Countertop kitchen

Abstract

This invention provides a face-to-face kitchen system that can be easily switched between having a partition that protrudes above the top of the cabinet and not having one. [Solution] The counter-type system kitchen 1 is equipped with a cabinet 2 having a top plate 2a, side plates 2b and a back plate 2c, a first plate portion 3 attached to the back plate 2c, a second plate portion 4, a hinge 5 that attaches the second plate portion 4 to the first plate portion 3 so that it can rotate on a hinge between a standby position and a partition position in which a part of it protrudes beyond the top plate 2a, and a first holding device 10 attached to the side plate 2b, which has a first holding member 11 with a contact portion 11a that holds the second plate portion 4 in the partition position so that it cannot rotate on a hinge. The first holding member 11 has a movable position and a fixed position that cannot be moved. When the second plate portion 4 is not held in the partition position, the contact portion 11a is brought close to the first plate portion 3 to be in the fixed position, and when the second plate portion 4 is held in the partition position, the contact portion 11a is brought into contact with the rear side of the second plate portion 4 in the partition position to be in the fixed position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a face-to-face system kitchen.

Background Art

[0002] The face-to-face system kitchen includes a box-shaped cabinet having at least a top plate, a pair of side plates, and a back plate, and faces the dining side. In some cases, a stove or a sink is provided on the top plate of the cabinet. In this face-to-face system kitchen, there are those with a partition (back guard) protruding upward from the top plate and those without a partition, at least on the back plate side facing the dining side. In the case of a face-to-face system kitchen without a partition, cooking can be done in an open atmosphere, and it is easy to enjoy cooking or having a meal together with family, friends, etc.

[0003] By the way, in the case of a face-to-face system kitchen without a partition, since the hands during cooking, cooking utensils and ingredients on the top plate, etc. are easily visible from the dining side, there is a risk of being concerned and unable to concentrate on cooking. Also, in the work of washing ingredients and dishes in the sink, there was a problem that water easily splashed outside the system kitchen. Therefore, it was considered to replace it with a face-to-face system kitchen with a partition, but once a system kitchen was purchased, it was difficult to replace it halfway due to factors such as the house structure and cost.

[0004] To address these problems, a kitchen furniture system (system kitchen) has been proposed in which a pair of holders are erected on the top of the cabinet, and both ends of a protruding back panel are detachably held by the pair of holders (for example, Patent Document 1). According to the technology of Patent Document 1, by holding the protruding back panel with a pair of holders, the protruding back panel acts as a screen, making it difficult to see the hands while cooking or the cooking utensils on the top from the dining side, and also suppressing the splashing of water during washing in the sink. Furthermore, by removing the protruding back panel from the pair of holders, it becomes easier to see the hands while cooking or the cooking utensils on the top from the dining side, and cooking can be done in a more open atmosphere.

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 presents a problem in that, when using a system kitchen without a partition, it is necessary to secure a place to store the protruding back panel removed from the pair of holders, and it is also necessary to move the removed protruding back panel to the storage place, which is time-consuming. In addition, since the pair of holders remain erected on the countertop, the holders get in the way of moving food and dishes between the kitchen and dining areas, and also have an unsightly appearance. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-88432 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a face-to-face system kitchen that can be easily changed between a state in which there is a partition protruding above the top of the cabinet and a state in which there is no partition. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the face-to-face system kitchen according to the present invention is A box-shaped cabinet having at least a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a back panel, A flat plate-shaped first plate portion is attached to the side plate or the back plate, having a pair of first horizontal edges separated vertically and a pair of first vertical edges connecting the ends of each of the pair of first horizontal edges, A flat plate-shaped second plate portion having a pair of second horizontal edges extending parallel to the first horizontal edge, and a pair of second vertical edges connecting the ends of each of the pair of second horizontal edges, wherein the length of the second vertical edges is longer than the length of the first vertical edge, A hinge is attached to the first board such that the second board rotates relative to the first board between a standby position in which the second board hangs down below the first board and a partition position in which the second board rises up along the first board and a portion of it protrudes above the top board. The device comprises a retaining member having a contact portion at its tip that holds the second plate portion of the partition in a position where it cannot be hinged, and a retaining box that houses at least the end of the retaining member opposite to the contact portion and is attached to the side plate or the back plate, The holding member has a movable position in which it can move and a fixed position in which it cannot move. When the holding member is not holding the second plate portion in the partition position, it is fixed in the position with the contact portion close to the first plate portion or with the contact portion stored in the storage box. When the holding member is holding the second plate portion in the partition position, the contact portion is in contact with the side of the second plate portion in the partition position that is opposite to the side of the first plate portion. It is characterized by the following:

[0009] In this configuration, the first panel is attached to the side or back panel of a box-shaped cabinet, and the second panel is attached to the first panel via hinges. When the second panel is in its standby position, it hangs down below the first panel, so it does not protrude above the top of the cabinet. Therefore, since there is no screen-like protrusion on the side or back of the top panel, it is easier to see what is being cooked and the cooking utensils on the top from the dining side, and cooking can be done in an open mood, making it easier to enjoy cooking and dining with family and friends. In addition, since the second panel does not protrude above the top panel, it does not get in the way of moving food or dishes between the kitchen and dining areas.

[0010] Furthermore, in this configuration, when the second plate is hinged and rotated from the standby position to the screen position, the second plate rises along the first plate, with a portion protruding above the top of the cabinet, thus forming a screen. At this time, the retaining member of the retaining device is moved to the movable position, and the contact portion of the tip of the retaining member is brought into contact with the side of the second plate in the screen position that is opposite to the first plate side, and then the retaining member is moved from the movable position to the fixed position. As a result, the retaining member does not move while the contact portion of the retaining member is in contact with the second plate, so the second plate can be prevented from hinged and rotated from the screen position to the standby position, and the second plate can be held in the screen position.

[0011] In this way, by holding the second component in a partition position, the hands during cooking, cooking utensils and ingredients on the countertop can be made less visible from the dining side, making it easier to concentrate on cooking without worrying about being seen. In addition, the part of the second panel that protrudes above the countertop can suppress the splashing of water outside the countertop when washing ingredients and dishes in the sink.

[0012] Furthermore, since the holding member of the holding device can hold the second plate in the partition position, even if cooking utensils or ingredients come into contact with the second plate, the second plate will not fall from the partition position to the standby position, allowing you to cook or wash dishes with peace of mind.

[0013] Furthermore, since the second panel is attached to the first panel by hinges so that it hangs down from the first panel, it is possible to easily change between having a screen that protrudes above the top of the cabinet and not having one, simply by rotating the hinges, without having to remove the second panel from the first panel (cabinet). In addition, there is no need to prepare a place to store the second panel.

[0014] Furthermore, since it includes a storage box that houses at least the end of the retaining member opposite to the contact portion, the retaining member can be made less visible, thus preventing deterioration of its appearance.

[0015] Furthermore, the face-to-face system kitchen according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, "The holding device is, A plurality of recesses are provided in the retaining member at regular intervals, The retaining member further comprises at least one projection that fits into at least one recess when the retaining member is in the fixed position, and disengages from the recess when the retaining member is in the movable position." This could be considered a distinguishing feature.

[0016] In this configuration, when the retaining member is in a fixed position, the projection is fitted into at least one of the multiple recesses provided in the retaining member, so the retaining member does not move. On the other hand, when the retaining member is in a movable position, the fitting between the recess and the projection is released, so the retaining member can be moved.

[0017] Furthermore, the face-to-face system kitchen according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, "Further provided with a support device for supporting the second plate portion in a counter position where the second plate portion is horizontal between the standby position and the screen position." It may be characterized by this.

[0018] According to this configuration, since the second plate portion can be supported in a state of a counter position where it is horizontal by the support device, when a counter is desired in this face-to-face system kitchen, by supporting the second plate portion in the counter position, it becomes possible to place food and drink, tableware, mobile phones, etc. on the second plate portion, and it becomes possible to take a break during cooking or dishwashing, or to complete simple eating, drinking, or errands.

[0019] In addition, the face-to-face system kitchen according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, "The support device is a rod-shaped support rod, supports the support rod movably between a storage position for housing the support rod and a protruding position for protruding the support rod to the outside, and a support rod case attached to the side plate or the back plate, provided on the support rod and rotatably attached around the axis, and a support base on which the second plate portion in the counter position is placed when rotated when the support rod is in the protruding position." It may be characterized by this.

[0020] According to this configuration, when the second plate portion is not supported in the counter position, the support rod is placed in the storage position and housed in the support rod case. Thereby, the support rod and the support base can be compactly bundled, and it is difficult for the support rod or the like to get in the way. On the other hand, when the second plate portion is supported in the counter position, after moving the support rod housed in the support rod case to the protruding position, the support base provided on the support rod is rotated. At this time, the second plate portion is hingedly rotated upward from the counter position. Then, the second plate portion is hingedly rotated toward the counter position side, and by placing the second plate portion on the support base, the second plate portion can be supported in the counter position.

[0021] In addition, the face-to-face system kitchen according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, "The support device is a rod-shaped support member, a cylindrical support case that houses the support member in a vertically movable manner, a flat case support plate to which the support case is attached, is attached to the case support plate, and when the upper end of the support member rises from the accommodation position where the support member is housed to a protruding position where it can abut against the lower surface of the second plate portion at the counter position, Support case a lifting lock device that locks the support member so that it cannot move up and down, a flat mounting plate portion attached to the side plate or the back plate, a support hinge that attaches the case support plate to the mounting plate portion so that the case support plate hinges between a folded position parallel to the mounting plate portion and a deployed position where the support member is located below the second plate portion at the counter position." It may be characterized by this.

[0022] According to this configuration, when the second plate portion is not supported at the counter position, the support member is placed in the accommodation position and housed in the support case, and the case support plate is hinged to a folded position parallel to the mounting plate portion attached to the side plate or the back plate via the support hinge. As a result, the support member, the support case, and the case support plate can be compactly bundled together, and the support member and the like are less likely to be in the way. On the other hand, when the second plate portion is supported at the counter position, after the case support plate is hinged to the deployed position via the support hinge, the support member is locked so that it cannot move up and down by the lifting lock device in a state where the support member is raised to the protruding position. At this time, the second plate portion is hinged upward from the counter position. Then, the second plate portion is hinged toward the counter position side, and the second plate portion is brought into contact with the upper end of the support member, whereby the second plate portion can be supported at the counter position.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] As described above, the present invention provides a face-to-face system kitchen that can be easily changed between a state in which there is a partition protruding above the top of the cabinet and a state in which there is no partition. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1] (a) is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a face-to-face system kitchen equipped with two first holding devices, with the second panel in the standby position, and (b) is a perspective view showing the face-to-face system kitchen of (a) with the second panel in the partition position. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the first holding device. [Figure 3] (a) to (d) are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the second plate section and the first holding device. [Figure 4] (a) is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a face-to-face system kitchen equipped with one first holding device and one second holding device, with the second panel in the standby position, and (b) is a perspective view showing the face-to-face system kitchen of (a) with the second panel in the partition position. [Figure 5] This is an exploded perspective view of the second holding device. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the second retaining device, showing the second retaining member stored in the storage box in a fixed position, with the storage lid omitted. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second retaining device, showing the second retaining member in a movable position and stored in the storage box. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the second retaining device, showing the second retaining member in a fixed position with its tip protruding from the storage box, with the storage lid omitted. [Figure 9] (a) is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of a face-to-face system kitchen equipped with one first holding device and one third holding device, with the second panel and the second side panel in the standby position, and (b) is a perspective view showing the face-to-face system kitchen of (a) with the second panel and the second side panel in the partition position. [Figure 10](a) is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of a face-to-face system kitchen equipped with two first holding devices, each having a first support device, with the second plate section in the standby position, and (b) is a perspective view showing the face-to-face system kitchen of (a) with the second plate section in the counter position. [Figure 11] This is an exploded perspective view of the first holding device having the first support device. [Figure 12] (a) is a perspective view of the first support device showing the support rod moved from the support rod case to the protruding position, (b) is a perspective view of the first support device showing the support base rotated to the support position from the state in (a), and (c) is a perspective view of the first support device as seen from the opposite side of (b). [Figure 13] (a) is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of a face-to-face system kitchen, comprising one first holding device having a first support device, one second holding device, and one second support device, with the second plate section in the standby position, and (b) is a perspective view showing the face-to-face system kitchen of (a) with the second plate section in the counter position. [Figure 14] (a) is a perspective view of the second support device, (b) is a perspective view showing the lid opened from the state in (a), (c) is a perspective view showing the case support plate hinged to the deployed position from the state in (b), and (d) is a perspective view showing the support member raised to the protruding position and the lid in contact with the case support plate from the state in (c). [Figure 15] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-section of Figure 14(a), and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-section of Figure 14(d). [Figure 16] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the support column member is in the housing position in the second support device in a longitudinal cross-section, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the support column member is moved to the protruding position from the state in (a) and locked in a position where it cannot be raised or lowered by the lifting locking device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention, a face-to-face system kitchen 1, will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 shows the face-to-face system kitchen 1 from the rear. Hereafter, with the face-to-face system kitchen 1 in between, the front facing the kitchen side will be referred to as the front, and the rear facing the dining side will be referred to as the rear, and the directions perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and the up-and-down direction will be referred to as the lateral direction.

[0026] The face-to-face system kitchen 1 comprises a box-shaped cabinet 2, a flat first plate portion 3 attached to the cabinet 2, a flat second plate portion 4, a hinge 5 that attaches the second plate portion 4 to the first plate portion 3 so as to be hinge-rotatable, two first retaining devices 10 that can hold the second plate portion 4 in a way that prevents hinge rotation, and a flat third plate portion 6 that is attached to the cabinet 2 below the second plate portion 4.

[0027] Cabinet 2 has at least a top panel 2a, a pair of side panels 2b, and a back panel 2c. Although not shown in the illustration, a sink or stovetop may be provided on the top panel 2a of Cabinet 2. Cabinet 2 also has a door or drawers on its front. Cabinet 2 may be a dedicated cabinet for the following embodiment or an existing cabinet.

[0028] The first plate section 3 has a pair of first horizontal edges 3a that are separated vertically, and a pair of first vertical edges 3b that connect the ends of each of the first horizontal edges 3a. The length of the first horizontal edges 3a is approximately the same as the length of the edge on the back panel 2c side of the top panel 2a of the cabinet 2. This first plate section 3 is attached to the back panel 2c such that the upper first horizontal edge 3a is located approximately flush with the top surface of the top panel 2a.

[0029] The second plate portion 4 has a pair of second horizontal edges 4a that extend parallel to and are approximately the same length as the first horizontal edge 3a of the first plate portion 3, and a pair of second vertical edges 4b that connect the ends of each of the pair of second horizontal edges 4a. The length of the second vertical edges 4b is longer than the length of the first vertical edge 3b in the first plate portion 3. The thickness of the second plate portion 4 is approximately the same as the thickness of the first plate portion 3.

[0030] The hinge 5 connects the lower first horizontal edge 3a of the first plate section 3, which is attached to the back panel 2c, and the upper second horizontal edge 4a of the second plate section 4. The hinge 5 allows the second plate section 4 to hinge around its axis between the first plate section 3 and the second plate section 4. Multiple hinges 5 are provided at intervals in the direction in which the first horizontal edge 3a (second horizontal edge 4a) extends (horizontal direction). This hinge 5 allows the second plate section 4 to hinge around the first plate section 3 between a standby position where the second plate section 4 hangs down below the first plate section 3 and a partition position where the second plate section 4 rises along the first plate section 3 and a part of it protrudes above the top panel 2a. When the second plate section 4 is in the partition position, it may stand vertically, or it may stand slightly tilted in the front-to-back direction (direction of hinge rotation) relative to the vertical. Furthermore, when the second plate portion 4 is in the partition position, the second plate portion 4 may be in contact with the first plate portion 3.

[0031] The third plate section 6 is attached to the lower part of the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2. The third plate section 6 forms a gap between itself and the second plate section 4 in the standby position, allowing at least a finger to be inserted. The lateral length of the third plate section 6 is approximately the same as the lateral length of the back panel 2c. The height of the third plate section 6 is such that, when attached to the back panel 2c, its lower end approximately coincides with the lower ends of the pair of side panels 2b. The thickness of the third plate section 6 is approximately the same as the thickness of the first plate section 3 and the second plate section 4, respectively.

[0032] The first retaining device 10 comprises a strip-shaped first retaining member 11 (retaining member) that is long in the front-rear direction, and a strip-shaped storage box 12 that houses at least a part of the first retaining member 11 inside. The first retaining device 10 is attached to a pair of side plates 2b that constitute the side wall surface of the cabinet 2, such that the upper surface of the top plate 2a of the cabinet 2 and the upper surface of the strip-shaped first retaining device 10 (storage box 12) are parallel (including the same plane). The position where the side plates 2b of the first retaining device 10 are attached is near the upper end of the side plate 2b and on the back plate 2c side, and is an area where adjacent first plate portions 3 are included at the same height.

[0033] The first retaining member 11 has a contact portion 11a, a recess 11b, a guide rail 13, a handle 14, and a stopper 15.

[0034] The contact portion 11a is the rear end of the first holding member 11, which is bent in an L-shape toward the back plate 2c in a plan view.

[0035] The recesses 11b are a plurality of concave-shaped recesses that are provided at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction on the lower end of the strip-shaped portion and are open downwards.

[0036] The first retaining member 11 is housed within the storage box 12 in a way that allows it to be switched between a fixed position where the recess 11b is fitted to the projection 16 of the storage box 12 (described later) and a movable position where the fitting is released. In the fixed position, the projection 16 is fitted into the recess 11b of the first retaining member 11, thus restricting its movement in the longitudinal direction. By moving the first retaining member 11 upward from the fixed position, the fitting between the recess 11b and the projection 16 is released, and it becomes a movable position where it can move in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] The first retaining member 11 can move its contact portion 11a further rearward than the cabinet 2 in its movable position. The first retaining member 11 is capable of moving its contact portion 11a to a position at least longer than the end of the second vertical edge 4b ​​of the second plate portion 4 when the second plate portion 4 is at approximately 90 degrees relative to the first plate portion 3 due to hinge rotation. The surface of the contact portion 11a that is on the inside of the L-shape when it is bent in an L-shape can contact the side of the second plate portion 4 in the partition position that is opposite to the first plate portion 3 side. When the contact portion 11a contacts the second plate portion 4 in the partition position, the first retaining member 11 can be moved downward to a fixed position in which some of the projections 16 fit into the recesses 11b, thereby holding the second plate portion 4 in a position where it cannot be hinged.

[0038] The guide rail 13 is attached to the strip-shaped surface of the first retaining member 11, which extends in the longitudinal direction, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the first retaining member 11. The guide rail 13 is a C-channel material with a U-shaped cross-section, and is installed so that the U-shaped opening is open.

[0039] The handle 14 is provided so as to protrude perpendicularly from the strip-shaped surface of the first retaining member 11, which extends in the longitudinal direction. Two handles 14 are provided, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the first retaining member 11. Note that only one handle 14 may be provided, or three or more may be provided.

[0040] The stopper 15 is provided so as to protrude perpendicularly from the strip-shaped surface of the first retaining member 11, which extends in the longitudinal direction. The stopper 15, together with the stopper 18 of the storage box 12 described later, restricts the range of movement of the first retaining member 11 in the longitudinal direction.

[0041] The storage box 12 is a long, box-shaped structure that opens towards the rear. The first retaining member 11 is stored in a state where the contact portion 11a of the first retaining member 11 is located near the opening at the rear, with the contact portion 11a of the first retaining member 11 located near the opening.

[0042] The storage box 12 is formed of a box body 12a attached to the side panel 2b and a lid 12b detachably attached to the box body 12a. The storage box 12 houses the first retaining member 11 by sandwiching it between the box body 12a and the lid 12b. The box body 12a is open on the side opposite to the side attached to the side panel 2b (one side in the lateral direction) and on the rear side. The lid 12b is formed to be able to close the open lateral opening of the box body 12a. The lid 12b may be connected to the box body 12a by a hinge and provided to be openable and closable relative to the box body 12a.

[0043] Furthermore, the storage box 12 includes a projection 16, a guide member 17, and two stoppers 18 that can come into contact with the stopper 15 attached to the first holding member 11.

[0044] The projection 16 is a member that protrudes vertically laterally from the inner surface of the box body 12a, and multiple projections are provided in the front-rear direction at the same intervals as the multiple recesses 11b provided in the first retaining member 11. The projection 16 can be fitted into at least one of the recesses 11b of the first retaining member 11 when the first retaining member 11 is in a fixed position.

[0045] The guide member 17 has a guide portion 17a that is inserted into the opening of the guide rail 13, which is attached to the first holding member 11. The guide member 17 is attached to the inside of the storage box 12 in the box body 12a. The vertical height of the guide portion 17a is smaller than the vertical height of the opening of the guide rail 13. Therefore, the guide portion 17a of the guide member 17 is inserted into the opening of the guide rail 13, thereby restricting the vertical movement range of the first holding member 11 via the guide rail 13. In other words, the first holding member 11 is made to move vertically only between an upper movable position and a lower fixed position.

[0046] The two stoppers 18 are attached to the inside of the storage box 12 in the box body 12a, separated in the front-rear direction with the stopper 15 in between. The rear stopper 18 is attached so that the first retaining member 11 can move rearward to a position longer than the end of the second vertical edge 4b ​​of the second plate portion 4, which is at approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first plate portion 3. The front stopper 18 is positioned so that the front end of the first retaining member 11 does not come into contact with the storage box 12 when the first retaining member 11 is moved forward so that almost the entire first retaining member 11 is stored inside. The stopper 15 contacts the two stoppers 18, thereby restricting the range of movement of the first retaining member 11 in the front-rear direction.

[0047] Furthermore, the materials used for the first plate section 3, the second plate section 4, and the third plate section 6 can be wood, plywood, laminated wood, etc. The material used for the first holding device 10 can be synthetic resin, metal, etc. Incidentally, it is desirable that the length of the first vertical edge 3b of the first plate section 3 be 8cm to 12cm, and the length of the second vertical edge 4b ​​of the second plate section 4 be 16cm to 20cm. Also, it is desirable that the thickness of the first plate section 3, the second plate section 4, and the third plate section 6 be 1.5cm to 2.5cm. Furthermore, it is desirable that the gap between the second plate section 4 and the third plate section 6 in the standby position be 3cm to 7cm.

[0048] Next, the method of using the first embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1 will be described. As shown in Figures 1(a) and 3(a), when using the face-to-face system kitchen 1 without a partition, the second plate portion 4 is set to a standby position hanging down below the first plate portion 3. At this time, the first holding device 10 brings the contact portion 11a of the first holding member 11 into contact with the first plate portion 3, and sets the first holding member 11 to a fixed position, with several protrusions 16 fitted into the multiple recesses 11b. In this state, since the protrusions 16 are fitted into the recesses 11b, the first holding member 11 does not move in the front-to-back direction (rearward in this case). In this state, the stopper 15 is in contact with the front stopper 18.

[0049] As a result, when the second panel 4 is in its standby position, it hangs down below the first panel 3 on the back panel 2c side of the top panel 2a of the cabinet 2. This makes it easier to see what you're doing while cooking and the cooking utensils on the top panel 2a from the dining side, and allows you to cook in a more open atmosphere, making it easier to enjoy cooking and dining with family and friends. In addition, because the second panel 4 hangs down below the first panel 3, it does not get in the way of moving food or dishes between the kitchen and dining areas.

[0050] Furthermore, in this configuration, since a third plate section 6 of the same thickness is provided below the second plate section 4 in the standby position, the rear surfaces of the first plate section 3, the second plate section 4, and the third plate section 6 are on the same plane, so the appearance of the counter-style system kitchen 1 is not negatively affected.

[0051] On the other hand, when using the counter-style system kitchen 1 with the partition in place, first, the lid 12b of the storage box 12 is removed from the box body 12a using the first holding device 10 to open the storage box 12. Next, the first holding member 11 is moved upward from the fixed position to the movable position using the handle 14 to release the engagement between the recess 11b and the projection 16. At this time, when the first holding member 11 is moved upward from the fixed position and the guide rail 13 comes into contact with the guide portion 17a of the guide member 17, the upward movement of the first holding member 11 is restricted, indicating that the first holding member 11 has entered the movable position. Once the first holding member 11 is in the movable position, it is moved backward in that state (see Figure 3(b)).

[0052] Then, when the stopper 15 provided on the first holding member 11 comes into contact with the rear stopper 18 and restricts the rearward movement of the first holding member 11, the first holding member 11 is moved downward to the fixed position (see Figure 3(c)). After that, the second plate portion 4 in the standby position is hinged and rotated toward the screen position via the hinge 5. At this time, since there is a gap between the second plate portion 4 and the third plate portion 6 in the standby position, it becomes easier to insert a finger into the gap to hook the second plate portion 4 and rotate the second plate portion 4 by hinge. Furthermore, when the stopper 15 of the first retaining member 11 is in contact with the rear stopper 18, the contact portion 11a at the tip of the first retaining member 11 moves rearward to a position longer than the end of the second vertical edge 4b ​​when the second plate portion 4 is at approximately 90 degrees relative to the first plate portion 3 due to hinge rotation. Therefore, even if the second plate portion 4 is rotated by the hinge, the second plate portion 4 will not come into contact with the contact portion 11a.

[0053] After the second plate section 4 is hinged to the partition position, the first retaining member 11 is moved upward from the fixed position to the movable position, and then moved forward. When the L-shaped inner surface of the contact portion 11a of the first retaining member 11 contacts the opposite side (rear side) of the second plate section 4 in the partition position from the first plate section 3, the first retaining member 11 is moved downward from the movable position to the fixed position, and the projection 16 is fitted into the recess 11b (see Figure 3(d)). As a result, the first retaining member 11 does not move backward, and the contact portion 11a that is in contact with the rear side prevents the second plate section 4 from hinged and rotating from the partition position to the standby position, thereby holding the second plate section 4 in the partition position. After that, the lid 12b is attached to the box body 12a to close it.

[0054] As described above, when the second panel 4 is held in the partition position, a portion of the second panel 4 protrudes above the countertop 2a of the cabinet 2. This protruding portion acts as a partition, allowing the counter-facing system kitchen 1 to function as a partition. This makes it difficult for people in the dining area to see what is happening while cooking, as well as cooking utensils and ingredients on the countertop 2a, making it easier to concentrate on cooking without worrying about being seen. Furthermore, this partition helps to prevent water from splashing outside the counter-facing system kitchen 1 when washing ingredients and dishes in the sink.

[0055] Furthermore, since the contact portion 11a of the first holding member 11 of the first holding device 10 can hold the second plate portion 4 in the partition position, even if cooking utensils or ingredients come into contact with the second plate portion 4, the second plate portion 4 will not fall from the partition position to the standby position, allowing cooking and washing to be done with peace of mind.

[0056] Furthermore, when returning the second panel 4 from the partition position to the standby position, the opposite operation described above can be performed to return the face-to-face system kitchen 1 to a state without a partition. At this time, a gap is provided between the second panel 4 and the third panel 6 in the standby position, so when the second panel 4 is hinged and rotated towards the standby position, it is less likely that fingers will get caught between the second panel 4 and the third panel 6.

[0057] Thus, according to this embodiment, since the first panel 3 and the second panel 4 are connected by the hinge 5, the face-to-face system kitchen 1 can be easily changed between a state with a partition protruding above the top panel 2a of the cabinet 2 and a state without a partition protruding above the top panel 2a of the cabinet 2, simply by rotating the hinge 5 without removing the second panel 4 from the first panel 3 (cabinet 2), and there is no need to prepare a place to store the second panel 4.

[0058] Furthermore, since the first holding device 10 is equipped with a storage box 12 that houses a part of the first holding member 11, a projection 16, a guide rail 13, a guide member 17, a handle 14, a stopper 15, and a stopper 18, these components can be made less visible, thereby suppressing deterioration of the appearance.

[0059] Next, the second embodiment of the face-to-face kitchen system 1A will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 8. In the following, components similar to those in the first embodiment of the face-to-face kitchen system 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted. The main difference between the second embodiment of the face-to-face kitchen system 1A and the first embodiment of the face-to-face kitchen system 1 is that the second embodiment has a second holding device 20 instead of one of the first holding devices 10.

[0060] This face-to-face kitchen system 1A, like the face-to-face kitchen system 1 of the first embodiment, is equipped with a first panel 3, a second panel 4, a hinge 5 connecting the first panel 3 and the second panel 4, and a third panel 6. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, the first panel 3 and the second panel 4 are formed to be shorter in the lateral direction by the amount of space required for the second retaining device 20 to be attached to the back panel 2c on the side panel 2b side where the first retaining device 10 is not provided.

[0061] The second retaining device 20 comprises a second retaining member 21 (retaining member), an internal plate 23 mounted inside the storage box 22 that guides and accommodates the second retaining member 21, and a storage box 22 that houses the second retaining member 21 and the internal plate 23. The second retaining device 20 is mounted in the space of the back plate 2c provided laterally in the short first plate portion 3 and the second plate portion 4.

[0062] The second retaining member 21 has a main body portion 21a, an extension portion 21b, a contact portion 21c, a plurality of slits 21d, a plurality of recesses 21e, a reinforcing member 24, and a handle 25.

[0063] The main body portion 21a is a rectangular, flat member that is long in the vertical direction. The main body portion 21a is stored in the storage box 22 in a state that allows it to move laterally and vertically, with the second holding device 20 attached to the back plate 2c. The extension portion 21b is the part that extends from the upper end of the main body portion 21a in the direction in which the first plate portion 3 is provided.

[0064] The contact portion 21c is bent in a crank shape at the tip of the extension portion 21b. The contact portion 21c is formed such that the length between the surface forming the extension portion 21b and the surface of the crank-shaped bent tip is slightly longer than the thickness formed by the first plate portion 3 and the second plate portion 4 when the second plate portion 4 is in the partition position. The contact portion 21c is stored in the storage box 22 when the second plate portion 4 is in the standby position. When the second plate portion 4 is in the partition position, the inside of the surface of the crank-shaped bent tip of the contact portion 21c can contact the side of the second plate portion 4 in the partition position that is opposite to the side of the first plate portion 3.

[0065] The slit 21d is an elongated, notched portion that penetrates the main body portion 21a. The longitudinal direction of the slit 21d is approximately the same as the transverse direction, and it is open to the first plate portion 3. In addition, there are multiple (three in this case) slits 21d in the vertical direction. The recesses 21e are notches provided at regular intervals along the upper inner surface extending in the longitudinal direction of each slit 21d, and they penetrate the main body portion 21a.

[0066] The reinforcing members 24 are strip-shaped plates that extend vertically across the slit 21d, and multiple (two in this case) are attached to the main body 21a at intervals along the longitudinal direction (lateral direction) of the slit 21d. At the portion of the reinforcing member 24 that straddles the slit 21d, it is bent outward from the surface of the main body 21a at a position where it does not come into contact with the projection 26, which will be inserted into the slit 21d (described later). The reinforcing members 24 are designed to resist deformation even when a load is applied to the main body 21a.

[0067] The handle 25 extends vertically and protrudes from the main body 21a to a height that allows fingers to be inserted rearward. Multiple handles 25 are provided, spaced apart in the lateral direction.

[0068] The internal plate 23 is flat, and its upper and lower ends are folded twice vertically, with the upper and lower folded ends facing each other. As a result, the internal plate 23 houses the second retaining member 21 so that it can move vertically, while forming a pair of guide rails 23a that can guide the second retaining member 21 laterally.

[0069] The internal plate 23 has a plurality of protrusions 26 on the surface of the internal plate 23 that houses the second retaining member 21. The plurality of protrusions 26 are formed at intervals and positions corresponding to the plurality of recesses 21e of the second retaining member 21 housed in the internal plate 23. When the second retaining member 21 is in a fixed position, the plurality of protrusions 26 fit into the plurality of recesses 21e of the second retaining member 21. When the second retaining member 21 is in a movable position, the engagement between the protrusions 26 and the recesses 21e is released.

[0070] The storage box 22 has a box body 22a attached to the back panel 2c and a lid 22b that is detachably attached to the box body 22a. The box body 22a is attached so that its upper end surface is at approximately the same height as the top surface of the top panel 2a. The box body 22a is open to the rear, and the upper part of the surface adjacent to the first panel 3 is open. The lid 22b is formed so that the open portion at the rear of the box body 22a can be closed. The lid 22b may be provided to open and close relative to the box body 22a by hinges or the like.

[0071] The storage box 22 is formed to accommodate the entirety of the second retaining member 21 and the internal plate 23. Within the storage box 22, the second retaining member 21 can move only within a predetermined range in the lateral direction and only within a predetermined range in the vertical direction.

[0072] Next, the method of using the second embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1A will be described. Note that the operation of the first holding device 10 is the same as described above, and will not be explained here. As shown in Figure 4(a), when using the face-to-face system kitchen 1A without a partition, the second holding device 20 is configured to store the second holding member 21 entirely in the storage box 22. At this time, the second holding member 21 is fixed in place, and the projections 26 are fitted into the multiple recesses 21e (see Figure 6). As a result, the second holding member 21 does not move laterally.

[0073] In this state, since the entire second holding member 21 is stored in the storage box 22, even if the second plate 4 is rotated on the hinge between the standby position and the partition position, the second holding member 21 will not come into contact with the second plate 4. Furthermore, because the second plate 4 hangs down below the first plate 3 due to its own weight, it is in the standby position, allowing the face-to-face system kitchen 1A to be used without the partition.

[0074] On the other hand, when using the counter-style system kitchen 1A with the partition in place, first, the second panel 4 is hinged from the standby position to the partition position via the hinge 5, and the lid 22b of the storage box 22 is removed from the box body 22a. Next, the second retaining member 21 is moved upward from the fixed position to the movable position using the handle 25 to release the engagement between the recess 21e and the projection 26 (see Figure 7).

[0075] Once the second holding member 21 is in the movable position, it is moved in the same position toward the first plate portion 3 (second plate portion 4) in the lateral direction, moving the contact portion 21c at the tip of the second holding member 21 away from the storage box 22, and bringing the inner surface of the crank-shaped bent tip of the contact portion 21c into contact with the side of the second plate portion 4 in the partition position that is opposite to the first plate portion 3 side (the rear side). In this state, the second holding member 21 is moved downward from the movable position to the fixed position, and the projection portion 26 is fitted into the recess 21e (see Figure 8). After that, the lid 22b is attached to the box body 22a. As a result, the contact portion 21c that is in contact with the rear side of the second plate portion 4 in the partition position prevents the second plate portion 4 from hinge-rotating from the partition position toward the standby position, so that the second plate portion 4 can be held in the partition position, and the face-to-face system kitchen 1A can be used with the partition in place.

[0076] As described above, the second embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1A can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1. Furthermore, since nothing is attached to the side panel 2b of the cabinet 2 that is close to the second retaining device 20, the cabinet 2 can be positioned so that the side panel 2b, which has nothing attached to it, is in contact with the interior wall. In other words, the face-to-face system kitchen 1A can be used in conjunction with a peninsula kitchen where the side panel 2b is in contact with the interior wall. Moreover, even if the face-to-face system kitchen 1A is an island kitchen that is not in contact with the interior wall, since nothing is attached to the side panel 2b that is close to the second retaining device 20, it is possible to make it easier to pass through on the side of that side panel 2b.

[0077] In the second embodiment, a counter-style system kitchen 1A is shown with one first retaining device 10 and one second retaining device 20 attached to the cabinet 2. However, the invention is not limited to this, and two second retaining devices 20 may be attached. Specifically, the second retaining devices 20 may be attached to the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2 on both sides in the lateral direction, with the first panel 3 and the second panel 4 in between.

[0078] Next, the third embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1B will be described with reference to Figure 9. In the following, components similar to those in the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted. The main difference between the third embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1B and the second embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1A is that the third holding device 30 is provided instead of the second holding device 20, and the side panel 2b also has a partition function.

[0079] The counter-style system kitchen 1B includes a flat side panel first plate portion 7 attached to the side panel 2b opposite to the side panel 2b to which the first retaining device 10 of the cabinet 2 is attached, a flat side panel second plate portion 8, and a side panel hinge 9 that connects the side panel first plate portion 7 and the side panel second plate portion 8, and attaches the side panel second plate portion 8 to the side panel first plate portion 7 so as to be hinge-rotatable. The thickness of the side panel first plate portion 7 and the side panel second plate portion 8 are approximately the same as the thickness of the first plate portion 3 (second plate portion 4).

[0080] The first side plate portion 7 is formed so that its length in the front-to-back direction is shorter than the front-to-back length of the side plate 2b by the amount of space required to attach the third retaining device 30 to the side plate 2b. The length of the first side plate portion 7 in the vertical direction is approximately the same as the length of the first plate portion 3 in the vertical direction. The first side plate portion 7 is attached to the side plate 2b such that its front end coincides with the front end of the side plate 2b in the front-to-back direction. The second side plate portion 8 has a length in the front-to-back direction that is approximately the same as the front-to-back length of the first side plate portion 7, and the length of the edge perpendicular to the front-to-back direction is approximately the same as the length of the second vertical edge 4b ​​of the second plate portion 4.

[0081] Multiple side panel hinges 9 are provided at intervals in the direction in which the first side panel 7 extends (front-to-back direction). These side panel hinges 9 allow the second side panel 8 to hinge and rotate relative to the first side panel 7 between a standby position where the second side panel 8 hangs down below the first side panel 7 and a partition position where a part of the second side panel 8 protrudes above the top panel 2a. When the second side panel 8 is in the partition position, it rises up so as to be aligned with the first side panel 7.

[0082] The third retaining device 30 is mounted across the portion of the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2 where the second retaining device 20 was attached in the second embodiment, and the portion adjacent to the side panel 2b to which the first side panel portion 7 and the second side panel portion 8 are attached. The third retaining device 30 is configured as a combination of two second retaining devices 20, formed symmetrically with respect to a vertically extending boundary line where the side panel 2b and the back panel 2c meet. The third retaining device 30 includes an L-shaped storage box 31 in plan view. The storage box 31 integrates the storage box 22 of the second retaining device 20 into a single storage box 31. The configuration other than the storage box 31 is the same as that of the second retaining device 20. Here, the same reference numerals are used for components similar to those of the second retaining device 20, and their explanation is omitted.

[0083] The storage box 31 of the third retaining device 30 is formed in an L-shape when viewed from above. The storage box 31 comprises a box body 31a attached to the back plate 2c and side plates 2b, and a lid 31b that is detachably attached to the box body 31a. By removing the lid 31b from the box body 31a, the second retaining member 21 on the back plate 2c side and the second retaining member 21 on the side plate 2b side can be operated. The lid 31b of the storage box 31 may be provided to open and close relative to the box body 31a by a hinge. Alternatively, the lid 31b may be provided separately on the back plate 2c side and the side plate 2b side.

[0084] The third holding device 30, like the second holding device 20, is equipped with a second holding member 21 and an internal plate 23 on the back plate 2c side and the side plate 2b side, respectively. On the back plate 2c side, the third holding device 30 can hold the second plate 4 in the partition position by the contact portion 21c of the second holding member 21 on the back plate 2c side contacting the side of the second plate 4 in the partition position that is opposite to the first plate 3. On the side plate 2b side, when the second plate 8 of the side plate is in the partition position, the second plate 8 of the side plate rises up along the first plate 7 of the side plate, with a portion of it protruding above the top plate 2a. When the second plate 8 of the side plate is in the partition position, the third holding device 30 can hold the second plate 8 of the side plate in the partition position by the contact portion 21c of the second holding member 21 contacting the side of the second plate 8 that is opposite to the side of the first plate 7 of the side plate. The third holding device 30 allows the second holding members 21 on the back plate 2c side and the side plate 2b side to operate independently.

[0085] Next, the method of using the third embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1B will be described. Note that the operation of the side other than the side panel 2b on which the third holding device 30 is provided is the same as in the second embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted here, and only the side panel 2b on which the third holding device 30 is provided will be described.

[0086] When using the counter-facing system kitchen 1B without a partition on the side panel 2b side, the second side panel 8 is set to a standby position where it hangs down below the first side panel 7. In addition, the third holding device 30 is set to a state where the second holding member 21 on the side panel 2b side is entirely stored inside the storage box 31 (see Figure 9(a)). At this time, by keeping the second holding member 21 on the side panel 2b side in a fixed position where the recess 21e and the projection 26 are fitted together, the second holding member 21 on the side panel 2b side does not move in the front-to-back direction (forward in this case). This makes it possible to use the counter-facing system kitchen 1B without a partition on the side panel 2b side.

[0087] On the other hand, when using the counter-facing system kitchen 1B with a partition on the side panel 2b side, the second side panel 8 is hinged and rotated from the standby position to the partition position via the side panel hinge 9. Also, the lid 31b of the storage box 31 is removed from the box body 31a. Then, the second retaining member 21 on the side panel 2b side is moved upward from the fixed position to the movable position, and then moved forward so that the contact portion 21c at the tip contacts the side of the second side panel 8 in the partition position that is opposite to the side of the first side panel 7. After that, the second retaining member 21 on the side panel 2b side is moved downward from the movable position to the fixed position, the projection 26 is fitted into the recess 21e, and then the lid 31b is attached to the box body 31a (see Figure 9(b)). This allows the counter-facing system kitchen 1B to be used with a partition on the side panel 2b side.

[0088] Thus, the third embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1B can achieve the same effects and advantages as the face-to-face system kitchen 1 and face-to-face system kitchen 1A described above. In addition, it can accommodate cases where a partition is desired on the side panel 2b side.

[0089] In the third embodiment, the first retaining device 10 is shown on the opposite side of the third retaining device 30 with the first plate portion 3 in between. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the second retaining device 20 of the second embodiment may be provided instead of the first retaining device 10.

[0090] Furthermore, while the third embodiment shows the first side panel portion 7 and the second side panel portion 8 attached to one side panel 2b of the cabinet 2, it is not limited to this, and the first side panel portion 7 and the second side panel portion 8 may be attached to both side panels 2b, with the third retaining device 30 provided at both lateral corners on the back panel 2c side of the cabinet 2.

[0091] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the second side plate portion 8 at the partition position is shown to be held by a second holding member 21 on one side plate 2b side using a third holding device 30. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the lengths of the first side plate portion 7 and the second side plate portion 8 in the front-rear direction may be shortened, and a second holding device 20 may be provided in front of the first side plate portion 7 and the second side plate portion 8 on the side plate 2b, so that the second side plate portion 8 at the partition position is held by two second holding members 21 on the front and rear side plates 2b.

[0092] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a third holding device 30, which is a combination of two second holding devices 20, is shown to hold the second plate section 4 and the side plate second plate section 8 in the partition position. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and two second holding devices 20 may be prepared, one on the back plate 2c side and one on the side plate 2b side, and used as a substitute for the third holding device 30.

[0093] Next, the fourth embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1C will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. In the following, components similar to those described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted. The main difference between the fourth embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1C and the first embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1 is that the fourth embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1C is equipped with a first support device 40.

[0094] The face-to-face kitchen system 1C, like the face-to-face kitchen system 1 of the first embodiment, is equipped with two first holding devices 10 capable of holding the second panel 4 in a partition position. The face-to-face kitchen system 1C of the fourth embodiment has a structure in which a first support device 40 is further housed in the storage box 12 of the first holding devices 10.

[0095] The first support device 40 is a support device that can support the second plate section 4, which rotates on a hinge between the standby position and the partition position, in a counter position where it can be used as a counter. The counter position is the position where the second plate section 4, which rotates on a hinge by the hinge 5, is at approximately 90 degrees relative to the first plate section 3 (the position where the second plate section 4 is horizontal).

[0096] The first support device 40 includes a support rod 41, a support rod case 42, a support base 43, a stopper 44, and a handle 45.

[0097] The support rod 41, when housed in the first holding device 10, is a roughly rectangular prism-shaped rod member that is long in the front-to-back direction. The support rod 41 has a storage recess 41a formed by a long recess in the front-to-back direction from one side. Two support bases 43, described later, are stored inside the storage recess 41a.

[0098] The support rod case 42 supports the support rod 41 so that it can move in the front-rear direction. The support rod case 42 is approximately the same length as the support rod 41 and is formed in a cylindrical shape that can accommodate the support rod 41 inside. When the support rod 41 is housed inside, the support rod case 42 has a slit 42a cut out along the entire length of the support rod case 42 on the side opposite to the side facing the opening of the storage recess 41a. In other words, the support rod case 42 extends in a U-shape due to the presence of the slit 42a. The support rod case 42 supports the support rod 41 so that it can move between a housing position in which the support rod 41 is housed inside and a protruding position in which the support rod 41 is protruding to the outside. The support rod case 42 is provided with a stopper portion (not shown) that contacts the stopper 44, which will be described later.

[0099] The support base 43 has a rubber portion 43a and a protruding portion 43b. The support base 43 is a rod-shaped member stored in the storage recess 41a. One end of the support base 43 is rotatably mounted within the storage recess 41a of the support rod 41 by a vertical axis. The support base 43 is rotatably provided between a storage position in which the entire support base 43 is stored within the storage recess 41a and a support position in which the support base 43 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support rod 41. In this embodiment, two support bases 43 are provided, and when each is in the storage position, they are arranged within the storage recess 41a of the support rod 41 so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the support rod 41.

[0100] When the support rod 41 is pulled out from the support rod case 42 to a predetermined rear position, the support base 43 is in the support position, and the upper surface of the support base 43 is at the same height as the lower surface of the second plate portion 4 at the counter position.

[0101] The rubber portion 43a is provided on the upper surface of the support base 43, on the side that contacts the second plate portion 4 at the counter position when the support base 43 is in the support position. The rubber portion 43a is made of flat rubber. The rubber portion 43a can mitigate impacts when the second plate portion 4 is placed on the counter or when an object is placed on the second plate portion 4 at the counter position.

[0102] The protrusion 43b is located near the axis of rotation and closer to the rotating end of the support base 43. When the support base 43 is in the retracted position, the protrusion 43b is located near the opening of the storage recess 41a. When the support base 43 is in the retracted position, the protrusion 43b presses into the storage recess 41a, which rotates the support base 43 and makes the tip of the support base 43 protrude outside the storage recess 41a.

[0103] The stopper 44 restricts the support rod 41 from moving backward from its protruding position by contacting a stoppered portion (not shown) provided on the support rod case 42. Alternatively, another stoppered portion may be provided to restrict the support rod 41 from moving forward from its retracted position.

[0104] Two handles 45 are attached to the support rod 41 on the side opposite to the opening of the storage recess 41a provided on the support rod 41, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the support rod 41. These handles 45 protrude outward from the support rod case 42 through the slit 42a of the support rod case 42.

[0105] The storage box 12 of the face-to-face system kitchen 1C in the fourth embodiment is the same as the storage box 12 of the face-to-face system kitchen 1 in the first embodiment, except that when the support rod case 42 of the first support device 40 is stored inside, the lower end extends downward so that the upper surface of the support base 43 is at the same height as the lower surface of the second plate portion 4 at the counter position. Alternatively, the first support device 40 may not be stored inside the storage box 12, and the first support device 40 may be attached below the part of the side plate 2b where the first retaining device 10 (storage box 12) of the first embodiment is attached.

[0106] Next, the method of using the face-to-face system kitchen 1C of the fourth embodiment will be described. When using the face-to-face system kitchen 1C without a partition and counter, the second plate section 4 is set to a standby position where it hangs down below the first plate section 3. In the first support device 40, the support base 43 is set to a storage position where it is stored in the storage recess 41a, and the support rod 41 is set to a storage position where it is entirely housed in the support rod case 42. This allows the support rod 41 and support base 43 to be compactly arranged, and the support rod 41 and other parts are less likely to get in the way. In this way, the face-to-face system kitchen 1C can be used without a partition and counter. Note that the first holding member 11 of the first holding device 10 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

[0107] When using the face-to-face system kitchen 1C with a partition, it can be used with a partition in the same manner as the face-to-face system kitchen 1 of the first embodiment.

[0108] When using the face-to-face system kitchen 1C with a counter, remove the lid 12b from the box body 12a of the storage box 12, and move the support rod 41 housed in the support rod case 42 from its storage position to a rearward protruding position using the handle 45. Then, rotate each of the two support bases 43 attached to the tip of the support rod 41 from the storage position to the support position. At this time, pressing the protrusion 43b of the support base 43 will cause the support base 43 to rotate and its tip to protrude outward from the storage recess 41a, so the support base 43 may be rotated to the support position by manipulating the protruding part. Alternatively, before rotating the support base 43 to the support position, the second plate section 4 should be hinged and rotated upward above the counter position.

[0109] Then, the second plate section 4 is hinged and rotated toward the counter position, and the second plate section 4 is placed on the rubber section 43a of the support base 43, thereby supporting the second plate section 4 at the counter position. In this state, the tip (rear end) of the support rod 41 is approximately aligned in the front-to-back direction with the rear end of the second plate section 4 at the counter position. After that, the lid 12b is attached to the box body 12a. This allows the face-to-face system kitchen 1C to be used with the counter in place.

[0110] To change this counter-style kitchen system 1C from having a counter to not having a counter, you can do so by performing the reverse of the above steps.

[0111] Thus, according to the fourth embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1C, the second plate portion 4 can be supported in a counter position by the first support device 40. Therefore, when a counter is desired in this face-to-face system kitchen 1C, the second plate portion 4 can be supported in the counter position, making it possible to place food, drinks, dishes, mobile phones, etc., on the second plate portion 4, allowing for a short break while cooking or washing dishes, or for taking care of a quick meal or other errands.

[0112] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the support base 43 is rotatably attached near the tip of the support rod 41, the second plate portion 4 at the counter position can be supported at a position far from the hinge 5, thereby increasing the load-bearing capacity of the counter provided by the second plate portion 4. In addition, since two support bases 43 are provided on the support rod 41, this also increases the load-bearing capacity of the counter provided by the second plate portion 4.

[0113] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the support rod 41 does not protrude further rearward than the second plate portion 4 when the second plate portion 4 is supported in the counter position, the support rod 41 does not get in the way when the counter is in use. Also, since the second plate portion 4 is placed on the rubber portion 43a of the support base 43, and the rubber portion 43a does not easily slip against the second plate portion 4, even if the support rod 41 is pushed toward the forward storage position, the support rod 41 is not easily moved toward the storage position (forward side), and the support by the support base 43 is released, preventing the second plate portion 4 from hinge-rotating from the counter position to the standby position. It should also be noted that the part of the second plate portion 4 that comes into contact with the support base 43 may be processed to improve the adhesion with the support base 43.

[0114] In the above embodiment, the first support device 40 for supporting the second plate portion 4 at the counter position is shown to be provided on the side plate 2b of the cabinet 2, but it is not limited to this and may be provided on the back plate 2c of the cabinet 2. For example, in the face-to-face system kitchen 1A of the second embodiment, the first support device 40 may be housed in the storage box 22 of the second retaining device 20 attached to the back plate 2c. In this case, the first support device 40 and the second retaining member 21, etc., should not interfere with each other inside the storage box 22. Also, the upper surface of the support base 43 of the first support device 40 should be at the same height as the lower surface of the second plate portion 4 at the counter position. Alternatively, the first support device 40 may be attached to the back plate 2c as a separate unit below the second retaining device 20, rather than being housed inside the second retaining device 20. This allows the support rod 41 to be moved laterally from its storage position to a protruding position, and in that state, the support base 43 to be rotated from the storage position to the support position so that the support base 43 extends to the rear, and then the second plate portion 4 can be placed on the support base 43 to support the second plate portion 4 in the counter position. Alternatively, the lateral lengths of the first plate portion 3 and the second plate portion 4 may be further shortened, and the first support devices 40 may be provided on both sides with the first plate portion 3 and the second plate portion 4 in between.

[0115] Furthermore, although the above embodiment shows a configuration in which the second plate portion 4 can be supported at the counter position, the invention is not limited to this, and the second plate portion 8 of the side plate provided on the side plate 2b may also be supported at the counter position, as in the third embodiment. For example, by providing the first support device 40 on both the back plate 2c side and the side plate 2b side inside the third holding device 30, the second plate portion 8 of the side plate can also be supported at the counter position.

[0116] Next, the fifth embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1D will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 16. In the following, the same reference numerals will be used for components similar to those described above, and detailed explanations will be omitted. The fifth embodiment of the face-to-face system kitchen 1D is formed by applying the face-to-face system kitchen 1A of the second embodiment to the face-to-face system kitchen 1C of the fourth embodiment, and further includes a second support device 50. The face-to-face system kitchen 1D, with the first support device 40 provided on the first holding device 10 and the second support device 50 provided below the second holding device 20, can support the second plate portion 4, which hinges and rotates between a standby position and a partition position, to a counter position where it can be used as a counter, similar to the fourth embodiment.

[0117] In the face-to-face system kitchen 1D, the third panel 6 is formed to be shorter laterally so that a space is created below the second retaining device 20 on the back panel 2c for the second support device 50 to be attached. The second support device 50 is attached in this space with a gap between it and the third panel 6.

[0118] The second support device 50 comprises a support column member 51, a support column case 52, a case support plate 53, a lifting locking device 54, a mounting plate portion 55, a support hinge 56, and a box-shaped storage box 60. The storage box 60 is configured to accommodate the support column member 51, the support column case 52, and the case support plate 53.

[0119] The support member 51 is a rod-shaped member that extends vertically and has approximately the same length as the vertical length of the third plate portion 6. The support member 51 has a rubber portion 51a and a locking hole 51b. The support member 51 is supported by the support case 52 so that it can move up and down between a housing position in which almost the entire support member is housed in the support case 52 and a protruding position above the housing position in which the upper end can contact the lower surface of the second plate portion 4 at the counter position. The rubber portion 51a is made of a rubber plate and is provided at the upper end of the support member 51. The locking hole 51b is a hole provided in the support member 51 into which the latch 54a of the lifting locking device 54, which will be described later, is inserted (see Figure 16). The locking hole 51b is provided in a position where, when the latch 54a is inserted in the protruding position, the upper surface of the rubber portion 51a is at the same height as the lower surface of the second plate portion 4 at the counter position.

[0120] The support column case 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape to house the support column member 51 so that it can be raised and lowered. As shown in Figure 16, the upper end of the support column case 52 is open and the lower end is closed. The support column case 52 houses the support column member 51 in a housing position where it has been lowered to the lower end of the support column case 52. The support column case 52 is provided with a through hole 52a that the latch 54a of the lifting and lowering locking device 54 can pass through, at a location that coincides with the lock hole 51b of the support column member 51 in the protruding position (see Figure 16). In order to make it easier to raise and lower the support column member 51 from the support column case 52, the upper end of the support column member 51 may be made to protrude upward from the support column case 52 in the housing position, and the support column member 51 may be raised and lowered by operating (grasping) the protruding part. Alternatively, the support column case 52 may be provided with a slit extending in the vertical direction, and a handle protruding from the slit may be attached to the support column member 51, so that the support column member 51 can be raised or lowered by operating the handle.

[0121] The case support plate 53 is a flat plate-shaped member to which the support column case 52 is attached. The vertical length of the case support plate 53 is approximately the same as the vertical length of the support column case 52. The horizontal length of the case support plate 53 is shorter than the length of the box body 61 of the storage box 60, which will be described later. The support column case 52 is attached to the case support plate 53 near one of the pair of vertically extending edges of the case support plate 53.

[0122] The lifting locking device 54 is attached to the case support plate 53 and locks the support member 51 so that it cannot be raised or lowered. The lifting locking device 54 has a latch 54a that can move toward the support member 51 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. When the support member 51 is in the protruding position, the lifting locking device 54 moves the latch 54a toward the support member 51 and inserts the tip of the latch 54a into the lock hole 51b of the support member 51 through the through hole 52a of the support case 52, thereby locking the support member 51 so that it cannot be raised or lowered in the protruding position.

[0123] The mounting plate portion 55 is a flat plate-shaped member that is approximately the same size as the case support plate 53. One side of the mounting plate portion 55 is attached to the inside of the box body 61 at a predetermined distance laterally from the open side of the storage box 60 (the side opposite to the box hinge 62, which will be described later).

[0124] The support hinge 56 is attached to the side opposite to one of the mounting plates 55 installed inside the box body 61, and to the edge at a predetermined distance laterally from the open side of the storage box 60. The support hinge 56 is attached to the mounting plate 55 so as to be hinge-rotatable, with the vertical axis as the center of the axis. The support hinge 56 is attached to the side of the case support plate 53 opposite to the side to which the support case 52 is attached, and to the edge opposite to the edge to which the support case 52 is attached to the case support plate 53. Multiple support hinges 56 are provided spaced apart in the vertical direction. If it is possible to attach the support hinge 56, the support hinge 56 may be directly attached inside the box body 61 without providing the mounting plate 55.

[0125] The storage box 60 comprises a box body 61 attached to the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2, and a lid 63 attached to the box body 61 by a box hinge 62 so as to be openable and closable. The storage box 60 is attached to the back panel 2c with the open side facing the center of the back panel 2c.

[0126] The box body 61 comprises a rectangular, flat bottom wall 61a whose outer surface is attached to the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2, a pair of side walls 61b extending from the upper and lower edges of the bottom wall 61a, a first vertical wall 61c extending from one of the vertically extending edges of the bottom wall 61a, and a second vertical wall 61d extending from the vertically extending edge of the bottom wall 61a opposite to the first vertical wall 61c. The box body 61 also includes a lid holder 61e that holds the lid 63 in the closed position.

[0127] The box body 61 is connected to the lid 63 by a box hinge 62 with an axis in the vertical direction at the rear end of the first vertical wall 61c. Therefore, the side with the second vertical wall 61d is the open side. The box body 61 has a second vertical wall 61d that extends rearward from the bottom wall 61a with a length shorter than that of the first vertical wall 61c. The lid retaining portion 61e is provided on the outer surface of the second vertical wall 61d and is formed to be able to lock onto the lid vertical wall 63b (described later) of the lid 63. This box body 61 is attached to the back panel 2c such that the outer surface of the first vertical wall 61c is flush with the side panel 2b of the cabinet 2.

[0128] The lid 63 has a flat lid body wall 63a that is the same size as the bottom wall 61a of the box body 61, and a lid vertical wall 63b that extends perpendicularly from one end of the lid body wall 63a that extends vertically. When the lid 63 is in the closed position, the lid vertical wall 63b is oriented so that it overlaps with the second vertical wall 61d of the lid body 61, and the end of the lid body wall 63a opposite to the lid vertical wall 63b is connected to the first vertical wall 61c of the box body 61 by a box hinge 62. The lid 63 is held in the closed position by locking the tip of the lid vertical wall 63b with the lid holding part 61e.

[0129] The second support device 50 can close the lid 63 on the box body 61 with the case support plate 53 parallel to the mounting plate portion 55. In this state, the support column case 52 and support column members 51 attached to the case support plate 53 are stored together in the storage box 60 (see Figure 15(a)). The position of the case support plate 53 (support column members 51) in this state is the folded position.

[0130] The second support device 50, with the lid 63 open from the box body 61, rotates the support case 52 (support member 51) toward the open side via the support hinge 56, and when the case support plate 53 comes into contact with the end of the second vertical wall 61d of the box body 61, further hinge rotation is prevented (see Figure 15(b)). In this state, the support member 51, which is attached to the case support plate 53 via the support case 52, is located below the second plate portion 4 at the counter position. This position of the support member 51 (case support plate 53) is the deployed position.

[0131] Although not shown in the diagram, the second support device 50 has a holding mechanism that allows it to hold the lid 63 in the unfolded position, with the leading edge of the lid's vertical wall 63b in contact with the surface of the case support plate 53 on which the support hinge 56 is provided. This makes it difficult for the case support plate 53 to hinge and rotate from the unfolded position to the folded position.

[0132] Next, the method of using the counter-style system kitchen 1D of the fifth embodiment will be described. The first holding device 10, the second holding device 20, and the first support device 40 are the same as those described in the other embodiments, so their description will be omitted. When using the counter-style system kitchen 1D without a partition and counter, the second plate section 4 is set to a standby position hanging down below the first plate section 3.

[0133] The second support device 50, in the standby position, folds the support column member 51 together with the case support plate 53 to the storage position, and closes the lid 63 on the box body 61, so that the support column member 51, support column case 52, and case support plate 53 are stored in the storage box 60. This makes it possible to compactly store the support column member 51 and case support plate 53, and the support column member 51 and other components, so that they do not get in the way. In this way, the face-to-face system kitchen 1D can be used without a partition or counter.

[0134] When using the face-to-face system kitchen 1D with a counter, open the lid 63 of the storage box 60 from the box body 61 (see Figure 14(b)), and rotate the hinge of the case support plate 53 from the folded position to the unfolded position (see Figure 14(c)). Then, raise the support member 51 from the storage position to the protruding position, and insert the latch 54a of the lifting lock device 54 into the lock hole 51b of the support member 51 through the through hole 52a of the support case 52, locking the support member 51 in the protruding position so that it cannot be raised or lowered. At this time, rotate the hinge of the second plate 4 above the counter position. Also, rotate the hinge of the lid 63 in the closing direction, and hold the lid 63 with the tip of the lid vertical wall 63b in contact with the case support plate 53 in the unfolded position (see Figure 14(d)).

[0135] Furthermore, in the first support device 40 provided in the first holding device 10, as described above, the support rod 41 is moved from the storage position to the protruding position, and the two support bases 43 attached to the tip of the support rod 41 are hinged and rotated from the storage position to the support position.

[0136] Then, by hinge-rotating the second plate portion 4 toward the counter position and placing the second plate portion 4 on the rubber portion 43a at the tip of the support base 43 and the rubber portion 51a at the upper end of the support column member 51, the second plate portion 4 can be supported at the counter position. In this state, the upper end of the support column member 51 is in contact with the lower surface near the rear end of the second plate portion 4 at the counter position. This allows the face-to-face system kitchen 1D to be used with the counter in place.

[0137] To change this counter-style kitchen system 1D from having a counter to not having a counter, you can do so by performing the reverse of the above steps.

[0138] Thus, the counter-style system kitchen 1D of the fifth embodiment can achieve the same effects and advantages as the counter-style system kitchen 1A of the second embodiment and the counter-style system kitchen 1C of the fourth embodiment.

[0139] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the case support plate 53 is hinge-rotated from a folded position parallel to the mounting plate portion 55 to an unfolded position that allows the second plate portion 4 to be supported at the counter position. This allows the support member 51 attached to the case support plate 53 to be moved away from the back plate 2c and supported at the counter position near the rear end of the second plate portion 4. In other words, the second plate portion 4 can be supported at a position far from the hinge 5 relative to the second plate portion 4 at the counter position, thereby increasing the load-bearing capacity of the counter provided by the second plate portion 4.

[0140] In the above embodiment, the second support device 50 is shown attached to the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2, but the invention is not limited to this, and the second support device 50 may also be attached to the third panel 6. Furthermore, the lateral lengths of the first panel 3 and the second panel 4 may be further shortened, and instead of the first retaining device 10 having the first support device 40 of this embodiment, the second retaining device 20 and the second support device 50 may be attached symmetrically to both sides of the back panel 2c in the lateral direction, with the first panel 3 and the second panel 4 in between. Moreover, in the face-to-face system kitchen 1B of the third embodiment, the second support device 50 may be attached to the lower parts of the first panel 7 and the second panel 8 of the side panel 2b of the cabinet 2. This makes it possible to have both a counter-equipped state and a counter-less state on the side panel 2b side of the face-to-face system kitchen 1B.

[0141] Furthermore, although the above embodiment shows the second support device 50 attached to the back plate 2c of the cabinet 2, it is not limited to this, and the second support device 50 may also be attached to the side plate 2b. In this case, by not providing a second vertical wall 61d in the box body 61 of the storage box 60, providing a mounting plate portion 55 such that the center of hinge rotation of the support hinge 56 is located behind the side plate 2b, and by allowing the case support plate 53 to rotate by more than 180 degrees from the folded position to the unfolded position, the support member 51 can be positioned below the second plate portion 4 at the counter position, even if the second support device 50 is attached to the side plate 2b, and thus it can be supported at the counter position.

[0142] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and design changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, as described below.

[0143] For example, in the above embodiment, a third plate portion 6 is shown attached below the first plate portion 3 and the second plate portion 4 on the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2, but the invention is not limited to this, and the third plate portion 6 may not be attached.

[0144] Furthermore, although the above embodiment shows the first panel portion 3 (second panel portion 4) attached to the back panel 2c of the cabinet 2, it is not limited to this, and if a door or drawer is provided on the back side of the cabinet 2, the first panel portion 3 may be attached to that door or drawer instead. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0145] 1. Open-plan kitchen 1A Countertop System Kitchen 1B Countertop System Kitchen 1C Countertop System Kitchen 1D Countertop System Kitchen 2 cabinets 2a Top plate 2b side plate 2c back plate 3 First plate part 3a First horizontal edge 3b First vertical edge 4 Second plate part 4a Second horizontal edge 4b Second vertical edge 5. Hinge 10 First holding device (holding device) 11 First retaining member (retaining member) 11a Contact part 11b recess 12 storage boxes 13 Protrusion 20 Second holding device (holding device) 21 Second retaining member (retaining member) 21c Contact part 21e recess 22 Storage Boxes 30 Third holding device (holding device) 31 Storage Boxes 40 First support device (support device) 41 Support rod 42 Support rod case 43 Support stand 50 Second support device (support device) 51 Support member 52 support case 53 Case support plate 54 Lifting locking device 55 Mounting plate section 56 Support hinge

Claims

1. A box-shaped cabinet having at least a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a back panel, A flat plate-shaped first plate portion is attached to the side plate or the back plate, having a pair of first horizontal edges separated vertically and a pair of first vertical edges connecting the ends of each of the pair of first horizontal edges, A flat plate-shaped second plate portion having a pair of second horizontal edges extending parallel to the first horizontal edge, and a pair of second vertical edges connecting the ends of each of the pair of second horizontal edges, wherein the length of the second vertical edges is longer than the length of the first vertical edge, A hinge is attached to the first board such that the second board rotates relative to the first board between a standby position in which the second board hangs down below the first board and a partition position in which the second board rises up along the first board and a portion of it protrudes above the top board. The device comprises a retaining member having a contact portion at its tip that holds the second plate portion of the partition in a position where it cannot be hinged, and a retaining box that houses at least the end of the retaining member opposite to the contact portion and is attached to the side plate or the back plate, The holding member has a movable position in which it can move and a fixed position in which it cannot move. When the holding member is not holding the second plate portion in the partition position, it is fixed in the position with the contact portion close to the first plate portion or with the contact portion stored in the storage box. When the holding member is holding the second plate portion in the partition position, the contact portion is in contact with the side of the second plate portion in the partition position that is opposite to the side of the first plate portion. A face-to-face style system kitchen characterized by these features.

2. The holding device is A plurality of recesses are provided in the retaining member at regular intervals, The holding member further comprises at least one projection that fits into at least one recess when the holding member is in the fixed position, and disengages from the recess when the holding member is in the movable position. The face-to-face system kitchen according to feature 1.

3. The system further includes a support device for supporting the second plate when the second plate is horizontal in the counter position, which is located between the standby position and the partition position. A face-to-face system kitchen according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned support device is A rod-shaped support rod, A support rod case is attached to the side plate or the back plate and provides support for the support rod so that it can move between a housing position in which the support rod is housed and a protruding position in which the support rod is projected outwards. The system includes a support base provided on the support rod and rotatably mounted about its axis, on which the second plate portion at the counter position is placed when the support rod is rotated while in the protruding position. The face-to-face system kitchen according to feature 3.

5. The aforementioned support device is A rod-shaped support member, A cylindrical support case that houses the aforementioned support member so that it can be raised and lowered, A flat case support plate to which the aforementioned support column case is attached, A lifting locking device is attached to the case support plate and locks the support member so that it cannot be raised or lowered when the support member is raised from a housing position in which it is housed in the support case to a protruding position in which the upper end of the support member can contact the lower surface of the second plate portion at the counter position. A flat mounting plate portion attached to the side plate or the back plate, The case support plate is attached to the mounting plate by a support hinge, such that the case support plate rotates between a folded position where it is parallel to the mounting plate and an unfolded position where the support member is located below the second plate at the counter position. The face-to-face system kitchen according to feature 3.

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