A modular kitchen fitment with an auxiliary concealed unit

Abstract

 A fitment for a modular kitchen includes an auxiliary concealed unit (2) which can be used, for example, for supporting an electrical kitchen appliance or other accessory, the auxiliary unit (2) being mounted for vertical sliding on guides (3) provided in the fitment (1) and being movable between a position in which it is concealed within the fitment and an operative position outside the fitment, through an opening provided in a horizontal wall of the latter, the auxiliary unit (2) including a surface (7) which closes the opening (1b) when it is in its concealed position.

Description

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a fitment for a modular kitchen, characterised in that it includes an auxiliary concealed unit which can be used, for example, for supporting an electrical kitchen appliance, is mounted for vertical sliding on guides provided in the fitment, and is movable between a position in which it is concealed within the unit and an operative position outside the fitment, through an opening provided in a horizontal wall of the latter, the auxiliary unit having a surface which closes the opening when the unit is in its concealed position.

[0002] The fitment may be a floor unit, in which case the auxiliary unit is movable between a lowered position in which it is concealed within the unit and a raised position in which it projects above the top of the unit. Alternatively, the fitment element may be a suspended unit, in which case the auxiliary unit is movable between a raised position in which it is concealed within the unit and a lowered position in which the auxiliary unit projects below the bottom of the suspended unit.

[0003] The fitment according to the invention includes an electric motor and a mechanical transmission operated by the electric motor for causing the vertical movement of the auxiliary unit.

[0004] According to a further preferred characteristic, the fitment of the invention is provided with two electrical switches which must be operated simultaneously to cause the electric motor to operate, the switches being placed at such a distance from each other that it is impossible for a child to operate them.

[0005] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show, partially in section and partially in perspective, the fitment according to the invention in two different conditions of use, and

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 2.

[0006] In the drawings, a floor unit which forms part of a kitchen furnishing assembly is generally indicated 1. The unit 1 is provided with an auxiliary unit 2 mounted for vertical sliding on a fixed guide element 3. A body 4 is also provided within the unit 1 and includes an electric motor with a mechanical transmission for causing the movement of the auxiliary unit 2. The structural details of the electric motor and the mechanical transmission are not described in the present description, since they may be of any known type and do not fall within the scope of the present invention. The vertically-movable auxiliary unit 2 includes a rear wall 5 which connects a lower surface 6 and an upper surface 7. The unit 2 is movable between a lowered position in which it is concealed within the unit 1 and a raised position in which it projects above the top 1a of the unit 1 through an opening 1b. In the lowered position, the upper surface 7 fills the opening 1b and can be used, for example, as a chopping board. In the raised position, the opening 1b is occupied by the lower surface 6 of the unit 2. The latter is used for supporting auxiliary articles, such as, for example, a food processor or a television. The rear wall 5 is preferably provided with a rack 8 for holding things.

[0007] Naturally, as already indicated above, it is possible to provide a suspended unit with an auxiliary unit 2 which is movable between an upper position in which it is concealed within the suspended unit and a lowered position in which it projects below the bottom of the suspended unit.

[0008] The electric motor for operating the movable unit 2 is controlled by two push-buttons 9 which must be operated simultaneously. This characteristic enables child-proof safety to be achieved, since the push-buttons 9 are sufficiently far apart to be operable only by an adult.

Claims

1. A fitment for a modular kitchen, characterised in that it includes an auxiliary concealed unit (2) which can be used, for example, for supporting an electrical kitchen appliance or other accessory, the auxiliary unit (2) being mounted for vertical sliding on guides (3) provided in the fitment (1) and being movable between a position in which it is concealed within the fitment and an operative position outside the fitment, through an opening provided in a horizontal wall of the latter, the auxiliary unit (2) including a surface (7) which closes the opening (1b) when it is in its concealed position.

2. A fitment according to Claim 1, characterised in that it includes an electric operating motor and a mechanical transmission interposed between the electric motor and the auxiliary unit (2).

3. A fitment according to Claim 1, characterised in that it is constituted by a floor unit and in that the auxiliary unit is movable between a lowered concealed position and a raised operative position in which it projects above the top of the floor unit.

4. A fitment according to Claim 1, characterised in that it is constituted by a suspended unit and in that the auxiliary unit (2) is movable between a raised concealed position and a lowered position in which it projects below the bottom of the suspended unit.

5. A fitment element according to Claim 2, characterised in that it is provided with two push-buttons (9) which must be operated simultaneously in order to operate the electric motor, the push-buttons being arranged at a sufficient distance apart to prevent operation by a child.

Drawing