EP2282127A1

EP2282127A1 - Modular and multifuntional furniture element

Info

Publication number: EP2282127A1
Application number: EP10170778A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michele Marcon; Gian Luca Badanai; Renato Biasin
Original assignee: Lavin Srl
Current assignee: Lavin Srl
Priority date: 2009-07-29
Filing date: 2010-07-26
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Also published as: ITPN20090045A1; IT1395209B1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a box-shaped modular and multifunctional furniture element (1) or smoke exhaust hood comprising a first portion (2) connected to a second portion (3), at respective second ends (22, 32) of said first (2) and second (3) portion, through a third connecting portion (4) so as to create an aperture (5) suitable to receive a further furniture element, said third portion (4) being such as to allow the housing of mechanical and/or electrical components separated or isolated from said aperture (5).

Description

Field of invention

The present invention refers to a modular and multifunctional furniture element such as, for example, a particularly versatile and functional kitchen wall unit.

Description of prior art

Many types of furniture elements represented by single components which can be assembled so as to form furniture units designed for kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, study rooms and other accommodations where it is necessary to make the best use of available spaces have been long known.
Usually, such rooms are designed and furnished with modular elements suitable to meet personal requirements and preferences. The modules can be variously assembled and offer a vast range of combinations, thanks to the use of elements of different shapes and sizes.
In the case of kitchens, in particular, it is well known that a smoke suction hood is positioned above a cooktop. Such a hood can be installed as it is, namely a filter case, a suction fan, electrical and control parts, and a smoke exhaust tube; or it can be coupled to a wall unit. In this case, the wall unit has a portion that is suitable to house the hood components and a portion used as a space to store kitchen utensils and/or foodstuffs. Generally, such wall units are provided with fans and the respective motors and filters positioned in a lower portion of the hood, that is facing directly down toward the cooktop, with the smoke exhaust tube housed in the central part of the space.
At this time, therefore, a hood incorporated in a wall unit offers the advantage of making the best use of available space, especially where space is of the essence. Nonetheless, said space cannot be utilized in the best possible way since, as explained, the portion designed to store utensils and/or food products is encumbered by the smoke exhaust tube positioned right in the middle of it.
In addition, the same tube is subject on one hand to heating and moisture that can spoil the food products and on the other hand it is subject to accidental impacts caused by the handling of the kitchen utensils.
As a consequence, in order to have a space that is safe for foodstuffs and protected from risks of damage, it is necessary to protect the tube with suitable insulated walls. All this, however, is clearly prejudicial to the functionality of the holding compartment in the wall unit.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is therefore to design a modular and functional furniture element that is suitable, on one hand, to optimize the space within it and, on the other hand, to allow it to accommodate mechanical and/or electrical components such as those of a smoke exhaust hood.
This problem is solved by a modular and multifunctional furniture element provided with a structure that enables it to be assembled and combined with other furniture elements and that allows it to accommodate the above-mentioned components safely and effectively, as set forth in the appended claims.

Brief description of drawings

Further advantages and the characteristics of the system of the invention will become evident from the following description of an embodiment, given solely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 ia an axonometric view from above of the modular and functional furniture element of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an axonometric view from below of the furniture element of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the element of Figure 2 without the external shell;
Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the element of Figure 2 with the functional devices in view.

Detailed description of the invention

With the above-mentioned technical problem in mind, a wall unit was designed with different portions structured in such a way as to create multifunctional spaces.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 indicates a modular and multifunctional furniture element according to the invention.
The element 1 has a general box-like shape and includes a first portion 2 connected to a second portion 3 by means of a third connecting portion 4. In particular, said connection is made in such a way as to form an opening 5 or recess suitable to accommodate a matching additional furniture element.
Preferably, the first portion 2 includes a first free end 21 and a second end 22 integral with or connected to said third connecting portion 4. Similarly, the second portion 3 includes a first free portion 31 and a second portion 32 integral with or connected to said third portion. In this manner, the box-like element 1 has the shape of a C inverted left to right.
Each of said first 2, second 3 and third 4 portions can be dimensioned at will, it being understood that their assembly must in any case allow said aperture 5 so as to adapt to any further furniture element available on the market.
Preferably, the first portion 2 may have a limited thickness so as to substantially work as a support plane for said additional furniture element.
Advantageously, as is best shown in Figure 4, said first portion 2 is a parallelepiped body having a height sufficient to contain filters 6 of a smoke exhaust hood, possibly with the respective controls 7, as the conventional ones found in a household kitchen, together with light fixtures 8. In this specific case, the first portion 2 may include one door 9 to access said filters and to create a perimetrical edge 10 suitable to create an exhaust solution of perimetrical type, as will be better described later.
The second portion 3 can be simply represented by a further top having the function of delimiting at the top the above-mentioned furniture element.
Preferably, this second portion can be dimensioned so as to form a holding compartment for miscellaneous items, such as clothes, kitchen utensils, foodstuffs and other materials, depending on the use to which the furniture element is applied. In addition, the second portion houses fastening elements 11 used to attach the element 1 to a wall as a wall unit or to a ceiling like an island so as to create a wall-hung or a ceiling-hung unit.
Advantageously, the second portion can be crossed by a portion downstream of the smoke exhaust tube of an exhaust hood so as to be insulated by the aperture 5 suitable to house heat-sensitive articles or items that may accidentally hit and damage the same tube.
The third portion 4 may perform a simple connecting function between the first and second portions and, therefore, allows a secure coupling of the furniture element 1 of the invention with said additional furniture element.
Or else, the third portion 4 can also be a compartment accessible from outside to accommodate miscellaneous items such as those previously defined.
Preferably, the third portion is shaped like a closed parallelepiped separated from the surrounding environment, and therefore also from the aperture 5 of the element itself 1. In this manner, it may, for example, contain an electric motor 12 with a respective smoke exhaust fan typical of a household kitchen hood, as shown in Figure 4.
In particular, the motor 12 may be fastened to a support plate 13 that is itself fastened at the second end 32 of the second portion 3 of the furniture element 1. Such arrangement forms a sort of intake chamber 14 upstream of the motor 12 and in flow communication with the above-mentioned perimetrical edge 10.
It should be noted that, as shown in Figure 3, the intake chamber 14 is separated from the rest of the furniture element 1 by insulating panels 15 so as to insulate a space in which the temperature may reach relatively high values and the moisture may also reach correspondingly high levels.
In addition, between said chamber 14 and the outside wall of the element 1 there may be a housing 16 for the electrical components of the hood, that is to accommodate, for example, the transformer 17 of the light fixtures 8 and the control unit 18 that receives the impulses from the push-button strip 7 and transmits the relative control signals to said light fixtures 8 and said motor 12.
The aperture 5, as previously explained, has the function of creating a space for inserting a further furniture element (not shown in the figures). This aperture is preferably edged with mouldings 19 having the function of creating a lead-in for the above-mentioned insertion and coupling of the further furniture element and of reinforcing the same element to form a sturdier structure suitable to support even relatively heavy loads.
Moreover, said mouldings 19 may be made of any material, such as metal, wood, plastic, carbon fibre, and in any colour and thickness to better adapt to the type of the additional furniture element with which it connects to create an even and continuous effect. Or else, the mouldings can be chosen so as to create a contrasting effect with the additional element.
As already explained, the furniture element 1 of the present invention makes it possible to advantageously supply a structure suitable to optimize the spaces that can be used by a wall unit, particularly in the case in which it houses components that are typical of a smoke exhaust hood, or at any rate to differentiate more holding compartments in an element, depending on their function and/or on the type of objects they may contain.
In particular, the element 1 makes it possible to prearrange different portions suitable to perform different functions with the possibility of minimum interferences. In fact, as shown in the figures, the lateral positioning of the third portion 4 with respect to the centre of the same element makes it possible to free a large space suitable to receive further furniture elements. In other words, the element 1 is very versatile and easy to assemble, thanks to the fact that the aperture 5 can be dimensioned according to the standard dimensions of wall units available on the market.
The coupling is carried out by simple insertion into said aperture, if necessary with the help of fastening with conventional reversible fastening means, such as self-tapping screws, brackets and sliding grooves. At the same time, the third portion 4 offset with respect to the centre of the element 1 and formed as a separate space makes it possible to accommodate functional parts of the element itself, in addition to acting as a support of the first and second portions 2 and 3.
This latter case is particularly advantageous when the element 1 is used as a smoke exhaust hood, such as for example household kitchen hoods. In particular, having shifted the motor 12 laterally with respect to the central part of the element 1 makes it possible to make the best use of the space available without incurring in complicated and laborious structures for separating and insulating the motor or the further components of a smoke exhaust hood, such as the exhaust tube. It is evident, in fact, that in the case of hoods the dimensions of the intake surface are standardized, so that the space above it is limited. The fact of positioning laterally the motor or the more cumbersome components of a hood has made it possible to create optimal spaces that are perfectly adaptable to the kitchen wall units currently on the market without having to radically modify the above-mentioned standardized dimensions.
Further, it is possible to replace the additional furniture element rapidly if wishing to modify the furnishing composition, without having to replace the entire composition.
In addition, it has been found, surprisingly, that the above arrangement can best utilize the exhaust system of perimetrical type without incurring in loss or declines in the efficiency of the system. In fact, although the position of the motor 12 is not in line with the exhaust area or at any rate with the filters 6, the effect of the perimetrical exhaust makes it possible to have a pressure increase immediately upstream of the intake chamber 14 such as not to diminish the suction performance of the motor 12. In other words, outside air or fumes reach the perimetrical edge 10 of the first portion 2 with a rather low speed. There, however, thanks to the reduced cross section of the perimetrical edge and of the space inside the first portion 2 as well as the depression created therein by the suction of the motor 12 they are drawn back in and accelerated, and then slowed down again inside the intake chamber 14 due to the increased cross section.
The use of a traditional exhaust hood, that is with a large access surface to the filters, could not be efficient with the motor positioned on the side, but would make it necessary to have a limited exhaust area above the motor, with evident limits in the exhaust surface.
A further advantage of the present invention is to be able to use the furniture element 1 as a smoke exhaust hood in which the exhaust motor can be housed within one of its portions or it can be positioned in a remote position. In this latter case, the third portion 4 could be further reduced to leave an even larger aperture 5 and thus to allow the insertion of an element with a larger capacity.
Further advantages and modifications of the modular and multifunctional furniture element may be achieved by a technician skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the enclosed claims.
For example, the shapes described and shown in the figures may be modified according to particular requirements or preferences while maintaining the functionality of the individual pieces and portions.
The materials normally used to build the walls of the element are wood, metal, MDF, and in particular stainless steel.
Decorative elements such as inserts or glass frames, or mouldings of plastic material may be mounted in any position depending on requirements or preferences.

Claims

Box furniture element (1) or suction fumes hood which can be assembled and multifunctional, comprising a first portion (2) connected to a second portion (3), in correspondence of respective second ends (22, 32) of said first (2) and second (3) portion, by means of a third connecting portion (4) so that to create an aperture (5) suitable to receive a further furniture element, said third portion (4) allowing the housing of mechanical and/or electric components separated or isolated from said aperture (5).
Furniture element (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first portion (2) and said second portion (3) each comprises a first free end (21, 31) and said second ends (22, 32) are connected each other by means of said connecting third portion (4) so that said first (2) and second (3) portions result substantially parallel each other and said third portion (4) results substantially perpendicular respect to said first and second portions.
Furniture element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said aperture (5) is isolated with respect to said first (2), second (3) and/or third (4) portion.
Furniture element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first portion (2) comprises a peripheral edge (10) for creating a peripheral suction from outside to inside the element, upon which inside said first portion an air flow is accelerated and than decelerate within said third portion (4).
Furniture element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first portion (2) comprises lighting sources (8) and/or control commands (7) of said lighting sources and/or filters (6) for air or fumes that pass through the interior of said element (1).
Furniture element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said second portion (3) comprises a pipe for the exit of air or fumes that pass through the interior of said element entering before said first portion (2) and then said third portion (4).
Furniture element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said third portion (4) comprises suction means (12) of the air from said first portion (2).
Furniture element (1) according to claim 7, wherein said suction means (12) are positioned within a closed suction chamber (14).
Furniture element (1) according to claim 8, wherein said third portion (4) comprises a housing (16) separated and isolated from said suction housing (14) including electrical means (17, 18) to energy supply and control of said lighting sources and said suction means (12).
Furniture element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a further furniture element reversibly fixed into said aperture (5).