Cabinet for housing a household appliance, including a ventilation unit, cabinet kit, appliance installation and associated assembly process

Abstract

Cabinet for housing a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, cabinet kit, appliance installation, and associated assembly method. This cabinet (100) for housing a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, includes a back panel (120) for securing the appliance and two support panels (130), each elongated and configured to be assembled at the lower edge (124B) of the back panel (120) in a first cabinet assembly configuration. Each support panel includes a lower tab (152B) for securing the corresponding support panel to the floor, allowing adjustment of the support panel's position relative to the floor.The bottom panel (120) includes at least one upper mounting bracket (152A), which is configured to be fixed to the ceiling opposite a top edge (124A) of the cabinet when the cabinet is in the first assembly configuration and the lower brackets (152B) are fixed to the floor. See Figure 3 for abbreviations.

Description

Title of the invention: Cabinet for housing a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, cabinet kit, appliance installation and associated assembly method

[0001] The present invention relates to a cabinet for housing a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, as well as a cabinet kit and an appliance installation comprising such a cabinet. The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a cabinet.

[0002] In dwellings intended for occupancy, particularly apartments or offices, household appliances are generally provided for the comfort of the occupants, for example, a boiler for heating and / or hot water, or a ventilation system to improve indoor air quality. These appliances make noise when in operation and are generally located in a so-called "utility room," for example, a bathroom, a pantry, or a toilet. For reasons including aesthetics and / or sound insulation, the appliance(s) are generally placed in a cupboard or cabinet.

[0003] To save space, the cabinet generally comprises an upper section, which houses the ventilation unit, and a lower section, which is free for other uses. In one example, the lower section of the cabinet serves as storage; for example, it may be equipped with drawers. For stability, the cabinet is generally placed against a wall, to which it is anchored. In another example, the ventilation unit is mounted above the toilet, more precisely above the toilet cistern. This configuration is often found when the toilet bowl is fixed to a load-bearing frame. However, the toilet drain in the lower section is connected to a service shaft which, in buildings, includes fire-resistant partitions. For fire safety reasons, it is forbidden to drill through these fire-resistant partitions. In other words, it is not possible to anchor a cabinet to the wall behind the toilet.Furthermore, the toilet installation configurations are located in a niche between two walls, the dimensions of which are linked to the masonry and are subject to tolerances on the order of a centimeter, or even in a corner... For aesthetic reasons, the cabinet must be adjusted to the width of the niche to hide the gaps between the cabinet and the walls.

[0004] More generally, known cabinets are not suitable for assembly in the various configurations encountered on construction sites and require specific adjustments, which are time-consuming and uneconomical. During a construction project, various tradespeople work in succession, for example, painters, tilers, plumbers... also Installing a cabinet to house a household appliance before or during the work of other trades risks delaying the construction site, while intervening once all other trades have finished requires special attention to avoid damaging the finishes already completed, the cabinet having to be adjusted to the specific conditions, in particular the dimensions, of the site in question.

[0005] It is these problems that the invention intends to remedy in particular, by proposing a cabinet for housing a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, which is easy to mount in multiple configurations, independently without interfering with any equipment that may be present, in particular the toilet.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a cabinet for housing a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, inside a room comprising a floor and a ceiling, this cabinet comprising: - a lower part, configured to rest on the ground, and - an upper part, which surmounts the lower part and which includes a panel of base, which extends along a vertical axis and a transverse axis orthogonal to the vertical axis, the base panel having a substantially rectangular shape with two opposite lateral edges, which are parallel to the vertical axis, an opposite upper edge and lower edge, which are parallel to the transverse axis, the base panel comprising a front face intended for the attachment of the household appliance,

[0007] whereas the lower part comprises two support panels, each having an elongated shape extending parallel to a longitudinal axis, each support panel comprising a lower end, which is provided with a lower fixing tab, and an upper end, which is opposite the lower end and by which each support panel is configured to be assembled to the lower edge of the bottom panel,

[0008] whereas each lower tab is adjustable in position along the longitudinal axis, each lower tab being provided for fixing the corresponding support panel to the floor, so as to adjust a position of the support panel relative to the floor along the longitudinal axis,

[0009] that the bottom panel is fixed to the support panels in a first assembly configuration of the cabinet, in which the longitudinal axis of each support panel is parallel to the height axis, the support panels being spaced from each other so as to form a passage between them, the upper edge being opposite the ceiling when the cabinet is in the first assembly configuration and the lower legs are fixed to the floor, the bottom panel and the support panels forming, once assembled together, a first sub-assembly,

[0010] and that the bottom panel includes at least one upper fixing tab, which extends from the top edge and is adjustable in position parallel to the height axis, each top leg being configured to be fixed to the ceiling opposite the top edge when the cabinet is in the first assembly configuration and the bottom legs are fixed to the floor.

[0011] Thanks to the invention, when the cabinet is assembled, the legs are fixed to the floor and support the back panel, which is fixed to the ceiling. The cabinet is thus self-supporting and requires no wall anchoring, complying with regulations when the cabinet is located in front of a fire-resistant partition. Furthermore, the space between the legs allows access to the wall behind the cabinet, meaning it does not interfere with any existing equipment, such as a toilet frame, drain, etc.

[0012] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a cabinet may incorporate one or more of the following features taken individually or in any technically permissible combination: - The cabinet includes fixing inserts, which are provided on the front face of the back panel and are intended for fixing the appliance to the back panel,

[0013] whereas the inserts are airtight when the household appliance is attached to these inserts. - Each support panel includes an external side, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis and aligned with one of the lateral edges of the bottom panel when the cabinet is in the first assembly configuration, each lateral edge of the bottom panel forming, with the external edge of the support panel aligned with this lateral edge, an external side of the first subassembly, while a front face of each support panel is coplanar with a front face of the bottom panel, the union of the front faces of the support panels and the front face of the bottom panel forming a front face of the first subassembly,

[0014] whereas the cabinet also includes two side partitions, each side partition having the form of an elongated rectangular panel along a partition axis and comprising two opposite long sides and two opposite short sides, each side partition is configured to be assembled, by one of the long sides, onto the front face of the first sub-assembly, along one of the external sides of the first sub-assembly, the partition axis being parallel to the height axis,

[0015] and that the two partitions and the first mounting sub-assembly together form, once assembled, a second mounting sub-assembly, the cabinet then being in a second intermediate configuration, in which the two side partitions are located opposite each other and delimit, with the back panel, a

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022] volume of the receiving appliance, with the front face of the back panel facing towards an interior side of the cabinet. - A junction between each side partition and the front face of the first sub- The whole thing is airtight. - The cabinet includes an intermediate partition, which extends orthogonally to the height axis and is fixed, in an airtight manner, to the front face of the bottom panel and to the two side partitions opposite each other. - The cabinet includes a cover strip, for example a panel, which is fixed to one of the side walls by means of fasteners, the cover strip along the long side furthest from the first sub-assembly, while the cover strip is adjustable in position relative to the corresponding side panel according to a movement carried by a plane parallel to the back panel, and that the fixing devices for the cover seal are accessible from the interior volume of the cabinet. - Each side partition includes at least one fixing bracket, which is configured to be fixed to the floor and is adjustable in position along the partition axis, while the fixing brackets for the side panels are accessible from inside the cabinet. The invention also relates to a cabinet kit, comprising a cabinet as defined above, and a drilling template, configured to indicate on the floor the locations of the lower fixing brackets and, where applicable, the side fixing brackets of the side panels. The invention also relates to a household appliance installation, comprising: - a cabinet as defined previously, and - a household appliance, in particular a ventilation unit, which is received in this cabinet and which is fixed to the back panel. According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for assembling a cabinet as defined above, the assembly method comprising: - in a first step, the assembly of the base panel to the support panels to form the first mounting sub-assembly, and the fixing of the support panels to the ground, using the lower fixing brackets, so as to fix the first mounting sub-assembly to the ground, - then, in a second step, the side partitions are fixed to the front face of the first mounting sub-assembly. Advantageously: - the process includes an initial step, prior to the first step, the step initial including drilling in the ground of first holes, using a template, the first holes being drilled so as to correspond to the locations of the lower fixing brackets. - During the initial stage, second holes are also drilled into the ground using the template; these holes are drilled in such a way as to correspond to the locations of the fixing brackets for the side partitions.

[0023] while, during a third step subsequent to the second step, the fixing brackets of the side partitions are fixed to the ground in the second holes.

[0024] This process induces the same advantages as those mentioned above with regard to the cabinet of the invention.

[0025] The invention will be better understood, and other advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of several embodiments of a cabinet for a household appliance, a cabinet kit, an appliance installation, and a method for assembling such a cabinet, in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is a schematic view of an installation comprising a device household appliances, the installation comprising a cabinet conforming to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0027] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the cabinet in [Fig.1];

[0028] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents, on two inserts a) and b), a first subset of assembly of the cabinet in [Fig.1] and a larger scale detail of this first sub-assembly, illustrating a first stage of cabinet assembly;

[0029] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents, on two inserts a) and b), a second subset assembly of the cabinet in [Fig.1] and a larger scale detail of this second sub-assembly, illustrating a second stage of cabinet assembly;

[0030] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents, on two inserts a) and b), a third subset assembly of the cabinet in [Fig.1] and a larger scale detail of this third sub-assembly, illustrating a third stage of cabinet assembly;

[0031] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the third subset of the [Fig. 5], observed along arrow VI, and

[0032] - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a third subset of assembly of a cabinet corresponding to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0033] A unit 10 of a building is shown in [Fig. 1]. By "unit" is meant a portion of the building's interior volume, within which common airflows circulate. For example, in the case of an apartment building, each apartment is a unit of that building. Airflows circulate within each apartment, but not between them. apartments - potential leaks being neglected. In the case of a detached house, this house comprises only one lot, the house itself.

[0034] In the illustrated example, lot 10 is an apartment. Lot 10 comprises a floor 12 and a ceiling 14, which are assumed to be horizontal. The following description is given with reference to the orientation of the objects illustrated, bearing in mind that this may be otherwise in reality, particularly when these objects are in pieces or being assembled.

[0035] Lot 10 comprises a room 16, here a toilet room, represented by a toilet bowl 17A and a cistern 17B. The toilet bowl 17A and the cistern 17B are supported by a frame 17C, i.e., a metal frame resting on the floor 12. The floor 12 is generally covered with a finishing layer. In the room 16, the floor 12 is generally covered with tiles or a flexible floor covering such as linoleum.

[0036] The basin 17A is connected to a drain duct 18, which passes through the floor 12 and the ceiling 14. The drain duct 18 is housed in a shaft 20, also known as a "technical shaft." In the case of an apartment building, the shaft 20 passes through the floors. For safety reasons, the shaft 20 is generally made of fire-resistant materials to prevent a potential fire from spreading between floors.

[0037] Lot 10 also includes a room 22 separate from the premises 16. Room 22 is for example a bedroom, which is here separated from the premises 16 by a corridor 24.

[0038] Lot 10 includes an installation 30 of a household appliance 32. The installation 30 is here a ventilation installation, the household appliance 32 being here a ventilation unit, which here includes a fan 33A and a filter 33B.

[0039] In a non-illustrated and non-limiting variant, the installation 30 is a heating installation, the household appliance 32 then being a boiler. The principles of the invention are not limited by the type of household appliance.

[0040] The installation 30 also includes a cabinet 100 for housing the household appliance 32. The cabinet 100 defines an internal volume VI00, which is therefore configured here to receive the household appliance 32 and the chassis 17C. The cabinet 100 is shown here against the duct 20, the cabinet 100 being fixed to the floor 12 and extending vertically towards the ceiling 14. The cabinet 100 is shown fully assembled, in a so-called operating configuration.

[0041] The cabinet 100 includes a lower part 102, which is configured to rest on the floor, which here receives the frame 17C and the tank 17B of the toilet and on which the toilet bowl 17A is fixed. The cabinet 100 also includes an upper part 104, which surmounts the lower part 102 and in which the household appliance 32 is received.

[0042] The ventilation installation 30 here comprises several ventilation ducts, only one duct 34 being shown in [Fig. 1]. The installation 30 includes, for each duct 34, an outlet 36, through which the duct 34 opens into the lot 10. In the illustrated example, the conduit 34 opens into room 22 through the associated outlet 36.

[0043] In the illustrated example, the air blown through the outlet 36 returns to the ventilation unit 32 via a return duct, here a plenum 38 provided in lot 10. The plenum 38 is provided here by a false ceiling, which extends in lot 10 between room 22 and the ventilation unit 32. The plenum 38 and room 22 are fluidly connected by an inlet 40. In an alternative not shown, the return duct is provided by a specific pipe.

[0044] The upper part 104 of the cabinet 100 is here connected in a sealed manner to the plenum 38, while the lower part 102 is assumed to be airtight. By "airtight," we mean a leakage rate of less than 6% of the airflow rate recirculated in the ventilation unit 110, which is comparable to a leakage rate through partitions made of plasterboard joined by jointing tape and plaster. Thus, when the ventilation unit 32 is running and blowing air into the room 22 through the duct 34, this creates a slight overpressure in the room 22 and a slight underpressure in the plenum 38, so that the air blown into the room 22 through the duct 34 naturally tends to return to the ventilation unit 32 by passing through the inlet 40 and the plenum 38. The ventilation installation 30 in the illustrated example is also called a "recirculation installation".

[0045] Cabinet 100 is now described, with reference to figures 2 to 6.

[0046] In [Fig.2], the cabinet 100 is shown in the configuration for use. The cabinet 100 has an overall elongated parallelepiped shape, extending along a height axis H100. The height axis H100 is generally vertical when the cabinet 100 is mounted in a batch 10, as shown in [Fig.1].

[0047] The cabinet 100 has, in a plane orthogonal to the height axis H100, a rectangular section with opposite long sides and opposite short sides, the long sides extending along a transverse axis T100 of the cabinet 100, while the short sides extend along a depth axis P100. The cabinet 100 comprises a front face 106, which is oriented towards the user when the user is standing in front of the cabinet 100, and a back 108, which is generally located against a partition or against a wall of the lot 10. The depth axis P100 is oriented towards the user when the latter is standing in front of the front face 106, the depth axis P100, the transverse axis T100 and the height axis H100 together forming a direct orthogonal coordinate system.

[0048] In the example of [Fig. 1], the front face 106 comprises a lower panel 112 and an upper panel 114, which correspond substantially to the lower part 102 and the upper part 104 of the cabinet 100, while the bottom 108 is located opposite the duct 20. In the illustrated example, the lower part 102 of the cabinet 100 houses the chassis 17C, so the lower panel 112 includes a lower opening 116A, which serves for the attachment of the bowl 17A to the frame 17C and to the connection of the bowl 17A to the drain pipe 18, and a high opening 116B, which receives a button 17D for controlling the tank 17B. The lower panel 112 is advantageously configured so that the connections of the lower panel 112 with, respectively, the bowl 17A and with the button 17D are airtight.

[0049] With reference to [Fig. 2], the upper part 104 of the cabinet 100 comprises a back panel 120, which has a flat shape and extends along the height axis H100 and the transverse axis T100. The back panel 120 has a substantially rectangular shape with two opposing lateral edges 122A and 122B, which are parallel to the height axis H100, and an opposing upper edge 124A and lower edge 124B, which are parallel to the transverse axis T100. The back panel 120 comprises a front face 126A, which is oriented in the same direction as the depth axis P100 and is provided for the attachment of the household appliance 32, and a rear face 126B, which is oriented opposite to the front face 126A.

[0050] The cabinet 100 includes fastening elements 128, which are provided on the front face 126A of the back panel 120 and are intended for attaching the appliance 32 to the back panel 120. The fastening elements 128 are rails held by inserts provided in the back panel 120. The fastening elements 128 are preferably airtight, i.e., designed to prevent air leakage through the back panel 120. In particular, the fastening elements 128 are advantageously configured to be airtight when the appliance 32 is attached to the back panel 120 by means of the fastening elements 128.

[0051] The lower part 102 of the cabinet 100 comprises two support panels 130, each of which has an elongated shape extending parallel to a longitudinal axis A130. Each support panel 130 comprises two opposing lateral sides 132, which are parallel to the longitudinal axis A130. Each support panel 130 also comprises a lower end 134B, and an upper end 132A, which is opposite the lower end 132B and by which each support panel 130 is configured to be assembled to the lower edge 124B of the bottom panel 120.

[0052] The base panel 120 is fixed to the support panels 130 in a first assembly configuration of the cabinet 100, as shown in [Fig. 2]. The base panel 120 and the support panels 130 together, once assembled to each other, form a first subassembly 140 of the cabinet 100.

[0053] In the first assembly configuration, the longitudinal axis A130 of each support panel 130 is parallel to the vertical axis H100. The support panels 130 are spaced apart to form a passage P130 between them. The passage P130 provides free access to the wall behind the cabinet 100, and in this case, access to the duct 20, specifically for connecting the junction box 17A to the conduit. evacuation 18.

[0054] The lateral sides 132 of the two support panels 130 that are opposite each other and that border the passage P130 are called internal sides 132A, while the other lateral sides 132 are called external sides 132B. Each support panel 130 thus comprises an internal side 132A and an external side 132B.

[0055] The outer side 132B of each support panel 130 is aligned with one of the side edges 122A or 122B of the bottom panel 120 when the cabinet 100 is in the first assembly configuration, each side edge 122A or 122B of the bottom panel 120 forming, with the outer edge 132B of the support panel 130 aligned with this side edge 122A or 122B, an outer side 142 of the first subassembly 140, while a front face 136 of each support panel 130 is coplanar with the front face 106 of the bottom panel, the union of the front face 136 of each support panel 130 and the front face 106 of the bottom panel 120 forming a front face 146 of the first subassembly 140. The outer side 142 of the first subassembly 140 is thus parallel to the height axis H100, while the front face 146 of the first sub-assembly 140 is globally flat and extends orthogonally to the depth axis P100.

[0056] The cabinet 100 also includes mounting brackets 150. Each of the mounting brackets 150 is L-shaped. The mounting brackets 150 include lower brackets 152B, which are intended for securing the support panels 130 to the floor 12. Thus, the lower end 132B of each support panel 130 is equipped with a lower bracket 152B. Each lower bracket 152B is adjustable in position along the corresponding longitudinal axis A130, so as to adjust the position of the support panel 130 relative to the floor along the longitudinal axis A130. By extension, each lower bracket 152B is intended for securing the first subassembly 140 or the cabinet 100 to the floor 12.

[0057] In particular, in the first intermediate configuration of the cabinet 100, each lower leg 152B serves to adjust a position of the first sub-assembly 140 relative to the floor 12 along the height axis H100, which makes it possible in particular to compensate for the horizontality defects of the floor 12. The first sub-assembly 140 is thus perfectly plumb regardless of the type of floor finish 12, for example tiles, linoleum, parquet, etc.

[0058] When the cabinet 100 is in the first assembly configuration and the lower legs 152B are fixed to the floor 12, the upper edge 124A of the bottom panel 120 is located opposite the ceiling 14. The mounting legs 150 include at least one upper leg 152A, each upper leg 152A being intended for fixing the bottom panel 120 to the ceiling 14, and by extension for fixing the first subassembly 140 or the cabinet 100 to the ceiling 14. In the illustrated example, the cabinet 100 includes two high 152A tabs. More generally, the 120 base panel includes at least one high 152A tab.

[0059] Each upper leg 152A protrudes from the upper edge 124A of the bottom panel 120 and is adjustable in position relative to the bottom panel 120 parallel to the height axis H100, each upper leg 152A being configured to be fixed to the ceiling 14 opposite the upper edge 124A when the cabinet 100 is in the first assembly configuration and the lower legs 152B are fixed to the floor 12.

[0060] Thus, thanks to the upper legs 152A fixed to the ceiling, the risk of tipping of the first sub-assembly 140, and more generally of the cabinet 100, is avoided, particularly when a household appliance 32 is placed in it. In particular, the cabinet 100 is stabilized, and this without having to drill through the wall located behind the cabinet 100, here the conduit 20.

[0061] With reference to [Fig. 4], the cabinet 100 also includes two side partitions 160. Each side partition 160 has the shape of an elongated rectangular panel along a partition axis A160, comprising two opposing long sides 162, as well as two opposing short sides, the two short sides including a lower short side 164B and a upper short side 164A. Each side partition 160 is configured to be assembled, by one of the long sides 162, onto the front face 146 of the first subassembly 140, along one of the external sides 142 of the first subassembly 140, the partition axis A160 being parallel to the height axis H100.

[0062] The two side partitions 160 and the first mounting sub-assembly 140 together form, once assembled, a second mounting sub-assembly 170, as shown in [Fig.4]. Cabinet 100 is then in a second intermediate configuration, in which the two side partitions 160 are positioned opposite each other and, together with the back panel 120, define a receiving volume V170 for the appliance 32, the front face of the back panel 120 facing an interior side of cabinet 100. The receiving volume V170 is thus a portion of the interior volume V100 of cabinet 100, with the receiving volume V170 corresponding to the upper part 104 of cabinet 100. The portion of the interior volume V100 corresponding to the lower part 102 of cabinet 100 is a lower volume, designated V171. Thus, the combination of the receiving volume V170 and the lower volume V171 forms the interior volume V100 of cabinet 100.

[0063] Advantageously, the junction between each side panel 160 and the front face of the first subassembly 140 is airtight. Thus, when the cabinet 100 is in its operating configuration, air infiltration into the receiving volume V170 is prevented, which contributes to the proper functioning of the appliance 32, particularly when this appliance 32 is a ventilation unit.

[0064] The side partitions 160 thus serve to improve the rigidity of the first sub- Assembly 140 is joined to the first sub-assembly 140 from the front of the first sub-assembly 140. The side panels 160 are joined to the first sub-assembly 140 using known fasteners, including, for example, centering pins, locking devices, etc. The locking devices are not shown. The locking devices are advantageously implemented from the internal volume V100 of the cabinet 100. Thus, the second sub-assembly 170 can be installed without interfering with the other equipment already in place, here the chassis 17C, even when the chassis 17C is housed in a niche between three walls.

[0065] The mounting brackets 150 also include, in addition to the upper brackets 152A and the lower brackets 152B, lateral brackets 152C, which are intended for fixing the side panels 160 to the floor 12. Thus, each side panel 160 includes at least one mounting bracket 150, here a lateral bracket 152C, which is configured to be fixed to the floor 12 and whose position is adjustable along the axis of the panel A160. The mounting brackets 150 of the side panels 160 are accessible from the interior volume V100 of the cabinet 100.

[0066] Thus, the lower brackets 152B and side brackets 152C are fixed to the floor 12. During the assembly of the cabinet 100, the cabinet 100 is advantageously accompanied by a drilling template, which is configured to indicate on the floor 12 the locations of the lower fixing brackets 152B and, where applicable, the fixing brackets 152C of the side panels 160. The drilling template is not shown. The drilling template and the cabinet 100 together form a cabinet kit. Thus, fixing the fixing brackets 150 is particularly quick and easy, even when the frame 17C is present. The drilling template ensures correct positioning of the fixing brackets 150, and after assembly, good geometry of the cabinet 100, in other words, an aesthetically pleasing appearance, regardless of the dimensional tolerances of the masonry or the floor finish 12.

[0067] With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the cabinet 100 includes a cover strip 180, which is here made of paneling. The cover strip 180 is attached to one of the side partitions 160 by means of fasteners 182, here brackets, which are accessible from the interior volume V100 of the cabinet 100. In the figures, the cover strip 180 is attached to the side partition 160 located on the left. The joint cover 180 rests in a watertight manner against a section of this side partition 160, along the long side furthest from the first sub-assembly 140. The joint cover 180 is adjustable in position relative to the corresponding side partition 160 by a movement carried by a plane parallel to the bottom panel 120. Thus, when the side partition 160 carrying the joint cover 180 is located opposite a wall, the joint cover 180 is positioned so as to conceal a gap between the side partition 160 carrying the cover joint 180 and this wall. Then, the fixing devices 182 are secured from the internal volume VI00 of the cabinet 100.

[0068] The second sub-assembly 170 advantageously has a symmetrical structure, so that the joint cover 180 can be mounted, at the installer's choice, on either of the side partitions 160, depending on the configuration the installer is facing.

[0069] Once the cover joint 180 is in place on one of the side partitions 160, the installer fixes hinges 184 on the other side partition 160, which are intended for fixing the top panel 114. The top panel 114 closes, in a watertight manner, the receiving volume V170, taking support in particular on the cover joint 180.

[0070] The lower panel 112 is also fixed, in a sealed manner, to the second sub-assembly 170, so that when the bowl 17A and the button 17D are fixed to the lower panel, the internal volume V100 is closed in an airtight manner.

[0071] The cabinet 100 according to the invention, as well as the drilling template, makes it possible to implement a particularly simple assembly method for the cabinet 100.

[0072] The assembly process thus comprises a first step, during which the bottom panel 120 is assembled to the support panels 130 so as to form the first mounting sub-assembly 140, and during which 12 of the support panels 130 are fixed to the ground, by means of the lower fixing brackets 152B, so as to fix the first mounting sub-assembly 140 to the ground 12. Then, during a second step, the side partitions 160 are fixed to the front face 146 of the first mounting sub-assembly 140, so as to form the second sub-assembly 170.

[0073] Advantageously, the assembly process includes an initial step, prior to the first step, the initial step comprising drilling in the ground 12 first holes, using the drilling template, the first holes being drilled so as to correspond to the locations of the lower fixing legs 152B.

[0074] Advantageously, during the initial step, second holes are also drilled in the floor 12 using the drilling template, which are drilled so as to correspond to the locations of the side tabs 152C, i.e. the fixing tabs 150 of the side partitions 160. Then, during a third step, subsequent to the second step, the side tabs 152C for fixing the side partitions 160 are fixed to the floor 12 in the second holes.

[0075] A cabinet 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in [Fig. 7]. In the second embodiment, the elements analogous to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference numerals and function in the same way. The following mainly describes the differences between the first and second embodiments.

[0076] The cabinet 200 of the second embodiment includes an intermediate partition 210, which extends orthogonally to the height axis H100 and is fixed, in an airtight manner, to the front face of the bottom panel 120 and to the two opposing side partitions 160. The intermediate partition 210 separates, in an airtight manner, the receiving volume VI70 from the lower volume V171. Thus, when the lower part 102 is not closed by a bottom panel 112, for example when the lower part 102 contains storage drawers, the receiving volume V170 remains airtight when the cabinet 200 is in its operating configuration, contributing to the proper functioning of the ventilation unit 32.

[0077] In the illustrated example, room 16 is a toilet room. According to other, non-limiting examples, room 16 is a bathroom or even a pantry, etc. Generally speaking, room 16 is a so-called "technical" room, where occupants usually only go temporarily, unlike bedrooms or the living room, which are so-called "living" rooms. Of course, the cabinet 100 or 200 according to the invention can be installed in any room and is not limited to technical rooms. Similarly, the cabinet 100 / 200 is configured to receive a household appliance 32, but it is not necessary for this appliance to be present for the implementation or assembly of the cabinet. The household appliance 32 serves to illustrate the context of use of the cabinet 100 / 200.

[0078] In particular, in the illustrated example, the household appliance 32 is a recirculating unit, which corresponds to a particularly demanding situation because the cabinet 100 or 200 must be airtight to function properly. If necessary, the cabinet 100 / 200 also includes sealing elements, for example gaskets, adhesive strips, silicone seals, etc., which are positioned to ensure the airtightness of the assembly of the various components of the cabinet 100 / 200. The sealing elements are not shown.

[0079] The embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention

Claims

1. Demands Cabinet for housing a household appliance (32), in particular a ventilation unit, inside a room (16) comprising a floor (12) and a ceiling (14), the cabinet (100; 200) comprising: • a lower part (102), configured to rest on the ground (12), and • an upper part (104), which surmounts the lower part (102) and which includes a bottom panel (120), which extends along a height axis (H100) and a transverse axis (T100), orthogonal to the height axis (H100), the bottom panel (120) having a substantially rectangular shape with two opposing lateral edges (122A, 122B), which are parallel to the height axis (H100), an opposing upper edge (124A) and a opposing lower edge (124B), which are parallel to the transverse axis (T100), the bottom panel (120) including a front face (126A) provided for the fixing of the household appliance (32), in which: • the lower part (102) comprises two support panels (130), each of which has an elongated shape extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (A 130), each support panel comprising a lower end (134B), which is provided with a lower fixing tab (152B), and an upper end (134A), which is opposite the lower end (134B) and by which each support panel (130) is configured to be assembled to the lower edge (124B) of the bottom panel (120), • Each lower leg (152B) is adjustable in position along the longitudinal axis (A 130), each lower leg being provided for fixing the corresponding support panel (130) to the floor (12), so as to adjust a position of the support panel relative to the floor (12) along the longitudinal axis, • the bottom panel (120) is fixed to the support panels (130) in a first assembly configuration of the cabinet (100; 200), in which the longitudinal axis (A130) of each support panel (130) is parallel to the axis of height (H 100), the support panels (130) being spaced apart to form a passage (P 130) between them, the top edge (124A) being aligned with the ceiling (14) when the cabinet (100; 200) is in the first assembly configuration and the bottom legs (152B) are fixed to the floor (12), the bottom panel (120) and the support panels forming, once assembled together, a first sub-assembly (140), • the bottom panel (120) includes at least one top fixing leg (152A), which extends from the top edge (124A) and which is adjustable in position parallel to the height axis (H100), each top leg (152A) being configured to be fixed to the ceiling (14) opposite the top edge when the cabinet (100; 200) is in the first assembly configuration and the lower legs (152B) are fixed to the ground (12).

2. Cabinet (100; 200) according to claim 1, wherein: • the cabinet (100; 200) includes fixing inserts (128), which are provided on the front face (126A) of the bottom panel (120) and are intended for fixing the household appliance (32) to the bottom panel (120), • the inserts (128) are airtight when the household appliance (32) is fixed to these inserts.

3. Cabinet (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: • each support panel (130) comprises an external side (132B), which is parallel to the longitudinal axis (A130) and aligned with one of the lateral edges (122A, 122B) of the bottom panel (120) when the cabinet (100; 200) is in the first assembly configuration, each lateral edge of the bottom panel (120) forming, with the external edge of the support panel (130) aligned with this lateral edge, an external side (142) of the first subassembly (140), while a front face (136) of each support panel (130) is coplanar with a front face (126A) of the bottom panel (120), the meeting the front faces (136) of the support panels (130) and the front face (126A) of the bottom panel (120) forming a front face (146) of the first subassembly, • the cabinet (100; 200) also includes two side partitions (160), each side partition having the shape of an elongated rectangular panel along a partition axis (A 160) and comprising two opposing long sides (162) and two opposing short sides (164), each side partition (160) is configured to be assembled, by one of its long sides (162), onto the front face (146) of the first subassembly (140), along one of the external sides (142) of the first subassembly, the partition axis (A 160) being parallel to the height axis (H100), • the two partitions (160) and the first mounting subassembly (140) together form, once assembled, a second mounting sub-assembly (170), the cabinet (100;200) then being in a second intermediate configuration, in which the two side partitions (160) are located opposite each other and delimit, with the bottom panel (120), a receiving volume (V170) for the household appliance (32), the front face (126A) of the bottom panel (120) being turned towards an interior side of the cabinet (100; 200).;

4. Cabinet (100; 200) according to claim 3, wherein: • a junction between each side partition (160) and the front face (146) of the first subassembly (140) is airtight.

5. Cabinet (200) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein: • the cabinet (200) comprises an intermediate partition (210), which extends orthogonally to the height axis (H100) and which is fixed, in an airtight manner, to the front face (126A) of the bottom panel (120) and to the two side partitions (160) opposite each other.

6. Cabinet (100; 200) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: • the cabinet (100; 200) comprises a cover strip (180), for example a panel, which is fixed to one of the side walls (160) by means of fasteners (182), the cover strip (180) being in a sealed bearing against an edge of this side wall (160) along the long side (162) away from the first subassembly (140), • the cover strip (180) is adjustable in position relative to the corresponding side wall (160) by a movement carried by a plane parallel to the bottom panel (120), and • the fasteners of the cover strip are accessible from the interior volume of the cabinet (100; 200).

7. Cabinet (100; 200) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein: • each side partition (160) includes at least one fixing bracket (152C), which is configured to be fixed to the floor (12) and which is adjustable in position along the partition axis (A160), • the fixing brackets (152C) of the side partitions are accessible from the interior volume (V100) of the cabinet (100; 200).

8. Cabinet kit (100; 200), comprising: • a cabinet (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and • a drilling template, configured to indicate on the floor (12) the locations of the lower fixing lugs (152B) and, where applicable, the side fixing lugs (1525C) for the side walls.

9. Installation (30) of household appliances, including: a cabinet (100; 200) (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and • a household appliance (32), in particular a ventilation unit, which is received in this cabinet (100; 200) and which is fixed to the back panel (120).

10. Method of assembling a cabinet (100; 200) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, the assembly method comprising: • in a first step, assembling the bottom panel (120) to the support panels (130) so as to form the first mounting sub-assembly (140), and fixing the support panels to the floor (12) by means of the lower fixing tabs, so as to fix the first mounting sub-assembly (140) to the floor (12), • then, in a second step, fixing the side partitions (160) to the front face (146) of the first mounting sub-assembly (140).

11. Assembly method according to the preceding claim, wherein: • the method comprises an initial step, prior to the first step, the initial step comprising drilling in the ground (12) first holes, by means of a template, the first holes being drilled so as to correspond to the locations of the lower fixing lugs (152B).

12. Assembly method according to the preceding claim, wherein: • during the initial step, second holes are also drilled in the floor (12) using the template, which are drilled so as to correspond to the locations of the side tabs (152C) for fixing the side partitions, • during a third step, subsequent to the second step, the side tabs (152C) for fixing the side partitions are fixed to the floor (12) in the second holes.

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