Description:
FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

Complete Specification
(See section 10 and rule 13)

1.Title of the Invention :
Method and System for Kitchen Construction

2. Applicant Name : HI IN CONCEPTS PVT. LTD.

Nationality : Indian

Address : No. 8-2-293/82/A/163, Plot No. 163, Road No. 13, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 600033, Telangana

3. Preamble to the Description:

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

DESCRIPTION
Technical Field:
[0001] The present invention relates to a set of modular connector components, frames, and usage methods. The connectors are fitted with square and rectangular tubes to form a reinforcing drop-in structure for kitchen cabinetry.
[0002] The present invention relates to improving easy assembly of kitchen units and providing ample space access during maintenance (minor/ major works).
Prior art
[0003] EP 3 506 800 B1 describes a modular kitchen unit that one can assemble from the front without having to operate from the back. Their modular kitchen unit does not require attaching to walls, floor or ceilings and detaching from them.
[0004] US 2,899,253 describes a kitchen cabinet with interchangeable components fitted together to build a cabinet. Mainly consisting of a square / rectangular frame built with square pipe fixed on the wall and the cabinets hang on the frame.
Background of Invention:
[0005] A modern modular kitchen is constantly required to be generally maintained and checked for damages due to infestations, periodically. These damages result in loss of structural integrity of the kitchen units. Typically after installation of a modular kitchen there is no accessibility to the rear wall, during plumbing works the procedure for creating access is time taking.
[0006] Installation of a modern modular kitchen consists of independent cabinet boxes with provisions for utilities (electrical lines, gas lines and sink drain pipe lines), appliances (stove, dishwasher, oven), countertop , drawers and shelves. The rear panel of the cabinet has provisions made for entry of gas pipeline, electrical lines, sink drain and water pipelines. The cabinets are stocked with consumables, cutlery, and cooking utensils.
[0007] During general maintenance, upon finding swollen cabinets, improper closing of drawers and shutters, black spotting on cabinets, then the reason for these damages is water. The water damages are caused by leaking or busted sink pipes, spills and even stagnant water. The solution for these issues is to thorough drying out the cabinet, which is a process that can take considerable time. Once dried up, the task is to clean up and repair / replace the complete cabinet or individual panels.
[0008] Formation of moulds occurs due to water damages. Moulds need to be identified at an early stage. During early detection of moulds the surface can be cleaned up dry. A moulds capacity to compromise is not only limited to structural integrity of the kitchen but also affects the user's health.
[0009] A kitchen is a highly trafficked area, which accounts for excessive wear and tear. The kitchen countertop stands solely on the side walls of the cabinets. To check the side panels extensive wear and tear, testing by pushing the side walls for identifying any damages beyond repairs, if the side wall caves-in then the kitchen countertop stability is compromised and immediate task of replacing or repairing the walls of the cabinet is mandatory.
Summary of the invention:
[0010] To improve upon the modern modular kitchen construction, the applicant proposes the use of modularly functional connectors and application specific square, rectangular tubes as a system in a method to create a reinforcing structure for dropping in cabinet boxes or fitting individual panels. In particular the reinforcing frame is a side scaling structure forming a kitchen layout. The main embodiments of the applicant’s proposal are left, right and middle side panel frame sub assemblies connected using rectangular section tubes, these combine to form a cabinet frame. The middle side panel frame sub assembly can be in multiples.
[0011] (a) The left or right end side panel frame sub assembly consists of vertical square section tubes and horizontal rectangular section tubes, which are connected using top and bottom corner three-way connectors. The panel board sits within the framed structure, completing an end side panel frame assembly. The left end side panel frame sub assembly has extension capability on its right side, and the right end side panel frame sub assembly has extension capability on its left side. Extension to build a cabinet.
(b)The left end side panel frame sub assembly is either assembled with the right end side panel frame sub assembly to complete a cabinet structure, or assembled with a middle side panel frame sub assembly to complete a cabinet structure and to extend further to build another cabinet.
[0012] Any two panel frames sub assemblies are connected with two pairs of rectangular section tubes for connecting, later the panels are mounted within the frame to form a cabinet.
[0013] (c)In a two cabinet kitchen base unit construction, a left and middle side panel frame sub assemblies, assembled by using rectangular section tubes, to complete a cabinet and other side of the middle side panel frame sub assembly is open for extension to build another cabinet.
[0014] To conclude the extension, a right end side panel frame sub assembly is connected to complete the last cabinet.
[0015] The cabinet structure is assembled with bottom and rear panels and countertop board. The rear and bottom panels mounting within the structure is done by utilizing flanges of the square and rectangular section tubes, the panel has flange support on all four sides.
The bottom connector not only connects the rectangular and square section tubes but also has feature of leg, on which the kitchen cabinet sits. The bottom connector is also applicable to clip on a plinth cover plate.
The appliances, shelves and drawers are housed within the cabinet structure.
Basic description of the drawing
[0016] Further features and objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following detail description and the accompany drawing
[0017] Figure 1 shows the Assembly procedure for the left end side panel frame sub assembly
is a left isometric view of the exposed side view of the left end side panel frame assembly of the kitchen base unit.
[0018] Figure 2 shows the assembled left end side panel frame sub assembly.
[0019] Figure 3 and 4 shows assembly procedure for the top corner connector with change in their orientation to generate two iteration of the connector assembly
[0020] Figure 5 and 6 shows assembly procedure for bottom corner connector with change in their orientation to generate two iterations of the connector assembly. The bottom leg connector has a built-in feature for height adjustability.
[0021] Figure 7 shows the Assembly procedure for the middle side panel frame sub assembly.
[0022] Figure 8 assembled view of middle side panel frame sub assembly.
[0023] Figure 9 the assembly procedure of the middle top connector.
[0024] Figure 10 shows the assembly procedure of the middle bottom connector. The bottom leg connector has a built-in feature for height adjustability.
[0025] Figure 11 shows the Assembly procedure for right end side panel frame sub assembly.
[0026] Figure 12 assembled view of the right end side panel frame sub assembly
[0027] Figure 13 shows the view of Assembly procedure for connecting two end side panel frame sub assembly and a middle panel frame sub assembly.
[0028] Figure 14 shows the view of the assembled end side panel frames sub assemblies and a middle panel frame sub assembly to form structure for two cabinets of varying widths.
[0029] Figure 15 shows the view of the assembly procedure for the rear panel and base panel in the cabinet structure.
[0030] Figure 16 shows the internal view of the cabinet on left top corner of the rear panel attachment scheme.
[0031] Figure 17 shows the view of the assembled kitchen base unit with a countertop and plinth cover plate.
[0032] Figure 18 shows the exploded view of the plinth cover plate attachment detail.
Detailed descriptions of the invention
[0033] An easy adaptable modular structure framing system, that can house individual panels to form a cabinet and to fully perform as a fully functional modern modular kitchen. With the rigid framing the structural strength is further enhanced, and also having the capability to provide ease of accessibility during any maintenance checks or planned reworks in the kitchen, without any hindrance to usual cooking activities.
[0034] The rigid frame construction as shown in figure 1, begins with the left end side panel sub assembly it mainly consists of a frame constructed using square section tubes (7 and 6) and rectangular section tubes (5) which are connected at its open ends utilizing top (figure 3 and 4) and bottom (figure 5 and 6) corner connector assembly. Lastly completing the assembly by inserting the side panel (14) within the end side panel frame as shown in figure 1. The right open end of the side panel frame sub assembly has exposed side arm connectors 3, as shown in figure 1 and 2, ready for extension.
[0035] The middle side panel frame sub assembly shown in figure 7, consists of a frame constructed using square(9 and 6) section tubes and rectangular(8) section tubes which are connected at its open ends utilizing a pair of middle top (figure 9) and bottom (figure 10) connectors assembly. Lastly completing the frame assembly by inserting the side panel (14) within the middle side panel frame as shown in the figure 8.
[0036] The construction of the right end side panel frame sub assembly (figure 11) is similar to construction of the left end side panel frame sub assembly(figure 1 and 2). The difference is in the orientation of the square(7) section tube as shown in figure 11 compared with the square(7) section tube in figure 1. The other difference is in the orientation of top(figure 3 and 4) and bottom(figure 5 and 6) corner connector as shown in figure 1 and 11.
[0037] The top corner connector assembly has two different iterations (figure 3 and 4) based on orientation of the side arm connector (3) on fitment with top connector (1), using a pair of panhead screws (12).
[0038] The bottom corner connector assembly has two different iterations (figure 5 and 6) based on orientation of the side arm connector (3) on fitment with bottom leg connector (2) using a pair of pan head screws (12).
After successfully mounting the tubes (5 , 6, 7, 8 and 9) on either top or bottom connector, the exposed side arm (3) indicates the direction for extension for the cabinet.
[0039] The top connector(1) and bottom leg connector(2) have a pin(20) feature built as an extension to mount the square(6 ,7 and 9) section tubes, and fix it with counter sunk screws(13).
[0040] The square tube (6, 7 and 9) have flanges as pointed out in 6a, 7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, 9c in figure 1, 7 and 11. The flanges 6a-7a and 6a-9b makes mounting of the side panel (14) possible as shown in figure 1,7 and 11.
[0041] To complete a two cabinet structure assembly (figure 14), the left end side panel frame sub assembly (figure 2) is connected to the middle side panel frame sub assembly (figure 8) to build one cabinet and then prolonged to build another cabinet ending with the right end side panel frame sub assembly (figure12).
In figure 13, The assembly procedure of 2 cabinets is shown in detail. The left(figure 2) and right(figure 12) end side panel frame sub assembly with middle side panel frame sub assembly (figure 8) are connected using pairs of rectangular section tubes 10a, 11a, 10b and 11b on all of the panel frame’s open ends represented by exposed side arm(3). The fitment of the rectangular tube and side arm is done using countersunk screws 13.
[0042] The frames 11a and 11b are single flanged rectangular tubes that are mounted on the open accessible side of the cabinet as shown in figure 13 and 14. The frames 10a and 10b are dual flanged rectangular tubes that are mounted on the rear side of the cabinet as shown in figure 13 and 14.
[0043] The two-cabinet structure (figure 15) is then fitted with rear panel 15 on flanges 10a1, 10a1, 7b(figure 1) and 9c(figure 7) of 10a, 7(figure 1) and 9(figure 7) tubes respectively. The rear panel 17 mounts on flanges 10b1, 10b1, 9a(figure 7), 7b(figure 1) of 10b, 9(figure 7) and 7(figure 1) tubes respectively.
The base panel 16 (figure 15) is fitted on flanges 11a1, 10a2, 5a(figure 1) and 8b(figure 7) of tubes 11a, 10a, 5(figure 1) and 8(figure 7). The base panel 18 (figure 15) is fitted on flanges 11b1, 10b2, 9a(figure 7) and 7b(figure 1) of tubes 11b, 10b, 8(figure 7) and 5(figure 1). Both the rear panels and bottom panels always land on flanges of the corresponding rectangular and square tubes. The two cabinets are later fitted with countertop board 19 and a plinth cover plate 23 as shown in figure 17.
In the figure 16 shows a clear detail of rear panel (15) fixed into the cabinet with clips (21) using a hole(21a) on flange (7b) (also in figure 1) to mount.
[0044] The kitchen basic unit in figure 17 with side, rear and bottom panels is mounted with a countertop (19) board and plinth cover plate (23), completing the cabinetry construction. The attachment detail of plinth cover plate is shown in figure 18 by using plinth clip (22) and grove feature (23a) on the plinth cover plate. The kitchen now is completely available for loading appliances, drawers and shelves to function similar to a modern modular kitchen unit.

, Claims:CLAIMS

We Claim :
1. A system for modular kitchen construction, comprising:
a reinforcing structure for dropping in cabinet boxes or fitting individual panels;
said reinforcing structure including left, right, middle and side panel frame sub assemblies connected using rectangular section tubes which combine to form a cabinet frame;
characterized in that, the reinforcing structure is a side scaling structure for forming a desired kitchen layout and allowing ease of access for any maintenance or reworking, achieved by means of modularly functional connectors and application specific square and rectangular tubes and wherein the middle side frame sub assembly can be in multiples based on the requirement and wherein the rear and bottom panels mounting within the structure is achieved by utilizing flanges of the square and rectangular section tubes.

2. The system for modular kitchen construction, as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the left or right end side panel frame sub assembly consists of vertical square section tubes and horizontal rectangular section tubes, which are connected using top and bottom corner three way connectors to form a framed structure within which a panel board sits.

3. The system for modular kitchen construction, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the left end side panel frame sub assembly is either assembled with the right end side panel frame sub assembly to complete a cabinet structure, or assembled with a middle side panel frame sub assembly to complete a cabinet structure and to extend further to build another cabinet.

4. The system for modular kitchen construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein, panel board sits within the framed structure, completing an end side panel frame assembly and wherein the left end side panel frame sub assembly has extension capability on its right side, and the right end side panel frame sub assembly has extension capability on its left side.

5. The system for modular kitchen construction, as claimed in claim 1, wherein mounting of rear and bottom panels the structure is done by utilizing flanges of the square and rectangular section tubes, the panel has flange support on all four sides.
6. The system for modular kitchen construction, as claimed in claim 2, bottom connector not only connects the rectangular and square section tubes but also has feature of leg, on which the kitchen cabinet sits. The bottom connector is also applicable to clip on a plinth cover plate.

7. A modular kitchen assembly, comprising :
a left side panel sub assembly, consisting of a frame constructed using square section tubes (6 and 7) and rectangular section tubes (5) connected at its open ends utilizing top and bottom corner connector assembly followed by inserting the side panel(14) within the end side panel frame and wherein the right open end of the side panel sub assembly has exposed side arm connectors (3);
a middle side panel frame sub assembly, consisting of a frame constructed using square(9 and 6) section tubes and rectangular(8) section tubes which are connected at its open ends utilizing a pair of middle top and bottom connectors assembly and completing the frame assembly by inserting the side panel (14) within the middle side panel frame;
a right end side panel frame sub assembly similar to construction of the left end side panel frame sub assembly with only difference in orientation of square (7) section tube, top, bottom and corner connectors;
characterized in that, top connector(1) and bottom leg connector(2) have a pin(20) feature built as an extension to mount the square(6 ,7 and 9) section tubes, and fix it with counter sunk screws(13).

Dated this the 20th November 2023

Senthil Kumar B
Agent for the applicant
IN/PA-1549