Kitchen counter

Abstract

To provide a kitchen counter which is light in weight and has increased bending rigidity and strength.SOLUTION: A kitchen counter 1 includes a top plate 2, and a reinforcing plate 3 having a porous backing material 31 arranged on a back side of the top plate 2 and a glass fiber 32 arranged on an undersurface 31b of the backing material 31. Preferably, the glass fiber 32 is arranged both on the undersurface 31b and an upper surface 31a of the backing material 31. Preferably, a thickness of the reinforcing plate 3 is 12 mm or more and 18 mm or less. Preferably, the glass fiber 32 is impregnated with an adhesive and is joined to the backing material 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to kitchen counters. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, it has been proposed to reduce the weight of a kitchen counter by placing a reinforcing plate made of foamed resin on the underside of the top plate of the kitchen counter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-223456 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] While foamed resin is lighter than wood or plywood, it has lower rigidity, which raised concerns that the bending rigidity and strength of the entire kitchen counter, which is made up of a top plate and a foamed resin reinforcing plate, would be reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a kitchen counter comprising a countertop, a porous backing material disposed on the underside of the countertop, and a reinforcing plate having glass fibers disposed on the underside of the backing material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a kitchen unit according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the kitchen counter of the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of the kitchen counter of the first embodiment. [Figure 3B]FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of a kitchen counter of a comparative example. [Figure 3C] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of a kitchen counter of a comparative example. [Figure 3D] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of a kitchen counter of a comparative example. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the kitchen counter of the first embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 5] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a female screw member of the kitchen counter of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a female thread member according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a kitchen counter according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. A kitchen counter 1 in the first embodiment is placed on the top surface of a kitchen unit 100. The kitchen unit 100 is a complex piece of equipment for cooking. The kitchen unit 100 has a kitchen counter 1 and a cabinet 10, with the kitchen counter 1 supported on top of the cabinet 10. The cabinet 10 is configured as a roughly rectangular parallelepiped, and has a storage space formed therein for storing cooking utensils and ingredients, as well as piping for water supply and drainage, a power supply unit for supplying electricity, and the like.

[0008] Kitchen counter 1 is a work surface on which a sink 11 and a cooking appliance 12 are arranged, and on which dishes and ingredients are washed and cooked when cooking. As shown in Fig. 2, kitchen counter 1 has a top plate 2, a reinforcing plate 3, and a female screw member 4 as a receiving member.

[0009] The countertop 2 is a thin, approximately rectangular parallelepiped plate. As shown in FIG. 1, an opening for placing a sink 11 is formed on one longitudinal side of the countertop 2, and an opening for placing a cooking appliance 12 is formed on the other longitudinal side, to which the sink 11 and cooking appliance 12 are fixed. The countertop 2 is a substantially rectangular plate material placed on the upper surface of the kitchen counter 1. The countertop 2 may be made of ceramic, for example. A ceramic countertop 2 has higher rigidity than a surface material made of artificial marble, for example. The thickness of the countertop 2 can be, for example, in the range of 5 mm to 7 mm.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing plate 3 is a plate-shaped member that is disposed on the back side of the table top 2 and reinforces the table top 2. The reinforcing plate 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and its outer edge is disposed inside the outer edge of the table top 2. A decorative member 33 that hides the reinforcing plate 3 is disposed at the end of the reinforcing plate 3. The reinforcing plate 3 has a backing material 31 and glass fiber 32.

[0011] The backing material 31 is made of a porous material, and may be made of, for example, polystyrene foam. A low specific gravity material is preferably used as the porous material, and may be made of urethane or PET. The porous plate may have a honeycomb shape.

[0012] The glass fiber 32 is disposed on both the lower surface 31b and the upper surface 31a when the countertop 2 is placed on the kitchen counter 1. The lower surface 31b is the surface on the opposite side of the countertop 2 with the backing material 31 sandwiched therebetween, and the upper surface 31a is the surface located on the joint 230 side between the reinforcing plate 3 and the countertop 2. The glass fiber 32 is woven in a coarse, open-weave plain weave with gaps, configured into a mat, and then silane-treated. The glass fiber 32 is impregnated with an adhesive and bonded to the backing material 31. A two-component curable resin with high viscosity and a hard coating after curing is preferably used as the adhesive. The thickness of the reinforcing plate 3, with the backing material 31 and the glass fiber 32 bonded together, is preferably 12 mm to 18 mm, and more preferably 14 mm to 17 mm.

[0013] The strength of the kitchen counter 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3A to 3D. Figure 3A shows the kitchen counter 1 according to the first embodiment. Figures 3B to 3D show cases in which the reinforcing plate is made of a different material, for comparison with Figure 3A. When a bending load is applied to the kitchen counter 1, the position of the neutral axis N, where the tensile force and compressive force are balanced, differs in the cross section of the combined thickness of the counter top 2 and the reinforcing plate 3, depending on the configuration of the reinforcing plate.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3A, in the kitchen counter 1 of the first embodiment, glass fiber 32 is arranged on the upper surface 31a and the lower surface 31b of the backing material 31. In this case, when a bending load is applied to the tabletop 2 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 3A, the neutral axis N is located inside the tabletop 2. The neutral axis N is close to the joint 230 between the tabletop 2 and the reinforcing plate 3. As an example, if the thickness of the tabletop 2 is 6 mm and the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3, which is the sum of the backing material 31 and the glass fiber 32, is 16 mm, the position of the neutral axis N is λ = 4.2 mm.

[0015] 3B shows a case where the reinforcing plate does not contain glass fiber and is composed only of porous backing material 9B. In this case, the neutral axis N is located inside the top plate 2. The neutral axis N is shifted further from the joint 230 toward the top plate 2 than the position shown in FIG. 3A. As an example, if the thickness of the top plate 2 is 6 mm and the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3, which is the combination of the backing material 9B and the glass fiber 32, is 16 mm, the position of the neutral axis N is λ = 3.1 mm.

[0016] Figure 3C shows the case where conventional plywood is used as the backing material 9C. When plywood is used as the backing material 9C, the neutral axis N is located inside the plywood. As an example, if the thickness of the top plate 2 is 6 mm and the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3, which is the combination of the backing material 9C and the glass fiber 32, is 16 mm, the position of the neutral axis N is λ = 7.8 mm.

[0017] FIG. 3D shows the case where a bending load is applied to a joint 91 where two pieces of conventional plywood are glued together using conventional plywood as the backing material 9D. The strength of the plywood joint 91 is locally reduced, and the neutral axis N is located inside the tabletop 2. The neutral axis N has moved away from the joint 230 between the reinforcing plate and tabletop 2 and toward the tabletop 2. As an example, if the thickness of the tabletop 2 is 6 mm and the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3, which is made up of the backing material 9D and the glass fiber 32, is 16 mm, the position of the neutral axis N is λ = 3.0 mm.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3C, when plywood is used as the backing material 9C, the neutral axis N is located inside the plywood. Plywood has a higher tensile strength than porous materials, so the countertop 2 only has compressive strength. This improves the overall strength of the kitchen counter 1 against bending loads. However, plywood is heavier than porous materials, making it difficult to transport and handle during installation.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3D, plywood has limited dimensions, so depending on the dimensions of the kitchen counter, it may be necessary to glue the pieces together. At joint 91 where the plywood pieces are glued together, the neutral axis N moves toward the countertop 2 to the same extent as in Figure 3B. As a result, the inherent rigidity of the plywood cannot be obtained locally in parts of the kitchen counter, and the weight of the kitchen counter only increases.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3B, using a porous material, such as polystyrene foam, as the backing material 9B can significantly reduce the weight. However, if the backing material 9B is made solely of polystyrene foam, the neutral axis N inside the countertop 2 shifts toward the countertop 2 compared to Figure 3A. This causes a higher tensile stress in the countertop 2 than in Figure 3A. If the countertop 2 is made of a material with low tensile strength, such as ceramic, the strength of the kitchen counter will be reduced.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3A, when glass fiber 32 is used as a porous material for backing material 31, the neutral axis is closer to the joint 230 between reinforcing plate 3 and top plate 2, thereby achieving both weight reduction and increased strength.

[0022] The female screw member 4 is attached to the backing material 31, and engages with the male screw 5 that fastens to the backing material 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the female screw member 4 is arranged so that its axial direction is along the thickness direction of the reinforcing plate 3. FIG. 4 is a view of the top plate 2 as seen from below. As shown in FIG. 4, the female screw member 4 is arranged in a position that is fixed in advance by design, for example, around the opening 11a where the sink 11 of the kitchen counter 1 will be placed. The female screw member 4 has a tubular portion 41 and a flange portion 42.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5 , the cylindrical portion 41 has a thread groove formed on its inner periphery that can engage with the male screw 5. One end of the cylindrical portion 41 is closed to prevent adhesive from entering the interior of the cylindrical portion 41. The cylindrical portion 41 is configured so that its axial length is approximately the same as the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3. That is, the end face on one end of the cylindrical portion 41 is positioned along the surface of the reinforcing plate 3 facing the joint 230, and the end face on the other end of the cylindrical portion 41 is positioned along the surface of the reinforcing plate 3 opposite the joint 230. By making the length of the cylindrical portion 41 and the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3 approximately the same, it is possible to prevent cracks from occurring in the backing material 31 when the male screw is fastened to the cylindrical portion 41.

[0024] The flange portion 42 has an outer dimension larger than the outer dimension in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular portion 41, and extends radially from one end of the tubular portion 41. The flange portion 42 is arranged on the side of the joint 230 between the backing material 31 and the top plate 2. As shown in FIG. 5 , on the surface of the flange portion 42 that is joined to the tubular portion 41, claw portions 421 are formed that protrude along the axial direction of the tubular portion 41. The claw portions 421 are formed sharply so that the tip ends are thinner than the base ends. The claw portions 421 engage with the backing material 31.

[0025] When installing kitchen counter 1, the work is performed with sink 11 placed upside down and countertop 2 on the bottom. As shown in Figure 5, female screw member 4 is fixed to reinforcing plate 3 with male screw 5 positioned at a predetermined position, by piercing claw portion 421 from the glass fiber 32 side toward backing material 31. With female screw member 4 attached to reinforcing plate 3, top plate 2 and reinforcing plate 3 are joined together.

[0026] The sink 11 is placed on the side of the reinforcing plate 3, on which the female screw member 4 is arranged, and the top plate 2 to which the reinforcing plate 3 is joined. Then, the male screw 5 is inserted into the position where the female screw member 4 is arranged, and the sink 11 is fixed.

[0027] The first embodiment provides the following advantages. The kitchen counter 1 includes a countertop 2, a porous backing material 31 disposed on the underside of the countertop 2, and a reinforcing plate 3 having glass fibers 32 disposed on the underside 31b of the backing material 31. By disposing the glass fibers 32 on the underside 31b of the porous backing material 31, when a bending load is applied to the kitchen counter 1, the glass fibers 32 bear the tensile stress, thereby reducing the degree of tensile stress generated in the countertop 2. This allows for improved bending rigidity and strength while minimizing changes in the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3 without compromising the lightweight properties provided by the porous backing material 31. Furthermore, if the reinforcing plate were made of plywood or the like, seams would be created in the reinforcing plate to fit the dimensions of the kitchen counter. The seams locally reduce rigidity and increase the effort required to join the reinforcing plate to the countertop 2. In the first embodiment, the backing material 31 is made of a porous material, such as polystyrene foam, and glass fiber 32 is adhered to it, making it possible to form and adhere a single reinforcing plate 3 to any size kitchen counter 1. This improves workability in addition to the above-mentioned effects.

[0028] According to the first embodiment, the glass fibers 32 are disposed on both the lower surface 31b and the upper surface 31a of the backing material 31. This increases the degree of improvement in tensile strength obtained by the glass fibers 32.

[0029] According to the first embodiment, the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3 is set to 12 mm or more and 18 mm or less. By keeping the thickness of the reinforcing plate 3 within this range, other parts and members that make up the kitchen counter 1 can be suitably used, thereby increasing versatility.

[0030] According to the first embodiment, the glass fibers 32 are impregnated with an adhesive and bonded to the backing material 31. This prevents the glass fibers 32 from protruding from the surface of the reinforcing plate 3 and pricking or touching the fingers of the worker, thereby improving workability.

[0031] According to the first embodiment, the top plate 2 is made of ceramic. Since the tabletop 2 is made of ceramic, it has a higher compressive strength than a tabletop made of artificial marble using resin, and at the same time, the backing material 31 in which the glass fiber 32 is arranged can provide suitable bending rigidity.

[0032] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope of achieving the object of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. In the first embodiment, the claw portions 421 of the female thread member 4 are formed to protrude from the surface of the flange portion 42 that is joined to the tubular portion 41. As a modification of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the claw portions 421A may be a so-called onimen nut formed to protrude outward from the outer surface of the tubular portion 41A. The protruding positions and shapes of the claw portions are not particularly limited as long as they can engage with the porous backing material 31.

[0033] In the first embodiment, the glass fibers 32 are disposed on both the upper surface 31a and the lower surface 31b of the backing material 31. However, it is sufficient that the glass fibers 32 are disposed on at least the lower surface 31b of the backing material 31.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7 , in the second embodiment, a plate-shaped member 6 is used as a receiving member for the male screw. In the second embodiment, the female screw member does not need to be arranged on the reinforcing plate 3. The plate-shaped member 6 is made of a thin rectangular plate material with an area that can be arranged at a position where the male screw 5 is fastened, and is arranged on top of the backing material 31. The plate-shaped member 6 may be made of the same material as the backing material 31. Alternatively, the plate-shaped member 6A may be made of a different material from the backing material 31. For example, the plate-shaped member 6A may be MDF (fiberboard), plywood, wood chips, etc., as long as it is a material that can fasten the male screw 5. The male screw 5 secures a press fitting 7 that presses against the periphery of the sink 11 to secure the sink 11.

[0035] When attaching components such as the sink 11 to the kitchen counter 1, male screws 5 are fastened from the countertop 2 and the underside 31b of the backing material 31 to secure the sink 11. At this time, at the construction site, the remaining portion of the backing material 31 or a piece of the same material as the backing material 31 is cut to form a plate-like member 6. Then, a plate-like member 6 made from the same material as the backing material 31 is placed on the backing material 31 and glued to the position where the male screws 5 will be fastened. The male screws 5 fasten the backing material 31 and the plate-like member 6 together. The male screws 5 are fastened by rotating the shank 51 of the male screws 5 by the combined thickness of the backing material 31 and the plate-like member 6. If the distance in the thickness direction that supports the shank 51 of the male screws 5 is increased, it becomes possible to secure the backing material 31 even if it is made of a porous material.

[0036] If the plate-like member 6 is made of the same material as the backing material 31, any remaining scraps of the backing material 31 can be procured at the construction site and construction can be easily carried out.

[0037] If the plate-shaped member 6A is made of a material different from that of the backing material 31, a material such as MDF (fiberboard), plywood, or wood chips that is easily available at the construction site is prepared by cutting it to an area that allows the male screw 5 to be fastened. Then, as described above, the plate-shaped member 6A is placed on the backing material 31 and the male screw 5 is fastened. If the plate-shaped member 6A is made of a material different from that of the backing material 31, the fixing strength with which the male screw 5 is fastened can be improved by making the plate-shaped member 6A out of wood or the like instead of a porous material.

[0038] According to the second embodiment, there is no need to position and arrange the receiving members inside the reinforcing plate 3 in advance, so the receiving members can be arranged at the required locations during construction, which makes design and construction easier. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 kitchen counter, 2 top plate, 3 reinforcing plate, 31 backing material, 31a upper surface, 31b lower surface, 32 glass fiber

Claims

1. The top plate and a reinforcing plate separate from the top plate, The reinforcing plate has a porous backing material disposed on the back side of the top plate, the reinforcing plate is disposed inside the outer edge of the top plate, Glass fibers are impregnated with an adhesive and bonded to either or both of the upper and lower surfaces of the backing material; The reinforcing plate is adhered to the countertop.

2. A kitchen counter as described in claim 1, wherein the glass fiber is bonded to both the upper and lower surfaces of the backing material.

3. A kitchen unit as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein a decorative member that conceals the reinforcing plate is arranged at the end of the reinforcing plate.

4. A kitchen unit having a kitchen counter described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The countertop has an opening in which a sink is placed, The kitchen unit according to claim 4, wherein the outer edge of the sink is positioned opposite the end of the reinforcing plate that is positioned near the opening.

6. A method for manufacturing a kitchen counter according to claim 1, a reinforcing plate forming step of forming the reinforcing plate by arranging and bonding glass fibers impregnated with an adhesive on the surface of the backing material; A method for manufacturing a counter, comprising: a reinforcing plate joining step of overlapping and joining the reinforcing plate to the top plate.

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