A sink overflow arrangement

Abstract

A sink having a primary outlet and an overflow outlet 14, wherein the overflow outlet comprises an aperture arrangement 12 having a channel 34 that faces away from the primary outlet. The aperture arr

Description

Field of the Invention The invention relates to a sink overflow arrangement, and, in particular, to a kitchen sink overflow arrangement that allows a user to discard waste liquid without fouling liquid contained in the main basin of the sink. Background to the Invention Kitchen sinks are used for washing up crockery, cutlery and glassware, which requires clean water in order to achieve a good result in respect of the items being properly clean and grease-free. Hot and soapy water is held in a sink basin by using a plug to seal the drain outlet and to ensure that the water does not drain away. Glassware, in particular, is best washed with hot, clean water with detergent therein; however, as items are washed up, the water becomes contaminated, and it becomes more difficult to clean the glassware. One way in which the washing water becomes contaminated is through the addition of dirty liquids that pollute the water, for example, waste beverages or water that has been used for cooking meat or vegetables and that enters into the sink due to being poured therein or by not being drained from a vessel before the vessel enters the water. For example, a person may be washing items in clean water and an unfinished cup of tea needs cleaning. The teacup or mug is normally simply added to the washing water, or the waste tea is poured into the washing water and the cup re-used. Whilst some sinks might have a secondary basin, or half-basin, into which the waste tea can be tipped, oftentimes, there is no secondary basin and so the waste beverage gets added to the clean washing water, thereby contaminating it and making it more difficult to clean other items thereafter. 10 08 22 Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a sink overflow outletas set ou tin the 5 accompanying claims. Preferred features are set out in the sub-claims. Thus, the present invention relates to a sink overflow outlet comprising a retractable portion, the retractable portion having a stowed position and an extended position, wherein, when in the extended position, a channel is created. 10 In such an arrangement, the overflow outlet has a stowed position in which the channel is reduced in length or hidden and an extended position, wherein the channel is exposed and / or has a greater length and / or surface area, thereby creating a larger area in which to receive the waste liquid. 15 As mentioned previously, sinks, particularly kitchen sinks, have a primary outlet in the form of a drain for the removal of wastewater and a plug is used to keep water in the sink when required. Oftentimes, an overflow outlet, or secondary outlet, is provided at a 20 position above the drain to reduce the risk of overflow if, for example, the faucet is left on with the plug in place. The overflow is positioned in the basin wall towards the top of the sink to ensure that water can be held in the basin and only when the level of the overflow is reached will the water drain through the secondary outlet. 25 When installed in a sink, the present invention provides a channel that faces away from the primary outlet of the sink and that can be used to direct wastewater into the overflow outlet, without the waste liquid entering into the main basin of the sink. Thus, the channel can be ‘upwardly’ facing, which is to say that it provides a surface that can be used to guide waste liquid through the overflow outlet, rather than entering into the basin and / or 30 passing through the primary outlet. This provides a surface onto which waste liquid can be poured and that provides route for, or a guide through which, wastewater can pass to the drain without contaminating any water that is held within the sink basin. The channel may have a trough-like shape and it may have a U-shaped or a V-shaped profile. Thus, the waste liquid can be poured into the channel, and it is guided through the overflow outlet, which provides a bypass that guides to liquid towards the aperture arrangement, allowing the liquid to avoid the main basin of the sink. Therefore, it may be desirable to have a slope or tapering to the channel so that liquid passes downwardly towards the overflow outlet. 10 08 22 Advantageously, the aperture arrangement comprises a recess and a drawer element receivable therein, wherein, when in the stowed position, the drawer is received within the recess to a first degree and in the extended position, the retractable drawer is received within the recess to a second degree. A drawer arrangement, which may be in the form of a housing and a drawer therein, allows the waste liquid channel to be stowed neatly in the side of the sink basin when not in use and then withdrawn therefrom when required. A similar arrangement is seen on washing machines, wherein a drawer for receiving liquid is stowed when not in use and then extended when detergent is provided. It is preferable that when in the stowed position, flow apertures allow the flow of liquid through overflow outlet and when in the extended position, liquid can flow through the channel and through the overflow outlet. Thus, when the channel of the overflow outlet is stowed, the overflow outlet still allows the passage of liquid therethrough, via the flow apertures, in order to reduce the risk of the sink overflowing and causing flooding. In one arrangement, although outside the scope of the accompany claims, a mounting plate is arranged upon the sink wall over or adjacent the overflow outlet and a channel element is provided that is mounted upon the mounting plate. The overflow outlet channel may be detachable from the sink basin so that it can be applied when required. This arrangement may take the form of a mounting plate that is attached to the wall over the sink basin and the channel being readily releasable from the mounting plate. The connection may be in the form of a sliding connection, push-fit, suction cups or other attachment mechanisms. A seal element, preferably an elastomeric seal, can be provided 10 08 22 between the two parts of the connection mechanism to reduce the risk of liquid leaking between the respective parts. It will be appreciated that the overflow outlet may be affixed to a sink wall by way of suction cups, adhesive or other methods. These fixing methods allow for simple retrofitting of an overflow outlet to an existing sink basin. In such an arrangement, there may be no need for a mounting plate to be applied to the sink beforehand. The channel may comprise a pivotable section that is pivoted into the extended position to create the channel. In this way, the lower part of the overflow can be pivotable and the upper part is able to pivot to an open position, thereby creating an opening on the upper surface in which liquid can be received. In a preferred arrangement, the overflow outlet is provided with a fixed or, more preferably, a removable filter. Having a filter, particularly a removable filter, reduces the risk of the overflow outlet, or a drain to which the sink is connected, being blocked by solid matter. The removeable filter can be removed and emptied and / or cleaned as required. The invention extends to a sink comprising an overflow outlet as set out herein. The overflow outlet, as set out herein, may be retrofitted to an existing sink arrangement or installed into a new sink during manufacture or fitting. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first view of an outlet overflow arrangement in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a second view of the outlet overflow arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a first view of an outlet overflow arrangement in accordance with an embodiment that is not part of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a second view of the outlet overflow arrangement of Figure 3; 10 08 22 Figure 5 shows a first view of an outlet overflow arrangement in accordance with a further embodiment that is not part of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a second view of the outlet overflow arrangement of Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows a third view of the outlet overflow arrangement of Figure 5. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments Figures 1 and 2 show an outlet overflow arrangement 10 comprising a housing 12, connected to which is a drain outlet 14, and a drawer 16 that can be received within the housing 12. The housing 12 is arranged to have a recess 18 therein into which fits the drawer 16 in a sliding arrangement, such that the drawer 16 can slide in and out of the recess 18. The recess 18 is providing with a front opening 19 and an opening flange 20 around the periphery of the front surface of the housing 12. The opening flange 20 has a fixing mechanism 22 in the form of apertures 24 therein. The lower surface of the inside of the recess 18 is tapered to guide or funnel any liquid entering therein towards the drain outlet 14. Thus, the front 19 opening of the recess 18 is in fluid communication with the drain outlet 14. A mounting bracket 26 is provided that has mounting flanges 28 around its periphery and the mounting flanges have fixing apertures 30 therein. When the mounting bracket 26 is lined up with the front opening 19 of the housing 16, the fixing apertures 30 line up with the apertures 24 of the opening flange 20, thereby allowing the mounting bracket 26 to be fixedly connected to the housing 16. Thus, the mounting bracket 26 can be positioned on one side of a sink wall and the housing 16 on the other side of the sink wall and the parts connected to one another to hold the overflow outlet 10 in place in the sink wall. The drawer 16 comprises a front face 32 and an internal drawer box 34 having side walls 36 and a base 38. The back of the drawer 16, which is to say the opposite side of the base 38 from the front face 32 is open. The side walls 36 and the base 38 together create a U- 10 08 22 shaped profile, or channel, to guide liquid towards the outlet drain 14. A release catch 40 is provided in the back of at least one side wall 34 to reduce the risk of the drawer 16 inadvertently coming out of the housing 12. The release catch 40 can be disengaged to fully remove the drawer 16 from the housing 12, which may be useful for cleaning purposes. The periphery of the front face 32 is provided with a skirt 42 extending towards the housing 12. At a position towards the top of the skirt 42 two flow apertures 44 are provided in the skirt 42 on respective sides of the front face 32. The flow apertures 44 allow fluid communication through the front face 32 of the drawer 16 when the drawer 16 is in the closed, or stowed position, which is to say the front face 32 is adjacent the mounting backet 26. This allows the overflow drain to work as normal should the water level in the sink be too high. The drawer 16 has a stowed position wherein it is received within the recess 18 whilst the sink is being used and the overflow channel is not needed. When required, the drawer 16 can be moved to the deployed position wherein it extends from the recess 18 and the U-shaped channel is exposed. Any waste liquid that is intended to by-pass the main drain outlet of the basin of the sink can be poured into the channel and drains through the drain outlet 14 and into the drain. Once finished with, the drawer 16 can be pushed back into the recess 18 of the housing 12. Figures 3 and 4 show a further arrangement. A mounting plate 50 is provided that is in the form of a rectangular plate with slotted apertures 52 therein. The mounting plate 50 is also provided with a fixing aperture 54 therein, which can be used to fix the mounting plate 50 to a sink wall, and, preferably, onto an existing overflow outlet. The lateral peripheral edges 56 of the mounting plate 50 are provided with slotted fixing sections 58, which form the first part of a connection mechanism. A waste section 60 is provided that comprises side walls 62 that are formed from a straight edge 62a that will be positioned against the mounting plate 50, in use, and an arcuate edge 62b leading from the lower edge of the waste section 60 towards an upper edge of the waste section 60. The waste channel surface 64 therebetween, that is inwardly 10 08 22 concave to guide any liquid therein towards the lower internal edge of the waste section 60. Thus, the waste section 60 provides a surface 66 that has a U-shaped cross section along its width and an arcuate guide path towards the mounting plate 50. The waste section 60 has a first end 68 at the ‘top’ of the slope surface 66 and the slope surface 66 5 leads to a lower second end 70. The lateral peripheral edges 72 of the second end 70 are provided with slotted fixing sections 74, forming a second part of the connection mechanism, and these slotted fixing sections 74 can engage with the slotting fixing section 58 of the mounting plate. Thus, the waste section 60 can engage with the mounting plate 50 and can be releasably retained thereupon. 10 When in use, the mounting plate 50 is fixedly connected to the wall of a sink over the overflow outlet, via a screw or bolt, passing through the fixing aperture 54. When required, the waste section 60 is slotted onto the mounting plate by engaging the respective slotted fixing section 74 of the waste section with the slotted fixing sections 58 15 of the mounting plate 50. The waste liquid can then be poured onto the slope surface 66 and is guided through the overflow outlet, thereby bypassing the main drain outlet of the sink. The slotted apertures 52 of the mounting plate 50 can act as a filter to remove solid matter from the waste liquid. 20 Figures 5 to 8 show an overflow outlet device 80 having a mounting face 82 that has a top member 84 connected to two side walls 86. The mounting face 82 is generally open to allow the passage of liquid therethrough, although mounting elements (not shown) may be provided, for example, apertures for screws or suction cups. Alternatively, adhesive elements may be provided on the top member 84 and / or around the periphery of the 25 mounting face 82. The side walls 86 are broadly rhomboid, with a straight edge 86a adjacent the mounting face 82 and an opposing side 86b that diverges away from the mounting face 82 from the bottom of the straight edge 86a towards the top thereof, so as to create a tapered chamber 30 88 that is wider at the upper end than the lower end, thus forming a waste liquid channel. At the lower end of the walls 86, a pivotable front section 90 is provided. The front section 90 has side walls 92 of a similar shape to those of the mounting face 82, with the 10 08 22 lower parts of the side walls 92 of the pivotable front section 90 being pivotably connected to the lower parts of the walls 86 of the mounting face 82. The upper parts of at least one of each of the respective side walls 86 / 92 are provided with guides 94, in the form of a slot and a protrusion (not shown), that allow the sides walls to move relative to one another in a predetermined fashion. The guides 94 are also limit the movement of the side walls relative to one another to prevent the pivotable front section 90 from disengaging with the mounting face 82. Thus, the front section 90 is able to pivot away from the mounting face 82 to enlarge the gap between the respective top surfaces, thereby creating an enlarged waste liquid channel 96 therein. At the top of the pivotable front section 90 there is provided a pivoting top filter element 98, wherein the pivoting top filter comprises a filter plate 100 with slotted apertures 102 therein. The pivoting top filter element 98 is connected by hinges 104 to enable it to pivot from the front section 90, and it can be positioned on top of the overflow outlet device 80 to create a top filter in order to catch solid matter that might be in the waste liquid. The top filter element 98 may be provided with upwardly extending walls (not shown) to create a holding space that will reduce the risk of solid matter spilling into the main sink basin. The top filter element 98 can be pivoted away from the top of the overflow outlet device 80 if it is not required. Where slots are employed in filter elements, it will be appreciated that other aperture shapes or filter arrangements may be applicable, for example, a mesh. It will be appreciated that parts that might be releasably connected could be fixedly connected and vice versa, where appropriate. Elements of one embodiment described herein may be incorporated into other embodiments. 10 08 22

Claims

1. A sink overflow outlet comprising a housing and a retractable portion received therein, with the retractable portion having a channel, the retractable portion5 having a stowed position in which the channel is stowed within the housing, andan extended position, in which the channel is exposed outside the housing.

2. A sink overflow outlet according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a recess and the retractable portion is a drawer element receivable within the10 housing, wherein, when in the stowed position, the drawer is received within therecess to a first degree and in the extended position, the retractable drawer is received within the recess to a second degree.

3. A sink overflow outlet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, when in the15 stowed position, flow apertures are arranged in the retractable portion that allowthe flow of liquid into the channel.

4. A sink overflow outlet according to any preceding claim, wherein the overflow outlet is provided with a removable filter.

205. A sink comprising an overflow outlet according to any preceding claim.25

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