Integrated kitchen unit for a mobile vehicle

• US 20060226669A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Loa, Alexander, Wynne, David M., Powers, Michael, Berens, Ryan, Tong, Calvin, Kilb, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/24.300
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/32 comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping, or like vehicles tents or canopies, in general E04H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0612 Cabins with living accommodation, especially for long distance road vehicles, i.e. sleeping, cooking, or other facilities beds in general adapted to be used in vahicles A47C17/80; sanitation devices in vehicles in general B60R15/00; living accommodation in vehicles in general B60P3/32; passenger fittings in general B60N3/00

Abstract

An integrated kitchen unit for a mobile vehicle. The integrated kitchen unit intended to make preparation, eating, and cleaning easier and more intuitive than the existing solution. The integrated kitchen unit provides multiple storage areas based on the needs required for cooking, including storage for utensils, and even storage for a range of third party appliances. The microwave becomes an integrated part of the design, opening up additional space and allowing for optimized ergonomics of preparation surfaces. Extendable tables can be pulled out for additional surfaces or for other needs such as desk area. Standard 110V AC outlets included in the design allow drivers to plug in any third party appliance, possible providing inverters be installed in the berth. A disposal container is located on the side of the integrated kitchen unit, allowing for easy access while preparing at the workstation, and even while driving. A feature which may provide for easier cleanup is a bendable and washable surface that attaches to the preparation surface, allowing for immediate cleanup by folding up the surface and cleaning it at a later time when the driver stops at a truck stop.

Claims

1. A mobile vehicle in combination with an integrated kitchen unit, comprising:

a cab engaged to a drive train bearing chassis;

a sleeper compartment including a driver living space;

said sleeper compartment including a mounting floor as well as off duty living space for a driver;

an integrated kitchen unit mounted on said mounting floor within said sleeper compartment;

said integrated kitchen unit being comprised of an integrated structural frame;

said integrated structural frame including a rectangular lower section that is mounted to said mounting floor;

a rear of said rectangular lower section projecting upwards with integrated side walls and an integrated back wall;

said integrated side walls and integrated back wall engaged to each other at rear edges of said side walls and outer edges of said back wall;

said integrated side walls and said integrated back wall extending upwards into an integrated rectangular upper section;

said rectangular lower section enclosing an integrated refrigerator;

an upper food preparation surface constituting an upper surface of said lower section;

a disposal unit integrated into a side wall of said lower section;

allowing a user to prepare items on said food preparation surface and slide waste directly into said disposal unit;

an integrated microwave oven enclosed within said integrated rectangular upper section; and

an alternating current plug-in AC power outlet engaged to provide power out of said integrated back wall.

2. The mobile vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

a bendable and washable secondary surface attachable to said preparation surface, allowing for immediate cleanup by folding up the surface and cleaning it at a later time when the driver stops at a truck stop.

3. The mobile vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

said secondary surface engageable to said food preparation surface by Velcro.

4. The mobile vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

said disposal unit being triangular based with an opening up at a top section adjacent to said food preparation surface.

5. The mobile vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

upper storage draws included in an area above said microwave oven.

6. The mobile vehicle of claim 5, wherein:

said lower rectangular section including a storage drawer that is slidable out from just under said food preparation surface.

7. The mobile vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

a slidable table that is slidable out from between said storage drawer and said food preparation surface.

8. The mobile vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

a DC to AC power inverter for converting DC power from a vehicle electrical system for said power outlets; and

said inverter being electrically engaged to said AC power outlet through internal wiring.

9. The mobile vehicle of claim 7, wherein:

a DC to AC power inverter for converting DC power from a vehicle electrical system for said power outlets; and

said inverter being electrically engaged to said AC power outlet through internal wiring

10. An integrated kitchen unit for a mobile vehicle, the vehicle having a sleeper compartment with a mounting floor, comprising:

an integrated structural frame mountable on the mounting floor the vehicle;

said integrated structural frame including a rectangular lower section;

a rear of said rectangular lower section projecting upwards with integrated side walls and an integrated back wall;

said integrated side walls and integrated back wall engaged to each other at rear edges of said side walls and outer edges of said back wall;

said integrated side walls and said integrated back wall extending upwards into an integrated rectangular upper section;

said rectangular lower section enclosing an integrated refrigerator;

an upper food preparation surface constituting an upper surface of said lower section;

a disposal unit integrated into a side wall of said lower section;

allowing a user to prepare items on said food preparation surface and slide waste directly into said disposal unit;

an integrated microwave oven enclosed within said integrated rectangular upper section; and

an alternating current plug-in AC power outlet engaged to provide power out of said integrated back wall.

11. The integrated kitchen unit of claim 10, wherein:

a bendable and washable secondary surface attachable to said preparation surface, allowing for immediate cleanup by folding up the surface and cleaning it at a later time when the driver stops at a truck stop.

12. The integrated kitchen unit of claim 11, wherein:

said secondary surface engageable to said food preparation surface by Velcro.

13. The integrated kitchen unit of claim 10, wherein:

said disposal unit being triangular based with an opening up at a top section adjacent to said food preparation surface.

14. The integrated kitchen unit of claim 13, wherein:

upper storage draws included in an area above said microwave oven.

15. The integrated kitchen unit of claim 14, wherein:

said lower rectangular section including a storage drawer that is slidable out from just under said food preparation surface.

16. The integrated kitchen unit of claim 15, wherein:

a slidable table that is slidable out from between said storage drawer and said food preparation surface.