AU2003100574A4 - An improved door structure for commercial and domestic installations - Google Patents

Description

PATENTS ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. CI: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Provisional Application 2003902773 dated 3 June, 2003 Related Art: Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Vincenzo Fusca of 4 Reservoir Road GREENACRE NSW 2190 -and- Felice Fusca of 4 Reservoir Road GREENACRE NSW 2190 Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Vincenzo Fusca Felice Fusca ANDERSON-TAYLOR ASSOCIATES, Registered Patent Attorneys of 10 Harrison Avenue BONNET BAY N.S.W. 2226 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AN IMPROVED DOOR STRUCTURE FOR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC INSTALLATIONS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- This invention relates to doors and panels. More particularly, although not exclusively it discloses an improved structure and appearance for kitchen cupboard doors.

Cupboard doors as currently fitted in luxury kitchen installations typically comprise a wholly timber, polyurethane or veneer construction. While these produce a high quality attractive appearance it is not possible to coordinate the appearance of such doors with the benchtops which may be of marble, granite or engineering stone.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a door structure is disclosed for'use in domestic or commercial installations, said door structure including a peripheral frame adapted for attachment of door hardware and which defines at least one aperture to receivean insert panel of non-timber material, the sides of said aperture being rebated to form an inwardly stepped configuration toward the frame front and being dimensioned so that edges portions of said panel when fitted into said aperture from the frame back abut against and are concealed from frontal view behind a flange whereby a finished panel surface provides a feature display for the door front and said panel forms a integral stiffening component of said structure.

Preferably said panel is of an Engineered Stone, a marble-like material or a granite-like material which augments the weight and strength of the door and has a surface finish to match a kitchen benchtop or vanity top.

It is further preferred although not essential to the invention that the back surface of the panel is also finished to provide a second feature display.

One currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:figures 1 and 2 are front and back perspective views of a frame according'to this concept for a kitchen cupboard door, figures 3 and 4 are front and back perspective views of said frame with the feature panel fitted in place, and figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the lines A-A of figure 3.

Referring first to figures 1 and 2 there is a rectangular frame constructed from a high quality premium timber such as Tasmanian Oak or the like with mitred corner joints 1 of furniture standard. Although not shown in the drawings the frame would mount the usual hardware such as hinges and handles or knobs of any suitable design or material.

-3- The frame also defines a central rectangular aperture 2.

Preferably with this embodiment of the invention the sides of the aperture'are rebated to form an inwardly stepped configuration 3 toward the front 4. The aperture is further dimensioned to receive a panel 5 inserted from the back 5A of the frame as shown in figures 3 and 4. With this embodiment the thickness of the panel 5 is preferably between 3 and 20 mm and more preferably between 6 and 12 mm. It is of a non-timber material such as that sold by Tessera Stones Tiles Pty. Ltd. of South Auburn NSW under the brand names "Engineered Stone" or "Caesar Stone". Such materials are manufactured from granite and quartz particles bonded together by a resin and can have one or both sides polished to resemble the solid marble or granite surfaces commonly used for luxury kitchen or bathroom benchtops. Other non-timber materials however may also be used within the scope of this invention. The dimensions of the panel and aperture are preferably chosen so as to be a reasonably close push fit when said panel is fitted into the back of the frame. The polished side 6 of the panel is directed toward the front 4 of the door frame and the edges of said panel abut against a flange 7 formed by the rebate. This flange thus conceals the rough cut edges 8 as best shown in figure 5 and creates a neat and finished presentation for the panel. With the current embodiment the panel may be fixed in place using any suitable type of industrial adhesive such as silicon rubber or the like. Other fastening means including mechanical fasteners may also be used. The panel and frame are thereby secured together to form a single structural unit with increased stiffness and weight over prior art timber doors.

In order to visually coordinate the various parts of the door the back side 9 of the panel may be polished in a similar fashion to the front 6 to present a second display surface when the door is open and the door handles or knobs (not shown) may also be formed from the aforementioned "Engineered Stone" which is available from various companies such as Caesar Stone.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and improved structure for a kitchen cupboard door.

Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Accordingly the shape and size of the door as well as the design, number, surface texture and colour of the panel(s) fitted into the frame may be changed to suit installations other than kitchens such as entry doors for houses. Although the preferred embodiment uses timber for the frame of the door and a manufactured stone or granite-like sheet for the feature panel the invention extends to the use of other suitable materials. For the door frame suitable alternatives could include polyurethane, aluminium, stainless steel, laminex/particle board, laminated timber or plastic. While for the frame corners 450 mitre joints are currently preferred other arrangements with for example butt joints could also be used.

Claims (4)

1. A door structure for use in domestic or commercial installations, said door structure including a peripheral frame adapted for attachment of door hardware and which defines at least one aperture holding an insert panel of non-timber material in a manner whereby a finished surface of said panel provides a feature display for the door front.

2. The door -structure as claiumed in claim 1 wherein the sides of said aperture are rebated to form an inwardly stepped configuration toward the frame front so that edges of said panel abut against a flange and are concealed from frontal view behind ,said flange.

3. The door structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said non-timber material for the panel is manufactured from granite and/or quartz particles which are bonded together by a resin and at least a front surface of said panel is polished to resemble a solid marble or granite surface.

4. The door structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein a back surface of said panel is also polished. The door structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein a handle or knob fitted to said door structure is also formed from said non-timber material to visually coordinate with said panel. Dated this 14th day of July, 2003 Vincenzo Fusca Felice Fusca By Their Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR