US3585657A - Spring clip appliance mounting in a counter opening - Google Patents

Abstract

SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS ARE DESCRIBED. IN EACH EMBODIMENT THE SPRING CLIPS ARE MOUNTED DIRECTLY ON THE APPLIANCE, SUCH AS A SINK, WITHOUT REQUIRING A SEPARATE MOUNTING FRAME. THE CLIPS MAY BE ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE VERTICAL EDGE SURFACE OF THE COUNTER, THEY MAY HOOK UNDER THE COUNTER, THEY MAY HOOK INTO A GROOVE IN THE EDGE OF THE COUNTER OR THEY MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A SHARP CHISEL EDGE TO BITE INTO THE EDGE SURFACE OF THE COUNTER.

Description

June 22, 1971 c. JENSEN ETAL 3,585,657

SPRING CLIP APPLIANCE MOUNTING IN A COUNTER OPENING Filed Dec. 2, 1968 INVENTORS ALFRED c. JENSEN BY GINO R. QUILICI United States Patent 3,585,657 SPRING CLIP APPLIANCE MOUNTING IN A COUNTER OPENING Alfred C. Jensen, 267 Wedgewood Drive, Eugene, Oreg.

97402, and Gino R. Quilici, 1135 NE. 80th Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97213 Filed Dec. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 780,361 Int. Cl. E03c N33 US. Cl. 4-187 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Several modifications are described. In each embodiment the spring clips are mounted directly on the appliance, such as a sink, without requiring a separate mounting frame. The clips may be adhesively secured to the vertical edge surface of the counter, they may hook under the counter, they may hook into a groove in the edge of the counter or they may be equipped with a sharp chisel edge to bite into the edge surface of the counter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to spring clip fastening means for securing an appliance such as a sink in a counter opening.

Appliances such as sinks that are mounted in counter openings ordinarily require a separate mounting frame which is adapted to be secured on its inside with the appliance and on its outside with the counter. Various types of self-rimming sinks have also been proposed which do not require a separate mounting frame. All such devices, however, usually also require separate attachments and fittings which are diificult to apply and adjust in the cramped working space under the counter.

Objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide an improved appliance mounting and fastening means in a counter opening, to provide fastening means which are entirely self-contained on the appliance itself without any separate attachments or fittings, to provide fastening means which do not require adjustment or manipulation from the under side of the counter, to provide fastening means which are inherently self-centering and self-locking and to provide a novel snap-in type of fastening means which are operable automatically by merely lowering the appliance into the opening without any tools or other manipulations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present fastening means comprises spring clips mounted directly on the appliance itself. These clips may engage the counter in various ways. They may have flat tongues to be adhesively secured to the edge surface of the counter, they may hook under the counter, they may hook into a groove in the edge of the counter or they may be provided with a sharp chisel edge to bite into the edge surface of the counter. The clips may be mounted on a vertical wall of the appliance or on a horizontal flange on the appliance which overlies the top of the counter.

The clips have a spring action to center the appliance in the counter opening as the appliance is lowered into position. In most of the embodiments described the clips are automatically self-locking by merely lowering the appliance into the counter opening without any other manipulation, auxiliary parts or tools. By reason of their spring action, the clips are also releasable for removing the appliance when desired.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment illustrated on the accompanying drawing. Various changes 3,585,657. Patented June 22,, 1971 ICC may be made, however, in the details of construction and arrangement of parts and certain features may be used without others. All such modifications are included in the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view from the under side of a counter, showing one form of spring clips embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modification;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing another modification;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing another modification with the appliance just entering the counter opening;

FIG. 6 shows the modification in FIG. 5 fastened in place; and

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the clip in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the appliance is a sink 10 mounted in an opening in a counter 11. The sink has a vertical or near vertical side wall 12 which is inserted in the counter opening and a top horizontal flange 13 which overlies the top of the counter to support the sink in the opening. The sink is fastened to the counter by a plurality of spring clips 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, each clip 15 has a base portion 16 which is welded or otherwise fixedly connected with the side Wall 12 of the sink. Extending downward from base portion 16 is a spring tongue 17 having a hook portion 18 to engage under the counter and a sloping cam surface 19 which has sliding engagement with the edge of the counter when the sink is lowered into the counter opening. As the sink is being lowered into the opening, the edge of the counter presses the spring tongues 17 toward the side wall 12 of the sink until the hook portions 18 have passed below the under surface of the counter. Then these hook portions 18 spring back and hook under the bottom surface of the counter to prevent upward movement of the sink.

In FIG. 3, the clip 20 has a base portion 16 secured to the side wall 12 of the sink and an upwardly bent spring tongue 21 having a flat upper end portion 22 which is adhesively secured to the vertical edge surface 23 of the counter. This clip is V-shaped whereby the vertex of the V enters freely into the space between the side wall 12 of the sink and the edge surface 23 of the counter opening. As the sink is lowered into the opening, the tongues are deflected by the edge surface 23 of the counter so that when sink flange 13 is brought to rest on top of the counter, the fiat portion 22 of the tongue lies flat against counter edge surface 23 for good adhesive connection. Tongue portions 22 and counter edge surface 23 are spread with adhesive before the sink is inserted into the counter.

In FIG. 4, the clip 25 is also of V-shape having a fiat base portion 16 secured to the side wall 12 of the sink. The upwardly extending spring tongue 26 in this case is equipped with an angular end portion 27 which snaps into a groove 28 in the edge surface 23 of the counter.

The clip 30 in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also of V-shape with an upwardly extending spring tongue 31. In this case the edge surface 23 of the counter is cut on a slope and the spring tongue 31 has a sharp chisel edge 32 to bite into the surface 23 as shown in FIG. 6. This modification has the advantage that it does not require a counter of a particular thickness as in FIG. 2, it does not require adhesive as in FIG. 3 and it does not require a groove in the counter edge as in FIG. 4.

The clip 40 in FIG. 7 is a modification of the clip 30 in FIGS. and 6 for use on appliances which have a large flange area at 13 and have a side wall 12 spaced too far from the edge of the counter opening or for other reasons unsuitable for mounting the clips on the side wall as in the previous embodiments. In this case the base portion 16 of the clip is mounted on the under side of flange 13 and supports 2. depending portion 41 which places the spring tongue 31 in position to engage the edge 23 of the counter. Depending portion 41 may be considered as a part of the spring tongue inasmuch as it is free to yield to permit the tongues to enter into the counter opening. This type of clip is of particular advantage where the side wall 12 continues downward at a considerable angle to the vertical whereby this wall is too remote from the edge of the counter to provide a satisfactory mounting for the clips.

It will be appreciated that in all the different embodiments the spring action of the clips provides automatic self-centering of the appliance in the counter opening so that the installer does not have to give attention to this detail. In all embodiments except FIG. 3 the clips are automatically self-fastening by the mere lowering of the appliance into the opening. The FIG. 3 embodiment may also be considered as self-fastening but the preliminary step of applying adhesive is necessary.

The present clips permit easy removal of the appliance when desired. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the clips are forced inward by inserting thin pieces of metal between the outer surfaces of the clips and the edge of the counter opening. With the clips thus disengaged from the counter, the sink can be pushed upward.

In FIG. 3, the clips are forced inward by inserting a chisel edged tool between the edge of the counter opening and the outer surfaces of the clips to force the clips inward and break the cement bond that holds them. The sink can then be pushed upward.

In FIG. 4, the clips are forced inward by pressure against them and then inserting thin pieces of metal between the clips and the edge of the counter opening. This disengages the clips from the groove 28 and the clips slide against the metal pieces as the sink is pushed upward.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the clips are forced inward by inserting thin pieces of metal between the clips and the edge of the counter opening. This prevents the chisel edges from digging into the counter as the sink is pushed upward.

Having now described our invention and in what manner the same may be used, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A counter having an opening therein to receive an appliance, said opening being defined by an exposed edge surface of the counter which slopes downwardly away from the center of the opening at an angle to the vertical; an appliance having a peripheral horizontal flange overlying said counter and supporting the appliance in said opening, a plurality of clips mounted on the appliance at spaced intervals therearound, said clips having spring tongues with upwardly and outwardly extending free ends, and sharp chisel edges on said free ends biting into said sloping edge surface of the counter to retain the appliance in said opening, said tongues being yieldable to enter into said opening from the top side of the counter and center the appliance in the opening when the appliance is lowered into the opening.

2. The invention defined in claim .1, said clips being mounted on the under side of said flanges.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, said clips being mounted on a side wall of the appliance.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,464,160 3/1949 Stanitz 4--187 2,778,032 1/1957 Meehan 4187 2,885,691 5/1959 Juergens 4-187 2,902,727 9/ 1959 Samolis 4--187X 2,938,218 5/1960 Stone 4-187 2,996,730 8/1961 Hornik 4187 3,071,780 1/1963 Lyon, Jr. 4-187 3,126,552 3/1964 Scharmer 4187' 3,196,466 7/1965 De Lorenzo 4187 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,998 5/ 1929 Australia 4--187 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner

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