US2007184A - Kitchen unit - Google Patents

Description

I5 I r Tifil.

y v I 'N. M. DUNNENG 2,007,184

' KITCHEN UNIT Filed April 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR NEAL M. DUNNING July 9, 1935. DUNMNG V 2,007,184

KITCHEN UNIT Filed April 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NEAL M. DUNNING HIS TORNEY July 9, 19 35. DUNNlNG 2,007,184

KITCHEN UN'IT Filed April 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 D L 54 V INVENTOR NEAL M DUN NING H] TORNEY Patented" July '9, 1 935 vumTEo .QSTATQES PATENT. OFFICIEQQJ KITCHEN UNIT Neal M. Dunning, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to John. B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York , Application April 12, 1933, Serial No. 665,640.

I Claims. This invention relates to improved kitchen unit construction. .7 I 1 More particularly, my invention comprises a "group of fixture items such as a sink, drawers,

closets, etc., assembled combinedly for installation at a wall of a kitchen or like space of a house or other structure, and further comprising a compartment of adjustable height and having transparent wall portion or portions and serving dually for. housingfsuitable lighting means for providing artificial illumination in the use of the fixture items.

Pursuant to a general feature of my invention,

kitchenunits embodying a sink, group or groups of closets, drawers and/or other fixture items, with or without a kitchen range, with or without a refrigerator, the aforesaid being factory fabri- 'cated of standard individual and overall dimensions, and comprising further an adjustable compartment, preferably at the top, to accommodate the assembly for varying heights between floor level and. ceiling level, such adjustable compartment being provided with'a' Wall of glass or equivalent materiaL and an electric bulb or set of bulbs 'or equivalent,lighting.;means disposed-in such adjustable compartment.

In the most preferred embodiment of the in- .vention, the: adjustable compartment includes 'a horizontal orother overhang, the bottom and front wall or walls of which are provided'in Whole 'or in. part with glass or equivalent material to light rays. emittedfrom the provide illummationat' the sink, range, etc. by

in the compartment;

Therefore, such adjustable compartment serves the dual functions of housing the illuminating means and enabling the produetion'at a factory of a combined' assembly of appropriate, fixture items of predetermined dimensions."

Factory fabrication of my invention may be had by grouping and mechanically assembling the desired fixtures and" other items such as closets,'cabinets, drawers, etc., at the factory as an assembled unit, and shipping the same as such assembled unit, the desired height of uppermost compartment functioning as the filler portion of the unit being assembled 'at the'location of installation. I

Desirably, also, the individual fixtures and other items maybe fabricated at the factoryfor assembly in number and relative location as may be desired, the assembly whengrouped to have any desired standard overall dimensions, the unit being assembled at the location of installation, and also the necessary uppermost filler compartment.

If desired, the front wall of the uppermost compartment'may be glazed for general illumination purposes. In the event that the uppermost compartment is'notemployed for the housingof the lighting means, the exposed-walls may be wholly lighting means withof metal or other suitable material, the proper height of the same selected inaccordance with the height of the ceiling.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the followin detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which ment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section Fig. 1; g v V Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of :Fig. ,1; Fig. 3a is a detail illustrating one form of structure for accommodating the variable distance between the compartments and the ceiling;

Fig. 4 is a 'detail horizontal section of lin I'4 ofFig.l; I V 1 Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on line 5-5 ofFig.1. I N

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section showing the Fig. l is a front elevation of a preferred embodion line of a embodiment of a glazed front wall for the filler compartment; 7 V

Fig. 7 isa perspective view of a. preferred form of frame for the mechanical'securement of the assembled items relative to one another;

Fig; 8 is a verticaldetail section on of Fig. '7; 1 I

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section as viewed on-sectionline9-9ofFig.7;and' p 7 v Fig. 10 is a detail section on the line III-III of Fig. 2. r

Referring to Fig. 1, the kitchen unit assembly v25 lined-+8 comprises essentially the oppositely positioned vertical shapes ID, of steel or equivalent secured rearwardly and at the opposite lateralsides of the Desirably above the groupof drawers I6 isadrip board I! functioning with the sink I I. One'or more slide boards, see I8, may be provided'inadjacent relation with the' drip board I! and sink II.

"A group of closets I9 may be disposed above the drip board I! and sink II.

Most advantageously, the adjustable compartment I3 overhangathat is, its front wall [311 ex-. tends forwardly, see Fig. 3,. with respect to front faces of the closets I9, and the bottom wall or other lowerly portion ofsuch overhang. portion is 1.

glazed with glass, or equivalent see 20. Preferably, the illuminating means such as the electric light bulb 2| .or group of same are disposed withinthe space portion l3 to be positioned directlyabove or otherwise related to provide eflicient illumination through the glass relative to the sink I I and other essential parts of the unit. The glass 20 may be frosted or other provision made for distributed lighting effect. The front wall of the compartment l3 mayalso be glazed, I

' 3|, 3|, of the next upper floor or other level of see 20a, Fig. 6.

Coasting with such glass 20 or equvalent, I preferably provide a closet 22, at the left hand side 'of the assembly as viewed in Fig. 1, a portion of its lateral side, in this instance its right-hand wall 22a hav-ing in whole or in part glass 23 or equivalent to thereby provide illumination within the closet 22 emitting from the lighting source through the glass 20, or equivalent.

Such illumination of the closet 22 is effective in the instance of the use therein of one or more shelves 221), in that the glass 23, or equivalent, provides-illumination between the individual shelves notwithstanding their vertical superi position.

Desirably, and as illustrated in the drawings, manna may comprise a gas range 24, the oven of which is indicated at 25 and broiler at 2511, also, a refrigerator 26,'which may be of the gas or electrical'ice making type; also, one or more closets 21. A vertically slidably mounted or hinged cover for the gas range may be provided, to assume proper drainage position relative to the laundry tub or sink l2, to serve as a drain board.

I have also indicated in the drawings a closet 28 at the right-hand side of the assembly, which closet may conform to the construction of the closet 22, inclusive of a glazed wall portion similar to the glass 23, orequivalent, of the. closet 22.

At 29 are indicated cabinets which are preferably provided with doors of the horizontally sliding type.

The adjustment compartment I3 may be of any suitable construction for providing either an adjusted height vertically extending front wall or a set of front wall members of varied heights and the selection of the members of particular heights for the particular installations.

As a practical carrying out of this feature of my invention, and as illustrated in the drawings, the height adjustment compartment may be had inthe. formof a set of hollow shapes or shells r ofmetal or other suitable material, of varied vertical dimensions preferably finished, that is, chromium'or other metal plated, enameled or painted, etc., at exposed faces. ment comprises the front wall 13a, which is con- :nected integrally or otherwise'to the oppositely disposedside walls l3b and rear wall l3'c, the

The illustrated compartlast-named terminating at the flange I3d, and to.-the horizontally extending intermediate strip While ordinarily the compartment l3 may be made'of variable dimensions, depending on the space between the top-most surface of the various uppermost compartments, and the ceiling, I may find it advantageous to make the compartment 13 adjustable. Such an adjustable structure is shown in Fig. 3a, where 15 designates a top member having slidably mounted therein a bottom member 15.. Through perforations in the top member. 15 pass the bolts 11, such bolts passing through slots 18 in the bottom member 16. The

spectively may thus be varied and nuts 19 on the bolts Tl are utilized to hold the members 15 and T6 in adjusted position.

The lighting fixture 2| may be of any suitable construction and is mounted within the compartment 13 in any suitable manner. If desired, the

ceiling finish material I5 may terminate at a location, 15a, at a suitable distance beyond the front wall |3a of the compartment l3, to afford free space between the indicated adjacent beams the building. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the base 24a of the lighting fixture 2| may be secured to a strap 30 secured between the indicated beams 3|, 3|.

.Desirably, the lowermost drawers l6, closets, and the like, particularly at and about the sink laundry-4|, I2, and/or cookingxrange 24, are positioned at a freespacing, see 40 Figs-3 and l,.above thefioorlevel I4 to provide toe spacing, as by the employment of a bottom filler member 41.

The spacing afforded by the vertical members l0, l0, between the rear faces of the aforesaid assembled fixture items and the wall proper 32, seeFig. 3',. is utilized forthe reception and.installation of suitablepiping, interalia, for the faucet 33 of the sink-laundry H, I2, the refrigerator and for the necessary waste piping, stove flue, and ot er suitable piping orv other requirements. Advantageously, such spacing may. be utilized for the cooling coils of the refrigerator, if .of the mechanical ice making type, for cooling either wholly or supplementarily'by the air in such spacing. Circulation or interchange of air is enhanced by the provision of openings or slots 4! a in the exposed walls of the bottom filler member 4| or openings in the frame'of the lowermost drawer l6, see 42 Fig. 3, and cooperating openings 43 in.the. rear wall of the group of drawers l6, and similarly in the bottom and rear walls of the closets 21, and the like, thus affording communication with the spacing between the rear of the; assemblyv unit. and the wall or partition.

For kitcheniand like purposes, the closets, cabinets, cupboards, and'like items associated with the sink, and/or cooking appliance, and/or refrigerator, are utilized for appropriate associated purposes.

The manufacture of embodiments of my invention may be had by fabrication at a factory by fabrication of the individual fixtures and other items, which may be selected in number and in relative positionv and grouped as a unit at the factory and shipped as such or the individual fixtures and items grouped as a'unit at the location of installation.

. Any suitable form of frame, preferably including the vertical end members Hi,- lll, may be. em ployed; the'individual units may be suitably connected with one another as by bolts, see, Figs. 4 and 5, in sub-groups, and the sub-groups of items bolted to one another and/orsecured to the frame.

Also, preferably, the uppermost-filler or combined filler-lighting compartment "I3 'is suitably secured to. the frame); I8, as by-bolts 45 connccting the rear. wall" No of the compartment l3 to therespective vertical members It), as appears in Fig. 3.

The rear protection plate is advantageously mounted in leak-proof'relation, and also in verdistancebetweenthe upper and lower surfaces ,.of',-i'.he';-topandzbottom members 15. and Hi remin-proof relation, with the sink-laundry l I, I2, that is, with respect to the rear edge of the such fluid drains under gravity outwardly of the joint. p

Also, I prefer to mechanically interconnect the abutting edges of the sink-laundry ll, I2, and

7 horizontal flange 50a, of which extends between that of the gas'or other cooking range 24, as,

by means of bolts 46. Desirably, such interconnection is further had by the intermediation of the moisture, and also vermin proof, connection, see Fig. 10, composed for example of an outer collapsible tubing 41, of copper or the like, and a therein contained mass of asbestos 48 or the like, the bolts 46 extending through such copperasbestos gasket-like mass.

As is illustrated in Figs; '7, 8 and 9, the frame may advantageously comprise the" transverse member 50, which may be a Z-plate, the upper the upright members 1,10; the member 50 is shown. secured by bolts 5|. To the vertical web of the member 50 are secured the desired number of vertical depending strips'or arms 52, secured respectively at'theiruppenends 52a by bolts 53' through ope'nings in the verticalweb ofthe member 50. Thelower'end portions 521) may extend free, or bebent horizontally and then 7 vertically, as shown, for the securement thereat to a lower plateor other crossmember 54, by suitable bolts. The, cross member 54 is shown secured at its ends by bolts to the uprights l0, Ill.

Suitable openings are provided in the arms '52 for the reception of bolts 52c therethrough con nectingthe rear walls of the closets l9, cabinets 29, or the like, withthe arms 52. The cross members 55, see Fig. 3, connectedat their ends. to

the uprights Ill, I0, may also bexemployed as a part of the frame. y y

From the above, it appears that my invention provides forthe assembly of individual fixture and other items of individual predetermined dimensions and the resulting assembly of standard overall dimensions, and accordingly highly adaptable of factory fabricated. Combined with such assembly, my invention provides'for a compartment, most advantageously at the top of such standardized assembly, such compartment being of varied vertical dimension to accommodate varied heights between floor and ceilinglevels, such compartmentpreferably including an overhang wall, havingfin whole or in part a transparent wall element, and suitable lighting means disposed in such compartment for affording artificiallighting in the use of the assembly items. 7

Myinvention results in the assembly of any desired groupiof fixture .or other items and a therewithcombined upper or uppermost compartment having a wall portion overhanging a' 7 r y y y 3 whereby to provide illumination interiorly within such one or more wall glazed items combinedly with the illumination of the assembly as a whole.

My invention further provides for a spacing disposed betweenthe assembled group and an inner wall or partition of a kitchen or space devoted for kitchen or like purposes, such space being utilized for piping or other servicing requirements of the fixture or other items of the assembly.

. -My invention is particularly directed to an assembled wall unit for a kitchen although not necessarily restricted thereto, and is applicable for the attainment of likepurposes in combinationwith other building component parts.

1. The combination of an assembly of individual items arranged to be positioned in relation to a wall or partition of a building or other structure, and further comprising a compartment of variable vertical height to accommodate varied vertical distances between the floor level and the ceiling level, said compartment having a wall I overhanging said items, said wall being provided with transparent means, and lighting means disposed within said compartment for illuminating said items through the intermediation of said transparent means. a

2. The combination of an assembly of individual items arranged to be positioned in relation to each other and to a wall or partition of a building or other structure, and including a compartment arranged above said items, said com partment being of variable vertical height to accommodate varied vertical distances between the floor level and the ceiling level," said'compartment having a wall overhanging said individual items, said wall being provided withjtransparent means, and lighting means disposed within said compartment for illuminating said items through the intermediation of said transparent means.

3. The combination of an assembly of individual items including closet means arranged to be positioned in relation to a wallor partition of a buildinglor other structure, and further comprising a compartment, said compartment having a wall overhanging said closet means, said wall being provided with transparent means and lighting means disposedavithin said compartment, said closet means having a wall provided ualclosets arranged to be positioned in relation to a wall or partition of a building or other structure, and further comprising a compartment having a wall overhanging said closets, said wall' being provided with transparent means, and

lightmeans disposed within said compartment,

said closet means having a wall provided with a transparent medium in illuminating relationship with said lighting means. I

5. The combination of anassembly of individual closets in predetermined relationship, to one another and arranged tob'e positioned in relation to a wall or partition of a building or other

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