Modular kitchen component system

Abstract

A kitchen sink top is produced to a standard size selected from one or more predetermined standard sizes. The kitchen sink top is formed from natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material and, during production, is formed with an aperture suitable for an undermount-type sink bowl, at least one aperture for mounting a tap or faucet, and a recessed drainage area adjacent the sink bowl aperture. A modular kitchen component system, a method of producing the sink top, and an extension or backsplash element are also provided.

1 . A kitchen sink top which is produced to a standard size selected from one or more predetermined standard sizes, the kitchen sink top being formed from natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material and, during production, being formed with an aperture suitable for an undermount-type sink bowl, at least one aperture for mounting a tap or faucet, and a recessed drainage area adjacent the sink bowl aperture.  
   
   
       2 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two tap or faucet apertures are provided, one of the said tap or faucet apertures being positioned adjacent a first edge of the sink top and the second said tap or faucet aperture being positioned adjacent a second different edge of the sink top, the citing of the tap or faucet apertures allowing the sink top to be installed in two different orientations.  
   
   
       3 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one edge of the sink top is profiled.  
   
   
       4 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sink top is produced as part of a batch of identical or substantially identical sink tops.  
   
   
       5 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an undermount-type sink bowl.  
   
   
       6 . A kitchen sink top which is produced to a standard size selected from one or more predetermined standard sizes, the kitchen sink top being formed from natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material and which, during production, is formed with an aperture suitable for an undermount-type sink bowl, and two apertures for mounting a tap or faucet, one of the two tap or faucet apertures being provided adjacent a first edge of the sink top and the other of the two tap or faucet apertures being provided adjacent a second different edge of the sink top, so that the sink top can be installed in two different orientations.  
   
   
       7 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a recessed drainage area adjacent the sink bowl aperture, the recessed drainage area being formed in the natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material.  
   
   
       8 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at least one edge of the sink top is profiled.  
   
   
       9 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the sink top is produced as part of a batch of identical or substantially identical sink tops.  
   
   
       10 . A kitchen sink top as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising an undermount-type sink bowl.  
   
   
       11 . A method of batch-producing kitchen sink tops, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. supplying a first location with slabs of quarried natural stone and/or sheets of homologous stone-effect material;    b. sizing one said slab or sheet to a standard size selected from one or more predetermined standard sizes at the first location;    c. forming in the one slab or sheet an aperture suitable for an undermount-type sink bowl at the first location;    d. forming in the one slab or sheet at least one aperture for mounting a tap or faucet at the first location;    e. forming in the one slab or sheet a recessed drainage area adjacent the sink bowl aperture at the first location;    f. finishing the sink top at the first location;    g. repeating steps (a) to (f) to form at least one further identical or substantially identical kitchen sink top; and    h. supplying at least one of the finished kitchen sink tops to a second location ready for installation.    
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein step (b), step (c), step (d), step (e), and/or step (f) are performed utilising a machining process.  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the machining process is automated.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in step (h), the finished kitchen sink top and an undermount-type sink bowl are supplied to the second location.  
   
   
       15 . An extension or backsplash element which is formed from natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material and which is for use with a kitchen countertop or worktop, the extension or backsplash element having two rear surfaces which extend transversely to each other, and a front face, the two rear surfaces having different dimensions so that the extension or backsplash element can be installed in either of two orientations to cover a gap between a wall and an edge of an installed kitchen countertop or worktop.  
   
   
       16 . An extension or backsplash element as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the front face is at least one of sculpted, profiled, convex and concave.  
   
   
       17 . An extension or backsplash element as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising an internal and an external corner to allow extension around a corner of a supporting surface.  
   
   
       18 . A method of producing an extension or backsplash element for use with a kitchen countertop or worktop, the method comprising the steps of 
 a. supplying a first location with quarried natural stone or homologous stone-effect material;    b. sizing the stone or stone-effect material to a standard size selected from one or more predetermined standard sizes at the first location;    c. forming the extension or backsplash element from the sized material at the first location;    d. supplying the extension or backsplash element to a second location.    
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a step (e) between step (c) and step (d) of finishing the extension or backsplash element at the first location.  
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein steps (a) to (d) are repeated to produce a batch of extension or backsplash elements to a single pre-selected standard size.  
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein step (b), step (c) and/or step (e) are performed utilising a machining process.  
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the machining process is automated.  
   
   
       23 . A modular kitchen component system comprising a sink unit having a sink top in which is provided one or more pre-formed apertures for an undermount-type sink and which is reversible to allow installation in either of two different orientations; a corner unit having a corner top; a standard unit having a standard top; an extension or backsplash unit having internal and/or external corners; end profile units having end profile tops; and hob slip units having hob slip tops, each said top being produced to a standard size selected from one or more predetermined standard sizes and formed from natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material at a production location remote from an installation location at which the modular kitchen component system is to be installed.  
   
   
       24 . A system as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising an undermount-type sink for attachment to the sink top of the sink unit.  
   
   
       25 . A system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the said tops have at least one profiled edge.  
   
   
       26 . A system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the said tops are finished at the production location.  
   
   
       27 . A system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the said tops are batch-produced to the said selected standard size.  
   
   
       28 . A system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the sink top includes a recessed drainage area formed in the natural stone or other homologous stone-effect material.