GB2037582A

GB2037582A - Plinth for kitchen units

Info

Publication number: GB2037582A
Application number: GB7942143A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1978-12-07
Filing date: 1979-12-06
Publication date: 1980-07-16

Abstract

A panel member suitable for constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit has attachment means formed integrally with it and adapted to enable adjacent panel members disposed at right angles to one another to be attached at different levels to a common kitchen unit leg. A plurality of attachment means may be disposed at different levels between the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the panel. Alternatively where the panel is symmetrical about its central horizontal axis a single attachment means may be provided in a position offset from the longitudinal centre line so that adjacent panels may be attached to the leg at different levels by inverting one panel relative to the other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plinth assemblies for furniture This invention relates to plinth assemblies for for niture and especiallyforfitted kitchen furniture.

Kitchen cupboard units are generally provided with a recessed portion at the foot of the unit which enables the user to stand closer to the unit and prevents damage to the doors and the like due to contact with the user's feet. A "kicker plate" or "plinth" is provided at the recessed portion and hitherto these have generally been formed of wood or board and attached to the units by screwing or the like.

It has recently become the practice to support such kitchen units on short legs orfeetto which the plinth is secured by suitable clips. However where a unit is to form a pedestal or end unit it is necessary to provide a plinth on two adjacent sides and this presents problems in relation to the attachment of the panels to the legs or feet, especially when the panels are made from extruded plastics material. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this difficulty.

The invention provides a panel member for use in constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit, the panel member having attachment means formed integ rally therewith and adapted to enable adjacent panel members disposed in positions inclined to one another to be attached at different levels to a common support member.

Preferably the panel member is formed from extruded plastics material, the attachment means being formed integrally therewith during extrusion.

The attachment means is preferably contained within the external dimensions of the panel itself.

Preferably also a plurality of attachment means are disposed at different levels between the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the panel member.

This enables two such panel members to be attached to a single support leg of an associated kitchen unit by utilizing clips or other suitable attachment devices disposed at different levels.

In an alternative arrangement, applicable where the panel member is of symmetrical form about its central longitudinal axis, a single attachment means may be provided in a position offset from the longitudinal centre line of the panel member whereby adjacent panel members may be attached to a common support at different levels by inverting one panel member relative to the other.

The panel members are preferably interconnected to one another at the corner by corner pieces having locating members projecting from a central body portion in two directions for engagement with the ends of the panel members to locate the members in the desired angular position relative to one another.

It is desirable in order to allow for height adjustment of the complete kitchen unit when installed to leave a clearance between the upper edge of the plinth assembly and the underside of the associated cupboard unit. This clearance is preferably closed by an infill member adapted to be mounted at the upper end of the panel members.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plinth assembly for an article of kitchen furniture according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 2 to 4 are cross-sectional views to a reduced scale showing different means of attaching the panels to an article of kitchen furniture.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a plinth assembly comprising three panel members 5 of hollow extruded plastics construction interconnected at right angles to one another by means of corner pieces 6. The panels are of hollow form provided with internal reinforcing webs 7. The corner piece 6 comprises a central hollow body portion 8 at opposite ends of which are pairs of outwardly directed flanges 9 which are spaced apart by a distance equal to the width of the associated panels so as to form a push fit engagement therewith. The body portion 8 has inner and outer curved finished surfaces 1 OA and 1 0B and the component is of uniform crosssection throughout its length and formed by cutting suitable lengths from a continuous extrusion.

The panels incorporate attachment means to enable them to be attached to an associated unit of furniture. The attachment means is formed integrally with the panels and is designed to enable two adjacent panels forming a corner to be attached to the same furniture leg such as that shown in 14 in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 the attachment means comprises recesses or channels 12 of T-shape in cross-section extending longitudinally of the panel and adapted to slidably receive clip members 13 for engagement with the legs 14. The channels 12 are provided at two levels to enable adjacent panels extending at right angles to one another to be clipped to the same leg by respective clip members one of which is engaged in the upper channel of one panel (as shown) and the other in the lower channel of the adjacent panel.

In the case of panels which are uniform about their longitudinal centre line, the same result may be achieved by the provision of a single longitudinal recess or channel 12 in a position offset from the longitudinal centre line of the panel as shown in Fig.

1. Adjacent panels may then be inverted relative to one another to position the channels at different levels.

Figs. 3 and 4 show alternative forms of attachment means. In Fig. 3 the attachment means comprises a channel 15 similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but which projects from the outer surface of the panel. In Fig. 4 the channel is replaced by a projection 16 of T-shaped cross-section adapted to be engaged by clips incorporating complementary tracks or reces ses for sliding engagement therewith. In both cases two such tracks or recesses may be provided in a manner similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 if required.

The arrangements described provide a plinth assembly which may be readily attached to the legs of a kitchen furniture unit by slidably adjusting the clips or like members along the attachment means formed integrally with the panels. Moreover at corners the arrangement of the integral attachment means is such that both panels forming the corner may be attached to the same support leg at different levels. Moreover the panels and integral attachment means may be simply and cheaply produced from plastics material by extrusion.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example various different forms of attachment means may be incorporated in the panels in different positions dependent on requirements. The connecting pieces may also take various forms and where the panels are of hollow construction the connecting pieces may be provided with projections which engage in the hollow ends of the panels. This form of interconnection is particuiarly suitable for use with panels having projecting attachment means of the kind shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If desired the connecting pieces and panels may be secured together by adhesive.

Claims

1. A panel member for use in constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit, the panel member having attachment means formed integrally therewith and adapted to enable adjacent panel members disposed in positions inclined to one another to be attached at different levels to a common support member.

2. A panel member according to claim 1 where-in a plurality of attachment means are disposed at different levels between the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the panel member.

3. A panel member according to claim 1 which is symmetrical about its central longitudinal axis and wherein a single attachment means is provided in a position offset from the longitudinal centre line of the panel.

4. A panel member according to any preceding claim which is formed from plastics material by extrusion, said attachment means being formed integ rally therewith during extrusion.

5. A panel member according to any preceding claim wherein said attachment means is contained within the external dimensions of the panel itself.

6. A panel member according to any preceding claim wherein the or each attachment means comprises a track or channel of T-shaped cross-section formed in or provided on the panel.

7. A panel member according to any preceding claim wherein the or each attachment means comprises a projection of T-shaped -cross-section formed on the panel.

8. A panel member for use in constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Apanel member for use in constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A panel member for use in constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A panel member for use in constructing a plinth assembly for a kitchen unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A plinth assembly incorporating two panel members according to any preceding claim disposed at right angles to one another and having attachment means disposed at different levels on the respective panels and clip members slidably engaged with said attachment means and adapted for attachment to a furniture leg.

13. A plinth assembly according to claim 12 in which said panel members are interconnected by corner pieces having iocating members projecting from a central body portion in two directions and engaged with the ends of the respective panel members.

14. A plinth assembly according to claim 12 or 13 having an infill member mounted on the upper end of each panel member.

15. An article of furniture fitted with a plinth assembly according to any of claims 12 to 14.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.