Abstract: Processes for producing durable three-dimensional bowls such as water basins comprising acrylic plastics heavily filled with alumina trihydrate, some embodiments including colorants and visible particles such as those used for simulating stone such as granite. A preferred process for manufacturing the bowls of such material includes defining a flat rigid blank in the approximate top outline shape of bowl to be formed, e.g., the blank being a flat oval for an oval bowl and circular for a circular bowl. The flat blank is provided a smooth side or sides which will be the concave finished side in use. The blank is heated to a point of softening and of uniform temperature throughout, and located within a molding die such as a matched molding die having a female cavity of the desired bowl shape. The heated blank is indexed to the die, but left generally unrestrained so that the heated blank and edges thereof are un-clamped, thereby allowing the edges to be moved inward to help minimize tension loads during forming.

Abstract: A modularly constructed countertop generally of plastic solid surfacing material and including connectable modular countertop panel sections including various lengths of straight sections, and corner sections having thickened finished front edges. Included is an error resistant arrangement of adhesively seaming one countertop panel section to another utilizing easily aligned edges having registration grooves for aligning the top surfaces of adjacent sections flush with each other during adhesive seaming. Included for clamping purposes during the adhesive seaming are rigid elongated strips each having transverse grooves located across a bottom surface. Top surfaces of the strips are glued to the bottom surface of the countertop panel sections adjacent and parallel the edges to be abutted and adhesively seamed.

Abstract: Trim moldings such as crown molding, chair rail molding, base molding and door casing for a building. The trim moldings are made of substantially acrylic or polyester rigid thermoset polymer components. The trim moldings may be manufactured to realistically visually simulate moldings made of natural stone. A method of manufacture of the moldings may utilizes bulk slabs or blocks of rigid thermoset polymer based materials which are then properly shaped for use as a building trim molding with mechanical material removal methods such as sawing, cutting, sanding, and polishing to achieve the desired size, shape and appearance of molding. The thermoset polymer based moldings are structured with grooves in the backside, with the grooves sized and positioned to snap onto spring biased members of mounting fixtures attached to the building for a removable attachment of the moldings.

Abstract: A backsplash structured to be cooperatively functional with a countertop structure. The backsplash is made of a plastic solid surfacing material, and possesses an integrally formed front bottom lengthwise edge extending outward from and beyond the front face of the backsplash to define a coved lip or flange. The countertop comprises a normally elongated rectangular section of plastic solid surfacing material having an elongated receiving recess. A bottom surface of the backsplash and coved lip is specifically sized and shaped for insertion into the receiving recess of the countertop whereby a curved transition is defined between the top horizontal workspace surface of the countertop and the front face of the backsplash. The bottom surface of the backsplash and coved lip is affixed in place in the receiving recess with the use of a color matching adhesive. Once the adhesive has set, the seam is finished with a light sanding with progressively finer abrasives.

Abstract: A rigid, elongated bracket formed substantially 90 degrees to conform to the shape of an edge corner of a door panel. The elongated bracket has two permanently affixed and spaced apart rigid posts on a top surface thereof, and apertures to receive mounting screws on a side surface thereof. One surface of the bracket rests on an end edge of a cabinet door, with the posts extending outward into an L-shaped guide track attached to a cabinet. A side surface of the bracket extends over a portion of the back side of the door, and screws or other suitable fasteners are applied through the apertures of the bracket into the back surface of the door to retain the bracket in place. One 90 degree bracket with posts inserted into an L-shaped guide track is used at one end of the door, and a second 90 degree bracket with posts inserted into a second L-shaped guide track is used at the oppositely disposed end of the door.