MIXED MATERIAL APRON SINK

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.