End-cap system and device for use with countertops

Abstract

An end-cap component for installation on an open end of a countertop includes an end-cap front element, and an end-cap stabilizer, which can be solid rectangular pieces or laminated components. The end-cap component can be made in a right-side, left-side or center-mount configuration, and can be glued together with an adhesive and configured with a polished face of the end-cap front element. Also disclosed is a stabilized end-cap countertop system, including a countertop, with an upper surface element and a front edge; and an end-cap component. The system is suitable for manufacturing in stone materials, including engineered quartz, using lighter-weight parts, resulting in improved precision and efficiency of manufacturing and installation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An end-cap component for installation on an open end of a countertop, comprising:
 a) an end-cap front element; and   b) an end-cap stabilizer;   wherein the end-cap stabilizer is connected to a rear side of the end-cap front element;   such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from an upper edge of the end-cap front element; and   such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from at least one side edge of the end-cap front element.   
     
     
         2 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap front element and the end-cap stabilizer are rectangular solid pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap component is configured as a left-side end-cap component, such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from a left-side edge of the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         4 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap component is configured as a right-side end-cap component, such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from a right-side edge of the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         5 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap component is configured as a center-mount end-cap component, such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from a right-side edge and from a left-side edge of the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         6 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein a face of the end-cap front element is polished. 
     
     
         7 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap stabilizer and the end-cap front element are separate pieces, which are connected with an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap component is manufactured in one piece, which comprises the end-cap stabilizer and the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         9 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap stabilizer and the end-cap front element are made from a stone material. 
     
     
         10 . The end-cap component of  claim 9 , wherein the stone material is engineered quartz. 
     
     
         11 . The end-cap component of  claim 1 , wherein the end-cap component is configured with a front element width in a range of 2-12 mm, a front element height in a range of 2-15 cm, and an upper recession in a range of 0.75-3 cm. 
     
     
         12 . A stabilized end-cap countertop system, comprising:
 a) a countertop, comprising:
 an upper surface element; and 
 a front edge, which is perpendicularly connected to a front side of the upper surface element; 
 such that the countertop includes an open end; and 
   b) an end-cap component, comprising:
 an end-cap front element; and 
 an end-cap stabilizer; 
 wherein the end-cap stabilizer is connected to a rear side of the end-cap front element; 
 such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from an upper edge of the end-cap front element; and 
 such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from at least one side edge of the end-cap front element; 
   such that the end-cap component is configured to connect with the open end of the countertop;   wherein an exposed inner surface of the end-cap front element is configured to connect with an outer edge surface of the countertop, such that an upper recession of the end-cap stabilizer is equal to a surface thickness of the upper surface element, and such that a side recession from a side of the end-cap stabilizer is equal to an edge thickness of the front edge;   wherein an outer edge surface of the end-cap stabilizer is configured to connect with an inner edge surface of the front edge of the countertop; and   wherein an upper edge surface of the end-cap stabilizer is configured to connect with an inner upper surface of the upper surface element of the countertop.   
     
     
         13 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein the end-cap front element and the end-cap stabilizer are rectangular solid pieces. 
     
     
         14 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein the end-cap component is configured as a left-side end-cap component and wherein the open end is in a left side of the countertop, such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from a left-side edge of the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         15 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein the end-cap component is configured as a right-side end-cap component and wherein the open end is in a right side of the countertop, such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from a right-side edge of the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         16 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein the end-cap component is configured as a center-mount end-cap component, such that the end-cap stabilizer is recessed from a right-side edge and from a left-side edge of the end-cap front element. 
     
     
         17 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein a face of the end-cap front element is polished. 
     
     
         18 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein the end-cap stabilizer and the end-cap front element are separate pieces, such that the end-cap stabilizer is connected to the end-cap front element with an adhesive; and wherein the end-cap component is connected to the open end of the countertop with the adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive is an acrylic adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 12 , wherein the upper surface element, the front edge, the end-cap stabilizer and the end-cap front element are made from a stone material. 
     
     
         21 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 20 , wherein the stone material is engineered quartz. 
     
     
         22 . The stabilized end-cap countertop system of  claim 21 , wherein the end-cap component is configured with a front element width in a range of 2-12 mm; a front element height in a range of 2-15 cm; and an upper recession in a range of 0.75-3 cm.