US2789874A

US2789874A - Counter-top brace and trim construction

Info

Publication number: US2789874A
Application number: US507532A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hammer Samuel
Original assignee: UNITED METAL CABINET CORP
Current assignee: UNITED METAL CABINET Corp
Priority date: 1955-05-11
Filing date: 1955-05-11
Publication date: 1957-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-23

Description

P 1957 s. HAMMER 2,789,874

COUNTER-TOP BRACE AND TRIM CONSTRUCTION Filed May l1, 1955 IN VEN TOR. 5/9 Ml/EL f/flM/VEE 2,789,874 Ice Patented Apr. 23, 1951 COUNTER-TOP BRACE AND rnnvr CONSTRUCTION Samuel HammenNew York, N. Y., assignor to United Metal Cabinet Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York This invention relates to counter-top construction and more particularly to the type of counter-top such as used on cabinets in kitchens, butlers pantries, and so forth.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved counter-top of sturdy construction, having usual exposed surface configuration and devoid of showing of securing means on such surface.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an improved brace for counter-tops of the character mentioned, and particularly for counter-tops having a metal body.

A further object of the invention is to provide for simple and effective interengagement between the counter-top and said brace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brace which will adequately support and have retaining engagement with a counter-top that has a roll front and a rear bib.

Yet another object is to obtain compressive engagement between the brace and body of the counter-top.

The invention further contemplates provision of a brace that may be applied by a workman at the place of installation so as to be situated at the exact place where needed.

Still further objects, advantages and constructional features will appear to persons skilled in the art to which the invention appertains as the description proceeds, both by direct recitation thereof and by implication from the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of cabinets having my improved counter-top applied thereto; FFigure 2 is a cross-section taken on line II--II of Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on lines IIIIII and IVIV respectively of Fig. 2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the brace of the present invention.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, the reference numeral designates cabinets of any usual or desired construction, arranged in an assembly side by side and on which is applied a counter-top 11 here shown as common to and covering three cabinets. The invention is, however, applicable to counter-tops for any desired number of cabinets in an assembly. The counter-top is prefabricated in desired size and shape and from any suitable material. I preferably use sheet steel to constitute the body 12 of the colunter-top and of adequate thicknes to be relatively rigid so as not to sag under pressure of maximum loads likelyto be applied thereto in normal use. The sheet steel possesses resiliency which tends to return the sheet to a given form upon release of a deforming pressure. Ifso desired, the steel or other body .12 may be utilized without any covering material, but preferably has a covering 13 applied to its outer face and preferably adhesively secured thereon. Linoleum, Formica and similar materials are examples of coverings 13 that may be used.

In usual procedure of manufacture, body 12 is first stamped, rolled or otherwise brought to its ultimate shape and then the covering 13 is applied and permanently secured in place by thermo-setting-or other adhesive. The formed counter-top here shown has a front roll 14 and a rear bib 15 each ofwhich is integral with the intervening flat counter portion 16. The front roll of the body 12 curves forwardly downward and has its edge margin bent rearwardly to constitute a lip 17 directed inwardly under the counter portion 16 in spaced and parallel relation thereto. The covering 13 stops short of the final inward bend of the body, and lapping the edge of said covering is a strip of trim 18 of thin metal which is drawn rearwardly under said lip and bent around and pinched against the edge of said lip for holding the trim tightly in place. The forward edge of said trim is bent inward and embedded in the covering 13.

The top of the bib 15 is fabricated in a similar manner to that of the front roll just described, except that the body 12 is provided with an inwardly upwardly turned ledge 19 terminating the downwardly projecting lip 20 of the top roll of the bib. The trim 21 at thetop and rear of the bib has its forward edge bent downwardly and embedded in the covering 13 next to the terminal edge of said covering thereat, said trim being drawn downwardly and bent under the lip 20 and ledge 19 and pinched thereat for holding the trim tightly in place. It will be observed that said ledge 19 projects only a short distance inwardly of the top roll of the bib and thus has its. upwardly projecting edge spaced a considerable distance from both the front and top of the bib. End caps 22 enclose the end edges of the counter-top.

At appropriate locations and intervals beneath the counter portion 16 and behind bib 15 are braces 23. It is a feature of the invention to provide a construction of brace such that the workman making the installation of the counter-top on the cabinets, as in a kitchen, may slide each brace to correct relation to the cabinet and counter-top. For instance, there may be a brace adjacent each end of the counter-top, and other braces intermediate of the end braces and appropriately placed above the meeting joint where two cabinets are in meeting engagement side by side, and it is a brace having that re lationship to the cabinets which has been arbitrarily selected for illustration in the drawing.

Each brace has its main portion constituted as a channel member 24 having a horizontal web 25 from which depend side reaches 26 disposed in vertical parallel planes and from the bottoms. of which project horizontal basal portions or feet 27. Each side reach 26 has a nose 28 at its forward end adapted to enter the front roll of the counter-top body 12 and having a lower edge 29 adapted to have seating engagement upon the upper face of the inturned lip 17 of said front roll. At the rear end of said channel member 24 is an upstanding member or bracket 30 having appropriate slope and location so as to extend upwardly behind the bib in contact with the rear face of body material 12 thereof. The upper end of said bracket is located within the top roll of the bib and bends rearwardly and downward to form a hook 31 in proper position to hook into the upturned ledge 19 terminating the back lip 20 of said bib. Any tendency of said hook to straighten out, will have the effect of engaging the bracket more firmly against the upstanding wall of the bib.

While it is deemed within the scope of the invention to form bracket 30 integrally with web 25 of the channel member 24 and take advantage of resiliency of parts for introducing the hook or for releasing it from ledge 19 it is preferable to construct it as a separable member 1 from the channel. Said bracket is accordingly shown as having a foot 32 adapted to be drawn into fiatwise engagement with the channel Web 25 by a screw 33 in cooperation with a nut 34. Said web is also shown suitably equipped with resilientbuttons 35 at its top surfacewhich will engage and support the counter-top. When screw 33 is tightened, it not only pulls the book 31 into tight engagement with ledge 29, but also compresses said buttons 35 against the counter-top and in so doing exerts a leverage on the channel member tending to firmly seat edges 29 of nose 28 against lip 17.

The outwardly projecting feet 27 of the channel member are appropriately perforated and provided with nuts 36 or other means for receiving screws 37 introduced from inside the cabinets through top flanges thereof, thereby retaining the counter-top in its intended location on the cabinets. Since the brace '23 is adjustable with respect to the counter-top, it may accordingly be properly located by the installing workman to position the feet 27 in proper position for the introduction of said screws 37 as the final step of installation.

I claim:

1. A counter-top construction comprising a member adapted to extend from front to rear of a counter-top and adjustable in a direction transverse to itself, said member having a nose at its'forward end for interen-' gagement with the counter-top 'thereat, a bracket at the rear end of said member extending upwardly therefrom and providing a downwardly directed hook at its upper end for effecting hook engagement with the counter-top thereat, and screw means interconnecting said member and bracket, said screw means extending in a direction effecting a tensioning of said hook downwardly against the counter-top and holding the counter-top seated in fixed position on said member.

2. A counter-top construction comprising a member adapted to extend from front to rear of a counter-top and adjustable in adirection transverse to itself, said member having a nose at its forward end for interengagement' with the counter-top thereat, and said member having resilient means interposed between it and said counter-top for supporting engagement with said countertop, a bracket at the rear end of said member extending upwardly therefrom and providing a downwardly directed hook at its upper end for eflecting hook engagement with the counter-top thereat, and screw means interconnecting said member and bracket, said screw means extending in a direction effecting a tensioning of said hook downwardly against the counter-top and holding the counter-top seated on and compressing said resilient means.

3. The combination of a counter-top having a front roll with an inwardly directed lower lip, and having a rear bib with a top roll and an inwardly directed ledge therein, and a brace providing a member extending beneath said counter-top and having means engaging said lip, abracket hooked on said ledge pulling downwardly toward said member, and means mounting said bracket on said member and applying'tension effective on said hook and ledge in a direction toward said member for holding said brace and counter-top together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,027 Stanitz Apr. 6, 1948 2,492,541 Stanitz Dec. 27, 1949 2,535,593 Murry Dec. 26, 1950 2,594,516 Swisher Apr. 29, 1952 2,614,014 Stanitz Oct. 14, 1952 2,626,846 Morris -2 Jan. 27, 1953 2,646,326 Stanitz July 21, 1953 2,654,648 Burke Oct. 6, 1953 2,665,183 Battles Ian. 5, 1954 2,702,221 Hammer Feb. 15, 1955