Wall-Mounted Appliance Apparatus

Abstract

Wall mounted appliance apparatus (10) including an appliance support for supporting an appliance (11) in operative orientation, a housing (12) arranged for mounting to a wall (13), said housing being sized to accommodate the appliance support; mounting means comprising two pairs of struts, normally a short strut pair (14) and a long strut p (15), each strut pair being including a square or rectangular strut plate (16) extending between pairs of struts. The mounting means operatively interposed between said housing and said appliance support for mounting said appliance support to said housing for movement between a close attitude at which said appliance support is substantially parallel to coplanar with the wall and an open attitude at which said appliance support is spaced away from the wall a distan sufficient for effective operability of an appliance mounted in, on or to said appliance support.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to wall mounted appliance apparatus. The invention is primarily directed to cooking apparatus for cooking food arranged substantially vertically, such as vertical grills and toasters. The invention has particular application to wall mounted toasting apparatus for toasting one or more slices of bread, and in this specification, although specific reference will be made to such application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this field of use.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Efficient usage of space in households, offices and factories is always a concern of architects and designers. There are instances where usage of bench or floor space is best minimised, resulting in several arrangements for mounting appliances, implements and other apparatus to walls or ceilings. Similar considerations apply to vehicles which people may occupy or utilise for accommodation and/or for long journeys, such as marine craft, aircraft, caravans, trailer homes and passenger trains.

[0003] Electrically powered toasters have been provided for toasting one or more slices of bread, and are an appliance common to most western-style kitchens. Typically, the toaster is a bench-mounted appliance, often left in place on the bench-top. With increasing attention to efficient usage of space, as well as the proliferation of other kitchen appliances, it may be seen that there would be an advantage in eliminating such usage of space. In the case of vehicles, several kinds of appliance, electrical or non-electrical, may benefit if a wall-mounting arrangement could be achieved.

[0004] In this specification, terms such as vertical, horizontal, above and below and such like are used to describe the invention in a particular orientation for its typical use. However, the invention is not necessarily limited to use in any particular orientation.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide wall-mounted appliance apparatus which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned problems. Other aims and advantages of the invention may become apparent from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in wall mounted appliance apparatus including:

[0007] an appliance support for supporting an appliance in an operative orientation;

[0008] a housing arranged for mounting to a wall, said housing being sized to accommodate the appliance support;

[0009] mounting means operatively interposed between said housing and said appliance support for mounting said appliance support to said housing for movement between a closed attitude at which said appliance support is substantially parallel to or coplanar with the wall and an open attitude at which said appliance support is spaced away from the wall a distance sufficient for effective operability of an appliance mounted in, on or to said appliance support.

[0010] In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly in wall mounted cooking apparatus including:

[0011] a cooking module adapted for cooking food in a substantially vertical orientation;

[0012] a housing arranged for mounting to a wall, said housing being sized to accommodate the cooking module;

[0013] mounting means operatively interposed between said housing and said cooking module for mounting said cooking module to said housing for movement between a closed attitude at which said cooking module is substantially parallel to coplanar with the wall and an open attitude at which said cooking module is spaced away from the wall a distance sufficient for effective operability of said cooking module.

[0014] Preferably, the cooking module is in the form of a toaster, the general shape of which is greater in two orthogonal dimensions than the third orthogonal dimension, and the orientation thereof being such that one of the greater orthogonal dimensions is substantially vertical. Accordingly, the toaster preferably has dimensions which permit its accommodation within the thickness of a typical wall, that is, being relatively thin, with its height and width dimensions being somewhat greater than its thickness. It is also preferred that the wall appliance apparatus be formed as wall mounted cooking apparatus. In such form, it is preferred that the wall mounted appliance apparatus include an appliance support forming an appliance cradle in which a toaster may be cradled.

[0015] Preferably, the mounting means includes two pairs of mounting struts, each having one end (a "housing end") which is pivotally mounted to a spaced mounting on or in the housing ("housing mounting points"). The other end (the "appliance end") of each mounting strut is pivotally mounted to a mounting points on or in the appliance support ("cradle mounting points"). For appliances in the form of cooking apparatus, the respective pairs mounting points are preferably arranged in substantially vertical alignment. For other applications, the respective pairs mounting points are preferably arranged in substantially horizontal alignment. In such form, it is preferred that the spacing between housing mounting points is greater than the spacing between the cradle mounting points whereby the locus of the appliance cradle in its movement between the closed and open attitudes is such that, taken from the closed attitude, for a first portion of the locus, the cooking module moves substantially normal to the plane of the wall, remaining substantially parallel thereto, and for a second portion of the locus, the cooking module pivots or revolves about an axis substantially parallel to the wall such that the plane of the appliance cradle is oblique to the plane of the wall.

[0016] For appliances such as a vertical cooking module, the plane preferably intersects with the wall along a substantially vertical intersection line. In such form, it is also preferred that in its closed attitude, the appliance cradle or cooking module lies substantially within the thickness wall, that is, such that an outer face of the appliance cradle or cooking module is substantially coplanar with the outer face of the wall.

[0017] Preferably, one of the pairs of struts are reinforced with cross bracing connecting them to one another in an arrangement which provides stiffening against the dropping of their appliance ends. In a preferred form, the cross bracing is in the form of a plate. In a further preferred form, the plate and struts are integrally formed. For example, opposed edge portions of the plate may be folded to form flanges which extend past the ends of the plate a distance sufficient to provide end portions incorporating a pivot mounting. In such form, the end portions of the flanges are pivotally mounted to the cooking module and to the housing in substantially the same fashion as would separate struts as hereinbefore described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:--

[0019] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of wall mounted cooking apparatus according to the invention view from the top and one end;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIG. 1, but from the other end of the apparatus;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the cooking module in a more open attitude;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 showing the cooking module in a near closed attitude, but from a more frontal aspect than the views shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 4 showing a more frontal view of the cooking module in a slightly more open attitude;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 5 showing the cooking module in an open attitude;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 6 showing the cooking module about half way between the open and closed attitudes;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus shown in FIG. 6 in an aspect slightly more to the top;

[0027] FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of the wall mounted cooking apparatus of FIG. 8 from the side and top;

[0028] FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of the rear of the wall mounted cooking apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 showing the cooking module in a closed attitude.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In the figures, the same apparatus is shown from different angles and with the cooking module in a range of positions between the open attitude and the closed attitude. The same reference numerals refer to the same parts and elements of the apparatus in each of the Figs. Most reference numerals are provided on FIG. 3, but not every reference numeral is given in every other figure.

[0030] The wall mounted cooking apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 includes a cooking module 11 mounted to a housing 12 by a mounting assembly comprising two pairs of struts. The housing is mounted flush to a wall 13. The mounting assembly includes two strut pairs, nominally a short strut pair 14 and a long strut pair 15, each strut pair being including a square or rectangular strut plate 16 extending between pairs of struts. Each strut plate has its respective opposed sides folded in the same direction up at right angles to the plane of the plate to form the struts. The sides of the plate, that is, the struts, extend beyond the other edges of the plate for mounting to mounting points, one end of each strut being mounted to the cooking module and the other end of each strut being mounted to the housing. The selection of the lengths of the longer and short strut pairs and the spacing between the mounting points on the cooking module and the housing are arranged in a quadrilateral formation to provide a complex hinge such that the cooking module revolves about a complex axis between the open and the closed attitudes.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 in particular, the cooking module when close to the closed attitude shown in FIG. 10 flush with the wall moves out mostly away from the wall wholly until about halfway between open and closed as shown in FIG. 7. At the position shown in FIG. 7, the short strut pair is in substantial alignment with the plane of the cooking module. Pivoting the distal end of the cooking module 21 in the direction of arrow 22 causes the short strut pair to reflex beyond the plane of the cooking module such that the pivot axis of the cooking module close to the open attitude is largely about the axis between the mounting points of the long strut pair on the cooking module. This permits the cooking module in the open attitude to be substantially at right angles to the wall and substantially central of the housing. Such an arrangement permits the controls of the cooking module shown on the distal end thereof to be easily accessible as well as permitting the cooking module to be loaded and unloaded with food to be cooked from the top in the normal manner for the kind of cooking module shown (a toaster).

[0032] In use, wall mounted cooking apparatus according to the invention may be installed in new premises, such as dwellings, commercial kitchens and the like in order to reduce the amount of bench space used for such devices. Of course, wall mounted cooking apparatus according to the invention may be retrofitted to existing kitchens. The apparatus may include electrical connections and safety switches to prevent accidental operation of the cooking apparatus when in the closed position as desired, required or permitted. The finish of the face of the cooking module which is arranged flush with the face of the wall when in the closed attitude may be selected from the same material or finish as that of the wall face, or a separate or decorate finish may be applied thereto as desired. Arrangements may also be made for mounting the cooking module in a cradle or frame or the like for removal for servicing and/or cleaning.

[0033] Typically, the cooking apparatus is a toaster. The toaster may be used in the normal manner of a toaster, except that it is mounted to the wall, and may be folded away flush with the wall after such use. However, it will be appreciated that other appliances may be adapted for use in an appliance cradle, some of which are more suited to being pivoted out to a horizontal lane, and others more suited to being pivoted out as described with reference to the cooking module. Further example include, but are not limited to, sandwich toasting apparatus, magazine holders, bottle racks, writing tablets and such like. Generally speaking, it will be appreciated that for installations where the wall is of standard thickness, the wall mounted appliance apparatus of the present invention would be adapted to receive or have mounted to it an appliance which fits within the confines of a standard thickness wall. However, in some applications, particularly in the case of vehicles including marine craft, the wall may be an internal or false formed from panelling some distance from an outside wall or bulkhead, whereby the wall mounted appliance apparatus of the present invention may be adapted to have mounted to it apparatus of somewhat bulkier configuration.

[0034] Although the invention has been described with reference to one or more specific examples, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms. For example, the arrangement of folding against or into the wall in respect of cooking apparatus may be applied to other household appliances, such as, for example, laundry dispensers, tooth brush holders, toilet brush holders, magazine holders, toilet roll holders and the like without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as claimed by the following claims.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A wall-mounted appliance apparatus comprising: an appliance support for supporting an appliance in an operative orientation; a housing arranged for mounting to a wall, said housing being sized to accommodate the appliance support; mounting means operatively interposed between said housing and said appliance support for mounting said appliance support to said housing wherein said mounting means includes two pairs of mounting struts, each having a housing end pivotally mounted to spaced housing mounting points on or in the housing and remote from the housing ends an appliance ends pivotally mounted to spaced cradle mounting points on or in the appliance support, the length of the mounting struts and relative positions of the housing mounting points and cradle mounting points being selected to permit movement of said appliance support between a closed attitude at which said appliance support is substantially parallel to or coplanar with the wall and an open attitude at which said appliance support is spaced away from the wall a distance sufficient for effective operability of an appliance mounted in, on or to said appliance support.

11. A wall-mounted cooking apparatus comprising: a cooking module adapted for cooking food in a substantially vertical orientation; a housing arranged for mounting to a wall, said housing being sized to accommodate the cooking module; mounting means operatively interposed between said housing and said cooking module for mounting said cooking module to said housing, wherein said mounting means includes two pairs of mounting struts, each having a housing end pivotally mounted to spaced housing mounting points on or in the housing and remote from the housing ends an appliance ends pivotally mounted to spaced cradle mounting points on or in the cooking module, the length of the mounting struts and relative positions of the housing mounting points and cradle mounting points being selected to permit movement of said cooking module between a closed attitude at which said cooking module is substantially parallel to the wall and an open attitude at which said cooking module is spaced away from the wall a distance sufficient for effective operability of said cooking module.

12. A wall-mounted cooking apparatus comprising: a cooking module adapted for cooking food in a substantially vertical orientation; a housing arranged for mounting to a wall, said housing being sized to accommodate the cooking module; mounting means operatively interposed between said housing and said cooking module for mounting said cooking module to said housing, wherein said mounting means includes two pairs of mounting struts, each having a housing end pivotally mounted to spaced housing mounting points on or in the housing and remote from the housing ends an appliance ends pivotally mounted to spaced cradle mounting points on or in the cooking module, the length of the mounting struts and relative positions of the housing mounting points and cradle mounting points being selected to permit movement of said cooking module between a closed attitude at which said cooking module is substantially coplanar with the wall and an open attitude at which said cooking module is spaced away from the wall a distance sufficient for effective operability of said cooking module.

13. A wall-mounted cooking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cooking module is in the form of a toaster, the general shape of which is greater in two orthogonal dimensions than the third orthogonal dimension, and wherein one of the greater orthogonal dimensions is substantially vertical.

14. A wall-mounted appliance apparatus according to claim 10 configured as a wall-mounted cooking apparatus.

15. A wall-mounted appliance apparatus according to claim 10 configured as wall-mounted cooking apparatus, wherein the cooking module is in the form of a generally rectilinear toaster having two orthogonal dimensions greater than the third and where one of the greater orthogonal dimensions is substantially vertical.

16. A wall-mounted appliance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spacing between housing mounting points is greater than the spacing between the cradle mounting points, whereby the locus of the appliance cradle in its movement between the closed and open attitudes is such that, taken from the closed attitude, for a first portion of the locus, the cooking module moves substantially normal to the plane of the wall, remaining substantially parallel thereto, and for a second portion of the locus, the cooking module pivots or resolves about an axis substantially parallel to the wall such that the plane of the appliance cradle is oblique to the plane of the wall.

17. A wall-mounted appliance according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the pairs of struts are reinforced with cross bracing in the form of a plate.

18. A wall-mounted appliance according to claim 17, wherein the plate and struts are integrally formed.