Fold-down kitchenette
The fold-down kitchenette is designed for use in folding camping trailers and includes a two part cabinet having a base section and a movable top section, which can be moved between a raised functional position and a lowered transportation position. The top section of the cabinet supports a conventional sink and stove. Flexible drain hoses, waterlines, gas lines and electrical wiring are used to facilitate the movement of the top section between its functional and transportation positions. In two embodiments, the top section is pivotally connected to the base section by a linkage. The linkage uses a pivoting parallelogram mechanism, which allows the top section to move between a functional position seated atop the base section and a transportation position resting on the floor of the trailer. In another embodiment, the top section shiftably rides along a U-shaped track, which allows the top to shift between the raised functional position and the lowered transportation position.
This invention relates to kitchenettes for recreational vehicles, and specifically a fold-down kitchenette for use in pop-up trailers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFolding camping trailers, also referred to as fold-down campers, pop-up trailers or tent trailers, are a popular type of recreational vehicle. Folding camping trailers have sides that collapse for towing and storage. The low profiles of folding camping trailers greatly improve fuel efficiency of the towing vehicles by reducing wind resistance.
Conventional folding camping trailers include the same facilities as other recreational vehicles including kitchenettes. Heretofore, the height of the kitchenettes has been a limiting factor in reducing the profiles of folding camping trailers. The counter top of a typical kitchenette stands approximately thirty-six (36″) inches above the floor of the trailer. Reducing the height of the kitchenette counter top reduces its functionality, which is undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to provide a fold-down kitchenette for use in folding camping trailers. The fold-down kitchenettes embodying this invention include a two part cabinet having a base section and a movable top section, which can be moved between a raised functional position and a lowered transportation or storage position. The top section of the cabinet supports a conventional sink and stove. Flexible drain hoses, waterlines, gas lines and electrical wiring are used to facilitate the movement of the top section between its functional and transportation positions. In two embodiments, the top section is pivotally connected to the base section by a linkage. The linkage uses a pivoting parallelogram mechanism, which allows the top section to move between a functional position seated atop the base section and a transportation position resting on the floor of the trailer. In a third embodiment, the top section rides on rollers within a U-shaped track, which allows the top section to shift in a telescoping action between the raised functional position and the lowered transportation position.
The fold-down kitchenettes embodying this invention afford folding camping trailers a significantly lower, more streamline collapsed profile. In the functional position, the top sections sit atop the base sections placing the counter top at an ergometrically efficient height within the trailer with all the necessary sink and stove fixtures ready for use. In the transportation position, the top section is retracted into the base section or is pivoted off of the top of the base section to rest on the floor of the trailer adjacent the base section, thereby significantly lowering the overall height of the kitchenette. The linkage and slide track mechanisms allow the top section of the cabinet to move between the functional position and the transportation position, while maintaining the counter top of the top section in a horizontal plane.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:
The drawings illustrate three separate embodiments of the fold-down kitchenette of the present invention for use in conventional folding camper trailers.
Each embodiment of the kitchenette includes a two part cabinet having a base section and a movable top section. For simplicity of explanation, the base and top sections of the cabinet for each embodiment of the kitchenette are identified as reference numerals 10 and 14 respectively. Typically. Both base section 10 and top sections 14 use conventional wood cabinetry construction. As shown, base sections 10 have four sides and a flat laminate top 11. Top sections 14 have four sides and a laminate counter top 15. As customary in the art, base and top sections 10 and 14 may be fitted with doors and drawers as desired. Various kitchen fixtures, such as a sink basin 16 with water faucet 17 and a conventional stove 18 with multiple burners are mounted to counter top 15. These kitchen fixtures are of conventional design suitable for RV applications. While not illustrated, flexible hoses, tubing and wire connect the kitchen fixtures to the trailer's various drainage, water, gas and/or electrical systems. These flexible connections extend up from the interior of base section 10 through an elongated opening 13 into the interior of top section 14, which allows the top section to move between its functional position and the transportation position.
The first two embodiment (
One skilled in the art will note several advantages of the fold-down kitchenettes as embodied herein for folding camping trailers. The fold-down kitchenettes of this invention afford folding camping trailers a significantly lower collapsed profile. In the transportation position within a collapsed trailer, the top section is shifted along the guide tracks or pivoted off the base reducing the overall height of the cabinetry. In the functional position, the fold-down design of the kitchenettes places the counter top at an ergometrically efficient height for the users. The kitchenette fixtures are completely functional and avail to use without any modification to a conventional trailer. The flexible sink and stove connections are contained within the cabinetry and require little if any setup by the user. The top section of the cabinet sits securely atop the base section affording access to any storage area within either cabinet section.
The embodiments of the present invention herein described and illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A fold-down kitchenette comprising:
- a cabinet having a base section and a top section;
- kitchen fixtures mounted to the top section; and
- means connecting the base section and the top section such that the top section shifts relative to the base section between a first position where the top section is raised above the base section at a first height and a second position where the top section is lowered relative to the base section at a second height below the first height.
2. The kitchenette of claim 1 wherein connecting means includes a first link and a second link, the first link pivotally connecting the base section for rotational movement about a first horizontal axis and pivotally connecting the top section at a second horizontal axis where the first horizontal axis is parallel to the second horizontal axis,
- the second link pivotally connecting the base section for rotational movement about a first horizontal axis and pivotally connecting the top section at a second horizontal axis where the first horizontal axis is parallel to the second horizontal axis,
- the distance between the first horizontal axis of the first link and the first horizontal axis of the second link is equal to the distance between the second horizontal axis of the first link and the first horizontal axis of the second link.
3. The kitchenette of claim 1 wherein the connecting means includes a track and a roller part, the track mounted to one of the top section and the base section, the roller is mounted to the other of the top section and the base section for shiftable movement along the length of the track.
4. The kitchenette of claim 3 wherein the track has a first horizontal run and a second horizontal run spaced parallel below the first horizontal run.
5. A fold-down kitchenette comprising:
- a cabinet having a base section and a top section;
- kitchen fixtures mounted to the top section; and
- linkage means for connecting the base section and the top section to facilitate movement of the top section relative to the base section between a first position where the top section seats atop the base section and a second position where the top section is positioned adjacent the base section.
6. The kitchenette of claim 5 wherein linkage includes a first link and a second link, the first link pivotally connecting the base section for rotational movement about a first horizontal axis and pivotally connecting the top section at a second horizontal axis where the first horizontal axis is parallel to the second horizontal axis,
- the second link pivotally connecting the base section for rotational movement about a first horizontal axis and pivotally connecting the top section at a second horizontal axis where the first horizontal axis is parallel to the second horizontal axis,
- the distance between the first horizontal axis of the first link and the first horizontal axis of the second link is equal to the distance between the second horizontal axis of the first link and the first horizontal axis of the second link.
7. A fold-down kitchenette comprising:
- a cabinet having a base section and a top section;
- kitchen fixtures mounted to the top section; and
- means for connecting the base section and the top section to facilitate extensible movement of the top section relative to the base section between a first position where the top section is extended above the base section and a second position where the top section is retracted into the base section.
8. The kitchenette of claim 7 wherein the connecting means includes a track and a roller part, the track mounted to one of the top section and the base section, the roller mounted to the other of the top section and the base section for shiftable movement along the length of the track.
9. The kitchenette of claim 8 wherein the track has a first horizontal run and a second horizontal run spaced parallel below the first horizontal run.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 24, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2006
Inventor: Stewart Gardner (Bristol, IN)
Application Number: 11/338,612
International Classification: A47F 3/04 (20060101);