US20020096977A1

US20020096977A1 - Counter corner system

Info

Publication number: US20020096977A1
Application number: US09/769,616
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Zenobio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-25
Filing date: 2001-01-25
Publication date: 2002-07-25

Abstract

A counter corner system that allows two standard counter tops to be joined at a corner without the need to notch or miter the counter tops has a body member that has four sides and a notch that joins the first side with the second side. The notch has a pair of edges that are normal to each other. A bullnose shaped portion extends downwardly from the body member and begins at the edges of the notch, the body member and bullnose shaped member being monolithic in construction. One of the counter tops abuts the first side of the body member such that the forward facing side of the counter top lies on the same plane of one of the edges of the notch and the second counter top abuts the second side of the body member such that the forward facing side of this counter top lies on the same plane as the other edge of the notch.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a counter corner system that allows the joinder of two standard counter tops at a corner.

2. Background of the Prior Art

In order to join two counter tops at a corner, one counter top must be positioned such that its end abuts a side of the second counter top, the end of this second counter top abutting the wall whereat the installation is being performed. While this method of corner joinder is adequate, it is not suitable for counter tops that have a bullnose shaped portion extending from the bottom surface of the counter tops. The bullnose shaped portion of the second counter top will sit on top of the counter to which it is to be attached. Even if the counter top is notched in order to accommodate this bullnose shaped portion, the meeting of the bullnose shaped portion of the first countertop with the bullnose shaped portion of the second countertop will not be correct.

In order to overcome the above problems, the two countertops are notched or mitered in order to effect a proper joinder. The problem with this technique is that it wastes material, it is labor intensive, and it requires expensive machinery and equipment to manufacture the joint resulting in higher fabrication costs. Additionally, the skill level needed to perform the task is higher and if the notching or mitering is not performed correctly, an aesthetic joinder of the two countertops will not be effected.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device that will allow two standard countertops to be joined at a corner that does not require extensive notching or mitering of either of the countertops and that results in an aesthetic joinder of the two countertops. Such a device should be relatively simple in design and construction and must be relatively simple to install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The counter corner system of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The system allows two standard countertops to be joined at a corner without the need to notch or miter either of the countertops or the underlying counter. The system, which is of relatively simple design and construction, achieves an aesthetically pleasing joinder of the countertops. Installation of the counter corner system is relatively simple and straight forward. The counter corner system is ideally suited for use with materials such as solid granite countertops where field cutting of such materials is not easily achieved.

The counter corner system of the present invention is comprised of a first body member having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a notch located between the first side and the second side, the notch having a first edge that is disposed on a first plane and is oriented substantially parallel with the first side and a second edge that is disposed on a second plane and is oriented substantially parallel with the second side. A first bullnose shaped portion has a first leg that extends downwardly from the bottom surface beginning at the first edge and a second leg that extends downwardly from the bottom surface beginning at the second edge. The first body member and the bullnose shaped portion are monolithic in construction. The first side and the third side of the first body member are oriented substantially parallel to each other and the second side and the fourth side of the first body member are oriented substantially parallel with each other and perpendicular with the first side. A second body member—the first standard countertop—has a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a fifth side that abuts against the first side of the counter corner and a sixth side that lies on the first plane. A third body member—the second standard countertop—has a third top surface, a third bottom surface, a seventh side that abuts against the second side of the counter corner, and an eight side that lies on the second plane. A second bullnose shape portion extends downwardly from the second bottom surface of the second body member beginning at the sixth side and abuts the first leg of the first bullnose shaped portion while a third bullnose shape portion extends downwardly from the third bottom surface of the third body member beginning at the eight side and abuts the second leg of the first bullnose shaped portion. The first top surface, the second top surface and the third top surface may all lie on a third plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the first body member of the counter corner system of the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the first body member of the counter corner system of the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 3 is an end view of the first body member of the present invention. [0011]
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the first body member of the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the counter corner system of the present invention being joined to two counter tops. [0013]
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 5.[0014]
Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. [0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the counter corner system of the present invention, generally denoted by [0016] reference numeral 10, is comprised of a first body member 12 that has a first top surface 14, a first bottom surface 16, a first side 18, a second side 20, a third side 22, a fourth side 24, and a notch 26 located between the first side 18 and the second side 20. The notch 26 has a first edge 28 that is disposed on a first plane and is oriented substantially parallel with the second side 20 and a second edge 30 that is disposed on a second plane and is oriented substantially parallel with the first side 18. A first bullnose shaped portion 32 has a first leg 34 that extends downwardly from the bottom surface 36 beginning at the first edge 28 and a second leg 36 that extends downwardly from the bottom surface 16 beginning at the second edge 30, the first bullnose shaped portion 32 being a single continuous member. The first body member 12 and the first bullnose shaped portion 32 are monolithic in construction. The first side 18 and the third side 22 of the first body member 12 are oriented substantially parallel to each other and the second side 20 and the fourth side 24 of the body member 12 are oriented substantially parallel with each other and perpendicular with the first side 18 giving the first body member 12 a generally rectangular shape.
A [0017] second body member 38 has a second top surface 40, a second bottom surface 42, a fifth side 44 that abuts against the first side 18 of the first body member 12 and a sixth side 46 that lies on the first plane. A third body member 48 has a third top surface 50, a third bottom surface 52, a seventh side 54 that abuts against the second side 20 of the first body member 12, and an eight side 56 that lies on the second plane. A second bullnose shape portion 58 extends downwardly from the second bottom surface 42 of the second body member 38 beginning at the sixth side 46 and abuts the end of the first leg 34 of the first bullnose shaped portion 32 while a third bullnose shape portion 60 extends downwardly from the third bottom surface 52 of the third body member 48 beginning at the eight side 56 and abuts the end of the second leg 36 of the first bullnose shaped portion 32.
In order to use the [0018] counter corner system 10 of the present invention, the first body member 12 is positioned in the corner of the counter whereat the second body member 38 and the third body member 48 are to form the 90 degree turn and is installed in appropriate fashion. Once so installed, the second body member 38 is positioned such that its fifth side 44 abuts the first side 18 of the first body member 12 and its sixth side 46 lies on the first plane. The third body member 48 is positioned such that its seventh side 54 abuts the second side 20 of the first body member 12 and its eight side 56 lies on the second plane. The second body member 38 and the third body member 48 are each attached to the counter in appropriate fashion. In this position, the first edge 28 of the notch 26 and the sixth side 46 of the second body member 38 form a single continuous edge while the second edge 30 of the notch 26 and the eight side 56 of the third body member 48 also form a single continuous edge. The first bullnose shaped portion 32, the second bullnose shaped portion 58, and the third bullnose shaped portion 60 form a single continuous bullnose shaped portion that makes a 90 degree turn at the joinder of the first leg 34 and the second leg 36 of the first bullnose shaped portion 32.
If the countertop that is being formed is flat, the first [0019] top surface 14, the second top surface 40 and the third top surface 50 all lie on a third plane.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. [0020]

Claims

I claim:

1. A counter corner comprising:

a first body member having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a notch located between the first side and the second side, the notch having a first edge that is disposed on a first plane and is oriented substantially parallel with the second side and a second edge that is disposed on a second plane and is oriented substantially parallel with the first side; and

a first bullnose shaped portion having a first leg that extends downwardly from the bottom surface beginning at the first edge and a second leg that extends downwardly from the bottom surface beginning at the second edge.

2. The counter corner as in claim 1 wherein the body member and the bullnose shaped portion are monolithic.

3. The counter corner as in claim 1 wherein the first side and the third side are oriented substantially parallel to each other and the second side and the fourth side are oriented substantially parallel with each other and perpendicular with the first side.

4. The counter corner as in claim 1 in combination with:

a second body member having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a fifth side that abuts against the first side and a sixth side that lies on the first plane; and

a third body member having a third top surface, a third bottom surface, a seventh side that abuts against the second side and an eight side that lies on the second plane.

5. The counter corner as in claim 4 further comprising:

a second bullnose shape portion that extends downwardly from the second bottom surface beginning at the sixth side and abuts the first leg; and

a third bullnose shape portion that extends downwardly from the third bottom surface beginning at the eight side and abuts the second leg.

6. The counter corner as in claim 4 wherein the first top surface, the second top surface and the third top surface all lie on a third plane.