EP4291070A1

EP4291070A1 - A modular workstation

Info

Publication number: EP4291070A1
Application number: EP21925962.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet ERGIN
Original assignee: Efendi Proje Mimarlik Muhendislik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Sirketi
Current assignee: Efendi Proje Mimarlik Muhendislik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Sirketi
Priority date: 2021-02-15
Filing date: 2021-03-02
Publication date: 2023-12-20
Also published as: US20240306812A1; WO2022173388A1; TR2021002108A1; EP4291070A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular station (10) comprising at least one body (20) having height suitable for ergonomic working of the person, for providing preparation of foods and particularly beverages in the kitchen of commercial catering areas. The improvement is that in order to respond to user preferences and to the changes in usage requirements, the subject matter modular station (10) is configured to include at least one of at least one canal (21) provided at said body (20) in a manner allowing connection of at least one work module (30), and at least one storage area (25) provided in the body (20) in a manner allowing connection of at least one storage module (31).

Description

A MODULAR WORKSTATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a modular station comprising at least one body having functions and height suitable for ergonomic working of the person, for providing preparation of foods and particularly beverages in the kitchen of commercial catering areas.

PRIOR ART

Systems like hotels, restaurants, cafes, clubs, workplaces, etc. for commercial purpose where foods and beverages are prepared and which are oriented for mass consumption are named work station. Work-stations begin as from the length of at least 40 cm and can extend up to approximately 700 cm in one-piece form.

Until today, such work stations were designed and produced according to the needs of the related businesses. However, the working system of each chef or a bartender is unique. For instance, some a chef may prefer that the sink on his/her right side and another prefers the opposite. As a similar example, a bartender may prefer that the ice well in the work station to be bigger and that the working area is smaller while another prefers the layout to be vice versa.

While the working stations of kitchens and clubs of commercial businesses are designed, planning is essentially realized according to the requests of the related business manager/chef or bartender. However, various factors in commercial kitchen and bar venues change in time, such as staff, menus or other needs of the business. A work station which is built to serve perfectly according to the previous needs of the business, may not be helpful at the same efficiency when the factors of the venue changes.

Therefore, the businesses many times hover between purchasing a new working station and working with a less efficient existing work station when the factors change.

In the known art, there are sinks with limited flexibility where these sinks are mostly manufactured as systems to be built onto the main kitchen worktops. However, these systems do not meet the requirements to serve for commercial kitchens and especially for numerous functions of bartending purposes. On the other hand, freestanding work stations made of stainless steel are essential for commercial catering and bar venues, in terms of durability, hygiene and long life.

As a result, because of the aforementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular station, for eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

An object of the present invention is to provide a work station with removable and fixable inner modules according to user preferences.

In order to realize the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a modular work station comprising at least one body having height suitable for ergonomic working of the user, for providing preparation of foods and particularly beverages in the kitchen of commercial catering areas. Accordingly, the improvement is that in order to respond to user preferences and to the changes in usage requirements, the subject matter modular station is configured to include at least one of at least one canal provided at said body in a manner allowing connection of at least one work module, and at least one storage area provided in the body in a manner allowing connection of at least one storage module. Thus, a workmq station is provided which can be equipped with a storage module and a work module which have different usage characteristics according to user preferences.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, it is configured to allow combinations of multiple work modules having different characteristics in a manner arranged side by side inside the canal. Thus, the configuration which will provide usage facility according to user preference is easily provided.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, a first surface, provided at the two mutual edges of the work module, is configured to overlap with a second surface provided at the long edges of the canal. Thus, the work module is placed into the canal in a suitable manner. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the body comprises at least one removable-fixable functional module. Thus, the user accesses the tap in required cases according to the usage purpose.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a preparation sink. Thus, the user can work with the preparation sink when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be an ice basin. Thus, the user can work with the ice basin when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a bottle basin. Thus, the user can work with the bottle basin when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a cash register booth. Thus, the user can have cash register booth when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a working area. Thus, a working area can be provided when desired by the user.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a hand washing sink. Thus, the user can work with the hand washing sink when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a garnish unit. Thus, the user can work with the garnish unit when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module is essentially configured to be a cooling and/or freezing module. Thus, the user can work with the cooling and/or freezing module when desired.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the storage module is essentially configured to be a lower working bench. Thus, the user can work with a lower working bench partially at the lower part. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the storage module is essentially configured to be a refrigerator. Thus, the user can work with a refrigerator partially at the lower part.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the storage module is essentially configured to be a rubbish bin. Thus, the user can have a rubbish bin partially at the lower part.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the storage module is essentially configured to be a neutral bench. Thus, the user can have a neutral bench partially at the lower part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative lateral view of the subject matter modular station is given.

In Figure 2, a representative perspective view where the subject matter modular station is associated with a work module is given.

In Figure 3, a representative perspective view of the subject matter modular station is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter modular station (10) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In Figure 1 , a representative lateral view of the subject matter modular station (10) is given. Accordingly, said modular stations (10) are systems like hotels, restaurants, cafes, clubs, workplaces, etc. for commercial purpose and which are oriented for mass consumption of foods and beverages. The modular station (10) is used so as to have length of at least 50 centimeters and at most 7 meters and generally between 140-290 centimeters. The modular station (10) comprises at least one body (20). Said body (20) is a structure essentially made of stainless steel having height which is suitable for ergonomic working of a person. Thus, the body (20) provide a usage which is suitable for health and which is resistant for long- duration usage. The body (20) comprises at least one carrier element (22). Said carrier element (22) is a carrier essentially for increasing rigidity of the body (20). The body (20) comprises at least one storage area (25). Said storage area (25) is essentially a space provided in the body (20). The storage area (25) can be partially or completely filled with a refrigerator or a shelf system, or it can be left empty as desired. The body (20) essentially comprises at least one canal (21) provided thereon. Said canal (21) is a basin which extends longitudinally on the body (20) and provided such that only the upper surface thereof is open. The canal (21) is configured such that the two end parts thereof are closed. The modular station (10) comprises at least one discharge element (24) or provides connection of at least one discharge element to the system. Said discharge element (24) is essentially a drainage hole which allows discharge of liquid through the canal (21). The modular station (10) essentially comprises at least one functional module (23) which can be fixed and removed onto/from the body (20). Said functional module (23) is placed on the modular station (10) and provides storage in an isolated or non-isolated manner or can flow the water which exists therein in accordance with the functional characteristic or can comprise cutting plate or allows arrangement of various types or bottles or products and is fixed as a unit, however, it is movable within the whole system.

The modular station (10) provides inclusion of at least one storage module (31) provided in a fixable-removable manner in the storage area (25). Said storage module (31) is provided essentially with variable characteristics according to the different conditions and user requests. The storage area (25) is provided so to be under the canal (21). The storage module (31) presents a usage which is suitable for health and it is resistant and made of stainless steel material. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the storage module (31) can be a refrigerator, a cooler, a lower working bench, a neutral bench, a rubbish bin or an empty area. The storage module (31) selected according to the need and request of the user is placed to the storage area (25).

In Figure 2, a representative perspective view where the subject matter modular station is associated with a work module is given. Accordingly, the modular station (10) comprises at least one work module (30) placed into the canal (21) in a removable and fixable manner. Said work module (30) is essentially an assistant item provided in a compliant manner to the desire or the need of the user. Pluralities of work modules (30) are provided in the canal (21) in a manner meeting the needs of the user. The work module (30) provides a usage which is suitable for health and it is resistant and made of stainless steel material. The work modules (30) can be removed and changed or can displace with each other inside the canal (21). In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the work module (30) can be configured to be a cutting plate and a rubbish collection chamber, an insulated or non-insulated bottle basin, a hand washing sink with perforated plate or flat operation area, a preparation sink which is fixed to the basin or which can displace and which has a spray showering unit or which does not have a spray rinser unit, a garnish unit, insulated ice basin with shutter protection or without shutter protection, a cash register booth, a cooling module and a freezing module.

The canal (21) comprises at least one second surface (26) provided along both long edges. Said second surface (26) is a surface provided at the end of the edges of the canal (21). The second surface can be provided in different geometrical characteristics so as to be a surface which is essentially inclined, orthogonal or parallel to the floor plane. The work module (30) comprises at least one first surface (32) provided at the end of the mutual edges thereof. Said first surface (32) can be provided in different geometrical characteristics so as to be a surface which is essentially inclined, orthogonal or parallel to the floor plane. The first surface (32) can easily slide on the placement surface.

In an exemplary operation scenario of the present invention, the storage element is provided in the body (20) of the modular station (10), and canal (21) is provided on the body (20). In the storage module (31) provided in the storage area (25), there is a secondary bench item used in different characteristics according to the requests of the user. Inside the canal (21), pluralities of work modules (30) with different characteristics are placed in a fixable- removable manner. The first surface (32), provided on the module, overlaps onto the placement surface provided at the mutual long edges of the canal (21). Thus, the work module (30) can be fixed in the canal (21). The work module (30) can have different usage characteristics as desired.

By means of these embodiments, the modular station (10) provides usage easiness. Work modules (30), which can be exchanged with each other and which can be fixed-removed, can be used in order to meet different needs at different hours of the day in the business or in order to provide usage of an efficient workm§ station by the worker. The work module (30) can be changed in a short time without needing a technical support. Moreover, the storage module (31) can be removed and fixed in accordance with the user requests. The working efficiency of the user increases.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention. REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Modular station 20 Body

21 Canal

22 Carrier element

23 Functional module

24 Discharge element 25 Storage area

26 Second surface

30 Work module

31 Storage module 32 First surface

Claims

1. The present invention is a modular station (10) comprising at least one body (20) having height suitable for ergonomic working of the person, for providing preparation of foods and particularly beverages in the kitchen of commercial catering areas, wherein in order to respond to user preferences and to the changes in usage requirements, the subject matter modular station (10) is configured to include at least one of at least one canal (21) provided at said body (20) in a manner allowing connection of at least one work module (30), and at least one storage area (25) provided in the body (20) in a manner allowing connection of at least one storage module (31).

2. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein it is configured to allow combinations of multiple work modules (30) having different characteristics in a manner arranged side by side inside the canal (21).

3. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein a first surface (32), provided at the two mutual edges of the work module (30), is configured to overlap with a second surface (26) provided at the long edges of the canal (21).

4. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the body (20) can comprise at least one removable-fixable functional module.

5. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a preparation sink.

6. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be an ice basin.

7. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a bottle basin.

8. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a cash register booth.

9. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a working area.

10. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a hand washing sink.

11. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a garniture unit.

12. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the work module (30) is essentially configured to be a cooling and/or freezing module.

13. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the storage module (31) is essentially configured to be a lower working bench.

14. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the storage module (31) is essentially configured to be a neutral bench.

15. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the storage module (31) is essentially configured to be a refrigerator.

16. The modular station (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the storage module (31) is essentially configured to be a rubbish bin.