A system for positioning a wall-mounted kitchen
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VERNE ISABELLE
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-17
AI Technical Summary
Wall-mounted kitchens face challenges such as the desire for deeper worktops, which increases material waste and manufacturing costs, as well as issues with moisture passage from the wall, mismatched electrical and water connections, and protruding electrical sockets that hinder close positioning to the wall.
A positioning device for wall-mounted kitchens that includes a spacer portion to increase the worktop depth without cutting the cover element to a special size, while also creating space for housing cables and pipes, reducing the need for new wall tracks and improving moisture sealing and electrical socket alignment.
The solution allows for a deeper worktop without excessive material waste or increased manufacturing costs, reduces moisture passage and installation complexity, and ensures a flush installation that minimizes the impact of protruding electrical sockets.
Smart Images
Figure IB2024057600_13022025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
TITLEA SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING A WALL-MOUNTED KITCHENDESCRIPTIONScope of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wall-mounted kitchens and, more specifically, to a system and a device for positioning a wall-mounted kitchen against a wall.Prior art - Technical problems
[0002] As well known, wall-mounted kitchens comprise a plurality of sections, each having a specific main function. Typically, a refrigerator section, an oven section, a sink section, a cooking section and a food handling and preparation section can be provided.
[0003] Some of those sections, typically the sink, cooking and food han- dling / preparation sections, consist of respective base modules placed side-by- side to each other. A common cover element, normally obtained from a board or a slab, is arranged on the modules. The common cover element is at a predetermined height from the floor and forms a worktop including several portions side-by-side to each other, upon which a user can carry out food preparation- related operations such as preliminarily washing and handling raw food, cooking the latter, cleaning and washing dishes. Normally these sections are associated to respective wall units arranged at a certain height above the worktop and generally having functions related to the operations carried out on the worktop portions respectively below. For instance, a wall units can be a dish drainer, a hood for cooking vapours, or a general-purpose unit for storing cooking utensils, ingredients such as salt, pepper... or even some raw or cooked foods.
[0004] Other sections of the kitchen, normally arranged at the sides thereof, extend vertically forming columns substantially having the full height of the kitchen, and does not include any worktop accordingly. A further row of top wall units can also be present, extending for the full width and at maximum height of the kitchen.
[0005] Wall-mounted kitchens have a standard depth of 60 cm, measured perpendicularly to the wall. This is also the depth of the worktop, while the latter can be as wide as 300-400 cm.
[0006] However, a larger worktop depth is often desired, in particular, food handling / preparation sections as deep as 70 to 75 cm are usually appreciated by the users. This can be obtained by cutting the slab from which the top is made to that size, which would however involve a significant waste of material and the manufacturing costs of the kitchen would increase accordingly. Moreover, the worktop would be unaesthetically and uncomfortably deeper than the standardsized base modules.
[0007] Another problem that can arise with wall-mounted kitchens is the passage of moisture from the wall to the modules of the kitchen, due to the close arrangement of the latter to the wall, which is required in order to firmly and safely fix the kitchen to the wall.
[0008] A further problem can arise when the desired arrangement of the kitchen sections (dish washing section, cooking section, refrigerator, etc.) does not match with the position of the electrical and water connections available on the wall to which the kitchen must be mounted, in which case new track inside the wall would be required.
[0009] Yet another problem that can occur with wall-mounted kitchens is the presence of electrical sockets protruding enough from the wall to hinder a suitably close positioning to the wall.
[0010] US 5,733,022 A discloses a backsplash for permanent attachment to a countertop surface, having an elongated flat member from which, near an own bottom portion, a first thin base ledge extends at a substantially right angle from the front face thereof, a second thin base ledge extends at a substantially right angle from the back face thereof. A gripper flange also extends vertically from the flat member. A recess in the countertop surface is configured to fric- tionally receive the gripper flange and to also receive the first and second base ledges. An adhesive is used with the base ledges to augment the holding force of the gripper flange. A scribe ledge optionally extends from a top edge of the elongated flat member as an aid in installation to get a flush fit against a room wall surface.
[0011] US 3,007, 213 A relates to a junction molding, I particular for a joint between a kitchen counter and a backsplash panel, in which a metal body has a channel to receive the lower edge of a backsplash panel and has a lower, forward extending arrow-headed anchor flange to be secured and embedded in a counter rear edge.Summary of the invention
[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system including one or more sections of a wall-mounted kitchen and a positioning device for positioning said wall-mounted kitchen, by which a worktop deeper than the standard worktop size can be provided without excessively increasing the manufacturing cost of the kitchen.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system of wall-mounted kitchen sections and positioning device that allows to significantly limit the passage of any wall moisture to the kitchen.
[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system by which modifications of the wall-mounted hydraulic and electrical connections can be avoided or reduced to a minimum.
[0015] It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a system that avoids unaesthetically distancing the kitchen from the wall due to objects protruding from the wall, such as sockets and other connections.
[0016] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a positioning device for a wall-mounted kitchen that enables the above-mentioned objects to be achieved by solving the above-mentioned technical problems.
[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, these and other objects are achieved by a system for positioning a wall-mounted kitchen as defined by claim 1 , said system including: one or more sections of a wall-mounted kitchen provided with a common worktop, and a positioning device for positioning the wall-mounted kitchen onto the wall, wherein said or each one section of the wall-mounted kitchen comprises a respective base module upon which a flat cover element is arranged to form the worktop.Advantageous forms of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned objects are achieved by a positioning device for positioning a wall-mounted kitchen comprising one or more sections of a wall-mounted kitchen provided with a common worktop, said or each section comprising a respective base module, upon which a flat cover element is arranged to form said worktop.
[0019] According to the invention, the positioning device extends continuously along an own longitudinal direction and includes: a connection portion for connecting the positioning device to the wall- mounted kitchen, the connection portion comprising: a flat fastening part configured to be fixed to an upper end of the base module and to receive and support, along the longitudinal direction of the device, an edge portion of the flat cover element; a worktop-abutment part perpendicularly extending from the flat fastening part for a predetermined elevation and providing an abutment for the edge portion of the flat cover element as a stop; a spacer portion rigidly extending from the worktop-abutment part for a predetermined depth, on a side opposite to the side of the flat fastening part with respect to the worktop-abutment part, up to an own wall-abutment edge, so as to position the base module at a distance from a wall substantially equal to the depth of the spacer portion.
[0020] Thanks to this positioning device, it is possible to extend the depth of the worktop, i.e. the work area, while using a cover element of standard width, typically 60 cm, i.e., without using a cover element cut to (special) size. In fact, the depth of the resulting work area is given by the sum of the depth of the worktop and the depth of the spacer portion.
[0021] Moreover, with such a positioning device, in comparison with a conventional installation, the base modules are shifted away from the wall by a distance equal to the depth of the spacer portion. This results into the favourable effects described below.
[0022] A first and probably most important effect is that a wide empty space is left between the wall and the rear face of the base modules. This empty space is substantially equal to the depth of the spacer portion of the device. This empty space can advantageously be used to house cables and pipes for connecting the kitchen-side hydraulic and electrical connectors, respectively, with thecorresponding wall-mounted connectors. This way, it is not necessary to make new tracks in the wall in order that the wall-mounted connectors match the kitchen-side connection, which reduces installation time and costs of the wall- mounted kitchen.
[0023] The elevation of the worktop-abutment part of the connection portion of the positioning device can be selected in such a way to form a step of a predetermined step height between the upper surface of the spacer portion and the worktop. In this way, the positioning device also serves as the "splashback" of the conventional wall-mounted kitchens, i.e., a wall-side raised edge of the worktop provided to prevent objects and liquids from falling behind the kitchen. In any case, this would also have to be provided in a conventional wall-mounted kitchen to comply with good construction technique.
[0024] As an alternative, the elevation of the worktop-abutment part of the connection portion of the positioning device can be selected so that the working plane, i.e. the upper surface of the cover element, is flush with the upper surface of the spacer portion, which is advantageously flat, thus forming a true depth extension of the working plane.
[0025] Preferably, the positioning device is formed by a folded metal plate having, along the longln this case, positioning device 10c can be made of a material such as stainless steel or iron, in particular artificially-aged iron or painted iron. Therefore, the positioning device can be made by simply bending, longitudinally cutting and transversally cutting an ordinary material such as a metal plate of suitable thickness, normally between 1 mm and 3 mm, preferably 2 mm, in the order suggested by the manufacturer’s experience. In particular, the flat fastening part may be fixed to the base module(s) by screws, at respective sides of the base module(s).
[0026] Advantageously, the positioning device further comprises a flat wallabutment portion extending from the wall-abutment edge, perpendicularly to the spacer portion. The flat wall-abutment portion may extend from the spacer portion on the same side as the worktop-abutment part, i.e. downwards, or on the opposite side, i.e. upwards, for a predetermined height, so as to form a counterwall portion of the wall-mounted kitchen above the worktop.
[0027] In the downward-facing variant, the flat wall-abutment portion allows an improved fluid-tight arrangement of the positioning device to the wall. In otherwords, the downwards-oriented flat wall-abutment portion forms a sealing element that is more effective against fluid passage between the positioning device itself and the wall than the spacer portion of the “simple” positioning device, in which the metal plate is cut at the wall-abutment edge, and the positioning device ends at the wall-abutment edge itself.
[0028] On the other hand, in the upward-facing version, the flat wall-abutment portion resting against the wall forms a counterwall portion of the kitchen above the worktop, preferably extending up to the kitchen wall units, if any. This improves the wall-protection effect of the positioning device, in comparison to the above-mentioned “simple” positioning device. In other words, the upwards arrangement of the flat wall-abutment portion prevents the wall from being reached by larger splashes or projections of liquid that may occur when handling or cooking the food. In particular, the counter-wall element formed in this way allows the kitchen to be installed even if the wall does not have a protective covering of tiles or the like, while still protecting the wall from liquid projections.
[0029] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the positioning device comprises at least one stiffening body arranged adjacent to the worktopabutment part and below the spacer portion, i.e., arranged in corner contact with the wall-side surface of the worktop-abutment part and with the bottom surface of the spacer portion. The positioning device can comprise a single stiffening body having the width size as the device itself. As an alternative, the positioning device can comprise a plurality of stiffening bodies each having a smaller width and arranged at respective sides of the base module. The at least one stiffening body can be formed of an at least partially recovered material, for example a wood chip-based material, MDF, or wood. The at least one stiffening body prevents the positioning device from being deformed under the action of a force acting permanently or instantaneously, i.e. a weight or an impact force, acting on the spacer portion. This allows the use of the spacer portion as a support seat for kitchen utensils, containers of ingredients, etc.
[0030] In the embodiments in which the flat wall-abutment portion extends from the spacer portion on the side opposite to the worktop-abutment part, i.e., upwards, forming the above-mentioned counter-wall portion, a shelf member advantageously extends from the flat wall-abutment portion. The shelf membercan be obtained by bending the metal plate from which the positioning device is made.
[0031] In particular, the shelf member can be a hollow shelf member obtained by multiple folding that metal plate, at a plurality of bending lines that are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the positioning device, in particular said hollow shelf member has a parallelepiped shape and is obtained by bending the metal plate at three parallel bending lines. In this case, preferably, the hollow shelf member encloses at least one further stiffening body. The latter can be formed in one of the materials mentioned above in connection to the at least one stiffening body arranged below the spacer portion of the positioning device.
[0032] In one embodiment, the flat wall-abutment portion includes an upward extension having a predetermined extension height beyond the shelf member. This upward extension is advantageously high enough to reach the wall- mounted kitchen wall units, if any, with the same advantages as those mentioned above, when describing the counter-wall portion.
[0033] Advantageously, at least one lighting body, in particular comprising LEDs, is arranged under the shelf member, wherein the at least one lighting body is oriented so as to illuminate the worktop and preferably extends over the entire width of the positioning device. Preferably, the shelf member has a front descending part at its free end, and the at least one LED lighting body is arranged concealed within a corner portion formed by the front descending part forms below the shelf member. In this way, a user can have the worktop illuminated without being dazzled or annoyed by a light projected directly to his / her own eyes by the at least one lighting body.
[0034] In an embodiment, at least one auxiliary positioning element can be provided, comprising: an auxiliary fastening portion configured to be fixed to a rear face of the base module; an auxiliary support portion fixed to a respective stiffening body, in particular, by means of one or more screws.The auxiliary positioning element is useful, in particular, to support the weight of the positioning device when the latter has an upward-extending wall-abutment portion, i.e., a counter-wall portion as described above, and, more in particular,when one or more shelf elements, or other means of supporting tools, ingredients such as spices, etc., extend from the counter-wall portion.
[0035] In particular, the auxiliary positioning element can have an L-shaped structure, in which the auxiliary fastening and support portions form the wings of such an L-shaped structure. For example, the length of both wings of the L- shaped structure can be 12 cm. In this way, the auxiliary positioning element can be easily made by simply bending, longitudinally cutting and transversally cutting such a material as a metal plate, similarly to the case of the positioning device.
[0036] Specifically, the support portion of the auxiliary positioning device extends from the auxiliary fastening portion for a distance substantially equal to the depth of the spacer portion. This way, the auxiliary positioning device is configured as an auxiliary spacer portion of the positioning system.
[0037] Advantageously, a hub comprising a plurality of power or USB-type electrical sockets emerges from the spacer portion of the positioning device. In particular, such a hub is reversibly inserted into the spacer portion with a root comprising electrical connection means.Brief description of the drawings
[0038] Further objects and advantages of the positioning system and device, according to the invention, will become clearer with the following description of some embodiments thereof, made by way of example and not of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic perspective views of respective wall- mounted kitchens equipped with the positioning device according to the invention;Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a positioning device according to a first embodiment of the invention;Fig. 4A shows a detail of Fig. 4;Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of a positioning device according to a modification of the first embodiment;Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device according to another modification of the first embodiment; figure 8 is a partial diagrammatic perspective view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device shown in figure 7;Figs. 9 and 10 show a perspective and cross-sectional view, respectively, of an auxiliary positioning element for use in combination with the positioning device according to the invention, in particular, according to the modification of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 15 and 16;Fig. 1 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a positioning device according to a second embodiment of the invention;Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device according to the second embodiment; Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views of positioning devices according to a first modification and a second modification of the second embodiment, respectively;Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a positioning device according to the second modification of the second embodiment;Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device according to the second modification of the second embodiment;Fig. 17 is a partial diagrammatic perspective view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device according to the second embodiment;Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a positioning device according to a third embodiment of the invention;Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device according to the third embodiment;Fig. 20 is a partial diagrammatic perspective view of a wall-mounted kitchen equipped with the positioning device according to the third embodiment.Description of preferred embodiments of the invention
[0039] Figs. 1 and 2 diagrammatically show two kitchens 1 equipped with wall-mounted positioning devices 10c,10d, respectively, according to two embodiments of the invention, as described below.
[0040] Wall kitchens 1 comprise a plurality of kitchen sections 2a-2f. In particular, kitchen 1 of Fig. 1 includes a sink section 2a, food handling and preparation sections 2b and 2d, and a cooking section 2c. Kitchen 1 of Fig. 2 further includes a refrigerator section 2f and an oven section 2e. Sink section 2a, food handling / preparation section 2b, 2d and cooking section 2c comprise respective base modules 4a-d placed side by side to each other, and each laterally defined by left and right sides 7a-d, 8a-d, see also Fig. 8. A common cover element 3 is arranged over base modules 4a-d. Cover element 3 can be obtained, for example, from a board or slab of a stone material such as marble or of a resin and the like. The exposed surface of cover element 3 provides a worktop 3a including a plurality of portions that are specialised for cooking, for handling ingredients and finished foods, and for washing vegetables and dishes. The width L3 of cover element 3 and worktop 3a depends on the number of kitchen sections 2a- d over which cover element 3 is arranged, and can extend up to three or four metres. Cover element 3 normally has a standard depth Pa of 60 cm. A common base support 13 can also be provided for base modules 4a-d.
[0041] Kitchen sections 2a-d can also include respective wall units 5a-5d at a given height over cover element 3. In particular, a dish rack unit 5a, a larder unit 5b and, in figure 2, a hood 5c for conveying cooking vapours.
[0042] Oven section 2e and refrigerator section 2f are not provided with worktop 3a and extend vertically for substantially the full height of kitchen 1 of figure 2 and comprise multiple stacked units 4e-4e"' and 4f'-4f" including, for example, electric oven unit 4e' and microwave oven unit 4e", on the left side of kitchen 1 of Fig. 2, and freezer unit 4f and refrigerator unit 4f" on the right side thereof. An additional row of overhead cabinets 5' can also be provided, arranged along the entire width of kitchen 1 .
[0043] With reference to Figs. 3 to 4A, a positioning device 10a for a wall- mounted kitchen is described according to a first basic embodiment of the present invention. Positioning device 10a extend continuously along a longitudinaldirection 1 1 that coincides with the width direction of kitchen 1 , once positioning device 10a has been mounted.
[0044] Positioning device 10a comprises a connection portion 20 for connecting positioning device 10a the wall-mounted kitchen 1 , and a spacer portion 25 to define the montage distance D between kitchen 1 and a wall 90 to which kitchen 1 is intended to be mounted.
[0045] Connection portion 20 comprises a flat fastening part 21 configured to be fixed to base modules 4a-d of kitchen sections 2a-d that are provided with worktop 3a (Figs. 1 and 2), and a worktop abutment part 23 configured to receive an edge portion 3b of cover element 3 when the latter is mounted to base modules 4a-d to form worktop 3a (Fig. 4A).
[0046] More in detail, flat fastening part 21 is configured to be fixed to a rear edge portion 6a of the top end 6 of each base module 4a-d provided with worktop 3a, and to receive and support edge portion 3b of cover element 3 along longitudinal direction 1 1. In other words, flat fastening part 21 is configured to be interposed between the assembly of base modules 4a-d, arranged side by side to each other, and flat cover element 3 common to base modules 4a-d. In particular, flat fastening part 21 is provided with holes, not shown, for the passage of screws 19, diagrammatically shown in figure 4A by their respective axes, for connecting flat fastening part 21 to the top end 6 of base module 4a-d.
[0047] Worktop-abutment part 23 extends from one side of flat fastening part 21 , perpendicularly to flat fastening part 21 , for a predetermined elevation H. Elevation H is selected in such a way that the upper surface of spacer portion 25 forms a step of a predetermined step height Hi over worktop 3a provided by cover element 3. Elevation H of worktop-abutment part 23 is advantageously set between 40 and 70 mm, preferably between 55 and 65 mm.
[0048] In a modification of the present embodiment, not shown, elevation H of worktop-abutment part 23 is selected equal to the thickness of cover element 3, so that worktop 3a, i.e. the upper surface of cover element 3, is flush with the upper surface of spacer portion 25, thus forming a true depth extension of worktop 3a.
[0049] Spacer portion 25 rigidly extends for a predetermined depth D from worktop-abutment part 23, on the side opposite to the side of flat fastening part21 with respect to worktop-abutment part 23 itself, to an own wall-abutment edge 26. In this way, by fixing wall-abutment edge to wall 90, base module 4a-d is located with its rear portion 9 at a distance from wall 90 that is substantially equal to depth D (Fig. 4), forming an empty space or cavity 17 of width D between rear portion 9 of each base module 4a-d and wall 90. Cavity 17 is useful for the passage of pipes and electrical cables to connect the kitchen-side hydraulic and electrical connectors, not shown, with the corresponding wall-mounted connectors, respectively, without making new tracks in wall 90. Moreover, in certain circumstances, cavity 17 limits the passage of possible moisture from wall 90 to base modules 4a-d of kitchen 1 .
[0050] Depth D of spacer portion 25 is preferably set between 10 and 15 cm, more preferably it is about 12 cm.
[0051] In a preferred modification of the first embodiment, compatible with the modification described above, positioning device 10a is formed from a folded metal plate. More in detail, at least two corners 22 and 24, parallel to each other, are formed by bending at right angle a starting metal plate, according to respective bending lines parallel to longitudinal direction 1 1 of positioning device 10a. In particular, corner 22 is formed between flat fastening part 21 and worktopabutment part 23 of connection portion 20, while corner 24 is formed between worktop-abutment part 23 of connection portion 20 and spacer portion 25.
[0052] In another modification of the first embodiment, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which is compatible with the modifications described above, positioning device 10a further comprises a flat wall-abutment portion 27a extending from wallabutment edge 26 at right angle to spacer portion 25 on the same side as worktop-abutment part 23 with respect to spacer portion 25 itself. Between spacer portion 25 and the flat wall-abutment portion 27a, a further corner is formed parallel to corners 22, 24 and to longitudinal direction 11 of positioning device 10a. Wall-abutment portion 27a provides improved liquid tightness between wall 90 and positioning device 10a itself.
[0053] As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a device 10b according to a further modification of the first embodiment, compatible with the previously described modifications, comprises a stiffening body 15 or a plurality of stiffening bodies 15a-c arranged in corner contact with the wall-side surface of worktop-abutment part 23 and with the bottom surface of spacer portion 25.
[0054] Stiffening body 15 can be as large as the full width L3 of positioning device 10b or, as shown in Fig. 8, stiffening bodies 15a-c can have a width L15 and are arranged at a distance D15 from each other. In particular, stiffening bodies 15a-c are each arranged at outer sides 7a, 8c and at mutually adjacent sides 8a-7b, 8b-7c of the base modules 4a-c upon which flat cover element 3 is arranged.
[0055] Stiffening body 15 or stiffening bodies 15a-c can be made of an at least partially recycled material such as a wood chip-based material or MDF, or wood, but also resin, etc.
[0056] As also shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in a further modification of the first embodiment, an auxiliary positioning element 50,50a-d can be associated to positioning device 10b. Auxiliary positioning element 50,50a-d comprises an auxiliary fastening portion 51 configured to be fixed to a rear face 9 of base module 4a-d, for example, by means of screws 58, and further comprises an auxiliary support portion 55 fixed to single stiffening body 15 or to a respective stiffening body 15a-c, in particular, by means of screws 59. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, auxiliary positioning element 50,50a-c preferably has an L-sectional shape, i.e., the auxiliary fastening and support portions 51 ,55 are at a right or substantially right angle with respect to each other. Auxiliary positioning element 50 can extend along the entire width L3 of positioning device 10b or, as shown in Fig. 8, auxiliary positioning elements 50a-c have a width L50 and are arranged at stiffening bodies 15,15a-d, i.e. at a distance D15 from each other. Auxiliary fastening and support portions 51 ,55 can be provided with through holes 58’ and 59’ for screws 58, 59, respectively.
[0057] In particular, auxiliary support portion 55 of said or each auxiliary positioning element 50,50a-c is configured as an auxiliary spacer portion extending from the auxiliary fastening portion 51 for a depth substantially equal to depth D of spacer portion 25.
[0058] Auxiliary positioning element 50, or auxiliary positioning elements 50a-d, is / are always shown in combination with the stiffening body or bodies 15, 15a-d. However, in an embodiment not shown, auxiliary positioning element 50, or auxiliary positioning elements 50a-d may be used in the absence of the stiffening body or bodies 15, 15a-d, with auxiliary support portion 55 arranged or mounted in direct contact with spacer portion 25 of positioning device 10b.
[0059] With reference to Figs. 1 1 -17, a positioning device 10c, also shown in Fig. 1 , is described for a wall-mounted kitchen according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0060] In the second embodiment, positioning device 10c comprises a flat wall-abutment portion 27b extending for a predetermined height T from support edge 26 perpendicularly to spacer portion 25, on a side opposite to the side of worktop-abutment part 23, so as to form a counterwall portion 27b of kitchen 1 above worktop 3a. In this way, positioning device 10c also serves to protect at least a portion of wall 90 from projections of cooking materials that can occur during food preparation in kitchen 1 . Predetermined height T is preferably set between 20 and 30 cm, preferably between 20 and 25 cm, in particular it is about 22.5 cm.
[0061] In some modifications of the second embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 1 -17, a shelf member 30, 30a, 30b advantageously extends from flat wall-abutment portion 27b, preferably, for an extension of between 10 and 15 cm, more preferably close to 12 cm, in particular for an extension equal to depth D of spacer portion 25. Moreover, like positioning device 10a of the first embodiment, positioning device 10c may be formed by multiple bending of a metal plate.
[0062] In particular, in a first modification of the second embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 1 -13, shelf member 30a is formed by simply bending a metal plate, when the metal plate is thick enough to ensure adequate rigidity of shelf member 30a. In this case, positioning device 10c can be made of a material such as stainless steel or iron, in particular artificially-aged iron. A single rightangle corner 28 is formed between flat wall-abutment portion 27b and shelf member 30a when bending the metal plate along one bending line parallel to longitudinal direction 11 of positioning device 10c.
[0063] In a second modification of the second embodiment, as shown in Figs. 14-17, the shelf member is a hollow shelf member 30b obtained by multiple bending of the metal plate along a plurality of bending lines parallel to longitudinal direction 11. In particular, in the case shown in Figs. 14-17, the multiple bending is carried out along three bending lines corresponding to respective right-angle corners 28,31 ,33, whereby hollow shelf member 30b has a parallelepiped shape. More in detail, corner 28 is formed between counterwall portion 27b of positioning device 10c and a lower wall 29 of hollow shelf member 30b, corner 31 is formed between lower wall 29 and a front wall 32 of hollow shelfmember 30b, and corner 33 is formed between front wall 32 and an upper wall 34 of hollow shelf member 30b. Upper wall 34 extends from corner 33, on the same side as lower wall 29 with respect to front wall 32 to an own wall-abutment edge 36 at wall 90.
[0064] In some instances, the space defined by positioning device 10c, i.e., by spacer portion 25, flat wall-abutment portion 27b and shelf member 30b is limited laterally by a side element 12 that can extend down to the lower end of side base modules 4a and / or 4d, as shown in Fig. 1 .
[0065] Figs. 16 and 17 show a positioning device 10c according to a further modification of the second embodiment, in which hollow shelf member 30b encloses a further stiffening body 35. Further stiffening body 35 can extend across the entire width of hollow shelf member 30b or, as shown in Fig. 17, it can comprise a plurality of further stiffening bodies 35a-c having a width L35 and arranged at a mutual distance D35 . In other words, stiffening body or bodies 35,35a-c of shelf member 30b can have the same structure and arrangement as stiffening body or bodies 15,15a-c of worktop-abutment part 23 and spacer portion 25 of positioning device 10a or 10b.
[0066] Figs. 16 and 17 show a case in which both stiffening bodies 15,15a- d and additional stiffening bodies 35,35a-d are present. However, the former can be provided independently from the latter and vice-versa. The stiffening of worktop-abutment part 23 and spacer portion 25 may be necessary, in particular, in upwards-extending positioning devices 10b and 10c according to the second and third embodiments (see below), which involve a higher static load on worktop-abutment part 23 and spacer portion 25.
[0067] Moreover, stiffening body or bodies 35,35a-d of shelf member 30b can have the same consistency as the stiffening body or bodies 15,15a-c arranged between worktop-abutment part 23 and spacer portion 25 of positioning device 10a or 10b, i.e., they can be made of such a material as a wood chipbased material, MDF or wood.
[0068] As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, in further modifications of the second embodiment, respectively associated with the first and second modifications of the same, a light body 60 (Fig. 14) or a plurality of advantageously selectively operable light bodies 60a, 60b can be arranged below shelf member 30a or 30b. Light body 60 or light bodies 60a, 60b are preferably oriented in such a way toilluminate worktop 3a. In a preferred modification form, light bodies 60, 60a, 60b are LED-based light bodies, and are advantageously arranged along the full width L3 of positioning device 10b (Fig.1 ).
[0069] In another modification of the first embodiment, shown in Figs. 14 and 15, positioning device 10a further comprises a further flat wall-abutment portion 37a extending from wall-abutment edge 36 at right angle to upper wall 34 of hollow shelf member 30b on the same side as front wall 32 with respect to upper wall 34 itself. Between upper wall 34 and flat wall-abutment portion 37a, a further corner 36 is formed parallel to corners 28, 31 , 33 and to longitudinal direction 1 1 of positioning device 10c.
[0070] More in particular, as shown in Fig. 13, shelf member 30a can further comprise a front descending part 39 that can be obtained by further bending the metal plate. Front descending part 39 preferably has a rounded free end 39', which can be obtained by further bending the metal plate. The at least one lighting body 60b, or a plurality of lighting bodies 60b are retractably arranged on the face 29 of shelf member 30a, preferably in a corner portion 38 formed within corner 33a, so as to illuminate the worktop 3b without dazzling the user.
[0071] As shown in Fig. 17, in a further modification of the second embodiment, at least one hub 70 comprising a plurality of electrical sockets, for example power sockets 71 and / or USB-type sockets 72, may emerge from spacer portion 25. In particular, hub 70 is removably inserted with an own plug portion, not shown, into a socket portion, not shown, of spacer portion 25. The plug and socket portions form an electrical connection means between to connect sockets 71 ,72 of hub 70 and a power and / or data supply network. Hub 70 with sockets 71 and / or 72 can of course also be provided in positioning device 10a of the first embodiment.
[0072] With reference to Figs. 18-20, a positioning device 10d for wall- mounted kitchen 1 , also shown in Fig. 2, is described according to a third embodiment of the invention. In comparison with the second embodiment, positioning device 10d comprises an upward extension 37b of flat wall-abutment portion 27b beyond shelf member 30b, typically, up to wall units 5a-5b, if the latter are present. Positioning device 10d also serves to protect the entire portion of wall 90 that is left uncovered by base modules 4a-d and by wall units 5a-d.
[0073] In particular, in a modification of the third embodiment, positioning device 10d is obtained by bending a metal plate and has a corner at a wall-abutment edge 36 of hollow shelf member 30b, which is also obtained by bending the metal plate at a bending line parallel to longitudinal direction 1 1 of positioning device 10d.
[0074] In particular, figure 20 refers to some modifications of the third em- bodiment in which stiffening bodies 15a-c and 35a-c are provided, besides auxiliary positioning elements 50,50a as in corresponding modifications of the first and second embodiments in Figs. 8 and 17.
[0075] The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention, and examples thereof, can show the invention from a conceptual point of view in such a way that others, using the known technique, will be able to modify and / or adapt in various applications such embodiments without further research and without departing from the inventive concept. Therefore, it is understood that such adaptations and modifications will be considered equivalent to the embodiments described. The means and materials for putting into practice the various func- tions may be of various kinds without departing from the scope of the invention.It is understood that the expressions or terminology used are purely descriptive and, therefore, not limiting.
Claims
CLAIMS1. A system for positioning a wall-mounted kitchen (1 ), including: at least one section (2a-d) of a wall-mounted kitchen (1 ), said at least one section equipped with a worktop (3a), and a positioning device (10a-c) for positioning said kitchen (1 ) onto the wall, wherein said at least one section (2a-d) of said wall-mounted kitchen (1 ) comprises a respective base module (4a-d) upon which a flat cover element (3) is arranged to form said worktop (3a), wherein said positioning device (1 Oa-c) extends continuously along an own longitudinal direction (1 1 ) and includes: a connection portion (20) for connecting said positioning device to said wall-mounted kitchen (1 ), said connection portion comprising: a flat fastening part (21 ) configured to be fixed to an upper end (6) of said base module (4a-d) and to receive and support along said longitudinal direction (11 ) an edge portion (3b) of said flat cover element (3); a worktop-abutment part (23) perpendicularly extending from said flat fastening part (21 ) for a predetermined elevation (H) and providing an abutment for said edge portion (3b) of said flat cover element (3) as a stop; a spacer portion (25) rigidly extending from said worktop-abutment part (23) for a predetermined depth (D), on a side opposite to the side of said flat fastening part (21 ) with respect to said worktop-abutment part (23), up to an own wall-abutment edge (26), so as to position said base module (4a-d) at a distance from a wall (90) substantially equal to said depth (D).
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said positioning device (10a-c) is formed by a folded metal plate having a first edge (22) formed between said flat fastening part (21 ) and said worktop-abutment part (23), and a second edge (24) formed between said worktop-abutment part (23) and said spacer portion (25), said first and second edges extending along said longitudinal direction (1 1 ).
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said flat fastening part (21 ) is fixed to said base module (4a-d) at respective sides (7a-c,8a-c) of said base module (4a-d) by means of screws (19).
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said elevation (H) of said worktop-abutment part (23) is selected in such a way to form a step of predetermined step height (Hi) between said spacer portion (25) and said worktop (3a).
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said elevation (H) of said worktop-abutment part (23) of said connection portion (20) of said positioning device (10a-d) is selected equal to a thickness of said cover element (3), so that worktop (3a) is flush with an upper surface of said spacer portion (25), which forms a depth extension of said worktop (3a).
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said positioning device (10a-c) further comprises a flat wall-abutment portion (27a, 27b) extending from said wall-abutment edge (26) perpendicularly to said spacer portion (25).
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said flat wall-abutment portion (27a) extends from said spacer portion (25) on the same side as said worktop-abutment part (23).
8. The system according to claim 2, wherein said positioning device (10a-c) comprises at least one stiffening body (15,15a-d) arranged adjacent to said worktop-abutment part (23) and below said spacer portion (25).
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said positioning device (10b-c) comprises a plurality of stiffening bodies (15a-d) having a predetermined width (L15) and arranged at respective sides (7a-c,8a-c) of said base module (4a-d).
10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said (15) or each (15a-d) stiffening body is made of a material selected among a wood chip-based material, MDF, wood.
11. The system according to claim 8, further comprising at least one auxiliary positioning element (50,50a-d) comprising: an auxiliary fastening portion (51 ) configured to be fixed to a rear face (9a-d) of said base module (4a-d);an auxiliary support portion (55) fixed to a respective of said stiffening bodies (15,15a-d).
12. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein said auxiliary positioning element (50,50a-d) has an L-shape in which said auxiliary fastening and support portions (51 ,55) form the wings of said L-shape.
13. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein said auxiliary support portion (55) is configured as an auxiliary spacer portion extending from said auxiliary fastening portion (51 ) for a distance substantially equal to said depth (D) of said spacer portion (25) of said positioning device (10a-c).
14. The system according to claim 6, wherein said flat wall-abutment portion (27b) extends from said spacer portion (25) on a side opposite to the side of said worktop-abutment part (23) for a predetermined height (T) so as to form a counterwall portion of said wall-mounted kitchen (1 ) above said worktop (3a).
15. The system according to claim 14, in which a shelf member (30a, 30b) obtained by folding (28) said metal plate extends from said flat wall-abutment portion (27b) on the wall.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said shelf member is a hollow shelf member (30b) obtained by multiple folding of said metal plate at a plurality of bending lines (28,31 ,33) parallel to said longitudinal direction (1 1 ), in particular at three bending lines (28,31 ,33), so as to form a parallelepiped shape of said hollow shelf member (30b).
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said hollow shelf member (30b) encloses at least one stiffening body (35;35a-d) of said shelf member.
18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said flat wall-abutment portion (27b) on the wall includes an upward extension (37b) having a predetermined extension height (Ti) beyond said shelf member (30b).
19. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one LED lighting body (60a, 60b) is arranged under said shelf member (30a, 30b), said LED lighting body oriented so as to illuminate said worktop (3a).
20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said shelf member (30a) has a front descending part (39) and said at least one LED lighting body (60b) isarranged within a corner portion (38) formed by said front descending part (39) below said shelf member (30a).
21. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a hub (70) comprising a plurality of power or USB-type electrical sockets (71 ,72) emerges from said spacer portion (25) of said positioning device (10a-c).