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(11) | EP 1 405 673 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Support plate having a service unit |
| (57) A desk or table comprises a support plate (1), at least the upper portion of which
is made of plastic solid surfacing material (PSSM), such as Corian™ or the like. It
has an upper surface, and the desk has a service unit (5) protruding from the surface
of the support plate and including a built-in supply unit (6, 7, 8). The service unit
(5) is also made of PSSM, the surface on at least an edge (9) of the service unit
being preferably flush with the surface of the support plate (1). This leads to a
visually unitary structure, and prevents leakage from the surface to the service unit. |
[0002] Such support is known from practice, for example in the embodiment of working tables in classrooms used for teaching chemistry, biology, physics and the like. The service units are built from several pieces of material and include water, gas and/or electric supplies.
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a new support of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.
[0004] For this purpose, the support according to the invention is characterised by the features of the characterising portion of claim 1.
[0005] By also making the service unit of PSSM, there is created a (visually) unitary structure of support plate and service unit. The support plate and the service unit can be made in one piece of material, or can be joined very easily in a water impervious manner, which will prevent leakage through the joint. This is especially important if the supply unit includes electrical or electronic supply units. In case the surface of the service unit is flush with the surface of the support plate, there can be created a virtually imperceptible joint which is visually attractive and which also prevents dust and dirt to collect in the joint.
[0006] Particularly if the service unit is positioned at a distance from all edges of the support plate, it is preferred to make the surface of the service unit flush with the upper surface of the support plate at substantially the complete circumference of the service unit.
[0007] In the main embodiments of the invention the support will be a table, desk or the like, but also other kinds of supports are conceivable.
[0008] The supply unit of the service unit can be an electr(on)ic supply unit, such as a mains connection, a data connection, a display or the like, but it may also be a fluid supply unit, such as a water of gas supply unit, depending on the application of the support.
[0009] The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the drawing, showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.
[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support comprising a service unit according to the invention.
[0012] The drawing shows an embodiment of a support which, in this case, is constructed as a table for (biology/chemistry /physics) classrooms in schools and the like. This table comprises a support plate 1. This support plate 1 is laminated including a lower, water-resistant MDF board 2 and an upper plate 3 made of the so-called plastic solid surfacing material (PSSM) such as CorianTM, Formica or the like. These are acrylic or polyester based products, of which CorianTM consists of Aluminiumhydroxide bonded with methylmetacrylate. Board 2 and plate 3 are bonded by means of silicone adhesive. An edge 4 of the support plate 1 is also made of PSSM and is bonded to the upper plate 3.
[0013] In the region of the centre of the support plate 1 (at a distance from the circumference of the support plate 1) there is mounted a service unit 5 which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the support plate 1. The service unit 5 includes one or more supply units, in this case gas supplies 6 and 7 and an electric supply 8. Other supplies, such as data connections, telephone connections, a water tap and the like could also be provided.
[0014] The service unit 5 is made of PSSM, and in this embodiment it is pressed from one piece of material and is curved in three dimensions. It is oval-shaped in its horizontal section and a dome-shaped in its vertical section. Of course, all kinds of shapes are conceivable. The lower circumferential edge 9 of the service unit 5 extends horizontally and the upper surface thereof is flush with the upper surface of the support plate 1. Both parts 3 and 5 are made of PSSM and are adhesively joined to provide a water impervious, virtually imperceptible joint, so that the support plate 1 and the service unit 5 visually form a unit.
[0015] To obtain the flush joint, there is formed a depression 10 in the upper surface of the upper plate 3, the circumference of which is slightly larger then the circumference of the edge 9 of the service unit 5. The small spacing between the upper plate 3 and the service unit 5 is filled with adhesive material. Below the service unit 5, a hole 11 is formed in the support plate 1 to obtain access to the interior of the service unit 5. The supply units 6-8 are clamped, screwed or mounted in another way to the wall of the service unit 5.
[0016] The wall of the service unit 5 is made by pressing PSSM material in a mould, but also other ways of producing the service unit 5 are conceivable, for example injection moulding. It is also possible to produce the upper plate 3 and the service unit 5 in one piece, especially if the support is relatively small.
[0017] The invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawing and can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the service unit may be formed as an upright (back) edge of a (computer) table including electrical and electronic (data) connections. The service unit may also comprise a display unit, for example an LCD display used in service desks. It is also conceivable that the service unit projects downwardly from the support plate.
1. A support, comprising a support plate (1), at least the upper portion of which is
made of plastic solid surfacing material (PSSM), such as CorianTM or the like, and having an upper surface, said support having a service unit (5)
protruding from the surface of the support plate and including a built-in supply unit
(6, 7, 8), characterized in that the service unit (5) is also made of PSSM, the surface on at least an edge (9) of
the service unit being preferably flush with the surface of the support plate (1).
2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service unit (5) is protruding upwardly
from the surface of the support plate (1), and is preferably curved in at least two
directions.
3. A support as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the service unit (5) is made from at
least a, preferably one, piece of PSSM, which is separate from the support plate (1)
and which is bonded to the support plate by adhesive.
4. A support as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the service
unit (5) is flush with the upper surface of the support plate (1) at substantially
the complete circumference (9) of the service unit (5).
5. A support as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the support is a table,
desk or the like.
6. A support as claimed in claim 5, wherein the supply unit of the service unit (5) is
an electr(on)ic supply unit (8), such as at least one of a mains connection, a data
connection, a (LCD) display and the like.
7. A support as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the supply unit is a fluid supply unit,
such as a water or gas supply unit (6, 7).
8. A support as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the service unit (5)
is positioned at a distance from all edges of the support plate (1).
9. A support as claimed in claim 6, wherein the service unit is an upright edge of a
(computer) table top, acting as support plate.
10. A support as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the support plate (1)
has a depression (10) made in its upper surface, in which the adjacent side of the
service unit (5) is received, and wherein at least at the flush joint, the depth of
the depression is substantially equal to the local thickness of the wall of the service
unit (5) .