Seamless undermount stainless steel sink system

Abstract

A seamless undermount stainless steel sink system includes a solid countertop, such as granite or marble, having a sink mounting aperture defining an inner periphery disposed therethrough. The system also includes a stainless steel sink having a sidewall with a rimless upper edge defining an outer periphery therearound. A mounting assembly is attached to a portion of the stainless steel sink at a predetermined mounting depth below the rimless upper edge, and an interface is formed between the stainless steel sink and the solid countertop. A sealing assembly is disposed in the interface between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink and the solid countertop to prevent water, food, or other debris from getting in between the stainless steel sink and the solid countertop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seamless undermount stainless steel sink system comprising:
 a solid countertop having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface at least partially defining a thickness therebetween,   a sink mounting aperture disposed through said solid countertop, said sink mounting aperture having an inner periphery comprising a finished periphery surface,   a receiving channel formed along and around a portion of said inner periphery,   a stainless steel sink comprising a sidewall which partially forms at least one bowl,   a rimless upper edge along and around said sidewall of said stainless steel sink, wherein an outer periphery is defined around said rimless upper edge,   a mounting assembly comprising at least one mounting bracket attached to a portion of said stainless steel sink,   said mounting bracket including a countertop flange having a countertop flange surface, said mounting bracket positioned a predetermined mounting depth below said rimless upper edge of said stainless steel sink,   a channel interface formed between said rimless upper edge of said stainless steel sink and said finished periphery surface of said solid countertop, and   a channel seal disposed in said channel interface between said rimless upper edge of said stainless steel sink and said finished periphery surface of said solid countertop.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said channel seal forms a moisture resistant barrier along said channel interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said channel seal prevents water, bacteria, or debris from entering between said rimless upper edge of said stainless steel sink and said receiving channel of said solid countertop. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said channel seal comprises an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4  wherein said channel seal further comprises a top coat, said top coat selected to correspond to a color of said finished periphery surface of said inner periphery in order to camouflage its presence. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said countertop flange is secured to said bottom surface of said solid countertop via a countertop interconnect. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said countertop interconnect comprises at an epoxy glue. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said solid countertop is comprises granite. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said solid countertop comprises marble. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said receiving channel comprises a channel height, and said predetermined mounting depth has a tolerance of plus or minus one millimeter relative to said channel height. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said mounting assembly comprising a plurality of mounting brackets interconnected to a portion of said stainless steel sink, wherein each of said plurality of mounting brackets includes a countertop flange having a countertop flange surface, each said countertop flange surface positioned at said predetermined mounting depth below said rimless upper edge of said stainless steel sink. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein each said countertop flange surface is substantially perpendicular to said sidewall of said stainless steel sink. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said channel interface measures less than one millimeter between said rimless upper edge of said stainless steel sink and said finished periphery surface of said inner periphery. 
     
     
         14 . A method for seamless undermount installation of a stainless steel sink to a solid countertop, the method comprising:
 fabricating the stainless steel sink with a rimless upper edge defining an outer periphery therearound,   preparing a mounting template based on the outer periphery of the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink,   creating a sink mounting aperture through the solid countertop between a top surface and a bottom surface based on the mounting template, wherein the sink mounting aperture comprises an inner periphery comprising a finished periphery surface,   forming a receiving channel having a channel height along and around the inner periphery of the sink mounting aperture configured to receive the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink therein,   positioning at least one mounting bracket at a predetermined mounting depth below the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink, wherein the mounting bracket has a sink flange and a countertop flange, the countertop flange comprising a countertop flange surface which is positioned at the predetermined mounting depth below the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink,   attaching the at least one mounting bracket to the stainless steel sink,   positioning the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink into the receiving channel of the sink mounting aperture such that the countertop flange surface is adjacent to the bottom surface of the solid countertop,   securing the stainless steel sink to the bottom surface of the solid countertop via the at least one mounting bracket, and   applying a channel seal along a channel interface between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink and the finished periphery surface of the inner periphery of the sink mounting aperture through the solid countertop, wherein the channel seal prevents water, moisture, bacteria, and debris from entering between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink and the solid countertop.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a plurality of mounting brackets each having a sink flange and a countertop flange comprising a countertop flange surface, and wherein each countertop flange surface is positioned at the predetermined mounting depth below the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the stainless steel sink is secured to the bottom surface of the solid countertop via a countertop interconnect comprising an epoxy glue. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the channel seal comprises an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the predetermined mounting depth has a tolerance of plus or minus one millimeter relative to the channel height. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the channel interface between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink and the finished periphery surface of the inner periphery of the solid countertop measures less than one millimeter. 
     
     
         20 . A method for seamless undermount installation of a stainless steel sink to a solid countertop, the method comprising:
 fabricating the stainless steel sink with a rimless upper edge defining an outer periphery therearound,   preparing a mounting template based on the outer periphery of the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink,   creating a sink mounting aperture through the solid countertop between a top surface and a bottom surface based on the mounting template, wherein the sink mounting aperture comprises an inner periphery comprising a finished periphery surface,   forming a receiving channel having a channel height along and around the inner periphery of the sink mounting aperture configured to receive the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink therein,   positioning the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink into the receiving channel of the sink mounting aperture such that the countertop flange surface is adjacent to the bottom surface of the solid countertop,   attaching the at least one mounting bracket to the stainless steel sink at a predetermined mounting depth below the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink,   securing the stainless steel sink to the bottom surface of the solid countertop via the at least one mounting bracket, and   applying a channel seal along a channel interface between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink and the finished periphery surface of the inner periphery of the sink mounting aperture through the solid countertop, wherein the channel seal prevents water, moisture, bacteria, and debris from entering between the rimless upper edge of the stainless steel sink and the solid countertop.