Stone Worktop Joint Structure for Hidden Slab Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard-sized stone slabs used for furniture worktops often require joining, which results in visible bonding lines between adjacent slabs, affecting the aesthetic appearance.
Innovation Solution
The worktop design features recesses on the head surfaces of adjacent slabs to house bonding substances, eliminating the need for beveling and creating a continuous surface by positioning the slabs so that recesses from one slab communicate with those of another, along with the use of reference elements and grooves for enhanced stability and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If two or more slabs are joined by placing them adjacent to each other with bevelled edges and interposing a layer of bonding substance, then the worktop can achieve larger sizes beyond standard slab dimensions, but visible bonding lines appear on the outside affecting the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding substance is extracted from the external surface and relocated into recesses created on the head surfaces of the slabs. This allows the bonding function to be maintained while the visual defect of visible bonding lines is eliminated, as the bonding substance is now hidden within the recesses rather than exposed on the worktop surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Recesses are preliminarily created on the head surfaces of the slabs before the joining operation. These recesses are prepared in advance to receive and contain the bonding substance, ensuring that when the slabs are joined, the bonding material is automatically positioned within the recesses and does not appear on the external surface.
2Strength
If beveling is performed on the external corners of slabs to create a slit for bonding substance, then joining of slabs is enabled, but the beveling process adds manufacturing complexity and the bonding substance remains visible
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating bevels on the external corners of the slabs to accommodate bonding substance, the approach is inverted by creating recesses on the head surfaces (top surfaces) of the slabs. This inversion allows the bonding substance to be hidden within the recesses rather than exposed on the external edges, eliminating visible bonding lines while maintaining joining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The location for accommodating bonding substance is moved from the horizontal external corners (2D edge location) to vertical recesses on the head surfaces (3D surface location). This dimensional change allows the bonding substance to be contained within the slab structure rather than exposed on the external perimeter.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for seamless joining of stone slabs, eliminating visible bonding lines and enhancing the aesthetic and mechanical properties of the worktop, enabling larger sizes without surface discontinuities.
Implementation Method 1
two or more slabs (3, 4) made of stone, arranged side by side at the level of corresponding head surfaces (5, 6) extending according to the thickness of the slabs and having mutually matching shapes, connected to each other through joining means (7) comprising a bonding substance (8) interposed between the head surfaces (5, 6) of the slabs (3, 4)
Data Source
AI summary
A worktop (1) for pieces of furniture includes two slabs (3, 4) made of stone, arranged so that they are adjacent to each other at the level of corresponding head surfaces (5, 6) in order to define a work surface (2) exposed to the outside. A joining arrangement is suited to stably connect the slabs (3, 4) and includes a first bonding substance (8) interposed between the head surfaces (5, 6) and recesses (9) obtained on the head surfaces (5, 6) of each slab (3, 4), mutually facing each other and configured in such a way as to define corresponding housings completely delimited in the direction of the thickness of the slabs (3, 4), the first bonding substance (8) being spread mainly in the housings.