WORK FURNITURE FOR SANITARY APPLICATIONS, KITCHEN OR THE LIKE

Abstract

The invention relates to an item of work furniture for sanitary applications, kitchens, or the like, for the defined arrangement of at least the following modules on a main body: a water supply module, at least one fitting module having a fitting that is connectable to the water supply module and/or to at least one water treatment module, and at least one drain module having a drain point for the at least one fitting of the fitting module and having a drain fitting, and at least the water treatment module is arranged interchangeably in the item of work furniture.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. An item of furniture comprising a main body and the following modules on the main body: a water supply module; a water treatment module; at least one fitting module having a fitting which is connectable to at least one of the water supply module and the water treatment module; and at least one drain module including a drain point for the at least one fitting of the fitting module, and a drain fitting; wherein at least the water treatment module is arranged interchangeably in the item of work furniture.

25. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the main body comprises an adjustable height.

26. The item of work furniture according to claim 25, wherein the height is adjustable on opposite sides of the main body.

27. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the main body and at least one of the water supply module, water treatment module, fitting module and drain module are designed to be fixed to one another without tools.

28. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the main body further comprises holding devices for horizontally introducing the modules.

29. The item of work furniture according to claim 28, wherein at least two of the modules comprise pluggable interfaces for receiving a pluggable connecting line.

30. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the main body comprises two horizontally divisible regions.

31. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the modules comprises a handle device for removing the at least one module from the item of work furniture.

32. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein a first two of the modules are horizontally detachably connected to the main body, a second two of the modules are laterally adjacent to the first two of the modules, and the first two of the modules are larger than the second two of the modules.

33. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the item of work furniture further comprises a front region for access by a user and a rear region and the modules can be introduced into the main body starting from the front region.

34. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the modules can be releasably fixed on one another.

35. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, further comprising at least one of the following modules: at least one electronics module, at least one storage module, a filter module for providing filtered water, a carbonation module for providing carbonated water, a heating module for providing hot water, a cooling water module for providing cooled water, a cooling module for cooling at least part of the storage module, a shredding module connected to at least one of the drain module and the storage module, an ionization module for ionizing water, an enrichment module for enriching water with at least one substance, an additive module for adding concentrates, and a light module for illuminating at least one of the other modules.

36. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the main body further comprises a moisture-protected and/or water-protected region.

37. The item of work furniture according to claim 36, wherein the moisture-protected region is arranged in a base region of the main body.

38. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the drain module comprises at least one of a drip tray and a basin.

39. The item of work furniture according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the filter module, the enrichment module, and the additive module comprises at least one interchangeably arranged cartridge or container.

40. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the drain module comprises a pipe that includes a substantially right-angled pipe run having a vertical section in a rear side region and a horizontal section in a drain point region of the drain module.

41. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the drain point is provided in a sink and the main body comprises a base cabinet.

42. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the water supply module and the drain module comprises multiple connections.

43. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, further comprising a drain arranged in a rear side region of the drain point and of the main body.

44. The item of work furniture according to claim 24, wherein the main body comprises at least two horizontal module insertion levels and at least two vertical module levels.

45. A method for providing an item of work furniture, comprising the following steps: providing a main body and designing the main body for a defined arrangement of modules; providing a water supply module; providing at least one water treatment module; providing at least one fitting module including a fitting which can be connected to at least one of the water supply module and the water treatment module; providing at least one drain module including a drain point for receiving the fitting module and a drain fitting for fitting the fitting module; and arranging the modules on the main body, wherein at least the water treatment module is interchangeably arranged in the item of work furniture.

46. A device for planning a configuration of one or more modules of an item of work furniture, comprising; a display device for providing visual display of the one or more modules and a main body; an input device for changing a configuration of the one or modules and/or for selecting the one or more modules; and a computing device for at least one of checking, adapting, and providing proposals for a configuration of the main body and the one or more modules.

Description

[0061] In the figures:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of an item of work furniture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of a section of the region of the rear side of an item of work furniture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a part of a main body having a fixed module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0065] FIG. 4 shows in schematic form a device for planning an item of work furniture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0066] FIG. 5 shows steps of a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of an item of work furniture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0068] An item of work furniture 1 is shown in detail in FIG. 1. A drain module having a sink basin as a drain point 5 for a fitting 4a of a fitting module 4 is arranged in the surface of a main body 10 of the item of work furniture 1. The height of the main body 10 can be adjusted in steps in the upper region by a height adjustment device 11a. Corresponding rows of holes, which are arranged in a semicircular or parabolic shape, for example, can be provided here to engage with corresponding elements. It is also conceivable to provide a continuous height adjustment device. Furthermore, the height of the main body 10 can also be adjusted in steps in its lower region 11b. Alternatively, a continuous height adjustment can also be provided here instead. A water-protected and moisture-protected region 18 is arranged in the lower region or in the region of the base of the main body 10. This can be used to accommodate an electronics module, a power supply module, or the like, which are protected in this region against penetrating water, for example from line leaks or the like.

[0069] The main body 10 furthermore has lateral fixing devices in the form of clamping devices 13 for fixing modules 6, 8 on the main body 10. These are arranged at different heights and depths and provide different module insertion levels HE1, HE2, HE3, VE1, VE2. In addition, the modules 6, 7, 8 are also fixable on one another, i.e. the modules 6, 7, 8 do not necessarily have to be fixed on the main body 10. The modules 6, 7, 8 shown in FIG. 1 each have handles 17 in the region facing toward the front region 20 of the main body 10, which can be used on the one hand to remove the modules 6, 7, 8, on the other hand they can also be used to interchange storage containers or filters of the modules 6, 7, 8.

[0070] In addition, the modules 6, 7, 8 are designed such that they are adapted to the shape of the sink basin 5. A third module level HE3 is provided below the second module level HE2 with front module level VE1, comprising the modules 6, 7, 8, which are also arranged directly below the sink basin 5, In FIG. 1, the third row of modules HE3 is formed by a waste module 9, which is arranged in the main body 10 so that it can be pulled out, the first module level HE1 is formed in this case by the drain module having basin 5.

[0071] Not shown in FIG. 1 are a water supply module 2, partially the fitting module 4, and a water treatment module 3. These are at least partially arranged between the first visible front row of modules VE1, HE2 and the rear wall 21 of the main body 10. It is also not shown in FIG. 1 that the main body 10 together with the modules 6, 7, 8, 9 can be covered at the front in the usual manner by a front panel, kitchen front, or the like in order to visually integrate the main body 10 together with the modules into the surroundings of the item of work furniture 1.

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of a section of the region of the rear side of an item of work furniture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0073] FIG. 2 shows in detail a water supply module 2 which is fixed on the main body 10. The water supply module 2 is connected to the fitting module 4 and here has five connections 19a which are arranged on a frame and can be connected, for example, to a filter module or the like. Also shown is the region below the sink basin 5, which is connected to a space-saving siphon 5b (pipe run 5′) via a drain pipe 5a. The space-saving siphon 5b also has multiple connections 19b, so that, for example, a drip level having a separate drain can be connected directly to the space-saving siphon 5b,

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a part of a main body having a fixed module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] In FIG. 3 on the right, the main body 10 is shown in a side view with a clamping device 13. The main body 10 has horizontally extending slots 14b which have a circular opening 14c at one end. A corresponding protruding sliding or rolling element 15 can be inserted into this circular opening 14c and fixed on the main body 10 by means of a clamping lever 16 after insertion.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows in schematic form a device for planning an item of work furniture according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] In FIG. 4, a computer 30 is shown in schematic form, which has planning software or a planning application for the planning, in particular the selection and arrangement of an item of work furniture 1. The dimensions, wishes of the customer with regard to material selection, shape, functionality of the item of work furniture 1 with regard to the provision of different types of preparation can be taken into consideration by means of corresponding modules 2, 3, 4, By means of keyboard 32a and computer mouse 32b of an input device 32, modules 2, 3, 4 . . . corresponding to specified dimensions and wishes of the customer can then be proposed by a computing unit 33 and a position for them can be proposed. If this is not absolutely necessary due to specified conditions, a customer can freely arrange them within the main body and thus individually choose his range of functions and the desired arrangement. A corresponding assembler can then quickly and easily assemble the item of work furniture 1 including the adapted main body 10 and selected modules 2, 3, 4, . . . on site and put it into operation on the basis of the plan of the planning software.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows steps of a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows in detail the steps of a method for providing an item of work furniture according to the present disclosure. This comprises the following steps.

[0080] In a first step S1, a main body is provided and the main body is designed for the defined arrangement of modules.

[0081] In a further step S2, a water supply module is provided.

[0082] In a further step S3, at least one water treatment module is provided.

[0083] In a further step S4, at least one fitting module is provided having a fitting that can be connected to the water supply module and/or the water treatment module.

[0084] In a further step S5, at least one drain module is provided having a drain point for the at least one fitting of the fitting module and having a drain fitting of a drain for the at least one fitting of the fitting module, and in a last step S6, the modules are arranged on the main body, wherein at least the water treatment module is arranged interchangeably in the item of work furniture.

[0085] In summary, at least one of the embodiments of the disclosure has at least one of the following advantages: [0086] Simple and inexpensive production. [0087] High flexibility with regard to different types of modules and their position within the main body. [0088] High quality impression. [0089] Space-efficient arrangement of different modules.

[0090] Although the present disclosure has been described on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto, but rather can be modified in many ways.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0091] 1 item of work furniture [0092] 2 water supply module/module [0093] 3 water treatment module/module [0094] 4 fitting module/module [0095] 4a fitting [0096] 5 drain module/drain point/sink basin/basin/module [0097] 5′ pipe run [0098] 5a drain pipe/drain fitting/pipe [0099] 5b space-saving siphon [0100] 6, 7, 8 module [0101] 9 waste module storage module [0102] 10 main body [0103] 11a upper height adjustment/height adjustment device [0104] 11b lower height adjustment [0105] 12a upper side [0106] 12b lower side [0107] 13 clamping device [0108] 14a vertical oblong hole [0109] 14b horizontal oblong hole/slot/holding device [0110] 14c opening of oblong hole/holding device [0111] 15 sliding element [0112] 16 fixing lever/clamping lever [0113] 17 handle/handle device [0114] 18 water-protected region [0115] 19a, 19b connections [0116] 20 front side/front region [0117] 21 rear side [0118] 30 processor/computer [0119] 31 monitor [0120] 32 input device [0121] 32a keyboard [0122] 32b computer mouse [0123] 33 computing unit [0124] B1, B2 region [0125] S1 S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 method steps [0126] HE1, HE2, HE3 horizontal module insertion level/module insertion level/module level/row of modules

[0127] VE1, VE2 vertical module insertion level/module insertion level