EP1266592B1 - Ready to assemble set of build-in elements for a household appliance in a recess - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a ready-to-assemble set of embedding elements of a household appliance in a niche.

It relates more particularly to the embedding of small furnaces intended to be set up in a niche of a piece of furniture.

The fitting of such household appliances generally requires a mounting bracket to be fixed in the recess, under the appliance.

This mounting bracket allows positioning the appliance in the recess, and in particular to adjust the position of this device in the height of the recess, the latter can vary typically between 350 and 360 mm.

It is thus necessary to center the appliance in the niche regardless of the height of the latter.

There is known a support of an oven in the document GB 2,025,032 , which adjusts the height of the device relative to a plane.

However, a mounting bracket in a recess must also make it possible to regulate the flow of cooling air around the appliance, especially when this appliance is a microwave-type oven.

These numerous constraints are generally difficult to reconcile with existing mounting brackets.

The object of the present invention is to solve these drawbacks and to propose an appliance and its ready-to-assemble set of recessing elements providing a solution both to the aeraulic constraints and to the positioning constraints of the appliance in the niche.

For this purpose, the present invention is aimed at a household appliance and a ready-to-assemble set of elements for embedding this appliance household appliance in a recess including a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed in the recess, under the appliance.

This embedding support comprises a separation plate extending during its use between a lower wall of the recess and a bottom wall of the appliance, and adjusting means comprising a first portion adapted to be connected to the wall lower part of the niche, said separating plate being fastened to said adjusting means

According to the invention, the adjustment means are adapted to adjust the height of said separating plate relative to said first part of the adjusting means, said ready-to-assemble assembly further comprises a series of feet adapted to be adjusted in height with respect to the lower wall of the recess and the partition plate, and the partition plate comprises a series of orifices adapted to the passage respectively of the series of legs, said appliance being supported directly by said series of feet on the bottom wall of the niche and above the partition plate.

Thus, the series of feet can support and adjust the height of the appliance in the niche, regardless of the height adjustment of the separating plate separating the cooling air flow in the recess and recess allowing regulation of the cooling air flow around the unit.

The constraints related to the positioning of the apparatus and to its cooling can thus be solved independently by means of the ready-to-assemble set of elements for recessing according to the invention.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic, the feet consist of one or more modular elements interlocking one inside the other so as to adjust the height of these feet.

These modular elements allow during the installation of the appliance in the recess recess to change the height thereof relative to the bottom wall of the recess according to the total height of the recess.

This kit is particularly used to embed a microwave oven in a recess height between 350 and 360 mm.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description below.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée illustrant un ensemble prêt-à-monter d'éléments pour l'encastrement d'un appareil électroménager conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 1A illustre schématiquement le montage de pieds industriels utilisés dans l'ensemble prêt-à-monter de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'ensemble prêt-à-monter de la figure 1, en position montée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face d'un four à micro-ondes mis en place dans l'ensemble prêt-à-monter d'éléments d'encastrement de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue arrière du four à micro-ondes mis en place dans l'ensemble prêt-à-monter d'éléments d'encastrements de la figure 2 ; et
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues en coupe transversale selon la ligne V-V de la figure 3 illustrant la mise en place d'un dispositif anti-basculement de l'ensemble prêt-à-monter de la figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples:

• the figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a ready-to-assemble set of elements for embedding an appliance according to an embodiment of the invention;
• the Figure 1A schematically illustrates the mounting of industrial feet used in the ready-to-assemble set of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the ready-to-assemble set of the figure 1 , in mounted position;
• the figure 3 is a front view of a microwave oven set up in the ready-to-assemble set of recessed elements of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a rear view of the microwave oven set up in the ready-to-assemble set of recessed elements of the figure 2 ; and
• the Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views along line VV of the figure 3 illustrating the implementation of an anti-tilt device of the ready-to-assemble set of the figure 1 .

We will first describe with reference to Figures 1 and 2 a ready-to-assemble set of installation elements of an appliance.

This ready-to-assemble set, commonly called recess kit, includes several elements that are assembled inside a niche made for example in a kitchen unit.

Here, by way of non-limiting example, the appliance is a built-in microwave oven.

This installation kit comprises firstly a mounting bracket 10 adapted to be fixed in the recess, under the oven.

It also comprises a bottom plate 11 intended to come to the rear of the oven and an upper plate 12 disposed above the built-in oven.

This bottom plate 11 and this upper plate 12 will not be described in more detail here.

The embedding support firstly comprises a partition plate 13 which extends between a bottom wall P of the recess and a bottom wall 40a of the appliance 40 (see FIG. figure 3 ).

This separating plate 13 thus forms a double bottom between the bottom wall P of the recess and the bottom wall of the furnace so as to regulate the flow of cooling air circulating around the furnace as described later.

In particular, this partition plate 13 comprises an edge 13a folded at right angles to the oven on its side intended to come into the bottom of the niche.

The opposite side 13b intended to come in front of the niche, comprises a central portion 13b 'forming a wing folded towards the lower plane P of the recess and two side portions 13b "also forming a folded wing, perpendicular to the plane of the plate. separation 13, but directed to the oven.

In order to ensure its fixing on the bottom wall P of the recess, two fixing brackets 15 make it possible to fix the partition plate 13 on its lateral sides 13c, 13d.

According to the invention, these brackets 15 form means for adjusting the height of the separating plate 13 relative to the bottom wall P of the recess.

Each bracket 15 comprises a first part 15a intended to be fixed to the bottom wall P of the recess, for example by means of screws, and a second part 15b intended to be fixed to the separating plate 13.

The first and second portions 15a, 15b are arranged at right angles.

In order to allow the height adjustment of this partition plate 13, this second portion 15b of each bracket 15 comprises at least two attachment locations of the partition plate 13 designed to be arranged at different distances from the lower wall P of the niche.

As well illustrated at the figure 3 these brackets 15 thus extend on either side of the partition plate 13 and are substantially perpendicular to the front of the appliance 40.

Each lateral edge 13c, 13d of the separating plate 13 is formed of a wing folded towards the bottom wall P of the recess, perpendicular to the plane of the separating plate 13.

These lateral edges 13c, 13d comprise orifices 16 intended to allow the attachment of each of the edges 13c, 13d to the second part 15b of each bracket 15. Here, each bracket 15 also comprises two series of orifices 17, 18 intended to come facing the orifices 16 of the lateral edges 13c, 13d of the separating plate 13.

These two orifices 17, 18 correspond to two attachment locations of the partition plate 13 so that it can be arranged at a greater or lesser distance from the bottom wall P of the recess.

According to the invention, this installation kit also comprises a series of legs 30 which are adapted to support the appliance on the bottom wall P of the recess.

Thus, the appliance is not carried directly by the partition plate 13 but by means of the feet 30.

These feet 30 are adjustable in height, independently of the height adjustment of the separating plate 13.

Here, as illustrated in Figure 1A these feet 30 consist of modular elements interlockable into one another so that the total height of the foot can be modulated.

For example, a single modular element 30 can be used when the niche at a height of 350 mm, while two modular elements nested one inside the other can be used to form feet in a recess height of 360 mm.

These feet 30 adjustable in height to ensure a centered positioning of the appliance in the niche regardless of the height of the latter.

To allow the interlocking of these feet 30, each foot consists of a first cylindrical portion 31 and a second cylindrical portion 32 of smaller diameter.

These two cylindrical portions 31, 32 are arranged coaxially against each other.

The first cylindrical portion 31 comprises a cylindrical central bore 33 adapted to house a second cylindrical portion 32 of smaller diameter than a second foot 30.

The interlocking of the feet 30 can thus be easily realized and over a greater or lesser height of modular elements 30.

As well illustrated at the figure 3 , the appliance, here an oven 40, is placed on four legs 30 respectively disposed at the four corners of the bottom wall 40a of the apparatus.

An insulating foam member 41 is further disposed between the separator plate 13 and the lower wall 40a of the apparatus.

This foam element 41 is intended to channel the hot air leaving the base of the oven so that it escapes outwards, at the central portion 13b 'of the side 13b intended to come to the front of the niche. On the contrary, the fresh air passage is made at the side portions 13b "of the separating plate 13, between the separating plate 13 and the base of the oven, and on the two lateral sides of the oven and between the plate. 13 and the bottom wall P of the niche.

The hot air outlets are channeled through the foam element 41 at the separating plate 13 while leaving the fresh air inlets as free as possible.

This prevents the return of the hot air outlets to the fresh air inlets.

To allow the passage of the feet 30, the partition plate 13 has four orifices 34 for the passage of these feet 30, so that the oven 40 is supported above the separating plate 13.

This flush mounting kit further comprises an anti-tilt device 50 which makes it possible to prevent the appliance from tilting forward after being embedded in the recess.

In general, this anti-tilt device 50 comprises a holding element 51 adapted to engage the back of the appliance and an actuating rod 52 mounted on the mounting bracket 10.

As well illustrated at the figure 4 the holding member 50 is adapted to engage a housing 42 disposed at the rear of the appliance 40.

This housing 42 may correspond to a pre-existing boss at the rear of the apparatus and on which are fixed inside the body of the electrical components.

More precisely, this holding element 51, as well illustrated on the Figures 5 and 6 , consists of a portion of L-shaped rod, one leg 51a is integral with a first end 52a of the actuating rod 52 and the other leg 51b is adapted to engage in the housing 42 at the rear of the household appliance 40.

Here, the actuating rod 52 and the holding member 51 are formed in one piece.

In order to allow the displacement of the holding member 51 at the rear of the apparatus, the rear edge 13a of the separating plate 13 is provided with a slot 13 'through which can slide in translation the stem of the actuation 52 near its first end 52a.

The actuating rod 52 has a second end 52b comprising displacement means 55 of the rod 52, these moving means 55 being accessible on the front of the appliance 40.

Here, these displacement means 55 of the rod 52 comprise a screw 55a cooperating with a nut 55b.

The screw 55a is adapted to be mounted in orifices 56, 57 aligned with the folded wing 13b "of the embedding support 10 and the second end 52b of the rod 52.

For this purpose, the second end 52b of the rod 52 is formed of a curved wing intended to be substantially parallel to the folded wing 13b "of the partition plate 13 so that the orifices 56, 57 of the second end 52b and the folded wing 13b "may be arranged opposite one another and traversed by the screw 55a.

The screw 55a as illustrated on the Figures 5 and 6 is accessible from the front of the appliance so that the establishment of the anti-tilt device can be achieved once the appliance 40 positioned on the mounting bracket 10.

For this purpose, when mounting the embedding kit, the screw 55 is pre-mounted on the folded flange 13b "and the second end 52b of the actuating rod 52 in a free position as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 in which the holding element 51 is disengaged from the rear of the appliance 40.

Subsequent screwing of the screw 55 in the nut 55b is then adapted to move the second end 52b of the actuating rod 52 towards the folded wing 13b "of the embedding support 10.

The actuating rod 52 is thus moved in translation on the mounting support 10 so that, at the end of the stroke, as illustrated in FIG. figure 6 , the anti-tilt device is in a holding position in which the holding member 51 is engaged with the housing 42 disposed at the rear of the appliance 40.

The actuating rod 52 is thus mounted substantially perpendicularly to the front of the appliance 40.

The means for moving the rod, here constituted by a screw 55a and a nut 55b, are furthermore adapted to fix the actuating rod 52 to the embedding support 10 in the holding position as illustrated in FIG. the figure 6 .

It is thus easy to maintain the device on the mounting bracket 10, once this device positioned in the recess.

The recess kit as described above and allows in particular to embed a microwave oven in a niche.

Of course, many modifications can be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, the ready-to-assemble set of elements for embedding an appliance described above could possibly not include an anti-tilt device 50.

Claims (5)

1. Domestic electrical appliance and ready-to-assemble set of elements for recessing said domestic electrical appliance (40) in a niche, comprising a recessing support (10) adapted to be fixed in the niche, under the domestic electrical appliance (40), the recessing support (10) comprising a separation plate (13) extending during use thereof between a bottom wall (P) of the niche and a bottom wall (40a) of the domestic electrical appliance (40), and adjustment means (15) comprising a first part (15a) adapted to be connected to the bottom wall (P) of the niche, said separation plate (13) being fixed to said adjustment means (15), said adjustment means (15) being adapted to adjust the height of said separation plate (13) with respect to said first part (15a) of the adjustment means (15), characterised in that said ready-to-assemble set also comprises a series of feet (30) adapted to be adjusted for height with respect to the bottom wall of the niche and to the separation plate (13), and in that the separation plate (13) comprises a series of orifices (34) adapted to the passage respectively of the series of feet (30), said domestic electrical appliance being supported directly by said series of feet (30) on the bottom wall (P) of the niche and above the separation plate (13).
2. Domestic electrical appliance and ready-to-assemble set according to claim 1, characterised in that the feet consist of one or a plurality of modular elements (30) nestable in one another so as to adjust the height of said feet (30).
3. Domestic electrical appliance and ready-to-assemble set according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the adjustment means comprise brackets (15) adapted to be fixed firstly to the bottom wall (P) of the niche and secondly to the separation plate (13), said brackets (15) comprising at least two locations (17, 18) for fixing the separation plate (13) adapted to be disposed at different distances from the bottom wall (P) of the niche.
4. Domestic electrical appliance and ready-to-assemble set according to claim 3, characterised in that the adjustment means comprise two brackets (15) extending on either side of the separation plate (13) and adapted to be substantially perpendicular to the front face of the domestic electrical appliance (40).
5. Domestic electrical appliance and ready-to-assemble set according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the domestic electrical appliance is a microwave oven that can be recessed in a niche with a height of between 350 and 360 mm.

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