Countertop fixture adapters

Abstract

Provided herein are adapters useful in constructing countertops for kitchens and other areas in which fixtures such as sinks and cooking range tops are desired to be installed. Through use of an adapter according to the invention, on-site cutting of holes or voids in stone countertops is eliminated and countertops may be fabricated using plain rectangular slabs of stone or other materials readily. Use of an adapter according to the invention reduces labor and costs associated with countertop fabrication and installation.

1 ) An adapter useful as a component in providing countertops in a work area which comprises: 
 a) a substantially planar base portion which comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a front portion and a rear portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length dimension and a width dimension;    b) a front lip portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension,    wherein said front lip portion is attached to said front portion of said base portion such that the length dimension of said front lip portion coincides with the length dimension of said base portion and the width dimension of said front lip portion extends in a direction downward from the plane of said base portion; and    c) a cutout hole disposed through said base portion,    which cutout hole is adapted to receive a fixture selected from the group consisting of:    cooktop ranges and sink basins.    
   
   
       2 ) An adapter according to  claim 1  wherein said front lip portion extends downward from the plane of said base portion such that the width dimension of said front lip portion intersects said planar base portion at an angle of about 90 degrees.  
   
   
       3 ) An adapter according to  claim 1  wherein said substantially planar base portion is substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       4 ) An adapter according to  claim 1  wherein said cutout hole is substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       5 ) A countertop assembly comprising the adapter of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 d) a first section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,    wherein the end portion of said first section of countertop is disposed beneath said first end portion of said substantially planar base portion of said adapter such the top surface of said first section of countertop is in effective mechanical contact with said bottom surface of said base portion of said adapter.    
   
   
       6 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       7 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 5  which further comprises: e) a second rectangular section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion, wherein the end portion of said second rectangular section of countertop is disposed beneath said second end portion of said substantially planar base portion of said adapter such the top surface of said second section of countertop is in effective mechanical contact with said bottom surface of said base portion of said adapter.  
   
   
       8 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said second section of countertop is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       9 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 5  wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin; and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.  
   
   
       10 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 7  wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin; and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.  
   
   
       11 ) An adapter useful as a component in providing countertops in a work area which comprises: 
 a) a substantially planar base portion which comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a front portion and a rear portion, a top surface, a bottom surface, a length dimension and a width dimension;    b) a front wall portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension,    c) a rear wall portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension,    wherein said front wall portion is attached to said front portion of said base portion such that the length dimension of said front wall portion coincides with the length dimension of said base portion and the width dimension of said front lip portion extends in a direction downward from the plane of said base portion;    d) a first bottom portion disposed beneath said bottom surface portion of said base portion at said first end portion of said base portion, wherein said first bottom portion has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said first bottom portion is in contact with said rear wall portion and wherein said second end portion of said first bottom portion is in contact with said front wall portion such that said rear wall portion, said front wall portion, said first bottom portion and said base portion collectively define a slot at the first end portion of said adapter which is adapted to received the end of a countertop; and    e) a cutout hole disposed through said base portion,    which cutout hole is adapted to receive a fixture selected from the group consisting of: cooktop ranges and sink basins.    
   
   
       12 ) An adapter according to  claim 11  wherein said substantially planar base portion is substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       13 ) An adapter according to  claim 11  wherein said cutout hole is substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       14 ) A countertop assembly comprising the adapter of  claim 11  and further comprising: 
 f) a first section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,    wherein the end portion of said first section of countertop is disposed within said slot at said first end portion of said adapter.    
   
   
       15 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 14  wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.  
   
   
       16 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 14  wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       17 ) An adapter according to  claim 11  which further comprises: f) a second bottom portion disposed beneath said bottom surface portion of said base portion at said second end portion of said base portion, wherein said second bottom portion has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said second bottom portion is in contact with said rear wall portion and wherein said second end portion of said second bottom portion is in contact with said front wall portion such that said rear wall portion, said front wall portion, said first bottom portion and said base portion collectively define a slot at the second end portion of said adapter which is adapted to receive the end of a countertop.  
   
   
       18 ) A countertop assembly comprising the adapter of  claim 17  and further comprising: 
 g) a first section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,    wherein the end portion of said first section of countertop is disposed within said slot at said first end portion of said adapter.    
   
   
       19 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 18  wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.  
   
   
       20 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 18  wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       21 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 18  and further comprising: 
 h) a second section of countertop having a top surface and an end portion,    wherein the end portion of said second section of countertop is disposed within said slot at said second end portion of said adapter.    
   
   
       22 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 21  wherein a fixture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin and a cooktop range is disposed within said cutout hole.  
   
   
       23 ) A countertop assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said first section of countertop is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       24 ) An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means, wherein said article comprises a rear portion, a front portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion, wherein at least one of said left side portion and said right side portion is adapted to receive the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portion of said section of countertop from a person's view.  
   
   
       25 ) An article according to  claim 24  wherein both of said left side portion and said right side portion are adapted to receive the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portions of said sections of countertop from a person's view, and to provide a countertop assembly comprising an article selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means as an integral portion of said countertop assembly.  
   
   
       26 ) An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means, wherein said article comprises a rear portion, a front portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion, wherein at least one of said left side portion and said right side portion comprises means for receiving the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portion of said section of countertop from a person's view.  
   
   
       27 ) An article according to  claim 26  wherein both of said left side portion and said right side portion are adapted to receive the end portion of a section of rectangular countertop sufficiently to effectively obscure the end portions of said sections of countertop from a person's view, and to provide a countertop assembly comprising an article selected from the group consisting of: a sink basin means and a stovetop cooking means as an integral portion of said countertop assembly.