Fireclay apron-front sink with intergrated ledge and self-trimming features

Abstract

An undermount, apron-front sink is provided. The sink includes a basin, a ledge, a rim coupled with the basin, an upper portion, and an apron. The basin includes a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall. The ledge is supported at and extends outwardly from an upper end of one of the front wall and the rear wall of the basin. The rim is supported at and extends outwardly from the basin in a substantially horizontal orientation to form a continuous planar surface that is configured to be mounted abutting an underside of a horizontal countertop. The upper portion extends between the ledge and the one of the front wall and the rear wall. The apron is coupled with the basin and includes a right end portion, a left end portion, a front face, and a rear face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An undermount apron-front sink comprising:
 a basin having a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall; a ledge supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of one of the front wall   
       and the rear wall;
 an upper portion extending upwardly from an outer edge of the ledge; 
 a rim extending outwardly from an upper edge of the upper portion in a substantially horizontal orientation to form a continuous planar surface configured to be mounted abutting an underside of a horizontal countertop; and 
 an apron coupled with the basin, the apron comprising:
 a right end portion that extends rightward of the rim and a left end portion that extends leftward of the rim such that the apron is wider than the basin; 
 a front face that extends vertically below the rim; and 
 a rear face opposite to the front face, the rear face configured to engage a vertical surface of a cabinet when the rim is mounted abutting the horizontal countertop. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the right end portion and the left end portion are configured to at least partially overlap a front face of the cabinet on which the sink is supported. 
     
     
         3 . The sink of  claim 2 , wherein the front face is substantially parallel to the rear face. 
     
     
         4 . The sink of  claim 2 , wherein the rim is configured to be supported by right and left side supports of the cabinet when the sink is installed into the cabinet. 
     
     
         5 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the apron is offset from the basin forming a gap between the front wall of the basin and the rear face of the apron under the rim. 
     
     
         6 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the apron further includes a top flange that couples the apron to the rim, and wherein the front wall of the basin is angled downwardly and rearwardly from the rim to a floor of the basin. 
     
     
         7 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the apron further comprises a front lip extending laterally away from the front face proximate to the rim. 
     
     
         8 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the apron is hollow and defines an apron cavity, the apron cavity substantially completely enclosed and extending between the right end portion and the left end portion. 
     
     
         9 . The sink of  claim 8 , wherein the apron is formed of fireclay. 
     
     
         10 . The sink of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the right end portion includes a right side corner that continuously curves to a right end surface; and   the left end portion includes a left side corner that continuously curves to a left end surface.   
     
     
         11 . An undermount apron-front sink comprising:
 a basin having a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall; a first ledge supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the front wall;   a second ledge supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the rear wall; a rim offset from the first ledge and the second ledge and extending outwardly from the   
       basin in a substantially horizontal orientation to form a continuous planar surface configured to be mounted abutting an underside of a horizontal countertop;
 a first upper portion extending between the rim and the first ledge, the first upper portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall; 
 a second upper portion extending between the rim and the second ledge, the second upper portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rear wall; and 
 an apron coupled with the basin and forming a portion of the rim. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sink of  claim 11 , wherein the apron
 comprises: a front face;   a rear face; and   a cavity positioned between the front face and the rear face, the cavity configured to allow contraction and expansion of the apron to prevent cracking.   
     
     
         13 . The sink of  claim 11 , wherein the first ledge and the second ledge are substantially parallel to the rim and define a ledge plane, the ledge plane offset by a first distance from a rim plane defined by the rim. 
     
     
         14 . The sink of  claim 11 , wherein the first ledge is positioned at a first angle relative to a rim plane defined by the rim, the first ledge configured to bias water into the basin when the basin is mounted abutting the underside of the horizontal countertop; and
 wherein the second ledge is positioned at a second angle relative to the rim plane, the second ledge configured to bias water into the basin when the basin is mounted abutting the underside of the horizontal countertop.   
     
     
         15 . The sink of  claim 14 , wherein the first angle is between approximately 25-50 degrees, inclusive, and wherein the second angle is between approximately 25-50 degrees, inclusive. 
     
     
         16 . An undermount apron-front sink
 comprising: a basin including at least   one basin wall;   a ledge supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the at least one basin wall;   an apron coupled with the basin and including a top flange, a front face, a rear face, and a cavity positioned between the front face and the rear face;   a rim coupling the apron to the at least one basin wall, the rim being continuous and coplanar with the top flange; and   an upper portion extending between the rim and the ledge, the upper portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the at least one basin wall;   wherein the rim is configured to be mounted abutting an underside of the horizontal countertop.   
     
     
         17 . The sink of  claim 16 , wherein the apron further comprises a right end portion that extends rightward of the rim and a left end portion that extends leftward of the rim such that the apron is wider than the basin. 
     
     
         18 . The sink of  claim 16 , wherein the ledge is substantially parallel to the rim and defines a ledge plane, the ledge plane offset by a first distance from a rim plane defined by the rim. 
     
     
         19 . The sink of  claim 16 , wherein the ledge is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to a rim plane defined by the rim, the ledge configured to bias water into the basin when the basin is mounted abutting the underside of the horizontal countertop. 
     
     
         20 . The sink of  claim 19 , wherein the non-zero angle is between approximately 25-50 degrees, inclusive.