US2272058A - Table top, counter top, or the like - Google Patents

Description

3, 1942. w. e. DIETER 'ETAL' 2,272,058

nawror, comm T01, on mun Filed Oct. 1a, 1938 z-s'muu-shut 1 3M WALTE'K 6. DIET ER. 7

TTON.

V Patented Feb. 3, 1942 v 2,272,058 7 k H TABLE ToacoeN TER wenogwnmme Walter G. DietengWilliamG.Ritton, andIPaul j Y l Hu k shura aeas sm s to L bey-OWeris-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, I a corporationbffo lfio v Y 7 Application oewber 18, 19%, Serial No zsassz 1 Claims. (01. 31 1 1t6) p 7 associated? therewith ferconnecting adjacent l The present inventionrelates "t6 amrhproved compound slab or panel for-use .as table-tops,

counter topsand the, like. I

' The compound slab or panel herein provided consists broadly of a facing sheet r plate of y I opaque structural glass or other frangible material provided with a reinforcing backing 'per'ma- I nently secured thereto by an interposed sheet or layer of strengthening material and also having a preferably metallic band or rim arranged at one or more edges of the facing sheetand backing for protecting the said facing from being chipped or fractured. Y

An object of this inventionis to provide a com pound slab or panel of the above character hav- 1 ing an improved type of reinforcing backing coupledwith novel means for permanently secur= ing the said backing to thefaci'ng sheet, thereby resulting in a more serviceable, durable con-' -st'ruction. v g

Another object-of the invention is to provide a compound slab or panel of theabove character having novel means for effectively protecting the edges of the facing sheet against injury through blows against the "same; said protective means having a portion thereof embedded in said backing so that it is firmly and permanently secured in place.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a compound slab or panel of the aboveicharac't'er embodying novel means for facilitating theali'g'ning of the slabs or panels, espe'ciallywhen' used as a counter top or thelika-to provide a sounder, more rigid construction and minimize, if not,

entirely prevent, chippingor spalli'ng of the edges of adjacent facing sheets... I Other objects and'advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course-of the following description, when taken in connec-- tion with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: 7

Fig. 1 is an edge view of a table top formed ofa compound slab or panel embodying the present invention;

of opaquestructural'glass, may be of any other Vitreous material. Underlying the facing sheet 5 is a reinforcing: ba'cking or body portion 6 ar rangedover the ntirear'eajm said "facing and permanently secured; thereto by an interposed non-brittlesheet or-layer, of-strengthenin'g ma terial 1. The backing s is adapted'tobe formed from a suitable cementitious material, preferably gypsum, while.thestrengthening.material l preferablyconsistsl of a sheet of roofing m'aterial having a fibrous base coated with a bituminous substance such as asphaltum.

One type of strengthening material which has been used with satisfactoryresults is that made and sold by theRuberoid Company, of Erie-Pa.) underthe trade name Ru-beroid. min-ga of material is relatively inexpensive, will stand tofore, thereby reducing the cost of' the unit.

Fig. 2 is a perspective sectional View of a per- 7 tion thereof;

Fig; 3 is a plan View of a counter top formed of compound slabs or panels also embodying the invention; I p

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on'line 44 of Fig. 3; and c Fig. 5 is a perspectiye view of one 'of the compound Slabs or panels having' dowr members.

up over a relativelylong periodof tim'e, and does not deteriorate. Byformlngthebacking 6 of gypsumanduniting the same to the facing sheet 5 withjthe non brittle sheetof' roofing material I, there isprovided a compound slab or panel of exceptiimal strength'and durability. I 1

The,.sheet 'oflstrengthening material'l and backing] 6 serve'to greatly reinforce the facing sheet; 5 and; when structural glass is used, permit the use'of a relatively thinner sheet than here- Another advantage is-that eve'nthough a crack mightdevelop in theglass facing it wouldhardl y be perceptible on such a 'unitasthe sheet of.

strengthening material would prevent the crack fromopening. Also, 'if the glass'fa'cing sheet Should become broken, the strengthening mate'- rial would retain the pieces in much the same manner'as safety glass. The sheet of strength ening material serves further to cushion the facing against shock and blows, thereby greatly in creasing its strength; anuyresistance to breakage. In order to pfetect the edges or the facing sheet enemy, the invention has been illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2', as being applied 5 from blows and the like which might result in the chipping or fracturing thereof, as well as for covering the edges of the backing 6 to give a neater and more finished appearance, there is arranged around the perimeter of the compound slab or panel a protective rim or band 8. As shown, this rim covers not only the edges of the facing sheet but also extends down far enough to effectually conceal the edges of the backing. The protective rim 8 may be of any desired cross section and likewise of any desired material; although it is preferably of metal. The metal rim can, if desired, be coated upon its outer surface with a colored enamel to provide an attractive trim for the table top or it can be suitably striped with enamel to match the glass facing whereby to create a massive effect and the illusion of a heavy slab or panel.

For the purpose of securing the metal rim 8 to the compound slab or panel without marring the facing sheet 5, it is provided with suitable anchoring means adapted to be embedded in the cementitious backing 6. As here shown, the anchoring means comprises a flange or tongue 9, carried by and extending inwardly at substantially right angles to the rim 8 and provided at its free end with an enlarged key or anchoring portion ID in the form of a hollow bead. The flange 9 and anchoring portion In may extend the entire length of the metal rim or a plurality of spaced locking elements can be provided, as desired.

When forming the compound slab, the sheet of strengthening material I is first adapted to be secured to the bottom surface of the facing sheet 5. This can be accomplished by treating one side of the sheet 1 with turpentine and permitting it to stand until it becomes tacky. The sheet is then placed upon the bottom surface of the facing, with the tacky side in contact therewith and the said sheet weighted down and allowed to stand the required length of time until it becomes firmly secured to the facing.

There is then provided a suitable mold of the desired shape and size and the facing sheet is laid upon the bottom of the mold with the sheet of strengthening material facing upwardly. The metal rim 8 is also properly associated with the facing in the mold. The upper side of the sheet of strengthening material is then treated inthe same manner with turpentine until it also becomes tacky, whereupon the cementitious ma-' terial forming the backing 6 is poured into the mold upon the sheet of strengthening material I. The cementitious material is then allowed to set whereupon the compound slab is ready for use. When the material forming the backing 8 hardens, it will be readily seen that the enlarged anchoring portions ID of the metal rim will be securely embedded therein, thus effectively preventing the metal rim from becoming loose or disengaged from the compound slab.

Although it is preferred to make use of gypsum for the backing 6 and a sheet of roofing material for the strengthening layer 1 as set forth above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of these particular materials. On the other hand, a layer of mastic or plastic cement may be substituted for the sheet of roofing material 1 and likewise the backing '6 may be formed of cement-plaster, concrete, or a similar material. Also, the backing might be lightened by mixing asbestos, cork, sawdust, rock wool, or the like with the cementitious material.

When gypsum is used, it is preferred that the lower portion of the metal rim 8, which comes in contact with the gypsum, be provided with a coating of mastic or cement I l to form a suitable bond between the gypsum and metal rim as well as to retard rusting of the rim. The flanges 9 and anchoring portions I may be similarly coated to retard rusting. The cementitious backing 6 is also preferably, although not necessarily, reinforced with a layer of wire mesh or metal lath 12. When using the slab or panel as a table top, it is adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting standard I 3 or the like in any desired manner.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings is shown specifically a portion of a counter top or the like, including the two compound slabs or panels l4 and I5 provided by the present invention. These slabs are arranged side by side in abutting relation and each comprises a facing sheet l6 of opaque structural glass or other frangible material, a reinforcing backing ll of suitable cementitious material, and an interposed sheet or layer of strengthening material l8 for permanently securing the facing and backing to one another. The outer exposed edges of each slab are provided with a metal band or rim l9 which is disposed opposite the edges of the facing sheet and likewise covers the edges of the backing. The rim is secured in place by suitabl anchoring means including the enlarged hollow bead 20 embedded in the backing H. The lower portion of the metal rim which comes in contact with the cementitious material can be coated with a lay-er of mastic or cement 2| to form a suitable bond between the rim and cementitious material and also retard rusting of the rim. The reinforcing backing l'l may consist of gypsum,

cement-plaster, concrete, or other desired ceing slabs are adapted to be interlocked with one another in a manner not only to secure them in proper position but to facilitate the aligning thereof. To this end, the backing of one of the slabs, and as here shown slab I4, is provided at one edge with a transverse groove 22, while the backing of slab I5 is provided with a projecting tongue 23 adapted to fit snugly in groove 22. This tongue and groove arrangement greatly facilitates the aligning of the slabs during installation to provide a sounder and more rigid construction while preventing chipping or spalling of the adjacent edges of the facing sheets such as would be apt to occur were they not held in perfect alignment. Dishes and glassware can also be slid over the facing sheets, aligned in this manner, without danger of breakage.

According to the invention, the backing of each slab also projects slightly beyond the adjacent edge of the facing sheet at the end provided with the tongue or groove so as to further minimize danger of chipping or spalling of the edges of the facings when abutting the slabs. As shown, the abutting edges 24 and 25 of slabs l4 and I5 respectively project slightly beyond the corresponding edges of the facing sheets so that when the slabs are moved into interlocking relation and the edges 24 and 25 abut one another there will be a slight space or gap between the corresponding edges of the facing sheets. The joint thus created can be filled either with a pointing compound 26 or it can be cushioned with a strip of cork tape or the like and then pointed. This slight separation of the adjoining edges of the facing sheets coupled with the strengthening ma-, terial beneath the said sheets will effectively take 1 care of any variation in the contraction and expansion' of the facings and backings.

If desired, instead of using the tongue and groove construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 for lining up adjacent slabs, the arrangement 11- lustrated in Fig. 5 may be employed. The slab here disclosed also consists of a facing sheet 21 of opaque structural glass or other frangible m aterial, a backing 28 formed from a suitable ce-. mentitious material and an interposed layer or sheet of strengthening material 29 for securing the facing and backing together. Arranged along opposite sides of the slab are the metal rims or' bands 303l) provided with'the inwardly directed flanges 3ih3l terminating in the hollow beads 32--32. When used to form a counter top or the like, the adjacent slabs are adapted to be connected together by the fiat metal dowel members 33-33 which are inserted within the hollow beads 32--32 of adjoining slabs. These dowel members or pins are adapted to be of such shape as 'to snugly fit Within thebeads 32 so as to'prevent relative movement therebetween. They will thus serve to effectively line up the outside edges of the metal rims of adjacent slabs as Well as the upper surfaces of the facing sheets.

It is to be understood that the form of .theinvention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,

arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

and that various changes in the shape, size and V We claim: j I 1. In a table top, counter top or the like, a

plurality of compoundslabs or panels arranged side by side in abutting relation, each comprising a frangible faoing'sheet a reinforcing backing beneath and secured to said facing sheet, and a protective-metal rim extending-alongthe exposed edges of each slab and having" a portion thereof embedded in the reinforcing backing, the reinforcing backings ofadjoining panels beingpro-v 'vided at their meeting edges and inwardly of the I opposite side edges thereof with interlocking tongue and grooveportions whereby said slabs may be aligned with one another, the opposite ends of said groove being closed and engageable by theends' of said tongue to'prevent transverse relative movement between the said, slabs. V

2. In a table top, counter top or the like, a

slabs projecting beyond ,thgCOllESpOndiIlg edges of the facing sheets and .being providedwith interlocking tongue and groove portions spaced inwardly from the side edges thereof to: facilitate the alignment of the slabs, the opposite ends of said groove being closed and engageableby the ends of said tongue toprevent relative transverse movement between the said slabs, the projecting meeting edges of adjacent slabs serving-to space the corresponding facing, sheets from one another. i

WALTER G. DIETER.

WILLIAM RI'I'ION.

. PAUL M. HULL. Y

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