Slab support

Abstract

The slab support includes a first panel sized to selectively attach to a relatively delicate slab, whereby at least one side of the first panel is non-linear. A second panel of the slab support is sized to selectively attach to the relatively delicate slab simultaneously with the first panel, whereby a non-linear side of the second panel is positionable relative to the non-linear side of the first panel for keyed engagement therewith when the first panel and the second panel selectively couple to the delicate slab to provide reinforcement thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slab support assembly, comprising:
 a delicate slab having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a foam support panel comprising a thickness greater than the delicate slab and a density less than the delicate slab; and   an adhesive disposed between the bottom surface of the delicate slab and an upper surface of the foam support panel securing the delicate slab to the foam support panel in a manner where the top surface of the delicate slab is positioned in substantially parallel relation to that of a lower surface of the foam support panel and the assembly is fracture resistant to at least 300 pounds of force.   
     
     
         2 . The slab support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the delicate slab includes at least one side at least partially extending out beyond at least one side of the foam support panel when the foam support panel is adhered to the delicate slab. 
     
     
         3 . The slab support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the foam support panel comprises a surface area greater than the bottom surface of the delicate slab. 
     
     
         4 . The slab support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the delicate slab comprises porcelain. 
     
     
         5 . The slab support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the foam support panel is approximately four times more vibration resistant than the delicate slab. 
     
     
         6 . A slab support assembly, comprising:
 a delicate slab having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface having a first surface area; and   a support panel having a thickness greater than the delicate slab, the support panel including a lower surface having a second surface area and an upper surface in abutting engagement with the bottom surface of the delicate slab, with an adhesive in between;   wherein the second surface area of the lower surface of the support panel is equal to or greater than the first surface area of the bottom surface of the delicate slab;   wherein the support panel comprises a rigidity relatively greater than the delicate slab to enhance protection of the delicate slab from cracking or chipping when the slab panel assembly is being handled; and   wherein the lower surface of the support panel is substantially parallel to the top surface of the delicate slab, the lower surface of the support panel being configured to attach to a mounting surface.   
     
     
         7 . The slab support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the support panel comprises a composite material or a polyvinyl-chloride (“PVC”) material. 
     
     
         8 . The slab support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the assembly comprises a thickness equal to or greater than 16 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The slab support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the support panel comprises a density between 315 and 385 kilograms per meter cubed (“kg/m3”). 
     
     
         10 . The slab support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive comprises a two-part epoxy. 
     
     
         11 . The slab support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the support panel comprises a mass relatively lower than a mass of the delicate slab. 
     
     
         12 . The slab support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a rigidity of the assembly is relatively higher than a rigidity of the delicate slab. 
     
     
         13 . A slab support assembly, comprising:
 a delicate slab with two opposing linear side edges and having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a support panel with two opposing linear side edges and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the support panel comprising a foam material relatively more shock resistant and relatively more vibration resistant than the delicate slab; and   an adhesive disposed between the bottom surface of the delicate slab and the upper surface of the support panel securing the delicate slab to the support panel so that the slab support assembly has a fracture toughness greater than the delicate slab alone.   
     
     
         14 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the delicate slab comprises a stone material or a porcelain material. 
     
     
         15 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the lower surface of the support panel comprises a surface area equal to or greater than the bottom surface of the delicate slab. 
     
     
         16 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the support panel comprises a thickness greater than the delicate slab. 
     
     
         17 . The slab support assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the delicate slab comprises a thickness of 6 mm and the support panel comprises a thickness between 9-11 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , including a primer disposed between the bottom surface of the delicate slab and the adhesive bonding the support panel to the delicate slab. 
     
     
         19 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the two opposing linear side edges of the delicate slab are separated by a smaller distance than the two opposing linear side edges of the support panel. 
     
     
         20 . The slab support assembly of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of each of the two opposing linear side edges of the support panel extend out beyond the two opposing linear side edges of the delicate slab when the support panel is adhered to the delicate slab. 
     
     
         21 . The slab support assembly of  claim 19 , wherein each of the two opposing linear side edges of the support panel are substantially parallel to the two opposing linear side edges of the delicate slab. 
     
     
         22 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive comprises a thickness between 0.95 and 1.05 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the assembly comprises a tensile strength between 40 and 50 Newtons. 
     
     
         24 . The slab support assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the assembly is facture resistant to at least 300 pounds of force. 
     
     
         25 . A reinforced porcelain panel assembly, comprising:
 a porcelain slab having a top surface with a first surface area and a bottom surface, the top surface being opposite the bottom surface; and   a support panel including a foam material, the support panel having a second surface area larger than the first surface area of the porcelain slab and a thickness greater than the porcelain slab, the support panel also having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being positioned in abutting contact with the bottom surface of the porcelain slab with an adhesive material therebetween such that regions of the upper surface of the support panel substantially extend beyond at least part of a periphery of the first surface area of the porcelain slab so as to be visible when viewing the reinforced porcelain panel assembly from a front view of the top surface of the reinforced porcelain panel assembly and to enhance protection from cracking or chipping when the reinforced porcelain panel assembly is handled, the lower surface of the porcelain slab being substantially parallel to the top surface of the support panel, with the lower surface of the support panel being configured to attach to a mounting surface.   
     
     
         26 . The reinforced porcelain panel assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the reinforced porcelain panel assembly has a fracture toughness greater than the porcelain slab. 
     
     
         27 . The reinforced porcelain panel assembly of  claim 25 , wherein each of the porcelain slab and the support panel include a pair of peripheral opposing side portions substantially parallel with one another. 
     
     
         28 . The reinforced porcelain panel assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the reinforced porcelain panel assembly has a fracture toughness sufficient to prevent the porcelain slab from fracture when dividing the reinforced porcelain panel assembly into one or more subportions. 
     
     
         29 . The reinforced porcelain panel assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the support panel includes multiple interlocking subpanel segments. 
     
     
         30 . The reinforced porcelain panel assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the support panel includes a vibration coefficient four times less than a vibration coefficient of the porcelain slab without the support panel coupled thereto.