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[0001] This invention relates to bathroom or kitchen vanities and more particularly to a two-piece top for a vanity, including a granite top piece.
[0002] A bathroom or kitchen vanity usually includes a cabinet and a vanity top. Some vanity tops, known as two-piece vanity tops, include a countertop or top piece with a separate wash bowl or sink. The vanity top piece can be formed of plastic or other known waterproof or water resistant material, or a combination of non-waterproof and waterproof material such as wood having an outside layer of plastic material.
[0003] The vanity cabinet often has an interior storage space that is accessible by one or more door members. The cabinet can also include one or more drawers above, below, beside or inside the door members. The vanity cabinet in comparison with the two-piece vanity top can be formed of numerous different materials that need not be waterproof or water resistant. Because vanity cabinets can be formed of materials that need not be waterproof or water resistant they can generally have a more versatile appearance than the two-piece vanity top, and are constructed with more detailed and varied designs than the vanity top.
[0004] The present invention is intended to provide added design and appearance versatility to a two-piece vanity top by combining a separately formed wash bowl or sink with a top piece that is made of a stone material such as granite.
[0005] A granite top piece with a finished top surface is known to have an elegant, attractive appearance. A sink that is overmounted or supported on the finished granite surface can diminish the attractiveness of the granite top piece. Thus it would be beneficial to undermount the sink, or support the sink on an undersurface of the granite top piece, to enhance the elegant appearance of the finished granite top surface.
[0006] However, it is also well known that granite, while very durable and attractive, is also a very hard material. It is thus difficult to use threaded fasteners with granite because such fasteners do not thread easily or securely into granite. If threaded fasteners are provided in drilled holes in the granite there is a risk of fracturing the granite. Since fasteners threaded into the undersurface of a granite top piece can fracture the granite if overtightened and cannot provide adequate securement if insufficiently tightened there is very little margin for tightening error.
[0007] Also, if a plural number of fasteners are inserted in the undersurface of a granite top piece to secure an undermounted sink such fasteners must support the weight of the sink plus the weight of any water in the sink, a risky proposition. While screw-in attachment systems for undermounted sinks may be acceptable with a wooden countertop, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,276,719 to Campbell and U.S. Pat. No. 2,080,573 to Madsen such screw-in systems for undermounted sinks in granite are not always steadfast.
[0008] It is thus desirable to provide a relatively risk free securement system for a two-piece vanity top including a granite top piece wherein a sink can be undermounted with firmness and stability to the undersurface of the granite top.
[0009] In the accompanying drawings,
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014] Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
[0015] Referring to the drawings, a two-piece vanity top incorporating one embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by the reference number
[0016] The granite top piece
[0017] The sink member
[0018] In assembling the sink member
[0019] The sink member
[0020] When the sink member
[0021] The bead
[0022] The sink flange
[0023] While the silicone bead
[0024] Preferably four of the clamping assemblies
[0025] Each clamping assembly
[0026] The base section
[0027] When the epoxy adhesive
[0028] It will be noted that the offset height of the stepped portion
[0029] Thus any movement of the wig nut
[0030] After the wing nuts
[0031] Assembly of the granite top piece
[0032] Although not shown, a backsplash and side splashes can be joined, if desired, to the top surface
[0033] Plumbing accessories including a faucet and drain pipe (not shown) are then installed on the two-piece vanity top in any suitable known manner.
[0034] The invention thus provides a novel securement system for a two-piece vanity top wherein a sink is undermounted to a granite top-piece, without threading fasteners into the granite undersurface. Such securement system makes it feasible to undermount the sink to the granite top piece and thereby enhance the attractive elegant appearance of the vanity top.
[0035] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
[0036] As various changes can be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.