FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention relates to an assembly incorporating an adjustable surface. More specifically, the present invention relates to a kitchen assembly having an adjustable table top.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Modern residential homes typically have an open plan layout in which the kitchen and dining areas are combined. In many homes, the kitchen area includes at least one bench top having a section which projects outwardly to function as a breakfast bar or light meals dining surface. A home occupant typically sits on a stool at the breakfast bar when consuming breakfast or a light snack. In some cases, the bench top is the upper surface of a kitchen island. More formal dining is typically reserved for the main dining table in the home.

[0003] Space constraints in some homes, particularly residential apartments, means that there is often insufficient room to accommodate a large formal dining table unless the design of the kitchen is compromised, for example by omitting the kitchen island and associated bench top used for light meals.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide an assembly which provides the option of both formal dining at a dining table and more casual dining at a breakfast bar like area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a kitchen assembly including a fixed structure and a table assembly pivotally mounted to the fixed structure about a vertical axis. The table assembly includes a table having a section which protrudes outwardly from a housing of the fixed structure. The extent to which the section protrudes from the housing is varied by pivotal movement of the table assembly about the vertical axis, wherein the table assembly is configured to pivot between a first position in which the protruding section of the table defines a breakfast bar, and the second position in which the protruding section defines a dining table.

[0006] An upper surface of the protruding section preferably defines a table top having a surface area. The surface area of the table top is preferably greater in the second (dining table) position than in the first (breakfast bar) position. In addition, the protruding section of the table preferably projects from the housing in a cantilevered manner.

[0007] The housing of the fixed structure may include a slot-like opening from which the protruding section of the table projects. Further, the slot-like opening may extend around a corner of the housing.

[0008] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the table is substantially elongate and includes a pair of side edges and a pair of opposing ends. The side edges of the table are preferably substantially parallel to a longitudinal side wall of the housing when the table assembly is in the first (breakfast bar) position. In contrast, when the table assembly is in the second (dining table) position, the side edges of the table are preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal side wall of the housing. Furthermore, one end of the table is preferably entirely located within the housing when the table assembly is in the second (dining table) position. In contrast, a corner of the said one end is preferably exposed from the slot-like opening when the table assembly is pivoted to the first (breakfast bar) position.

[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the table top is substantially L- shaped and extends around a corner of the housing when the table assembly is in the first (breakfast bar) position. In contrast, when the table assembly is in the second (dining table) position, the table top is substantially rectangular.

[0010] The surface area of the table top in the first position is preferably about 30-40% less than the surface area of the table top in the second position. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fixed structure is a kitchen island and the housing includes a top surface defining a bench top.

[001 1 ] The pivotal mounting of the table assembly to the fixed structure is preferably provided by a support structure of the table assembly having a sleeve member mounted to a vertical column of the fixed structure. The support structure of the table assembly may further include a table frame connected to the sleeve member, the table frame being preferably concealed within the table.

[0012] The kitchen assembly may further include a control mechanism for moving the table assembly between the first position and the second position.

The control mechanism may include at least one actuator mounted between the table assembly and the fixed structure wherein, upon activation of the at least one actuator, the table assembly is pivoted with respect to the fixed structure.

[0013] Alternatively, the control mechanism can be omitted and the table assembly instead manually rotated through a radius of 90 degrees between the first position under the benchtop of the kitchen island and the second (dining table) position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with respect to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the kitchen assembly according to the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. The preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a kitchen assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention illustrating the table top in a first (breakfast bar) position in which a protruding section of the table defines a breakfast bar;

[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the kitchen assembly shown in Figure 1 with the table assembly being illustrated in a second (dining table) position in which the protruding section of the table defines a dining table, and

[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the internal components of the kitchen assembly shown in Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a kitchen assembly 1 which includes a fixed structure (which may be in the form of a kitchen island 3) and a table assembly 5 pivotally mounted to the fixed structure (kitchen island 3) about a vertical axis. The table assembly 5 includes a table having a section which protrudes outwardly from a housing 9 of the kitchen island 3. The extent to which the section of the table protrudes from the housing 9 is varied by pivotal movement of the table assembly 5 about the vertical axis. In this regard, the table assembly 5 is configured to pivot between a first position in which the protruding section 7 of the table defines a breakfast bar, as shown in Figure 1 , and a second position in which the protruding section defines a dining table, as shown in Figure 2.

[0019] The protruding section of the table preferably projects from the housing 9 in a cantilevered manner. This advantageously enables the table assembly to be freely pivoted between the first and second positions without the need for the folding or removal of support legs. [0020] An upper surface of the protruding section defines a table top 11. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the surface area of the table top 1 1 is significantly greater when the table assembly 5 is in the first (dining table) position compared to when the table assembly 5 is in the second (breakfast bar) position. In this respect, the table top 11 has a surface area in the breakfast bar position which is about 30-40% less than the surface area of the table top 11 when in the dining table position.

[0021 ] The table is preferably rectangular and includes a pair of longitudinal side edges 13 and a pair of opposing ends 15. As shown in Figure 1 , the longitudinal side edges 13 of the table are preferably substantially parallel to a longitudinal side wall 17 of the housing 9 when the table assembly 5 is in the first (breakfast bar) position. In contrast, when the table assembly 5 is in the second (dining table) position, the longitudinal side edges 13 of the table are preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal side wall 17 of the housing 9. In the dining table configuration, the table top 11 has a length of approximately 1850mm and a width of approximately 900mm. The dimensions of the table top 11 may however be greater or smaller to suit specific requirements.

[0022] The housing 9 preferably includes a slot-like opening 19 from which the protruding section of the table projects. The slot-like opening 19 preferably extends around a corner 21 of the housing 9. This advantageously enables the table to project both longitudinally and laterally from the housing 9 and enables the table top 1 1 to have a substantially L-shaped configuration when the table assembly 5 is in the first (breakfast bar) position shown in Figure 1.

[0023] The table assembly 5 is preferably pivotally mounted with respect to the kitchen island 3 in a position which ensures that a section of the table protrudes from the housing 9 at all times. In the breakfast bar position, the L- shaped table top 1 1 has a width of approximately 300mm along the longitudinal side wall 17 of the housing 19 and projects beyond a lateral side wall 8 of the housing 9 by approximately 400mm. Accordingly, the table top 1 1 in the breakfast bar position is at all seating positions at the bar wide enough to accommodate at least a large plate.

[0024] The housing 9 of the kitchen island 3 preferably includes a top surface defining a bench top. The bench top is of generally conventional construction. The bench top and other walls of the housing 9 are preferably constructed of a natural or man made stone material.

[0025] With reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the housing 9 of the kitchen island 3 has been omitted to show the internal components of both the kitchen island 3 and table assembly 5. The table assembly 5 preferably further includes a support structure 25 which includes a sleeve member 27 which is mountable to a vertical column of the kitchen island 3. The support structure 25 further includes a table frame 29 which is connected to the sleeve member 27. The table frame 29 is preferably concealed within the table such that no part of the table frame 29 is exposed, thereby providing a more anaesthetically appealing appearance. The table frame 29 includes a pair of beams which are joined together by a pair of cross members 30. The table assembly 5 can preferably be moved between the first and second positions either manually or electrically. In this regard, the kitchen assembly 1 may further include a control mechanism for moving the table assembly 5. The control mechanism may include at least one actuator 31 mounted between the table assembly 5 and the kitchen island 3. In this regard, the actuator 31 may be in the form of a linear actuator which upon activation results in pivotal movement of the table assembly 5 about the vertical column of the kitchen island 3.

[0026] The kitchen assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention can advantageously be reconfigured as desired to provide a breakfast bar for use in the mornings and a formal dining table for use in the evening. The cantilevered manner in which the protruding section of the table projects from the housing 9 advantageously avoids the need for the unfolding or removal of awkward support legs. [0027] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments should not be considered to limit the invention but rather should be construed broadly. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.