Modular kitchen unit

A movable unit for a modular kitchen assembly is provided with wheels and is removable from a space provided below a countertop forming part of the modular kitchen assembly and includes a top which can be used, for example, as a chopping board or a meat-pounding board and is slidable on guides between a normal operative position and a position in which it projects from the unit and affords access to an upper compartment. The unit also has a front wall which is intended to match the modular kitchen assembly when the unit is fitted into the space below the countertop, a rear wall with a compartment provided with a shelf, and two side walls. One side wall has a compartment provided with a knife-rack, while an auxiliary shelf connected to the unit by a system of levers is movable between a lowered position within the unit and a raised position in which it projects from the unit through an opening provided in the other side wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a modular kitchen unit which is movable on 
wheels and is removable from a space provided below a countertop in a 
modular kitchen. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The unit according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises: 
a top which can be used, for example, as a chopping board or a 
meat-pounding board and is slidable on guides between a normal operative 
position and a position in which it projects from the unit and affords 
access to an upper compartment for holding articles, a front wall which is 
intended to match the modular kitchen assembly, a rear wall with a 
compartment provided with shelves, a side wall with a compartment provided 
with a knife-rack, and an auxiliary shelf connected to the unit by means 
of a lever transmission and movable between a lowered position in which it 
is contained within the unit and a raised position in which the auxiliary 
shelf projects from the unit through an opening provided in the opposite 
side to the said side wall. 
The upper compartment which can be reached by the sliding of the top may be 
used for holding auxiliary electric household appliances, such as, for 
example, a foldable slicer, or for holding the requisites for laying or 
clearing the table (tablecloth, cutlery, table vacuum cleaner, etc.). 
The additional compartment may be used for supporting an electric household 
appliance, for example a food processor, or other accessories. When the 
auxiliary shelf is brought into its raised position, the processor is 
easily accessible and, amongst other things, is in a position near the top 
of the unit, which can serve for supporting plates or various items being 
used by the processor. The compartment provided in the rear wall can be 
used for holding small objects, such as jars or the like, whilst the 
compartment provided in the side wall is used as a knife-holder. 
The unit can therefore be used for increasing the useful working area of 
the kitchen, as an auxiliary unit for the laying and clearing of the 
table, or as a auxiliary unit for eating out of doors with a slicer, 
barbeques, and as required for the preparation of food for the plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In FIG. 1 a modular kitchen assembly is generally indicated 1 and includes, 
amongst other things, a countertop 2 with a space 3 therebelow. A movable 
unit 4 is fitted into the space 3 and is provided at the bottom with 
wheels 5 which make it transportable and removable from the space 3. 
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the unit 4 has a top 6 which is mounted 
for sliding on guides 7 fixed to the upper edges of the two side walls of 
the unit 4. The top 6 is usable, for example, as a chopping board or a 
meat-pounding board and is movable between a normal operative position 
(FIG. 2) and a position in which it projects from the unit 4 (FIG. 3) and 
affords access to an upper compartment 8 which can be used, for example, 
for storing an auxiliary electric household appliance, such as a foldable 
electric slicer, or articles required for the laying or clearing of the 
table (tablecloths, cutlery, table vacuum cleaners, etc.). The front wall 
of the unit 4 is indicated 9 and is provided with a handle 10. This wall 
is preferably made so as to match the rest of the units of the modular 
kitchen 1 when the unit 4 is inserted in its space 3. 
The unit 4 also includes a rear wall 11 with a shelf 12 and rods 13 for 
retaining small objects, for example, small jars, bottles or the like. The 
rear wall 11 also has a compartment 14 from which a tray 15 can be 
removed. A side wall of the unit is indicated 16 and has a rack 17 with 
slots 18 usable for holding knives 19. On the opposite side, the unit has 
an opening 20 from which can be pulled an auxiliary shelf 21 connected to 
the structure of the unit by a system of levers 22 forming an articulated 
parallelogram. The auxiliary shelf 21 is movable between a lowered 
position in which it is contained within the unit and a raised position 
(FIG. 3) in which it is arranged outside the unit, adjacent its top. An 
auxiliary electric household appliance, such as, for example, a food 
processor, may be placed on the shelf 21. 
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details 
of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and 
illustrated.