GB2518137A - A kitchen unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A kitchen unit comprises means of lateral mobility and a mechanism for elevation. The means of lateral mobility may comprise a plurality of wheels 20 and may comprise at least one castor wheel 21. The mechanism for elevation is preferably a scissor lift 4 and may include an electric actuator. The unit preferably has a worktop surface and may also include drawers, cupboard space or shelving. The unit may comprise a skirt at its lowermost edge that prevents lateral mobility when in contact with the ground. When a skirt is provided, the mechanism for elevation lifts the skirt from the ground to allow mobility.

Description

A KITCHEN UNIT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a kitchen unit, more particularly a unit for maximisation of available kitchen space.

Background

Due to increasing pressures, both economic and space related there is decreasing amounts of space for many people in todays societies.

At the same time there is an increasing amount of mechanisation and consumerism in many areas of life.

For example where these two paradigms intersect in many people or users habitats is in their homes, or more particularly their kitchens.

For example due to decreasing costs of kitchen appliances, and decreasing costs of implements, cutlery and crockery many users have an increasing quantity of such items in their kitchens.

Unfortunately they also have less available and usable space frequently.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: 2 Japanese patent application JP 2011 019 600 (HASEGAWA et al) discloses a kitchen unit enabling a kitchen unit body to be smoothly turned to a prescribed position, capable of preventing the kitchen unit body from freely moving and overturning when the kitchen is used, and capable of easily enlarging the top surface of the kitchen unit body. The kitchen unit includes the kitchen unit body with a cooking device and a sink disposed on the top surface and wheels for moving on the bottom, and a piping start-up opening set between the bottom of the kitchen unit body and a kitchen floor for collectively inserting various piping to be used for any or all of water feeding, draining, gas feeding and power feeding. The kitchen unit body is tumable around the piping start-up opening.

Japanese patent application JP 2010 022 541 (MORIUCHI) discloses a movable kitchen unit whose whole construction is made up in a movable manner with its water supply and drainage equipment being fixed with respect to its sink. The kitchen unit is composed of at least a sink structure and a cooking structure. A pedestal of the sink structure is fixed to the floor. A drainpipe which is drawn from under the floor is directly connected with the sink. Also, a water supply pipe is connected with a water faucet which is arranged on the sink. Meanwhile, a pedestal of the cooking structure is provided with wheels and is connected with the sink structure through a connecting arm so that it can freely move along the peripheral border of the sink structure. Also, a power supply of a cooker is drawn in from the sink structure through the connecting arm.

German patent application DE 202 006 006 800 (SCHREIWEREI) discloses a bedside table consists of a castor-mounted hollow rectangular case concealing an electrically operated scissor lift. The scissor lift supports a retractable bedside chest of drawers with a top-mounted folding flap table. The unit is remotely switch-operated.

Chinese patent application CN 2 812 691 (GUO) discloses a utility model that relates to an elevating kitchen cabinet, which belongs to kitchen equipment. The utility model provides the elevating kitchen cabinet capable of sufficiently using kitchen space and timely discharging steams in the kitchen cabinet. The utility model comprises, a cabinet body. The elevating kitchen cabinet has the essential technical structure that the upper part of the cabinet body is respectively provided with a ventilating air exhaust interface and a motor. A gear on the shaft of the motor is engaged with the input gear of the gearbox of a worm wheel worm. The operating rod of the gearbox of the worm wheel worm is connected with gears on brackets at both sides. The gears of the brackets are engaged with the rack bars of anouter cover. The cabinet body arranged at the side part of the rack bars is provided with a position limiting wheel.

The interior of a guide groove arranged at the side part of the cabinet body is provided with the guide wheel of the outer cover.

Granted French patent FR 2 816 490 (MORIN) discloses a scissor lift table that comprises legs supporting table top by rollers running under rail under top.

connecting rods articulated to legs and top ensure centralization the legs which support the table top by means of rollers running under rails located under the top.

Centralizing is ensured by connecting rods articulated to the legs and top.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 249 713 (RODENBURG) discloses a cabinet provided with wheels or rollers, in particular for placing under a tabletop, wherein the bottom of the cabinet, near its rear wall, is provided with a backwards obliquely ascending wall part, at which obliquely ascending wall part and near the side walls of the cabinet two wheels have been provided, which project a small distance from underneath the obliquely ascending wall part, means having been provided for lifting the cabinet at the front side for wheeled movement of the cabinet.

United States patent application US 3 685 851 (BERRY) discloses a cabinet structure adapted for stationary and mobile use on a floor, a cabinet frame having sides and a base adapted to a rest on the floor, a tubular axle housing secured to said frame and defining a continuous slot including first and second elongated axial sections and a circumferential section communicating one end of each of said elongated axial sections, an axle rotatably mounted in said housing and defining an elongated axial slot, wheel hubs eccentrically mounted on said axle for rotation therewith whereby rotation of said axle selectively raises and lowers said wheel hubs, wheels rotatably mounted on said hubs, and a crank telescopically received in said axle and including a radial pin extending through the axial slot of said axle and said slot of said axle housing for selectively rotating said axle to bring said wheels to positions above and below said cabinet base.

In contrast the present invention provides a means of rearranging kitchen space as required, simply and in a way that allows use of a plurality of different kitchen styles.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a kitchen unit, having a means of lateral mobility and a mechanism for elevation.

Typically the means incorporates a plurality of wheels. These may combine with, include or be replaced by a roller.

The unit in summary allows a user to rearrange their kitchen space as appropriate to the lives and requirements.

Further preferred embodiments include at least one castor wheel. This allows a great deal of flexibility in directions of movement and maximises movement possibilities in confined spaces.

The unit is ideally a standard size for kitchen fittings, in order that it may be appropriate in various suites, and all embodiments of the unit may be provided in appropriate styling and materials.

In preferred embodiments however the unit has a worktop surface in order that it may be used for a variety of standard kitchen tasks.

Preferred embodiments also include storage, such as drawers, cupboard space or shelving.

In particular the means and mechanism may be incorporated into all variants of kitchen units, at manufacture or in some embodiments after sale.

The mechanism ideally acts to elevate and reduce the unit's height in order that for example in some embodiments the unit worktop is made more available or more usable.

In ideal embodiments however the unit mechanism elevates the unit worktop in order that the means is activated or that any block to lateral movement is denied.

For example in typical embodiments the unit may be prevented from lateral movement when it is in an unelevated state, more particularly because the unit has a skirt at its lowermost edge in use, wherein said skirt hides the means and mechanism, and contemporaneously prevents the unit's lateral movement when the skirt is in contact with the ground.

The mechanism thereby lifts the skirt from the ground arid allows the means freedom to move, and consequently the unit may be repositioned laterally.

The mechanism is preferably a scissor lift that is hidden under the skirt, although further embodiments such as hydraulic lifting rams may be envisaged and claimed.

The mechanism ideally includes apparatus to activate or operate it, preferably wherein the apparatus is also hidden, beneath the skirt or elsewhere on the unit, such as in a drawer or cupboard.

Further embodiments may have a portion that acts merely to hide and/or disclose the mechanism or apparatus, wherein for example a portion of the skirt is displaced to allow access to the apparatus and/or mechanism.

This portion may be displaceable by reason of a sprung catch, for example wherein the catch may be pushed to be released and the portion hingedly displaced. Other embodiments may have skirt portions that are slidable, detachable or rotate.

In further embodiments other apparatus or portions are provided to allow temporary use of the means or mechanism as required.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a transparent isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the unit; Figure 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 4 shows a transparent front view of the preferred embodiment; And Figures 5 show four views of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment includes a scissor lift mechanism (1), which mechanism also includes the means for lateral movement (2), namely wheels (20, Figure 3) andlor castors (21, Figure 3). These wheels 2 ideally have a non-marking coating.

As can be seen in Figure 4 a handle (3) may be inserted to crank up the mechanism 1 by turning a jacking screw (10) and extending the members 4 to provide an apparatus by which to elevate the unit (5). This apparatus or these members 4 may have an electric actuator.

As seen in Figure 2 the handle 3 is insertable into an aperture (6), said aperture 6 having a rotatable cover portion (7).

Claims (6)

1. Claims 1. A kitchen unit, having a means of lateral mobility and a mechanism for elevation.
2. 2. A unit according to claim I wherein the means incorporates a plurality of wheels.
3. 3. A unit according to claim I wherein the means incorporates at least one castor wheel.
4. 4. A unit according to any preceding claim wherein the mechanism comprises a scissor lift.
5. 5. A unit according to any preceding claim wherein the mechanism includes an electric actuator.
6. 6. A method of providing a kitchen unit according to any preceding claim.