U.S. patent application number 13/253056 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-04 for composite moldboard unit for countertop.
The applicant listed for this patent is Min-Hsiu Su Hsiao, Lynn Hsiao Su, Penn Hsiao Su. Invention is credited to Min-Hsiu Su Hsiao, Lynn Hsiao Su, Penn Hsiao Su.
Application Number | 20130082160 13/253056 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47991679 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130082160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsiao; Min-Hsiu Su ; et
al. |
April 4, 2013 |
COMPOSITE MOLDBOARD UNIT FOR COUNTERTOP
Abstract
A composite moldboard unit includes a main portion and a buckle
structure. The main portion has a horizontal side and a vertical
side. An engagement rabbet and an edge are formed at the lower end
of the vertical side. The buckle structure is a substantially
arc-shaped barricade portion. A button block is formed at the lower
end of the barricade portion and may engage with the engagement
rabbet. A space may be formed by and between the barricade portion
and the main portion and may hold cementing material. In addition,
the barricade portion in various types of shape can be used to
generate different patterns. Also, the composite moldboard unit of
the present invention has a smaller size or volume and hence the
packaging, transport and storage of it would be easier and less
costly. As a result, the overall production cost is reduced.
Inventors: |
Hsiao; Min-Hsiu Su;
(Taichung City, TW) ; Su; Penn Hsiao; (Taichung
City, TW) ; Su; Lynn Hsiao; (Taichung City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hsiao; Min-Hsiu Su
Su; Penn Hsiao
Su; Lynn Hsiao |
Taichung City
Taichung City
Taichung City |
|
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
47991679 |
Appl. No.: |
13/253056 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
249/189 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 77/022 20130101;
E04G 13/068 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
249/189 |
International
Class: |
E04G 9/10 20060101
E04G009/10 |
Claims
1. A composite moldboard unit for countertop, comprising: a main
portion, having a horizontal side and a vertical side, wherein an
engagement rabbet, which has a specific shape, and an edge are
formed at the lower end of the vertical side; and a buckle
structure, which is a substantially arc-shaped barricade portion,
wherein a button block is formed at the lower end of the barricade
portion and may engage with the engagement rabbet, and wherein a
space may be formed by and between the barricade portion and the
main portion, and may hold cementing material.
2. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 1, wherein an indented
portion may be provided on the inner side of the lower end of the
main portion so that the lower portion may be bent and detached
more easily.
3. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 1, wherein a bearing
surface portion is additionally provided on the vertical side of
the main portion and a turning juncture is formed at the juncture
of the vertical side and the bearing surface portion, and wherein
an engagement rabbet, which has a specific shape, and an edge are
provided on the lower portion of the vertical side.
4. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 3, wherein an indented
portion may be provided on the inner side of the lower end of the
main portion so that the lower portion may be bent and detached
more easily.
5. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 3, wherein a
rectangular male positioning portion is provided on the bearing
surface portion of the main portion.
6. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 1, wherein a connective
portion extends from the barricade portion, and wherein a button
block, which extends upwards, is formed at the lower end of the
connective portion and may engage with the engagement rabbet of the
main portion.
7. The composite moldboard unit as in claim 6, wherein a female
positioning portion is provided on the lower side the connective
portion of the buckle structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention generally relates to the molding of
countertop. More particularly, the invention relates to a composite
moldboard unit, which may be used for the molding of a countertop,
and makes the transportation and storage of it easier and reduces
the non-conforming rate in manufacturing.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A countertop in the kitchen is used for food preparation. To
make it more aesthetically appealing and easier to clean, an
additional flat surface, which is made of wood, stainless steel,
marble, foam board, natural slab/stone, melamine plywood, melamine
or artificial slab/stone, is often installed. Such additional
surface is water-resistant and protects the countertop. In
addition, different type of material may be selected for different
applications and there are various types of patterns to choose.
However, the one-piece moldboard in the prior art is integrally
formed and hence is oversized. Therefore, the non-conforming rate
in its production is higher. In addition, because of its larger
size or volume, the costs in the packaging, transportation and
storage of it are higher. A bigger space is needed for its storage
and bigger vehicles or more trips are needed to transport them.
Therefore, the overall production cost is higher and hence its
selling price would be higher. As a result, this does not benefit
the manufacturers and consuming public and does not help the
upgrading of the industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a
composite moldboard unit, which may be used for the molding of a
countertop.
[0006] To reach these objects, the composite moldboard unit of the
present invention is disclosed. The composite moldboard unit of the
present invention comprises a main portion and a buckle structure.
The main portion has a horizontal side and a vertical side. An
engagement rabbet, which has a specific shape, and an edge are
formed at the lower end of the vertical side. The buckle structure
is a substantially arc-shaped barricade portion. A button block is
formed at the lower end of the barricade portion and may engage
with the engagement rabbet. A space may be formed by and between
the barricade portion and the main portion and may hold cementing
material.
[0007] Therefore, the composite moldboard unit of the present
invention has a smaller size or volume and hence the packaging,
transportation and storage of it would be easier. As a result, the
overall production cost is reduced.
[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, a female
positioning portion is provided on the bearing surface portion and
may engage with a male positioning portion provided on the buckle
structure.
[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, a male
positioning portion is provided on the main portion and may engage
with a female positioning portion provided on the connective
portion. Therefore, through such engagement, the connection between
the main portion and the buckle structure may be more secure.
[0010] Also, the buckle structure consists of the following three
segments, namely, the upper half has a semi-circular segment, a
straight segment and the lower half is a semi-circular segment.
Therefore, the aforesaid space includes two semi-circular
segments.
[0011] In an embodiment, the barricade portion has a semi-circular
shape and the space also has a semi-circular shape.
[0012] In another embodiment, the buckle structure consists of two
segments, namely, the upper one-third of the buckle structure being
a straight segment and the lower two-thirds being an arc-shaped
segment. Therefore, the aforesaid space includes a straight segment
and an arc-shaped segment.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, the buckle structure consists of
two segments, namely, the upper half of the buckle structure being
a step-shaped segment (tapering in the upward direction) and the
lower half being an arc-shaped segment. Therefore, the aforesaid
space includes a step-shaped segment and an arc-shaped segment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The drawings disclose three illustrative embodiments of the
present invention which serve to exemplify the various advantages
and objects hereof, and are as follows:
[0015] FIGS. 1 to 6 are sectional views and partially enlarged
views of the first embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of
the present invention in a disassembled condition.
[0016] FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views and partially enlarged
views of the second embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of
the present invention in a disassembled condition.
[0017] FIG. 9 contains a sectional view and a partially enlarged
view of the third embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the
present invention in a disassembled condition.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a space formed by the main
portion and the barricade portion.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating cementing material has been
poured into the space.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the buckle structure is
detached after the cementing material solidifies.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 6, which illustrate the first
embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the present
invention. The composite moldboard unit of the present invention
may be used for the molding of a countertop 32. The composite
moldboard unit of the present invention comprises a main portion 1
and a buckle structure 2. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the dimensions
of both the main portion 1 and the buckle structure 2 match the
dimensions of a countertop 32. The composite moldboard unit may be
placed along the outer perimeter of the countertop 32 and is used
with an additional L-shaped moldboard 1'. Bolts are used to affix
the L-shaped moldboard 1' between a wall 31 and the countertop 32.
Then, pour pre-mixed cementing material 33 into the space formed by
the main portion 1 and the buckle structure 2. After the cementing
material 33 solidifies, remove the buckle structure 2, as
illustrated in FIG. 12. Now, the molding of the countertop 32 is
completed.
[0022] The main portion 1 has a horizontal side 11 and a vertical
side 12. An engagement rabbet 13, which has a specific shape, and
an edge 14 are formed at the lower end of the vertical side 12. The
main portion 1 has an L-shape and may also be used as a wall mold
1' so as to reduce the cost.
[0023] The buckle structure 2 is a substantially arc-shaped
barricade portion 21 or includes at least an arc-shaped barricade
portion 21. A button block 22 is formed at the lower end of the
barricade portion 21 and may engage with the engagement rabbet 13.
A space 23 may be formed by and between the barricade portion 21
and the main portion 1, as illustrated by FIG. 10. The space 23 may
hold the aforesaid cementing material 33.
[0024] In use, first, the main portion 1 is affixed by bolts. Then,
the buckle structure 2 is connected with the main portion 1 through
the engagement of the button block 22 and the engagement rabbet 13.
The edge 14 would provide secure connection and support to support
the weight of the cementing material 33 placed in the space 23. In
this way, the composite moldboard unit of the present invention
would have the same amount of rigidity as the integrally formed
mold of the prior art. After the cementing material 33 solidifies,
the buckle structure 2 and the lower portion of the main portion 1
are removed, as illustrated in FIG. 12. Now, molding is completed.
In addition, an indented portion 15 may be provided on the inner
side of the lower end of the main portion 1 so that the lower
portion may be bent and detached more easily.
[0025] Now, please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, which illustrate the
second embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the present
invention. A bearing surface portion 16 is additionally provided on
the vertical side 12 of the main portion 1. A turning juncture is
formed at the juncture of the vertical side 12 and the bearing
surface portion 16. An engagement rabbet 13, which has a specific
shape, and an edge 14 are provided on the lower portion of the
vertical side 12. An indented portion 15 may be provided on the
inner side of the lower end of the main portion 1 so that the lower
portion may be bent and detached more easily.
[0026] A connective portion 24 extends from the barricade portion
21. The connective portion 24 is horizontal and may press against
the bearing surface portion 16 of the main portion 1 in use. A
button block 22, which extends upwards, is formed at the lower end
of the connective portion 24 and may engage with the engagement
rabbet 13. A barricade portion 21 extends from the connective
portion 24 and may have various types of arc shape. A space 23 may
be formed by and between the barricade portion 21, the connective
portion 24 and the main portion 1. The space 23 may hold the
aforesaid cementing material 33. Therefore, after the cementing
material 33 solidifies, a countertop 34 with various types of
rounded edge or arc-shaped edge may be formed so as to make the
countertop 34 more aesthetically appealing and so that such
countertop with rounded edge will be safer.
[0027] In the composite moldboard unit of the present invention, in
comparison to the prior art one-piece moldboard, which is
integrally formed and hence is oversized, the moldboard unit of the
present invention has two pieces (a main portion 1 and a buckle
structure 2) and hence the main portion 1 and the buckle structure
2 may be manufactured and then packaged separately. Therefore, in
comparison to the prior art one-piece moldboard, thanks to the
reduced size or volume of the composite moldboard unit of the
present invention, the higher non-conforming rate in manufacturing
may be lowered and the difficulty in packaging may be eliminated.
In addition, the transport of the composite moldboard unit of the
present invention becomes easier and the shipping cost may be
reduced. Also, the moldboard unit takes up less space in warehouse.
Therefore, the overall production cost is lowered and hence the
selling price may be lowered. As a result, both the manufacturers
and consuming public can benefit from the composite moldboard unit
of the present invention. This is the ultimate goal of the
composite moldboard unit of the present invention.
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 9, which illustrates the third
embodiment of the composite moldboard unit of the present
invention. A rectangular male positioning portion 17 is provided on
the bearing surface portion 16 and may engage with a female
positioning portion 25 provided on the connective portion 24.
Therefore, through such engagement, the connection between the main
portion 1 and the buckle structure 2 may be more secure.
[0029] In light of the aforesaid three embodiments of the present
invention, the composite moldboard unit of the present invention
has the following advantages. First, the main portion may be
regarded as a standard component, which may be used with a buckle
structure with a barricade portion in various types of arc shape.
Therefore, a manufacturer only has to pay for the costs for the
development and manufacturing of the buckle structure. In addition,
in the prior art one-piece moldboard, each type of the one-piece
moldboard requires a separate, oversized mold and a manufacturer
usually has to have a bigger warehouse to store these molds. In the
composite moldboard unit of the present invention, thanks to the
reduced size or volume, less space is needed for the storage of the
molds and these moldboard units; in addition, the cost in transport
is lowered. Therefore, the overall production cost is lowered.
Moreover, because the buckle structure of the present invention has
a barricade portion in various types of arc shape, consuming public
can have more choices and thus the manufacturers may become more
competitive in terms of such choices.
[0030] Many changes and modifications in the above described three
embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *