Abstract:
A modular appliance system comprises several similarly shaped modular appliances such as kettles, toasters and the like, and a modular base system with cordless connectors on which the appliances can be placed. In one embodiment, the base is larger than the base of an individual appliance, and accommodates two or more appliances side by side. In another embodiment, the base comprises individual base units which can be connected together electrically to create a composite base unit which accommodates the required number of appliances.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a modular appliance system. 
   Modern homes tend to be relatively compact and space is usually at a premium in working areas such as kitchens. At the same time, the number of appliances available is increasing and an average home owner will typically have at least a kettle, a toaster, a coffee maker and one or more other counter-top appliances in his or her kitchen. This leads to crowding and clutter in the kitchen. 
   It is an object of the invention to address this phenomenon. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a modular appliance system comprising:
         a plurality of modular appliances; and   a base unit for supporting at least two of the modular appliances simultaneously, the base unit having at least two electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the base unit.       

   According to the second aspect of the invention there is provided a modular appliance system comprising:
         a plurality of modular appliances; and   a base unit comprising a plurality of interconnectable base elements, at least a first one of the base elements being connectable to an electrical source and at least a second base element being electrically connectable to the first base element so that the second base element is connected to the electrical source via the first base element, each of the base elements having at least one electrical connector adapted for engagement with a complemental connector on a respective appliance so that one or more appliances can be connected to the electrical source via the base unit.       

   The system preferably may comprise a plurality of substantially identical base elements, with each base element having a first connector for connection to a previous base element and a second connector for connection to a subsequent base element. 
   Typically the first connector of each base element comprises a plurality of pins, which may be shrouded. 
   The second connector typically comprises a plurality of sockets shaped to receive the respective pins of the first connector. 
   The base unit is preferably generally planar and defines at least one locating formation which mates with complemental locating formations in the base of a respective appliance. 
   Each locating formation may be an upstanding land on an upper surface of the base unit, in which case the complemental locating formation in the base of the respective appliance is a cavity shaped complementally to the land. 
   Each appliance may have a footprint which is substantially identical to that of the other appliances, so that the appliances may be located interchangeably on the base unit. 
   One or more of the appliances may have a footprint which is a multiple of the footprint of the other devices, so that it engages at least two of the locating formations on the base unit. 
   The invention extends to a base unit for use in a modular appliance system as defined above, the base unit comprising a generally planar body defining at least two locating formations which mate with complemental formations in the base of respective appliances and having at least two electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the base unit. 
   The invention further extends to a base unit for use in a modular appliance system as defined above, the base unit comprising a plurality of interconnectable base elements, at least a first one of the base elements being connectable to an electrical source and at least a second base element being electrically connectable to the first base element so that the second base element is connected to the electrical source via the first base element, each of the base elements having at least one electrical connector adapted for engagement with a complemental connector on a respective appliance so that one or more appliances can be connected to the electrical source via the base unit. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a first embodiment of a modular appliance system according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a second embodiment of a modular appliance system according to the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a modular base unit of the system of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of a multi-plug adapter usable with the modular base unit of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIGS. 5   a  &amp;  5   b  are end views of a female connector and a male connector respectively of the modular base unit; 
       FIG. 6  is a pictorial view of an alternative embodiment of a base element of the modular base unit shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment of the modular base unit, in which individual base elements have multiple electrical connectors thereon; 
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a modular base unit in which individual base elements are interconnected by means of flexible electrical cables; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a single electrical connector cable for use with the base unit of  FIG. 8 ; and 
       FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of the invention in which the base unit of the invention comprises a stove hob. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   The modular appliance system illustrated in  FIG. 1  comprises a generally planar base unit  10  which is moulded from a suitably tough and heat resistant plastics material such as polypropylene, and a set of modular appliances  12 ,  14  and  16  which can be mounted on the base unit individually or together, side by side. The base can be formed from other suitable plastics, or other materials including metals such as stainless steel, or natural materials such as marble or wood. 
   In  FIG. 1 , the appliance  12  is a hot water dispensing unit, the appliance  14  is a toaster, and the appliance  16  is a sandwich toaster/waffle iron. It will be appreciated that the illustrated appliances are merely exemplary, and that the set of appliances usable on the base  10  may include various other appliances, or more than one identical appliance. 
   The base  10  is rectangular and is provided with a plurality of locating formations in the form of upstanding rectangular lands  18  having rounded corners, each of which has a central upstanding cordless connector  20  of a kind known as such which mates with a complemental connector on the underside of the appliances  12 ,  14  and  16 . The underside of each appliance defines a recess which is shaped complementally to the land  18 , so that when the appliance is mounted on the base, it is located firmly against both lateral movement in the plane of the base and rotation. This helps to ensure stability of the appliances in use, and also ensures that appliances are not misaligned on the base, which would interfere with the placing of adjacent appliances on the base. 
   As indicated by the arrows A, the appliance  12  has a “footprint” which is the same as that of the appliances  14  and  16 . Additionally, all of the appliances have the same depth from front to back, although this is not essential. Because of their identical footprints, the appliances are interchangeable and it is not necessary for them to be located in a particular predetermined position on the base in use. 
   Certain appliances may have a footprint which is a multiple of the standard footprint A. For example, a hotplate appliance might have a footprint which is double the width of the standard footprint. Assuming that such an appliance had two cooking plates, each cooking plate could conveniently be connected to a respective cordless connector  20  on the base, to reduce the current carried by each connector. 
   Depending on the intended application of the appliance system, the base  10  could be fixed to a work top and connected to a mains supply by hidden wiring passing through the work top surface. Alternatively, the base  10  can be fitted with a conventional two or three core cable  22  and a conventional mains plug  24  for connection to a wall outlet. 
   The base  10  can be provided in a number of different configurations, including single, double and triple-appliance units. Also, instead of a rectangular base arranged to locate the individual modular appliances side-by-side as described above, a curved or specially shaped base can be provided to locate the appliances in a circular or semi-circular configuration, or in a square or other formation. 
   Instead of a single base for locating and connecting one or more modular appliances, as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , the embodiment of  FIGS. 2  to  5  provides a modular base unit comprising individual base elements which can be plugged together in a “daisy chain” configuration to make up a base unit which caters for as many different appliances as required. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a base unit comprising three base elements  110  is shown. Each base element  110  is moulded from a suitably tough and heat resistant plastics material such as polypropylene and is generally rectangular, being deeper from front to back than it is wide. Each base unit has a central locating formation in the form of an upstanding rectangular land  112  which mates with a recess or cavity on the underside of a modular appliance  114  (only one of which is shown in FIG.  2 ). Additionally, each base unit has an upstanding cordless connector  116  which mates with a complemental connector on the underside of the appliance  114 , thus connecting the appliance electrically to the base element. 
   Each base element  110  has a first connector  118  which comprises a set of male pins  120  (typically three pins, for the earth, live and neutral of a mains AC supply) with a rectangular shroud  122  surrounding the pins. The pins and the shroud extend proud of one edge  124  of the base unit. On the other side of each base unit is a complemental connector  126  in which a plurality of sockets  128  are located which mate with the pins  120 . Thus, by locating two or more base units side by side, aligning their respective first and second connectors and pushing the connectors together, a modular base unit can be created comprising two or more of the base elements. It will be appreciated that various connection or plug/socket configurations are possible, and that the described arrangement is purely exemplary. 
   Obviously, the number of base elements which can be connected together in practice will be limited by the current drawn by the appliances used with the modular base unit, the current rating of the connectors, and the rating of the wall outlet or other electrical source used. In addition, the modular appliance could include a re-settable safety overload device which disconnects the electrical supply to the connectors  116  if there is a current overload. 
   The left-most base element in  FIG. 2  is connected to an AC mains outlet via a connector cable  130  which has a conventional mains plug  132  at one end and female plug  134  at the other end, defining a connector essentially similar to that shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
   To enhance the versatility of the above described modular base unit, a multi-plug adapter  136  is provided, which has a first connector  118  at one end thereof and a second connector  126  at the other end thereof, so that the adapter can be plugged into the last free connector  126  on an assembled base unit, for example, and used to connect other appliances via sets of sockets  138  in its surface. 
     FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  show variations of the modular base unit. In  FIG. 6 , a modular base element  210  is shown which is similar to the base units  110  of  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 . However, this version of the base element has a different upstanding cordless connector  212 , of a kind known as such, which is not circular and which requires an appliance (not shown) having a complementary connector to be oriented correctly relative to the base element when being placed thereon so that the connectors mate properly. In this case, the cordless connector  212  serves the purpose of orienting and locating the appliance correctly on the base element, so that an upstanding land is not needed on the base element. 
     FIG. 7  shows a variation of the modular base unit in which each base element  310  has two sets of electrical connectors on adjacent edges of the base element, allowing the base elements to be assembled in a square or rectangular configuration as shown. Specifically, each base element  310  has first and second protruding connectors  312  and  314  which correspond to the connectors  118  of  FIG. 2 , and first and second complemental connectors  316  and  318  (corresponding to the connectors  126  of  FIG. 2 ) on respective opposite edges of the base element. In applications where it might be desirable to provide an “island” of appliances, for example on a table which can be accessed from more than one side, this feature allows a desired number of base elements to be connected together, to accommodate the necessary appliances. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a variation of the invention is shown in which a plurality of base elements  410  are connected together in a daisy chain arrangement by means of flexible connector modules  412 , each of which comprises a length of electrical cable terminated at one end in a male connector  414  and at the other end in a female connector  416 . The connector  414  fits into connectors  418  corresponding to the connectors  126  of  FIG. 2 , while the connector  416  fits into connectors  420  corresponding to the connectors  118  of  FIG. 2. A  plug and socket module  422  similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  connects the daisy chained base elements to a mains outlet. An advantage of this arrangement is that it allows greater flexibility in the location of the individual base elements. 
   By providing a modular base unit as described above, the versatility of the modular appliance system is enhanced, and it can be extended or reduced in size as required, rather than requiring a user to replace a given base unit with a larger or smaller one. 
   Finally,  FIG. 10  shows a stove hob  510  which is generally conventional, except that the hob serves as a base unit for purposes of the present invention, with a pair of upstanding cordless connectors  512  located between the hotplates  514  of the hob. An appliance  516  (shown in dotted outline in  FIG. 10 ) which may be a full sized appliance as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or a smaller appliance, can be located at will on either of the connectors. A protective cap  518  can be provided to cover each connector when it is not in use, to protect it from spilt liquids and the like. In a variation of this embodiment, one or more of the conventional hotplates could be replaced by a connector  512 . 
   It will be appreciated that the exact shape and configuration of the base units and individual base elements described above, the connectors utilized to interconnect individual base elements, and the configuration and location of the electrical connectors on the base units/base elements is purely exemplary and that numerous variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.