EP1391169B1 - Kitchen work top - Google Patents

Abstract

Kitchen cover for kitchen furniture and built-in members in kitchens, caravans, boat kitchens, hunting lodges, or weekend houses comprises a working plate manufactured from a hot or cold curable material and comprising components, e.g. sinks, drip areas, cutting plates, or rim strips. At least one of the components is integrated into the working plate by impression into the hot or cold curable material. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a kitchen cover.

Description

The present invention relates to a kitchen cover according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for producing a kitchen cover according to the preamble of claim 11.

Kitchen covers or worktops are widely used in today's kitchens. They form a continuous closure of built-in wardrobes and contribute to the improvement of hygiene in the kitchen area by avoiding cracks and gaps. In addition, the kitchen covers have proven to be easy to install components that allow it easily sink and the like. To install in a kitchen. Especially with small kitchens, such. in caravans, motorhomes, hunting lodges, weekend cottages, boat kitchens and the like, the easy-to-install kitchen covers, which in turn easily sinks and the like can be installed, due to the ease of processing and the clean, gapless completion of kitchen furniture or fixtures proven.

In the previous kitchen covers, a variety of different materials are used, such as e.g. Stone slabs, wood panels or plastic sheets. It is essential that the plates are suitable in addition to an aesthetic surface in particular for the usual stresses in a kitchen. For example, the worktops must be insensitive to temperature and scratch-resistant. This requires a certain hardness of the kitchen cover.

A relatively novel material for the formation of kitchen covers are glass fiber reinforced plastics (GRP), which can additionally have a coating (gel coat), which is also hard and a decorative coating. In these kitchen covers made of fiberglass, it is also known components of kitchen covers, such as Sink, Restebecken, drain, skirting and the like. Molded into the not yet cured GRP material, so that after curing of the kitchen cover is an integral component with the appropriate components.

This has the advantage that the kitchen cover can already be completely preassembled, so that when installing the kitchen, only the preassembled kitchen cover needs to be installed and additional time-consuming work is required to arrange the components in the kitchen cover, e.g. Sink etc., omitted.

For example, US 2002/0000433 A1 describes a kitchen cover, which is made of a temperature-resistant plastic or composite material and identifies a recess for receiving a hot plate in addition to a molded from the plastic material itself sink. The stove is thereby secured in the recess with the worktop of a temperature-resistant adhesive by an additionally provided clamping frame.

A disadvantage of this technology, however, is that not all, usually provided in a kitchen cover components can be molded into the kitchen cover. So it is not possible to form cooktops in kitchen covers made of GRP, since the cooktops are temperature-loaded during operation, so that the adjacent GRP material could be damaged. Accordingly cooktops must still be installed separately in corresponding sections of the kitchen cover, in which case elaborate sealing and fastening materials are then used between the kitchen cover and the cooktop. However, this leads to the decisive disadvantage that the kitchen cover is not a completely prefabricated component, but in turn additional installation work must be made.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a kitchen cover that as vollstän dig integrated component can be prefabricated and which has a worktop, in which other components, such as sinks, drip areas or burner recordings in a simple manner and, above all, are economically integrated. In addition, the kitchen cover should be simple and economical to produce and meet the requirements in terms of hardness and decorative appearance.

This object is achieved by a kitchen cover with the features of claim 1 and a method for producing a kitchen cover with the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The essential aspect of the present invention is that components such as sinks, drip areas, chopping boards and the like, and in particular Also, a part of a burner, such as an electric or gas burner, namely a so-called burner insert are integrated into the worktop, via pressing a peripheral region of the respective component in the curable material of the worktop in the space provided for receiving the component recess.

In order to avoid here in the case of the integration of a burner insert into the worktop that the worktop is not damaged by the temperature load of the burner insert in the connection area between worktop material and burner insert during operation of the burner, means for cooling the connection area are also provided.

In this way, it is possible to provide a fully integrated kitchen cover in which after installation of the kitchen cover and the burner insert is integrated. Advantageously, the burner insert is designed so that it forms part of a commercial burner, in particular preferably forms a commercial burner, the central part of the burner insert.

The means for cooling the connection area between the hardenable material of the worktop and the burner insert may comprise all conventional cooling means, such as e.g. Water cooling, air cooling and the like., Wherein the cooling of the connection area also includes that adjacent areas, especially on the side of the burner insert, are cooled, so there is an indirect cooling.

In particular, it has proved to be advantageous as a cooling means to provide a distance region which is part of the burner insert or is formed by the burner insert, so that the burner is so far away from the connection region of the worktop, that due to the cooling by the ambient air, the temperature in the connection area so kept low, that no damage to the hardenable material of the worktop occurs. Depending on the type of burner, the distance range can be different dimensions. The distance range must only be dimensioned so that the heat generated by the burner over the distance between the burner and connection area between the worktop and burner insert to a temperature in the connection area, which is harmless to the countertop material. Accordingly, the burner insert may have a coding which, according to the selected distance range only certain, with a certain power provided burner allows, so that damage to the countertop material is avoided.

Preferably, the distance range of the burner insert is designed as a disk-shaped, in particular circular sheet, in the middle of which a burner receiving opening is provided. The distance range is formed in this simple embodiment in that the disc diameter is chosen to be large, so that a sufficiently large distance is available for the heat transfer from the burner to the connection area between the burner insert and worktop, which causes the temperature in the connection area sufficiently low is. Due to the correspondingly large selected heat transport route sufficient cooling is ensured by the ambient air. Here it has also proven itself by holes and slots on the edge of the burner insert to minimize heat transfer. As a further measure, a material with low thermal conductivity can be selected for the distance range, since this too contributes to keeping the temperature in the connection region low.

In addition to a one-piece design of distance range and burner use, of course, the burner insert and the distance range may also be formed as separate parts, wherein if necessary, the burner insert per se and the distance range in turn can be made in several parts.

As materials for the burner insert and / or the distance range, metallic materials, in particular enameled metals, have proven successful. On the other hand, the worktop is made of a cold or heat-curable material, in particular of a plastic. Preferably, materials from the group consisting of glass fiber reinforced plastics (GRP), in particular glass fiber reinforced polyester, and SMC materials (sheet molding compounds), including carbon fiber reinforced plastics, are used here. It is important that the materials for the distance range and / or burner insert are poor heat conductors.

The kitchen cover preferably has a trough in the area of the burner insert, so that overcooking water or the like can be collected. The trough can be either partially formed by the worktop or by the burner insert. Accordingly, the vertical side walls or parts of the trough bottom are also formed from the material of the worktop or from the material of the burner insert. However, at least in the bottom region of the trough burner insert is arranged, wherein the bottom portion preferably in turn has a truncated pyramid-shaped portion, so that the burner itself and the above arranged food is increased from the surrounding trough bottom. The truncated pyramidal part of the trough bottom may in turn be wholly or partly formed by either the worktop or the burner insert.

In the connection area, it is advantageous if the worktop is flush with the burner insert in order to avoid gaps and cracks, in which dirt can accumulate. The flush termination can be achieved both when the burner insert engages from above into the worktop and is pressed from the front side into the material of the worktop.

In order to ensure the anchoring of the burner insert in the worktop, it is preferable to perform the edge region of the burner insert bent or angled. Such an embodiment can also serve to make the flush termination between worktop and burner insert.

Fig. 1 - 6

teilweise Schnittansichten einer Küchenabdeckung im Bereich einer Kochmulde mit der integralen Einbindung eines Brennereinsatzes in eine Arbeitsplatte;

Fig. 7 -9

teilweise Draufsichten auf eine Küchenabdeckung im Bereich einer Kochmulde mit einer verschiedenen Anzahl von Brennereinsätzen; und in

Fig. 10

in den Teilbildern (a - c) teilweise Draufsichten auf Küchenabdeckungen im Bereich von Kochmulden mit unterschiedlicher Form der Brennereinsätze.

Further advantages, characteristics and features of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show in a purely schematic way in the

Fig. 1 - 6

partial sectional views of a kitchen cover in the region of a cooktop with the integral integration of a burner insert in a worktop;

Fig. 7 -9

partial plan views of a kitchen cover in the area of a cooktop with a different number of burner inserts; and in

Fig. 10

in the partial images (a - c) partial plan views of kitchen covers in the range of cooktops with different shape of the burner inserts.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the kitchen cover with integrated burner insert 2 according to the invention in the region of a cooktop 5. The cooktop 5 is formed in the embodiment in the worktop 1, wherein the worktop 1 has a vertical worktop area 10 and a horizontally extending trough bottom 9. In the trough bottom 9 of the burner insert 2 is pressed in the connection region 3, wherein the burner insert 2 has a total of truncated pyramidal shape. In the edge region, the burner insert 2 an angled portion 4, which is formed in connection with the press-in connection area 3 so that the bottom portion 9 of the worktop 1 at 6 flush with the burner insert 2. The combustion insert 2 is further designed so that it has a sufficiently large distance from the burner insert opening 12 to the connection region 3 with the worktop 1 over the distance region 7, so that at a temperature development in the burner receiving opening 12 no harmful effect on the material of the worktop. 1 is exercised.

In principle, similar embodiments of the integration of a burner insert 2 in the worktop 1 is shown in the following FIGS. 2 to 6. Accordingly, only the different aspects will be discussed below.

2, the embodiment differs only in that the edge region of the burner insert 2 is not inserted and pressed by the end face of the bottom portion 9 of the worktop 1 in the material of the worktop 1, but from the upper side of the worktop 1. This means in that the worktop 1 still extends somewhat in the direction of a burner insert opening 12 and engages under the burner insert 2.

The embodiment of Fig. 3 differs from the previous embodiments essentially in that the worktop 1 is substantially horizontal At the end of the vertical portion 10, in turn, the edge region of the burner insert 2 is laterally inserted into the material of the work surface 1, wherein the edge region of the burner insert 2 has no rounding or kinking more. However, the entire shape of the trough design is substantially the same since the burner insert 2 comprises a truncated pyramidal section 8.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, not only is the horizontal trough bottom region 9 replaced by a part of the burner insert 2, but in addition also a part of the vertical section 10, so that the burner insert 2 assumes a trough shape in cross section.

A consistent further development of this idea is shown in FIG. 5, in which it is shown that the worktop 1 essentially no longer comprises any trough section, but that the cooking trough 5 is completely formed by the burner insert 2. Again, the curved at 4 edge portion of the burner insert 2 engages from above into the worktop 1 a.

FIG. 6 again shows an embodiment which corresponds more closely to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, since the worktop 1 here again has a trough area 5 with a vertical section 10 and a horizontal trough bottom area 9. In addition, however, the truncated pyramidal portion 8 is at least partially formed by the work surface 1, so that the burner insert 2 may be formed substantially as a flat disc. Only in the edge region in which the burner insert 2 engages in the material of the worktop 1 and pressed, the burner insert 2 a slight kink at 4, so as to ensure a flush transition from the worktop 1 to the burner insert 2 on the surface at 6 , This flush and almost smooth transition from the worktop 1 to the burner insert 2 in the connection area 3 allows a clean, because gap-free transition and thus greatly increases the hygienic conditions in the hob 5.

7 to 9 show different cooktops 5 with different numbers of burner inserts 2. In Fig. 7, a two-burner cooktop 5 is shown, while in Fig. 8, a three-flute cooktop 5 can be seen. 9 in turn shows a four-flame trough 5. In addition, the embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9 differ in that burner inserts 2 of different sizes are provided. This corresponds to the different burning power of the various burners provided for the burner inserts. The burner inserts 2 also have grate receptacles 11 in the form of depressions, in the corresponding grates can be inserted.

In addition, the embodiments of Figures 7 to 9 vary in the different shape of the hob 5, which can take a variety of forms, such as. oval, almost triangular, square or square. Of course, all other forms are conceivable and possible.

An example of this is given by FIG. 10 in the partial images (a-c), which show single-flame cooktops 5 with burner inserts 2, likewise with different outer contours. The cooktops 5 of Figure 10 continue to differ from the cooktops of Figure 7 to 9, characterized in that the worktop 1 only has a vertical portion 10, while the horizontal trough bottom portion is formed exclusively by the burner insert 2, as for example, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 is the case. Corresponding to the embodiments are of course also for burner inserts 2 with trough-shaped cross-section according to the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 possible.

Claims (11)

1. A kitchen cover for kitchen furniture and similar components, particularly in small kitchens, caravans, camper vans, boat galleys, camping huts, weekend houses and the like including a worktop (1), which is produced from a settable material and affords at least one opening, and components having an edge region, particularly sinks, cutting boards, burner inserts (2), draining regions, edge bars and the like, characterised in that in the region of the at least one opening in the worktop (1), the edge region of at least one of the components for integration into the worktop (1) is pressed into the settable material of the worktop (1).
2. A kitchen cover as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the worktop (1) includes at least one burner insert (2) including burners, which affords means (7) for cooling the connecting region (3) between the settable material of the worktop (1) and the burner insert (2).
3. A kitchen cover as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the means (7) for cooling includes a spacer region, which is cooled by the ambient air and is so dimensioned that, when the burner is operated, a temperature compatible with the set material is reached at the temperature gradient which occurs over the spacer region (7) in the connection region (3) between the settable material of the worktop (1) and the burner insert (2).
4. A kitchen cover as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the spacer region (7) is a portion of the burner insert (2).
5. A kitchen cover as claimed in one of the preceding Claims 2-4, characterised in that the burner insert (2) and/or the spacer region (7) are of multi-part construction.
6. A kitchen cover as claimed in one of the preceding Claims 2-5, characterised in that the burner insert (2) and/or the spacer region (7) are constituted by a metallic material, particularly an enamelled metal.
7. A kitchen cover as claimed in one of the preceding Claims 2-6, characterised in that the burner is a gas burner and/or an electric burner.
8. A kitchen cover as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the worktop (1) includes at least one material from the group consisting of GRP (glass fibre reinforced plastic materials), particularly glass fibre reinforced polyester, and SMC (sheet moulding compounds) including carbon fibre reinforced plastic material.
9. A kitchen cover as claimed in one of the preceding claims when dependent on Claim 2, characterised in that the kitchen cover has a trough (5) in the region of the burner insert, whereby the burner insert (2) at least partially constitutes the base of the trough (5) or is itself of trough shape and whereby the base of the trough (5) is, in particular, at least partially of frusto-pyramidal shape.
10. A kitchen cover as claimed in one of the preceding claims when dependent on Claim 2, characterised in that the burner insert (2) terminates flush with the surface of the worktop (1) in the connection region (3) between the burner insert (2) and worktop (1) whereby the burner insert either engages in the surface of the worktop (1) and/or, particularly in the case of engagement centrally, in cross-section, in the end region of the worktop (1), is of bent or angled shape in the edge region.
11. A method of manufacturing a kitchen cover, particularly as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a worktop (1) is moulded from a settable material, wherein, in at least one opening in the worktop (1), the edge region of a component, particularly a sink, cutting board, a burner insert (2) or the like, is pressed into the settable material in the edge region of the opening in the worktop (1), and in which the settable material is subsequently set so that the component is integrated into the worktop (1).

Images