Kitchen Device Comprising Two Body Parts

Abstract

A kitchen device includes a first body part, to be fixedly mounted, a second body part, mobile in relation to the first body part, and a locking mechanism for locking the second body part in a locked position. In order to provide a kitchen device of the aforementioned kind that can be flexibly adapted to the space available in a kitchen, the locking mechanism is adjustable.

Description

The invention relates to a kitchen device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for installing a kitchen device according to the preamble of claim 11.

Kitchen devices, for example chimney-type kitchen extractor hoods, are known which comprise two body parts that are mounted movably relative to each other. A first body part is provided for permanent installation, for example in a fitted kitchen, whereas the second body part is mounted to be displaceable relative to the first body part. It is furthermore known that kitchen devices of this type comprise a locking mechanism for locking the second body part in a locking position.

The object of the invention consists in particular in providing a generic kitchen device which can be flexibly adapted to the space available in a kitchen. The object of the invention also consists in developing a method for installing a kitchen device of said type. The object is achieved according to the invention by the features recited in claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a kitchen device, in particular a kitchen extractor hood device, comprising a first body part provided for permanent installation, comprising a second body part which can be moved relative to the first body part, and comprising a locking mechanism for locking the second body part in a locking position.

It is proposed that the locking mechanism is embodied to be adjustable. In this way it can be ensured that the kitchen device can be adapted by means of a suitable adjustment of the locking mechanism to conditions in the kitchen and/or to individual preferences of a user. In addition a hampering of the work in a kitchen comprising the kitchen device due to an unfavorable configuration of the kitchen device can be avoided.

Because of the necessary adaptability to a depth of a countertop, to a depth of fitted cabinets and/or to the size of a user, the advantages of the kitchen device according to the invention take effect in particular in connection with kitchen extractor hood devices, for example extractor hoods or chimney-type extractors, which are provided for positioning above a stove top.

A component mounted on rollers is also to be referred to as “movable” or “displaceable” in this context. The second body part can be embodied in terms of its construction to be particularly easily movable in a rectilinear manner, but in principle can also be embodied to be movable in a curvilinear manner. The locking mechanism can be adjustable before, during or after the installation of the kitchen device.

In a development of the invention it is proposed that the locking mechanism has a locking

means which forms a stop element for limiting a range of movement of the second body part. By this means it can be reliably avoided that the second body part can be shifted into an unfavorable configuration.

If the locking mechanism comprises at least two retainers for a locking means, each of which is assigned to a locking position, the locking position can be particularly conveniently defined by inserting the locking means into one of the retainers. The locking position can be an intermediate latching position or a final locking position. The locking position can define the configuration of the kitchen extractor hood device in an inserted position and/or in a withdrawn position.

Soiling of the retainers can be avoided if the kitchen device has at least one lining means for lining one of the retainers, or particularly advantageously both retainers. The lining means can also advantageously protect a guide mechanism for guiding a displacement movement of the two body parts from kitchen vapor.

An unintentional displacement of the second body part from the locking position can be avoided if the locking mechanism comprises at least one latching means for arresting the second body part in the locking position. A convenient releasing of the locking mechanism can be achieved if the latching means can be released from the arresting mechanism against a latching force of a few Newtons in a displacement direction.

A reliably adjustable locking mechanism can be achieved if the locking mechanism comprises a first locking means disposed on the first body part and a second locking means disposed on the second body part. The two locking means can be shaped to fit the body parts as well as secured to the body parts. A soft stop can be achieved if at least one of the locking means is produced from an elastic plastic material.

A particularly space-saving and constructionally simple kitchen device can be realized if the second body part can be displaced relative to the first body part in a horizontal direction.

A lighting that is adjustable to the configuration of the kitchen device can be integrated into the kitchen device if the second body part comprises at least one retaining means for retaining a lighting device. An orientation of spotlights of the lighting device can be changed either manually or by positive control as a function of a position of the second body part.

User friendliness can be further increased if the second body part is provided such that it can move in at least one direction automatically relative to the first body part. In this case the kitchen device can particularly advantageously comprise a resetting means for resetting the second body part to a home position or, as the case may be, to an inserted configuration. A user can then move the second body part into the home position simply by a pushing action. A spring can be used as a constructionally particularly simple resetting means.

The invention is also based on a method for installing a kitchen device comprising a first body part provided for permanent installation, comprising a second body part which is displaceable relative to the first body part, and comprising a locking mechanism for limiting a range of movement of the second body part.

It is proposed that the range of movement of the second body part is set in an adjustment step. This enables an advantageous adaptation of the kitchen device to the space conditions available in a kitchen comprising the kitchen device and/or to individual preferences of a user of the kitchen device.

Further advantages will emerge from the following description of the drawing, which shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them to form useful further combinations.

The figures show:

FIG. 1 a kitchen extractor hood device having a two-part, retractable body in a locking position in an oblique view from above,

FIG. 2 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIG. 1 in an oblique view from below,

FIG. 3 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1 and 2 in a home position in an oblique view from below,

FIG. 4 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-3 in a view from below,

FIG. 5 a section of the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-4 having a locking mechanism and having a lining means that has been removed,

FIG. 6 the section from FIG. 5, with a first body part of the two-part body being represented transparently,

FIG. 7 the section from FIGS. 5 and 6, with a carrier element being represented transparently,

FIG. 8 a locking means of the locking mechanism from FIGS. 5-7,

FIG. 9 a further locking means of the locking mechanism from FIGS. 5-7,

FIG. 10 a part of a guide mechanism of the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-9 in a schematic sectional representation,

FIG. 11 the part of the guide mechanism from FIG. 10 in a perspective internal view of a second body part,

FIG. 12 a carrier element as well as two guide rails of the guide mechanism from FIGS. 10 and 11,

FIG. 13 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-12 in a schematic sectional representation in a home position,

FIG. 14 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-13 in a schematic sectional representation in a middle position during a withdrawal movement,

FIG. 15 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-14 in a schematic sectional representation in a fully withdrawn locking position,

FIG. 16 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-15 in a schematic sectional representation in a middle position during an insertion movement,

FIG. 17 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-16 in an oblique view from below during a withdrawal movement,

FIG. 18 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-17 in an oblique view from below in the locking position,

FIG. 19 the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-18 in an oblique view from below during an insertion movement,

FIG. 20 a cover element of the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-19, and

FIG. 21 a spacer element of the kitchen extractor hood device from FIGS. 1-20.

FIG. 1 shows a kitchen device embodied as a chimney-type extractor hood or, as the case may be, a kitchen extractor hood device for installation on a wall of a kitchen above a stove top that is not shown here. The kitchen extractor hood device has essentially the shape of a horizontally lying, flat block comprising, and on top of which is placed, a rectangular extractor duct 40 in which a fan 42 and various filter elements 44 are disposed. The fan 42 is provided for the purpose of drawing in vapor from an area underneath the kitchen extractor hood device.

The block-shaped lower area of the kitchen extractor hood device forms a two-part body 80 which comprises two body parts 10, 12. The first body part 10 is permanently connected to the extractor duct 40 and in the installed state is also permanently connected to a wall of the kitchen comprising the kitchen extractor hood device. The second body part 12 is movably mounted on the first, fixed body part 10 via a total of four guide rails 46, 46′, 70, 70′.

In the installed state the second body part 12 encloses or, as the case may be, grips around the first, fixed body part 10 in all directions which are transverse relative to a direction 30 pointing in the direction of a kitchen wall. The second body part 12 also covers the first body part 10 in a direction 30′ opposite to the direction 30 such that the second body part 12 forms a front elevation 48 on which is disposed a control panel 50 comprising a plurality of control elements embodied as pushbuttons. A user of the kitchen extractor hood device can actuate the fan 42 and a lighting device 34 (FIG. 2) of the kitchen extractor hood device via said control elements. Directions of movement are both the direction 30 and the direction 30′ opposite to the direction 30.

The first body part 10 comprises, as an essential component, a carrier plate which, in the installed state, is secured horizontally to the wall. The second body part 12 forms in total all the external sides 72-78 of the body 80 that are aligned transversally to the direction of movement 30, specifically a top side 72, an underside 78 and side surfaces 74, 76. The second body part 12 therefore also covers with its top side 72, in particular in the inserted state, a top side 128 and a front side not explicitly shown here or, as the case may be, a side of the first body part 10 facing away from the direction 30.

The top side 72 of the second body part 12 has a U-shaped cutout 86 which in the home position receives the extractor duct 40. If a user moves the second body part 12 in the direction 30′ in a withdrawal movement 102, then after a displacement of 100 mm the edge of the cutout 86 slides over the front edge of the first body part 10, with the result that the edge of the cutout 86 and the front edge of the first body part 10 define a rectangular opening 84. The kitchen extractor hood device comprises a cover element 82 which is movable or displaceable relative to the two body parts 10, 12 and which serves to cover the opening 84.

The underside 78 of the second body part 12 is formed by a replaceable filter element 52 which, in an inserted state which corresponds to a home position, forms a part of an underside of the body 80 which is completed on the side by two strips 54, 54′ in which retaining means 32-32″′ embodied as round holes are provided for retaining the lighting device 34 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The lighting device 34 is composed of four halogen spotlights which are manually adjustable in their orientation.

The second body part 12 is movable in the direction 30 or, as the case may be, in the direction 30′ opposite to the direction 30. The top side 72, the front elevation 48, the side surfaces 74, 76 and the strips 54, 54′ of the second body part 12 are formed as one piece as a stamped-and-bent sheet metal part produced from a stainless steel sheet, as a result of which the second body part 12 has an easy-to-clean stainless steel surface.

FIG. 4 shows an interior space of the kitchen extractor hood device comprising a further filter element 52 and an interior lining of the first, fixed body part 10. The interior lining has a smaller lining means 24 which is latched in an easily releasable manner in the interior lining. The lining means 24 serves to cover a locking mechanism 14 and to protect it from water vapor or fumes, said locking mechanism 14 serving to lock or latch the second body part 12 in the locking position or final position and for variably limiting a range of movement 38 of the second body part 12 in the manner of an adjustable stop element.

FIG. 5 shows the locking mechanism 14 with the lining means 24 removed. In a carrier element 56 made of sheet metal are disposed two retainers 20, 22, arranged offset horizontally with respect to one another and embodied as T-shaped cutouts, into which a locking means 16 can be inserted during the installation of the kitchen extractor hood device and which are each assigned, in a manner described below, to a locking position or final position and serve to limit a magnitude of the range of movement 38.

In the configuration shown, the locking means 16 is inserted into the retainer 22, which is covered as a result. When the locking means 16 is inserted into the retainer 20, it forms an end stop which limits the range of movement 38 in such a way that a total depth of the body 80 in the locking position or final position is 550 mm, whereas the total depth amounts to 600 mm when the locking means 16 is inserted into the retainer 22. If the locking means 16 is inserted into neither of the retainers 20, 22, the range of movement 38 is limited by an end stop integrated into the guide rail 46 with a final latching action and a latching means 90 and the total depth in the locking position equals 650 mm. This allows the installer to choose between three different total depths or, as the case may be, locking positions and to adapt the kitchen extractor hood device to the conditions in a particular kitchen or, as the case may be, to the preferences of a user.

In order to insert the locking means 16 embodied as a locking pin into the retainer 22, said locking means 16 is initially introduced into the top, transverse part of the T shape of the retainer 22 and then pressed vertically downwards, thereby causing the locking means 16 to become clamped via a groove 58 (FIG. 8) in a lower, bar-shaped part of the T shape of the retainer 22. The locking means 16 essentially consists of a base 64 which, in the inserted state, comes to rest against the carrier element 56 and prevents the locking means 16 sliding through the retainer 22, and of a part 62 projecting into a space between the first body part 10 and the second body part 12 and having the function of a locking pin. The part 62 has a cross-section which tapers in the direction of the carrier element 56 and generates a clamping effect between the locking means 16 and the carrier element 56.

The carrier element 56 is part of the first, fixed body part 10 and is connected to the latter. The same therefore applies in the inserted state for the locking means 16. Likewise permanently connected to the carrier element 56 is a first, fixed part of the guide rail 70 known per se, the second, movable part of which is connected to the second, movable body part 12. The two parts of the guide rail 70 are mounted movably relative to one another via rollers which are not shown here.

Adhesively bonded to an inside of the external, second body part 12 is a further locking means 18 which is embodied as a latching lug and which corresponds to the locking means 16 in that both locking means 16, 18 produce a latching connection between the first body part 10 and the second body part 12 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

If a user raises the kitchen extractor hood device in the direction 30′, the locking means 18 moves toward the locking means 16 until the part 62 of the locking means 16 which has a fish-shaped cross-section and projects into the space between the body parts 10, 12 engages with a tip 60 into a central gap 66 of the locking means 18, which central gap has a slightly smaller width than the fish-shaped cross-section in the area of its body 26 (FIGS. 8 and 9). The body 26 forms a latching means for latching the second body part 12 in the locking position or final position. The gap 66 widens out in a funnel shape at the end facing toward the locking means 16 or facing away from the direction 30, which makes it easier to introduce the tip 60 into the gap 66 and widen the gap 66 due to a wedge shape of the body 26 and is also suited for compensating for assembly tolerances.

Both locking means 16, 18 are manufactured from elastic plastic materials and deform in such a way that the body 26 inserts itself into the gap 66 in the direction 30. In the middle, the gap 66 has a latching means embodied as a widening 28, into which the body 26 snaps in place when the locking position is reached. A T-shaped end area 68 of the part 62 then butts against the locking means 18 and, by applying a latching force, prevents the locking means 16 from being able to slide completely through the gap 66. The side walls of the locking means 18 are weakened externally in the area of the widening 28 in order to increase deformability in the transverse direction.

If the user inserts the second body part 12 using the latching force in the direction 30, the body 26 slides out of the widening 28 and the latch connection is released.

On the side opposite the guide rail 46, the kitchen extractor hood device has a similar guide rail 46′ which is symmetrical to the guide rail 46. Said two symmetrical, laterally disposed guide rails 46, 46′ serve for guiding the second body part 12 in a horizontal and are completed by a third guide rail 70 and by a fourth guide rail 70′ which serve for guiding vertically. Also integrated into the guide rail 46 in addition to the latching means 90 is a resetting means 36 (not shown here explicitly), embodied as a ramp with a spring-loaded roller, which automatically resets the second body part 12 in the direction 30 to a home position or, as the case may be, to a fully inserted position. The specification of a vertical position is intended to be designated in this context as guiding in the horizontal.

The guide rails 46, 46′, 70, 70″ form a guide mechanism 88 composed of two symmetrical parts, the left part of which in a frontal view comprises the guide rails 46, 70 and is represented schematically in more detail in FIG. 10. The description is restricted to the illustrated left part of the guide mechanism 88 and can be applied analogously to the mirror-symmetrical right part of the guide mechanism 88.

From the inside, an angled carrier element 92 embodied from elastic sheet metal is glued into the outer covering, embodied as a stamped-and-bent part, of the second body part 12, which carrier element 92 is aligned parallel to the direction of movement 30 and to which the guide rails 46, 70 are secured from the inside. The guide rail 70, which is provided for guiding the movement of the second body part 12 vertically, is secured here to a horizontally aligned side piece 94 of the carrier element 92, said side piece 94 being adhesively attached to the second body part 12, while the guide rail 46, which is provided for guiding the movement of the second body part 12 horizontally, is secured to a free, vertically aligned side piece 96 of the carrier element 92. The vertical side piece 96 is elastically deflectable in a horizontal direction normal to the direction of movement 30, with the result that a tolerance compensation is achieved (FIG. 10).

FIG. 11 shows the arrangement of the carrier element 92 in the second, movable body part 12 and also a housing part 110 disposed behind the front elevation of the second body part 12 and in which electronic components of the control panel 50 are disposed. In addition to the guide rails 46, 70, the locking means 18 is also secured to the carrier element 92 (FIG. 12).

FIGS. 13-16 show the kitchen extractor hood device in a highly schematized sectional representation. In the home position (FIG. 13) the filter element 52 which is connected to the second, movable body part 12 lies beneath a filter element 118 which is identical in design to the filter element 52 and is connected to the first, fixed body part 10.

If a user pulls the second, external body part 12 by 100 mm in the direction 30′, a driver element 108 embodied as a folded-over edge of the cutout 86 comes into contact with a corresponding driver element embodied as the slider element 114 on the cover element 82 (FIG. 14).

The cover element 82 is freely movable both relative to the first body part 10 and relative to the second body part 12, but in normal operation always rests against one of the driver elements 106, 108 of an entrainment device 98, with the result that movability is provided in one of the directions 30, 30′ in each case.

If the user continues the commenced withdrawal movement 102, the entrainment device 98 comprising the driver element 108 carries the cover element 82 with it in the direction 30′ during an end part of the extraction movement 102 until the locking position is reached (FIG. 15). In the locking position the filter element 52 forms a front part of the underside 78 of the body 80, while the filter element 118 forms a rear part of the underside 78 of the body 80, with the result that both filter elements 52, 118 essentially cover the entire depth of the body 80.

The end part of the withdrawal movement 102 accounts for at most half of the entire withdrawal movement 102, the exact amount being dependent on a choice of the locking position or on the insertion position of the locking means 16. The fully withdrawn configuration shown in FIG. 15 can only be reached without the locking means 16 being inserted and corresponds to a latching configuration of the latching means 90 of the guide rail 46.

If the user pushes the second body part 12 starting from the locking position in an insertion movement 104 in the direction 30, an inner edge of the housing part 110 which forms the driver element 106 of the entrainment device 98 comes up against the cover element 82 100 mm before the end of said insertion movement 104 (FIG. 16).

If the user continues the commenced insertion movement 104, the entrainment device 98 or, as the case may be, the driver element 106 carries the cover element 82 with it during an end part of the insertion movement 104 in the direction 30 until the home position is reached (FIG. 13). The end part of the insertion movement 104 accounts for at most half of the insertion movement 104, the exact amount being dependent on a choice of the locking position.

FIGS. 17-19 show the kitchen extractor hood device in different configurations during an insertion movement 104 and a withdrawal movement 102 in an oblique view from below. For the sake of clarity, the filter elements 52, 118 are not shown.

Disposed in the first, fixed body part 10 are two stop elements 112, 112′, embodied as slots, which guide a movement of the cover element 82 and limit a freedom of movement 100 of the cover element 82.

For this purpose spacer elements 116, 116′ are snapped into place in side slots of the cover element 82 which is embodied as a panel-shaped sheet metal part, said spacer elements ensuring a spacing between the cover element 82 and the first, fixed body part 10 and making it easier for the cover element 82 to slide over the first body part 10. The spacer elements 116, 116′ comprise a head 120, which is snapped into place in the slots on the cover element 82, and a spacer sleeve 122 with a central aperture 126 (FIG. 21) into which pins 124, 124′ are pressed by force fitting during installation, and in which the slots of the stop elements 112, 112′ also engage. The slider element 114 facilitates a relative movement between the cover element 82 and the second body part 12 and at the same time seals off the kitchen extractor hood device from an exterior space.

List of Reference Numerals

10 Body part

12 Body part

14 Locking mechanism

16 Locking means

18 Locking means

20 Retainer

22 Retainer

24 Lining means

26 Body

28 Widening

30 Direction

32 Retaining means

34 Lighting device

36 Resetting means

38 Range of movement

40 Extractor duct

42 Fan

44 Filter element

46 Guide rail

48 Front elevation

50 Control panel

52 Filter element

54 Strip

56 Carrier element

58 Groove

60 Tip

62 Part

64 Space

66 Gap

68 End area

70 Guide rail

72 External side

74 External side

76 External side

78 External side

80 Body

82 Cover element

84 Opening

86 Cutout

88 Guide mechanism

90 Latching means

92 Carrier element

94 Side piece

96 Side piece

98 Entrainment device

100 Freedom of movement

102 Withdrawal movement

104 Insertion movement

106 Driver element

108 Driver element

110 Housing part

112 Stop element

114 Slider element

116 Spacer element

118 Filter element

120 Head

122 Spacer sleeve

124 Pin

126 Aperture

128 Top side

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A kitchen extractor device comprising:

a body including a first body part adapted to be mounted in a fixed manner to a support structure and a second body part displaceably mounted relative to the first body part, the second body part being displaceable in motion relative to the first body part along a displacement direction from a rearward position into a forward position and being displaceably movable relative to the first body part along a direction opposite to the displacement direction from the forward position into the rearward position; and

a locking mechanism for releasably locking the second body part in a locking position relative to the first body part, the locking mechanism having adjustability of release to permit displacement movement of the second body part and lockable to lock the second body part in a selected position relative to the first body part.

13. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a locking mechanism has at least one locking means which forms a stop element for limiting a range of movement of the second body part.

14. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least two retainers for a locking means, each of which is assigned to a locking position.

15. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising at least one lining means for lining one of the retainers.

16. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one latching means for latching the second body part in the locking position.

17. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first locking means disposed on the first body part and a second locking means disposed on the second body part.

18. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a second body part is displaceable relative to the first body part in a horizontal direction.

19. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second body part comprises at least one retaining means for retaining a lighting device.

20. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second body part is provided such that it can move in at least one direction automatically relative to the first body part.

21. The kitchen device as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising a resetting means for resetting the second body part to a home position.

22. A method for installing a kitchen device comprising:

in a body of the kitchen device including a first body part adapted to be mounted in a fixed manner to a support structure and a second body part displacebly mounted relative to the first body part, the second body part being displaceably movable relative to the first body part along a displacement direction from a rearward position into a forward position and being displaceably movable relative to the first body part along a direction opposite to the displacement direction from the forward position into the rearward position and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the second body part in a locking position relative to the first body part, the locking mechanism being adjustably releasable to permit displacement movement of the second body part and lockable to lock the second body part in a selected position relative to the first body part, displacing the second body part relative to the first body part; and

actuating the locking mechanism to lock the second body part in a selected position relative to the first body part after displacing the second body part relative to the first body part