ES2379837T3 - Built-in longitudinal support element - Google Patents

Abstract

Longitudinal support element (10) recessed in an insert hole (22) of a kitchen countertop (20) for the support of an edge (32) of at least one recessed domestic appliance (30) of the cooking hob, fryer type, sink or the like and comprising: - two ends of longitudinal support element (101, 102), - an external longitudinal body (12) and - an internal longitudinal body (14) fitted with the external longitudinal body (12) in the longitudinal direction of the support element (D), being able to move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the support element (D), moving the two ends of the longitudinal support element (101, 102) away, characterized in that it also comprises an elastic adjustment means of length (16) between the external longitudinal body (12) and the internal longitudinal body (14) operable in compression in the longitudinal direction of the support element (D) for, in an integrated position (M1, M2) of the sop element orte, exert an insertion force in the insertion hole (22) in the direction away from the ends of the longitudinal support element (101, 102), and because it comprises at least one movable height regulating element (15) contactable with the at least one edge of the at least one domestic appliance (32) to regulate in height the edge position of the domestic appliance.

Description

Built-in longitudinal support element

5 Technical field

The present invention relates to a longitudinal support element according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

For the installation in the same hole of a kitchen countertop of several built-in household appliances of the type ceramic hob, fryer, sink or similar, it is necessary to install between each two devices a built-in longitudinal support element anchored each of its ends to the edge of the hole and arranged in parallel between both devices so that the edge of these rests in contact with the support element. This prevents the

15 devices are hanging in the hole and can be damaged, especially in the case of devices with glass plates.

In the market, there are household appliances that can be embedded in kitchen countertops of kitchen furniture that have different standard measures of depth, for example, about 45 mm and others of 50 mm, so that the hole depth measurement of the countertop in the kitchen furniture must correspond to the measure of the depth of the appliances that will be embedded in it. And to fit more than one device into a hole, its width must be equal to the sum of the insert widths of the devices to be embedded in it. To fit more than one device in a hole, the manufacturer of the appliance usually sells several types of support elements of the cantilever beam type with the fixed measurement corresponding to the depth of the devices to be

25 embedding or there are on the market longitudinal support elements type cantilever beam that are telescopic that can be adjusted to the depth of the hole.

With a telescopic support element, the user, when assembling the devices, must first have the telescopic support element in the precise place of the hole where they want to install and extend their ends until they touch the edge of the kitchen countertop hole and Fix it to him. The way to fix the ends of the support element to the kitchen countertop will depend on the type of kitchen furniture countertop that it is. The kitchen countertops are usually wooden, metal boards or they can be made of stone or granite. For the installation of these support elements on wooden countertops, the ends of the support elements may have screws that are screwed to the wood. In the case of stone or metal countertops, being more difficult to screw, the

35 ends of support elements can be glued with double layer tape and in addition, they can have tabs protruding from the end and resting on the surface of the kitchen countertop closest to the edge of the hole.

In the known type of telescopic longitudinal support elements, the user must extend both parts of the support element until touching the opposite edges of the countertop hole and then block the length of the support element by means of a locking element, for example a screw, which will prevent that the telescopic support element shrinks.

Once the support element is arranged in the hole of the kitchen furniture countertop, the domestic appliances are arranged one on each side of the support element, supporting one of its edges on it. It may happen that support

45 is not perfect and there is a groove seen between the two devices because the height of its edges is different or the depth of engagement is different. For this, longitudinal elements are known that cover the grooves between the devices that prevent the entry of debris through the groove while making it a beautifying effect.

Patent document DE 102004009606 A1 describes a longitudinal support element based on the generic concept that can be embedded for the lateral support of domestic appliances in an insert hole of a kitchen countertop of a kitchen cabinet. This cantilever beam support element described in the patent has a fixed length and is supported with tabs at its ends on the surface of the kitchen countertop closest to the edge of the hole. Once the longitudinal support element is installed, the two domestic appliances embedded in the hole one on each side of the support element are installed facing the edges of

55 each of the devices. To prevent an open slot between the two edges, it is covered and closed by a longitudinal profile that covers it.

Document DE 202 06 779 shows a unit of drawers, especially a unit for cutlery, adaptable to different drawer sizes and consisting of several separate trays, each delimiting a housing space. In this respect, one of the cuvettes can be compressed elastic.

Description of the invention

The invention is based on the task or the technical problem of a longitudinal support element embedded in a

65 fitting hole of a kitchen countertop that is easy to install in the hole, faster installation and more versatile.

This task is solved by a longitudinal support element according to claim 1.

A support element with these characteristics has the advantage of being installed in a fast, simple and reliable way, since it does not have to be manually locked by the user to the extent of the hole depth by 5 than the elastic adjustment element of Length does it automatically. Thus, a recessed longitudinal support element such as that of the invention can easily be installed in holes of different sizes and is pressed against the edges of the hole by the insertion force exerted by the elastic element. Longitudinal body means a type of bar with an open or closed profile, completely or partially. For example it can be a solid bar in one part and hollow in another where the internal longitudinal body can fit. Then the open part of the profile can receive the other longitudinal body. The ideal form of fitting between the two longitudinal bodies is a telescopic fitting that can be moved in both directions from a single direction. And the form of fit between the longitudinal bodies can be free or screwed tubular of circular section in which the internal longitudinal body is attached to the external longitudinal body rotatably. In this case the thread steak could be very thin so that the force exerted by the elastic element can push it in the longitudinal direction

15 of the support element.

It is also provided that the external longitudinal body has a first spring thrust point, the internal longitudinal body has a second spring thrust point and, the elastic length adjustment means is a spring, preferably a helical spring, with a first spring end in contact with the first spring thrust point and, a second spring end in contact with the second spring thrust point.

The spring thus arranged between both longitudinal bodies and in contact with each of them at a spring thrust point facilitates the construction of the support element. And also a coil spring type spring is very suitable for compression work. The elastic element could also be a sheet of elastic material that at

25 being compressed or stretched by the longitudinal bodies exert a force in the direction of the longitudinal support element. For example, a spring steel metal sheet that is anchored to the first and second spring thrust point and that when compressed the internal longitudinal body towards the external longitudinal body arches in tension exerting a decompression force.

For a secure placement of the spring element, the first spring thrust point and / or the second spring thrust point has a spring guide in the longitudinal direction of the support element and the spring is compressible at least in part in the spring guide by making that it does not dislodge from its position at the moment in which the user is not manipulating to place it in the hole of the kitchen furniture. The spring guide can be specific for the type of elastic element to be installed, for example, if it is a helical spring in this

35 may be in contact with the bottom of a hole with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the spring and when compressed the chips of the coil spring are introduced into the hole as a guide. Or for a helical spring it is also possible that it is a pivot that is born at the point of spring thrust and that extends inside the smaller diameter of the helical spring.

It is also provided that the support element comprises a connecting guide between the external longitudinal body and the internal longitudinal body for relative displacement between them in the longitudinal direction of the support element. Thus both bodies are correctly guided in the longitudinal direction of operation of the support element. The connecting guide can either be a screw thread for a screw connection between the longitudinal bodies or a simple inlay in one of the bodies that fits into another inlay or groove in the other

45 body

And an expansion stop is also provided in the connecting guide to limit the maximum length of the support element which causes the internal and external longitudinal bodies to remain attached in the disassembled opposition of the support element.

On the other hand, it is provided that the external longitudinal body has a U-shaped cross section where the internal longitudinal body is housed, the internal longitudinal body has a U-shaped cross section defining a longitudinal channel next to the external longitudinal body, and, in the insertion position, the longitudinal channel of the support element is pluggable by a support cover on which at least one edge of the support is supported.

55 minus a household appliance. This configuration is very advantageous in the case of manufacturing the longitudinal bodies as high strength metal profiles. The U-shaped profile makes it easy to fit a longitudinal body into another and to be able to introduce into the longitudinal channel formed by the elastic element and if necessary the spring thrust point. In order to make the support on the support element of the edge of the built-in domestic appliance more stable, the longitudinal channel defined by the bodies can be covered at least in part by a support cover which is on which the edge of the domestic appliance is actually to be supported. .

Another feature added to the support element is that at least one of the ends of the support element has at least one recessed tongue on the surface of the kitchen countertop near the edge of the hole. Thus the weight that will be able to support the support element embedded in the fitting hole of the kitchen countertop 65 will be much greater and even with the passage of time it will not dislocate from its position. In the event that the ends of the support element have been screwed to the edge of the hole, these elevations do not

they will be necessary and can be folded into the longitudinal channel or cut so that they do not contact the domestic appliance.

Another feature added to the support element is that it is provided that the at least one regulatory element of

5 height is movable connected in the external longitudinal body and / or in the internal longitudinal body. When positioning two different domestic appliances next to each other, it may be that due to the shape of the support edge of one of them, it does not reach support on the support element. Then with a height regulating element in the support element, the edge of the domestic appliance can be raised in height and equal to the height of the domestic appliance arranged on its side.

It is provided that the height regulating element is movably connected to the internal longitudinal body in the closed lower part of the U-shaped profile and is contactable with the support cover and by this, is contactable with the at least one edge of the at least one apparatus domestic. As the support cover is independent of the bodies of the support element, it can be contacted by the height regulating element and more homogeneously contact

15 the edge of the household appliance.

The height regulating element can be a screw with a fine thread for a more precise adjustment of the height at which the apparatus is to be raised. Although other types of regulating elements can be provided such as inseparable plastic blocks with zipper steps.

In order to make a much finer adjustment of the height of the domestic appliance at each of its ends it is provided that the support element comprises at least one regulatory element close to each of its two ends. With a height regulating element in the center of the support element it would be sufficient to lift the domestic appliance but with two height regulating elements arranged one at each end of the support element it may be raised

25 the domestic appliance so that each end thereof can be perfectly adjusted to such height as the adjacent domestic appliance.

Brief description of the drawings

They show:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of a kitchen cabinet with an insert hole for three independent household appliances and with two support elements according to the invention;

35 Fig. 2 an exploded view of a support element with all its elements;

Fig. 3 a perspective view of one end of the support element with the spring element, the connecting guide and the support tabs;

Fig. 4 a perspective view of one end of the support element with the height regulating element and the support tabs;

Fig. 5 a cross section of the support element at the height of the connecting guide with a height adjustable actuator; 45 Fig. 6 a longitudinal section of one of the ends of the embedded support element where the connecting guide, the elastic element and a height regulating element are located.

Representation of preferred embodiments

A perspective view of a kitchen cabinet with a kitchen countertop 20 with an insert hole 22 is shown in Figure 1. Two support elements 10 are embedded in the edge of the insertion hole 23 separating the socket 22 in three independent gaps. The embedded support elements have a length M.

55 Also shown in FIG. 1 are two unencrusted support elements with a maximum length of support element N from one end of the support element 101 to another end of the support element 102. On these three household appliances 30 are shown before being installed in the three holes defined by the two support elements in the insertion hole 22 of the kitchen countertop 20.

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a support element 10. The three main parts of the support element, the internal longitudinal body 14, the external longitudinal body 12 and the support cover are made of stamped and stamped sheet metal. In the figure you can see the external longitudinal body 12 made as a U profile that at its end connectable with the kitchen furniture 102 is closed and has two 65 tabs 103 supported on the surface of the kitchen countertop. At the opposite end of the external longitudinal body 12, it is open and has an outward drawing of its profile defining the expansion stop 182 of the connecting guide 18 that is present on the side of the internal longitudinal body 14 fitting with it and ensuring this Mounting mode The connecting guide allows the movement between the two bodies 12, 14 in the longitudinal direction of the support element D to a maximum length L. The internal longitudinal body 14 is also configured as a closed U-profile at its two ends and has two tabs 103 at its end 5 connectable with the kitchen cabinet 101, and at its other end it fits inside the external longitudinal body 12. It is at that end where the internal longitudinal body has the second spring thrust point 142 from which the track stands out as a cylinder spring 17 and on it rests the elastic means for adjusting length 16 with its second spring end 164. The external longitudinal body 12 has the first spring thrust point 122, as a cubic shaped piece that is fixed screwed into the longitudinal channel 11 of the support element and on which the

10 first spring end 162 of the elastic length adjustment means 16. On the lower part of the external longitudinal body 12 and at each end of the latter the height regulating elements 15 are screwed. On the lower part of the internal longitudinal body 14 there is an open window to give way to the height regulating elements that cross the lower part of the external longitudinal body. Once the support element is embedded in the hole of the kitchen furniture of the longitudinal channel 11, it will be covered with the support cover 13.

15 Figure 3 shows a perspective of the end 102 of the support element in the part of the internal longitudinal body 14 embedded in the hole 23 of the kitchen worktop 20. On the surface of the kitchen worktop 24 are arranged the support tabs 103 which they extend from it to the end of the support element 102 which in this case is also screwed to the edge of the kitchen countertop for more security. The face is also seen

20 lower than the U of the profile a window through which the height regulating elements 15 pass. In the overlapping area between both longitudinal bodies 12,14 the connecting guide 18 with its expansion stop 182 is arranged. At the limit of the Internal longitudinal body is the second spring thrust point 142 and in contact therewith the second spring end 164 from which the spring member 16 extends to the first spring thrust point 162 which contacts the first spring thrust point 122 of the external longitudinal body. Located

25 within the longitudinal channel 11 the elastic length adjusting element 16 is protected and exerts an insertion force in the longitudinal direction of the support element D of its end 102 against the edge of the insertion hole 23.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the end 101 of the support element in the body part

30 external longitudinal 12 embedded in the edge of the hole 23 of the kitchen countertop 20. On the surface of the kitchen countertop 24 are arranged the support tabs 103 extending therefrom to the end of the support element 101 which in this case also It is screwed to the edge of the kitchen countertop for more safety. The height regulating elements 15 screwed to the underside of the U of the body profile are also seen.

35 Figure 5 shows a cross section of the support element 10 at the height of the connector guide 18 in the direction of the end of the support element 102 belonging to the internal longitudinal body 14 which in this case is also screwed to the edge of the kitchen countertop 23 From this end 102 extend the tabs 103 that rest on the surface 24 of the kitchen countertop of the kitchen cabinet. On each side of the support element

40 a domestic appliance 30 is arranged and its edges 32 rest on its support cover 13. In the figure, two height regulating elements 15 are also seen through the window of the internal longitudinal body 14, the external longitudinal body 12. One of the elements height regulators 15 is actuated by raising the support cover 13 and it is pushing one of the domestic appliances 30 to match the depth of engagement with the adjacent domestic appliance.

45 Figure 6 shows a cross section of the support element 10 in the part of the internal longitudinal body 14 embedded in the hole 23 of the kitchen worktop 20. The connecting guide 18 can be seen with the expansion stop 182 released. The elastic means for adjusting length 16 in this case is a coil spring. The part of the first spring end 162 is inserted in a spring guide 17 'in the form of a blind hole made in the first

50 spring thrust point 122 which is fixed in a non-movable manner in the internal longitudinal body. The second spring end 164 contacts the second spring thrust point 142 from which the spring guide 17 extends fixing the position of the spring 16 within the longitudinal channel 11. On the longitudinal channel 11 the support cover 13 is arranged closing it and on it supports the edge 32 of the domestic appliance 30. A screw-shaped height adjusting element 15 crosses the lower part of the external longitudinal body 12 through a window

55 made in the body object of the internal 14 and that contacts the support cover 13 to raise the domestic appliance 30.

Claims (7)

1. Longitudinal support element (10) recessed in a socket (22) of a kitchen worktop (20) for the support of an edge (32) of at least one built-in domestic appliance (30) of the type hob, fryer, sink or the like and comprising:

-

two ends of the longitudinal support element (101, 102), an external longitudinal body (12) and an internal longitudinal body (14) fitted with the external longitudinal body (12) in the longitudinal direction of the

10 support element (D), being able to move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the support element (D), moving the two ends of the longitudinal support element (101, 102) away or closer, characterized by that It also comprises an elastic means for adjusting length (16) between the external longitudinal body (12) and the internal longitudinal body (14) which can be compressed in the longitudinal direction of the support element (D) for, in a 15 insertion position (M1, M2) of the support element, exert an insertion force in the insertion hole (22) in the direction away from the ends of the longitudinal support element (101, 102), and why it comprises at least a movable height regulating element (15) contactable with the at least one edge of the at least one domestic appliance (32) to regulate in height the edge position of the domestic appliance. Support element according to claim 1, characterized in that the external longitudinal body (12) has a first spring thrust point (122), the internal longitudinal body (14) has a second spring thrust point (142) and, the elastic length adjustment means (16) is a spring, preferably a helical spring, with a first spring end (162) in contact with the first spring thrust point (122) and, a second spring end (164) in contact with the second point 25 spring thrust (142). 3. Support element according to claim 2, characterized in that the first spring thrust point (122) and / or the second spring thrust point (142) has a spring guide (17,17 ') in the longitudinal direction of the element support (D) and the spring (16) is compressible at least in part in the 30 spring guide (17). 4. Support element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a connecting guide (18) between the external longitudinal body (12) and the internal longitudinal body (14) for the relative displacement between them in the longitudinal direction of the support element (D). 5. Support element according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting guide (18) has an expansion stop (182) to limit the maximum length of the support element (E) in an unencased position of the support element (10). Support element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external longitudinal body (12) has a U-shaped cross section where the internal longitudinal body (14) is housed, the internal longitudinal body (14) ) has a U-shaped cross section defining next to the U-shaped cross section of the external longitudinal body (12) a longitudinal channel (11) and, 45 in the insertion position (M1, M2), the longitudinal channel (11) of the support element (10), is coverable by a support cover (13) on which at least one edge of at least one household appliance ( 32). 7. Support element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of The ends of the support element (101,102) have at least one tongue (103) resting on the surface of the kitchen worktop (24) near the edge of the hole (23). 8. Support element according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the height regulating element (15) movable is connected to the external longitudinal body (12) and / or the internal longitudinal body (14) in the part closed from the U and is contactable with the support cover (13) and by this, it is contactable with at least one edge of at least 55 a domestic appliance (32). 9. Support element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height regulating element (15) is a screw. 10. Support element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one height regulating element (15) close to each of its two ends (101,102).