GB2396548A

GB2396548A - Wall mounting storage units

Info

Publication number: GB2396548A
Application number: GB0230242A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Olivier Languille
Original assignee: SYMPHONY GROUP PLC
Current assignee: SYMPHONY GROUP PLC
Priority date: 2002-12-28
Filing date: 2002-12-28
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Also published as: GB0230242D0

Abstract

A method of mounting storage units 10, 12 is disclosed wherein one or more storage units are fitted with a rail 14, 16 and the wall of the room within which the units are to be mounted is also provided with a complementary rail 20, 22, the rails being profiled so as, in use, to interlock. Thus, the fitting of a unit or units 10, 12 provided with a rail 14, 16 in accordance with the present invention simply comprises offering up the units 10, 12 to the wall on which the complementary rail 20, 22 is mounted until the rails interlock and then stabilising the attachment with one or more fixing means 26, 28, 30, e.g. screws. In practice, the user will specify the layout required and one or more units 10, 12 (e.g. standard 600 mm units), normally several, will be provided with a common rail in the factory. The fitter may attach the complementary rail 20, 22 to the wall of the kitchen to be fitted, or the wall may in fact be factory manufactured with the rail 20, 22 in place. The units are then delivered in assemblies, or modules, which are fitted to the corresponding rails 20, 22 on the respective walls of a kitchen.

Description

l 2396548 MOUNTING OF WALL UNITS

This invention relates to the mounting of wall units and in particular relates to the mounting of kitchen units in a simple and rapid manner.

Modern kitchens are normally fitted with wall and floor mounted storage units which often contain normal kitchen appliances such as cookers, bobs, ovens, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and the like. To this end, the units are normally made to a standard width, typically 600mm, and a number of units, possibly of different types, are mounted side by side to fill a given wall space. Floor, or base, units are typically covered in a continuous work surface. Traditionally, each unit is mounted individually and the fitting of a kitchen takes a considerable amount of labour.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved method of fitting such units to a wall to reduce the labour required on site.

In the broadest aspect of the present invention, one or more storage units are fitted with a rail and the wall of the room within which the units are to be mounted is also provided with a complementary rail, the rails being profiled so as, in use, to interlock.

Thus, the fitting of a unit or units provided with a rail in accordance with the present invention simply comprises offering up the units to the wall on which the complementary rail is mounted until the rails interlock and then stabilising the attachment with one or more fixing means, e.g. screws.

In practice, the user will specify the layout required and one or more units (e.g. standard 600 mm units), normally several, will be provided with a common rail in the factory.

The fitter may attach the complementary rail to the wall of the kitchen to be fitted, or the wall may in fact be factory manufactured with the rail in place. The units are then delivered in

-2 assemblies, or modules, which are fitted to the corresponding rails on the respective walls of a kitchen.

The rails are profiled to interlock, e.g. by means of complementary tapers to produce a taper fit.

While the invention is described with respect to kitchen units, it will be understood that units can be fitted in any room of a house where required by the method of the invention, e.g., without limitation, bathrooms or bedrooms.

Where the units contain electrical appliances, or require plumbing connections, these are preferably provided with connectors, in the case of electrical appliances, or flexible pipes in the case of plumbed-in components, so that rapid connection can be made to the corresponding sockets or pipework in the kitchen.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a run of kitchen wall and base units fitted in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a typical kitchen layout; and Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, a typical kitchen layout is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 wherein standard wall units (10) and base units (12) are fitted lo the kitchen walls. As illustrated, the largest wall has a run of five wall units above five base units.

In accordance with the invention, the wall units (10) are, before delivery to the site, provided with a single common rail (14) (Figure 1) across the back of all five units (10) and which is fixed thereto. The units may also be additionally fixed to one another, em. by fixings

passing through adjacent sides to provide additional rigidity. The base units (12) are similarly provided with a common rail (16) fixed to the backs thereof.

The kitchen wall (18) to which the units are to be affixed is provided with complementary rails (20,22) affixed to the wall (18) by suitable fixing means, for example, screws. Alternatively, the rails (20,22) can be formed in situ, particularly with prefabricated walls. In addition, the wall units (10) may be provided with a spacing strip (24).

In use, fitting of the pre-assembled modules is simple and quick. With the wall units (10), the assembled module is presented such that its rail (14) interlocks with the wall rail (20) as illustrated in the detail in Figure 1. A strip (24), of essentially the same thickness of the strip (20), fitted to the lower portion of the units (10) maintains the correct spacing of the units. The units are then fully supported with the weight being taken by the interlocking rails (14,20). However, to stabilise them against accidental dislodgement, it is preferred to use additional fixing means, such as screws, for example at 26 and/or 28. However, far fewer screws are needed than in a conventional fixing, e.g. four for the entire module of five units.

Fitting of the base units (12) is similar but, as these are floor mounted, there is no need for a spacing strip (although one could be fitted if desired). The rail (16) interlocks with the rail (22) as above and may be stabilized by means of screws at (30). Again a small number, e.g. two or four, screws will suffice.

As illustrated, the units may contain appliances such as an oven (32), bob (34) and sink (36). The base units will normally be provided with worktops (38,40,42) and these will be secured, as known per se, with appropriate brackets.

The rails (14,16,20,22) may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, MDF, plastic or metal, e.g. mild steel, depending on the circumstances and the load bearing required.

The interlocking capability as illustrated is a simple taper fit, but other methods of interlocking

-4 the respective strips may be employed provided they are robust enough to take the weight of a module loaded with kitchen utensils, crockery, stored food, etc. It is preferred that all the electrical units are fitted with plugs or other connectors complementary to those existing in the kitchen. In addition, the sink (36) has taps and a waste fitting carrying flexible pipes capable of being rapidly attached to the water supply and waste pipework existing in the kitchen.

By means of the invention, it is possible to fit a complete kitchen in just one hour on site, which is very much quicker than fitting in the conventional manner.

Claims

-5 CLAIMS

1. A method of mounting one or more storage units to a wall wherein one or more storage units are fitted with a rail and the wall of the room within which the units are to be mounted is also provided with a complementary rail, the rails being profiled so as, in use, to interlock, and offering up the units so that the rails interlock. thereby fixing them to the wall.

2. A method as claimed in claim I wherein additional fixings are used to stabilise the mounted assembly.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fixings are screws.

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4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the storage units and their associated À À.. rail are pre-assembled off-site.

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5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein several units are provided with a common rail À. In a factory À À À Àe

6. A method as claimed in any of claims I to 5 wherein a fitter attaches the complementary rail to the wall of the room to be fitted, or the wall is factory manufactured with the rail in place.

7. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the rails are profiled to interlock, e.g. by means of complementary tapers to produce a taper fit.

8. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the units contain electrical appliances, or require plumbing connections, and these are provided respectively by connectors, in the case of electrical appliances, or flexible pipes in the case of plumbed-in components, so that rapid connection can be made to the corresponding sockets or pipework in the room.

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9. A method of mounting one or more storage units to a wall substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. Storage units bearing a rail for use in a method as claimed in any of claims I to 9.

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