GB2393634A

GB2393634A - Facia panel for doors and drawers

Info

Publication number: GB2393634A
Application number: GB0220289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher David Altree
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-02
Filing date: 2002-09-02
Publication date: 2004-04-07
Also published as: GB0220289D0

Abstract

A facia panel 10, made of rigid or semi-rigid material, is affixed to an existing door 3, or drawer, to provide a simple means of changing the appearance of the door or drawer. The panel is made by moulding or by routing from a sheet of material. The panel may comprise an outer frame 12 and a central section 13. The front face 11A of the panel may be textured, coloured or may include surface relief. The panel may be attached to the door, or drawer, by gluing or by means of self adhesive strips 14 positioned on the rear of the panel which are ordinarily protected by removable cover strips 15. The principle is ideally suited to kitchen cabinets and similar furniture.

Description

( 1 2393534

Title: leach Panel The present invention relates to a facie panel for a door or drawer t'ront, such as a kitchen cupboard door or drawer front.

Many kitchens are furnished with a fitted kitchen. Most t'itted kitchens comprise an array of cupboards and drawers made up from plastics coated chipboard carcasses, with decorative doors and drawer fronts. After a period of time, fitted kitchens look tired, ol'ten because the decorative doors and drawer fronts become soiled or they look out of date.

One solution is to replace the kitchen altogether, but this is expensive. Another solution is to replace the decorative doors and drawer fronts thereby still using the existing carcasses. This is cheaper and less disruptive than replacing the whole kitchen, but it can he a skilful job leading to substantial costs.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided facie panel for a door or drawer front, comprising a rigid or semi-rigid sheet of material having a decorative surface on one front trace and at least one adhesive coating on the other rear face, said facial panel being adapted to be placed over the front face of a door or drawer front.

( Preferably the or each adhesive coating is a self adhesive coating. The or each self adhesive coating may have a removable cover sheet thereon which can be removed prior to placement of the panel over a face or a door or drawer front. The or each adhesive coating may be on the form of one or more strips of adhesive, preferably around the perimeter of the panel rear face The facie panel may planar or include some relief or texture. The panel may be moulded, e.y,. by vacuum forming.

The facie panel may have fire retardent properties.

The invention also extends to a facie panel and a jig for applying the facie panel to a door or drawer front.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of part of a kitchen cupboard with a tacia panel applied thereto, and Figure 2 shows a rear view of the tuba pane'.

, Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a kitchen cabinet 1 having a carcass formed from upper and lower walls 2A,2B and side walls 2C,20. Cabinet I has a pair ot'planar doors 3A,3P, hinged thereto. Cabinet I may typically be made of a plastics coated chipboard (e.g. melamine coated shipboard) and may he of a type well known in the art.

In accordance with the invention a facie panel I O is provided.}'anel I O is formed from a sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material. Panel 10 has a front face I IA which has some relief. As shown it has an outer frame 12 and a recessed centre section 13 on its front face. I'unel 10 t'ront face I 1 A could he of any colour and could have any relief formed thereon, and its surface may be textured.

Panel 10 front face 1 IA is designed to be decorative. Facia panel 10 is pre-formed to be the same size as the front t'ace of standard size doors such as doors 3A,313.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown the rear t'ace 1 113 of panel 10. The rear Pace I I B may he generally planar and has four strips of self adhesive 14A,14B,14C,141) around its perimeter. The strips of self adhesive, prior to use of the facie panel, may be covered by removable cover strips ISA,15B,ISC,ISr). In use, facie panel 10 can be secured to cover the front face ot door 3A or 3R by removing the cover strips and pressing the panel I SA, 1 SEE, 1 SC, I SD onto the front Pace of the door thereby effectively changing the appearance of the door.

( The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the facie panel could he applied to a drawer front or to doors other than l;itchen cupboard doors. The facie panel may he made with l'ire retardent properties.

In some instances it may be necessary to remove handles from an existing door or drawer front prior to placing the facie panel of the invention thereon, and the handles can then be secured onto the door or drawer front again after the faeia panel is in place.

it is envisaged that the facial panel of the invention could be moulded, e.g. by vacuum forming, or from a sheet of material which is optionally routed to provide relief: The l:acia panel could be produced oversized t'or the surf:ace it is intended to cover, and then the facie panel could he trimmed, e.g. with a knife.

The at least one adhesive coating could be in a f'orrn other than strips, and could be other than self adhesive.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the an without departing from the scope ot'the present invention.

Claims

( "CLAIMS"

1. A Facia Panel for affixing to doors or drawer fronts.

2. A Facia Parcel as claimed in Claim 1 where the panel would be made from

rigid or semi-rigid sheet material of any colour or size.

3. A Facia Panel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the decorative front face can be textured.

4. A Facia Parcel as claimed in any preceding Claim where the decorative front face can be planar or include some relief.

5. A Facia Panel as claimed in any preceding Claim where the affixing of said panel would be by adhesive or adhesive strips with removable covers on the rear face of the panel.

6. A Facia Panel as claimed in any preceding Claim where the sheet material used would comply with fire regulations for such usage current at the time of production.

7. A Facia Panel as claimed in any preceding Claim including a jig to aid the correct alignment whilst fitting the panel.