GB2540131A

GB2540131A - Connecting floor-standing kitchen units in a row

Info

Publication number: GB2540131A
Application number: GB1511389.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mcguinness Steven; James Iain
Original assignee: AFE Group Ltd
Current assignee: AFE Group Ltd
Priority date: 2015-06-29
Filing date: 2015-06-29
Publication date: 2017-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-29
Also published as: GB201511389D0; GB2540131B

Abstract

A method and device for connecting first and second kitchen units in a row, one of the units comprising a rotatable connector (9) and the other comprising a connecting portion (8E); the first unit can be moved alongside the second unit in a direction that causes the rotatable connector (9) to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion (8E) where it can be attached. The units can be disconnected by detaching the rotatable connector (9) from the connecting portion (8E) and moving the units in a direction that causes the rotatable connector (9) to rotate out of alignment with the connecting portion (8E). The connector can be attached to the connecting portion via a bolt (10) that is positioned through apertures (11 and 12). The worktops (2E and 3E) of the units can form one continuous worktop surface when the units are connected in a row.

Description

CONNECTING FLOOR-STANDING KITCHEN UNITS IN A ROW Field of the invention

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for connecting floor-standing kitchen units.

Background to the invention

Commercial catering environments such as kitchens are typically furnished using modular floor-standing kitchen units which are connectable to form a suite of kitchen furniture and appliances. Such connectable floor-standing kitchen units can include furniture used for food or equipment storage (such as cupboards, shelves or trolleys), equipment or appliances used in the preparation or cooking of food (such as ovens, microwaves, steamers or hobs) and equipment or appliances used for cleaning purposes (such as dishwashers or sinks).

Existing methods for connecting such kitchen units typically involve bolting the units together in multiple places, at the top and bottom, front and rear, of each of the units, in order to effectively fix the positions of the units relatives to one another and to achieve a near seamless line or linked run of units. The units must typically be bolted together tightly so as to ensure a minimum width of gap between adjacent units (to facilitate cleaning and to prevent food and other waste from falling between units). Installing such units is, therefore, both an awkward and a labour intensive task, as an engineer must access the rear of each unit during installation to connect electricity, water or fuel outputs and to bolt the units together at the rear, and said engineer must also tighten many bolts. Removing such kitchen units, once already installed, for servicing, replacement, or for access to water, gas or electrical connections, is also a troublesome and lengthy task since the process for installation must be reversed. Removing a unit from a tightly suited row of units is particularly difficult, as is reinstalling said unit, or installing a replacement unit, into a gap between two units in a suited row. The technical challenge is compounded by the fact that a row of units is typically fitted against a wall.

It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a method or mechanism to facilitate replacing a floor-standing kitchen unit between two other units in a row or suited run of units.

Summary of the invention A first aspect of the invention provides for a method of connecting first and second floor-standing kitchen units in a row, one of the first and second units comprising a rotatable connector, the other comprising a connecting portion, the method comprising: positioning the first and second units adjacent to one another in a first position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are spaced apart; moving the first unit relative to the second unit to a second position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are closer together than in said first position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion; and attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion, thereby connecting the first and second units in a row.

Moving said first unit to said second position causes said rotatable connector to rotate into alignment with said connecting portion, thereby allowing the first and second floor-standing kitchen units to be connected by attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion. The rotatable connector is in alignment with the connecting portion when it is engaged with or in a position to be attached to, the connecting portion, for example the rotatable connector may engage with a latch of the connecting portion, or an aperture in the rotatable connector may align with an aperture in the connecting portion. It may be that, in rotating into alignment with the connecting portion, a part of the rotatable connector extends out of the unit comprising the rotatable connector and into the unit comprising the connecting portion, possibly into the connecting portion itself.

It will be understood that a floor-standing kitchen unit is typically a modular item of (commercial) kitchen furniture or equipment. For example, two or more floor-standing kitchen units are typically connectable (suitable) in a row to form a connected suite of kitchen units. This allows a (commercial) kitchen or catering environment to be tailored to suit the needs of the user in terms of items of furniture or equipment present, placement of said furniture and equipment, and configuration of said furniture and equipment. Connecting two or more floor-standing kitchen units in a row to form a suite also allows for more efficient and effective cleaning of said units, as it can minimise or eliminate gaps between adjacent units in which food waste or dirt may become trapped. A floor-standing kitchen unit typically comprises an item of (commercial) kitchen furniture or equipment used for the preparation, storage or cooking of foods or drinks, and/or the storage or cleaning of any kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery or other goods typically found in a (commercial) kitchen. For example, a floor-standing kitchen unit may be one of the following: a cupboard, a hob, an oven, a deep fat fryer, a free-standing work surface, a free-standing sink unit, a dishwasher, or a steamer. Alternatively, a floor-standing kitchen unit may be a multifunctional kitchen unit. A floor-standing kitchen unit is typically configured for use in a commercial kitchen. However, a floor-standing kitchen unit may also be configured for use in a domestic kitchen. A floor-standing kitchen unit is typically configured for use inside. Accordingly, a floor-standing kitchen unit is typically configured to stand on the floor of an indoor region such as a (commercial) kitchen. Alternatively, a floor-standing kitchen unit may be configured to stand outside (such as on a patio or on a lawn), for example for outdoor catering purposes. A bottom surface of a floor-standing kitchen unit may be configured to lie flush with a surface on which it stands (such as the floor). Alternatively, a floor-standing kitchen unit may be configured to stand on legs, castors, wheels or rollers.

Moving said first unit relative to said second unit may comprise sliding the first unit across a surface on which said first and second floor-standing kitchen units are positioned (typically the floor). Alternatively, moving said first unit may comprise rolling said first kitchen unit across said surface on which the first and second floorstanding kitchen units are positioned (typically the floor) by means of castors, wheels or rollers.

It may be that each of the first and second units has a front end and a rear end. Moving the first unit from the first position to the second position may comprise moving one of the first and second units rearwards.

The rear end of a unit is typically opposite the front end of said unit. The rear end of said unit is typically an end of said unit which is inaccessible when the unit is correctly installed and in use. For example, it may be that the rear end of said unit is an end of said unit typically positioned against a wall (for example a kitchen wall) when the unit is correctly installed and in use. The front end of said unit is typically an end of said unit which is accessible when the unit is correctly installed and in use. For example, the front end of a cupboard unit having one cupboard door is typically the end of the cupboard unit having said cupboard door, and the rear end of said cupboard unit is the end opposite said front end. Similarly, the front end of an oven unit having an oven door is typically the end of said oven unit having said oven door, and the rear end of said oven unit is the end opposite said front end. The front end of a hob unit having a hob control panel is typically the end of the hob unit having said hob control panel, and the rear end of said hob unit is the end opposite said front end. The rotatable connector, and connecting portion, are typically located in rear portions of the respective units.

By rearward, rearwards and related words, we refer to the direction in which the first unit is moved, towards the second unit, to form a row. This will be the direction from the front end to the rear end of the first unit. Accordingly, the first unit is moved in a rearwards direction from the first position to the second position. By forward, forwards and related words, we refer to the opposite direction, away from alignment with the second unit.

Typically, in the first position, the first unit is forwards of the second unit. In the first position, the rear of the first unit is typically forwards of the rear of the second unit. In the first position, the rotatable connector, or connecting portion, as appropriate, of the first unit is forwards of the connecting portion, or rotatable connector, as appropriate, of the second unit. In the second position, the rear of the first unit is closer to the rear of the second unit than in the first position. For example, the rear of the first unit may be aligned with the rear of the second unit in the second position.

It may be that a worktop of the first unit and a worktop of the second unit together form a continuous run of worktop when the first and second units are connected in a row. The rotatable connector and the connecting portion are typically positioned at substantially the same height as the worktops of the first and second unit. For example, said rotatable connector may be positioned at substantially the top of a unit. Alternatively, said rotatable connector may be positioned at a height intermediate the top of a unit and the floor on which it is positioned. Typically, said rotatable connector is positioned at least 50 cm above a base of a unit (at least 50 cm above the floor on which a unit is positioned). Similarly, the connecting portion may also be positioned at substantially the top of a unit. Alternatively, said connecting portion may be positioned at a height intermediate the top of a unit and the floor on which it is positioned. Typically, said connecting portion is positioned at least 50 cm above a base of a unit (at least 50 cm above the floor on which a unit is positioned).

It may be that attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion to connect said first and second units in a row also connects said worktop of the first unit to said worktop of the second unit to form said continuous run of worktop.

It may be that only one of the first and second units comprises a rotatable connector however it may be that both of the first and second units comprise a rotatable connector. In general, it may be that the first unit comprises the rotatable connector and the second unit comprises the connecting portion, or the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, and in either case it may be that the first unit comprises a further rotatable connector or a further connecting portion, and it may be that the second unit comprises a further rotatable connector or a further connecting portion.

In some embodiments, the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion. Positioning the first and second units adjacent to one another in the first position may comprise positioning the first and second units such that a portion of a lateral surface of the first unit is adjacent to and faces a portion of a lateral surface of the second unit, wherein said portion of said lateral surface of the first unit is adjacent to and faces said portion of said lateral surface of the second unit during moving the first unit from the first position to the second position. Rotation of the rotatable connector during moving said first unit from the first position to the second position may therefore cause a connecting portion of the rotatable connector to protrude beyond said lateral surface of the second unit towards said lateral surface of the first unit. A lateral surface of a unit is typically a surface of said unit extending between front and rear ends of said unit. Said lateral surface of the first unit and said lateral surface of the second unit are surfaces which are typically inaccessible when said first and second units have been connected to one another. Said lateral surface of the first unit is typically positioned substantially parallel to the lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the first position. Said portion of the lateral surface of the first unit may be in contact with said portion of the lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the first position. Alternatively, said lateral surface of the first unit and said lateral surface of the second unit may be separated by a gap when the first and second units are in the first position. Said gap is preferably less than 2cm, more preferably less than 1cm, and even more preferably less than 0.5cm.

Said connecting portion of the rotatable connector typically protrudes beyond said lateral surface of the second unit towards said lateral surface of the first unit during moving said first unit from the first position to the second position. It may be that a length of the connecting portion of the rotatable connector which protrudes beyond the lateral surface of the second unit is dependent on a distance the first unit has travelled between the first and second positions. For example, it may be that as the first unit is moved from the first position to the second position, said length of the connecting portion which protrudes beyond the lateral surface of the second unit continually increases.

Said connecting portion of the rotatable connector typically also protrudes beyond said lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the second position.

In embodiments in which the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, it may be that an engaging portion of the first unit engages with an engaging portion of the rotatable connector during moving the first unit from said first position to said second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate.

The engaging portion of the first unit typically exerts a force on the engaging portion of the rotatable connector during moving the first unit from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate. It may be that said engaging portion of the first unit contacts said engaging portion of the rotatable connector during moving the first unit from the first position to the second position. It may be that the engaging portion of the first unit engages with the engaging portion of the rotatable connector continuously during moving the first unit from said first position to said first position. Alternatively, it may be that the engaging portion of the second unit engages with the engaging portion of the rotatable connector only during moving the first unit part of a distance from said first position to said second position.

In embodiments in which second first unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, and in which an engaging portion of the first unit engages with an engaging portion of the rotatable connector during moving the first unit from said first position to said second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate, it may be that at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector protrudes beyond said lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the first position and during moving the first unit at least part of the way from the first position to the second position.

It may be that at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector protrudes beyond said lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the first position.

It may be that at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector protrudes beyond said lateral surface of the second unit during moving the first unit at least part of the way from the first position to the second position.

It may be that the method further comprises maintaining at least a minimum shortest distance between the engaging portion of the first unit and the lateral surface of the second unit during moving the first unit from the first position to the second position.

It may be that said minimum shortest distance between the engaging portion of the first unit and the lateral surface of the second unit is less than a component of a length of the at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector extending beyond the lateral surface of the second unit, said component being along a direction perpendicular to said lateral surface of the second unit.

It may be that said engaging portion of the first unit is an edge of said first unit. Alternatively, said engaging portion may be a wall or surface of said first unit.

It may be that the rotatable connector comprises a rotatable plate. For example, it may be that the engaging portion of the rotatable connector comprises a first arm of said rotatable plate and the connecting portion of the rotatable connector comprises a second arm of said rotatable plate connected to said first arm about a pivot. Said pivot may be a bolt or a screw.

It may be that the rotatable connector further comprises a first bolt receiving aperture. It may be that said first bolt receiving aperture is positioned in or on said connecting portion of said rotatable connector. It may be that the connecting portion of the first unit comprises a second bolt receiving aperture.

In embodiments in which the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, it may be that the rotatable connector further comprises a first bolt receiving aperture, the connecting portion of the first unit comprises a second bolt receiving aperture, and rotation of the rotatable connector into alignment with the connecting portion of the first unit comprises said first and second bolt receiving apertures being brought into alignment. The step of attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion of the first unit may further comprise inserting a bolt through both said first and second bolt receiving apertures.

Alternatively, it may be that the connecting portion of the first unit comprises other connecting means for attaching said connecting portion of the first unit to the rotatable connector. For example, the connecting portion of the first unit may comprise a latch mechanism and the rotatable connector may comprise an arm which engages said latch mechanism. In a further alternative embodiment, the connecting portion of the first unit may comprise a magnet and the rotatable connector may comprise a metallic arm magnetically attracted to said magnet.

It may be that each of the first and second units has a front end and a rear end, that the rotatable connector is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the second unit, and that the connecting portion of the first unit is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the first unit. It may also be that the rotatable connector is positioned at the rear end of the second unit and that the connecting portion of the first unit is positioned at the rear end of the first unit.

The second unit may already be attached to a further floor-standing kitchen unit, in a row. The invention is especially useful for fitting a kitchen unit between other kitchen units in a row. Accordingly, the method may comprise fitting the first unit into a gap between the second unit and a third floor-standing kitchen unit, to form a continuous row comprising at least the first, second and third units.

Therefore, in some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, positioning the first and second units in the first position further comprises positioning the first unit between the second unit and a third floor-standing kitchen unit, one of the first and third units comprising a second rotatable connector, the other comprising a second connecting portion, the second rotatable connector and the second connecting portion being spaced apart in said first position; moving the first unit to said second position further comprises moving the first unit relative to the second and third units to the second position in which the second rotatable connector is closer to the second connecting portion than in the first position, thereby causing the second rotatable connector to rotate into alignment with the second connecting portion; and the step of attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion further comprises attaching the second rotatable connector to the second connecting portion, thereby connecting the first unit between the second and third units in a row.

For example, it may be that the first unit has first and second connecting portions and the second and third units each have a rotatable connector, and the method comprises: positioning the first unit between the second and third units in a first position in which the first connecting portion of the first unit is spaced apart from the rotatable connector of the second unit and in which the second connecting portion of the first unit is spaced apart from the rotatable connector of the third unit; moving the first unit relative to the second and third units to a second position in which the first connecting portion of the first unit is closer to the rotatable connector of the second unit than in said first position and in which the second connecting portion of the first unit is closer to the rotatable connector of the third unit than in said first position, wherein moving the first unit from said first position to said second position causes the rotatable connector of the second unit to rotate into alignment with the first connecting portion of the first unit and the rotatable connector of the third unit to rotate into alignment with the second connecting portion of the first unit; and attaching the rotatable connector of the second unit to the first connecting portion of the first unit and the rotatable connector of the third unit to the second connecting portion of the first unit.

Alternatively, it may be that the first and second units each have a rotatable connector and the first and third units each have a connecting portion, and the method comprises: positioning the first unit between the second and third units in a first position in which the connecting portion of the first unit is spaced apart from the rotatable connector of the second unit and in which the rotatable connector of the first unit is spaced apart from the connecting portion of the third unit; moving the first unit relative to the second and third units to a second position in which the connecting portion of the first unit is closer to the rotatable connector of the second unit than in said first position and in which the rotatable connector of the first unit is closer to the connecting portion of the third unit than in said first position, wherein moving the first unit from said first position to said second position causes the rotatable connector of the second unit to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion of the first unit and the rotatable connector of the first unit to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion of the third unit; and attaching the rotatable connector of the second unit to the connecting portion of the first unit and the rotatable connector of the first unit to the connecting portion of the second unit.

In another example embodiment, the first unit has first and second rotatable connectors and the second and third units each have a connecting portion, and the method comprises: positioning the first unit between the second and third units in a first position in which the first rotatable connector of the first unit is spaced apart from the connecting portion of the second unit and in which the second rotatable connector of the first unit is spaced apart from the connecting portion of the third unit; moving the first unit relative to the second and third units to a second position in which the first rotatable connector of the first unit is closer to the connecting portion of the second unit than in said first position and in which the second rotatable connector of the first unit is closer to the connecting portion of the third unit than in said first position, wherein moving the first unit from said first position to said second position causes the first rotatable connector of the first unit to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion of the second unit and the second rotatable connector of the first unit to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion of the third unit; and attaching the first rotatable connector of the first unit to the connecting portion of the second unit and the second rotatable connector of the first unit to the connecting portion of the third unit. A second aspect of the invention provides for a method of disconnecting first and second floor-standing kitchen units from each other, one of the first and second units comprising a rotatable connector, the other comprising a connecting portion attached to said rotatable connector, the method comprising: detaching the rotatable connector from the connecting portion; and moving the first unit relative to the second unit from a first position to a second position, wherein the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are further apart in said second position than in said first position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate out of alignment with the connecting portion. A third aspect of the invention provides for a floor-standing kitchen unit having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first lateral surface, and a rotatable connector rotatably mounted to a rear portion of said unit adjacent to said first lateral surface, the rotatable connector comprising an engaging portion and a connecting portion, said rotatable connector being configured to rotate when the engaging portion engages with another floor-standing kitchen unit moving along said first lateral surface.

Typically, the rotatable connector is configured so that the connecting portion of the rotatable connector is initially within the floor-standing kitchen unit but extends out of the floor-standing kitchen unit, beyond the first lateral surface, into another said floorstanding kitchen unit when the engaging portion engages with the another said floorstanding kitchen unit, for example, the connecting portion of the rotatable connector may as a result extend out of the floor-standing kitchen unit into a connecting portion of the another said floor-standing kitchen unit.

It may be that a bolt receiving aperture of the rotatable connector is rotatably mounted to a bolt receiving aperture of the unit. Said bolt receiving aperture of the unit may be provided in the rear portion of said unit adjacent to said first lateral surface. Said bolt receiving aperture of the rotatable connector may be rotatably mounted to said bolt receiving aperture of the unit by way of a removable bolt or a bolt fixedly attached to said unit (for example a bolt welded to said unit).

Alternatively, said rotatable connector may be mounted on said unit by means of other connecting means. For example, said rotatable connector may be mounted on an integrally formed portion of said unit.

The invention extends to apparatus comprising first and second floor-standing kitchen units connectable in a row, one of the first and second units being a said floorstanding kitchen unit, the other having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first lateral surface, and a connecting portion, the rotatable connector being further configured to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion when moving the first unit relative to the second unit from a first position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are spaced apart to a second position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are closer together, and the rotatable connector and the connecting portion being mutually attachable.

It may be that moving the first unit from the first position to the second position comprises moving the first unit rearwards.

It may be that a worktop of the first unit and a worktop of the second unit are configured to form together one continuous run of worktop when the first and second units are connected in a row by attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion. The rotatable connector and the connecting portion are typically positioned at substantially the same height as the worktops of the first and second unit. For example, said rotatable connector may be positioned at substantially the top of a unit. Alternatively, said rotatable connector may be positioned at a height intermediate the top of a unit and the floor on which it is positioned. Typically, said rotatable connector is positioned at least 50 cm above a base of a unit (at least 50 cm above the floor on which a unit is positioned). Similarly, the connecting portion may also be positioned at substantially the top of a unit. Alternatively, said connecting portion may be positioned at a height intermediate the top of a unit and the floor on which it is positioned. Typically, said connecting portion is positioned at least 50 cm above a base of a unit (at least 50 cm above the floor on which a unit is positioned).

It may be that the second unit comprises the rotatable connector. Accordingly, it may be that the first unit comprises the connecting portion. The rotatable connector and connection portion are typically in rear portions of the respective units.

It may be that the rotatable connector is further configured such that moving the first unit relative to the second unit from the first position to the second position causes the connecting portion of said rotatable connector to protrude beyond the first lateral surface of the second unit towards the first lateral surface of the first unit. It may also be that at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector is configured to protrude beyond said second lateral surface of the first unit when the first and second units are in the first position. For example, it may be that said at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector is configured to protrude beyond said first lateral surface of the second unit when moving the first unit at least part of the way from the first position to the second position.

It may be that the first unit further comprises an engaging portion configured to engage with the engaging portion of the rotatable connector when moving the first unit from said first position to said second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate. For example, said engaging portion of the first unit may be an edge of said first unit.

It may be that the engaging portion of the rotatable connector comprises a first arm of a rotatable plate and the connecting portion of the rotatable connector comprises a second arm of said rotatable plate connected to said first arm about a pivot.

It may be that the second unit comprises the rotatable connector, that the rotatable connector comprises a first bolt receiving aperture, that the connecting portion of the first unit comprises a second bolt receiving aperture, and that the rotatable connector is configured to rotate such that the first bolt receiving aperture is brought into alignment with the second bolt receiving aperture when moving the first unit from the first position to the second position. The apparatus may further comprise a bolt configured to connect the rotatable connector to the connecting portion of the first unit by way of the first and second bolt receiving apertures.

Alternatively, it may be that the connecting portion of the first unit comprises other connecting means for attaching said connecting portion of the first unit to the connecting portion of the rotatable connector. For example, the connecting portion of the first unit may comprise a latch mechanism and the connecting portion of the rotatable connector may comprise an arm which engages said latch mechanism. In a further alternative embodiment, the connecting portion of the first unit may comprise a magnet and the connecting portion of the rotatable connector may comprise a metallic arm magnetically attracted to said magnet.

It may be that the second unit comprises the rotatable connector, and that the rotatable connector is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the second unit and wherein the connecting portion of the second unit is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the first unit.

It may be that the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and a second rotatable connector. Alternatively, it may be that the second unit comprises the rotatable connector, an engaging portion and a connecting portion.

It may be that the first unit comprises the rotatable connector and a second rotatable connector. Alternatively, it may be that the first unit comprises the rotatable connector, an engaging portion and a connecting portion. A fourth aspect of the invention provides for a kit of parts comprising a rotatable connector suitable for use in the first, second or third aspects of the invention, and a bolt. A fifth aspect of the invention provides for a kit of parts comprising a floor-standing kitchen unit having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first lateral surface, and an attachment portion provided in a rear portion of said unit, and a rotatable connector comprising an engaging portion, a connecting portion and an attachment portion rotatably mountable to the attachment portion of said unit.

It may be that the floor-standing kitchen unit comprises a second lateral surface opposite said first lateral surface, wherein the attachment portion of said unit comprises a first lateral attachment portion positioned adjacent to said first lateral surface and a second lateral attachment portion positioned adjacent to said second lateral surface, and wherein the attachment portion of the rotatable connector is rotatably mountable to both the first and second lateral attachment portions of the unit. Accordingly, the rotatable connector can be mounted, through the attachment portion of the rotatable connector, to either the first or second lateral attachment portion. This enables a user to choose on which side of the floor standing kitchen unit to mount a rotatable connector.

In some embodiments, the other lateral attachment portion may function as a connecting portion of the unit for connecting to the attachment portion of an adjacent unit having a said rotatable connector rotatably mounted thereto. The kit might comprise two said rotatable connectors so that one may be mounted, through their respective attachment portion, to each of the first and second lateral attachment portions of the unit.

It may be that said attachment portion of said unit comprises at least one bolt receiving aperture and that said attachment portion of said rotatable connector comprises a bolt receiving aperture configured to be rotatably mountable to said at least one bolt receiving aperture of the unit, wherein the kit of parts further comprises a bolt.

Alternatively, it may be that said attachment portion of said unit comprises said first lateral attachment portion comprising at least one bolt receiving aperture and said second lateral attachment portion comprising at least one bolt receiving aperture, wherein the rotatable connector is rotatably mountable to both of the bolt receiving apertures of the first and second lateral attachment portions.

Features disclosed above in relation to any of the aspects of the invention are optional features of any of the aspects of the inventions.

Description of the Drawings

An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of a portion of the first connectable floor-standing kitchen unit of figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of a portion of the second connectable floor-standing kitchen unit of figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a first rotatable connector;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a second rotatable connector;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a third rotatable connector;

Figure 8 is a cross section through a connecting panel of the first connectable floorstanding kitchen unit of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a cross section through connecting panels of the first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units of Figure 1 before connection;

Figure 10 is a cross section through connecting panels of the first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units of Figure 1 during the connection process;

Figure 11 is a cross section through connecting panels of the first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units of Figure 1 once connected;

Figure 12 is a cross section through connecting panels of the first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units of Figure 1 during the disconnection process;

Figure 13 is also a cross section through connecting panels of the first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units of Figure 1 during the disconnection process;

Figure 14 is a cross section through connecting panels of the first and second connectable floor-standing kitchen units of Figure 1 once disconnected;

Figure 15 is a plan view of a system of three connectable floor-standing kitchen units;

Figure 16 is a plan view of an alternative system of three connectable floor-standing kitchen units;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a further alternative system of three connectable floor-standing kitchen units;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a connectable system comprising a deep fat fryer and first and second storage units;

Figure 19 is an exploded view of a bolting system comprising a rotatable connector, a washer, a bolt and a bolt cap.

Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment

With reference to Figure 1, a system 1 of connectable floor-standing commercial kitchen units comprises floor-standing kitchen units 2 and 3. Unit 2 is generally cuboidal in shape and comprises two side walls 2A and 2C, front wall 2B, rear wall 2D, an upper surface 2E and a lower surface 2F. Unit 2 is supported on top of floor 4 by feet 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. Similarly, unit 3 is also generally cuboidal in shape and comprises two side walls 3A and 3C, front wall 3B, rear wall 3D, an upper surface 3E and a lower surface 3F. Unit 3 is supported on top of floor 4 by feet 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D. Units 2 and 3 also comprise connecting panels 7 and 8 extending from their respective upper surfaces 2E and 3E and located in rear portions of the units.

The encircled area C of Figure 1 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 2. Connecting panel 7 is hollow and comprises an elongate upper surface 7A supported by two side walls 7B and 7C. Connecting panel 7 is open at both ends 7D and 7E. A rotatable connector 9 is positioned within hollow connecting panel 7 near end 7D such that a portion of the rotatable connector 9 extends outwards from the connecting panel 7, beyond side wall 3A. The rotatable connector 9 is attached to the connecting panel 7 by means of a bolt 10 passing through bolt receiving aperture 11 in top wall 7A. Connecting panel 8 is also hollow and comprises an elongate upper surface 8A supported by two side walls 8B and 8C. Connecting panel 8 is open at both ends 8D and 8E. A bolt receiving aperture 12 extends through the total thickness of upper surface 8A. A view of connecting panel 7 from open end 7E is shown in Figure 3. A similar view of connecting panel 8 from open end 9E is shown in Figure 4. The dimensions of the connecting panels 7 and 8 are similar. The connector 9 attached to the connecting panel 7 by means of bolt 10 is rotatable about said bolt 10. A plan view of rotatable connector 9 is shown in Figure 5. The connector 9 has a uniform thickness and is typically formed from metal plate. The connector 9 has a general L-shape in cross section and comprises two arms 13A and 13B. The connector 9 also includes two bolt receiving apertures 14 and 15 through the total thickness of the connector 9. The bolt 10 of Figures 1, 2 and 3 passes through bolt receiving aperture 14 of the connector 9 in use.

Alternative shapes of the connector 9 are possible. For example, connector 16 shown in Figure 6 also comprises two arms 17A and 17B and two bolt receiving apertures 18 and 19. The corners of the connector 16 are rounded, whereas those of connector 9 are angular. A further alternative connector 20 is shown in Figure 7. Connector 20 has a generally triangular shape in cross section, with rounded corners 21A and 21B and bolt receiving apertures 22 and 23.

Together, the connecting panels 7 and 8 provide a mechanism for releasably connecting units 2 and 3 in a row. The mechanism for connecting the two units 2 and 3 is illustrated in Figures 8 to 11. Figure 8 shows a cross section through the centre of connecting panel 7 in a plane parallel to upper surface 7A when unit 2 is free standing (that is, when unit 2 is not connected to unit 3). Connector 9 is rotated about bolt 10 such that arm 13A extends out of the open end 7E of the connecting panel 7 and into the surrounding free space. With reference to Figure 9, floor-standing kitchen unit 3 is positioned adjacent to unit 2 such that side wall 3A is parallel to side wall 2A and, therefore, such that open end 7E of connecting panel 7 is partially aligned with open end 8E of connecting panel 8. The two units 2 and 3 are positioned such that there is a small gap of width w between open ends 7E and 8E. The small gap of width w is smaller than the length of the arm 13A of the connector 9 protruding beyond wall 7E, indicated in Figure 9 as W (that is to say, w < W). Unit 3 is moved relative to unit 2 in the direction indicated by arrow 24 by sliding unit 3 across the floor on feet 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, until the side wall 8C of the connecting panel 8 engages with the arm 13A of the connector 9. Unit 3 is therefore moved rearwards, such that rear walls 2D and 3D are brought closer together.

With reference to Figure 10, manual force is applied to unit 3 such that it continues to move in the direction indicated by arrow 24, such that the side wall 8C of the connecting panel 8 engaging with the arm 13A of the connector 9 exerts a force on said arm 13A, thereby causing the rotatable connector 9 to rotate about bolt 10 in a sense S1. Arm 13A therefore rotates away from the connecting panel 8 and back into the hollow connecting panel 7, while arm 13B rotates into the space within the hollow connecting panel 8. Rotatable connector 9 therefore functions as a cam.

The manual force applied to unit 3 is sustained such that unit 3 continues to move in the direction indicated by arrow 24 until the side walls 7C and 8C of the respective connecting panels 7 and 8 are brought into alignment (as illustrated in Figure 11), at which point the manual force is stopped. By this point, connector 9 has rotated such that arm 13A is fully concealed within the hollow connecting panel 7 and arm 13B extends out from the connecting panel 7 into the hollow connecting panel 8. The bolt receiving aperture 15 of the connector 9 is now aligned with the bolt receiving aperture 12 of the connecting panel 8. In order to attach units 2 and 3 together, a bolt 25 is inserted through both bolt receiving apertures 12 and 15, thereby restricting any further rotation of the connector 9 and thus also movement of units 2 and 3. The mechanism therefore allows units 2 and 3 to be manually connected quickly and easily.

The mechanism for releasing the two units 2 and 3 from one another is illustrated in Figures 12 to 14. In order to allow the connector 9 to rotate, bolt 25 is removed from bolt receiving apertures 12 and 15. Manual force is then applied to unit 3 such that it moves in a direction indicated by arrow 25 in Figure 12, until the side wall 8C of connecting panel 8 engages with the arm 13B of the rotatable connector 9. Unit 3 is therefore moved forwards, such that rear walls 2D and 3D are moved further apart. The manual force is sustained such that unit 3 continues to move in the direction indicated by arrow 26 and such that the side wall 8C of the connecting panel 8 engaging with the arm 13B of connector 9 exerts a force on said arm 13B, thereby causing rotatable connector 9 to rotate about bolt 10 in a sense S2, as illustrated in Figure 13. Arm 13B therefore rotates away from connecting panel 8 and into the space within hollow connecting panel 7, while arm 13A rotates out of the connecting panel 7 into the surrounding free space.

The manual force applied to unit 3 is sustained such that unit 3 continues to move in the direction indicated by arrow 26 until arm 13B of connector 9 rotates far enough into the hollow connecting panel 7 that unit 3 is free to move unhindered away from unit 2 (Figure 14). The units 2 and 3 are no longer connected to one another, and the rotatable connector 9 is brought into a configuration in which it can be reused to attach unit 2 to another unit. The mechanism therefore also allows units 2 and 3 to be manually separated quickly and easily.

The mechanism illustrated in Figures 9 to 14 for connecting two units may be used to connect multiple units in a row. For example, Figure 15 shows a plan view (a view from above) of a system 27 comprising three floor-standing kitchen units 28, 29, and 30, each having respective connecting panels 31, 32 and 33. In system 27, connecting panel 31 includes a connector 34 rotatable about a bolt 35, and connecting panel 33 includes a connector 36 rotatable about a bolt 37. Connecting panel 32 does not have any rotatable connectors; connecting panel 32 is instead a hollow panel able to connect with the rotatable connectors 34 and 36 of connecting panels 31 and 33 at open ends 38 and 39 respectively. As unit 29 is moved into the space between units 28 and 30, connecting panel 32 engages with and causes rotation of both connectors 34 and 36. Movement of unit 29 is stopped when all three units 28, 29 and 30 are aligned. The three units 28, 29 and 30 are further fixed in position by passing bolts through bolt receiving apertures 40A and 41A and the corresponding bolt receiving apertures 40B and 41B in the connecting panel 32. The regions of the connecting panel which define the bolt receiving apertures 40B and 41B function as the first and second lateral attachment portions.

An alternative system 42 is illustrated in plan view (view from above) in Figure 16. System 42 comprises three floor-standing kitchen units 43, 44 and 45, each having respective connecting panels 46, 47 and 48 at rear portions thereof. Connecting panels 46, 47 and 48 have respective open ends 49, 50 and 51. Connecting panel 46 includes a connector 52 rotatable about a bolt 53, and connecting panel 47 includes a connector 54 rotatable about a bolt 55. Connecting panel 45 does not have any rotatable connectors. Unit 44 may be releasably connected to unit 43 by means of rotatable connector 53, and unit 45 may be releasably connected to unit 44 by means of rotatable connector 55 by the mechanism illustrated in Figures 9 to 14. A further alternative system 56 is illustrated in Figure 17. System 56 comprises a floor-standing kitchen unit 57 comprising a back wall panel 58 extending vertically upwards from an upper surface at a rear portion thereof, and two further floorstanding kitchen units 59 and 60 identical to units 2 and 3 in system 1. Units 59 and 60 are mutually connectable by means of rotatable connector 62 according to the mechanism of Figures 9 to 14, as described for system 1. Additionally, units 57 and 59 are also mutually connectable by means of rotatable connector 61 which protrudes from a hollow internal cavity of unit 57 at the base of back wall panel 58. The mechanism for connecting unit 59 to unit 57 is the same as that for connecting unit 60 to unit 59. First and second units having different shapes and sizes may therefore be releasably connected to (and disconnected from) one another, by the mechanism disclosed herein, as long as first and second units can be positioned such that a portion of the second unit engages with an arm of a rotatable connector of the first unit and as long as subsequent sliding of the second unit relative to the first unit causes rotation of said rotatable connector into alignment with the connecting panel of the second unit.

Figure 18 illustrates a system 63 comprising three multipurpose floor-standing kitchen units 64, 65 and 66. Unit 64 includes a deep fat fryer portion 67 and an associated electrical control panel 68 positioned above a storage cupboard 69. Unit 65 includes a work surface 70 positioned above a storage space 71. Unit 66 also includes a work surface 72 positioned above a storage space 73. Units 64, 65 and 66 are mutually connectable by means of rotatable connectors 74 and 75. Rotatable connector 74 extends out from a hollow cavity within the deep fat fryer portion 67 of unit 64 and may be connected to a first open end 76 of unit 65 by the mechanism illustrated in Figures 9 to 14. Rotatable connector 75 extends from unit 66 and may be connected to a second open end 77 of unit 65 by the mechanism illustrated in Figures 9 to 14. Adjacent units may also be further fixed in position by means of brackets 78 positioned on the fronts of the units. When units 65 and 66 are connected together in particular, work surfaces 70 and 72 combine to form one, (potentially watertight) work surface.

Other variations of the materials, parameters and structure disclosed in the description are possible. For example, the small gap of width w between open ends 7E and 8E of respective units 2 and 3 could in fact have zero width. The small gap of width w is generally chosen to be as narrow as possible such that dirt or food products do not become trapped between units 2 and 3 when in use. When the width of the small gap of with w is minimised (or zero), the upper surfaces 2E and 3E of units 2 and 3 respectively form one continuous (and potentially watertight) surface.

The floor-standing kitchen units 2, 3, 28, 29, 30, 43, 44, 45, 57, 59 and 60 may comprise or consist of any items of commercial kitchen furniture or equipment used for the preparation, storage or cooking of foods or drinks, or the storage or cleaning of any kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery or other goods typically found in a (commercial) kitchen. For example, each floor-standing kitchen unit may be a cupboard, a hob, an oven, a free-standing work surface, a free-standing sink unit, a dishwasher, or a steamer. Alternatively, any floor-standing kitchen unit might be a multifunctional kitchen unit. Accordingly, each floor-standing kitchen unit may be made of any material typically used in the construction of kitchen furniture or appliances, including metals and plastics, or organic materials such as wood.

The floor-standing kitchen units may be slid across the floor on supporting feet. Alternatively, the kitchen units may be supported by wheels, rollers or castors, and moving the kitchen units across the floor may involve rolling said kitchen units by way of said wheels, rollers or castors.

The floor-standing kitchen units may also be connectable by additional connecting means. For example, the units may also include easily accessible brackets or bolt receiving apertures, positioned on side walls or near the fronts and bottoms of the units, which can be used to keep units rigidly fixed in position once they have also been connected by the mechanism of Figures 9 to 14 and described herein.

The floor-standing kitchen units may also include additional elements used to conceal connecting mechanisms. For example, bolts may be covered by concealing caps which may make units easier to clean and aesthetically more pleasing. Figure 19 illustrates an example bolting system comprising a bolt 27 used to fix a rotatable connector 80 in place. The width of the bolt 79 is configured for an interference fit with the bolt receiving aperture 81 of the connector 80, as well as for a washer 82 positioned between the head of the bolt 83 and the connector 80 in use. The head of the bolt 83 can be covered by bolt cap 84 to conceal the bolt (and potentially to ensure that the connection remains watertight). Bolt cap 84 and bolt head 83 may also be threaded such that bolt cap 84 can be screwed onto bolt head 83, thereby releasably retaining bolt cap 84 in place.

Each floor-standing kitchen unit may also include electricity, gas or other fuel connections located on or extending from a rear wall. For example, a series of floorstanding kitchen units may be connected in a row against a wall by the mechanism disclosed herein, and any electricity, gas or fuel connections of each unit may be connected to cooperating electricity, gas or fuel connections in the wall or in the floor adjacent to the wall. The mechanism disclosed herein therefore allows for the removal and replacement of individual units from such a row of units, providing easy access to said electricity, gas or fuel connections.

Further variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention herein disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of connecting first and second floor-standing kitchen units in a row, one of the first and second units comprising a rotatable connector, the other comprising a connecting portion, the method comprising: positioning the first and second units adjacent to one another in a first position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are spaced apart; moving the first unit relative to the second unit to a second position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are closer together than in said first position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion; and attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion, thereby connecting the first and second units in a row.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second units has a front end and a rear end, and wherein moving the first unit from the first position to the second position comprises moving the first unit rearwards.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a worktop of the first unit and a worktop of the second unit together form one continuous run of worktop when the first and second units are connected in a row.

4. The method according to any one preceding claim, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, wherein positioning the first and second units adjacent to one another in the first position comprises positioning the first and second units such that a portion of a lateral surface of the first unit is adjacent to and faces a portion of a lateral surface of the second unit, wherein said portion of said lateral surface of the first unit is adjacent to and faces said portion of said lateral surface of the second unit during moving the first unit from the first position to the second position, and wherein rotation of the rotatable connector during moving said first unit from the first position to the second position causes a connecting portion of the rotatable connector to protrude beyond said lateral surface of the second unit towards said lateral surface of the first unit.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, and wherein an engaging portion of the first unit engages with an engaging portion of the rotatable connector during moving the first unit from said first position to said second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, wherein an engaging portion of the first unit engages with an engaging portion of the rotatable connector during moving the first unit from said first position to said second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate, and wherein at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector protrudes beyond said lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the first position and during moving the first unit at least part of the way from the first position to the second position.

7. The method according to claim 6, the method further comprising maintaining at least a minimum shortest distance between the engaging portion of the first unit and the lateral surface of the second unit during moving the first unit from the first position to the second position.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said engaging portion of the first unit is an edge of said first unit.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the engaging portion of the rotatable connector comprises a first arm of a rotatable plate and wherein the connecting portion of the rotatable connector comprises a second arm of said rotatable plate connected to said first arm about a pivot.

10. The method according to any one preceding claim, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and the first unit comprises the connecting portion, wherein the rotatable connector further comprises a first bolt receiving aperture, wherein the connecting portion of the second unit comprises a first bolt receiving aperture, and wherein rotation of the rotatable connector into alignment with the connecting portion of the first unit comprises said first and second bolt receiving apertures being brought into alignment.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion of the second unit further comprises inserting a bolt through both said first and second bolt receiving apertures.

12. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein each of the first and second units has a front end and a rear end, and wherein the rotatable connector is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the second unit and wherein the connecting portion of the first unit is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the first unit.

13. The method according to any one preceding claim, wherein both of the first and second units comprise a rotatable connector.

14. The method according to any one preceding claim, wherein positioning the first and second units in the first position further comprises positioning the first unit between the second unit and a third floor-standing kitchen unit, one of the first and third units comprising a second rotatable connector, the other comprising a second connecting portion, the second rotatable connector and the second connecting portion being spaced apart in said first position, wherein moving the first unit relative to the second unit to said second position further comprises moving the first unit relative to the third unit to said second position in which the second rotatable connector is closer to the second connecting portion than in the first position, thereby causing the second rotatable connector to rotate into alignment with the second connecting portion; and wherein the step of attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion further comprises attaching the second rotatable connector to the second connecting portion, thereby connecting the first unit between the second and third units in a row.

15. A method of disconnecting first and second floor-standing kitchen units from each other, one of the first and second units comprising a rotatable connector, the other comprising a connecting portion attached to said rotatable connector, the method comprising: detaching the rotatable connector from the connecting portion; and moving the first unit relative to the second unit from a first position to a second position, wherein the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are further apart in said second position than in said first position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate out of alignment with the connecting portion.

16. A floor-standing kitchen unit having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first lateral surface, and a rotatable connector rotatably mounted to a rear portion of said unit adjacent to said first lateral surface, the rotatable connector comprising an engaging portion and a connecting portion, said rotatable connector being configured to rotate when the engaging portion engages with another floor-standing kitchen unit moving along said first lateral surface.

17. Apparatus comprising first and second floor-standing kitchen units connectable in a row, one of the first and second units being a floor-standing kitchen unit according to claim 16, the other having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first lateral surface, and a connecting portion, the rotatable connector being further configured to rotate into alignment with the connecting portion when moving the first unit relative to the second unit from a first position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are spaced apart to a second position in which the rotatable connector and the connecting portion are closer together, and the rotatable connector and the connecting portion being mutually attachable.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein moving the first unit from the first position to the second position comprises moving the first unit rearwards.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein a worktop of the first unit and a worktop of the second unit are configured to form together one continuous run of worktop when the first and second units are connected in a row by attaching the rotatable connector to the connecting portion.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the rotatable connector is further configured such that moving the first unit relative to the second unit from the first position to the second position causes the connecting portion of said rotatable connector to protrude beyond the first lateral surface of the second unit towards the first lateral surface of the first unit.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector is configured to protrude beyond said first lateral surface of the second unit when the first and second units are in the first position.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said at least a portion of the engaging portion of the rotatable connector is configured to protrude beyond said first lateral surface of the second unit when moving the first unit at least part of the way from the first position to the second position.

24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the first unit further comprises an engaging portion configured to engage with the engaging portion of the rotatable connector when moving the first unit from said first position to said second position, thereby causing the rotatable connector to rotate.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said engaging portion of the first unit is an edge of said first unit.

26. The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the engaging portion of the rotatable connector comprises a first arm of a rotatable plate and wherein the connecting portion of the rotatable connector comprises a second arm of said rotatable plate connected to said first arm about a pivot.

27. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 25, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector, wherein the rotatable connector comprises a first bolt receiving aperture, wherein the connecting portion of the first unit comprises a second bolt receiving aperture, and wherein the rotatable connector is configured to rotate such that the first bolt receiving aperture is brought into alignment with the second bolt receiving aperture when moving the first unit from the first position to the second position.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising a bolt configured to connect the rotatable connector to the connecting portion of the first unit by way of the first and second bolt receiving apertures.

29. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 27, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector, and wherein the rotatable connector is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the second unit and wherein the connecting portion of the second unit is positioned closer to the rear end than the front end of the second unit.

30. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 28, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and a second rotatable connector.

31. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 28, wherein the second unit comprises the rotatable connector and an engaging portion and a connecting portion.

32. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the first unit comprises the rotatable connector and a second rotatable connector.

33. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the first unit comprises the rotatable connector, an engaging portion and a connecting portion.

34. A kit of parts comprising a rotatable connector suitable for use in the method of any one of claims 1 to 15 or in the apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 33, and a bolt.

35. A kit of parts comprising a floor-standing kitchen unit having a front end and an opposing rear end, a first lateral surface, and an attachment portion provided in a rear portion of said unit, and a rotatable connector comprising an engaging portion, a connecting portion and an attachment portion rotatably mountable to the attachment portion of said unit.

36. The kit of parts according to claim 35, wherein the floor-standing kitchen unit comprises a second lateral surface opposite said first lateral surface, wherein the attachment portion of said unit comprises a first lateral attachment portion positioned adjacent to said first lateral surface and a second lateral attachment portion positioned adjacent to said second lateral surface, and wherein the attachment portion of the rotatable connector is rotatably mountable to both the first and second lateral attachment portions of the unit.