Method and apparatus for installation of surface-mounted kitchen cooktop units

Abstract

A concealed bridge assembly is provided for supporting adjacent lateral edges of cooktop units that are mounted in a kitchen countertop. The concealed bridge assembly can be used for traditional raised mounting of cooktop units or true-flush mounting of cooktop units. When used with traditional mountings, the concealed bridge assembly has a top that is sized to be flush with the countertop surface and the approximate length of the countertop opening. If true-flush mounting is desired, the top of the concealed bridge assembly is flush with the top surface of a kerf cut in the countertop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units, comprising:
 a first beam, having a top surface for supporting at least a portion of at least one cooktop unit, with a length substantially the same as a width of the opening in a surface that will receive said at least one cooktop unit, a height, including at least one bend, that is equal to or greater than a thickness of said surface, and wherein said top surface has a width that is less than the width of said bottom surface;   a second beam, adjacent to and in sliding contact with a portion of said bottom surface of said first beam;   a third beam, adjacent to and in sliding contact with a portion of said bottom surface of said first beam;   wherein the first beam has at least one plate that is received in a portion of the second beam; and   at least one fastener that passes through said at least one plate on said first beam to press said plate against a surface of said second beam to permit relative sliding motion between said first and second beams when said at least one fastener is loosened and to prevent relative sliding motion between said first and second beams when said at least one fastener is tightened.   
     
     
         2 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cooktop unit comprises a plurality of cooktops. 
     
     
         3 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 1 , wherein the relative sliding motion of the third beam and first beam is controlled by at least one fastener that passes through a plate on said first beam that is received in a portion of said third beam. 
     
     
         4 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one fastener that passes through a plate on said first beam that is received in a portion of said third beam is threaded. 
     
     
         5 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the top surface of said first beam is sized to support lateral edges of adjacent cooktops. 
     
     
         6 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 1 , wherein the said at least one fastener is threaded. 
     
     
         7 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 1 , wherein said opening in said surface includes a ledge that is substantially the same as the thickness of a rim of the at least one cooktop unit, and which supports at least a portion of the at least one cooktop unit. 
     
     
         8 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 1 , including cabinet fasteners that extend through brackets in said second and third beams to secure the bridge assembly to a cabinet that supports said surface. 
     
     
         9 . A bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units, comprising:
 a first beam, having a top surface for supporting at least a portion of at least one cooktop unit, with a length substantially the same as a width of the opening in a surface that will receive said at least one cooktop unit, a height, including at least one bend, that is equal to or greater than a thickness of said surface, and wherein said top surface has a width that is less than the width of said bottom surface;   a second beam, adjacent to and in sliding contact with a portion of said bottom surface of said first beam;   a third beam, adjacent to and in sliding contact with a portion of said bottom surface of said first beam;   wherein the first beam has at least one plate that is received in a portion of the third beam; and   at least one fastener that passes through said at least one plate on said first beam to press said plate against a surface of said third beam to permit relative sliding motion between said first and third beams when said at least one fastener is loosened and to prevent relative sliding motion between said first and third beams when said at least one fastener is tightened.   
     
     
         10 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one cooktop unit comprises a plurality of cooktops. 
     
     
         11 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 9 , wherein the relative sliding motion of the second beam and first beam is controlled by at least one fastener that passes through a plate on said first beam that is received in a portion of said second beam. 
     
     
         12 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one fastener that passes through a plate on said first beam that is received in a portion of said second beam is threaded. 
     
     
         13 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 9 , wherein the width of the top surface of said first beam is sized to support lateral edges of adjacent cooktops. 
     
     
         14 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 9 , wherein the said at least one fastener is threaded. 
     
     
         15 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 9 , wherein said opening in said surface includes a ledge that is substantially the same as the thickness of a rim of the at least one cooktop unit, and which supports at least a portion of the at least one cooktop unit. 
     
     
         16 . The bridge assembly for supporting one or more cooktop units of  claim 9 , including cabinet fasteners that extend through brackets in said second and third beams to secure the bridge assembly to a cabinet that supports said surface.