EP3192396A1

EP3192396A1 - Table top

Info

Publication number: EP3192396A1
Application number: EP17151304.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pablo KOLLE
Original assignee: Nobia AB
Current assignee: Nobia AB
Priority date: 2016-01-15
Filing date: 2017-01-13
Publication date: 2017-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-13
Also published as: EP3192396B1; SE1650045A1; SE539577C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a table top placed on top of a kitchen or utility room cupboard or a cupboard frame where the table top (2) is box shaped providing an inner cavity (12). The table top (2) can be assembled by wooden planks or boards or the table top (2) can be produced from cast or manufactured stone material. The table top (2) can be provided with guiding rails (9) for a drawer (6), the guiding rails (9) are attached to side panels (13) placed in the cavity (12) of the table top (2), which side panels (13) are fastened in the cavity (12) of the table top (2).

Description

The invention relates to a table top placed on top of a kitchen or utility room cupboard or a cupboard frame.

BACKGROUND

Table tops for kitchens or utility rooms has been made in several years by wooden planks or boards, which planks or boards are pure wood or wooden planks or boards, covered by a sheet of metal or made by laminated chipboard.
Such table tops are all made of solid materials.
Many kitchen cupboards are made from standard measures to be able to fit in a kitchen system. Most manufacturers of kitchen modules use same modular dimensions.
The cupboards can be placed on a footing or plinth in order to raise the cupboards above the floor, making access more convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to provide a box shaped table top having an inner cavity.
The table top is not made solid because of its thickness causing a heavy weight. If the table top was kept solid, several drawbacks would occur for example relating to transport and sufficient support from the cupboard or support frame on which the table top should be fastened.
The table top can be manufactured as a box shaped table top having an inner cavity and assembled by wooden planks or boards.
Further the box shaped table top having an inner cavity can be produced from cast or manufactured stone material.
The table top is thicker than 80 mm, and in some embodiments thicker than 110 mm.
The volume of the cavity (length x width x height) takes up at least 50% of the volume of outer dimensions (length x width x height) of the table top.
In an embodiment the table top can be provided with an end piece closing the cavity at its ends, which end piece is positioned being flush with the end of the table top giving a clean and smooth closure.
In an embodiment the cavity has only one open end.
In an embodiment the table top can be provided with a drawer placed in one of the short ends of the table top which drawer is movable in the longitudinal direction of the table top.
In an embodiment the table top can also be provided with a drawer placed in both of the short ends of the table top, the drawers being movable in the longitudinal direction of the table top.
In an embodiment two table tops can be placed with their long sides neighbouring each other. Such a configuration is convenient for example where the kitchen or utility room cupboard or cupboard frame forms an "island" in the room or extends in longitudinally direction from a wall into the room.
In an embodiment one or more drawers can be placed in the table top, which drawers run in guiding rails. The guiding rails can be fastened on side panels placed on each side of the drawer in such a way that the guide rails runs in a longitudinal direction in relation to the drawer.
Having the drawer or drawers running in the longitudinal direction of the table top gives an advantage in that it is possible to work at the table top and at the same time open the drawer without need for leaving your working place. Further if more persons are working at the same kitchen table, it is possible to open the drawer without need for the other person(s) to move away from the table top, because the drawer is extended in a direction perpendicular to the direction of a person normally facing the kitchen table.
The side panels can be fastened to the table top by screws, nails or other common fastening means when the table top is made of wood.
When the table top is produced from cast or manufactured stone material it is more difficult to drill or cut holes into the table top to be able to secure the side panels to the table top.
To accommodate a more convenient fastening of the side panels within the table top, the side panels can be provided with length adjustable devices such as levellers normally used for levelling items or furniture in relation to a support surface such as a floor. In the end of the leveller extending away from the item to which the leveller is attached, the leveller is provided with a material or a surface which limits or prevents sliding in relation to the surface on which the end of the leveller is placed.
The levellers can be positioned in drilled holes in an upper or lower side of the side panels.
In an embodiment the levellers are positioned upside down, pointing the end of the leveller, comprising the material or surface limiting or preventing sliding, in an upwards direction.
In an embodiment the side panels are fastened in the cavity of the table top by height/length adjustable levellers, which levellers are extended in a substantial vertical direction to fasten the side panels within the cavity of the table top.
In an embodiment the leveller is placed on an upper side or edge of the side panel and partly countersinked in the side panel leaving a frictional part extending from an upper edge of the side panel.
When the side panel is positioned within the cavity of the table top, and the leveller is extended for example by manoeuvring an extension screw in the leveller, the end of the leveller comprising the material or surface which limits or prevents sliding will be forced against an inner side of the table top, thereby wedging in the side panel in the cavity of the table top.
Hereby the side panels are fastened in the table top and able to carry the guide rails for the drawer.
Further embodiments and advantages are disclosed below in the description and in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described more fully below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically an example of a front view of cupboards, provided with table tops;
Figure 2 shows schematically a side view of a cupboard provided with a table top;
Figure 3 shows schematically a configuration with two table tops placed with long sides neighbouring each other;
Figure 4 shows schematically a table top with cut-outs for a sink and provided with a drawer; and
Figure 5 shows schematically a view through a table top in which a drawer is fastened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now convenient embodiments of the invention will be described. A kitchen or utility room cupboard or a cupboard frame 1 is provided with a table top 2. The table top 1 is box shaped and provided with an inner cavity 12. The inner cavity 12 is preferably also box shaped, leaving a relatively thin shell compared to a table top 2 having same outer dimensions and made of solid material.
The table top 2 is not made solid because of its thickness causing a heavy weight. If the table top 2 was kept solid, several drawbacks would occur for example relating to transport and sufficient support from the cupboard or support frame 1 on which the table top 2 should be fastened.
The table top 2 is placed on a cupboard or a frame for a cupboard 1. When the table top 2 is placed on a cupboard frame 3, kitchen elements, such as cupboards, drawers and the like, are placed within the frame 3. The frame is provided with legs 4, which legs 4 can be adjustable to take up any unevenness in a floor.
The table top 2 is manufactured as a box shaped table top 2 having an inner cavity 12 and can be assembled by wooden planks or boards.
Further the box shaped table top 2 having an inner cavity 12 can be produced from cast or manufactured stone material.
In an embodiment, the box shaped table top 2 is made from plates or slabs of cast or manufactured stone materials, which plates or slabs are glued together at edges of the plates or slabs or assembled using other well known assembly methods.
In a further embodiment the joining edges are chamfered.
The height or thickness of the table top 2 is more than 80 mm, and in some embodiments more than 110 mm.
The volume of the cavity 12 (length x width x height) takes up at least 50% of the volume of outer dimensions (length x width x height) of the table top 2. The table top 2 can be provided with an end piece 5 closing the cavity 12 at its ends, which end piece 5 is positioned being flush with the end of the table top 2 giving a clean and smooth closure of the end of the table top 2.
In an embodiment the cavity 12 has one open end.
The table top 2 can be provided with a drawer 6 placed in one of the short ends of the table top 2 which drawer 6 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the table top 2.
The table top 2 can also be provided with a drawer 6 placed in both of the short ends of the table top 2, the drawers 6 being movable in the longitudinal direction of the table top 2. Further the table top 2 can be provided with a number of cut-outs 7 for insertion of a sink and a tap (not shown) or similar components.
It is possible to place two table tops 2 with their long sides 8 neighbouring each other. Such a configuration is convenient for example where the kitchen or utility room cupboard or cupboard frame 1 form an "island" in a room or extends in longitudinally direction from a wall into the room.
If one or more drawers 6 are placed in the cavity 12 of the table top 2, which drawers 6 run in guiding rails 9, the guiding rails 9 can be fastened on side panels 13 placed on each side of the drawer 6 in such a way that the guide rails 9 run in a longitudinal direction in relation to the drawer 6.
The side panels 13 can be fastened to the table top 2 by screws, nails or other common fastening means when the table top 2 is made of wood.
When the table top 2 is produced from cast or manufactured stone material it is more difficult to drill or cut holes into the table top 2 to be able to secure the side panels 13 to the table top 2.
To accommodate a more convenient fastening of the side panels 13 within the cavity 12 of the table top 2, the side panels 13 can be provided with length adjustable devices such as levellers 11 normally used for levelling items or furniture in relation to a support surface such as a floor. In the end of the leveller 11 extending away from the item to which the leveller 11 is attached, the leveller 11 is provided with a material or a surface 14 which limits or prevents sliding in relation to the surface 10 on which the end of the leveller 11 is placed.
The levellers 11 can be positioned in drilled holes in an upper or lower side of the side panels 13.
In an embodiment the levellers 11 are positioned upside down, pointing the end 14 of the leveller 11, comprising the material or surface limiting or preventing sliding, in an upwards direction.
In an embodiment the side panels 13 are fastened in the cavity 12 of the table top 2 by height/length adjustable levellers 11, which levellers 11 are extended in a substantial vertical direction to fasten the side panels 13 within the cavity 12 of the table top 2.
In an embodiment the leveller 11 is placed on an upper side or edge 15 of the side panel 13 and partly countersinked in the side panel 13 leaving a frictional part 14 extending from an upper edge 15 of the side panel 13.
When the side panel 13 is positioned within the cavity 12 of the table top 2, and the leveller 11 is extended for example by manoeuvring an extension screw in the leveller 11, the end 14 of the leveller 11, comprising the material or surface which limits or prevents sliding, will be forced against an inner side 10 of the table top 2, thereby wedging in the side panel 13 in the cavity 12 of the table top 2.
Hereby the side panels 13 are fastened in the table top 2 and able to carry the guide rails 9 for the drawer 6.

Claims

A table top placed on top of a kitchen or utility room cupboard or a cupboard frame characterised in that the table top (2) is box shaped providing an inner cavity (12).
Table top according to claim 1, characterised in that the table top (2) is assembled by wooden planks or boards.
Table top according to claim 1, characterised in that the table top (2) is produced from cast or manufactured stone material
Table top according to one or more of the claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the table top (2) is provided with at least one end piece (5) closing the cavity (12) at the end, which end piece (5) is positioned being flush with the end of the table top (2).
Table top according to one or more of the claims 1 - 4, characterised in that at least one drawer (6) is placed in one of the short ends of the table top (2) and is movable in a longitudinal direction of the table top (2).
Table top according to one or more of the claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the inner cavity (12) has one open end.
Table top according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that guiding rails (9) for a drawer (6) is attached to side panels (13) placed in the cavity (12) of the table top (2).
Table top according to claim 7, characterised in that the side panels (13) are fastened in the cavity (12) of the table top (2) by height/length adjustable levellers (11), which levellers (11) are extended in a substantial vertical direction to fasten the side panels (13) within the cavity (12) of the table top (2).
Table top according to claim 8, characterised in that the leveller (11) is placed on an upper side or edge (15) of the side panel (13) and partly countersinked in the side panel (13) leaving a frictional part (14) extending from an upper edge (15) of the side panel (13).
Table top according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that two table tops (2) are placed with their long sides (8) neighbouring each other.