Stand-Alone Kitchen Module

Abstract

The invention relates to a stand-alone kitchen module including a main body having a substantially prismatic and rectangular shape, which includes integrated functional elements such as a refrigerator, sink, stove top, oven, drawers, tables and cabinets. The invention also includes a plurality of sections located on frames which can be horizontally and perpendicularly attached to the main body, such that, when the frames are extended, the sections form at least a first horizontal platform serving as a table and a second horizontal platform for cooking, including at least one stove top in one of said sections. The main body also includes at least one compartment in which a plurality of folding chairs are arranged, as well as autonomous water, gas and electricity installations, providing all the services of a conventional kitchen outdoors, ensuring full autonomy of said services and enabling the waste generated to be stored.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this utility model application is to register a stand-alone kitchen module incorporating significant innovations and advantages.

More specifically, the invention relates to a stand-alone kitchen module that includes functional elements for cooking, work surfaces and a table for diners in sections that can be attached to a main body and autonomous water, gas and electricity installations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kitchen modules for camping, characterised by their simplicity and reduced dimensions thereby making assembly and transport easier, are well known. Nonetheless, the simplicity of these modules for camping implies that they cannot be provided with resources for users to enjoy all the services of a conventional kitchen while engaging in leisure activities outdoors. In addition, these reduced-dimension modules do not have the necessary means to ensure sufficient autonomy for services, storage of waste generated or integration of tables and chairs.

On the other hand, kitchen modules for camping provided with all the services of a conventional kitchen and with means ensuring full autonomy are known. However, these modules for camping are designed to serve a large number of individuals, such as armies and companies. Due to this design such modules include very large outer dimensions reducing their convenience and the design is not well suited to everyday domestic use, thereby dissuading individuals from using them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been developed with the aim of providing a stand-alone kitchen module that resolves the aforementioned drawbacks, further providing other additional advantages that will be apparent from the description detailed hereinafter.

In this document, the term folded shall mean that the various components of the module are not accessible to the user, and the term extended shall mean that these components are accessible to the user.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stand-alone kitchen module including a main body having a substantially prismatic and rectangular shape, which includes integrated functional elements such as a refrigerator, sink, stove top, oven, drawers, tables and cabinets, said kitchen module being characterised in that it also includes a plurality of sections located on frames which can be horizontally and perpendicularly attached to the main body such that when the frames are extended, the sections form at least a first horizontal platform serving as a table and a second horizontal platform for cooking, including at least one stove top in one of said sections.

It is envisaged that the main body shall include at least one compartment in which a plurality of folding chairs are arranged and autonomous water, gas and electricity installations. The water installation includes pipes connected to a refillable potable water tank, a sullage tank, heating means for heating the potable water including a gas heater and potable water pumping means, which can include an electric pump, to convey the water from the potable water tank to at least one outlet point. The gas installation in turn includes at least one portable gas tank located in a housing, where said gas tank is connected to piping to convey the gas to at least one outlet point located in one of the sections to supply the stove top, a second point for the heating means, which can include a gas heater, and a third point for the oven.

The electricity installation advantageously includes at least one electric battery supplying electric power. Thanks to these characteristics, a stand-alone kitchen module is obtained whose configuration provides the user with all the services of a conventional kitchen while engaging in leisure activities outdoors, ensuring full autonomy of said services and enabling the waste generated to be stored. In addition, the simplicity and reduced dimensions of this stand-alone kitchen module facilitate use, cleaning, storage and transportation.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sections are grouped into two wings extending in opposite directions to each other and which are arranged at different heights.

Additionally, the stand-alone kitchen module according to the invention can be located in a trailer provided with wheels and a hitch coupled to a towing vehicle, further making transportation and storage easier.

Other characteristics and advantages of the stand-alone kitchen module object of the invention herein will be apparent from the description of a preferred, although not exclusive embodiment, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the drawings appended, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.—Perspective view of a stand-alone kitchen module according to the invention when the module is in a folded condition;

FIG. 2.—Lateral rear perspective view of the stand-alone kitchen module when the module is in an extended condition;

FIG. 3.—Perspective view of the stand-alone kitchen module when the module is in a folded condition, shown from the opposite side shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4.—Lateral rear perspective view of the stand-alone kitchen module when the module is in an extended condition, shown from the opposite side shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5.—Top-down view of the stand-alone kitchen module when the module is in a folded condition; and

FIG. 6.—Top-down view of the stand-alone kitchen module when the module is in an extended condition.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the attached figures, a preferred embodiment of the stand-alone kitchen module, object of the invention herein, is illustrated and indicated generally by reference number 1.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show the stand-alone kitchen module 1 including a main body 14 having a substantially prismatic and rectangular shape, when the module is in a folded condition. As can be seen the stand-alone kitchen module 1 is preferably located in a trailer provided with wheels 13 and a hitch 12 coupled to a towing vehicle, making it possible to move the stand-alone kitchen module 1 with total convenience.

FIG. 2 shows said stand-alone kitchen module 1 when the frames are extended, in which a number of functional elements stand out such as a refrigerator 7, sink 5, stove top 4, oven, drawers 8 and compartment 6 whose door is shown by broken lines and inside of which a plurality of folding chairs are arranged.

Said stand-alone kitchen module 1 advantageously includes a plurality of sections 3 located on frames 15 and secured in a known manner; the frames 15 are horizontally and perpendicularly attached to the main body 14. Therefore, when the frames are in an extended condition 15, said sections 3 form two horizontal platforms, a first horizontal platform serving as a table 2a for diners and another horizontal platform for cooking 2b, including a stove top 4 in three of said sections 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the stand-alone kitchen module 1, the sections 3 are grouped into two wings extending in opposite directions to each other, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The horizontal platform for diners 2a shall be arranged at a lower height than the horizontal platform for cooking 2b, thereby making food preparation easier and making it easier for diners to be properly seated.

The stand-alone kitchen module 1 is provided with autonomous water, gas and electricity installations. The water installation includes pipes connected to a refillable potable water tank located in a housing 9, a sullage tank also located in the housing 9, a gas heater for heating the potable water located in a space 10, which is partially used as a storage cupboard and a potable water electric pump to convey the water from the potable water tank to an outlet point located in the sink 5.

The gas installation includes in turn a portable gas tank located in a storage area 16. The gas tank is connected to pipes to convey the gas to the first outlet points 17 located under the horizontal platform for cooking 2b and from there to the stove top 4 positioned in the sections 3, a second outlet point for the water heater and a third outlet point for the oven, not shown in the figures and which could occupy the place of a cabinet. The electricity installation comprises an electric battery located in a housing 9 which supplies power to the refrigerator 7 and the potable water electric pump located in the same housing 9. The electric battery can be connected to a 220V power source to recharge or supply electric power directly.

The control panel 11 for installations, supplies and waste is shown in FIG. 4. Greater detail shall not be entered into in respect of the autonomous water, gas and electricity installations as the elements comprising the installations are known on the market. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in turn two top-down views of the stand-alone kitchen module 1 according to the invention, which clearly show the arrangement of the main body 14 and sections 3 grouped into two wings extending in opposite directions to each other.

The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the stand-alone kitchen module of the invention may be conveniently replaced by others that are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essential nature of the invention or from the scope defined by the claims outlined below.

Claims

1. A stand-alone kitchen module including a main body having a substantially prismatic and rectangular shape, which includes integrated functional elements selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, sink, stove top, oven, drawers, tables and cabinets wherein the module comprises:

a plurality of sections located on frames, which can be horizontally and perpendicularly attached to the main body, such that when the frames are in an extended condition, the sections form at least a first horizontal platform serving as a table and a second horizontal platform for cooking, including at least one stove top in one of the sections;

the main body also including at least one compartment in which a plurality of folding chairs are arranged, as well as autonomous water, gas and electricity installations;

the water installation comprising pipelines connected to a refillable potable water tank, a sullage tank, a heater for heating the potable water and a portable water pump to convey water from the potable water tank to at least one outlet point; p1 the gas installation having at least one portable gas tank located in a housing, where the portable gas tank is connected to piping to convey gas to at least one outlet point located in one of the sections, a second outlet point in the heater and a third outlet point in an oven; and

the electricity installation comprising at least one electric battery supplying electric power.

2. A stand-alone kitchen module according to claim 1, wherein the sections are grouped into two wings extending in opposite directions to each other, at different heights.

3. A stand-alone kitchen module according to claim 1, wherein the heater is a gas heater.

4. A stand-alone kitchen module according to claim 1, wherein the pump is an electric pump.

5. A stand-alone kitchen module according to claim 1, wherein the module is located in a trailer provided with a hitch coupled to a towing vehicle.