5 ) and said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) is essentially uniform around said sink. 
     
     
         10 . The workplace according to  claim 8 , wherein an adhesive sealing joint is located around said rim ( 5 ) between said sink ( 1 ) and said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ). 
     
     
         11 . The workplace according to  claim 8 , wherein an upper face of said rim ( 5 ) is essentially coplanar with said upper worktop surface ( 11   d ). 
     
     
         12 . A method of installing a sink ( 1 ) in a worktop cut-out ( 11   a ), comprising:
 a) providing a sink ( 1 ) made at least partly from a resin-compound material, with:
 at least one bowl ( 2 ) with a bottom wall ( 3 ) and a circumferential side wall ( 4 ); 
 at least one outlet opening ( 3   a ) located in said bottom wall ( 3 ); 
 a circumferential rim ( 5 ) located at an upper edge of said bowl ( 2 ) around an outside thereof, said rim ( 5 ) extending outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ) by an extent (E); 
 a plurality of resilient clamping elements ( 6 ) arranged on the outside of said bowl ( 2 ) adjacent said rim ( 5 ), said clamping elements ( 6 ), in a free or uncompressed state thereof, extend outwardly beyond the extent (E) of said rim ( 5 ), and said clamping elements ( 6 ) are configured to provide, in a loaded or compressed state thereof, a clamping force outwardly from said side wall ( 4 ); 
 at least some of said clamping elements ( 6 ) being attached to the sink in respective recesses (R) arranged in said side wall ( 4 ) or in a transition region (T) between said side wall ( 4 ) and said rim ( 5 ); 
   b) making said worktop cut-out ( 11   a ) having a larger dimension than an area circumscribed by said rim ( 5 ) but smaller than an envelope around said clamping elements ( 6 ) in their uncompressed state while defining a cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) extending essentially at right angles with respect to an upper and lower surface ( 11   d ) of said worktop ( 11 );   c) placing said sink ( 1 ) in said cut-out ( 11   a ) so that said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) is located opposite said rim ( 5 ), said sink ( 1 ) being centered within said cut-out ( 11   a ) by said clamping elements ( 6 ), which are compressed between said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ) and said sink ( 1 ).   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising placing said sink ( 1 ) in said cut-out ( 11   a ) from above said worktop ( 11 ), beginning with a bottom part of said sink ( 1 ) opposite said rim ( 5 ). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising placing said sink ( 1 ) in said cut-out ( 11   a ) until an upper face of said rim ( 5 ) is essentially coplanar with said upper surface ( 11   d ) of said worktop ( 11 ). 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising: prior to step c), placing a bead ( 8 ) of an adhesive sealing material around said rim ( 5 ), so that, during step c), an adhesive sealing joint is formed around said rim ( 5 ) between said sink ( 1 ) and said cut-out side wall ( 11   b ). 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising: prior to step c), providing said sink ( 1 ) with a removable installation device ( 9 ), said installation device ( 9 ) comprising at least one installing jig ( 9   a ) placed on an upper face of said rim ( 5 ) and extending coplanar with said upper face of said rim ( 5 ) while extending, at least locally ( 9   c ), beyond said rim ( 5 ) outwardly from said sink ( 1 ), then performing step c) until said installing jig ( 9   a ) comes into contact with said upper worktop surface ( 11   d ), and then removing said installation device ( 9 ). 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising: prior to step c), providing said worktop ( 11 ) on an upper surface ( 11   d ) threeof, adjacent a contour of said cut-out ( 11   a ), with a removable protective cover ( 11   c ), and removing said protective cover ( 11   c ) after completion of step c). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising: prior to step a), making a number of recesses (R) in said side wall ( 4 ) or in a transition region (T) between said side wall ( 4 ) and said rim ( 5 ), and attaching at least some of said clamping elements ( 6 ) to the sink in respective ones of the recesses (R).