Countertop fixture adapters
Provided herein are adapters useful in constructing countertops for kitchens and other areas in which fixtures such as sinks and cooking range tops are desired to be installed. Through use of an adapter according to the invention, on-site cutting of holes or voids in stone countertops is eliminated and countertops may be fabricated using plain rectangular slabs of stone or other materials readily. Use of an adapter according to the invention reduces labor and costs associated with countertop fabrication and installation.
This invention relates generally to countertops and their installation. More particularly, it relates to countertops of the type commonly installed in a work area, such as a kitchen, and to devices and methods for enabling installation of fixtures such as sinks and cooking ranges atop such counters.
BACKGROUNDKitchens and other areas requiring a stable flat surface upon which work may be conducted have been known for some time as benefiting from having built-in countertops which line the inner perimeter of the room. In fact, it is believed that all kitchens include at least one countertop upon which foods are cut, prepared, or otherwise processed by people prior to being cooked, eaten, or stored.
Kitchen countertops have over the years been comprised of a wide variety of materials, including without limitation: wood, plastic veneered wood, polymer composites, metals, stainless steel, polymers such as CORIAN® polymer, epoxies, and natural stone. While each countertop material is inherently possessed of its own properties of appearance, durability, hardness, ease-of-cleaning, and longevity, there is a common bond between all countertops that prior to their installation in a given kitchen setting, the individual pieces which shall comprise the finished countertop in its final installed configuration must first be cut to a proper size, which is dictated by the dimensions of the kitchen in which the countertop is to be installed, and by the location(s) in the countertop at which fixtures such as sinks and cooking range tops are to be located.
One popular material from which countertops are fabricated are natural stone materials. These include a wide variety of marble and granite. To prepare natural stone materials to be suitable for use as countertops, the raw stone is first cut into slabs of the appropriate length, width, and thickness dimension. Then, the surface which is to be the work surface is polished to a high luster using techniques known to those skilled in the art, which also may include rounding or beveling of end and/or edge portions. After being cut into an appropriate length to fit a particular installation, the countertop slab is placed into its final position and secured in place using a conventional construction adhesive between the underside of the slab and the frame upon which it rests, which is typically a wooden cabinet. At this stage, the countertop is ready for use by persons desiring to prepare foodstuffs. However, in many installations it is necessary to provide an opening in the countertop itself, to provide for a sink or a cooking range to be located in the countertop. Provision of the opening fur such fixtures is commonly provided at the installation site by the installation personnel, because providing the opening prior to installation of the countertop in its final installed position results in a large section of the slab being removed from a position centrally disposed with respect to its width dimension, which substantially weakens the slab as a whole and would effectively render it non-transportable without a high probability of breakage.
Providing an opening for a sink or a cooking range typically requires that a rectangular hole having a dimension on the order of about 30 inches by 20 inches be cut into the stone slab, which stone slab is commonly about 1 to about 2 inches thick. Thus, the cutting of such a hole provision is not a small or trivial undertaking, and is commonly carried out by a skilled laborer using a hand-held diamond saw. In addition to generating high frequency sound of large amplitude and large volumes of dust, both of which are harmful to the workmen in the area, especially over the course of many installations over the years, the operation inherently includes the possibility that the slab will be broken, marred, defaced, blemished, or otherwise irreparably damaged during the cutting. For cases where the slab is irreparably damaged, the damaged slab must be removed and replaced by a fresh one, which may easily result in a delay taking days or even weeks, not to mention the expense of the new materials and the time required to prepare the slab for installation.
In view of the foregoing difficulties, natural stone countertops are so highly valued by their owners that the cost and tedium associated with their installation has not represented an obstacle. However, if the difficulties associated with the fabrication and installation of natural stone countertops could be overcome, then the method and devices associated with overcoming such obstacles would be well-received by the industry. This would be especially true if it were made possible to install stone countertops without generating large volumes of sonic energy and dust. Further, if a device and method were provided which greatly simplified the operations, the overall cost associated with providing natural stone countertops could be drastically reduced, which would render natural stone countertops within the financial reach of a wider variety of end users. The fulfillment of these and other objects of the present invention shall become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after a thorough consideration of what follows in this specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, the invention provides an adapter useful as a component in providing countertops in a work area which comprises: a) a substantially planar base portion which comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a front portion and a rear portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length dimension and a width dimension; b) a front lip portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension, wherein the front lip portion is attached to the front portion of the base portion such that the length dimension of the front lip portion coincides with the length dimension of the base portion and the width dimension of the front lip portion extends in a direction downward from the plane of the base portion; and c) a cutout hole disposed through the base portion, which cutout hole is adapted to receive a fixture selected from the group consisting of: cooktop ranges and sink basins.
In another embodiment, there is provided an adapter useful as a component in providing countertops in a work area which comprises: a) a substantially planar base portion which comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a front portion and a rear portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length dimension and a width dimension; b) a front wall portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension; c) a rear wall portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension, wherein the front wall portion is attached to the front portion of the base portion such that the length dimension of the front wall portion coincides with the length dimension of the base portion and the width dimension of the front lip portion extends in a direction downward from the plane of the base portion; d) a first bottom portion disposed beneath the bottom surface portion of the base portion at the first end portion of the base portion, wherein the first bottom portion has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the first bottom portion is in contact with the rear wall portion and wherein the second end portion of the first bottom portion is in contact with the front wall portion such that the rear wall portion, the front wall portion, the first bottom portion and the base portion collectively define a slot at the first end portion of the adapter which is adapted to received the end of a countertop; and e) a cutout hole disposed through the base portion, which cutout hole is adapted to receive a fixture selected from the group consisting of: cooktop ranges and sink basins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the annexed drawings:
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Although the adapters of the present invention have been described as being useful in combination with stone slab countertops, they are not limited exclusively to countertops made from such materials but are rather useful with countertops made from all known materials from which countertops may be fabricated, including without limitation, wood, ceramics, metal, composites, resins, etc.
The cutout holes and sink basins which are to be used in conjunction therewith may comprise many different shapes and contours, as such are known in the art including ovals, etc. In addition, the present invention contemplates the use of cutout holes for housing other appliances, and when used in conjunction with a sink basin, the sink basin may or may not include faucet holes. A sink or adapter according to the present invention may be stamped from sheetstock, moulded, cast, machined from steel, polymers, stone etc. In certain embodiments, the sink or adapter will extend from the front edge of the counter to the rear, thus eliminating the need for as much granite, where 2 pieces join on each side, which simultaneously makes installation much easier and less time-intensive.
Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.
Claims
1) An adapter useful as a component in providing countertops in a work area which comprises:
- a) a substantially planar base portion which comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a front portion and a rear portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length dimension and a width dimension;
- b) a front lip portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension,
- wherein said front lip portion is attached to said front portion of said base portion such that the length dimension of said front lip portion coincides with the length dimension of said base portion and the width dimension of said front lip portion extends in a direction downward from the plane of said base portion; and
- c) a cutout hole disposed through said base portion,
- which cutout hole is adapted to receive a fixture selected from the group consisting of:
- cooktop ranges and sink basins.
2) An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said front lip portion extends downward from the plane of said base portion such that the width dimension of said front lip portion intersects said planar base portion at an angle of about 90 degrees.
3) An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said substantially planar base portion is substantially rectangular in shape.
4) An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said cutout hole is substantially rectangular in shape.
5) A countertop assembly comprising the adapter of claim 1 and further comprising:
- d) a first section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,
- wherein the end portion of said first section of countertop is disposed beneath said first end portion of said substantially planar base portion of said adapter such the top surface of said first section of countertop is in effective mechanical contact with said bottom surface of said base portion of said adapter.
6) A countertop assembly according to claim 5 wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.
7) A countertop assembly according to claim 5 which further comprises: e) a second rectangular section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion, wherein the end portion of said second rectangular section of countertop is disposed beneath said second end portion of said substantially planar base portion of said adapter such the top surface of said second section of countertop is in effective mechanical contact with said bottom surface of said base portion of said adapter.
8) A countertop assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second section of countertop is substantially rectangular.
9) A countertop assembly according to claim 5 wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin; and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.
10) A countertop assembly according to claim 7 wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin; and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.
11) An adapter useful as a component in providing countertops in a work area which comprises:
- a) a substantially planar base portion which comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a front portion and a rear portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length dimension and a width dimension;
- b) a front wall portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension,
- c) a rear wall portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension,
- wherein said front wall portion is attached to said front portion of said base portion such that the length dimension of said front wall portion coincides with the length dimension of said base portion and the width dimension of said front lip portion extends in a direction downward from the plane of said base portion;
- d) a first bottom portion disposed beneath said bottom surface portion of said base portion at said first end portion of said base portion, wherein said first bottom portion has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said first bottom portion is in contact with said rear wall portion and wherein said second end portion of said first bottom portion is in contact with said front wall portion such that said rear wall portion, said front wall portion, said first bottom portion and said base portion collectively define a slot at the first end portion of said adapter which is adapted to received the end of a countertop; and
- e) a cutout hole disposed through said base portion,
- which cutout hole is adapted to receive a fixture selected from the group consisting of: cooktop ranges and sink basins.
12) An adapter according to claim 11 wherein said substantially planar base portion is substantially rectangular in shape.
13) An adapter according to claim 11 wherein said cutout hole is substantially rectangular in shape.
14) A countertop assembly comprising the adapter of claim 11 and further comprising:
- f) a first section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,
- wherein the end portion of said first section of countertop is disposed within said slot at said first end portion of said adapter.
15) A countertop assembly according to claim 14 wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.
16) A countertop assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.
17) An adapter according to claim 11 which further comprises: f) a second bottom portion disposed beneath said bottom surface portion of said base portion at said second end portion of said base portion, wherein said second bottom portion has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said second bottom portion is in contact with said rear wall portion and wherein said second end portion of said second bottom portion is in contact with said front wall portion such that said rear wall portion, said front wall portion, said first bottom portion and said base portion collectively define a slot at the second end portion of said adapter which is adapted to receive the end of a countertop.
18) A countertop assembly comprising the adapter of claim 17 and further comprising:
- g) a first section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,
- wherein the end portion of said first section of countertop is disposed within said slot at said first end portion of said adapter.
19) A countertop assembly according to claim 18 wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.
20) A countertop assembly according to claim 18 wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.
21) A countertop assembly according to claim 18 and further comprising:
- h) a second section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,
- wherein the end portion of said second section of countertop is disposed within said slot at said second end portion of said adapter.
22) A countertop assembly according to claim 21 wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.
23) A countertop assembly according to claim 22 wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.
24) An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means, wherein said article comprises a rear portion, a front portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion, wherein at least one of said left side portion and said right side portion is adapted to receive the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portion of said section of countertop from a person's view.
25) An article according to claim 24 wherein both of said left side portion and said right side portion are adapted to receive the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portions of said sections of countertop from a person's view, and to provide a countertop assembly comprising an article selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means as an integral portion of said countertop assembly.
26) An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means, wherein said article comprises a rear portion, a front portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion, wherein at least one of said left side portion and said right side portion comprises means for receiving the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portion of said section of countertop from a person's view.
27) An article according to claim 26 wherein both of said left side portion and said right side portion are adapted to receive the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portions of said sections of countertop from a person's view, and to provide a countertop assembly comprising an article selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means as an integral portion of said countertop assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 10, 2006
Inventor: James Osher (Alton, IL)
Application Number: 11/017,245
International Classification: E04B 1/00 (20060101);