Kitchen unit

July 9, 1935. n. m. dunning 2,007,184

KITCHEN UNIT

Filed April 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR NEAL M. DUNNING

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July 9, 1935. _{N M} dunning 2,007,184

KITCHEN UNIT

Filed April 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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July 9, 1935

N. M. DUNNING

2,007,184

KITCHEN UNIT

Filed April 12, 1933

Sheets-Sheet 3

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Patented July 9, 1935

2,007,184

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,007,184

KITCHEN UNIT

Neal M. Dunning, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York

Application April 12, 1933, Serial No. 665,640

Claims.

This invention relates to improved kitchen unit construction.

More particularly, my invention comprises a group of fixture items such as a sink, drawers, 5 closets, etc,, assembled combinedly for installation at a wall of a kitchen or like space of a house or other structure, and further comprising a compartment of adjustable height and having transparent wall portion or portions and serving 10 dually for housing suitable lighting means for providing artificial illumination in the use of the fixture items.

Pursuant to a general feature of my invention, kitchen units embodying a sink, group or groups :15 of closets, drawers and/or other fixture items, with or without a kitchen range, with or without a refrigerator, the aforesaid being factory fabricated of standard individual and overall dimensions, and comprising further an adjustable com20 partment, preferably at the top, to accommodate the assembly for varying heights between floor level and ceiling level, such adjustable compartment being provided with a wall of glass or equivalent material, and an electric bulb or set of bulbs 25 or equivalent ; lighting, means disposed in such adjustable compartment.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjustable compartment includes a horizontal or other overhang, the bottom and 30 front wall or walls of which are provided in whole or in part with glass or equivalent material to provide illumination at the sink, range, etc. by light rays emitted from the lighting means within, the compartment.

Therefore, such adjustable compartment serves the dual functions of housing the illuminating means and enabling the production at a factory of a combined assembly of appropriate fixture items of predetermined dimensions.

Factory fabrication of my invention may be had by grouping and mechanically assembling the desired fixtures and other items such as closets, cabinets, drawers, etc., at the factory as an assembled unit, and shipping the same as such 45 ‘ assembled unit, the desired height of uppermost compartment functioning as the filler portion of the unit being assembled at the location of installation.

Desirably, also, the individual fixtures and other SO items may be fabricated at the factory for assembly in number and relative location as may be desired, the assembly when grouped to have any desired standard overall dimensions, the unit being assembled at the location of installation, and 55 also the necessary uppermost filler compartment.

If desired, the front wall of the uppermost compartment may be glazed for general illumination purposes. In the event that the uppermost compartment is not employed for the housing of the ⁶⁰ lighting means, the exposed walls may be wholly (Cl. 240—4) of metal or other suitable material, the proper height of the same selected in accordance with the height of the ceiling.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following , 5 detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which .

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2—2 of 10 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3α is a detail illustrating one form of structure for accommodating the variable distance between the compartments and the ceiling; 15

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section of line 4—4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on line 5—5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section showing the 20 embodiment of a glazed front wall for the filler compartment;

Fig. 7 is. a perspective view of a preferred form of frame for the mechanical securement of the assembled items relative to one another; 25

Fig; 8 is a vertical detail section on line 8—8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section as viewed on section line 9—9 of Fig. 7; and ·

Fig. 10 is a detail section on the line 10—10 of 30 Fig. 2. ...

Referring to· Fig. 1, the kitchen unit assembly comprises essentially the oppositely positioned vertical shapes I0, of steel or equivalent secured rearwardly and at the opposite lateral· sides of the 35 assembly, such as a sink II, laundry tub 12 (or double compartment sink with or without laundry tub) , one or more groups of drawers, closets, etc. referred to more particularly hereinafter, the aforesaid being of predetermined dimensions and ⁴⁰adapted for factory assembly; and in addition thereto the variable height compartment 13, to accommodate varying vertical heights between the finished floor level 14 and the finished ceiling level 15. . 45

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a group of drawers is indicated at 16, shown specifically at the left-hand side of the sink II. Desirably above the group of drawers 16 is.a drip board 17 functioning with the sink I I. One or ⁵⁰more slide boards, see 18, may be provided in adjacent relation with the drip board 17 and sink II.

A group of closets 19 may be disposed above the drip board 17 and sink 11. ⁵⁵

Most advantageously, the adjustable compartment 13 overhangs, that is, its front wall 13α extends forwardly, see Fig. 3, with respect to front faces of the closets 19, and the bottom wall or other lowerly portion of such overhang portion is ^eo

2,007,184 glazed with glass, or equivalent see 20. Preferably, the illuminating means such as the electric light bulb 21 or group of same are disposed within the space portion 13 to be positioned di5 rectly above or otherwise related to provide efficient illumination through the glass 20 relative to the sink 11 and other essential parts of the unit. The glass 20 may be “frosted” or other provision made for distributed lighting effect. The front 10 wall of the compartment 13 may also be glazed, see 20α, Fig. 6.

Coacting with such glass 20 or equvalent, T preferably provide a closet 22, at the left hand side of the assembly as viewed in Fig. 1, a portion of 15 its lateral side, in this instance its right-hand wall 22a having in whole or in part glass 23 or equivalent to thereby provide illumination within the closet 22 emitting from the lighting source 21 through the glass 20, or equivalent.

Such illumination of the closet 22 is effective in the instance of the use therein of one or more shelves 22b, in that the glass 23, or equivalent, provides illumination between the individual shelves notwithstanding their vertical super25 position.

Desirably, and as illustrated in the drawings, the unit may comprise a gas range 24, the oven of which is indicated at 25 and broiler at 25α, also, a refrigerator 26, which may be of the gas or elec30 trical ice making type; also, one or more closets 27. A vertically slidably mounted or hinged cover for the gas range may be provided, to assume proper drainage position relative to the laundry tub or sink 12, to serve as a drain board.

I have also indicated in the drawings a closet 28 at the right-hand side of the assembly, which closet may conform to the construction of the closet 22, inclusive of a glazed wall portion similar to the glass 23, or equivalent, of the closet 22.

At 29 are indicated cabinets which are preferably provided with doors of the horizontally sliding type.

The adjustment compartment 13 may be of any suitable construction for providing either an 45 adjusted height vertically extending front wall or a set of front wall members of varied heights and the selection of the members of particular heights for the particular installations.

As a practical carrying out of this feature of 50 my invention, and as illustrated in the drawings, the height adjustment compartment may be had in the form of a set of hollow shapes or shells of metal or other suitable material, of varied vertical dimensions preferably finished, that is, chro55 mium or other metal plated, enameled or painted, etc.; at exposed faces. The illustrated compartment comprises the front wall 13α, which is connected integrally or otherwise to the oppositely disposed side walls 13b and rear wall 13c, the '60 last-named terminating at the flange 13d, and to the horizontally extending intermediate strip He.

While: ordinarily the compartment 13 may be made of variable dimensions, depending on the 65 space between the top-most surface of the various uppermost compartments, and the ceiling, I may And it advantageous to make the compartment adjustable. Such an adjustable structure is secured to the frame 10; 16, as by bolts 45 conspectively may thus be varied and nuts 79 on the bolts 77 are utilized to hold the members 75 and 76 in adjusted position.

The lighting fixture 21 may be of any suitable construction and is mounted within the compartment 13 in any suitable manner. If desired, the ceiling finish material 15 may terminate at a location, 15α, at a suitable distance beyond the front wall 13α of the compartment 13, to afford free space between the indicated adjacent beams 31, 31, of the next’ upper floor or othei· level of the building. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the base 21α of the lighting fixture 21 may be secured to a strap 30 secured between the indicated beams 31,31.

Desirably, the lowermost drawers 16, closets, and the like, particularly at and about the sink— laundry—II, 12, and/or cooking range 24, are positioned at a free spacing, see 40 Figs. 3 and 1, above the floor level 14 to provide “toe spacing”, as by the employment of a bottom filler member 41.

The spacing afforded by the vertical members 10, 10, between the rear faces of the aforesaid assembled fixture items and the wall proper 32, see Fig. 3, is utilized for the reception and installation of suitable. piping, inter alia, for the faucet 33 of the sink-laundry 11, 12, the refrigerator and for the necessary waste piping, stove flue, and other suitable piping or other requirements. Advantageously, such spacing may be utilized for the cooling coils of the refrigerator, if .of the mechanical ice making type, for cooling either wholly or supplementarily by the air in such spacing. Circulation or interchange of air is enhanced by the provision of openings or slots 41 a in the exposed walls of the bottom filler member 41 or openings in the frame of the lowermost drawer IS, see 42 Fig. 3, and cooperating openings 43 in. the rear wall of the group of drawers 16, and similarly in the bottom and rear walls of the closets 27, and the like, thus affording communication with the spacing between the rear of the. assembly unit and the wall or partition.

For kitchen and like purposes, the closets, cabinets,, cupboards, and like items associated with the sink, and/or cooking appliance, and/or refrigerator, are utilized for appropriate associated purposes.

The manufacture of embodiments of my invention may be had by fabrication at a factory by fabrication of the individual fixtures and other items, which may be selected in number and in relative position and grouped as a unit at the factory and shipped as such or the individual fixtures and items grouped as a unit at the location of installation.

Any suitable form of frame, preferably including the vertical end members 10, 10, may be employed; the individual units may be suitably connected with one another as by bolts, see 44, Figs. 4 and 5, in sub-groups, and the sub-groups of items bolted to one another and/or secured to the frame.

Also, preferably, the uppermost filler or combined filler-lighting compartment 13 is suitably shown in Fig. 3α, where 75 designates a top mem- necting the rear wall· ί 3c of the compartment 13 ber having slidably mounted therein a bottom to the respective vertical members 10, as appears 70 member 75. Through perforations in the top in Fig.. 3.

member 75 pass the bolts 77, such bolts passing The rear protection plate 35 is advantageously through slots 78 ih the bottom member 76. The mounted in leak-proof relation, and also in verdistance between the upper and lower surfaces : mih-proOf relation, with the· sink-laundry i I, 12, 7b 5of ±he: top and bottom members 75 and 76 re- that is, with respect to the rear edge of: the 75

2,007,184 3 drain board 17, which forms a backing for the sink-laundry if, 12, as by rearward bend of the lowermost edge 35α, see Fig, 3, to provide an arcuate rearwardly extending overhanging flange 35α, 5 engaged and supported under pressure, by the vertical flange 17α of the drain board 17, or other vertical edge of the sink-laundry 11,12. By such joint, in the event of water or other fluid being projected at or in proximity to the joint 17α, 35α, 10 such fluid drains under gravity outwardly of the joint.

Also, I prefer to mechanically interconnect the abutting edges of the sink-laundry 11, 12, and that of the gas or other cooking range 24, as 15 by means of bolts 43. Desirably, such interconnection is further had by the intermediation of the moisture, and also vermin-proof, connection, see Fig. 10, composed for example of an outer collapsible tubing 47, of copper or the like, and 20 a therein contained, mass of asbestos 48 or the like, the bolts 46 extending through such copperasbestos gasket-like mass.

As is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the frame may advantageously comprise the transverse 25 member 50, which may be a z-plate, the upper horizontal flange 50q of which extends between the upright members 10, 10; the member 50 is shown secured by bolts 51. To the vertical web of the member 50 are secured the desired num30 ber of vertical depending strips-or arms 52, secured respectively at their upper ends 52α by bolts 53 through openings in the vertical , web of the member 50. The lower end portions 52b may extend free, or be bent horizontally and then 35 vertically, as shown, for the securement thereat to a lower plate or other cross member 54, by suitable bolts. The cross member 54 is shown secured at its ends by bolts to the uprights 10, 10. Such sub-frame construction enables the upper 40 compartment items such as the cupboards 19, cabinets 29, etc. to be directly secured to the sub-frame structure 50, 52, 54. The horizontally extending front ledge 50b may serve as a support of the filler-illumination compartment 13. 45 Suitable openings are provided in the arms 52 for the reception of bolts 52c therethrough connecting the rear walls of the closets 19, cabinets 29, or the like, with the arms 52, The cross members 55, see Fig. 3, connected at their ends to 50 the uprights i0, 10, may also be employed as a part of the frame.

From the above, it appears that my invention provides for the assembly of. individual fixture and other items of individual predetermined di55 mensions and the resulting assembly of standard overall dimensions, and accordingly highly adaptable of factory fabricated. Combined with such assembly, my invention provides for a Compartment, most advantageously at the top of such 60 standardized assembly, such compartment being of varied vertical dimension to accommodate varied heights between floor and ceiling levels, such compartment preferably including an overhang wall, having in whole or in part a ,65 transparent wall element, and suitable lighting means disposed in such compartment for affording artificial lighting in the use of the assembly items.

My . invention results in the assembly of any 70 desired group of fixture or other items and a therewith combined upper or uppermost compartment having a wall portion overhanging a number of such items, one or more of the remaining items being: provided with lateral wall 75 having in whole or in part a transparent medium, whereby to provide illumination interiorly within such one or more wall glazed items combinedly with the illumination of the assembly as a whole.

My invention further provides for a spacing disposed between the assembled group and an 6 inner wall or partition of a kitchen or space devoted for kitchen or like purposes, such space being utilized for piping or other servicing requirements of the fixture or other items of the assembly. 10

My invention is particularly directed to an assembled wall unit for a kitchen although not necessarily restricted thereto, and is applicable for the attainment of like purposes in combination with other building component parts. 15