EP1091667B1

EP1091667B1 - Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture

Info

Publication number: EP1091667B1
Application number: EP00922854A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rossano Comagnucci
Original assignee: Compagnucci SpA
Current assignee: Compagnucci SpA
Priority date: 1999-04-15
Filing date: 2000-04-12
Publication date: 2003-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-12
Also published as: JP2002542578A; DE60003621T2; WO2000062646A1; EP1091667A1; IT1309519B1; AU4312500A; ITAN990019A1; CN1300196A; ITAN990019A0; DE60003621D1

Description

Background of the Invention

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a lighting modular panel for wall-mounting in combination with modular kitchen furniture.

Kitchens are normally furnished using a standardised solution with internally equipped wall cabinets and counters.

A commonly found problem refers to the optimal lighting of the space comprised between the wall cabinets and the counters, which are generally equipped with sink and cooker.

Due to the presence of the wall cabinets, the natural light from the windows and the artificial light from the ceiling suspended luminaires find it difficult to reach this space.

Good lighting conditions are extremely important for this kitchen area, due to the activities that are carried out here, such as preparation and cooking of food, washing of food and dishware, etc.

Various lighting solutions are adopted to overcome this inconvenience, according to two main technologies. In the first case, small lamps are fixed or recessed into the bottom wall of the cabinets; while in the second case small light sources are directly fitted into the wall section comprised between the wall cabinets and the counters.

A similar problem occurs in the area comprised between the wall cabinets and the counters when electrical sockets are needed to power the small household appliances - such as blenders, slicers, ice cream makers, irons, baby's bottle heaters - that are often used in this area.

Also in this case, the lighting solutions that have been adopted so far are mainly of occasional nature and are not an integral part of the general structure of modular kitchen furniture. Most of the times, sockets are fixed against the lower side of the wall cabinets, that is in the least visible point of the kitchen, which is extremely difficult to access.

Description of the Invention

The purpose of the invention is to go beyond the current technology in two different directions: not only in terms of effective lighting, but also with reference to the general quality of kitchen furniture.

The invention has been devised keeping in mind that the space between the wall cabinets and the counters of modular kitchen furniture has a standard height, which is commonly complied with by all kitchen manufacturers and installers.

The idea is to create a particular lighting panel - provided with a lamp - with the same height as the space comprised between the wall cabinets and the counters of all modular kitchen furniture.

In this perspective, a series of adjacent lighting panels according to the length of the kitchen is mounted on the wall section comprised between the wall cabinets and the counters, in order to cover the wall.

In this way, a section of luminous wall is created between the wall cabinets and the counters, with the possibility of turning it on or off as a whole or separately, panel by panel, according to the specific requirements.

This innovative technology allows for obtaining a correct diffuse lighting of the entire space comprised between the wall cabinets and the counters. At the same time, with respect to the traditional solutions, the use of the lighting panels represents an original element capable of creating clean kitchen arrangements with an advanced sophisticated technological look in compliance with the consumers' demand.

As explained below, the adoption of lighting panels makes electrical sockets available for the users in easily accessible positions with a good esthetical configuration and clean arrangement.

Brief description of the drawings

For major clarity the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawing, which is intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby:

Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of two samples of the luminous panel according to the invention ready for connection;
Fig. 2 is a schematic axonometric view of a modular kitchen provided with a series of luminous panels according to the invention;
Fig. 3 shows a different constructive version of the luminous panel according to the invention; like Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of some samples of luminous panel according to the invention ready for connection;
Fig. 4 is a cross-section with a vertical plane of the panel according to the invention in its second constructive version, as shown in Fig. 3.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the panel (1) according to the invention consists in a square or rectangular metal sheet frame (1a) frontally covered by a glass or transparent plastic plate (1c) which acts as luminaire.

The plate (1c) is supported by a bearing structure, represented in this case by a metal sheet moulding (1b).

The panel (1) contains the electrical contacts required to install and power the lamp. One of the upward sections of the moulding (1b) frontally features the on/off switch (2) for the lamp and one or more mains sockets (3) for small kitchen households.

Each lateral side of the panel (1) features a recessed housing for a female connector (5), of known type, it being provided that when the two panels (1) are placed one next to the other, the connectors (5) of the panels are connected, without intermediate spaces, by means of a male recessed coupling (6), of known type.

This allows for connecting the luminous panels (1) in series, by connecting one panel to the mains, which supplies all the other panels in the sequence.

Pressure covers (7) are present to provide the surface continuity of the sides of the mouldings (1b) and avoid seeing the holes that house the female connectors (5) located on the free sides of the first and last panel (1) of a continuos series - as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a second constructive version of the luminous panel according to the invention, capable of creating a continuos luminous wall, since the luminaires of two adjacent luminous panels are not interrupted.

In this version, the panel (100) consists in a square or rectangular metal sheet frame (100a) frontally covered by a glass or transparent plastic plate (100c) which acts as luminaire.

The plate (100c) is supported by two metal profiles (110 or 120); more precisely, the profiles are applied on the upper and lower edge of the plate (100c).

The profiles (110 and 120) are covered by finishing elements (110a and 120a).

In this constructive version the electrical boxes (130) for the on/off switches (200) and the sockets (300) are located over the upper profile (110) and recessed into the finishing element (110a).

Side elements (700) are provided to avoid seeing the free sides of the first and the last panel (100) of a continuous series - as shown in Fig. 3. The shape of the side elements (700) allows for perfectly hiding the side of the frame (100a), the profiles (110 and 120), the plate (100c) and the finishing elements (110a and 120a).

Each side of the panel (100) features a recessed housing for a female connector (5), of known type.

Claims

Lighting modular panel for wall-mounting in combination with modular kitchen furniture, wherein said panel comprises a square or rectangular metal sheet frame (1a; 100a) frontally covered by a glass or transparent plastic plate (1c; 100c), which acts as luminaire, supported by a bearing structure (1b; 110, 120), where the frame (1a; 100a) houses the electrical contacts required to install and power the lamp, while the bearing structure (1b; 110, 120) features the on/off switch (2; 200) for the lamp and one or more mains sockets (3; 300); it being provided that each lateral side of each luminous panel (1; 100) features a recessed housing for a female connector (5; 500) to be matched with a recessed male coupling (6).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to the previous claim, characterised in that the bearing structure of the plate (1c) is made up of a moulding (1b) fixed to the frame (1a).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to claim 1, characterised in that the bearing structure of the plate (100c) is made up of two metal profiles (110 and 120), applied on the upper and lower edge of the plate (100c) respectively and fixed to the frame (100a).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to the previous claim, characterised in that the profiles (110 and 120) are hidden under finishing elements (110a and 120a).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the on/off switches (2) and the sockets (3) are located on the upward sections of the moulding (1b).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to claims 1, 3 and 4, characterised in that the on/off switches (200) and the sockets (300) are housed into boxes (130) located over the upper profile (110) and recessed into the finishing element (110a).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to claim 1, characterised in that it is provided with a finish cover (7) capable of exactly covering the seat located on the side of the panel (1) that houses the female connector (5).
Lighting modular panel for modular kitchen furniture according to claims 1, 3 and 4, characterised in that it is provided with side elements (700), whose shape allows for perfectly hiding the side of the frame (100a), the profiles (110 and 120), the plate (100c) and the finishing elements (110a and 120a).