Kitchen Unit

Abstract

To provide a kitchen unit equipped with a more safe and durable outlet component that is free from water damage, while ensuring sufficient usable range for electrical appliances by installing the outlet component vertically on the top surface of the kitchen counter. [Solution] The present invention is a kitchen unit comprising a counter and an outlet member erected on the upper surface of the counter, wherein the outlet member has a pair of insertion holes into which a power plug is inserted, an outlet surface exposed to the outside including the openings of the pair of insertion holes, and a water-repellent portion provided as a recess in the surface of the outlet surface or as a protrusion on the surface of the outlet surface, located between the pair of insertion holes and the upper surface of the counter, to prevent or reduce water from rising from the upper surface of the counter.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a kitchen unit.

Background Art

[0002] <U+ In a kitchen environment, electrical appliances are frequently used for cooking. In a wall-facing kitchen, electrical appliances can be used in the kitchen environment, for example, on the kitchen counter, by using outlets installed on the wall.

[0003] However, in a face-to-face kitchen or an island kitchen, it is necessary to use outlets installed on a wall away from the kitchen. In this case, since the length of the outlet cord is limited, the usable range of the electrical appliance is limited, which is inconvenient, for example, the usable range may not reach the working space on the kitchen counter. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​However, in the kitchen units described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, if water is accidentally spilled on the kitchen countertop while the outlet is in use, and the water spreads across the countertop, there is a risk of electric shock if the water rises into the pair of outlet holes, and there is also a risk of the outlet being damaged.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. The object of this invention is to provide a kitchen unit equipped with an outlet component that is erected on the top surface of the kitchen counter, ensuring a sufficient range for the use of electrical appliances, while also being free from water damage, and having an outlet component that is safer and less prone to breakage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a kitchen unit comprising a counter and an outlet member erected on the upper surface of the counter, wherein the outlet member has a pair of sockets into which a power plug is inserted, an outlet surface exposed to the outside including the openings of the pair of sockets, and a water-repellent portion provided as a recess within the surface of the outlet surface or as a protrusion on the surface of the outlet surface, located between the pair of sockets and the upper surface of the counter, for preventing or reducing the rise of water from the upper surface of the counter.

[0009] According to the present invention, when water spreads across the top surface of a kitchen counter, the water-repellent portion prevents or reduces the water from rising into the pair of socket holes of the outlet component erected on the top surface of the kitchen counter. This ensures a sufficient usable range for electrical appliances while providing a kitchen unit equipped with a safer and more durable outlet component that is free from water damage.

[0010] The water-repellent portion may be a protrusion provided on the surface of the outlet, but it is preferable that it be a recess provided within the surface of the outlet.

[0011] If the water-repellent portion is a protrusion on the surface of the outlet, design considerations are necessary to prevent interference between the protrusion and the power plug. However, if the water-repellent portion is a recess within the surface of the outlet, such considerations are unnecessary, allowing for a more aesthetically pleasing design.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the lower side of the recess faces the upper surface of the counter.

[0013] According to this design, when water spreads across the kitchen countertop, the recessed area, which acts as a water-repellent, can more effectively catch the water, thereby more effectively preventing the water from rising along the surface of the electrical outlet.

[0014] The wall surface defining the recess is preferably smooth and continuous.

[0015] According to this design, the recessed area that acts as a water-repellent surface is easy to clean with a cloth, making cleaning easier. Also, because there are no corners, there is no risk of dirt or debris accumulating (clogging) in the corners.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferable that a portion of the wall surface defining the recess is a plane that is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface of the counter.

[0017] According to this design, when water spreads across the kitchen countertop, the recessed area, which acts as a water-repellent, can more effectively catch the water, thereby more effectively preventing the water from rising along the surface of the electrical outlet.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the water-repellent portion is provided with a width greater than the width of the pair of insertion holes.

[0019] According to this, water rising into the pair of insertion holes can be prevented or reduced overall in the width direction, thus further preventing water from entering the pair of insertion holes.

[0020] Further, it is preferable that the water return portion is provided with a width smaller than the width of the outlet surface.

[0021] According to this, when the outlet member is viewed from the side with respect to the outlet surface, a kitchen unit with high designability can be provided. In particular, when the water return portion is a recess provided in the plane of the outlet surface, the recess is not visually recognized when the outlet member is viewed from the side with respect to the outlet surface, so the designability is even higher.

Effects of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, when water spreads wet on the upper surface of the kitchen counter, the rising water with respect to the pair of insertion holes of the outlet member erected on the upper surface of the kitchen counter is prevented or reduced by the water return portion. Therefore, while ensuring a sufficient usable range of the electrical appliance, a kitchen unit equipped with an outlet member that is not hindered by water and is safer and more resistant to breakage can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing an outlet member of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a front view showing an outlet member of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing an outlet member of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment of the present invention with the arrangement of the lid changed. [Figure 5] It is a right side view showing an outlet member of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment of the present invention with the arrangement of the lid changed. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged perspective view of a recess (one aspect of the water return portion) of an outlet member of a kitchen unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Next, a kitchen unit according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] (composition) Figure 1 is a perspective view of a kitchen unit 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the kitchen unit 10 of this embodiment comprises a counter 1 and an electrical outlet member 2 erected on the upper surface 1a of the counter.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the kitchen unit 10 of this embodiment further includes a base 3 erected on the countertop surface 1a, a partition 4 supported by the base 3, a stove 5, a sink 6 equipped with a faucet, and a cooking space 7 sandwiched between the stove 5 and the sink 6.

[0027] Cooking space 7 is a space for placing a cutting board and chopping ingredients, but it is also used as a space for using various electrical appliances for cooking that have become popular in recent years.

[0028] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the outlet member 2 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a front view showing the outlet member 2 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the outlet member 2 with the arrangement of the cover 21 changed, and Figure 5 is a right side view showing the outlet member 2 of Figure 4.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the outlet member 2 of this embodiment has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape overall in the state shown in Figures 2 and 3 (more precisely, each side is slightly inclined (inclination angle: 1.5°), the top surface is a rectangle of 3.6 cm × 7.7 cm, the bottom surface is a rectangle of 3.9 cm × 8.0 cm, and the height is 5.9 cm).

[0030] Furthermore, the lid 21 is initially positioned to cover the right side (or the left side if reversed) (as shown in Figures 2 and 3), but it can be removed from the top and repositioned (re-fitted) to cover the front right area (as shown in Figures 4 and 5).

[0031] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outlet member 2 has an outlet 22 on its right side, which has a pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b into which a power plug is inserted. In other words, the right side of the outlet member 2 of this embodiment is an outlet surface 23 that is exposed to the outside, including the openings of the pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b (outlet 22).

[0032] The pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b are a left-right pair of holes 22a and 22b according to JIS standards, and the width from the left end of the left hole 22a to the right end of the right hole 22b (in this specification, this width is referred to as the "width of the pair of insertion holes") is 14.9 mm (14.6 mm or more according to JIS standards), and the lower ends of each hole 22a and 22b are positioned 25 mm from the top surface of the counter. In addition, in this embodiment, an earth hole 22c is also provided below the typical left-right pair of holes.

[0033] Furthermore, within the outlet surface 23, a water-repellent portion is provided, located between a pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b and the counter top surface 1a, to prevent or reduce water from rising from the counter top surface 1a. Specifically, the water-repellent portion in this embodiment is a recess 24 provided within the outlet surface 23.

[0034] Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the recess 24. As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, the lower side of the recess 24 faces the counter top surface 1a. Specifically, the recess 24 is formed as an area with a maximum width of 35 mm, a maximum depth of 2.5 mm from the outlet surface, and a maximum height of 6 mm from the counter top surface 1a.

[0035] The recess 24 is mainly defined by the rear wall surface 24a, the left and right wall surfaces 24b and 24c, and the upper wall surface 24d. The rear wall surface 24a consists of a plane whose upper side is inclined toward the front side (right side in Figure 3) (inclined at an acute angle with respect to the counter top surface 1a) (for example, an inclination angle of 82°), the left and right wall surfaces 24b and 24c each consist of planes perpendicular to the counter top surface 1a, and the upper wall surface 24d consists of a roughly 1 / 4 cylindrical surface. The rear wall surface 24a and the left and right wall surfaces 24b and 24c are formed to be smoothly continuous (for example, R1.5), the rear wall surface 24a and the upper wall surface 24d are formed to be smoothly continuous (for example, R1.5), and furthermore, the upper wall surface 24d and the left and right wall surfaces 24b and 24c are also formed to be smoothly continuous (for example, R1.5).

[0036] (Main effects) As described above, with the kitchen unit 10 of this embodiment, when water spreads across the top surface 1a of the kitchen counter, the water rising to the sockets 22 (a pair of socket holes 22a, 22b) of the outlet member 2 erected on the top surface 1a of the kitchen counter is prevented or reduced by the water-repellent portion (recess 24). In other words, a kitchen unit 10 is provided that has an outlet member 2 that is safer and less prone to damage, while ensuring a sufficient range of use for electrical appliances, and without any problems caused by water damage.

[0037] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the water-repellent portion is a recess 24 provided on the outlet surface 23, design considerations regarding interference with the power plug are unnecessary, and a more aesthetically pleasing design can be adopted.

[0038] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the lower side of the recess 24 faces the counter top surface 1a. As a result, when water spreads across the kitchen counter top surface 1a, the recess 24, which acts as a water-repellent portion, can more effectively receive the water, and can more effectively prevent the water from rising along the outlet surface 23.

[0039] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the wall surfaces 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d defining the recess 24 are smoothly continuous. As a result, the smoothly continuous wall surfaces 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d reduce the force of the water and make it less likely to generate splashes, thus more effectively preventing the water from rising along the outlet surface 23. In addition, when cleaning the recess 24, which is the water return section, a cloth or the like can easily reach it, resulting in good cleaning performance. Moreover, since there are no corners, there is no risk of dirt or other debris accumulating (getting stuck) in the corners.

[0040] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the back wall surface 24a, which is part of the wall surface defining the recess 24, is a plane that is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the counter top surface 1a. As a result, when water spreads across the kitchen counter top surface 1a, the back wall surface 24a reduces the force of the water and makes it less likely to generate splashes, thus more effectively preventing the water from rising along the outlet surface 23.

[0041] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the water-repellent portion is provided with a width greater than the width of the pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b. This prevents or reduces water from rising into the pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b across the entire width, thereby further preventing water from getting into the pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b.

[0042] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the water-repellent portion is provided with a width smaller than the width of the outlet surface 23. This provides a kitchen unit with a highly aesthetic design when the outlet member 2 is viewed from the side of the outlet surface 23 (front and back). In particular, since the water-repellent portion is a recess provided within the outlet surface 23, the recess 24 is not visible when the outlet member 2 is viewed from the side of the outlet surface 23 (front and back), resulting in a very high level of aesthetic appeal.

[0043] (Other effects of this embodiment) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the outlet surface 23 faces the cooking space. This layout is convenient when using electrical appliances in the cooking space. Moreover, in the case of a face-to-face kitchen or island kitchen, it is convenient because the pair of sockets 22a and 22b can be easily accessed from both the stove side and the living room side.

[0044] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electrical outlet component 2 is installed on the stove side of the partition 4, rather than the living room side. This layout makes the electrical outlet component 2 difficult to see from the living room side, allowing the kitchen unit to appear simple and aesthetically pleasing with minimal protrusions from the living room side.

[0045] (modified version) In addition, although the outlet member 2 in the above-described embodiment is provided with only a pair of insertion holes 22a and 22b (one outlet 22), it may be provided with two or more pairs of insertion holes (two or more outlets). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 10 kitchen units 1 counter 1a Countertop 2. Outlet components 3 bases 4 partitions 5 stoves 6 sinks 7 Cooking space 21 Lid 22 outlets 22a Left hole (insertion hole) 22b Right hole (insertion hole) 22c grounding hole 23 Outlet side 24 recesses 24a Rear wall 24b Left wall 24c Right wall 24d Upper wall surface

Claims

1. The counter and An outlet member erected on the upper surface of the counter, Equipped with, The aforementioned outlet member is A pair of sockets into which the power plug is inserted, The outlet surface exposed to the outside, including the openings of the pair of insertion holes, A water-repellent portion is provided as a recess within the surface of the outlet surface, or as a protrusion on the surface of the outlet surface, and is located between the pair of sockets and the counter top surface to prevent or reduce water from rising from the counter top surface, It has A kitchen unit characterized by the following features.

2. The water-repellent portion is a recess provided within the surface of the outlet. The kitchen unit according to feature 1.

3. The lower side of the recess faces the upper surface of the counter. The kitchen unit according to feature 2.

4. The wall surface defining the recess is smoothly continuous. The kitchen unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it is as described above.

5. A portion of the wall surface defining the recess is a plane that is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface of the counter. A kitchen unit according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The water-repellent portion is provided with a width greater than the width of the pair of insertion openings. A kitchen unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The water-repellent portion is provided with a width smaller than the width of the outlet surface. A kitchen unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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