JP7507029B2 - Kitchen unit - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to kitchen units.

Patent Document 1 discloses a kitchen unit. The kitchen unit has a top plate with a hole for fitting a water tank with a faucet for a kitchen sink.

Utility Model Registration No. 3186425

In a configuration in which a kitchen sink is fitted into a hole in a countertop, the countertop supports the kitchen sink around the hole into which the kitchen sink fits. In this configuration, the countertop must place a structure for supporting the kitchen sink around the kitchen sink, making it difficult to reduce the size of the kitchen unit. This specification provides technology that can reduce the size of a kitchen unit.

The kitchen unit disclosed in this specification may include a countertop, a kitchen sink adjacent to the countertop and having a lower end below the upper surface of the countertop, and a support member having a support portion that supports the kitchen sink from below the lower end.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment in which the sliding shelf is in the storage position. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the kitchen unit. A cross-sectional view of the kitchen sink and countertop taken along line III-III in Figure 2 is shown. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a kitchen unit in an embodiment in which the sliding shelf is in an open position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the kitchen unit 10 is installed, for example, in a detached house or an apartment building. The kitchen unit 10 is installed along a wall inside the house. A user stands at a work position in front of the kitchen unit 10 in the front-to-rear direction shown in FIG. 1 and performs work such as cooking and washing dishes.

The kitchen unit 10 comprises a kitchen sink 12, a countertop 14, shelves 20, 22, functional parts 24, 25, partitions 26, 27, a kitchen panel 28, a framework 30, and a sliding shelf 40. The kitchen sink 12, the countertop 14, shelves 20, 22, functional parts 24, 25, and partitions 26, 27 are integrated by the framework 30. The framework 30 comprises a pair of side frames 32, 32, an upper end frame 34, and a bottom frame 38.

The pair of side frames 32, 32 are arranged at both ends in the left-right direction when viewed from the working position. The pair of side frames 32, 32 have the same configuration. The pair of side frames 32, 32 are arranged parallel to each other. The side frame 32 has multiple vertical bones 32a extending in the up-down direction and multiple horizontal bones 32b extending in the front-rear direction. A bottom frame 38 is arranged at the lower end of the pair of side frames 32, 32. The bottom frame 38 is arranged between the pair of side frames 32, 32. The bottom frame 38 has a front plate 38a in the shape of a rectangular flat plate extending from one side frame 32 to the other side frame 32, and side plates 38b extending rearward from both left-right end edges of the front plate 38a inside the lower end of the side frame 32.

An upper end frame 34 is disposed at the upper ends of the pair of side frames 32, 32. When viewed from above, the upper end frame 34 has a rectangular frame. The upper end frame 34 extends from one side frame 32 to the other side frame 32. The upper end frame 34 is placed on the upper ends of the pair of side frames 32, 32.

Functional components 24, 25 are placed above the upper end frame 34. Functional component 24 is, for example, a lighting fixture. Functional component 25 is, for example, a range hood. In a modified example, functional components 24, 25 may be other functional components such as a storage shelf. In another modified example, kitchen unit 10 may not include functional components 24, 25.

A shelf board 22 is disposed above the bottom frame 38. The shelf board 22 is supported by the bottom frame 38. The shelf board 22 has a rectangular flat plate shape. The shelf board 22 is placed on the bottom frame 38. The shelf board 22 extends perpendicularly to the side frames 32, between a pair of side frames 32, 32, from one side frame 32 to the other side frame 32. The length of the shelf board 22 in the front-to-rear direction is equal to the length of the side frame 32 in the front-to-rear direction. The left and right edges of the shelf board 22 are supported by the pair of side frames 32, 32.

A partition plate 26 is disposed in the center of the shelf plate 22 in the left-right direction. The partition plate 26 has a rectangular flat plate shape. The partition plate 26 is disposed perpendicular to the shelf plate 22 and parallel to the pair of side frames 32, 32. The lower end of the partition plate 26 is attached to the shelf plate 22. A support plate having a rectangular flat plate shape and the same height as the bottom frame 38 is disposed below the shelf plate 22 at a position corresponding to the partition plate 26 (not shown).

(Configuration of shelf board 20)
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a shelf board 20 is disposed on the upper end of the partition board 26. The shelf board 20 is formed of a single flat plate. The shelf board 20 is disposed parallel to the shelf board 22. The left and right edges of the shelf board 20 are supported by a pair of side frames 32, 32. The length of the shelf board 20 in the front-rear direction is the same as the length of the side frames 32 in the front-rear direction. The shelf board 20 has a rectangular flat plate shape. The shelf board 20 has support portions 21, 23 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. A partition board 27, a top board 14, a kitchen sink 12, and a slide member 40 are disposed above the shelf board 20.

A partition plate 27 is placed in the center of the shelf plate 20 in the left-right direction. The partition plate 27 is disposed on an extension of the partition plate 26. The partition plate 27 has a rectangular flat plate shape. The partition plate 27 is disposed on the same flat plate as the partition plate 26. The length of the partition plate 27 in the front-to-rear direction is the same as the length of the side frame 32 in the front-to-rear direction.

(Configuration of the top plate 14)
The top plate 14 is placed on the upper end of the partition plate 27. The top plate 14 is disposed away from the support portion 21 of the shelf plate 20 by the height direction length of the partition plate 27. The top plate 14 is located at the middle position of the side frame 32 in the up-down direction. The top plate 14 has a rectangular flat plate shape extending from the right side frame 32 toward the left side. Functional components 24, 25 are disposed above the top plate 14. In the front-rear direction, the top plate 14 has the same length as the front-rear direction length of the pair of side frames 32, 32. The top plate 14 can function as a kitchen counter for a user to perform work such as cooking.

The kitchen sink 12 is disposed adjacent to the left side of the countertop 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the kitchen sink 12 is placed on the upper end 23a of the support portion 23 of the shelf 20. The kitchen sink 12 is supported from below by the shelf 20. The lower end 12b of the kitchen sink 12 abuts against the upper end 23a of the shelf 20.

(Configuration of kitchen sink 12)
As shown in FIG. 1, the kitchen sink 12 includes a basin portion 50 and a faucet 52. The kitchen sink 12 has a box shape with an opening at the top end 12a of the basin portion 50. The basin portion 50 defines a space located below the opening. A faucet 52 is disposed in the space within the basin portion 50. When operated by a user, the faucet 52 discharges water from the opening into the basin portion 50. The faucet 52 is fixed above a support portion 53 that extends upward from the bottom surface of the basin portion 50. The top end portion 12a of the basin portion 50 of the kitchen sink 12 is located on the same plane as the top surface 14a of the countertop 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the kitchen sink 12 is viewed from the side, the position of the front end 12c of the kitchen sink 12 coincides with the position of the front end 23c of the support portion 23 of the shelf 20 in the front-to-rear direction. That is, the front end 12c of the kitchen sink 12 is flush with the front end 23c of the support portion 23 of the shelf 20. The front end 12c of the kitchen sink 12 does not protrude further forward than the front end 23c of the support portion 23 of the shelf 20. Therefore, the front-to-rear dimension of the kitchen unit 10 is smaller than when a configuration is adopted in which the top plate 14 has a hole for fitting the kitchen sink 12.

(Configuration of the sliding shelf 40)
A sliding shelf 40 is disposed on the upper end 21a of the support portion 21 of the shelf board 20 next to the kitchen sink 12. The sliding shelf 40 has a flat plate shape. The sliding shelf 40 is disposed to be movable relative to the upper end 21a of the support portion 21 between a storage position and an open position. In FIG. 1, the sliding shelf 40 is located in a storage position where it is generally disposed between the shelf board 20 and the top plate 14. In FIG. 4, the sliding shelf 40 is located in an open position moved forward from the storage position. In the open position, a part of the sliding shelf 40 is disposed in a position that avoids overlapping with the top plate 14. A pair of guide rails extending in the front-rear direction (not shown) are provided on the upper end 21a of the support portion 21. The sliding shelf 40 slides relative to the upper end 21a of the support portion 21 via the pair of guide rails in the front-rear direction. The length of the sliding shelf 40 in the front-rear direction is the same as the length of the shelf board 20 in the front-rear direction. The front end of the sliding shelf 40 protrudes upward. As another modification, the kitchen unit 10 does not have to be provided with the sliding shelf 40 .

A kitchen panel 28 is disposed above the tabletop 14 and is attached to the wall of the house. The kitchen panel 28 is made of, for example, a fire-resistant material. The kitchen panel 28 has a flat plate shape. The kitchen panel 28 is disposed between the tabletop 14 and the upper end frame 34, between a pair of side frames 32, 32.

(Method of Assembling Kitchen Unit 10)
The assembly method for placing the kitchen unit 10 in a house will be described. First, the kitchen panel 28 is fixed to the wall of the house. Next, the set in which the shelves 20, 22, the partitions 26, 27, and the support plate located below the partition 26 are assembled together is fixed to a pair of side frames 32, 32. Next, the assembled shelves 20, 22, the partitions 26, 27, the support plate, and the pair of side frames 32, 32 are fixed to the wall of the house. Next, the kitchen sink 12 and the countertop 14 are assembled. In detail, the kitchen sink 12 is fixed to the shelf 20 and the wall of the house. The countertop 14 is fixed to the right side frame 32, the partition 27, and the wall of the house.

Then, the sliding shelf 40 is placed between the top plate 14 and the shelf plate 20, and slidably attached to the shelf plate 20 via the guide rail. Next, the bottom frame 38 is placed below the shelf plate 22 to close the bottom of the kitchen unit 10. The bottom frame 38 is fixed to the side frame 32. Next, the upper end frame 34 and the functional parts 24, 25 are placed on the pair of side frames 32, 32, and fixed to the wall of the house, completing the kitchen unit 10.

A stove may be placed on the top plate 14. In this case, a fire-resistant panel may be placed on the side frame 32 surrounding the stove.

(Effects of the embodiment)
The lower end 12b of the kitchen sink 12 is supported from below by a shelf board 21. With this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the kitchen sink 12 is supported by fitting into a hole formed in the top board 14, it is not necessary to arrange the top board 14 around the kitchen sink 12. The attachment of the kitchen sink 12 does not require the front-to-rear length of the kitchen unit 10 to be greater than the front-to-rear length of the kitchen sink 12.

The shelf 20 extends from below the lower end 12b of the kitchen sink 12 to a position opposite the countertop 14, and is positioned away from the countertop 14. This allows the gap between the countertop 14 and the shelf 20 to be used, for example, as a space for placing items that a user uses when working with the kitchen unit 10.

The upper ends 21a, 23a of the shelf 20 are flat throughout. The entire upper ends 21a, 23a of the shelf 20 can be used as space for placing items, including the kitchen sink 12.

The kitchen unit is provided with a sliding shelf 40 that can move between a storage position and an open position, and the sliding shelf 40 can be pulled out toward the user. This allows items to be placed on the sliding shelf 40 without being obstructed by the top plate 14.

The shelf board 20 is fixed to a pair of side frames 32, 32 at both left and right edges. The shelf board 22 is positioned at a distance from the shelf board 20 and is fixed to a pair of side frames 32, 32 at both left and right edges. In the kitchen unit 10, the shelves 20, 22 and the pair of side frames 32, 32 form a rectangular framework. This increases the structural strength of the kitchen unit 10.

Specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail above. These are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples given above. Modifications are listed below.

(Variation 1) The shelf board 20 does not have to have the support portion 21. For example, the shelf board 20 may have only the support portion 23.

(Variation 2) The partition plate 27 does not have to be provided between the shelf plate 20 and the top plate 14. In this case, the shelf plate 20 and the top plate 14 do not have to be separated from each other.

(Variation 3) The upper ends 21a, 23a of the shelf board 20 do not have to have a planar shape over the entirety. For example, the shelf board 20 may have a step extending in the front-rear direction.

(Variation 4) The sliding shelf 40 does not have to be arranged so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the shelf board 20. The sliding shelf 40 may be arranged so as to be slidable in the left-to-right direction on the upper end 21a of the support portion 21, or so as to be rotatable. This allows the placed object to be easily moved on the shelf board 20, even if it is heavy.

(Variation 5) The sliding shelf 40 does not have to have a plate shape, and may have, for example, a box shape. In this variation, it is possible to prevent items placed on the sliding shelf 40 from falling off the sliding shelf 40. When the sliding shelf 40 is located in the storage position, it is possible to prevent the inside of the sliding shelf 40 from being visible from outside the kitchen unit 10.

(Variation 6) The kitchen unit 10 does not need to have at least one of the shelf 22 and the pair of side frames 32, 32. In this case, the top plate 14 and the shelf 20 may be fixed directly to an external member of the kitchen unit 10, such as a wall of the house.

(Variation 7) The front end 12c of the kitchen sink 12 may protrude forward from the front end 23c of the support portion 23 of the shelf 20, or may be recessed rearward from the front end 23c of the support portion 23 of the shelf 20.

The technical elements described in this specification and drawings have technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. The technologies illustrated in this specification and drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives is itself technically useful.
The following items are within the scope of the claims as originally filed.
(Item 1)
The top plate and
A kitchen sink adjacent to the countertop and having a lower end below an upper surface of the countertop;
A kitchen unit comprising: a support member having a support portion that supports the kitchen sink from below the lower end portion.
(Item 2)
The support portion is a first support portion,
The kitchen unit described in item 1, wherein the support member extends from the first support portion located below the lower end of the kitchen sink to a position opposite the countertop and further includes a second support portion positioned away from the countertop.
(Item 3)
3. The kitchen unit according to claim 2, wherein an upper end of the support member has a planar shape from the first support portion to the second support portion.
(Item 4)
The kitchen unit further includes a storage member disposed in a storage position between the top plate and the second support portion,
The kitchen unit according to item 2 or 3, wherein the storage member is movably arranged relative to the second support portion.
(Item 5)
the storage member is disposed to be slidable relative to the second support portion from the storage position to an open position on the front side as viewed from a user,
5. The kitchen unit according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the storage member is positioned in a position that avoids overlapping with the top plate in the open position.
(Item 6)
The kitchen unit comprises:
A pair of side members supporting both end edges of the support member in a direction in which the top plate and the kitchen sink are aligned;
A kitchen unit described in any one of items 1 to 5, further comprising a lower member arranged below the support member and having both end edges in the direction in which the countertop and the kitchen sink are aligned supported by the pair of side members.
(Item 7)
7. The kitchen unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a front end of the kitchen sink is either flush with a front end of the support member or rearward of the front end of the support member.

10: kitchen unit, 12: kitchen sink, 14: top plate, 20, 22: shelf board, 21, 23: support part, 30: framework, 32: side frame, 40: sliding shelf

Claims (7)

The top plate and
A kitchen sink adjacent to the countertop and having a lower end below an upper surface of the countertop;
A support member including a first support portion that supports the kitchen sink from below the bottom end portion , and a second support portion that extends from the first support portion located below the bottom end portion of the kitchen sink to a position facing the top plate and is disposed away from the top plate;
Equipped with a kitchen unit. The kitchen unit according to claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the support member has a planar shape from the first support portion to the second support portion. The kitchen unit further includes a storage member disposed in a storage position between the top plate and the second support portion,
The storage member is movably disposed relative to the second support portion.
A kitchen unit according to claim 1 or 2 . the storage member is disposed to be slidable relative to the second support portion from the storage position to an open position on the front side as viewed from a user,
The kitchen unit according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the storage member is positioned in the open position so as to avoid overlapping with the top plate. The kitchen unit comprises:
A pair of side members supporting both end edges of the support member in a direction in which the top plate and the kitchen sink are aligned;
A kitchen unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a lower member arranged below the support member and having both end edges in the direction in which the countertop and the kitchen sink are aligned supported by the pair of side members. The top plate and
A kitchen sink adjacent to the countertop and having a lower end below an upper surface of the countertop;
A support member having a support portion that supports the kitchen sink from below the lower end portion;
A pair of side members supporting both end edges of the support member in a direction in which the top plate and the kitchen sink are aligned;
A lower member is disposed below the support member, and both ends in a direction in which the top plate and the kitchen sink are aligned are supported by the pair of side members;
Equipped with a kitchen unit. The kitchen unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front end of the kitchen sink is either flush with the front end of the support member or rearward of the front end of the support member.

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