GB2175820A

GB2175820A - Plastics laminated worktop

Info

Publication number: GB2175820A
Application number: GB08531416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Trevor
Original assignee: STRAND FURNITURE Ltd
Current assignee: STRAND FURNITURE Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-20
Filing date: 1985-12-20
Publication date: 1986-12-10
Also published as: GB8531416D0; GB2175820B

Abstract

A worktop having a main body portion, a cover layer bonded to its upper surface and a cover layer bonded to at least one side, a marginal portion of the underside of said body portion adjacent said side being coated with a band of material which defines a water resistant layer.

Description

SPECIFICATION Plastics laminated worktop The present invention relates to a method of producing a laminated worktop and to a laminated worktop per se.

Worktops, in particular worktops for use in kitchens are commonly formed from a sheet of chipboard which is covered on its upper surface and along at least one side with a cover layer which is bonded thereto, usually under heat and pressure conditions. The cover layer may be formed from a plastics laminate or other suitable material such as a wood veneer.

Such a construction is stable and functions satisfactorily under dry conditions. If however the worktop is used under wet conditions, for instance in the vicinity of washing sinks water runs off the upper surface, and drips from the lower edge of the covered side. The uncovered underside of the chipboard sheet adjacent the covered side absorbs some of the water and swells. The swelling action of the chipboard ruptures the bonding between the cover layer and the chipboard and the cover layer then begins to lift therefrom.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide a method of producing a laminated worktop and also provide a laminated worktop per se which avoids or substantially reduces the likelihood of the above problem occurring.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a worktop having a main body portion, a cover layer bonded to its upper surface and a cover layer bonded to at least one side, a marginal portion of the underside of said body portion adjacent said side being coated with a band of material which defines a water resistant layer. Preferably the band is provided with a raised portion, which in use defines a watershed. Preferably said raised portion is at least one bead or rib which is integrally formed with said band. Preferably said bead defines the edge of the band remote from said side.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a laminated worktop which includes bonding a sheet of cover material to an upper surface of a sheet of support material, for instance chipboard, bonding a strip of cover material to at least one side of the sheet and if necessary trimming the cover material bonded to said side so as to be flush with the underside of the sheet, and applying to a marginal portion of the underside of the sheet adjacent said side a continuous band of material which defines a water resistant layer.

Preferably whilst forming said band, at least one continuous rib or bead is formed from said material for defining a watershed. Preferably the or one of the beads is formed so as to define the edge of the band remote from said side.

Advantageously said strip of cover material is defined by a marginal end portion of said sheet of cover material.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of part of a worktop according to the present invention illustrated having the band of material being applied; and Figure 2 is a schematic end view of part of a worktop according to the present invention.

The worktop 10 illustrated in the drawings includes a main support body 12 made of a sheet material such as chipboard. The invention is also applicable to other forms of sheet material which swell on the absorption of water.

The upper surface is covered by a cover layer, for instance a plastics laminate 16 which is bonded thereto in a conventional manner. One side 14 of the sheet is also covered with a strip 17 of plastics laminate which is bonded thereto. In the illustrated embodiment the strip 17 is integrally formed with the plastics laminate bonded to the upper surface.

It will be appreciated that, if desired, the strip 17 may be separate.

As seen in Fig. 2, a marginal portion of the underside the sheet is coated with a band 20 of a material which defines a water resistent layer. The band covers the exposed bond interface between the strip 17 and side 14 and extends inwardly by a predetermined amount.

The material defining the band 20 is preferably a hot melt composition which is applied in a melted condition and then subsequently allowed to solidify to define the band. Use of such a material as opposed to a solvent based sealant, ensures that little absorption of the material occurs on application and also ensures a good bond between the band and the sheet material. CRODAMELT 36-42300 as supplied by Croda Adhesives Ltd has been found to be a suitable composition.

The band 20 is preferably formed with a continuous bead or rib 25 which in use defines a watershed. Thus in use water adhering to the band 20 is not able to pass by the rib 25 and reach the unprotected surface of the sheet material. The bead or rib 25 may be positioned where desired relative to the width of the band; preferably the rib 25 is formed so as to define the edge of the band remote from side 14 as seen in Fig. 2. If desired more than one bead 25 may be provided In Fig. 1, a method of applying band 20 is schematically illustrated wherein the hot melt composition is applied to the underside marginal edge of the sheet by means of a roller 40 which is fed with melted composition from a heated reservoir 41.

The roller 40 is arranged so as to produce bead 25 simultaneously and integrally with the band 20.

Claims

1. A worktop having a main body portion, a cover layer bonded to its upper surface and a cover layer bonded to at least one side, a marginal portion of the underside of said body portion adjacent said side being coated with a band of material which defines a water resistant layer.

2. A worktop according to Claim 1 wherein the band is provided with a raised portion, which in use defines a watershed.

3. A worktop according to Claim 2 wherein said raised portion is at least one bead which is integrally formed with said band.

4. A worktop according to Claim 3 where in the or one of the beads defines the edge of the band remote from said side.

5. A worktop according to any preceding claim wherein said cover layer is a plastics laminate.

6. A worktop substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of producing a laminated worktop which includes bonding a sheet of cover material to an upper surface of a sheet of support material, for instance chipboard, bonding a strip of cover material to at least one side of the sheet and if necessary trimming the cover material bonded to said side so as to be flush with the underside of the sheet, and applying to a marginal portion of the underside of the sheet adjacent said side a continuous band of material which defines a water resistant layer.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein whilst forming said band, at least one continuous bead is formed from said material for defining a watershed.

9. A method according to Claim 8 wherein the or one of the beads is formed so as to define the edge of the band remote from said side.

10. A method of producing a laminated worktop substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.