EP1927811A1

EP1927811A1 - An equipped kitchen element having a hood and tiltable cooking range

Info

Publication number: EP1927811A1
Application number: EP07022345A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rafaele Galassi; Alvaro Galassi; Mario Cipriani
Original assignee: Niro Plan AG
Current assignee: Niro Plan AG
Priority date: 2006-12-01
Filing date: 2007-11-17
Publication date: 2008-06-04
Also published as: ITAN20060065A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an equipped element (1) for kitchen uses containing at least one element (3) that is tiltable from a resting position to an operating position, in particular an equipped kitchen element (1) whose tiltable element (3) is a cooking range (3c).

Said equipped kitchen element (1) comprises, in its upper part, a hood (4) for aspirating or filtering cooking fumes and vapours, said hood (4) being provided with a deflector (401), movable from a resting position to an operating position.

Description

The present invention relates to an equipped element for kitchen uses containing at least one plane able to be tilted from a resting position to an operating position, in particular an equipped kitchen element whose tiltable plane is a cooking range.
Tiltable kitchen ranges are already available on the market and they offer evident advantages because their rotation to a substantially vertical position, when they are not in use, frees space for other uses; such cooking ranges are mounted on existing work counters, on which they bear instead of being recessed therein.
Undoubted advantages of these cooking ranges are: the ability to purchase normal base elements instead of elements with recessed cooking ranges; positioning freedom; the space freed for other uses of the counter, valuable in restricted spaces; easier cleaning of the work counter.
However, known tiltable kitchen ranges have some aesthetic and functional limits: they still require the presence of an underlying support furniture item; raised to their vertical position, they remain visible as does their electrical power supply cord or gas pipe; there is the risk that an accidental impact may swing them; the lack of a structure for their containment leaves great freedom for fastening the electrical cord or the gas supply pipe, with the risk that an improper installation may lead to their breakage, by erosion or wear, since they are subject to frequent constant lowering and raising movements.
To eliminate, at least in part, the aforesaid functional limits, a first object of the present intention is to indicate means to obtain a tiltable plane that is independent of any underlying furniture.
A second object of the present invention is to indicate a solution that enables in a simple manner some variants whereby said tiltable plane can be a lid for covering underlying furniture items or equipment, a work counter or a cooking range.
A third object of the present invention is to enable the simultaneous mounting of a hood overlying the tiltable plane.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide means to force correct installation of any electrical cords or gas supply pipes.
A fifth object of the present invention is to indicate means so that said tiltable plane does not need to bear on an underlying furniture item when in operating position.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide means that prevent the accidental tilting of the tiltable plane.
An additional object of the present invention is to indicate means that allow good aesthetic solutions; in particular, that allow to mask the provided equipment when in non operating position.
These results and additional advantages are obtained, according to the invention, by means of means as described below and in the appended claims which are an integral part of the description and as exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
The invention comprises an equipped kitchen element comprising alternative tiltable elements for which it serves as support and housing. Possible embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawing tables in which:

Figure 1 shows perspective views 1a, 1b, 1c of an equipped kitchen element comprising a tiltable cooking range and a hood with pivoting deflector, respectively in the three phases of total closure, hood deflector opening, cooking range and hood deflector opening;
Figure 2 shows the frontal and lateral views 2a, 2b, 2c of the previous equipped kitchen element in the three phases of total closure, hood deflector opening, cooking range and hood deflector opening;
Figure 3 shows the lateral views 3a and 3b of a possible mechanism able to swing the cooking range, respectively in the position of total closure and total opening of the cooking range itself;
Figure 4 shows the lateral views 4a, 4b, 4c of the deformations of a cord or supply pipe of the cooking range when the latter is, respectively, in the position of total closure, intermediate position and total opening;
Figure 5 shows perspective views 5a, 5b, 5c of the equipped kitchen element according to an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a tiltable support plane alternative to the cooking range, respectively in the three phases of total closure, opening of the deflector of a possible hood, opening of the support plane and hood deflector;
Figure 6 shows perspective view 6a, 6b, 6c of the equipped kitchen element according to a variant of the invention which comprises a lid, alternative to the tiltable cooking range and adapted to cover an underlying cooking range, extraneous to the equipped kitchen element itself, respectively in the three phases of total closure, hood deflector opening, lid and hood deflector opening.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, an equipped kitchen element 1 is shown, with substantially prismatic shape, comprising a possible backrest 101 and two uprights 102 between which is housed a tiltable element 3 which is allowed to rotate from a totally closed rest position, which lies substantially on a vertical or near-vertical plane, to a totally open operating position, which lies on a substantially horizontal plane.
Said equipped kitchen element 1 can easily be fastened to a wall by known means such as screws and screw anchors, as an independent unit. However, nothing prevents said equipped kitchen element 1 from being recessed in another furniture item, which is already an integral part of the kitchen furnishings.
The opening and the subsequent closure of said tiltable element 3 can be performed manually by the user, possibly with appropriate grip means 6, i.e. handles 6, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, and they are enabled by tilting mechanisms 7, known in themselves, which can be able to support the tiltable element 3 in the operating position of total opening on horizontal lay, so that underlying furniture items, serving as supports, are not necessary. Alternatively, if underneath the equipped kitchen element 1 is provided a furniture item which can serve as a support plane for the tiltable element 3, the latter can bear down on it by means of feet 303 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
With reference to Figures 1, 5 and 6, said tiltable element 3 can consist of a support plane 3a or of a lid 3b, provided to cover an underlying cooking range 10, extraneous to the equipped kitchen element itself, or of a cooking range 3c.
With reference to the same figures, said equipped kitchen element 1 can comprise, in its upper part, a hood 4 for aspirating or filtering cooking fumes and vapours, hereafter simply called "hood".
The hood 4 can be provided with a deflector 401 which in resting position lies substantially on the same plane of rest as the tiltable element 3 and openable by rotation of an angle γ preferably between 45° and 90°, as shown in Fig. 2b. Above the deflector 401 is provided a space 5, able, by shape and dimension, e.g. by means of expansions and/or section increases not shown in the figure, to house other functional elements of the hood 4, such as fan and motor of the aspirating assembly and air conduits, as well as the filters 402 which, however, could also be housed, at least in part, in the deflector 401 itself.
The deflector 401 of said hood 4 can be opened and closed by an electric motor (not shown in the figure) which can be operated by means of a pushbutton 103 positioned on one of the uprights 102, so that it is not necessary to access the deflector 401 directly.
Excepting the self-supporting hinges 7, discussed below, it may be provided, for safety reasons, for the deflector 401 to serve as a stop for the tiltable element 3 in resting position and to prevent it from being accidentally tilted and for the rotation of said tiltable element 3 towards the operating position of total opening to be allowed only after the opening of said deflector 401 has started. On the contrary, the rotation of the same tiltable element 3 towards the totally closed position is actuated manually before the closing of the deflector 401 of the hood 4.
In addition to being functional, the equipped kitchen element 1 as described allows good aesthetic solutions; in total closed position, both the tiltable element 3 and the deflector 401 can form a continuous plane, substantially vertical and abutting the wall whilst the handles 6, if present, can be completely hidden from sight as shown in Figure 1a.
Returning to the aforesaid tilting mechanisms 7 and with reference to Figs. 3, they fasten the tiltable element 3 to the uprights 102 of the equipped kitchen element 1 and they can consist of the so-called self-supporting hinges normally used for the tilt-opening doors of common home ovens, e.g. of the type with inner cam, with fixed fulcrum with external cam, with variable fulcrum with external cam, or the like. Self-supporting hinges, as is well known, preventing the accidental tilting of a tilt-opening door, being able to keep it closed in vertical position and enabling the rotation thereof, in the case of the tiltable element 3, around a horizontal axis, only exerting an adequate force to pull the tiltable element 3 from the resting position with angle of lay β₁, to beyond a second position proximate to horizontal having angle of lay β₂ > β₁. According to a first variant of the invention, the tiltable element, once it is open, bears on an underlying plane. Advantageously, however, according to other variants, the self-supporting hinges 7 and the uprights 102 can be sufficiently strong to stably support the tiltable element 3 in the horizontal position when working thereon, independently of the plane of any underlying furniture item or in the absence of said item.
Nothing prevents using for said tilting mechanisms 7, alternative tilting mechanisms to the self-supporting hinges 7 but still able to assure the self-support of the cooking range in its vertical closure position or even in its horizontal working position.
If the tiltable element 3 consists of said tiltable cooking range 3c, it needs, see Figure 4, a tubular element 8 for supplying power or fuel to the hot plates, which may consist of an electrical cord or a gas pipe and which must be flexible to follow the tilting motion.
According to a useful variant of the invention, the tubular element 8 is flexible and it is inserted in the inner space of one of the uprights 102 and fastened thereto in an upper fastening point, not shown, whilst in the lower part it is integral with the tiltable cooking range 3c through a fastening means 801 in a point as close as possible to its axis of rotation.
Between the upper fastening point and the fastening means 801, the tubular element 8 is left with a length exceeding the one necessary to assure the connection, sufficient to prevent the tubular element 8 from undergoing traction or flexion stresses that would be incompatible with its mechanical and fatigue strength.
For this purpose, with reference to Figure 4, it is preferable, when the tiltable cooking range 3c is raised in resting position, that the tubular element 8 to form a loop 802 oriented towards the rear part of the equipped kitchen element 1 so that the axis A-A that starts from the fastening means 801 forms an angle α₂ with the vertical axis B-B whilst, when the tiltable cooking range 3c is in operating position, tilted by an angle α₁ with the vertical axis B-B, being α₁ + α₂ = α. In particular, if α₁ = α₂ =α/2, the loop 802 is the smallest possible one in both extreme positions.
The equipped kitchen element 1 described above achieves all indicated objects. In effect, it is able to constitute an autonomous cooking unit, also provided with hood, and it is able to rapidly constitute in any room, e.g. in a residence or mini-flat, a cooking range that is independent from the existing furniture.
Many variants are possible without thereby departing from the scope of the invention described above.
For example, the tiltable cooking range 3c can comprise, on its bottom, a gap with thickness of about 1 cm where, both in operating and in resting position, air moved by appropriate fans, housed in the thickness of the tiltable cooking range 3c itself can be made to transit to reduce the heat transmitted by the cooking range 3c to the adjacent and underlying areas.
Moreover, the equipped kitchen element 1 could incorporate various equipment items, useful for cooking operations or other purposes and be provided with receptacles such as shelves or containment compartments.

Claims

An equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses
- comprising two uprights (102)

- able to be fastened to a wall, by known means, such as screws and screw anchors, characterised in that a tiltable element (3) can be housed within said uprights (102), and fastened thereto by means of tilting mechanisms (7) able to allow the rotation of said tiltable element (3) from a totally open operating position, which lies on a substantially horizontal plane, to a totally closed position, which lies substantially on a vertical plane.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said tiltable element (3) is a support plane (3a).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said tiltable element (3) is a lid (3b).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said tiltable element (3) is a tiltable cooking range (3c).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that it further comprises a hood (4).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claim characterised in that most of the functional elements of said hood (4), such as fan and motor of the aspirating assembly, air conduits and any filters (402) is positioned in the upper part of the equipped kitchen element (1) itself in an appropriate compartment (5).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed at least in claim 5 characterised in that
- the deflector (401) of said hood (4) is movable from a closed resting position to an open operating position

- the opening and the closing of said deflector (401) are actuated by a motor upon the user's command.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claim characterised in that at the end of the opening phase, said deflector (401) of the hood (4) has an inclination equal to an angle (γ) with respect to the vertical plane whereon lies the equipped kitchen element (1) that is preferably between 45° and 90°.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that the tiltable element (3) is opened and closed manually by means of handles (6) able to facilitate the gripping and tilting of said element (3).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed at least in claim 7 characterised in that the rotation towards the operating position of the tiltable element (3) is allowed only after the opening of the deflector (401) of the tiltable hood (4).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claim characterised in that in the closed position, said deflector (401) conceals and prevents access to said handles (6).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed at least in claim 4 characterised in that
- the tubular element (8) for supplying power or fuel to the hot plates of the tiltable cooking range (3c), which consists indifferently of an electrical cord for electrical hot plates or of a gas pipe for gas-fired burners,

- is flexible,

- is inserted in a flank (102) of the equipped kitchen element (1)

- is fastened
- to said flank (102), in an upper fastening point,

- to the tiltable cooking range (3c) in an upper fastening point (801) positioned in proximity to the axis of rotation of said tiltable element (3)

- between said upper fastening point and said lower fastening point (801), it has a greater length than the distance between said fastening points, thereby forming a loop (802) for any position from the resting position to the operating position,

- is so positioned to said lower fastening point (801) that its axis (A-A) at the fastening means (801) itself
- forms a first angle (α₂) with the vertical axis (B-B) when the tiltable cooking range (3c) is raised in resting position and the loop (802) is oriented towards the rear part of the equipped kitchen element (1)

- and forms a second angle (α₁) with said vertical axis (B-B) when said tiltable cooking plane (3c) is in operating position, tilted by an angle (α) relative to the resting position and the loop (802) is oriented towards the rear part of the equipped kitchen element (1) itself

- the sum of said first and second angle (α₁, α₁) being equal to the total angle of tilt (α).
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claim characterised in that said first and second angle (α₂, α₁) are equal.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed at least in claim 4 characterised in that
- said tiltable cooking range (3c) is provided with gas burners

- and said gas burners are conveniently secured with known means against their fall when said tiltable cooking range (3c) is in resting position.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claims characterised in that said tiltable mechanism (7) consists of a self-supporting hinge (7) of the type in use for the doors of home ovens or in similar means.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claim characterised in that said tilting mechanism (7) and the uprights (102) are sufficiently strong to stably support the tiltable element (3) in horizontal operating position, independently from the plane of any underlying furniture item or in the absence of said furniture item.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in any of the previous claims, except claim 16, characterised in that said tiltable element (3), when in operating position, bears directly on the plane of an underlying furniture item.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in the previous claim characterised in that said tiltable element (3) is provided with feet (303) able to bear on the plane of said underlying furniture item.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed in any of the claims from 7 onwards characterised in that said tiltable element (3) and deflector (401), when they are in resting position, lie substantially on the same plane.
Equipped kitchen element (1) for home uses as claimed at least in claim 4 characterised in that on the bottom of the tiltable cooking range (3c) is provided a gap where, both in operating position and in resting position, air moved by appropriate fans, housed in the thickness of the tiltable cooking range (3c) itself, can be made to transit, to reduce the heat transmitted by the cooking range (3c) to the adjacent areas.