KITCHEN WORKTOP ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A kitchen worktop arrangement, comprising a glass ceramic worktop plate having a top side and a bottom side averted from the top side, and being attached with its bottom side to the top side of a supporting plate; the supporting plate comprising at least one cut-out for arranging a cooking hob assembly, the cooking hob assembly being arranged at the bottom side of the glass ceramic worktop plate in a section averted from the cut-out, the cooking hob assembly defining at least one cooking section of the glass ceramic worktop plate, wherein the worktop plate comprises at least one bearing section projecting beyond the cooking section of the worktop plate, the bottom side of the bearing section being attached to the top side of the supporting plate; and wherein at least one mounting interface is secured at or to the bottom side of the glass ceramic worktop plate within or in the area of the cooking section for releasable coupling one or more components of the hob assembly to the bottom side.

Claims

1. A kitchen worktop arrangement, comprising: a glass ceramic worktop plate having a top side and a bottom side averted from the top side, and being attached via its bottom side to a top side of a supporting plate; the supporting plate comprising at least one cut-out for arranging a cooking hob assembly, the cooking hob assembly being arranged at the bottom side of the glass ceramic worktop plate in a section of the cut-out, the cooking hob assembly defining a cooking section of the glass ceramic worktop plate, wherein the worktop plate comprises at least one bearing section projecting beyond the cooking section of the worktop plate, a bottom side of the bearing section being attached to the top side of the supporting plate; and wherein at least one mounting interface is secured at or to the bottom side of the glass ceramic worktop plate within or in an area of the cooking section for releasably coupling one or more components of the hob assembly to the bottom side of the glass ceramic worktop plate.

2. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface is configured such that at least one said component of the hob assembly is mountable and dismountable from the bottom side of the glass ceramic worktop plate.

3. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface comprises at least one fastening element, and wherein each said fastening element has a locking direction in parallel to the worktop plate, the locking direction being oriented perpendicularly to an edge of the cut-out and/or perpendicularly to a side of the worktop plate.

4. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the at least one fastening element is configured such that it is moveable from and/or can be transferred between a locking position to an unlocking position by manually engaging an unlocking tool with the at least one fastening element.

5. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface is configured and arranged such that it is engageable by an unlocking tool from a bottom side of the worktop arrangement.

6. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the at least one mounting interface comprises one or more spring loaded snap elements configured such that engagement of said at least one mounting interface by said unlocking tool comprises passing over the one or more snap elements from a locking position into an unlocking position by elastically deforming at least in part the one or more spring loaded snap element.

7. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cut-out is a circumferentially closed recess of the supporting plate, the recess being configured such that the hob assembly projects, in a mounted state, through or into the recess whilst being accessible from a bottom side of the worktop arrangement.

8. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the worktop plate projects a predetermined length beyond at least one side of the cooking section, wherein the at least one mounting interface is provided, such that in an ordinary mounted state of the cooking hob assembly, for at least one inner face side of the cut-out a predefined minimum distance to an adjacent side of a mounted hob assembly is defined.

9. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the minimum distance is defined such that the mounting interface can be freely moved between a locking position and an unlocking position without interfering, in the locking and/or unlocking position, with said at least one inner face side of the cut-out.

10. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one further worktop plate having a top side and a bottom side averted from the top side, and being attached via its bottom side to the top side of said supporting plate; wherein the top side of the worktop plate and the top side of the at least one further worktop plate form a flush mounted working surface; and wherein a gap between the worktop plate and an adjacent further worktop plate is filled with a humidity-tight seal.

11. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the at least one further worktop plate is formed as an integral part of the supporting plate.

12. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface is adhesively bonded to the bottom side of the worktop plate.

13. A method for assembling the kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 1, comprising: a step a) of providing the supporting plate; a step b) of providing the glass ceramic worktop plate; a step c) of providing the at least one mounting interface at the bottom side of the worktop plate; a step d) of securing the bearing section of the worktop plate to the top side of the supporting plate at a counterpart bearing section; and a step e) of releasably securing the one or more components of the hob assembly to the at least one mounting interface.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step e) of releasably securing the one or more components of the hob assembly to the at least one mounting interface further comprises: engaging the at least one mounting interface with at least one counterpart mounting interface provided at the one or more components of the hob assembly by pushing the one or more components in a direction perpendicular to the bottom side of the worktop plate to thereby engage the mounting interface/s and counterpart mounting interface/s.

15. An unlocking tool for engagement with the at least one mounting interface of the worktop arrangement according to claim 1, configured to move the at least one mounting element from and/or transfer it from a locking position to an unlocking position, and to disengage at least one spring loaded snap element of said at least one mounting element.

16. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 5, wherein engagement of said at least one mounting interface by said unlocking tool requires pushing the unlocking tool in a direction towards the bottom side of the worktop plate to thereby engage the unlocking tool with the mounting element and to unlock the one or more components from the mounting element.

17. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 8, said predefined minimum distance being between the at least one inner face side of the cut-out and one or more spring-loaded snap elements on said glass ceramic worktop plate.

18. A kitchen worktop arrangement comprising: a supporting plate having a top side and a cut-out therethrough, said cut-out having a side wall defining a perimeter of said cut-out; and a glass ceramic worktop plate having a top side and a bottom side, a plurality of fastening elements being attached to and extending from said bottom side at locations at or adjacent a perimeter of a cooking section of the glass ceramic worktop plate, said fastening elements being configured to releasably couple and thereby suspend a hob assembly from beneath said glass ceramic worktop plate in a position corresponding to said cooking section, a bearing section of said glass ceramic worktop plate being located adjacent to and extending beyond said cooking section thereof; said glass ceramic worktop plate being attached via its bottom side to the top side of said supporting plate such that said cooking section of said glass ceramic worktop plate is smaller than, and located radially inward of, said cut-out in said supporting plate, wherein a minimum distance of not less than 1 centimeter is defined between said side wall of said cut-out and each of said fastening elements, said hob assembly being received through said cut-out in said supporting plate when it is installed and coupled to said fastening elements to thereby suspend said hob assembly from said bottom side of said worktop plate; a moisture-tight seal between said top side of said supporting plate and said bottom side of said worktop plate in said bearing section thereof to avoid penetration of moisture between said worktop plate and said supporting plate toward said hob assembly when said hob assembly is installed and suspended from beneath said worktop plate; each said fastening element comprising a snap projection extending downward from, in a direction perpendicular to, said bottom side of said worktop plate and having a snap nose projecting from said snap projection, said snap projection being biased in order to urge said snap nose into engagement with a complementary recess provided in an engagement surface of said hob assembly in order to couple said fastening element to said hob assembly.

19. The kitchen worktop arrangement according to claim 18, configured such that translation of a tooth of an unlocking tool between said snap projection and said engagement surface of said hob assembly, upward from underneath said bottom side of said worktop plate in a direction perpendicular thereto, will deflect said snap projection against its bias thereby withdrawing said snap nose from said recess, wherein upon complete withdrawal thereof said hob will no longer be coupled to said fastening element and can be withdrawn therefrom downward in a direction perpendicular to the bottom side of said worktop plate through said cut-out in said supporting plate, said minimum distance between said side wall of said cut-out and each said fastening element being sufficient so as to avoid said supporting plate interfering with either said unlocking tool or the deflection of the snap element of said fastening element when said tool is used to decouple said hob assembly from said fastening element.

Description

[0085] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings from which further features, embodiments and advantages may be taken, and in which:

[0086] FIG. 1A shows a schematic, perspective representation of a kitchen worktop arrangement according to a first inventive embodiment;

[0087] FIG. 1B shows a schematic, perspective representation of a kitchen worktop arrangement according to a second inventive embodiment;

[0088] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view along line A-A of FIGS. 1A or 1B;

[0089] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cross sectional view of FIG. 2;

[0090] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a section of the worktop arrangement according to the first or second embodiment;

[0091] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary fastening element according to the first or second embodiment;

[0092] FIG. 6 shows a dismounting situation; and

[0093] FIG. 7 shows an unlocking tool according to the present invention.

[0094] In the embodiments shown in the figures, elements similar or identic in function are designated with like reference signs. It is noted, that the figures may not be true to scale with respect to each other.

[0095] The embodiments in the figures may relate to preferred embodiments, while all elements and features described in connection with embodiments may be used, as far as appropriate, in combination with any other embodiment and feature as discussed herein, in particular related to any other embodiment discussed further above.

[0096] FIGS. 1A and 1B show schematic, perspective representations of two particularly preferred embodiments of the inventive kitchen worktop arrangement 1. The kitchen worktop arrangement 1 comprises a glass ceramic worktop plate 3 having a top side 81, and a bottom side 82 averted from the top side 81. The plate 3 is attached with its bottom side 82 directly or indirectly to the top side of a supporting plate 2. The supporting plate 2 comprises at least one cut-out E, 16 for arranging a cooking hob assembly 7, which is arranged at the bottom side 82 of the plate 3 in a section of the cut-out E, 16. Thereby, the cooking hob assembly 7 defines at least one cooking section 6 of the glass ceramic worktop plate 3. As apparent from FIGS. 1A and 1B the cooking section 6 defined by the cooking hob assembly 7 is substantially smaller than the dimension of the cut-out E, 16.

[0097] The supporting plate 2 is preferably made from a swelling and/or moisture resistant material, for example solid wood or stone material.

[0098] The first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A differs from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1B in that in FIG. 1A a single worktop plate 3 is provided over the entire length of the supporting plate 2, whereas in FIG. 1B two second worktop plates 4 are provided. In other words, the worktop plate according to FIG. 1A is configured as a single continuous plate 3, e.g. glass ceramic plate. The worktop plates 3 and/or 4 are attached with their bottom sides to the top side of the supporting plate 2. Particularly in case of second worktop plates 4, such attachment may be an adhesive attachment. Additionally or alternatively, and particularly in case of plate 3, the attachment may comprise a sealing element, for example, a rubber sealing, preferably arranged aligned with at least a part of the edge of the bearing section and/or cut-out E, 16. Regarding an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1B, such sealing element may be aligned with the entire edge of the bearing section 10, for example, arranged circumferentially around the entire cut-out 16 of the supporting plate 2.

[0099] The presently shown embodiments are provided in the form of a classical kitchenette adjacent to at least one wall of the kitchen. It will, however, be immediately understood that the present invention is also advantageously applicable to other forms of kitchen worktop arrangements, particularly in the form of kitchen blocks. In the presently shown embodiments, an optional back wall 5 is provided, that may for example be made from the same or different material as the first and/or second worktop plate(s) 3, 4. Particularly, the back wall 5 may be made of glass material, e.g. a ceramic glass material. This particularly allows providing a harmonious design of the entire kitchen worktop arrangement 11, however, more importantly allows for providing a kitchen worktop arrangement 1 having an entirely easy to clean surface.

[0100] The worktop plates 3, 4 are also preferably made from a swelling and/or moisture resistant material. Particularly, the worktop plates 3, 4 can be made of glass ceramic material, wherein the second worktop plates 4 may also be made from a different material than glass, e.g. stone, metal and/or wood. If wood is used as material of the worktop plates 4 and/or the supporting plate 2, solid wood is preferred. Particularly, wood having a cheap quality and having a low swelling and/or moisture resistance, for example, chip or particle boards, are avoided.

[0101] The first worktop plate 3 in the present example is made from a ceramic glass material because beneath the first worktop plate 3 a cooking hob assembly 7 is provided, which is indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B by a dashed line. The glass ceramic material al lows heating cooking vessels positioned on the top side of the first worktop plate 3.

[0102] In general, other materials than glass may be envisaged as far as they allow heating of the vessels through the first worktop plate 3. In so far, mentioning glass ceramic shall not be restrictive, and this term shall be considered as disclosing and comprising any material suitable for heating cooking vessels positioned on the top side of the first worktop plate 3 by a cooking hob 7 positioned underneath the first worktop plate 3.

[0103] Underneath the cooking section 6, a cooking hob assembly 7, e.g. a cooking hob 7, is provided such that cookware placed on the top side 81 of the first worktop plate 3, within for example one of the cooking zones 9 of the cooking hob assembly 7, can be heated for the preparation of food or similar.

[0104] The first worktop plate 3 comprises at least one bearing section 10 projecting beyond the cooking section 6, and particularly the edge of the cut-out E, of the worktop plate 3. The bottom side of the bearing section 10 is attached to the top side of the supporting plate 2. This attachment may be permanently, for example, adhesive, as explained above with regard to the plate 3 as such. However, alternatively the worktop plate 3 simply may be laid on the supporting plate 2 with its bearing section 10, or otherwise loosely or detachably connected. A sealing element provided between the supporting plate 2 and the worktop plate 3, may be particularly arranged in or at the bearing surface 10. The bearing section 10 in FIGS. 1A and 1B is marked by shading.

[0105] Back (B) and frontal (F) sections of the first worktop plate 3 projecting over the cooking section 6 and/or the cut-out E, 16 may also be used as bearing sections 10 attachment to the supporting plate 2. Additionally or alternatively, lateral sections (L) of the first worktop plate 3 projecting over the cooking section 6 and/or the cut-out E, 16 may also be used as bearing sections 10.

[0106] In view of this, and under consideration of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a bearing section 10 extending circumferentially to the cooking section 6 may be provided. This circumferential bearing section 10 may be used to attach the first worktop plate 3 to the top side of the supporting plate 2 to thereby obtain a tight, and in particular humidity-tight, connection between the first worktop plate 3 and the supporting plate 2 avoiding moisture creeping in between the worktop plate 3 and supporting plate 2, e.g. towards the cooking hob assembly 7.

[0107] As immediately apparent from FIG. 1B, the second worktop plates 4 may be attached to the supporting plate 2 by, e.g. full-surface adhesive bonding, in a flush-mounting arrangement with the first worktop plate 2, i.e. worktop plate.

[0108] Gaps 11 remaining between the worktop plates 3 and 4 may be filed with a humidity tight seal to thereby obtain a closed, continuous and humidity-tight worktop plate 3, 4 allowing, for example, easy cleaning and having improved antibacterial properties in particular in view of debris accommodating in the gaps 11.

[0109] Thereby, as also apparent from FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is particularly preferred that the worktop plate 3 is dimensioned such that each of its lateral side (L) has a length substantially equal to the depth x of the entire worktop space, and particularly the additional worktop plates 4. Thereby, the worktop plates 3 and 4 are dimensioned such that each of its lateral sides L has a length substantially equal to the depth x of the supporting plate 2. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the frontal edge surface 83 of the worktop plate 3 is flush mounted with the frontal edge surfaces 41 of the additional worktop plates 4 and with the frontal edge surface 21 of the supporting plate 2, which thus form a common flush edge surface. As also particularly seen from FIGS. 1A and 1B, the rear edge surface of the worktop plate 3 may be flush mounted with a rear edge surface of at least one of the additional worktop plates 4 and the rear edge surface of the supporting plate 2, which thus form a common flush rear edge surface R. As a result of such configuration and arrangement, the worktop plate's 3 frontal 83 and rear edge surface does not form a butt with an additional worktop plate 4.

[0110] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing a cross sectional view along line A-A in FIGS. 1A or 1B, and a detail of the cross sectional view of FIG. 2, respectively, the attachment of the cooking hob assembly 7 to the first worktop plate 3 and supporting plate 2 will be described in more detail.

[0111] As can be inferred from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, several mounting interfaces 12 are secured at or to the bottom side 82 of the first worktop plate 3 within or in the area of the cooking section 6.

[0112] The several, e.g. two, three, four or more, mounting interfaces 12 are configured for releasable coupling thereto one or more components of the cooking hob assembly 7. For example, a bottom cover, e.g. in the form of a bottom housing, or even the whole cooking hob assembly 7, may be implemented for releasable attachment to the mounting interfaces 12.

[0113] The mounting interfaces 12 may for example be provided at four opposing sides of the cooking section 6, and the cooking hob assembly 7, respectively. However, other arrangements and numbers of mounting interfaces 12 may be envisaged.

[0114] For example there may be provided only two mounting interfaces 12 at lateral sides L (cf. FIG. 1) of the cooking section 6.

[0115] In embodiments, mounting interfaces 12 may, e.g. additionally or alternatively, be provided at the rear side R and/or front side F of the cooking section, as may for example be inferred from FIG. 2. Any other combination and arrangement of mounting interfaces may be provided.

[0116] As can be inferred in particular from a combined view of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the mounting interfaces 12 are configured such that the one or more components of the hob assembly 7, e.g. at least a bottom-sided cover, such as a one-sided open casing, or the hob assembly 7 as a whole, are mountable and dismountable from the bottom side, which is indicated by a double arrow in FIG. 2.

[0117] The mounting interface 12 comprises one or more fastening elements also referenced with reference sign 12, wherein each of the fastening elements 12 has a locking direction D (cf. FIG. 3) in parallel to the first worktop plate 3.

[0118] The locking direction D in the present embodiment is oriented perpendicularly to a circumferential edge E of the cut-out 16 and perpendicularly to a frontal side F of the first worktop plate 3.

[0119] The fastening elements 12 in the present example embodiment are implemented such that they can be transferred between a locking position to an unlocking position by manually engaging an unlocking tool 13 with the fastening element 12.

[0120] An exemplary fastening element 12 and unlocking tool 13 will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 below.

[0121] The fastening element 12 is configured such that engaging the unlocking tool 13 with the fastening element 12 may be obtained by pushing the unlocking tool 12 into the fastening element 12 from the bottom side of the worktop arrangement 1 towards the bottom side of the first worktop plate 3, which is indicated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 by corresponding arrows.

[0122] In the unlocking process, one or more spring loaded snap elements 14, 19, 20, 23 (see FIG. 5) of the fastening element 12, are passed over, i.e. transferred, from the locking into the unlocking position by elastically deforming at least in part one or more of the corresponding spring loaded snap element(s) 14, 19, 20, 23.

[0123] In the present embodiment, engaging the unlocking tool 13 causes the snap elements 14, 23 to move outwards with regard to the cooking section 6, i.e. towards a corresponding face side 15 of the supporting plate 2.

[0124] In order to obtain proper operability of the fastening elements 12 and snap elements 14, and in order to avoid interference between the fastening elements 12, snap elements 14, and unlocking tool 13 during operation, the first worktop plate 3 projects a predetermined length W1, e.g. a predefined minimum length, beyond the circumferential sides R, F, L of the cooking section 6, where one of the fastening elements 12 is provided such that in the ordinary mounted state, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, for example, a predefined minimum distance W2 between a corresponding inner face side 15 of the supporting plate 2 and an adjacent side of the cooking hob assembly 7, and/or an adjacent fastening element 12, and/or the spring loaded snap element 14, 23 is defined.

[0125] By this, easy mounting and dismounting of the cooking hob assembly 7 or parts thereof secured by the mounting interface 12 is enabled without undue complication due to possible restrictions imposed by adjacent sections of the supporting plate 2.

[0126] In particular, selecting a proper minimum distance W2, e.g. one or more centimetres, particularly at least 1.0 cm, preferably at least 1.5 cm, more preferably at least 2.0 cm, still more preferably at least 2.5 cm, still more preferably at least 3.0 cm, most preferably at least 4.0 cm, the snap elements 14 can be transferred between the locking and unlocking position without interference with the supporting plate 2 thereby enabling free locking and unlocking operations.

[0127] Reference is now made to FIG. 4 showing a bottom view of a section of the worktop arrangement 1. As can be inferred from FIG. 4, a recess 16 is provided in the supporting plate 2 into which the cooking hob assembly 7 projects in the ordinary mounted state.

[0128] A circumferential gap 17 is established between the face sides 15 of the recess 16 and the cooking hob assembly 7, the fastening elements 12, and/or the mounting interfaces 12, such that the cooking hob assembly 7 can be mounted and dismounted from the kitchen worktop arrangement 1 from the bottom side, in a comparatively easy, quick, and straightforward way, greatly reducing the work effort required.

[0129] Beyond that, because the first worktop plate 3 sufficiently extends beyond the cooking section 6, attachment of the first cooktop plate 3 to the supporting plate 2 is efficient in obtaining humidity tight seal between the bottom side and the top side of the worktop plates 3, 4, even in case that several worktop plates 3, 4, as is the case with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1B, are positioned next to each other.

[0130] Reference is now made to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 showing an exemplary fastening element 12, a dismounting situation, and an exemplary unlocking tool 13, i.e. a dismounting tool.

[0131] The fastening element 12 comprises a mounting surface 18 by which the fastening element 12 may for example be adhesively attached to the bottom side 82 of the first worktop plate 3.

[0132] Perpendicular to the mounting surface 18 a snap projection 19 comprising a snap nose 20 is provided for engaging a corresponding snap recess 21 provided at a wall section 22 or at or on a corresponding flange section of the component to be snap connected.

[0133] Further, on both sides of the snap projection 19, a spring projection 23 is provided that also project perpendicular from the mounting surface 18 to the same direction as the snap projection 19.

[0134] The snap projection 19 and spring projections 23 are provided such that the wall section 22 of the component to be secured can be inserted there between such that the spring projections 23 urge the wall section towards the snap projection 19 such that the snap recess 21 is penetrated by the snap projection 19, and snap-fitted thereto.

[0135] Unlocking the snap-connection between the snap projection 19 and the snap recess 21 may comprise, as is shown in FIG. 6, entering the unlocking tool 13 into the fastening element 12 such that on each lateral side of the snap nose 20, a tooth 24 (see also FIG. 7) is inserted in between the wall section 22 and the snap projection 19. As apparent from FIG. 7 an unlocking tool 13 according to the present invention is configured for engagement with a fastening element 12 of a worktop arrangement 1 according to the present invention, and particularly configured to move the fastening element 12 from and/or transfer the fastening element 12 from a locking position to an unlocking position, and preferably configured for disengaging at least one spring loaded snap element 14, 19, 20, 23.

[0136] By this, the wall section is urged away from the snap projection 19 against the action of the spring projections 23 which are urged outwardly. Upon full insertion of the unlocking tool 13, the snap recess 21 and snap nose 20 no longer engage, and the wall section 22 can be pushed away from the fastening element 12 to thereby remove the component by lowering the component.

[0137] Mounting the component may be obtained by urging the wall section 22 into the gap between the snap nose 20 and the snap recess 21 of the fastening element 12 to thereby engage the snap nose 19 into the snap recess 21.

[0138] Due to the fact, that the circumferential gap 17 is sufficiently large, interference between for example the spring projections 23 and the face sides 15 of the supporting plate 2, and interference between the unlocking tool 13 and the supporting plate 2 can be greatly be avoided, thereby easing at least dismounting the component, e.g. the cooking hob assembly 7, from the bottom side.

[0139] An exemplary method of assembling the kitchen worktop assembly 1 may comprise the following steps: [0140] a step a) of providing the supporting plate (2); [0141] a step b) of providing the glass ceramic worktop plate (3); [0142] a step c) of providing at least one mounting interface (12) at the bottom side (82) of the worktop plate (3), optionally comprising securing at least one mounting interface (12) to the bottom side (82) of the worktop plate (3) by adhesive attachment; [0143] a step d) of securing the bearing section (10) of the worktop plate (3) to the top side (81) of the supporting plate (2) at a counterpart bearing section (10); and [0144] a step e) of releasable securing the one or more components (7, 22) of the hob assembly (7) to the at least one mounting interface (12).

[0145] Engaging the one or more counterpart mounting interfaces, e.g. the snap recesses 21, provided at the one or more components, e.g. wall section 22, with mating counterpart mounting interfaces, e.g. the snap noses 20, may be obtained, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in connection with the figures, by pushing the one or more components in a movement perpendicular towards the bottom side of the first worktop plate 3 to thereby engage the mounting interface/s 21 and counterpart mounting interface/s 20

[0146] The features of the present invention disclosed in the specification, the claims and/or the figures may both separately and in any combination thereof be material for realizing the invention in various forms thereof.

[0147] In all, and in particular in view of the exemplary embodiments shown and described in connection with the figures, it can be seen, that the underlying problem is solved by the solution as proposed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0148] 1. Kitchen worktop arrangement [0149] 2. Supporting plate [0150] 21. Frontal edge of supporting plate [0151] 3. First worktop plate [0152] 4. Second worktop plates [0153] 41. Frontal edge of second worktop plates [0154] 5. Back wall [0155] 6. Cooking section [0156] 7. Cooking hob assembly [0157] 81. Top side [0158] 82. Bottom side [0159] 83. Frontal edge of first worktop plate [0160] 9. Cooking zone [0161] 10. Bearing section [0162] 11. Gap [0163] 12. Mounting interface, fastening elements [0164] 13. Unlocking tool [0165] 14. Spring loaded snap element [0166] 15. Face side [0167] 16. Recess [0168] 17. Circumferential gap [0169] 18. Mounting surface [0170] 19. Snap projection [0171] 20. Snap nose [0172] 21. Snap recess [0173] 22. Wall section [0174] 23. Spring projection [0175] 24. Tooth [0176] D locking direction [0177] E circumferential edge of cutout [0178] F front side [0179] L lateral side [0180] R rear side [0181] x depth of worktop plate [0182] W1 predefined length [0183] W2 minimum distance