Table or cover plate

A table or cover plate comprises a core plate, e.g. of a wooden material, with an optionally coated top surface and an all-round edge protection formed by a plastics section, which covers the cut faces of the core plate and engages over its top and underside. The edge protection comprises two angle sections injection moulded as a closed profile, whereof an outer frame covers with a long leg the cut faces and projects over the underside of the core plate and with its other leg engages over the top coating, whereas the other, inner frame with its one leg engages on the inside of the long leg of the outer frame on its area projecting over the underside and with its other leg engages on the underside of the core plate and that the frames are interconnected at their engaging legs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a table or cover plate or board with the 
features including a core plate with a top, an underside and lateral cut 
faces with at least one all-round edge protection formed from a plastic 
section which covers the cut faces of the core faces and engages over the 
top and underside of the core plate. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the case of plates of the aforementioned type the edge protection 
fulfils several functions. It is firstly intended to protect the edges 
against mechanical damage, while also protecting the user against injury. 
If the core plate is made from a wooden material, the open-pore cut edges 
of the core plate must be protected against dirtying and moisture access. 
Finally, the edge protection is intended to make it easier to grip the 
plate, while also facilitating the handling and transportation of a piece 
of furniture or kitchen appliance provided with the plate, e.g. a table, 
refrigerator, washing machine, spin or tumble dryer, etc. The extending of 
the edge protection beyond the underside of the plate, so that it is 
possible to engage below the latter also helps to fulfill the latter 
function. In the case of kitchen appliances, in which the cover plate 
mainly serves as a placing and working surface, the aim of the downwardly 
drawn edge protection is to cover the gap between the plate and the 
appliance casing. In addition, in this case, on the underside of the 
plate, are frequently provided functional parts, such as sleeves, clips, 
etc., made from plastic and by which the plate is fixed to the appliance 
casing. These functional parts are also concealed by the edge protection. 
The edge protection comprises a mechanically adequately stable plastic, 
which is also resistant to more or less aggressive media and also to the 
weather. This plastic is placed in an injection mould, in which the 
prefabricated core plate with a cover layer on one or both sides is 
injection moulded onto the open-pore cut edges of the core plate, so that 
the plastic penetrates the pores and the edge protection is engaged with 
the core plate. The edge protection also engages at least over the top of 
the core plate, which leads to a firm, tight connection between the edge 
protection and the core plate. It is also known to produce the edge 
protection in a separate operation, e.g. by the injection moulding or 
extruding of a ledge-like profile or section and connecting it in a 
further operation by bonding to the core plate. 
The known injection moulding of the edge protection onto the core plate has 
the advantage that the sought functions can be fulfilled in an inexpensive 
manner. However, it is disadvantageous that it is not subsequently 
possible to detach the edge protection. This problem also exists from 
environmental standpoints if the table or cover plate, optionally also the 
furniture protected by it is damaged or made valueless or unusable in some 
other way and must be sent for refuse disposal purposes or it is necessary 
for the manufacturer to take it back (such a responsibility already 
existing e.g. in the case of refrigerators), the manufacturer then having 
to dispose of and optionally reuse the same. It is then necessary to 
separate the materials, so that it is desirable in the case of cover or 
table plates to be able to separate entirely or at least to a major extent 
from the core plate the edge protection with its relatively high plastic 
proportion, which is also reusable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The aim underlying the invention is to provide a cover or table plate, 
which in the case of inexpensive manufacture and functionally correct 
construction, allows a simple separation of the edge protection and the 
core plate. 
According to the invention, the edge protection comprises two angle 
sections injection moulded as a closed frame, whereof an outer frame with 
a long leg covers the cut faces of the core plate and projects over the 
underside thereof and with its other leg, engages over the top side, while 
the other, inner frame with its one leg engages on the inside of the long 
leg of the outer frame in its area projecting over the underside and, with 
its other leg, engages on the underside of the core plate and, after 
inserting the core plate in the outer frame, both frames are 
interconnected at their engaging legs. 
The two closed frames formed from angle sections or profiles can, in a 
known manner, be produced by injection moulding and, consequently, have an 
adequate dimensional stability. The prefabricated core plate can be so 
placed from above in the outer frame, so that its top rests on the inside 
of one leg of the angle section, while the other, longer leg projecting 
upwards in the assembly position covers the cut edges of the core plate. 
In the case of a roughly parallel arrangement with the outer frame, the 
inner frame is then placed from above on the underside of the core plate, 
so that its outer leg internally engages on the long leg of the outer 
frame and its other leg rests on the underside of the core plate. As a 
result of the connection of the engaging legs a closed, frame-like 
structure is obtained, which completely surrounds the core plate, covers 
its optionally open-pore cut faces and engages over the top and bottom of 
the core plate edges, so that the cut faces are effectively protected 
against access of dirt and moisture. This leads to a functionally correct 
construction in the same way of an injection moulded on edge protection. 
The manufacturing procedure is not or is only significantly more 
complicated. On the other hand, it is readily possible to remove the edge 
protection with limited force expenditure from the core plate and to 
obtain the two components in type-pure manner, because there is no 
self-substance or, in the case of moulded on edge protection, intimate 
connection of the edge protection and the core plate. 
In accordance with further features of the invention, the edge protection 
comprises two angle sections injection moulded as a closed frame, whereof 
the outer frame with a shorter leg engages over the top of the core plate 
and with its longer leg projects downwards over the core plate and that 
the inner frame with a substantially vertical leg covers the cut face of 
the core plate, while with its other, substantially horizontal leg it 
engages below the core plate and that, after inserting the core plate with 
the inner frame, in the outer frame both frames are interconnected in a 
vicinity of the long leg of the outer frame and the vertical leg of the 
inner frame. 
In this construction firstly the core plate is inserted in the inner frame 
and then, together with the latter, in the outer frame and finally the two 
legs in complete or only zonal engagement with one another are joined by 
welding or bonding. Here again, in the vicinity of the cut face and at the 
transition between the latter and the top and bottom surface, the plate is 
completely protected by the edge protection. At the time of disposal, the 
edge protection can be detached from the core plate with little force 
being required. 
According to the invention, the leg of the outer frame projecting over the 
underside with the Leg of the inner frame engaging thereon are injection 
moulded in one piece and connected by a hinged joint arranged in the 
vicinity of the subsequent lower edge of the edge protection and that the 
other leg of the inner frame is screwed to the underside of the core 
plate. 
In the aforementioned construction the two frames are injection moulded 
together in one piece as angle sections, the injection moulding forming a 
type of Z-profile. The long leg of the subsequent outer frame is connected 
by a hinged Joint, e.g. a film hinge, with the subsequent outer leg of the 
inner frame, which is only interrupted in the vicinity of the corners of 
the frame-like section. In the extended position of these legs of the two 
angle sections the core plate is inserted from above, so that its top 
rests internally on the other leg of the outer frame. The inner frame is 
then folded inwards, so that its outer leg internally engages on the long 
leg of the outer frame and the inner leg engages on the underside of the 
core plate. By several spaced screws, the inner leg is fixed to the 
underside of the core plate and as a result.degree. a stable frame 
enclosing the core plate is formed. 
Preferably, the construction is such that the leg of the inner frame 
engaging on the underside of the core plate, accompanied by the fixing of 
the substantially parallel leg of the outer frame on the top, is 
threadably inserted into the underside of the core plate. 
Pretension can easily be obtained in that the long leg of the outer frame 
is less long in the area projecting over the underside of the core plate 
than the leg of the inner frame engaging on it, so that on screwing down 
the other leg, tensile and bending forces act on the long leg, which draw 
the leg of the outer angle section engaging on the top onto the latter. 
This leads to a moistureproof seal between the core plate and the legs 
engaging over the top and bottom surfaces. 
Another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the 
engaging legs of the two frames are interconnected by bonding or welding. 
The bonding or welding of the engaging legs can be used both in a separate 
manufacture of the two frame-like parts and when the frames are injection 
moulded in one piece as a Z-profile and brought into the end position by 
folding in the subsequently inner frame. In the latter case the previously 
described screw connection is rendered superfluous. 
Independently of whether the frames are interconnected and/or the inner 
frame is additionally screwed to the core plate, according to a further 
improved embodiment, between the inside of the outer frame and at least 
the transition area of the cut face and the top of the core plate, an 
elastomer seal is provided. 
Since, when using the cover plates, it is frequently likely that there is 
liquid on the top surface and which could soak into the edge protection, 
this construction leads to an absolutely dampproof construction. 
It is also possible to provide an elastomer seal in the transition area 
between the underside and the cut face, so as to cover the entire cut face 
and consequently engages over the top and bottom surfaces of the core 
plate. 
When using an elastomer seal preferably it is injection moulded in 
two-component injection moulding into a depression on the inside of the 
outer angle section. To the extent that the seal covers the underside of 
the core plate, it can also be injected in a two-component injection 
moulding process into a depression on the outside of the inner frame. 
In both of the aforementioned embodiments the frame-like angle sections are 
injection moulded in a single injection mould, the core plate, as 
described hereinbefore, always being placed from above in the outer frame 
and the connection between the outer and inner frames taking place in 
unchanged manner as described hereinbefore. 
In addition, cover plates, particularly for refrigerators, are known, in 
which the edge protection is previously injection moulded as a frame-like 
angle section, the core plate is placed in the said section and 
subsequently the gap between the two is filled with polyurethane, so as to 
seal the cut faces and obtain a compact edge protection. In addition, 
plastic sections injection moulded onto the underside are fitted and serve 
to fix the plate to the refrigerator casing. This construction also fails 
to permit the separation between the edge protection and the core plate 
and as a result of the different materials of the edge protection type 
purity is not obtained. In such a construction the invention proposes the 
injection moulding onto the cut faces of the core plate of a thin ledge or 
strip of the same plastic, which at least engages over the underside of 
the core plate and that the frame is connected to the said strip. 
In accordance with the invention the injection moulded on, thin strip seals 
the cut faces of the core plate. 
The entire edge protection consists of a single material. The frame formed 
from an angle section, which has the stability necessary for an effective 
edge protection, can be separated from the strip with a relatively limited 
force expenditure, so that only a relatively small amount of plastic is 
left on the core plate. The connection between the core plate and the 
injection moulded on strip and the frame-like angle section can be in 
self-substance form, e.g. by successive injection moulding of the plastic 
parts, by welding, bonding or mechanically and optionally only in 
punctiform manner. 
It is e.g. possible that after inserting the core plate in the frame and 
which has a size greater than the core plate, the strip is produced by 
partial filling of the gap between the frame and the cut faces. In place 
of this between the strip and the longer leg of the frame is provided a 
gap, which is bridged by individual ribs. The ribs, which must mainly 
absorb compressive forces between the outer frame and the injection 
moulded on strip, can be made very thin and optionally can be fitted by 
weak predetermined breaking points to the injection moulded on strip or to 
the frame, so that the frame, optionally together with the ribs, can be 
separated without any problem. 
Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the strip 
additionally engages over the top surface and the core plate with the 
injection moulded on strip locks on the outer frame. 
In the aforementioned embodiment it can exclusively be a mechanical locking 
connection. However, optionally and following the locking in, there can be 
a bonding or welding in the vicinity of the locking connection, which may 
optionally only be in punctiform manner. 
The plate constructed according to the invention is intended mainly as a 
cover plate for kitchen appliances. Thus, the leg of the inner frame or 
the injection moulded on strip engaging Over the underside has the 
necessary sections or profiles for fixing the plate to the kitchen 
appliance casing. 
According to another embodiment of the invention below the core plate is 
provided an insulating plate made from another material with thermal 
and/or acoustic insulating properties, which is directly or indirectly 
connected to the core plate. This leads to a plate union, in which the top 
core plate has the function of a covering or working plate, i.e. it is 
e.g. constituted by a cut and scratch-proof material or has a coating with 
such properties, whereas the bottom insulating plate provides a thermal or 
acoustic insulation. If such a plate union is used for a refrigerator, the 
insulating plate can e.g. replace the upper insulation normally fitted 
within the refrigerator casing. The core plate can be made from a wooden 
material and can be provided on its top surface with a cut and 
scratch-proof and optionally also decorative top or cover coating, 
whereas, the insulating plate can be made from a foamed plastic. 
A development of this embodiment is characterized in that the insulating 
plate has the same contour as the core plate and its cut faces are covered 
by the inner frame or the strip and that the inner frame or the strip 
engages over the underside of the insulating plate and the longer leg of 
the outer frame projects over the underside of the insulating plate. In 
this case the plate union is held together by the outer frame on the one 
hand and the inner frame or the strip on the other. At the time of 
reutilization it is easily possible to separate the parts or the materials 
forming them in type-pure manner. 
According to another development the insulating plate is cut back at its 
cut faces with respect to the core plate and the inner frame or the strip 
engages with its one leg over the underside of the core plate, while the 
longer leg of the outer frame projects downwards over the insulating 
plates. In this case the insulating plate is directly connected to the 
core plate, e.g. by bonding, but its outside is covered by the edge 
protection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: 
In all the embodiments the cover or table plate has a core plate 1 made 
from a wooden material, which at least on its top surface 2 and optionally 
also on its underside 3 is provided with a moistureproof top or cover 
coating, whereas the cut faces 4 are open and generally have a porous 
surface. The core plate can also be made from glass, plastic or metal, 
e.g. aluminium. The plate also has an edge protection 5, which covers the 
cut faces 4 and simultaneously engages over the core plate 1 on the top 2 
and the underside 3. If the plate is made from a wooden material, in 
addition to the protective function it is also possible to prevent the 
access of moisture to the cut face. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 the edge protection comprises two 
angle sections, namely an outer angle section 6 and an inner angle section 
7. The angle sections 6,7 form a closed frame, which is produced in one 
piece by injection moulding. The outer frame 6 has a shorter leg 8 
engaging over the top 2 or the top coating of the cover plate 1 provided 
there and a longer leg 9 covering the cut face 4 of the core plate 1 and 
which with a portion 10 engages over the underside 3 of the core plate 1. 
The inner frame 10 comprises a leg 11, which engages on the projecting 
portion 10 of the leg 6 on the outer frame 5 and a leg 12, which engages 
on the underside 3 of the core plate 1. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the two frames 6,7 are 
interconnected by a film hinge 13 and are produced together in a single 
injection moulding process in the form of a Z-profile, the inner frame 7 
being in the dot-dash line position. In this position the core plate 1 is 
inserted in the outer frame 6 or engaged on the shorter leg 8 of the outer 
frame 6 and then the inner frame 7 is folded inwards about the film hinge 
13 and fixed by screws 14 to the core plate 1, the inner frame being 
interrupted at the corners. By a corresponding length tolerance between 
the projecting portion 10 of the longer leg 9 on the outer frame 6 and the 
leg 7 on the inner frame, on applying the screws 14 to the outer frame 6 a 
pretension can be introduced, which draws the shorter leg 8 of the outer 
frame 6 onto the top 2 of the core plate 1. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 12, the frames 6 and 7 are injection 
moulded in separate moulds. Once again the core plate 1 is inserted in the 
outer frame 6 and then the inner frame 7 is engaged. The legs 10 and 11 of 
both frames 6 and 7 engage zonally on one another and can either be welded 
together, e.g. by ultrasonics, high frequency, etc., or can be bonded 
together. 
To obtain a reliable sealing of the cut faces 4 of the core plate 1, the 
outer frame 6 is provided in the vicinity of its inner corner with a 
depression 15 and the inner frame 7 has in the vicinity of its outer 
corner a depression 16, into which is injected by two-component injection 
moulding an elastomer seal 17 or 18, so that at the transition between the 
top 2 or underside 3 and the cut face 4 an elastic seal is provided. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the outer frame 6 is provided on its 
inside with a depression 19, which extends over the entire area covering 
the cut face 4 and also somewhat beyond it. In the depression is once 
again injection moulded an elastomer seal 20 which, after inserting the 
core plate 1, seals the cut faces and the transition area to the top 2 or 
bottom surface 3 of the core plate 1. The inner frame 7 is once again 
fixed by screws 14 to the core plate 1 and in the vicinity of the longer 
leg 11 is connected in self-substance manner to the projecting portion 10 
of the outer frame 6. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6, the cut 
face 4 of the core plate 1 is covered by a thin injection moulded on strip 
or ledge 21, whose one leg 22 engages at least over the underside of the 
core plate 1. As in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the edge 
protection 5 also has an angle section frame 6 produced by injection 
moulding. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the core plate 1 is inserted in the 
frame 6 and between it and the frame 6 there is a narrow gap, which is 
filled with the same plastics material, accompanied by the formation of 
the strip 21 with its leg 22. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 once again the outer frame 6 of the edge 
protection 5 is injection moulded beforehand. The frame 6 is then placed 
in an injection mould in the same way as the core plate 1. The strip 21 
with its leg 22 engaging over the underside 3 of the core plate 1 is then 
injection moulded on. The spacing between the cut faces 4 and the outer 
frame 6 is larger in this embodiment than in that according to FIG. 4. 
This larger gap is bridged by ribs 23 injection moulded together with the 
strip, so that the leg 9 of the outer frame 6 is supported against lateral 
compressive forces. The connection between the outer frame 6 and the strip 
21 takes place, during injection moulding, by the point 24 and the ribs 
23. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 6 the outer frame 6 is provided in the 
vicinity of the projecting portion 10 of the longer leg 9 with an inwardly 
projecting nose 24, which can also have an all-round construction, if 
desired. The strip 21 is either subsequently injection moulded into the 
gap between the core plate 1 and the outer frame 6 or is previously 
injection moulded onto the cut faces of the core plate 1 and is then 
locked by inserting the core plate 1 with the strip 21 in the outer frame 
6. Optionally, in the area 25 welding or bonding can additionally take 
place. In addition, the strip 21 in the embodiment according to FIG. 6, 
engages with a leg 26 over the top 2 of the core plate 1 and the leg 26 is 
located in a corresponding depression of the leg 8 of the outer frame 6. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, as is shown by the plates in the use 
position, the outer frame 6 and the inner frame 7 are once again 
constructed as angle sections. The short leg of the frame 6 engages over 
the top 2 of the core plate 1 and with its long leg 9 projects downwards 
over the inner frame 7. The inner frame 7, which passes all round in the 
marginal area of the core plate 1, covers with its one leg 27 the cut face 
4 of the core plate, while the other leg 28 engages by webs 29 on the 
underside 3 of the core plate 1. The resulting lattice-like structure can 
be used for the construction of fixing means, by means of which the plate 
is fixed to a kitchen furniture item, e.g. a refrigerator or dishwasher 
casing. The two frames 6,7, which can once again be produced separately by 
injection moulding, are interconnected by welding at their legs 9 and 27. 
As is apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner frame 7 can be 
constructed in such a way that core plates 1 of different thickness can be 
used with the same overall height, merely in that the height of the webs 
29 is correspondingly adapted. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 9 the edge protection once again 
comprises an outer frame 6 and an inner frame 7. The outer frame 6 has a 
corresponding construction and function to the frame 6 of FIGS. 7 and 8, 
while the inner frame 7 is constructed as a type of T-profile, which with 
its web 30 covers the cut face 4 of the core plate 1 and an insulating 
plate 31 positioned below it. With one leg 32 of the chord of the 
T-profile, the frame 7 engages over the underside of the insulating plate 
31, whilst the outwardly projecting, other leg 33 is shorter. Against the 
leg 33 engages the longer leg 9 of the outer frame at position 34, where 
the two frames are welded, bonded or otherwise joined together. Optionally 
also the shorter leg 8 of the outer frame 6 and the web 30 can be 
additionally welded or bonded at 35. At the time of disposal, frames 6 and 
7 can easily be separated from the core plate and the insulating plate, 
while the plates can also be separated from one another. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 10 the core plate 1 is thinner and the 
insulating plate 31 thicker than in FIG. 9. As in FIG. 9, the insulating 
plate can serve as a steam barrier, e.g. in a washing or rinsing machine, 
or as an insulating plate in a piece of kitchen furniture, or may only 
have a stabilizing function. 
Whereas, in the embodiments according to FIGS. 9 and 10, the outer frame 6 
and the inner frame 7 combine the plates 1,31 into a composite body, in 
the embodiment according to FIG. 11, an insulating plate 36 is directly 
connected to the underside of the core plate 1. Here again the short leg 8 
of the outer frame 6 projects over the top 2 of the core plate 1. The 
inner frame 7 has a long leg 37, with which it covers the cut faces 4 of 
the core plate 1 and which extends up to the underside of the insulating 
plate 36 and is bent outwards at its lower end to form a rib 38, to which 
the long leg 9 on the outer frame 6 is fixed by welding, bonding, etc. In 
the central region, the inner frame 7 has an inwardly projecting strip 39 
engaging below the core plate 1. The necessary free space for assembly and 
at the same time providing an adequate insulating action is obtained in 
that the insulating plate 36 is cut back inwards.