CA1109111A - Worktop - Google Patents
WorktopInfo
- Publication number
- CA1109111A CA1109111A CA309,811A CA309811A CA1109111A CA 1109111 A CA1109111 A CA 1109111A CA 309811 A CA309811 A CA 309811A CA 1109111 A CA1109111 A CA 1109111A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- elements
- worktop
- holes
- tops
- edges
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B77/00—Kitchen cabinets
- A47B77/04—Provision for particular uses of compartments or other parts ; Compartments moving up and down, revolving parts
- A47B77/06—Provision for particular uses of compartments or other parts ; Compartments moving up and down, revolving parts for incorporating sinks, with or without draining boards, splash-backs, or the like
Landscapes
- Sink And Installation For Waste Water (AREA)
- Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
- Combinations Of Kitchen Furniture (AREA)
- Measuring Or Testing Involving Enzymes Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
- Finishing Walls (AREA)
- Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Worktop built up of modular elements. Elements have a continuous surface or contain holes for accommodating sinks, drip trays and spilla-ge trays. All elements have downward edges along all or part of their perimeter, for creating space under the worktops and for providing a rigid well-sealing connection between adjoining elements. The elements are made of a fine-grained inorganic material bound with not more than 25 % by weight of a thermosetting plastic and incorporating glass fibres in random distribution, by molding to the final shape in a compression mould. The minimum thickness of the material is 3 mm. The worktop is suitable for use in kitchens.
Worktop built up of modular elements. Elements have a continuous surface or contain holes for accommodating sinks, drip trays and spilla-ge trays. All elements have downward edges along all or part of their perimeter, for creating space under the worktops and for providing a rigid well-sealing connection between adjoining elements. The elements are made of a fine-grained inorganic material bound with not more than 25 % by weight of a thermosetting plastic and incorporating glass fibres in random distribution, by molding to the final shape in a compression mould. The minimum thickness of the material is 3 mm. The worktop is suitable for use in kitchens.
Description
1~9111 WORRTOP
The invention relates to a worktop on which can be carr~ed out 'dry' and 'wet' activities, built up of elements o~ modular di-mensions that are made o~ a polymer composition that does not shrink when hardened.
A worktop is a horizontal top on which work can be carried out. The~e activities are distingui~hed into ~dryV and 'wet' activi-ties, i'or the latter o~ which the worktop is provided with one or ; more sinks, optio~ally with a drip section or drip tray. The 'dry' activities are carried out on the remainder oi' the worktop, the part between the sink(s) and the cooking appliance being called the main work suri'ace and the other parts rei'erred to as work suri'aces. Parts with such small dimensions that no activities can be periormed on them are called laying suriaces.
A kitchen ge~erally has a worktop with, underneath it, a ; 15 number o~ base cabinets and kitchen appliance~, such as a baking appliance and a re~rigerator. In larger kitchen~ these may be supple-mented with a dishwasher, a deepireeze, etc. The worktop comprises one or more sinks, possibly with a drip tray and a spillage tray ~or the cooker. The sinks and drip tray, and al~o the spillage tray, ~ereina~ter re~erred to simply as 'trays', can be moulded~together with the rest oi the worktop i'rom the same material, such as, in particu-lar, metal.
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Although modular build-up systems i'or kitchens have made their advent, the systems are in most cases restricted to base cabi-nets, cooking appliances and the worktops ~or wet activities and the cooking sections. The worktops for dry activities are as much as possible mounted in one piece, made to measure, in order to reduce the number oi' joints in the worktop.
The wide:range o~ aesthetic and technical requirements which the worktop and trays have to satisiy has given rise to a need ~or greater ireedom o~ choice-with regard to the materials to be used, which has had the result that in many cases the worktop and trays nowadays consist oi diiierent materials. As a rule the work-top is made oi coloured or uncoloured metal, plastic, wood, compres-sed wood covered with a hard plastic layer (e.g. Formica), or a stone-like material (e.e. Ocriet), and the trays oi stainless steel or enamelled sheet steel. The worktop has holes in it in which the trays are later i'itted. The trays rest with a i'langed top edge on the top ~ur~ace oi the worktop or are iastened to the underside of the worktop.
Despite the greater ireedom oi choice attained with regard to the material, the worktops which are customary at present still display one or more o~ the iollowing disadvantages:
1. The worktops are made in one piece, so that ii damage or wear occurs locally they have to be renewed in their eintirety;
The invention relates to a worktop on which can be carr~ed out 'dry' and 'wet' activities, built up of elements o~ modular di-mensions that are made o~ a polymer composition that does not shrink when hardened.
A worktop is a horizontal top on which work can be carried out. The~e activities are distingui~hed into ~dryV and 'wet' activi-ties, i'or the latter o~ which the worktop is provided with one or ; more sinks, optio~ally with a drip section or drip tray. The 'dry' activities are carried out on the remainder oi' the worktop, the part between the sink(s) and the cooking appliance being called the main work suri'ace and the other parts rei'erred to as work suri'aces. Parts with such small dimensions that no activities can be periormed on them are called laying suriaces.
A kitchen ge~erally has a worktop with, underneath it, a ; 15 number o~ base cabinets and kitchen appliance~, such as a baking appliance and a re~rigerator. In larger kitchen~ these may be supple-mented with a dishwasher, a deepireeze, etc. The worktop comprises one or more sinks, possibly with a drip tray and a spillage tray ~or the cooker. The sinks and drip tray, and al~o the spillage tray, ~ereina~ter re~erred to simply as 'trays', can be moulded~together with the rest oi the worktop i'rom the same material, such as, in particu-lar, metal.
, . . , . ... ~ ., ,.,............. ~:
;
9~
Although modular build-up systems i'or kitchens have made their advent, the systems are in most cases restricted to base cabi-nets, cooking appliances and the worktops ~or wet activities and the cooking sections. The worktops for dry activities are as much as possible mounted in one piece, made to measure, in order to reduce the number oi' joints in the worktop.
The wide:range o~ aesthetic and technical requirements which the worktop and trays have to satisiy has given rise to a need ~or greater ireedom o~ choice-with regard to the materials to be used, which has had the result that in many cases the worktop and trays nowadays consist oi diiierent materials. As a rule the work-top is made oi coloured or uncoloured metal, plastic, wood, compres-sed wood covered with a hard plastic layer (e.g. Formica), or a stone-like material (e.e. Ocriet), and the trays oi stainless steel or enamelled sheet steel. The worktop has holes in it in which the trays are later i'itted. The trays rest with a i'langed top edge on the top ~ur~ace oi the worktop or are iastened to the underside of the worktop.
Despite the greater ireedom oi choice attained with regard to the material, the worktops which are customary at present still display one or more o~ the iollowing disadvantages:
1. The worktops are made in one piece, so that ii damage or wear occurs locally they have to be renewed in their eintirety;
2. The worktops have only a limited $1exibility of arrangement. A
modi~ied kitchen layout irequently renders the worktop unusable;
modi~ied kitchen layout irequently renders the worktop unusable;
3. Shi~ting the position oi' appliances usine water or energy with respect to the connecting points ior water, gas and electricity entalls high expenditure ior structural alterations and line installa-tion;
3. The worktops do now allow oi connecting them to each other rigid-ly, with a good seal, and almost invisibly;
3. The worktops do now allow oi connecting them to each other rigid-ly, with a good seal, and almost invisibly;
4. The worktops are not resistant to heat, humidity or domestic chemicals;
5. The cutting-out oi' holes means not only an extra operation but also a loss of material;
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6. The worktops are not dimensionally stable, or cannot be manufactured dimensîonally stable, which is a disadvantage particularly with modular systems;
7. The corners formed by the flanged edges of the trays and the worktop are difficult to clean and form a barrier when liquid is wiped towards the tray.
If the trays are fastened to the underside of the worktop, the same cleaning ~-problem arises. Getting the top of the trays to the same height as the top of the worktop demands a special process. This process is difficult to carry out with sufficient accuracy and in the case of worktops covered with hard plastic it is not even very desirable.
The object of the invention is to provide a worktop which shows none of the above-mentioned disadvantages and additionally provides a solution to the accommodation of lines.
Surprisingly, this has proved possible by combining three factors, namely the design, the mode of fabrication, and the properties of the starting material, which, inseparably combined, contribute to the formation of a worktop that meets the technical, economic and aesthetic requirements set.
It is considered a special feature of the invention that the total conception comprises not only the upper surface but also the underside of the worktop.
The combination which is claimed as the invention herein is a worktop on which can be carried out "dry" and "wet" actiyities, built up of elements of modular dimensions that are made of a polymer composition that does not shrink when hardened. The worktop is characterized in that it comprises planar elements with holes in them for the accommodation of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances, and planar elements with a continuous surface. The elements have downturned flanges round all or part ' , _ , , : : ~-- .
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.
, ~9~11 of their perimeter, to which adjoining elements can be connected rigidly and with a good seal. The elements are made of a material consisting of a fine-grained inorganic substance bound with not more than 25% by weight of a thermosetting resin and incorporating, in random distribution, 1-5%
by weight of g'ass fibres. The elements are produced by moulding to the desired final shape in a compression mould. The thickness of the material is at least 3 mm. In the elements with holes in them, a recess may be provided round the top of the holes so that the tops of flanged edges of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances fit accurately into the tops of the elements. The tops of the continuous-surface elements may be profiled.
Other structural adaptations are specifically referred to in the claims.
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~9~1 -By giving the holes at their top a circumferential recess oi' such dimensions that the tops oi' the i'langed edges of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances inserted in the holes fit accurately in-to the top suri'ace oi' the worktop, the relevant technical requirements are also satisi'ied.
The worktop built up o~ elements make~ it possible to renew parts that are damaged or worn, while considerable flexibility oi' srrangement between the various parts oi the kitchen is obtained, which means a great advantage in the case oi conversion or renovation.
The continuous-suri'ace elements can, ii' so desired, have a proi'iled suriace. Thi~ may also mean that, i'or example, bases ~or small kitchen appliances are moulded into the element during the moulding process.
The ~act that the worktop elements have downward edges round the whole or part oi' their perimeter gives, even with the minimum thickness o~ the worktop of 3 mm, the visual suggestion Or attracti-ve worktop thickness; ln addition, the downward edges o~i'er excellent possibilities i'or connecting the elements to each other with a good seal. Not only are the downward edges at least so high that, taking the role oi' a ~lange, tbey allow oi' r~gidly connecting the elements, they are also so hlgh that the service lines normally used can be accommodated in the space under the worktop The downward edges can be provided at suitable places with pu9h-outg i'or leading through lines. The accommodation oi' lines and i'ittings in the space under worktops according to the invention makes them easier to i'it and gives greater ~reedom in the matter o~ locating kitchen appliances using water and/or energy in relation to the connecting points ~or water, gas and electricity, while there is no loss oi' space behind base ` cabinets.
A particularly ~avourable design is that in which the down-~; ward edges to be placed against each other in assembling are bevelled in such a way that their bottom lines meet. This creates between the elements a dimensionally stable joint in which sealing cement is introduced.
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Making the underside of the worktop serviceable within the modular system, in combination ~ith the related requirements of high three-dimensional stability, calls for a finely through-out choice offabrîcation technique and starting material.
Although any moulding compound consisting of a fine-grained inorganic substance bound wîth not more than 25 % by weight of a thermosetting resin can be used, it is preferred to employ a particular moulding compound, which, in addition to having good shrinkage properties, is particularly well suited for application in worktops. This is a moulding compound consisting of an unsaturated pol~ester resin, 80 to 95 % by weight of inorganic filler with a grain size mainl~ between 0 and 500 microns, 1 to 5 % by weight of glass fibres, in relation to the total mixture, of which glass fibres at least 3/4 are less than 15 mm long, randoml~ distributed chiefly as monofilaments, and 0.5 to 5 % b~ ~eight o~ magnesium oxide in relation to the unsaturated palyester resin, which mixture, before moulding, is thickened until it is compact and practicall~ air-free. The compound i5 moulded in such a way that one or more glass tissues are also incorporated in the surface, preferably with a decorative effect. The use of this moulding compound means that a large number o~ requirements which a worktop has intrinsically to meet, such as scratch-resistance, impact-resistance, grease-resistance and resistance to heat, humidit~ and household chemicals, can be satis~ied, whilst this compound is moreoVer an inexpensive and very highly mouldable starting material.
; Starting material and moulding technique make it possible, by adding a colorant to the moulding compound and adapting the mould, to give the worktop a variety of colours and decorative patterns, which means that it can be giVen an attractiYe appearance without expensive further operations being needed. For example, the joints between the worktop elements can be absorbed unobtrusively in a decorative pattern imparted to the moulding , - . ; ~ ,:.
~9~1 compound. In that case, of course, the decorati~e pattern, e.g. a tile pattern, must be adapted to the modular dimension, and separations between chosen parts to the width of a joint between the elements.
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Without loss of material the moulding technique makes it possible to provide holes and, in combination with the starting mate-rial, to ensure a dimensiona~ly stable shape of the recesses round the holes. The intrinsically dimensionally stable sinks and drip trays, as well as other kitchen appliances, can be inserted with a close i'it in the worktop, so that the tops o~ their ~langed edges are received practically jointlesslg in the top sur~ace o~ the work-top. A solution is thus e~i'ectively and inexpensively obtained to the cleaning and draining problems o~ present-da~ worktops with holes, thereby contributing to increased kitchen hygiene.
The invention will now be ~urther explained with re~erence to an embodiment shown in the drawing. In this drawing Fig. 1 is a top view oi a worktop according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a ~ront view o~ a worktop ~itted over a number oi' base cabinets and a kitchen appliance;
Fig. 3 is a section along line III-III in ~ig. 1 on a larger scale;
Fig. 4 is a partial section in which, in accordance with the known state oi the art, the ilanged edge rests on the worktop;
Fig. 5 is a perspective ~iew o~ a worktop element with a hole in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi' a continuous worktop element in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 7 is a section along line VII-VII in ~ig. 1 on a larger scale.
Figs. 1 and 2 show a worktop consisting oi' elements 1 to 6 25 i'itted over a number oi base cabinets 7 to 11, 12 and 13, and a ; baking appliance 14. The worktop in this example has a main work sur~ace (3, 4) between the sink element 2 and the cooking element 5.
Work sur~aces are i'ormed by elements 1 and ~. Figs. 1 and 2 show the modular build-up oi' the worktop as a whole. The modular width o~ the ; 30 elements in this example is equal to that o~ base cabinet 7. The two worktop elements 3 and 4 are each two modular widths wide, the coo-king worktop element is three wide, and the sink worktop element i~our.
The sides ot' the elements always coincide with sides oi the cabinet~
; and kitchen appliances under them, so that units are formed which ; 35 are interchangeable.
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Elements 2 and 5 have holes in which sinks 15 and spillage tray 16, respectively, are accommodated as shown in section in ~ig. 3, where sink 15 is accommodated in hole 17 in sink element 2. Along the top of the edges of hole 17 there is a recess 18 in element 2, in which the i'langed edge 19 o~ sink 15 iits closely, the top surface o$
the ~langed edge being accommodated so as to be ~lush with the top suriace 20 o~ worktop element 2. This means that there are no difi'icult-to-clean corners between the ~langed edges and the worktop, unlike the situatlon arising with the ~amiliar placement oi' sinks (see iig. 4), when the ~langed edge 21 rests on the top o~ worktop 22, with a seaIing strip 23 in between.
Fig. 5 i~ a perspective view o~ a worktop element containing a hole, while i'ig. 6 presents a perspective view o~ a continuous surface worktop element on which kitchen activities can be carried out. The worktop elements are placed at the same height in relation to each other with the aid o~ dowel-and-hole connections, i'or which purpose holes 24 as shown in ~igs. 5 and 6 are provided in the sides o~ the worktop elements. The seal between the elements can be made in a known ~ashion by means oi' a sealing cement or adhesive.
All elements possess downward edges along all or part oi their perimeter, as indicated in iig. 3 by reierence number 25, so that, in addition to the possibilitg oi' creating rigid connections between the elements, spaces are created under the worktop elements ~or the accom~odation o~ lines and ~itting~. For the purpose oi connecting these spaces, the downward edges between the worktop ele-ment~ have push-outs (not shown). Push-outs are considerably thinned ~: parts oi edges which can be removed bg hand or by a light hammer blow.
Fig. 7 shows a special embodiment oi' the invention in which the contacting edges 26 and 27 o~ worktop elements 3 and 4, respecti-vely, are bevelled, so that their bottom lines meet at 28, creating between eleme~ts 3 and 4 a dimensionally stable joint 29 ior the introduction o~ a sealing cement or adhesive 30. By 31 a sectional ; representation is indicated oi' a 'joint'-moulded into the worktop as part oi' a pattern and having the same colour, width and depth as the i'illed joint 29. Dimension 'a' is a submultiple oi' the modular dimension.
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The vertical edges 32 at the rear o~ the worktop elements (see ~ig. 3) can be raised to form connecting edges and/or splash edges.
This raised edge is also suitable ~or accommodating a soap dish, a rack or cuchlike provisions.
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If the trays are fastened to the underside of the worktop, the same cleaning ~-problem arises. Getting the top of the trays to the same height as the top of the worktop demands a special process. This process is difficult to carry out with sufficient accuracy and in the case of worktops covered with hard plastic it is not even very desirable.
The object of the invention is to provide a worktop which shows none of the above-mentioned disadvantages and additionally provides a solution to the accommodation of lines.
Surprisingly, this has proved possible by combining three factors, namely the design, the mode of fabrication, and the properties of the starting material, which, inseparably combined, contribute to the formation of a worktop that meets the technical, economic and aesthetic requirements set.
It is considered a special feature of the invention that the total conception comprises not only the upper surface but also the underside of the worktop.
The combination which is claimed as the invention herein is a worktop on which can be carried out "dry" and "wet" actiyities, built up of elements of modular dimensions that are made of a polymer composition that does not shrink when hardened. The worktop is characterized in that it comprises planar elements with holes in them for the accommodation of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances, and planar elements with a continuous surface. The elements have downturned flanges round all or part ' , _ , , : : ~-- .
. ~' ~ ,.' .
.
, ~9~11 of their perimeter, to which adjoining elements can be connected rigidly and with a good seal. The elements are made of a material consisting of a fine-grained inorganic substance bound with not more than 25% by weight of a thermosetting resin and incorporating, in random distribution, 1-5%
by weight of g'ass fibres. The elements are produced by moulding to the desired final shape in a compression mould. The thickness of the material is at least 3 mm. In the elements with holes in them, a recess may be provided round the top of the holes so that the tops of flanged edges of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances fit accurately into the tops of the elements. The tops of the continuous-surface elements may be profiled.
Other structural adaptations are specifically referred to in the claims.
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- ~ : : : ~:: :
~9~1 -By giving the holes at their top a circumferential recess oi' such dimensions that the tops oi' the i'langed edges of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances inserted in the holes fit accurately in-to the top suri'ace oi' the worktop, the relevant technical requirements are also satisi'ied.
The worktop built up o~ elements make~ it possible to renew parts that are damaged or worn, while considerable flexibility oi' srrangement between the various parts oi the kitchen is obtained, which means a great advantage in the case oi conversion or renovation.
The continuous-suri'ace elements can, ii' so desired, have a proi'iled suriace. Thi~ may also mean that, i'or example, bases ~or small kitchen appliances are moulded into the element during the moulding process.
The ~act that the worktop elements have downward edges round the whole or part oi' their perimeter gives, even with the minimum thickness o~ the worktop of 3 mm, the visual suggestion Or attracti-ve worktop thickness; ln addition, the downward edges o~i'er excellent possibilities i'or connecting the elements to each other with a good seal. Not only are the downward edges at least so high that, taking the role oi' a ~lange, tbey allow oi' r~gidly connecting the elements, they are also so hlgh that the service lines normally used can be accommodated in the space under the worktop The downward edges can be provided at suitable places with pu9h-outg i'or leading through lines. The accommodation oi' lines and i'ittings in the space under worktops according to the invention makes them easier to i'it and gives greater ~reedom in the matter o~ locating kitchen appliances using water and/or energy in relation to the connecting points ~or water, gas and electricity, while there is no loss oi' space behind base ` cabinets.
A particularly ~avourable design is that in which the down-~; ward edges to be placed against each other in assembling are bevelled in such a way that their bottom lines meet. This creates between the elements a dimensionally stable joint in which sealing cement is introduced.
. . .
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~. .
:,: :: ~: . : .
9~
Making the underside of the worktop serviceable within the modular system, in combination ~ith the related requirements of high three-dimensional stability, calls for a finely through-out choice offabrîcation technique and starting material.
Although any moulding compound consisting of a fine-grained inorganic substance bound wîth not more than 25 % by weight of a thermosetting resin can be used, it is preferred to employ a particular moulding compound, which, in addition to having good shrinkage properties, is particularly well suited for application in worktops. This is a moulding compound consisting of an unsaturated pol~ester resin, 80 to 95 % by weight of inorganic filler with a grain size mainl~ between 0 and 500 microns, 1 to 5 % by weight of glass fibres, in relation to the total mixture, of which glass fibres at least 3/4 are less than 15 mm long, randoml~ distributed chiefly as monofilaments, and 0.5 to 5 % b~ ~eight o~ magnesium oxide in relation to the unsaturated palyester resin, which mixture, before moulding, is thickened until it is compact and practicall~ air-free. The compound i5 moulded in such a way that one or more glass tissues are also incorporated in the surface, preferably with a decorative effect. The use of this moulding compound means that a large number o~ requirements which a worktop has intrinsically to meet, such as scratch-resistance, impact-resistance, grease-resistance and resistance to heat, humidit~ and household chemicals, can be satis~ied, whilst this compound is moreoVer an inexpensive and very highly mouldable starting material.
; Starting material and moulding technique make it possible, by adding a colorant to the moulding compound and adapting the mould, to give the worktop a variety of colours and decorative patterns, which means that it can be giVen an attractiYe appearance without expensive further operations being needed. For example, the joints between the worktop elements can be absorbed unobtrusively in a decorative pattern imparted to the moulding , - . ; ~ ,:.
~9~1 compound. In that case, of course, the decorati~e pattern, e.g. a tile pattern, must be adapted to the modular dimension, and separations between chosen parts to the width of a joint between the elements.
, ., :~' ;' _5a-- . , . . - ., .. - : :
9~
Without loss of material the moulding technique makes it possible to provide holes and, in combination with the starting mate-rial, to ensure a dimensiona~ly stable shape of the recesses round the holes. The intrinsically dimensionally stable sinks and drip trays, as well as other kitchen appliances, can be inserted with a close i'it in the worktop, so that the tops o~ their ~langed edges are received practically jointlesslg in the top sur~ace o~ the work-top. A solution is thus e~i'ectively and inexpensively obtained to the cleaning and draining problems o~ present-da~ worktops with holes, thereby contributing to increased kitchen hygiene.
The invention will now be ~urther explained with re~erence to an embodiment shown in the drawing. In this drawing Fig. 1 is a top view oi a worktop according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a ~ront view o~ a worktop ~itted over a number oi' base cabinets and a kitchen appliance;
Fig. 3 is a section along line III-III in ~ig. 1 on a larger scale;
Fig. 4 is a partial section in which, in accordance with the known state oi the art, the ilanged edge rests on the worktop;
Fig. 5 is a perspective ~iew o~ a worktop element with a hole in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi' a continuous worktop element in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 7 is a section along line VII-VII in ~ig. 1 on a larger scale.
Figs. 1 and 2 show a worktop consisting oi' elements 1 to 6 25 i'itted over a number oi base cabinets 7 to 11, 12 and 13, and a ; baking appliance 14. The worktop in this example has a main work sur~ace (3, 4) between the sink element 2 and the cooking element 5.
Work sur~aces are i'ormed by elements 1 and ~. Figs. 1 and 2 show the modular build-up oi' the worktop as a whole. The modular width o~ the ; 30 elements in this example is equal to that o~ base cabinet 7. The two worktop elements 3 and 4 are each two modular widths wide, the coo-king worktop element is three wide, and the sink worktop element i~our.
The sides ot' the elements always coincide with sides oi the cabinet~
; and kitchen appliances under them, so that units are formed which ; 35 are interchangeable.
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:
.. : ,. : ~ :
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Elements 2 and 5 have holes in which sinks 15 and spillage tray 16, respectively, are accommodated as shown in section in ~ig. 3, where sink 15 is accommodated in hole 17 in sink element 2. Along the top of the edges of hole 17 there is a recess 18 in element 2, in which the i'langed edge 19 o~ sink 15 iits closely, the top surface o$
the ~langed edge being accommodated so as to be ~lush with the top suriace 20 o~ worktop element 2. This means that there are no difi'icult-to-clean corners between the ~langed edges and the worktop, unlike the situatlon arising with the ~amiliar placement oi' sinks (see iig. 4), when the ~langed edge 21 rests on the top o~ worktop 22, with a seaIing strip 23 in between.
Fig. 5 i~ a perspective view o~ a worktop element containing a hole, while i'ig. 6 presents a perspective view o~ a continuous surface worktop element on which kitchen activities can be carried out. The worktop elements are placed at the same height in relation to each other with the aid o~ dowel-and-hole connections, i'or which purpose holes 24 as shown in ~igs. 5 and 6 are provided in the sides o~ the worktop elements. The seal between the elements can be made in a known ~ashion by means oi' a sealing cement or adhesive.
All elements possess downward edges along all or part oi their perimeter, as indicated in iig. 3 by reierence number 25, so that, in addition to the possibilitg oi' creating rigid connections between the elements, spaces are created under the worktop elements ~or the accom~odation o~ lines and ~itting~. For the purpose oi connecting these spaces, the downward edges between the worktop ele-ment~ have push-outs (not shown). Push-outs are considerably thinned ~: parts oi edges which can be removed bg hand or by a light hammer blow.
Fig. 7 shows a special embodiment oi' the invention in which the contacting edges 26 and 27 o~ worktop elements 3 and 4, respecti-vely, are bevelled, so that their bottom lines meet at 28, creating between eleme~ts 3 and 4 a dimensionally stable joint 29 ior the introduction o~ a sealing cement or adhesive 30. By 31 a sectional ; representation is indicated oi' a 'joint'-moulded into the worktop as part oi' a pattern and having the same colour, width and depth as the i'illed joint 29. Dimension 'a' is a submultiple oi' the modular dimension.
:, . : : , ., , ~ .
- :- :
~ : , : . .
The vertical edges 32 at the rear o~ the worktop elements (see ~ig. 3) can be raised to form connecting edges and/or splash edges.
This raised edge is also suitable ~or accommodating a soap dish, a rack or cuchlike provisions.
.~
:: ~ .:
., . . -- - . :
Claims (7)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Worktop on which can be carried out "dry" and "wet" activities, built up of elements of modular dimensions that are made of a polymer composition that does not shrink when hardened, this worktop being character-ized in that it comprises planar elements with holes in them for the accommodation of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances, and planar elements with a continuous surface, the elements having downturned flanges round all or part of their perimeter, to which adjoining elements can be connected rigidly and with a good seal, the elements being made of a material consisting of a fine-grained inorganic substance bound with not more than 25 % by weight of a thermosetting resin and incorporating, in random distribution, 1-5% by weight of glass fibres, by moulding to the desired final shape in a compression mould, and the thickness of the material being at least 3 mm.
2. Worktop according to claim 1, characterized in that the elements with holes in them have, round the top of the holes, a recess of such dimensions that the tops of flanged edges of sinks, drip trays and kitchen appliances inserted in the holes fit accurately into the tops of the elements.
3. Worktop according to claim 1, characterized in that the tops of the continuous-surface elements are profiled.
4. Worktop according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , characterized in that the tops of the continuous-surface elements are provided with a base for a kitchen appliance.
5. Worktop according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the downward edges are at least so high that there is space for the accommodation of service lines under the worktop.
6. Worktop according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least the downward edges which in assembling are placed against each other are so bevelled that on assembly their bottom lines meet.
7. Worktop according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a pattern adapted to the modular dimension is moulded into the top surface so that the filled joints between the elements form one whole with the pattern.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL7709524A NL7709524A (en) | 1977-08-30 | 1977-08-30 | WORKTOP. |
| NL7709524 | 1977-08-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1109111A true CA1109111A (en) | 1981-09-15 |
Family
ID=19829100
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA309,811A Expired CA1109111A (en) | 1977-08-30 | 1978-08-22 | Worktop |
Country Status (12)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| BE (1) | BE869936A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1109111A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2837464A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK380978A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES245361Y (en) |
| FI (1) | FI782649A7 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2401632A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2003419B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1109409B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7709524A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO782927L (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7809166L (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2620471A1 (en) * | 1987-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | Vitreouslite Sas M Odorisio Ci | SINK WITH COMBINABLE MODULAR ELEMENTS |
| ES2118025B1 (en) * | 1994-12-05 | 1999-03-01 | Novogranit S L | MANUFACTURING PROCEDURE FOR HOBS WITH DRAINER TOWARDS SINKS. |
| DE19636645C2 (en) * | 1996-09-10 | 2003-06-18 | Lkh Kunststoffwerk Gmbh & Co | kitchen equipment |
| US6128793A (en) * | 1999-06-17 | 2000-10-10 | Weinstein; Albert I. | Complete pre-fabricated tile counter in components |
| US6330774B1 (en) | 1999-06-17 | 2001-12-18 | Albert I Weinstein | Prefabricated tiled panel system |
| US6442905B1 (en) | 1999-06-17 | 2002-09-03 | Albert I. Weinstein | Complete pre-fabricated tile counter in components |
| FR2916123A1 (en) * | 2007-05-16 | 2008-11-21 | Terres Cuites Des Rairies Soc | Modular worktop for e.g. kitchen, has elements molded by ceramic material, where outer thickness of one set of elements is equal to thickness of other elements such that elements define plan at assembled state |
| DE102008018956A1 (en) * | 2008-04-15 | 2009-11-05 | Bulthaup Gmbh & Co Kg | Kitchen functional unit has stretcher rack and multiple functional elements, which are carried by stretcher rack, and functional elements are implemented in such manner that they are mounted at different positions |
| DE102021116896A1 (en) | 2021-06-30 | 2023-01-05 | Berner International Gmbh | Safety workbench with worktops with integrated work tools |
-
1977
- 1977-08-30 NL NL7709524A patent/NL7709524A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1978
- 1978-08-22 CA CA309,811A patent/CA1109111A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-23 GB GB7834244A patent/GB2003419B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-24 BE BE190038A patent/BE869936A/en unknown
- 1978-08-28 DE DE19782837464 patent/DE2837464A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-08-28 NO NO782927A patent/NO782927L/en unknown
- 1978-08-28 FR FR7824774A patent/FR2401632A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-08-29 IT IT50895/78A patent/IT1109409B/en active
- 1978-08-29 FI FI782649A patent/FI782649A7/en unknown
- 1978-08-29 ES ES1978245361U patent/ES245361Y/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-29 DK DK380978A patent/DK380978A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1978-08-30 SE SE7809166A patent/SE7809166L/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SE7809166L (en) | 1979-03-01 |
| NL7709524A (en) | 1979-03-02 |
| ES245361Y (en) | 1980-12-16 |
| BE869936A (en) | 1979-02-26 |
| DK380978A (en) | 1979-03-01 |
| ES245361U (en) | 1980-05-16 |
| IT7850895A0 (en) | 1978-08-29 |
| FI782649A7 (en) | 1979-03-01 |
| DE2837464A1 (en) | 1979-03-22 |
| NO782927L (en) | 1979-03-01 |
| FR2401632A1 (en) | 1979-03-30 |
| GB2003419B (en) | 1982-02-17 |
| GB2003419A (en) | 1979-03-14 |
| IT1109409B (en) | 1985-12-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |