Modular granite countertop

Abstract

A granite tile for forming an inside corner of a countertop is provided, comprising a first surface adapted to act as part of a counter top; a second surface for securing to a base; a front edge, said front edge sized to extend past and downward from said base; and a corner edge between said front edge and a second edge, said corner edge shaped to receive a second corner edge.

1 . A first granite tile for forming an inside corner of a countertop, comprising: 
 a first surface adapted to form part of a counter top;    a second surface for securing to a base;    a first edge, said first edge sized to extend past said base and below said second surface;    a corner edge between said first edge and a second edge, said corner edge shaped to abut a second corner edge, said second edge shaped to abut in second tile.    
   
   
       2 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein said first edge is a full bullnose.  
   
   
       3 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein said first edge is a half bullnose.  
   
   
       4 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein said first edge is eased.  
   
   
       5 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein said corner edge of said first tile is in contact with said second corner edge of a second granite tile, said second tile comprising: 
 a first surface adapted to form as part of a counter top;    a second surface for securing to a base;    a first edge of said second tile, sized to extend past said base and below from said second surface; and    said corner edge of said second tile is shaped to abut said corner edge of said first tile.    
   
   
       6 . A kit for forming a countertop on a base, said countertop having an edge extending beyond said base, said countertop having both inside and outside corners, comprising: 
 a plurality of granite surface tiles for covering the surface of said base wherein at least two of said surface tiles comprise corner edges allowing said tiles to abut to form a corner edge;    a plurality of granite splash tiles, each of said splash tiles corresponding to a surface tile, for placement on said corresponding surface tile;    wherein at least a portion of said surface tiles have at least a tile edge extending beyond said base to form said edge.    
   
   
       7 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein there are 16 surface tiles, and two of said surface tiles comprise corner edges.  
   
   
       8 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein there are 10 splash tiles.  
   
   
       9 . The kit of  claim 8  wherein eight of said surface tiles have at least a surface tile edge for forming part of said edge.  
   
   
       10 . A method of making a plurality of granite tiles for a countertop including an inside corner, comprising: 
 cutting and polishing a slab from a granite block to a specified thickness;    cutting a plurality of tiles from said slab and calibrating a rear edge of each tile to maintain said thickness;    gauging each of said tiles to attain a consistent shape allowing each of said tiles to abut against one or more other tiles;    micro bevelling an edge of each tile to soften its corners;    bonding a granite strip to the edge of a selection of said tiles using a high pressure lamination process to provide a decorative edge;    grinding and polishing said granite strip to form a consistent profile; and    cutting a corner edge of a selected tile at approximately 45 degrees.    
   
   
       11 . A method of packing a kit of generally rectangular granite tiles, comprising a plurality of surface tiles, wherein at least two of said surface tiles comprise an elongated edge extending downward from said tile, comprising: 
 pairing said tiles comprising elongated edges, such that the top surface of a first paired tile is adjacent to the bottom surface of a second paired tile, and the elongated edge of said first paired tile is on the opposite side from said elongated edge of said second paired tile.