Sink With Integrated Support Surface

Abstract

A liquid vessel having an integrated support surface. In one example, the liquid vessel is a sink having a bottom, sidewalls, a backwall, and a support wall rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the bottom and the sidewalls. The support wall having a first position sealing engaged with the sidewalls and the bottom, and a second position wherein the support wall is rotated about the axis of rotation to a horizontal orientation forming the support surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid vessel comprising:
 a bottom;   sidewalls connected to the bottom;   a backwall connected to the bottom and the sidewalls;   a support wall connected to the bottom and engaged to the sidewalls, the support wall is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the bottom and the sidewalls having a first position sealingly engaged with the sidewalls forming a liquid containment volume, and a second position radially distant from the sidewalls forming a support surface; and   a seal connected to at least one of the bottom, the sidewalls, or the support wall operable to prevent a liquid from escaping the liquid containment volume when the support wall is positioned in the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a retainer connected to the support wall and at least one of the sidewalls, the retainer operable to position the support wall in the second position in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid vessel of  claim 2  wherein the retainer comprises:
 a first link pivotally connected to the at least one of the sidewalls; and 
 a second link pivotally connected to the support wall and the first link. 
 
     
     
         4 . The liquid vessel of  claim 2  wherein the retainer comprises a cable connected to the at least one of the sidewalls and the support wall. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid vessel of  claim 2  wherein the retainer comprises:
 a first guide connected to the at least one of the sidewalls, the first guide defining a closed slot; 
 a second guide connected to the support wall; 
 a pin positioned in the closed slot in the first guide and connected to the second guide, the pin operable to translate along the closed slot on movement of the support wall between the first position and the second position. 
 
     
     
         6 . The liquid vessel of  claim 2  further comprising a latch connected to at least one of the sidewalls operable to secure the support wall to the sidewalls when the support wall is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid vessel of  claim 1  wherein the axis of rotation of the support wall is positioned at a front edge of the bottom. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid vessel of  claim 1  wherein the axis of rotation of the support wall is positioned vertically above a front edge of the bottom. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid vessel of  claim 1  wherein the seal comprises a bottom seal connected to the bottom proximate a front edge of the bottom, the support wall abuttingly engaging the bottom seal when support wall is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid vessel of  claim 9  wherein the seal further comprises:
 a support wall seal connected to the support wall wherein the support wall seal abuttingly engages the bottom when the support wall is positioned in the first position; and 
 a sidewall seal connected to at least one of the sidewalls or the support wall wherein the sidewall seal abuttingly engages the other of the support wall or the sidewalls when the support wall is positioned in the first position. 
 
     
     
         11 . The liquid vessel of  claim 1  wherein the support wall comprises an inside surface, the liquid vessel further comprising:
 a utility panel connected to the inside surface of the support wall, the utility panel forming the support surface. 
 
     
     
         12 . The liquid vessel of  claim 11  comprising a sink, wherein the utility panel comprises a cutting board. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid vessel of  claim 12  wherein the cutting board is removably connected to the inside surface of the support wall. 
     
     
         14 . A sink comprising:
 a bottom having a front edge;   sidewalls connected to the bottom;   a backwall connected to the bottom opposite the front edge of the bottom and the sidewalls;   a support wall connected to the bottom at the front edge of the bottom and engaged to the sidewalls, the support wall is rotatable relative to the bottom and the sidewalls about an axis of rotation positioned at the front edge of the bottom, the support wall having a first position sealingly engaged with the opposing sidewalls forming a liquid containment volume, and a second position radially distant from the sidewalls forming a support surface;   a retainer connected to the support wall and at least one of the sidewalls, the retainer operable to position the support wall in the second position in a substantially horizontal orientation; and   a seal connected to at least one of the bottom, the sidewalls, or the support wall operable to prevent a liquid from escaping the liquid containment volume when the support wall is positioned in the first position.   
     
     
         15 . The sink of  claim 14  wherein the retainer comprises:
 a first link pivotally connected to the at least one of the sidewalls; and 
 a second link pivotally connected to the support wall and the first link. 
 
     
     
         16 . The sink of  claim 14  wherein the seal comprises a bottom seal connected to the bottom proximate the front edge of the bottom, the bottom seal is abuttingly engaged when support wall is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         17 . The sink of  claim 16  wherein the sidewalls each include a flange angularly extending outwardly from the sidewall, the seal further comprising a sidewall seal connected to each flange, the sidewall seal is abuttingly engaged when the support wall is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The sink of  claim 14  further comprising a cutting board having two or more pins axially extending from a mounting surface, the support wall defining at least two receptacles for receipt of the at least two pins wherein the cutting board is removably connected to an inside surface of the support wall. 
     
     
         19 . The sink of  claim 14  further comprising a latch connected to at least one of the sidewalls operable to secure the support wall to the opposing sidewalls when the support wall is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The sink of  claim 19  wherein the latch further comprises:
 a magnet connected to the at least one of the sidewalls; and 
 a plate connected to the support wall, the plate positioned to align with the magnet when the support wall is positioned in the first position and to engage the magnet.