EP2022370A1

EP2022370A1 - Device for hanging kitchen implements such as holders, cutlery and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2022370A1
Application number: EP08159583A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Brun
Original assignee: Artex SpA
Current assignee: Artex SpA
Priority date: 2007-07-24
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2009-02-11
Also published as: ITPD20070254A1

Abstract

A device for hanging kitchen implements such as holders, cutlery and the like, comprising a longitudinally elongated element (11), to be fixed to the wall by way of supporting means (12), which is provided with an engagement lip (13) which is surmounted by a disengagement-preventing cover (14).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for hanging kitchen implements, such as for example holders (shelves, cutlery drainers, bookstands for magazines or cookery books, kitchen roll holders, cloth hangers, and the like) or cutlery (ladles, strainers and the like) or simply for hanging S-shaped hooks from which cloths, cutlery and kitchen implements in general hang.
These devices are constituted generally by a bar made of metallic material which is supported at its ends, and optionally in an intermediate position, by sleeve-like supports, in which the end of the bar is inserted, with a bracket to be fixed to the wall, generally above the sink or at the worktop, by means of screw anchors or other similar systems.
Although these devices are well-known and widespread due to their convenience and easy fitting, they have a main drawback, linked to the fact that the hanging elements, be they holders or implements, if hit can tilt or rise from the correct hanging position and disengage the hook-shaped end or the hanging hook.
This situation is far from unusual, since these hanging devices are generally, as mentioned, installed above the sink or at the worktop, both of which are regions in which a person who accesses them performs several different movements with his/her arms, for example during the movement or cleaning of kitchen items or food; these movements are indeed generally the ones that lead to the improper and unintended impact of the hanging elements.
Further, known types of device require, in order to be fixed to a wall, first of all fixing the sleeves to the wall by means of screw anchors and then the insertion of the bar in the sleeves.
This sequence of operations requires at least one of the two ends of the bar to be fitted at a certain distance from the corner of the wall where it is to hang, in order to allow the bar to be inserted first in one sleeve and then in the sleeve at the opposite end.
This causes the bar to be fitted to be always shorter than the space available on the wall.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for hanging kitchen implements which is capable of obviating the above-mentioned drawbacks of known types of device.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for hanging kitchen implements which allows safe and stable hanging of the hung items.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for hanging kitchen implements with which it is possible to equip a wall along its entire length.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for hanging kitchen implements which is capable of supporting also implements, holders and cutlery which are already available and known commercially.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is at least as easy to fit as known devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for hanging kitchen implements which can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for hanging kitchen implements such as holders, cutlery and the like, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinally elongated element, to be fixed to the wall by way of supporting means, which is provided with an engagement lip which is surmounted by a disengagement-preventing cover.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the longitudinally elongated element according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a view of the wall supporting means of the invention;
Figure 4 is a view of a detail of the supporting means;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device.

With reference to the figures, a device for hanging kitchen implements such as holders, cutlery and the like according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The device 10 comprises a longitudinally elongated element 11, to be fixed to the wall by way of supporting means 12, which are described in greater detail hereinafter, and provided with an engagement lip 13 which is surmounted by a disengagement-preventing cover 14.
In the embodiment of the invention described here by way of non-limiting example, the longitudinal element 11, as clearly shown in the sectional view of Figure 2, is provided by a profile which comprises a first portion 15 for fixing to a wall, from which a second portion 16 for spacing from the fixing wall protrudes; the disengagement-preventing cover 14 protrudes from the second portion 16 and a curved portion 17 extends downward from it.
The engagement lip 13 rises from the curved portion 17, which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
The longitudinally elongated element 11 can be closed at its ends by safety covers 19, which improve its aesthetics and cover the sharp edges of the curved metal plate by means of which the element 11 is provided.
The lip 13 has an additional fold 13 a for protection against the risk of cuts that a sharp edge would cause for a user.
In this particular embodiment of the invention, the longitudinally elongated element 11 is constituted by a contoured and folded metal plate, and therefore the first portion 15, the second portion 16, the cover 14, the curved portion 17 and the lip 13 are monolithic.
Figure 2 exemplifies a hook-shaped end 18a of a kitchen item holder 18, which is inserted in the curved portion 17 and retained thereat by the lip 13.
When the hook-shaped end hangs from the element 11, even if a person strikes the holder 18, pushing it upward, the cover 14 prevents the hook-shaped end 18a from rising above the lip 13, pushing it back downward.
The support means 12 for wall fixing are constituted by at least two substantially flat brackets 20, which can be provided by molding plastic material, each provided with at least one supporting hook 21 which is directed upward and a retention tab 22 with a snap interlocking tooth 23 which is directed downward.
In the embodiment described and illustrated herein, the supporting hooks 21 are two and are adapted to be inserted in corresponding upper openings 24 provided in the first portion 15 of the longitudinal element 11; the upper edge 25 of the openings 24 is provided with a set of teeth which is contoured so as to mate with corresponding teeth 26 formed to the rear of the supporting hooks 21.
The teeth 26, once mated with the corresponding set of teeth, prevent the unwanted translational motion of the element 11, facilitating the positional stability of the device 10.
The retention tab 22 enters with a snap action a further lower opening 27, preventing the element 11 from rotating upward away from the wall.
Each of the brackets 20 has two through slots 28 for wall fixing screw anchors.
In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the problems noted in known types of device for hanging kitchen implements.
In particular, the present invention provides a device for hanging kitchen implements which allows safe and stable hanging of hung elements, by way of the cover 14 which prevents the escape, beyond the engagement lip 13, of the hook-shaped ends 18a of the holder 18 or of the hung implements.
Further, the present invention provides a device for hanging kitchen implements by means of which it is possible to equip a wall along its entire length; once the brackets 20 have been fixed to the wall, in order to mount the longitudinal element 11 it is in fact sufficient to hang frontally the element 11 by means of the upper openings 24 to the supporting hooks 21 and then push the element 11 toward the wall so that the lower openings 27 interlock in the retention tabs 22.
Therefore, translational motions in a direction which is parallel to the wall are not necessary and accordingly a device according to the invention can be installed even along the entire length of a wall to be equipped.
Moreover, the present invention provides a device for hanging kitchen implements which is capable of supporting even implements, holders and cutlery which are already known and commercially available.
Further, the present invention provides a device which is at least as easy to assemble as known devices.
Moreover, the present invention provides a device for hanging kitchen implements which can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies.
The longitudinal element 11 in fact can be provided, as described, by bending a metal plate, but it can also be obtained from a profile made of metallic or plastic material; the brackets 20 and the covers 19 can be provided by molding plastic material.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2007A000254 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A device for hanging kitchen implements such as holders, cutlery and the like, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinally elongated element (11), to be fixed to the wall by way of supporting means (12), which is provided with an engagement lip (13) which is surmounted by a disengagement-preventing cover (14).
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal element (11) is constituted by a profile which comprises a first portion (15) for fixing to a wall, from which a second portion (16) for spacing from the fixing wall protrudes, said disengagement-preventing cover (14) protruding from the second portion (16), a curved portion (17) extending downward from said cover (14), the engagement lip (13) rising from said curved portion (17).
The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved portion (17) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said longitudinally elongated element (11) is closed at its ends by safety covers (19).
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lip (13) has a fold (13a) for protection against the risk of cuts for a user.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said longitudinally extended element (11) is constituted by a contoured and folded metal plate, said first portion (15), said second portion (16), said cover (14), said curved portion (17) and said lip (13) being monolithic.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting means (12) for fixing to a wall are constituted by at least two brackets (20) which are substantially flat, each provided with at least one supporting hook (21) which is directed upward, and a retention tab (22), with a snap interlocking tooth (23) which is directed downward, said supporting hook (21) being adapted to be inserted in a corresponding upper opening (24) provided on the first portion (15) of the longitudinal element (11), said retention tab (22) being adapted to enter by snap action a further lower opening (27), preventing the element (11) from rotating upward away from the wall.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper edge (25) of said upper openings (24) has a contoured set of teeth for mating with corresponding teeth (26) which are formed at the rear of the supporting hooks (21).
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said longitudinal element (11) can be provided by folding a metal plate or, as an alternative, can be obtained from a profile made of metallic material or plastic material.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brackets (20) and the covers (19) can be provided by molding plastic material.