Mixed material apron sink

Abstract

A sink includes a basin body having a generally concave shape that forms at least one sink basin, a top flange integrally formed with the basin body, the top flange extending around the at least one sink basin, an apron connected to a front edge of the top flange, a replaceable panel removably connected to the apron, and a fastening system disposed between the apron and the replaceable panel, the fastening system releasably connecting the replaceable panel to the apron.

1 . A sink, comprising:
 a basin body having a generally concave shape that forms at least one sink basin;   a top flange integrally formed with the basin body, the top flange extending around the at least one sink basin;   an apron connected to a front edge of the top flange;   a replaceable panel removably connected to the apron; and   a fastening system disposed between the replaceable panel and the apron, the fastening system releasably connecting the replaceable panel to the apron.   
     
     
         2 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the basin body includes a basin that is at least partially defined between a front wall, a back wall, two sidewalls and a floor that includes a drain opening. 
     
     
         3 . The sink of  claim 2 , wherein the basin body is fabricated from steel sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The sink of  claim 2 , wherein the apron extends perpendicularly relative to the top flange in a downward direction and at an offset distance relative to the front wall of the basin body. 
     
     
         5 . The sink of  claim 4 , wherein the apron has a generally rectangular shape and is connected along its top edge to a front edge of the top flange. 
     
     
         6 . The sink of  claim 5 , further comprising a shelf connected to the apron, the shelf extending perpendicularly relative to the apron along a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by the top flange, in an outward direction. 
     
     
         7 . The sink of  claim 6 , wherein the replaceable panel is fastened to the apron and the shelf. 
     
     
         8 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the apron includes two central openings, each central opening having two slots extending therefrom in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         9 . The sink of  claim 8 , wherein the fastening system includes two fasteners and two spring washers, each of the two fasteners threadably engaging a corresponding threaded opening in the replaceable panel and including one of the two spring washers disposed between a head of the fastener and a rear face of the apron when the fastener extends through the apron via a corresponding one of the two slots. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using a sink having an apron, comprising:
 providing a basin body having a top flange integrally formed with the basin body, the top flange extending around the at least one sink basin;   providing an apron extending from a front edge of the top flange;   removably connecting a replaceable panel to the apron using a fastening system disposed between the replaceable panel and the apron.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the basin body is fabricated from steel sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apron extends perpendicularly relative to the top flange in a downward direction and at an offset distance relative to the front wall of the basin body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a shelf connected to the apron, the shelf extending perpendicularly relative to the apron along a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by the top flange, in an outward direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein removably connecting the replaceable panel includes fastening the replaceable panel to the apron and the shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fastening system includes two fasteners and two spring washers, each fastener engaged with the replaceable panel, and each spring washer engaged in compression between a head of a corresponding fastener and a rear surface of the apron. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the apron includes two key openings, each key opening having a central opening and a slot extending from the central opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein removably connecting the replaceable panel to the apron includes:
 loosely securing one of the two fasteners having a spring washer thereon into a threaded opening in the replaceable panel;   passing the spring washer and the head of the fastener through a central opening of one of the two key openings;   sliding the replaceable panel relative to the sink such that a body of the fastener enters the channel; and   compressing the spring washer between the head of the fastener and the rear surface of the apron.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inserting a screw through an opening in the shelf and engaging the screw with a bottom face of the replaceable panel to secure the replaceable panel against sliding relative to the sink. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a sink having a replaceable panel, comprising:
 providing a sink having an apron;   installing the sink into a cabinet section; and   releasably securing the replaceable panel to the apron of the sink.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the replaceable panel from the sink while the sink is installed into the cabinet section; and   releasably securing a second replaceable panel to the apron of the sink while the sink is installed into the cabinet section.