Solid surface integral fixture

Abstract

A mountable composite fixture for integral mounting on a composite top, sink, tub or any surface composed of similar material as the base portion of the fixture. The fixture has a base constructed and arranged to mate with a hole constructed and arranged into a mounting apparatus. The base is chemically bonded to the mounting apparatus with a two part or other similar bonding compound. No mechanical bond, gaskets, fasteners or escutcheons are necessary.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to the composition of fixtures and the mounting of fixtures to a sink, countertop, cabinet, or the like, composed of similar material as the fixture, with or without the aid of mechanical fasteners.

[0004] Typical fixtures such as faucets, sprayers, handles, showers, or dispensers are composed of metals or plastic components. These fixtures are required to be fastened to a mounting surface through the use of mechanical fasteners. There is a transition between the fixture and the mounting surface. It is at this transition that material builds up and is difficult to clean. The transition also provides a location for a seal failure.

[0005] Most if not all fixtures have a surface that is nonrenewable. While consumers try to care for fixture surfaces, most surfaces will pit, flake or scratch over time.

[0006] Color selection for fixtures is limited and generally will not color match with mounting surfaces.

[0007] All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0008] Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.

[0009] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention addresses and corrects these shortcomings of the prior art.

[0011] In one embodiment the invention provides a fixture having a base portion constructed and arranged to form a taper or other configuration necessary to match a mating surface and a neck or body portion extending from the base portion. The fixture is composed fully or partially, either solid form or coating form of a solid surface composition of acrylic, acrylic polyester, or other similar composite having the same general characteristics of name brands such as Corian, Hi Mac, Surell or any other similar brand. The neck may extend into a device of a similar material to itself.

[0012] In another embodiment the invention provides a fixture having a base portion that is flanged or similarly configured to mate with a mounting surface that has a hole that is substantially frustum-shaped to match the flange or shaped to match any required configuration. The fixture is composed fully or partially, either solid form or coating form of a solid surface composition of acrylic, acrylic polyester, or other similar composite having the same general characteristics of name brands such as Corian, Hi Mac, Surell or any other brand similar, and the neck extends into a device of a dissimilar material to itself.

[0013] In another embodiment the invention provides a fixture and a mounting apparatus in which a base portion having a neck portion is constructed and arranged to form a taper or other configuration and mate with a mounting apparatus composed of or coated by a similar material to the fixture. The base of the fixture sized to be fittingly, frictionally, or sealingly engaged to a hole in the mounting apparatus to form an attachment with a mounting surface of the mounting apparatus. The base and mounting apparatus are then chemically bonded to each other.

[0014] In another embodiment the invention provides a fixture and a mounting apparatus in which a base portion having a neck portion is constructed and arranged to form a taper or other configuration and mate with a mounting apparatus composed of or coated by a similar material to the fixture. The base of the fixture is chemically bonded to a fitted hole in the mounting apparatus to form an integral attachment with a mounting surface of the mounting apparatus. The surface of the attachment location mechanically or chemically treated to provide a surface that is integrally attached without a noticeable seam. Thus, the contacting location is smooth and continuous with the surface.

[0015] In yet another embodiment the invention provides a fixture composed fully or partially, either solid form or coating form, of a solid surface composition of acrylic, acrylic polyester, or other similar composite having the same general characteristics of name brands such as Corian, Hi Mac, Surell or any other similar brand, and suitable for mounting on a support of the type having a wall with a hole, a supporting surface on one side of the wall and the surface being in the form of a flange or other configuration to accept a fixture with a flanged or otherwise configured base to be chemically bonded to the surface; or suitable for mounting on a support having a wall with a hole, a supporting surface on one side of the wall and a clamping surface at the opposite side. A wall here defines any mounting apparatus having a surface and a hole for mounting. The wall can be vertical, horizontal, or oblique in relation to the horizontal.

[0016] In another embodiment an acrylic fixture is mounted on an acrylic/polyester base.

[0017] In another embodiment an acrylic/polyester fixture is mounted on an acrylic base.

[0018] These and other embodiments, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a cut-away side view of an inventive fixture.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the mount design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

[0023] For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

[0024] Also for the purposes of this disclosure, the term “fixture” has been used throughout this application. It should be noted that the use of the term “fixture” includes faucets, handles, sprayers, showers, and dispensers and other devices that can be similarly mounted.

[0025] In FIG. 1 a fixture 10 is shown before insertion into a hole 26 of a mounting apparatus 20 with a mounting surface 22 and a thickness 28. The fixture 10 has a base portion 12, a neck portion 16, and a device portion 18 extending from the neck portion. The base portion 12 of the fixture 10 has been constructed and arranged to mate with the mounting apparatus 20 which has been constructed and arranged to have a hole 26, which accepts the insertion of fixture base portion 12. Flanged fixture base 12 is chemically bonded to the sides of hole 26. Upon insertion and bonding, the uppermost portion of the base portion 12 becomes flush with the mounting surface 22 of mounting apparatus 20, if desired. Then through chemical or mechanical action the seam can be made indistinguishable from the rest of surface 22 and neck 16 such that a smooth and integral attachment is made. Functional and/or decorative features on the base 12 may also remain above the mounting surface as well and can be made to appear and to function as though the combination of the base 12 and the mounting apparatus 20 were originally one molded piece with little, if any, evidence of a seam.

[0026] In FIG. 2 the schematic illustrates that the base of the fixture fittingly engages hole 26 and that the uppermost portion 24 of the base of the fixture is designed to meet flushly with the surface 22 of the mounting apparatus.

[0027] In another embodiment the fixture 10 is composed of a solid surface composite such as Corian from DuPont, Surell brand, Avonite Brand, Gibralter Brand, Cerata Brand or any other material sharing similar characteristics. The base portion 12 is constructed and arranged to mate with a constructed and arranged mounting apparatus 20 having a hole 26. The fixture base and the hole in the mounting surface are chemically bonded to each other. When allowed to dry, the seam formed where the surface 22 and uppermost portion of the base portion 12 meet can be finished so as to no longer show a mechanical transition. Finishing can include any of the following: sanding, sand blasting, polishing, heating, grinding, cutting (with a mechanical instrument, with a laser, with high pressure liquid or gas, etc), filing, beating, melting, etc. Thus, the transition no longer provides a location for buildup of foreign material or for seal failure. A mechanical fastening device may be added for further support or aesthetics.

[0028] The composite of the fixture can also be composed of the same colors as most solid surface or composite deck materials. The fixture surface is renewable. When dirty, scratched or slightly damaged, the surface can be renewed by finishing the surface with recommended abrasives.

[0029] The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

[0030] Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim.

Claims

1. A fixture comprising:

a base portion, wherein the base portion is constructed and arranged to engage a hole for mounting on a mounting apparatus;

a neck portion extending from the base portion; and

the base portion composed of or coated by a solid surface composition.

2. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the solid surface composition is selected from the group consisting of acrylics, acrylic/polyester, composites or any combination thereof.

3. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the base is constructed and arranged with a geometric configuration which fittingly mates with the geometric configuration of the hole in the mounting apparatus.

4. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the base portion tapers such that it mates with the mounting apparatus having a hole that is substantially frustum-shaped to match the base.

5. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the neck extends into a device of a dissimilar material to itself.

6. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the neck extends into a device of a similar material to itself.

7. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the neck consists of anything extending from the base of the fixture and further extends to a device selected from the group consisting of faucets, sprayers, handles, showers, or dispensers.

8. In combination, a fixture and a mounting apparatus, the fixture comprising:

a base portion;

a neck portion extending from the base portion;

the base constructed and arranged to mate with a mounting apparatus of a similar material to the base to form an integral attachment to a mounting surface of the mounting apparatus.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the fixture is composed of or coated by a solid surface composite.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the solid surface composition is selected from the group consisting of acrylics, acrylic/polyester, composites or any combination thereof.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the base is sized to sealingly engage a hole in the mounting apparatus.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein the base is chemically bonded to a hole in the mounting apparatus.

13. The combination of claim 8, wherein the mounting apparatus is a part or is a whole of an apparatus selected from the group consisting of countertops, sinks, tubs, basins, cabinets, and walls.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein the neck is extended to a device selected from the group comprising faucets, sprayers, handles, showers, or dispensers.

15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the neck extends into a device of a dissimilar material to itself.

16. The combination of claim 1, wherein the neck extends into a device of a similar material to itself.

17. A method of manufacturing an integral solid surface composite fixture and apparatus comprising the steps of:

Constructing and arranging a base portion of the fixture into a geometric shape that may be mated to a mounting apparatus;

Constructing and arranging a mounting apparatus having a hole with a geometric shape that matches the geometric shape of the base portion such that the base portion may be inserted into the hole, the hole being surrounded by a mounting surface;

Chemically bonding the base into a hole in the mounting surface of the apparatus;

Allowing the surface to dry; and

Finishing any seams to create a smooth integral surface such that the seams are substantially unnoticeable.