EP1570765B1 - Modular kitchen system - Google Patents

Modular kitchen system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1570765B1
EP1570765B1 EP04004963A EP04004963A EP1570765B1 EP 1570765 B1 EP1570765 B1 EP 1570765B1 EP 04004963 A EP04004963 A EP 04004963A EP 04004963 A EP04004963 A EP 04004963A EP 1570765 B1 EP1570765 B1 EP 1570765B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
modular
mounting rail
units
kitchen
unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP04004963A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1570765A1 (en
Inventor
Alessia Cusinato
Renzo Menegon
Maurits Willemen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Priority to EP04004963A priority Critical patent/EP1570765B1/en
Priority to PL04004963T priority patent/PL1570765T3/pl
Priority to ES04004963T priority patent/ES2305595T3/es
Priority to DE602004013715T priority patent/DE602004013715D1/de
Publication of EP1570765A1 publication Critical patent/EP1570765A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1570765B1 publication Critical patent/EP1570765B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
    • A47B96/06—Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves
    • A47B96/067—Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B77/00—Kitchen cabinets
    • A47B77/02—General layout, e.g. relative arrangement of compartments, working surface or surfaces, supports for apparatus
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B77/00—Kitchen cabinets
    • A47B77/04—Provision for particular uses of compartments or other parts ; Compartments moving up and down, revolving parts
    • A47B77/06—Provision for particular uses of compartments or other parts ; Compartments moving up and down, revolving parts for incorporating sinks, with or without draining boards, splash-backs, or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a modular kitchen system, and more particularly to a system for interconnecting a plurality of modular kitchen units along a common base structure.
  • U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2003/0227240 A1 which describes a modular, vertically adjustable kitchen system having modular appliance units and modular base units for vertically adjusting the modular appliance units.
  • U.S. Des. Pat. No. Des. 313,727 discloses an ornamental appearance of a kitchen work unit where it appears that a number of appliances and storage units are integrated into a common unit.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,908 discloses a modular system for assembling food service fixtures including a horizontal wall mounted rails having a number of leg assemblies fastened thereto. Different fixtures or modules - warmers, control panels, shelves - can be fastened between adjacent leg assemblies.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,934 discloses a wall rail apparatus being used in a kitchen, providing adjustable support for various kitchen structures side-by-side.
  • a modular kitchen system having a plurality of modular kitchen units assembled together and mounted to a kitchen wall.
  • the plurality of modular units include at least a sink unit and an appliance unit.
  • a mounting rail is mounted to the kitchen wall, the mounting rail being an elongated element having an upper portion and a lower portion.
  • a movable water tap is slidingly supported along the upper portion of the mounting rail.
  • a plurality of mounting brackets slidably connect to the mounting rail and include collar-like main bodies for supporting the plurality of modular units wherein the plurality of units include contiguous ends that substantially match each other and may be received into one of the collar-like main bodies of the mounting brackets for support along the mounting rail.
  • the plurality of modular units may include at least a sink unit, a refrigeration unit, and a cooking unit.
  • the mounting rail houses a plurality of utility conduits for supplying power and water to the modular units.
  • the modular kitchen assembly may further include a hood member extending from the upper portion of the mounting rail which is formed by a pair of frame elements extending upwardly from the mounting rail for supporting a hood cover. Electrical power is supplied to a light element mounted within the hood cover through one of the pairs of frame elements and a switch is provided on the mounting rail for controlling energization of the light element.
  • an overall modular kitchen system constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at 10.
  • the kitchen system includes a wall assembly which includes a plurality of modules such as a sink unit 12, a refrigeration unit 14, and an cooking unit 16 which extend from a kitchen wall surface 20.
  • the refrigeration unit 14 and cooking unit 16 may be each referred to as appliance units.
  • Appliance units may also refer to a dishwasher type unit or even an automatic washer type unit. While these units or modules are shown, it can be readily understood that other modules may be incorporated into this modular kitchen system including storage units. All of these units or modules are constructed and assembled together in accordance with the present invention as described more fully below.
  • the different units or modules 12, 14, 16 are mounted to the wall 20 through use of a mounting rail 30, as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the mounting rail 30 is a multi-functional member which serves to provide: structural support to the appliance units 12, 14 and 16; a mechanism to supply utilities to the appliance units 12, 14 16; support for a lighting/hood member 24; support to a movable or slidable water tap 26; and finally, a rear portion of the work surface formed by the appliance modules.
  • the mounting rail 30 is securely mounted to the wall 20 through the use of know fastening techniques.
  • the mounting rail 30 is an elongated member having an upper portion 32 and a lower portion 34.
  • the upper portion 32 includes a top surface 36 which forms part of the work surface of the kitchen assembly 10 and also provides a support for the slidable water tap 26.
  • a vertically extending back splash portion 37 may extend from the top surface 36 upwardly along the wall 20. The back splash may be integrally part of the mounting rail or a separate member.
  • the slidable water tap 26 is located in a guide or slot 38 and is connected to a flexible hose 40 such that the tap 26 may be allowed to move longitudinally along the kitchen system 10. In this way the tap 26 may be located above the sink unit 12 or above the cooking unit 16 for filling a cooking vessel with water or along any other section of the kitchen system 10.
  • the lower portion 34 of the rail 30, best shown in FIG. 3 may house a plurality of utility conduits - such as a water inlet 42 and a power or electricity inlet 44. Further, a drain outlet conduit 46 may be provided. At predetermined locations, inlet pipes 43 and 45 for water inlet and power are provided teed off from the utility conduits 42 and 44 for connection with appliance or sink units 12, 14, 16. Moreover, a drain tube 47 may also be teed off from the drain outlet conduit 46. In this way, appliance units 12, 14 and 16 may be mounted to the rail 30 and also readily connected to the necessary utilities. The rail 30, when mounted to the wall 20, is connected to external utilities at one location and then distributes these utilities along the lower portion. The utility conduits may also be housed in the upper portion 32.
  • the mounting rail 30 may be a unitary structure or may be constructed from a plurality of separate parts.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the mounting rail 30' where the rail is separated into two elements.
  • the rail 30' includes a first upper member 32' and a lower member 34'.
  • the upper member 32' supports a movable water tap 26 and houses a plurality of utility inlet pipes 43', 45' that extend from the utility conduits 42 and 44.
  • the lower member 34' houses a drain tube 47' which extends from a drain outlet conduit 46 - in a similar manner as described above.
  • the mounting rail 30 includes a guide channel 50, as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the guide channel 50 extends along the length of the mounting rail 30 and provides an engagement location for a plurality of mounting brackets 52 which are slidably received onto the mounting rail 30 in a manner wherein an engagement portion 54 is received into the guide channel 50 (see FIG. 3 ).
  • the mounting brackets 52 may be preferably formed from metallic material such as stainless steel or aluminum.
  • the mounting brackets include a collar-like main body 56 that is positioned between the contiguous ends of adjacent modular units 12, 14, 16 for supporting the units. Shown in greater detail in FIG. 5 , the collar-like main body 56 receives the end 58 of a unit.
  • the unit end 58 may be formed with a recessed portion 58a to nest or fit within the collar-like main body 56. Additionally, the collar-like main body 56 may be provided with a mechanism (not shown) for tightening the main body 56 about the end 58 of the unit.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the mounting brackets 52.
  • mounting brackets 70 are formed as reverse C shaped members.
  • a collar-like main body 72 includes two engagement ends 74 and 76. These engagement ends are received into a pair of guide channels 80 and 82 provided on the mounting rail 30'. Additionally, it can be seen that a support leg 77 may extend downwardly from one or more of the mounting brackets 70 to provide further support for the modular units.
  • a final mounting bracket 52 Located at either end of the modular kitchen system 10 is a final mounting bracket 52 and an end panel 110, 112.
  • the end panels are design to assemble to the end mount bracket 52 and provide a finished visual appearance.
  • mounting rail 30 further supports a lighting hood member 24.
  • the hood member 24 includes a pair of upwardly extending frame elements 86 and 88 which support the hood cover 90.
  • the hood cover 90 may support a light element 92.
  • the power supply to the light element 92 is provided through one of the frame elements.
  • a control switch 94 may be provided along the top surface 36 of the mounting rail 30.
  • the modular kitchen system may include a sink unit 12, a refrigeration unit 14, and a cooking unit 16.
  • the individual units include end portions 58 that may be received into the main body 56 of the mounting brackets 52.
  • each end 58 of the units 12, 14, 16 substantially conform to a fixed shape or configuration so that the individual units 12, 14, 16 may be assembled both in any desired order.
  • the refrigeration unit 14 may comprise a drawer element 98 which includes two cavities 100 and 102 that may be varied in size by movement of a middle divider element 104.
  • the two cavities 100 and 102 are a fresh food cavity and freezing cavity respectively.
  • the middle divider 104 By adjusting the location of the middle divider 104, the size of the cavities can be varied.
  • the top surface 106 of the refrigeration unit 14 may be a transparent material such that it is possible to view the contents of the refrigeration unit 14 without opening the drawer element 98.
  • the cooking unit 16 may be provided with a cooktop surface 108 which includes a plurality of heating element (not shown). Below the cooktop surface 108, there is an oven cavity which can be either a conventional oven cavity or a microwave. As previously discussed, it is possible to move the water tap 26 to directly fill cooking vessels located on the cooktop surface.
  • top surface of the modular kitchen system 10 is formed from a combination of the modular appliance units 14, 16, along with the top surface 36 of the mounting rail 30. Together, these elements form the top work surface of the modular kitchen system 10 such that no additional counter top material or structure is required.
  • FIG. 6 the modular kitchen system 10 of the present invention is shown incorporated into a kitchen environment with additional storage units and work surface areas. In this way, the space around and below the modular kitchen system 10 may be beneficially used.

Landscapes

  • Combinations Of Kitchen Furniture (AREA)
EP04004963A 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Modular kitchen system Expired - Lifetime EP1570765B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04004963A EP1570765B1 (en) 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Modular kitchen system
PL04004963T PL1570765T3 (pl) 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Modularny system kuchenny
ES04004963T ES2305595T3 (es) 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Sistema de cocina modular.
DE602004013715T DE602004013715D1 (de) 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Modulares Küchensystem

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04004963A EP1570765B1 (en) 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Modular kitchen system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1570765A1 EP1570765A1 (en) 2005-09-07
EP1570765B1 true EP1570765B1 (en) 2008-05-14

Family

ID=34745992

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04004963A Expired - Lifetime EP1570765B1 (en) 2004-03-03 2004-03-03 Modular kitchen system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1570765B1 (pl)
DE (1) DE602004013715D1 (pl)
ES (1) ES2305595T3 (pl)
PL (1) PL1570765T3 (pl)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10271652B2 (en) 2016-08-12 2019-04-30 Chris Kilburn Blade based cabinet system
USD914418S1 (en) 2019-02-15 2021-03-30 Switch Blade Design Llc Cabinet frame system

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2793796C (en) 2006-04-18 2016-07-05 Oy Halton Group, Ltd. Modular wall unit with mini exhaust hood
CN103284489B (zh) * 2012-03-05 2015-12-16 松下电器产业株式会社 厨房装置
CN113068951B (zh) * 2020-11-11 2023-09-26 深圳市商厨科技有限公司 一种拼接模块化可移动厨房

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3101486A (en) * 1962-03-23 1963-08-27 American Radiator & Standard Lavatory fixture
GB1434359A (en) * 1972-09-23 1976-05-05 Schreiber V M Articles of furniture and a method of constructing same
USD313727S (en) 1987-11-30 1991-01-15 Oscar Gamez Combined pot and removable handle cover unit
FR2637789B1 (fr) * 1988-10-14 1992-01-10 Bonnet Sa Meuble de cuisson
US5392934A (en) * 1993-05-14 1995-02-28 Fox; Larry G. Apparatus and method for adjustably supporting furnishings on a wall surface
US5513908A (en) 1994-06-02 1996-05-07 Kloppenberg & Company Modular system for assembling food service fixtures
US6877825B2 (en) 2002-06-07 2005-04-12 Maytag Corporation Modular kitchen system
DE10235776A1 (de) * 2002-08-05 2004-02-26 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Küchenmodulsystem

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10271652B2 (en) 2016-08-12 2019-04-30 Chris Kilburn Blade based cabinet system
US10722030B2 (en) 2016-08-12 2020-07-28 Switch Blade Design Llc Blade based cabinet system
USD914418S1 (en) 2019-02-15 2021-03-30 Switch Blade Design Llc Cabinet frame system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1570765A1 (en) 2005-09-07
ES2305595T3 (es) 2008-11-01
DE602004013715D1 (de) 2008-06-26
PL1570765T3 (pl) 2008-10-31

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