ES2331402A1 - Panels of stone compounds of low weight. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Composite stone countertops panels of low weight. The present invention relates to an interior or exterior surface with use of countertops for kitchens and bathrooms, panels, around bathroom floors, bar counters, tables and desks and the like intended to be installed in a horizontal or vertical plane either on a succession of cabinets or on work and also over some appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, comprising a hollow structure with stiffening ribs or formed of a composite fiber and plastics materials and a panel thinner solid composed of stones natural (marble, granite, ...) or agglomerates of minerals (quartz type, ...) or synthetic materials formed by acrylic and mineral resins. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Stone countertop panels composed of under weight.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a interior or exterior surface with the use of kitchen countertops and bathroom, panels, bathroom surroundings, bar counter floors, tables and desks and the like destined to be installed in a horizontal or vertical plane either on a succession of cabinets or on site and also above some appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, consisting of 2 components Main:

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a hollow structure with nerves reinforcement consisting of a composite of fibers and materials plastics

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a panel of smaller solid thickness composed of natural stones (marble, granite ...) or agglomerates of minerals (type quartz ...) or synthetic materials formed by acrylic and mineral resins.

The invention is attached to the technical sector of the furniture and technical sector of natural / artificial stones and more specifically within the countertop manufacturing subsector or panels

State of the art

In relation to kitchen countertops in the Currently they are made of several materials the most common are among others, the laminated particle countertop, the stones natural like granite and marble, quartz agglomerates (among which the Silestone trademark is framed) or synthetic materials of acrylic and mineral resins (among the that fits the registered trademark Corian).

The chipboard countertop conforms through of 2 structures, the chipboard forms the base or frame and on the surface of this chipboard adhere another type of high pressure materials (HPL) such as forms, papers or melamine, the aforementioned dashboard being completely hidden particles

The utility model ES1062135 U in which in instead of an agglomerate board as a support base a hollow board in order to improve resistance properties to the humidity and weight of said countertop. Said patent replaces a material on the other improving the properties of the set, without generate a structure different from those already existing.

In relation to natural stones and Synthetic, the kitchen countertop is formed by polishing and adaptation of these stones to the measures of each need. This type of stones have better aesthetic properties than chipboard boards, but they have the drawback fundamentally of the weight and the price against the countertops of agglomerate.

These types of materials are not only used in kitchens for countertops, sinks, sinks, but not being seen affected by moisture as well as its aesthetics are used as desks, counters, tables, both for interior and for outdoor surfaces.

The use of materials with great thickness favors the aesthetics of the panel, but on the other hand they are more expensive material and workability due to its great weight.

In low thicknesses (below 12 mm.) It is its use is rare since despite its hardness they are material fragile, tending in turn to bend by its great weight in the areas where they do not have support.

Therefore, the development of new panels whose aesthetic characteristics are comparable to solid panel of natural stones, but obtaining advantages added as is the reduction of the weight of the whole through the use of a hollow core made of materials recovered. This in turn enables the use of panels low thickness stone which is not possible to use individually since they do not respond to the characteristics mechanics necessary for the intended use.

The use of hollow panels is in turn a environmental advantage both for the waste generated as because materials have been used for its manufacture recovered as the fibers are mainly and without character limiting sawdust from threads in the sector of the wood and plastic waste from industrial recovered or urban.

The present invention is in turn an improvement in in terms of transport costs for countertops of large thicknesses, manageability and manufacturing costs, therefore more accessible to a greater number of manufacturers and users of this type of materials, responding to part of the inconveniences of the state of the current technique regarding the use of panels natural or artificial stone.

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to panels of countertops that are characterized because it comprises a structure formed by a base of a hollow material or main body, which It is made with a mixture of natural sawdust fibers of wood, fibers from crushing rice husks, almond husk, wheat straw and barley, bone of olives or mixtures thereof or plastic materials. This main body It has a thickness within the range from 10 to 100 mm., preferably from 20 to 60 mm .. On the outside it has another solid panel, seen, of natural stones (marble, granite, etc.), or artificial quartz agglomerate or artificial resins polymeric, which acquires a thickness from 5 to 25 mm., preferably from 5 to 20 mm. and more preferably with a thickness from 5 to 15 mm.

The hollow material base contains a sequence of nerves along the profile that cross the upper base to the bottom in order to support the structure.

On the other hand the solid exterior panel is arranged above the upper face of the base of the hollow material. These pieces are joined by means of glues or adhesives to form One piece

The composition of plastic material oscillates within the range from 15 to 40%.

Hiding the front or side panel edge optionally, another panel is also placed and of the same material stone (artificial or natural) in miter or right angle, finishing off and hiding the edges through polishing and using the fillers that are commonly used to hide the joints and defects of these types of stone.

This hollow structure and unlike others materials such as agglomerate, despite being composed of natural fibers (with great moisture absorption power), to having a coating of polymeric material makes it a material very resistant to moisture as well as the attack of microorganisms and insects. In this way the material is suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms or outdoors.

Also despite being a hollow structure, It has mechanical characteristics similar to wood or MDF, perfectly supporting the stone structure as well as the necessary requirements for this type of supports. This hollow structure considerably lightens the panel since as per example and without limiting sense we can say that the weight of a linear meter of granite countertop (specific weight 3,800 Kg./m^{3}) for a width of 630 mm. and thickness of 38 mm. have a Approximate weight of 90 kg compared to the hollow structure of the composed of fibers and poly olefins that can be between 5 and 20 kg. per linear meter (depending on the reticular structure to be manufactured) for those same panel dimensions.

Therefore countertops can be manufactured large thickness with considerable weight reduction joining both structures Also as the base material is one more material economical against natural or artificial stones panel resulting will be a more attractive product for both the manufacturer of panels as for the final customer, obtaining a product with the same properties and attractiveness of natural stone panels or artificial.

Brief description of the figures

Next to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and being an integral part of the same are accompanied by two figures in which with character illustrative and not limiting the following have been represented Aspects of the object of the invention:

Figure 1 a perspective view of the worktop or panel section, object of the invention.

Figure 2 the unfolding structure where the pieces of the same material used to hide the Inner board, in this case an angle joint is used. For the hollow part can also be used the same process.

Description of a preferred embodiment

Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the countertop or panel and the like comprises a body main (1) determined by a reticular structure manufactured by a mixture of sawdust and plastic material and, where appropriate, a series of additives such as biocides, flame retardants, smoke generation inhibitors as well as UV stabilizers (ultraviolet).

The hollow structure is manufactured by passing the extruded material (fibers, plastic material and additives) by a head with the reticular shape of the piece to be obtained.

Said reticular structure comprises a succession of longitudinal gaps (4) separated by nerves verticals in order to reinforce the structure and maintain mechanical properties of the panel.

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Normally, the gaps (4) are shaped home run, although its section could be any other, being able to even incorporate other gaps distributions with several floors of them.

On the reticular structure that forms the main body (1) stone panel (3) (natural or synthetic) of smaller thickness than the reticular surface, for the bonding of both pieces glue or other similar adhesive is used (2).

According to another aspect of the present invention the Countertop panels have their use for kitchens and bathrooms, panels and bathroom surroundings, floors, bar counters, tables and desks and similar.

Once nature is sufficiently described of the invention, as well as a preferred embodiment, the essential features of the invention claimed in continuation.

Claims (11)

1. Countertop panels characterized because they include: a) a base of a hollow material or body main (1); Y b) a solid exterior panel (3). 2. Countertop panels according to claim 1, characterized in that the base of hollow material (1) is made of a mixture of natural fibers of the formed and non-limiting group, the wood sawdust, fibers from rice husk crushing , almond husk, wheat and barley straw, bone of olives or mixtures thereof or plastic materials. 3. granite panels according to claim 1, wherein the outer solid (3) panel is disposed above the upper face of the base of the hollow item (1). 4. Countertop panels according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the solid exterior panel (3) is manufactured and without limitation, of natural stones such as marble or granite, or artificial stones of quartz agglomerate or artificial stones of polymeric resins. 5. Countertop panels according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer solid panel (3) has a thickness in the range from 5 to 25 mm., Preferably from 5 to 20 mm. and more preferably from 5 to 15 mm. 6. Countertop panels according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow panel (1) has a thickness in the range from 10 to 100 mm. and preferably from 20 to 60 mm. 7. Countertop panels according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that both pieces (1) and (3) are joined by means of glues or adhesives (2) to form a single piece. 8. Countertop panels according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow material base (1) contains a succession of ribs along the profile that cross the upper to the lower base in order to support the structure. 9. Countertop panels according to claim 2, characterized in that the composition of plastic material ranges between 15 and 40%. 10. Countertop panels according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition of the main body (1) additionally incorporates a biocide, a flame retardant, a smoke generation inhibitor, as well as a UV (ultraviolet) stabilizer. 11. Use of countertop panels according to any of claims 1 to 10, for kitchens and bathrooms, panels, bathroom surroundings, floors, bar counters, tables and desks and similar.