GB2536616A

GB2536616A - Vanity unit

Info

Publication number: GB2536616A
Application number: GB1503066.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harrison John; Harrison Robert
Original assignee: CAVALIER MARKETING Ltd
Current assignee: CAVALIER MARKETING Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-24
Filing date: 2015-02-24
Publication date: 2016-09-28
Also published as: GB201503066D0

Abstract

A vanity unit 10 comprises a wash basin 16 mounted on top of a supporting frame 2. A removable drawer 19 is inserted into the frame in either an inverted configuration or non-inverted configuration. In the inverted configuration, a load bearing step 22 is able to support the weight of a child to allow then to reach the wash basin unaided. In the non-inverted configuration the drawer acts as a storage compartment. The drawer may run on an upper rail 36 using the running rail 24 in the inverted configuration, and on a lower rail 38 and auxiliary rail 34 in the non-inverted configuration.

Description

Vanity Unit The present invention relates to a vanity unit.

Conventional vanity units used in bathrooms are generally a standard height so that the wash basin is within easy reach of an adult. However it is difficult for young children to use the wash basin unaided because they are not tall enough to reach the taps. This means that simple tasks such as teeth brushing become challenging and the child experiences discomfort caused by overstretching. Moreover it is a constant challenge to keep the area surrounding the wash basin clean because children are unable to reach the wash basin to perform simple tasks conveniently.

To assist a child to reach the taps, there are available small steps which are lightweight and readily manoeuvrable to a convenient position generally in front of the vanity unit. However these are easily misplaced, consume valuable space and are prone to slippage on tiled floors.

The present invention seeks to improve a vanity unit by integrating a removable drawer with a child step without compromising its storage capabilities.

Thus viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides a vanity unity comprising: a supporting frame; a wash basin mounted atop the supporting frame; a removable drawer defining a storage compartment which is slidably insertable or inserted into the supporting frame in a non-inverted configuration or an inverted configuration, wherein the removable drawer comprises: a base and a load-bearing step which is substantially parallel to and vertically spaced apart from the base external to the storage compartment, wherein in the non-inverted configuration, the storage compartment is uppermost for storage and wherein in the inverted configuration, the load-bearing step is uppermost and the removable drawer is floor-standing.

In accordance with the present invention in the inverted configuration, a child may mount the load-bearing step to reach the wash basin unaided. There may be little or no discomfort from overstretching and a sense of independence for the child. Furthermore there may be an associated improvement in cleanliness around the wash basin. As the child grows older and there is increased ability to reach the wash basin, the removable drawer may be slidably removed, inverted and slidably re-inserted into the supporting frame in the non-inverted configuration to be used for storage.

Typically the wash basin is mounted sunkenly atop the supporting frame (eg on a top edge of the supporting frame.) The supporting frame may include a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart upright side walls which are floor-standing. The wash basin may be mounted on a top edge of each of the upright side walls. A front section of the supporting frame may include a pair of substantially coplanar adjacent doors. The doors may be mounted hingedly on or near to a respective front edge of the pair of upright side walls. An interior shelf may form the base of a storage compartment concealed behind the doors.

In a preferred embodiment, an upper running rail and a lower running rail which is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the upper running rail are fixed interiorly to each of the pair of upright side walls. The respective upper running rails may be at a substantially common height. The respective lower running rails may be at a substantially common height.

The removable drawer may be slidably inserted into the supporting frame at or near to the floor. For example, the removable drawer may be slidably inserted into a space between a bottom edge of the doors and the floor.

In a preferred embodiment, the removable drawer includes a front wall and a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart lateral walls extending rearwardly from an inner surface of the front wall (eg from peripheral edges of the inner surface of the front wall). Preferably the lateral walls have a vertical length which is less than a vertical length of the front wall.

In a preferred embodiment, an auxiliary running rail is mounted exteriorly on each of the lateral walls. The respective auxiliary running rails may be mounted at a substantially common height (eg at or near to a peripheral edge of the lateral wall). An upright rear wall may extend between the peripheral edges of an inner surface of the lateral walls The upright rear wall may be parallel to the front wall.

The load bearing step may extend from the inner surface of the front wall. The load bearing step may be attached or fastened to the inner surface of the front wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the load bearing step comprises a load bearing plate and a pair of lateral running rails positioned at opposing edges of the load bearing plate. The lateral running rail may be mounted in a substantially equidistantly spaced apart fashion from the running rail.

In the inverted configuration, an edge of the front wall is preferably floor-standing. In the inverted configuration, the pair of lateral running rails are preferably slidably engaged with the respective upper running rails. Preferably the auxiliary running rails are free.

In a preferred embodiment, the removable drawer is slidably removable from the supporting frame by selective lifting away from the supporting frame. For example, the lifting action may serve to disengage the lateral running rails from the respective upper running rails.

In the non-inverted configuration, the auxiliary running rails are preferably slidably engaged with the respective lower running rails. Preferably the pair of lateral running rails are free.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vanity unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the vanity unit shown in Figure 1 in which a removable drawer is shown in a first orientation; Figure 3 is a further perspective view of the vanity unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the removable drawer is shown removed from a supporting frame of the vanity unit; and Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the vanity unit shown in Figure 1, 2 and 3, in which the removable drawer is shown in a second orientation.

With reference primarily to Figure I, a vanity unit (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a wash basin (16) mounted in a sunken fashion on a top edge of a floor-standing supporting frame (2). The supporting frame (2) includes a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart rectangular upright side walls (12a, 12b) which extend substantially vertically upwards from the floor. The wash basin (16) is mounted on a top edge of the pair of side walls (12a, 12b). A front section of the supporting frame (2) comprises a pair of substantially coplanar adjacent doors (18a, 18b). Each of the doors (18a, 18b) is attached by a hinge to a respective front edge of the pair of side walls (12a, 12b) and includes a handle (17a, 17b) attached to a front surface. The handles (17a, 17b) are used to open the doors (18a, 18b) outwardly from the centre of the front section of the supporting frame (2).

The pair of side walls (12a, 12b) are equal in size. Each of the pair of side walls (12a, 12b) is equipped internally with an upper running rail (36) spaced apart and substantially parallel to a lower running rail (38) (see Figure 3). The upper and lower running rails (36, 38) are positioned horizontally across an inner surface of the side walls (12a, 12b). Above the running rails (36, 38), a rectangular shelf (not shown) extends horizontally between and is connected to the inner surfaces of the side walls (12a, 12b). The shelf provides stability and rigidity to the supporting frame (2) and forms the base of a storage compartment concealed within the vanity unit (10) behind the doors (18a, 18b).

A removable drawer (19) is inserted slidably into the supporting frame (2) and occupies the space between a bottom edge of the doors (18a, 18b) and the floor. The removable drawer (19) comprises a handle (20) on an outer surface of a front wall (14) which can be used to selectively open, close and remove the removable drawer (19). Extending rearwardly from opposing edges of an inner surface of the front wall (14) are a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart rectangular upright lateral walls (28a, 28b). The lateral walls (28a, 28b) are equal in size and have a vertical length which is less than a vertical length of the front wall (14). An auxiliary running rail (34) is positioned at the peripheral edge of each of the lateral walls (28a, 28b). A rectangular upright back wall (31) extends between the outer edges of an inner surface of the lateral walls (28a, 28b) and is parallel to the front wall (14). The back wall (31) has an equal vertical length to the lateral walls (28a, 28b). A rectangular base (26) is attached to a bottom edge of the lateral walls (28a, 28b) and back wall (31). The front wall (14), lateral walls (28a, 28b) and base (26) form a storage compartment of the removable drawer (19).

A step (22) is attached to the inner surface of the front wall (14) and extends rearwardly in parallel to and spaced apart from the base (26). The step (22) comprises a load bearing plate which is capable of bearing the weight of a child and a pair of parallel lateral running rails (24) positioned at opposing edges of the load bearing plate. The lateral running rails (24) are substantially parallel to the auxiliary running rails (34). The load bearing plate covers substantially the same surface area as the base (26).

To perform its various functions, the removable drawer (19) is selectively slidably inserted into the supporting frame (2) below the doors (18a, 18b). In a first orientation shown in Figure 2, the removable drawer (19) is partially closed with the step (22) oriented uppermost and the storage compartment facing the floor (see Figure 3). In the first orientation, an edge of the front wall (14) is floor-standing and a child can step onto the load-bearing plate to reach into the wash basin (16). In order to adopt this first orientation, the lateral running rails (24) of the step (22) are aligned with the upper running rails (36) of the supporting frame (2). Once the various running rails are aligned, the removable drawer (19) is slidably inserted into the supporting frame (2) by use of the handle (20) to adopt the first orientation. When the step (22) is no longer required, the removable drawer (19) can be closed fully using the handle (20).

In a second orientation of the removable drawer (19) shown in Figure 4, the removable drawer (19) is a useful storage compartment. To move from the first to the second orientation, the removable drawer (19) is slidably refracted from the supporting frame (2) using the handle (20) and lifted upwards and away from the supporting frame (2). The lifting action serves to release the lateral running rails (24) of the step (22) from the upper running rails (36). Once the removable drawer (19) is free from the supporting frame (2), the user can rotate it by 180° around its horizontal axis so that the storage compartment is facing upwards and the step (22) is oriented lowermost (see Figure 3). The auxiliary running rails (34) of the removable drawer (19) are then aligned with the lower running rails (38) of the supporting frame (2). By using the handle (20) and supporting the weight of the removable drawer (19), the user is then able to insert the removable drawer (19) into the supporting frame (2) below the doors (18a, 18b). The user is able to gain access to the storage compartment by pulling open the removable drawer (19) using the handle (20).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vanity unity comprising: a supporting frame; a wash basin mounted atop the supporting frame; a removable drawer defining a storage compartment which is slidably insertable or inserted into the supporting frame in a non-inverted configuration or an inverted configuration, wherein the removable drawer comprises: a base and a load-bearing step which is substantially parallel to and vertically spaced apart from the base external to the storage compartment, wherein in the non-inverted configuration, the storage compartment is uppermost for storage and wherein in the inverted configuration, the load-bearing step is uppermost and the removable drawer is floor-standing.
2. A vanity unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the supporting frame includes a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart upright side walls which are floor-standing, wherein an upper running rail and a lower running rail which is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the upper running rail are fixed interiorly to each of the pair of upright side walls.
3. A vanity unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the removable drawer includes a front wall and a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart lateral walls extending rearwardly from an inner surface of the front wall.
4. A vanity unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lateral walls have a vertical length which is less than a vertical length of the front wall.
5. A vanity unit as claimed in either of claims 3 or 4 further comprising an auxiliary running rail mounted exteriorly on each of the lateral walls.
6. A vanity unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 wherein in the inverted configuration, an edge of the front wall is floor-standing.
7. A vanity unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the load bearing step comprises a load bearing plate and a pair of lateral running rails positioned at opposing edges of the load bearing plate.
8. A vanity unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 wherein in the inverted configuration, the pair of lateral running rails are slidably engaged with the respective upper running rails.
9. A vanity unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8 wherein in the inverted configuration, the auxiliary running rails are free.
10. A vanity unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 9 wherein in the non-inverted configuration, the auxiliary running rails are slidably engaged with the respective lower running rails.
11. A vanity unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 10 wherein in the non-inverted configuration, the pair of lateral running rails are free.
12. A vanity unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the removable drawer is slidably removable from the supporting frame by selective lifting away from the supporting frame.