GB2169492A

GB2169492A - Corner unit and a drawer therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2169492A
Application number: GB08600191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Theo Bladen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-01-14
Filing date: 1986-01-06
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: AU5185186A; GB8600191D0

Abstract

A corner unit 10 for a kitchen cupboard has one or more plastics sliding drawers extending into the corner 24. The corner unit has two doors 13, 14, one on each leg, hinged away from the corner at 16, 17 to allow the drawer(s) to be slid out of the corner. Each drawer has a notched outer end 25 and a pointed inner end 30 to fit into the corner when the doors are closed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Corner unit and a drawertherefor This invention relates to furniture and is concerned with a corner unit typically for built in fu rniture where storage is required. For example, kitchen cupboards usually extend along two walls meeting in a corner.

Existing corner units are not satisfactory, as the space within the corner is difficult to use, and in some cases is blanked off and thus wasted.

There is a needforan improved corner unit.

It is an object ofthis invention to go some way towards meeting the above mentioned need, in providing an improved corner unit, or one which will at least provide the publicwith a useful choice.

According to one aspect ofthe invention there is provided a drawerfora corner unit, said drawer having a pair of substantially parallel side edges and a notched outermost edge to correspond with the exteriorcornerangle of said corner unit.

According to another aspect ofthe invention there is provided a corner unitfora kitchen or the like, including a pair of cupboards meeting ata corner, and at least one drawer extending into said corner and capable of extending from said unit.

Preferably, the innermost edge ofthe drawer extends towards a point, so as to correspond with the innermost angle ofthe corner.

Preferably, the outermost edge of the drawer is notched to coincide with the outline ofthe exterior angle ofthe corner.

Other aspects of this invention, which will be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, which is given byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation ofthe corner unit along arrow A.

Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view ofthe corner unit.

Figure3illustratesthedrawslidedetail.

Figure 4 illustrates a drawer in perspective, as it extends from the unit.

The example in the drawings will be illustrated and described with reference to a right angle corner unit.

However, it will be appreciated thatthe invention is applicable to corner units of differeing angles, depending upon the geometry ofthe room in which the unit is to be installed.

Acorner unit 10 has faces 11 and 12 at right angles to one another and thus capable of butting against otherfurniture units.

Preferably, the corner unit has a pair of doors 1 3,1 4 hinged at the outermost front edges ofthe unit 16, 17.

The doors 13, 14 are shown in the open position in Figure 2.

The illustrated unit has a pair of drawers 20, 21 each drawer being mounted on a pair of slides 22, 23, on either side thereof.

The drawers are arranged to extend into the corner so asto substantially fill the corner space 24. This is achieved by shaping the innermost edges ofthe drawer in the form of a point, to coincide with the triangular corner region.

Itwill beapparentfrom Figure2,thatwith a right angled corner unit, the drawer extends at 45" the outer-faces 11 and 12.

Preferably the outer edge 25 ofthe drawer is notched as shown in Figure 2,so that itfits within and corresponds to the outer edge ofthe corner unit when the doors are closed.

The corner unit may be provided with a toe rail 27, and the drawers may be provided with sides of any convenient height.

The broken lines in Figure 2 illustrate the position of the drawer as it is pulled outfrom its closed position to its most extended position, in which the inner edge ofthe drawer is in position 30, and when pushed home the inner edge of the drawerwhich is position 31.

Itwill be apparentfrom Figure 2thattriangular spaces 33,34 are left on either side ofthe drawer. As the drawer is conveniently mounted on a flat shelf 36, and the sides ofthe drawer are relatively shallow in relation to the height ofthe cupboard it will be appreciated that these spaces 33 and 34 can be readily used as they are easily accessible when either door is opened.

The runners 22 and 23 are conveniently arranged so as to be screwed to the shelf 36, allowing the drawer to extend approximately two thirds of its length, so thatthe drawer is relatively stable when fully extended. If desired, the drawer can be detachable from the runners, and may utilise any conventional runner system, and if required, may use a double extension in place ofthe single extension illustrated.

The runner illustrated in Figure 3 has rollers 40,41 with one portion 42 connected to the underside of the drawer 20 and the other portion 43 to the shelf 31. The drawer may be made of any convenient material. The illustrated drawer is preferably moulded in one piece from polyurethane, as this provides a smooth and hygenicfinish suitable for kitchens.

Alternatively it can be readily manufactured by mitring the corners ofthe sides and attaching them together, by appropriate securing means, e.g. hot melt adhesive. In such a case, preferred material for kitchen units is plastic, preferably high density styrene which can be readily cut to size and secured by hot melt adhesive.

The corner unit is not limited to kitchen furniture. In the case of office furniture it may be desirable to provide a series of drawers one above another, withoutthe need for doors on the unit. In other applications, the doors may not be hinged, but may be sliding doors sliding away from the corner.

Various other alterations or modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of this invention as exemplified by the follow-

ing claims.

CLAIMS 1. A drawerfor a corner unit, said drawer having a pair of substantially parallel side edges and a notched outermost edge to correspond with the exterior corner angle of said corner unit.

2. A drawer for a corner unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drawer has a pointed innermost edge capable of fitting within the innermostangle of said

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Corner unit and a drawertherefor This invention relates to furniture and is concerned with a corner unit typically for built in fu rniture where storage is required. For example, kitchen cupboards usually extend along two walls meeting in a corner. Existing corner units are not satisfactory, as the space within the corner is difficult to use, and in some cases is blanked off and thus wasted. There is a needforan improved corner unit. It is an object ofthis invention to go some way towards meeting the above mentioned need, in providing an improved corner unit, or one which will at least provide the publicwith a useful choice. According to one aspect ofthe invention there is provided a drawerfora corner unit, said drawer having a pair of substantially parallel side edges and a notched outermost edge to correspond with the exteriorcornerangle of said corner unit. According to another aspect ofthe invention there is provided a corner unitfora kitchen or the like, including a pair of cupboards meeting ata corner, and at least one drawer extending into said corner and capable of extending from said unit. Preferably, the innermost edge ofthe drawer extends towards a point, so as to correspond with the innermost angle ofthe corner. Preferably, the outermost edge of the drawer is notched to coincide with the outline ofthe exterior angle ofthe corner. Other aspects of this invention, which will be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, which is given byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation ofthe corner unit along arrow A. Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view ofthe corner unit. Figure3illustratesthedrawslidedetail. Figure 4 illustrates a drawer in perspective, as it extends from the unit. The example in the drawings will be illustrated and described with reference to a right angle corner unit. However, it will be appreciated thatthe invention is applicable to corner units of differeing angles, depending upon the geometry ofthe room in which the unit is to be installed. Acorner unit 10 has faces 11 and 12 at right angles to one another and thus capable of butting against otherfurniture units. Preferably, the corner unit has a pair of doors 1 3,1 4 hinged at the outermost front edges ofthe unit 16, 17. The doors 13, 14 are shown in the open position in Figure 2. The illustrated unit has a pair of drawers 20, 21 each drawer being mounted on a pair of slides 22, 23, on either side thereof. The drawers are arranged to extend into the corner so asto substantially fill the corner space 24. This is achieved by shaping the innermost edges ofthe drawer in the form of a point, to coincide with the triangular corner region. Itwill beapparentfrom Figure2,thatwith a right angled corner unit, the drawer extends at 45" the outer-faces 11 and 12. Preferably the outer edge 25 ofthe drawer is notched as shown in Figure 2,so that itfits within and corresponds to the outer edge ofthe corner unit when the doors are closed. The corner unit may be provided with a toe rail 27, and the drawers may be provided with sides of any convenient height. The broken lines in Figure 2 illustrate the position of the drawer as it is pulled outfrom its closed position to its most extended position, in which the inner edge ofthe drawer is in position 30, and when pushed home the inner edge of the drawerwhich is position 31. Itwill be apparentfrom Figure 2thattriangular spaces 33,34 are left on either side ofthe drawer. As the drawer is conveniently mounted on a flat shelf 36, and the sides ofthe drawer are relatively shallow in relation to the height ofthe cupboard it will be appreciated that these spaces 33 and 34 can be readily used as they are easily accessible when either door is opened. The runners 22 and 23 are conveniently arranged so as to be screwed to the shelf 36, allowing the drawer to extend approximately two thirds of its length, so thatthe drawer is relatively stable when fully extended. If desired, the drawer can be detachable from the runners, and may utilise any conventional runner system, and if required, may use a double extension in place ofthe single extension illustrated. The runner illustrated in Figure 3 has rollers 40,41 with one portion 42 connected to the underside of the drawer 20 and the other portion 43 to the shelf 31. The drawer may be made of any convenient material. The illustrated drawer is preferably moulded in one piece from polyurethane, as this provides a smooth and hygenicfinish suitable for kitchens. Alternatively it can be readily manufactured by mitring the corners ofthe sides and attaching them together, by appropriate securing means, e.g. hot melt adhesive. In such a case, preferred material for kitchen units is plastic, preferably high density styrene which can be readily cut to size and secured by hot melt adhesive. The corner unit is not limited to kitchen furniture. In the case of office furniture it may be desirable to provide a series of drawers one above another, withoutthe need for doors on the unit. In other applications, the doors may not be hinged, but may be sliding doors sliding away from the corner. Various other alterations or modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of this invention as exemplified by the follow- ing claims. CLAIMS

1. A drawerfor a corner unit, said drawer having a pair of substantially parallel side edges and a notched outermost edge to correspond with the exterior corner angle of said corner unit.

2. A drawer for a corner unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drawer has a pointed innermost edge capable of fitting within the innermostangle of said corner unit.

3. A drawerfor a corner unit, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drawer is provided with raised peripheral edges and the drawer is mouldedfrom a plastics material.

4. A corner unitfor a kitchen orthe like, including a pair of cupboards meeting atacorner, and at least one drawer extending into said corner and capable of extending from said unit.

5. A corner unitfora kitchen orthe like, as claimed in claim 4,wherein said unit has a door or doors which can be moved between a position enclosing the corner and an open position giving access to the cornerto allow said at least one drawerto extend from said corner.

6. A cornerunitfor a kitchen orthe like, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said drawer has an innermost edge extending towards a point so asto correspond with the innermostangle of said corner unit.

7. A corner unitfor a kitchen orthe like, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said outermost edge of the drawer is notched to coincide with the outline ofthe exterior angle of said corner unit.

8. A drawerfor a corner unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure4ofthe accompanying drawings.

9. A corner unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.