U.S. patent application number 10/415287 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly with improved structure.
Invention is credited to Lucci, Roberto, Orlandini, Paolo.
Application Number | 20040035061 10/415287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11453190 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040035061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lucci, Roberto ; et
al. |
February 26, 2004 |
Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly with improved
structure
Abstract
The kitchen furniture assembly is made in the form of a rigid
self-bearing framework (4) featuring two side upright members (5)
with interconnecting cross-members and support brackets (8, 9), on
which modular floor-mount cabinets (1) and modular wall-mount
cabinets (2) are capable of resting, respectively, in their
installed position.
Inventors: |
Lucci, Roberto; (Lomazzo,
IT) ; Orlandini, Paolo; (Milano, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
11453190 |
Appl. No.: |
10/415287 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
September 6, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP01/10264 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/36.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 87/00 20130101;
A47B 47/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/36.5 |
International
Class: |
E04B 002/74 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 27, 2000 |
IT |
PN 2000A000067 |
Claims
1. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly comprising at least a
modular [floor-mount] lower cabinet, adapted to rest on the floor
by means of support feet or similar means, and at least a modular
[wall-mount] upper cabinet, characterized in that said support feet
(7) are part of a rigid self-bearing framework (4) provided with at
least two side upright members (5) extending in a position of a
substantial centre-of-mass balance with respect to said modular
cabinets (1-3), said side upright members (5) comprising first and
second support means (8, 9) on which said modular [floor-mount]
lower cabinet (1) and said modular [wall-mount] upper cabinet (2)
are capable of resting, respectively, in their installed
position.
2. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that said first and/or said second support means
are formed by at least a respective cross-member (8; 9) connecting
said side upright members (5) of the framework (4) with each
other.
3. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that said first support means comprise at least a
cross-member (8) connecting the side upright members (5) of the
framework (4) with each other, in which said second support means
comprise respective brackets (9) that protrude transversally from
the same upright members.
4. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that said side upright members (5) are
substantially identical or symmetrical to each other in their shape
and extend, in [a] said position of a substantial centre-of-mass
balance with respect to said modular cabinets (1-3), with a
substantially vertical upper portion (6) from which said support
feet (7) diverge downwards.
5. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 4,
characterized in that the support feet (7) of the side upright
members (5) are connected with each other by respective
cross-members (8) that constitute said first support means on which
said modular [floor-mount] lower cabinet (1) is capable of
resting.
6. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that said side upright members (5) are connected
with each other by at least a cross-member (11) adapted to define
the position of an upper face of the modular [wall-mount] upper
cabinet (2).
7. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that the self-bearing framework (4) comprises,
between said side upright members (5), at least an intermediate
upright member (13) extending on the rear thereof and provided on
top with further support means (17) on which said modular
[wall-mount] upper cabinet (2) is capable of resting in its
installed position.
8. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claims 5
and 7, characterized in that from said intermediate upright member
(13) there protrudes frontally at least a stiffening bar (14) that
connects said cross-members (8).
9. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 8,
characterized in that the lower portion (16) of the intermediate
upright member (13) and a downward extension (15) of said
stiffening bar (14) form further support feet of the self-bearing
framework (4). respect to said modular cabinets (1-3), with a
substantially vertical upper portion (6) from which said support
feet (7) diverge downwards.
5. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to
claim 4, characterized in that the support feet (7) of the side
upright members (5) are connected with each other by respective
cross-members (8) that constitute said first support means on which
said modular lower cabinet (1) is capable of resting.
6. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to
claim 1, characterized in that said side upright members (5) are
connected with each other by at least a cross-member (11) adapted
to define the position of an upper face of the modular upper
cabinet (2).
7. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to
claim 1, characterized in that the self-bearing framework (4)
comprises, between said side upright members (5), at least an
intermediate upright member (13) extending on the rear thereof and
provided on top with further support means (17) on which said
modular upper cabinet (2) is capable of resting in its installed
position.
8. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to
claim 7, characterized in that from said intermediate upright
member (13) there protrudes frontally at least a stiffening bar
(14) that connects said cross-members (8).
Description
[0001] The present invention refers to modular fitted-kitchen
furniture, ie. furniture that is obtained through appropriate
assembly of modular cabinets.
[0002] Modular fitted-kitchen furniture is largely known to mainly
comprise modular standing or floor-mount cabinets and modular
wall-mount cabinets, all of which may be intended for plain storage
utilization or may be fitted so as to accommodate properly designed
household appliances therein.
[0003] Floor-mount cabinets may be secured to similar units to form
a side-by-side arrangement, are completed by the installation of at
least an upper worktop thereupon, and are installed so as to rest
on the floor, usually by means of suitable support feet, or similar
resting means, that are an integral part of the structure of the
floor-mount cabinets themselves. In other words, each. floor-mount
cabinet must be normally made so as to include its own resting
feet.
[0004] In any case, the wall-mount cabinets are usually hung on,
ie. attached to the kitchen walls in a cantilever arrangement, in
which they are duly aligned with the floor-mount cabinets
therebelow through a notoriously critical and complex operation
that must generally be carried out by relatively skilled personnel
with the use of adequate too
[0005] It is therefore is a purpose of the present invention to
provide a modular fitted-kitchen furniture piece having a simple
and rational structure, adapted to simplify the fabrication,
handling and assembly of the various elements, ie. cabinets
thereof.
[0006] According to the present invention, such an aim is reached
in a modular fitted-kitchen furniture piece having an improved
structure embodying the features as recited in the appended
claims.
[0007] Features and advantages of the present invention will anyway
be more clearly and readily understood from the description that is
given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a different
embodiment of the present invention, in which some details are
shown with a dashed line for reasons of greater clarity.
[0010] With particular reference to FIG. 1, the modular
fitted-kitchen furniture piece, in the most elementary embodiment
thereof, is mainly formed by a modular floor-mount cabinet 1,
comprising a therewith associated worktop 3, as well as a modular
wall-mount cabinet 2 and a rigid self-bearing framework 4.
[0011] In accordance with the particular requirements, the modular
cabinets 1 and 2 may be either intended for mere containment, ie.
storage use or may be variously fitted with functional elements in
a per se known manner.
[0012] As his will be better explained further on in this
description, the self-bearing framework 4 is made of metal, with
two side upright members 5 being similarly or symmetrically shape
and connected with each other by at 1 a cross-member.
[0013] In a preferred manner, the upright members 5 comprise a
substantially vertical upper portion 6, from which respective
floor-resting feet 7 branch off downwards.
[0014] In the herein described example of a preferred embodiment,
the floor-resting feet 7 of the side upright members are connected
to each other in pairs by respective cross-members 8 flanking each
other, which actually constitute respective support means on which
the floor-mount cabinet assembly 1, 3 is then adapted to rest, so
that it does not need to be made with a structure that comprises
own resting feet. In this connection, it should be noticed that,
before being mounted on the framework 4, the floor-mount cabinet 1
is advantageously compact, ie. featuring a reduced overall size,
for a much easier, convenient handling and storage.
[0015] In the upper portion 6 thereof, the side upright members 5
further comprise respective brackets 9 that protrude transversally
from the upright members themselves and constitute respective
support means on which the wall-mount cabinet is adapted to rest,
so that it does not need to be secured to the wall, with the
resulting substantial advantages of a drastic simplification of the
installation thereof, which in fact can be most advantageously
carried out even by unskilled personnel in quite short a time.
[0016] As an alternative thereto, the brackets 9 may be replaced by
a corresponding cross-member connecting the upright members 5 with
each other, in the same way as the lower cross-members 8.
[0017] In any case, the upright members 5 extend in a central
position of substantial barycentric, ie. centre-of-mass balance
with respect to the modular cabinets 1, 3 and 2, in such a manner
as to promote the equilibrium and, therefore, the stability of the
whole modular furniture assembly.
[0018] Preferably, the solidity of the framework 4 is increased by
the provision of at least a further cross member 10 that connects
the upright members 5 to each other at the top portion thereof, as
well as a similar cross-member 11 that defines the position of the
upper face of the wall-mount cabinet 2.
[0019] Between the upright members 5 there can further extend a
substantially U-shaped bar 12 which protrudes backwards from the
framework 4 in such a manner as to be able to be used as a support
for kitchen implements.
[0020] Quite obviously, the modular cabinets 1 and 2 can be most
easily secured laterally to the upright members 5 by means of
screws (not shown) or similar fasteners, thereby contributing also
to the robustness of the whole modular furniture assembly.
[0021] Further to the above cited advantages, it should also be
noticed that, on an industrial scale, a plurality of frameworks 4
can be advantageously manufactured in an extremely rational manner,
with the use of similar or symmetrical component parts (ie. the
upright members 5) connected to each other by cross-members 8, IO,
1 that can each time be sized to a length that corresponds to the
actual width of the modular cabinets 1, 3 and 2 to be
assembled.
[0022] With reference to FIG. 2, in particular, if the above cited
modular cabinets 1, 3 and 2 have a relatively large width, or if
several modular cabinets have to be assembled and fastened to each
other in a side-by-side arrangement in a per se known manner, the
self-bearing framework 4 comprises, between the side upright
members 5, at least an intermediate upright member 13 extending in
the rear so as to avoid hindering a convenient positioning of the
floor-mount cabinet 1, 3.
[0023] The intermediate upright members 13 is provided at its top
portion with further support means 17 in the form of a bracket, on
which the wall-mount cabinet is able to rest in an intermediate
position.
[0024] Preferably, from such an intermediate upright member 13
there protrudes frontally at least a stiffening bar 14 connected to
the cross-members 8 and provided with a downward extension 15 that,
similarly to the lower portion 16 of the same intermediate upright
member, forms a further support or resting foot that improves the
solidity and stability of the self-bearing framework 4 and, as a
result, the entire modular kitchen furniture assembly.
[0025] It will be readily appreciated that the above described
modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly may be subject to a
number of modifications without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
[0026] So, for example, the cross-member 8 and/or the brackets 9
can support modular cabinets 1, 2 provided in the form of a simple
shelf or worktop, and between the upright members 5 there can be
provided, for instance at an intermediate height, the surface of a
kitchen table. In this case, of course, the resulting furniture
assembly will allow for installation in a position at a distance
from the walls of the kitchen.
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