WO2004110214A1

WO2004110214A1 - Item of furniture organized for carrying out laundry work

Info

Publication number: WO2004110214A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/051149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Casenave
Original assignee: Philippe Casenave
Priority date: 2003-06-19
Filing date: 2004-06-17
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: FR2856256B1; FR2856256A1

Abstract

The item of furniture is organized for carrying out laundry work and to this end, comprises a free-standing frame (1) that delimits three superimposed compartments (5, 28, 21). An upper compartment (5) is provided for selectively receiving dirty laundry and hangs over a middle compartment (28) combined with a table (6) for handling the laundry and with an ironing board (29). The ironing board (29) is attached to the frame (1) in a manner that enables it to be alternatively placed in a hidden stowed position and in a deployed position of use, in which the ironing board (29) is placed whereby extending the handling table (6). The middle compartment (28) overhangs a lower compartment (29) for receiving and supplying power and water, and for accommodating electric household appliances (22, 23) required for cleaning and drying laundry.

Description

ORGANIZED FURNITURE FOR THE CARE OF LAUNDRY.

The invention is in the field of furniture and more particularly domestic furniture. Its purpose is a piece of furniture organized for the maintenance of linen.

It is recalled that the maintenance of the linen generally comprises successive operations consisting in collecting the dirty linen, then in sorting it according to its nature for a specific cleaning, then in drying and ironing it, and finally in putting it away. A problem to be solved lies in the organization of a domestic space allowing an easy maintenance of the linen, notwithstanding on the one hand the successive manipulations of the latter from one station to the other assigned to the abovementioned operations, and on the other hand the disparity between the different locations reserved for each of these operations, for which specific means are used, such as household consumable products, household appliances and small furniture for storing and / or processing linen. It therefore appears necessary to organize a functional domestic space for laundry maintenance.

We know in the field, laundries grouping in a specific room the different means implemented for the maintenance of the linen. The obvious disadvantage of this type of domestic premises lies in occupying the living space of a dwelling.

It has also been proposed small furniture used for the maintenance of the linen, such as specific baskets organized for its storage, or even small compartmentalized furniture for the reception of dirty linen sorted according to its nature. We can in particular refer to documents FR1347149 (COTEXUNION), US541 1164 (SMITH et al) and US5228760 (RYDELL) which describe a small piece of furniture of its kind.

Still, the relative organization of these small pieces of furniture between them is an intuitive process as to the layout of the functional domestic space receiving them, to best facilitate the easy implementation of various operations necessary for the maintenance of the linen, in the smallest possible space.

The object of the present invention is to propose a piece of furniture, coming under such an intuitive approach, organized for the maintenance of the linen. The furniture proposed by the present invention is mainly recognizable in that it comprises a frame with legs delimiting at least three superimposed cells, including an upper cell for the selective reception of dirty laundry according to its nature. This upper cell advantageously overlooks a middle cell comprising a work plan associating a participating table of the frame, for handling the linen, and an ironing table. The latter is fixed to the frame by means of mobility of the ironing board to alternately arrange it in a retracted storage position and a deployed position of use in which the ironing board is placed substantially in extension of the table. Handling. The middle cell overlooks a lower cell for the reception of household appliances necessary for washing and drying laundry. This lower cell is provided with means for enabling the connection of household appliances with a source of electrical power, a water supply network and a water drainage network. We understand by base frame a supporting structure resting on the ground to form a piece of furniture delimiting the space between which extend the different cells which it comprises, this supporting structure being similarly formed of a simple framework mainly composed of uprights braced, or of walls assembled together, or even of a framework covered with walls.

The frame is preferably mainly made up of a frame made up of high edge elements. These elements include for example at least side walls and a rear wall, if not also a retractable front wall for confining the interior space of the cabinet to hide its contents when the cabinet is not in use. Transversal elements delimiting the upper cell participate, jointly with the handling table, in the constitution of bracing elements of the elevated elements of the edge of the furniture.

The means for connecting the household appliances are preferably means of connection to the said networks and to the said source, such as electrical or water sockets, otherwise, according to a simple embodiment, a clearance or openings for the passage of cables and / or conduits allowing the connection of household appliances with electrical and / or water outlets in the room inside which the furniture is installed.

Preferably, the upper cell mainly consists of a cupboard participating in the chassis, locker or similar small closed furniture, equipped with internal partitions delimiting compartments for storing dirty linen respectively according to its nature. Each compartment is advantageously equipped with an upper opening for admission of the linen and means for delivering the stored linen, and is preferably of variable capacity by means of easily reversible positioning means of the internal partitions on the chassis, and more particularly on the longitudinal walls of the cupboard. Said easily reversible positioning means are for example nesting means or means for sliding the internal partitions along the longitudinal walls of the cupboard, or even means for their easy removal from the latter.

According to a first alternative embodiment of said means for delivering the stored linen, these are constituted by a lower hatch of the cupboard, the latter being equipped with means for pairing two neighboring hatches for delivering the linen to make them integral, so that , in combination with the easily reversible positioning means of the internal partitions on the chassis, a delivery of the linen can be carried out from a single hatch in connection with two neighboring compartments which have been unified. These twinning means are in particular means for gripping one and the other of the neighboring delivery hatches, of the type by keying, pinning or by means of a latch for example.

According to a second alternative embodiment of said means for delivering the stored linen, these consist of a tilting arrangement of the cupboard, the latter being articulated at its base on the chassis and being equipped with locking means in the upright position for receiving the laundry.

The cupboard is preferably equipped with means for adjusting its position in height relative to the base of the chassis, which are for example constituted by fastening members of the cupboard cooperating with a set of selective complementary members that the chassis has at different heights . These provisions aim to allow a selective positioning in height of the cupboard chosen according to the size of the user.

According to a first variant, the said means of mobility are mainly constituted by means for sliding the ironing board on the frame between its retracted storage position in which the ironing board is disposed under the handling table, and its deployed position. use in which the ironing board is arranged substantially parallel to, and substantially in extension of, the handling table. According to a second variant, said means of mobility consist mainly of first means of articulation of the ironing board on the frame between its retracted storage position in which the ironing board is arranged against a lateral face of the frame, and its deployed position of use in which the ironing table is arranged, after tilting and lateral deployment, substantially in lateral extension of the handling table.

According to a third variant, said means of mobility are mainly constituted by second means of articulation of the ironing board on the chassis between its retracted storage position in which the ironing board is arranged under the handling table, and its deployed position of use in which the ironing table is arranged by pivoting substantially in lateral extension of the handling table. The rear zone of the handling plane is advantageously arranged in a space for storing household consumable products and small household appliances, in particular iron, suitable for receiving small furniture for this purpose. The chassis also carries additional storage cupboards.

The handling table preferably comprises at least one access door to the volume delimited by the lower cell to allow passage of the laundry through it to the household appliances. The present invention will be better understood, and details will become apparent from the description which will be made of preferred embodiments, in relation to the figures of the appended plates in which:

Fig.1 and Fig.2 are front perspective illustrations of a first embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the present invention, respectively in a retracted storage position and a deployed position for use of a table iron the piece of furniture.

Fig.3 is a side illustration of a second alternative embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the present invention.

Fig.4 is a front perspective illustration of a third alternative embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the present invention.

Fig.5 and Fig.6 are side illustrations of a piece of furniture shown in the previous figures, comprising an upper cupboard equipped with means for placing it in various low and high positions.

Fig.7 is a side illustration of a cabinet according to the present invention, comprising a tilting cupboard.

Fig. 8 is an illustration from above of a piece of furniture with access hatches to the household appliances which it houses in its lower cell.

In the figures, a cabinet for the maintenance of the linen consists mainly of a frame 1 comprising two side walls 2,3 and a rear wall 4 forming a base for the rest of the cabinet on the ground. The frame 1 comprises, in bracing of the side walls 2,3, a cupboard 5 at its upper part and a handling table 6 at its middle part. The closet 5 is equipped with a plurality of internal partitions, such as

7, which are fixed to the walls of the cupboard 5, and in particular to its rear wall 9 and to its front transverse walls 8 and lower 10, which participate in the bracing of the chassis 1. The internal partitions 7 are oriented parallel to the side walls 2,3 of the chassis 1, to delimit between them compartments 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 for storing dirty linen. The cupboard 5 has, on its upper face, intake openings 11 ′, 12 ′, 13 ′, 14 ′, 15 ′, 16 ′ of dirty laundry, and at the base of its front wall 8 with delivery hatches 11 ″, 12 ", 13", 14 ", 15", 16 "of stored laundry.

It will be understood that the linen is sorted according to its nature, cotton linen, wool linen, synthetic linen for example, with a view to an appropriate subsequent treatment, and is stored in correspondence inside a compartment 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 respectively. The delivery hatches 11 " ₎ 12" ₎ 13 ", 14", 15 ", 16" compartments

1 1, 12,13,14,15,16 are pivotally mounted on the bottom wall 10 of the cupboard 5, for a tilting maneuver at the opening and closing.

The opening of the delivery hatches 11 ", 12", 13 ", 14", 15 ", 16" allows an escape of the linen towards the handling table 6 to then carry out, either directly its cleaning, or a complementary sorting operation . It is then possible to introduce the sorted laundry into neighboring compartments 13, 14, 15, 16 to that of which the delivery hatch 11 ", 12" has been opened, for further processing.

It will be noted that the profile of the cupboard is flared upwards in the manner of a hopper arrangement, to facilitate on the one hand the introduction of the laundry through a large intake opening 11 ′, 12 ′, 13 ′, 14 ', 15', 16 ', and on the other hand a delivery of the stored linen under the action of its own weight.

The internal partitions 7 are removably fitted by their edges inside vertical grooves, such as 17, formed in the front 8 and rear 9 walls of the cupboard. It is thus made possible to unify two neighboring compartments 11, 12 in order to form a single compartment of greater dimension. The 11 ", 12", 13 ", 14", 15 ", 16" delivery hatches are provided with a slide 18 housing sliding keys, such as 19, able to combine two neighboring delivery hatches 11 ", 12", when two compartments 11, 12 are unified, for the formation of said single compartment. The handling table 6 is advantageously deeper than the lower wall 10 of the cupboard which overhangs it, to provide at its rear part a storage space 20 for household consumables and small household appliances, while its front part is assigned to the handling of linen during treatment. The handling table 6 overlooks a space for receiving 21 household appliances 22, 23 such as a washing machine or a dryer, or even for receiving a laundry basket interposed between them. These household appliances 22, 23 are connectable to an electrical power source, a water intake network and a water evacuation network, through a clearance 27 formed in the rear wall 4 of the cabinet visible on the fig. 2 and fig. 4.

Note the organization of the furniture in an upper cell 5 for storing sorted laundry, a middle cell 28 for receiving laundry from the upper cell 5, for handling, and a lower cell 21 for housing household appliances 22.23 necessary for washing and drying linen.

In fig.1 and fig.2, the cabinet includes an ironing board 29 slidably mounted on the frame 1. In fig.1, the ironing board 29 is shown in the retracted storage position in which it is placed under the handling table 6, while in fig.2 the ironing table 29 is deployed by being placed substantially as an extension of the handling table 6 for its use. To this end, the ironing board 29 is mounted on the chassis 1 by means of a pair of telescopic side rails 30, 31. An element 30 of the slide is fixed on the ironing board 29 while another element 31 of the slide is fixed on the frame 1, under the handling table 6. A pair of rollers 33 is interposed between the two sliding elements 30.31 of the slides to promote their relative sliding. The transition from the storage position of the ironing board 29 to its position of use is carried out by a traction exerted on the ironing board 29 in its general plane, a reverse push allowing its storage.

In fig.3, a piece of furniture comprises an ironing table 29 shown retractable against a side wall 3 of the chassis 1 and deployable substantially as a lateral extension of the handling table 6. The ironing table 29 is mounted on the chassis 1 by l 'Intermediate of a telescopic arm 34 one end of which is fixed to the ironing board 29 while the other end is fixed to the frame 1 and in particular to any one of the side walls 2,3, by means of an omnidirectional articulation 35 such as a ball joint or the like. The ironing board 29 is also equipped with an articulated leg 36 which can be retracted between a position of use in which the articulated leg 36 supports the ironing board 29 while resting on the floor, and a storage position in which the leg 36 is folded against the ironing table 29. The latter 29 is also equipped with a latch 37 provided to bear against the handling table 6 for its immobilization in the deployed position of use. A strip 38 is mounted articulated on the chassis 1, and in particular on the same side wall 3 as that carrying the omnidirectional articulation 35, to immobilize the ironing table 29 in its folded position in its storage position.

The ironing board 29 can be maneuvered between its storage position and its use position by unlocking the immobilization strip 38, then by pivoting lowering the ironing board 29 so as to place it substantially in the extension of the side wall. 3, then by deploying the telescopic arm 34, and by tilting the ironing board 29 outwards by 90 ° so as to place its general plane substantially in line with that of the handling table 6. The ironing table 29 is then locked in the immobilized position by means of the latch 37.

In fig.4, the ironing table 29 in the retracted storage position is placed under the handling table 6, while in the deployed position of use, it is placed in lateral extension of the handling table 6. The table iron 29 is mounted on the chassis by through a hinge 39 for its maneuver between its use position and its storage position.

Like the variant described in fig.3, the ironing board 29 is equipped with an articulated leg 36 and a latch 37 similar to those of the variant illustrated in fig.3

The ironing board 29 is maneuverable between its retracted storage position and its deployed position of use by pivoting it outwards from its position under the handling table 6, then by unfolding the articulated leg 36 to place it resting on the ground, and finally by operating the latch 37.

It will be noted that, generally, for the variants illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the position from one to the other of the sides of the cabinet of the means of articulation of the ironing board 29 on the chassis 1, is chosen according to the right-handed or left-handed nature of the user, the furniture shown in these variants being furniture for a right-handed user.

On fig.5 and fig.6, the cupboard 5 is equipped with studs 41, incidentally threaded, for its fixing and its height adjustment on the rear wall 4 of the cabinet. These studs 41 jointly cross the rear wall 9 of the cupboard 5 and the rear wall 4 of the piece of furniture through openings 42, 43 made correspondingly in one 9 and the other 4 of these walls. It will be understood that, according to the openings 43 of the piece of furniture used for the passage of the studs 41, the cupboard 5 can be positioned at a height chosen according to the size of the user.

In FIG. 7, the cupboard 5 is tiltable from a straightened position in which its rear wall 9 is placed against the rear wall 4 of the cabinet to a tilted position at the front of the cabinet in which the intake openings 11 ′, 12 ', 13', 14 ', 15', 16 'of the laundry are oriented towards the floor to deliver the laundry contained in the compartments 11, 12,13,14,15,16 of the cupboard 5. The tilting of the cupboard 5 is authorized from its articulation 45 around an axis located at the intersection of its front wall 8 and its lower wall 10. The cupboard 5 is equipped with a latch 44 for its immobilization on the chassis 1 in the upright position. In fig. 8, the handling table 6 is equipped with hatches such as

44 to access through it the household appliances 22, 23 housed in the lower cell 21.

Claims

1.-Furniture organized for the maintenance of the linen, characterized in that it comprises a frame (1) with legs delimiting at least three superimposed cells (5,28,21), including an upper cell (5) for the reception selective dirty laundry according to its nature, said upper cell (5) overhanging a middle cell (28) comprising a work plan (6,29) associating a table (6) for handling linen, and an ironing table ( 29) fixed to the frame (1) by means of mobility means (30,31, 33; 34,35; 39) of the ironing board (29) to arrange it alternately in a retracted storage position and a position deployed in use in which the ironing board (29) is placed substantially as an extension of the handling table (6), said central cell (28) overhanging a lower cell (21) for the reception of household appliances (22, 23) necessary for washing and drying the linen, said cell i nférieur (21) being provided with means (27) to allow the connection of household appliances (22,23) with an electrical power source, a water supply network and a water drainage network .

2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper cell (5) mainly consists of a cupboard participating in the chassis (1) equipped with internal partitions (7) delimiting compartments for storing dirty linen (11, 12,13,14,15,16) respectively according to its nature, each compartment (11, 12,13,14,15,16) being equipped with an upper opening for admission of the linen (11 ', 12', 13 ', 14', 15 ', 16') and means for delivering the stored linen, and being of variable capacity by means of easily reversible positioning means (17) of the internal partitions (7) on the chassis (1) .

3. -Furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that said means for delivering the stored linen are constituted by a lower hatch (11 ", 12" ₎ 13 ", 14", 15 ", 16") of the cupboard (5) , the latter (5) being equipped with means of twinning (18,19) of two adjacent hatches (11, 12) for delivering linen for making them integral, so that, in combination with the easily reversible positioning means of the internal partitions (7) on the frame (1), a delivery of the linen can be carried out from a single hatch (11 ', 12' ) in relation to two neighboring compartments (1 1, 12) which have been unified.

4. Furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for delivering the stored linen consist of a tilting arrangement of the cupboard (5) formed at its base, the latter being articulated on the chassis (1) and being equipped locking means (44) in the upright position for receiving the laundry.

5. -Furniture according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the cupboard (5) is equipped with means for adjusting its position in height relative to the frame base (1).

6. -Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said means of mobility are mainly constituted by sliding means (30,31, 33) of the ironing board (29) on the frame (1 ) between its retracted storage position in which the ironing board (29) is arranged under the handling table (6), and its deployed position of use in which the ironing board (29) is arranged substantially parallel to and substantially as an extension of the handling table (6).

7. -Furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said mobility means are mainly constituted by first articulation means (34,35) of the ironing board (29) on the frame (1) between its retracted storage position in which the ironing board (29) is arranged against a lateral face of the frame (1), and its deployed position of use in which the ironing board (29) is arranged, after tilting and lateral deployment, substantially in lateral extension of the handling table (6).

8. -Furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said means of mobility are mainly constituted by second articulation means (39) of the ironing board (29) on the frame (1 ) between its retracted storage position in which the ironing table (29) is arranged under the handling table (6), and its deployed position of use in which the ironing table (29) is arranged by pivoting substantially in extension side of the handling table (6).

9. Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear zone (20) of the handling plane (6) is arranged in a space for storing household consumables and small household appliances, capable of receiving small furniture for this purpose.

10. -Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the frame (1) mainly consisting of a frame composed of raised edge elements comprising at least side walls (2,3) and a rear wall (4), otherwise also a retractable front wall for confining the interior space of the cabinet to hide its contents when the cabinet is not in use, transverse elements (8, 10) delimiting the upper cell (5) participate , together with the handling table (6), to the constitution of elements for bracing the elevated elements of the edge of the furniture.

1 1.-Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) carries additional storage cupboards.

12. Furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling table (6) comprises at least one access hatch (40) to the volume delimited by the lower cell (29) to allow passage of the laundry across it to appliances (22,23).