Lighted sink

Abstract

A lighted sink includes a sink basin including a sink sidewall and a sink base formed from sheet metal. At least one decorative and / or functional opening is formed in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base. A resin panel is formed in situ in the opening so as to bond with edges of the opening. A fiber optic panel is disposed on an exterior side of the resin panel. A light strip surrounds the fiber optic panel. A plate is disposed on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel.

Description

Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PCLIGHTED SINKFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a decorative and / or functional lighted sink.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

[0002] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0003] Sinks come in various designs to satisfy many aesthetic and design requirements.

[0004] According to an aspect of the present disclosure a lighted sink includes a sink basin including a sink sidewall and a sink base formed from sheet metal. At least one decorative and / or functional opening is formed in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base. A resin panel is formed in situ in the opening so as to bond with edges of the opening. A fiber optic panel is disposed on an exterior side of the resin panel. A light strip surrounds the fiber optic panel. A plate is disposed on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel.

[0005] According to a further aspect, the plate includes a reflective surface facing the fiber optic panel.

[0006] According to a further aspect, a diffuser panel is disposed between the fiber optic plate and the resin panel.

[0007] According to a further aspect, the diffuser panel can have a plurality of colors.

[0008] According to a further aspect, an outer housing surrounds the sink sidewall.

[0009] According to a further aspect, the resin panel is translucent.

[0010] According to a further aspect, the sink base includes a drain hole therein.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure a lighted sink includes a sink basin including a sink sidewall and a sink base formed from sheet metal.At least one decorative and / or functional opening is formed in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base. A resin panel includes a protruding portion sealingly fit within the opening. A fiber optic panel is disposed on an exterior side of the resin panel. A light strip surrounds the fiber optic panel and a plate is disposed on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel.Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PC

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure a method of making a lighted sink includes forming a sink basin with a sink sidewall and a sink base. The sink basin includes at least one decorative and / or functional opening in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base. A fiber optic panel is secured on an exterior of the sink basin at a distance from the opening. A hardenable resin is poured into a space between the fiber optic panel and the opening so as to fill the space and the opening with a hardened resin panel. The fiber optic panel is surrounded with an LED light strip.

[0013] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighted sink according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lighted sink;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the decorative lighted sink;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lighted sink taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lighted sink taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of section 6 of the lighted sink taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 4.

[0021] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PCDETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well- known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0025] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," “directly engaged to,” "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PC

[0026] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0027] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 1 , a lighted sink 10 is shown including a sink basin 12 and an upper flange 14 extending radially outward from an upper end of the sink basin 12. The sink basin 12 includes sink sidewall 16 and a sink base 18 having a drain hole 20 therein. The sidewall 16 can include multiple sidewall sections 22a-22d (four are shown). The sink basin12 can be formed from sheet metal such as stainless steel or other materials can be used. The sink basin can be formed from a single piece of sheet metal that is heat formed into a basin shape or can be formed from multiple pieces that can be welded together. One or more of the sidewall sections 22a-22d can include a lighted opening24. Alternatively, or in addition, the sink base 18 can also include a lighted opening 24.

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6 the lighted opening 22 is formed by cutting or otherwise forming an opening 25 in the sidewall. The opening 25 can be decorative and / or functional. The opening 25 can include logos, names, shapes, images and any other decorative cutout. The decorative and / or opening 25 can be formed by laser cutting, stamping or another known cutting process. A light assembly 26 can be formed in eachAtty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PC opening 25. The light assembly 26 includes a resin panel 28 formed in situ in the opening25 so as to bond with edges of the opening 25. The resin panel 28 can include a plate shaped panel with a protruding portion or portions 28a that are formed with the shape of the opening 25 and is sealingly bonded with the edges of the opening 25 (see FIG. 6). A light diffuser 30 and a fiber optic panel 32 are disposed on an exterior side of the resin panel 28. An LED light strip 34 surrounding the fiber optic panel 32 and a reflective plate 36 is on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel 32. The light diffuser 30 can be optional and can be colored with one or more colors in a desired decorative pattern, as desired. By way of example, the light diffuser 30 can include logo colors, the colors of a flag or other images to provide a multi-color lighted feature or decoration 22. The light assembly26 can be held in place by adhesives, welding, fasteners or other known techniques. A spacer or spacers can be used to support the light diffuser 30 and / or fiber optic panel at a desired space from the exterior of the sidewall 16 and to close off the space to capture the hardenable resin therein.

[0030] The sink basin 12 with one or more light assemblies 26 can be inserted into an outer housing 40 that can surround the sing sidewall 16. As shown in FIG. 1 , the light strip 34 of each light assembly 26 can be connected to an electric power source 42 via a switch 44. The switch 44 can be manually operated, operated by a motion sensor or otherwise operated on a timer or other controller. LED lights require low power and are easy to install and maintain.

[0031] According to the principles of the present disclosure, a method of making the lighted sink 10 includes forming the sink basin 12 with a sink sidewall 16 and a sink base 18. One or more openings 25 is formed in the sink sidewall 16 or the sink base 18. The light diffuser 30, the fiber optic panel 32 and the reflective plate can be secured to an exterior surface of the sink basin adjacent to the opening 25 at a spaced distance from the sidewall 16. A hardenable resin can be poured into a space between the sidewall 16 and the light diffuser 30 and within the opening 25. An interior surface of the opening 25 can be covered with a removable barrier material so that the hardenable resin can be poured into the space and into the opening from above. Alternatively, the hardenable resin can be poured into the space through the opening 25. The protruding portion 28a hardened resin panel 28 can be polished as needed on an interior of the sink basin. The light strip 34 can be wrapped around the fiber optic panel 32 before or after the in situ forming of the resin panel 28. The light strip 34 can be connected to an electric power source 42 for supplying electricity to the light strip 34.Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PC

[0032] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PCCLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A lighted sink, comprising: a sink basin including a sink sidewall and a sink base formed from sheet metal; at least one opening formed in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base; a resin panel formed in situ in the opening so as to bond with edges of the opening; a fiber optic panel disposed on an exterior side of the resin panel; a light strip surrounding the fiber optic panel; and a plate on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel.

2. The lighted sink according to claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a reflective surface facing the fiber optic panel.

3. The lighted sink according to claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser panel disposed between the fiber optic plate and the resin panel.

4. The lighted sink according to claim 3, wherein the diffuser panel has one or more colors.

5. The lighted sink according to claim 1 , further comprising an outer housing surrounding the sink sidewall.

6. The lighted sink according to claim 1 , wherein the resin panel is translucent.

7. The lighted sink according to claim 1 , wherein the sink base includes a drain hole therein.Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PC8. A lighted sink, comprising: a sink basin including a sink sidewall and a sink base formed from sheet metal; at least one opening formed in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base; a resin panel having a protruding portion sealingly fit within the opening; a fiber optic panel disposed on an exterior side of the resin panel; a light strip surrounding the fiber optic panel; and a plate on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel.

9. The lighted sink according to claim 8, wherein the plate includes a reflective surface facing the fiber optic panel.

10. The lighted sink according to claim 8, further comprising a diffuser panel disposed between the fiber optic plate and the resin panel.11 . The lighted sink according to claim 10, wherein the diffuser panel has one or more colors.

12. The lighted sink according to claim 8, further comprising an outer housing surrounding the sink sidewall.

13. The lighted sink according to claim 8, wherein the resin panel is translucent.

14. The lighted sink according to claim 8, wherein the sink base includes a drain hole therein.Atty. Ref. 17784-000024-WO-PC15. A method of making a lighted sink, comprising: forming a sink basin with a sink sidewall and a sink base; the sink basin including at least one opening in one of the sink sidewall and the sink base; securing a fiber optic panel on an exterior of the sink basin at a distance from the opening; pouring a hardenable resin into a space between the fiber optic panel and the decorative opening so as to fill the space and the opening with a resin panel; and surrounding the fiber optic panel with an LED light strip.

16. The method of making a lighted sink according to claim 15, further comprising placing a reflective plate on an exterior side of the fiber optic panel.

17. The method of making a lighted sink according to claim 15, further comprising a diffuser panel disposed between the fiber optic panel and the resin panel.

18. The method of making a lighted sink according to claim 17, wherein the diffuser panel includes a plurality of colors.

19. The method of making a lighted sink according to claim 15, further comprising inserting the sink basin within an outer housing.

20. The method of making a lighted sing according to claim 15, further including connecting the LED light strip to an electric power source.

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