Modular outdoor kitchen

Abstract

A modular outdoor kitchen has a base with a plurality of frame subassemblies. A leveling foot is mounted at the front and rear of each frame to level the frame. An upright access tube aligned with each leveling foot allows the base to be leveled from above. A counter top and grill are mounted on the base. A water control panel disposed beneath the grill directs water outward away from the base. A refrigerator and other appliances are mounted in the base. Decorative outer panels are attached to the base. A retractable bar can be selectively raised for use, or retracted for storage flush with the counter top. A retractable television can be selectively raised for use, or retracted for storage flush with the counter top.

1 . A modular outdoor kitchen comprising:
 a base, the base having a front aspect and a rear aspect, the base extending between first and second opposite ends, the base extending between a lower surface adjacent the ground and an upper surface disposed above the lower end, the base comprising;
 a plurality of frame subassemblies, each frame subassembly extending between a front aspect and a rear aspect, each frame subassembly extending between a lower end adjacent the ground and an upper end disposed above the lower end, each frame subassembly further comprising;
 a first inner panel; 
 a second inner panel parallel to the first inner panel and spaced apart therefrom; 
 a front frame strip extending upright between the first inner panel and the second inner panel at the front aspect; 
 a rear frame strip extending upright between the first inner panel and the second inner panel at the rear aspect; 
 a top strip extending transversely between the first inner panel and the second inner panel and extending between the front aspect and the rear aspect, and disposed at the upper end; 
 a bottom strip extending transversely between the first inner panel and the second inner panel and extending between the front aspect and the rear aspect, and disposed at the lower end; 
 a leveling foot disposed adjacent the front aspect, and a leveling foot disposed adjacent the rear aspect, each leveling foot being threadably mounted in the bottom strip for selective adjustment of the frame subassembly upward and downward, so as to level the frame subassembly; and 
 an access tube extending upright between the top strip and the bottom strip adjacent the front aspect, and an access tube extending upright between the top strip and the bottom strip adjacent the rear aspect, each one of the access tubes being aligned with a leveling foot, each access tube being adapted for receiving an elongated adjusting tool and guiding the tool into engagement with the leveling foot, so as to allow leveling the frame subassembly from the upper end; 
 
 a front panel attached to the base at the front aspect, the front panel extending between the base lower surface and the base upper surface, the front panel extending between the first and second opposite ends; 
 a rear panel attached to the base at the rear aspect, the rear panel extending between the base lower surface and the base upper surface, the rear panel extending between the first and second opposite ends; and 
 a counter top disposed on the base upper surface, the counter top extending between the first and second opposite ends and between the front aspect and the rear aspect; 
   at least one cooking apparatus disposed in the base adjacent the counter top;   at least one decorative outer panel attached to the base on at least one of:
 the front aspect; 
 the rear aspect; 
 the first opposite end; and 
 the second opposite end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling foot further comprises:
 a bushing having female threads, the bushing being fixedly mounted in the bottom strip; and   a threaded shaft rotatably attached to the leveling foot and threadably received in the bushing, the threaded shaft being adapted to drivingly engage the adjusting tool, so as to allow movement of the bushing up and down, thereby allowing adjusting the frame subassembly up and down.   
     
     
         3 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:
 a natural gas grill;   a propane gas grill;   an electric stove; and   a microwave oven.   
     
     
         4 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative outer panel further comprises a finish resembling natural stone or tile or wood, and is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:
 stone-based material;   cement-based material;   ceramic;   thermoset polymer resins;   thermoplastic polymer resins;   fiberglass; and   wood.   
     
     
         5 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises at least one water control panel disposed beneath the cooking apparatus, so as to direct water away from the base. 
     
     
         6 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises at least one grease control panel disposed beneath the cooking apparatus, so as to capture and contain grease. 
     
     
         7 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises at least one shelf panel disposed between adjacent frame subassemblies and adjacent the base lower surface. 
     
     
         8 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerator disposed in the base, the refrigerator being adapted for access through the front panel. 
     
     
         9 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , further comprising a retractable bar for storing beverages, the bar being mounted in the base, the bar being adapted for selectively rising upward under external power into a position for use, and descending downward into a position for storage flush with the counter. 
     
     
         10 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 1 , further comprising a retractable television mounted in the base, the television being adapted for selectively rising upward under external power into a position for use, and descending downward into a position for storage flush with the counter. 
     
     
         11 . A modular outdoor kitchen comprising:
 a base, the base having a front aspect and a rear aspect, the base extending between first and second opposite ends, the base extending between a lower surface adjacent the ground and an upper surface disposed above the lower end, the base comprising;
 a plurality of frame subassemblies, each frame subassembly extending between a front aspect and a rear aspect, each frame subassembly extending between a lower end adjacent the ground and an upper end disposed above the lower end, each frame subassembly further comprising;
 a first inner panel; 
 a second inner panel parallel to the first inner panel and spaced apart therefrom; 
 a front frame strip extending upright between the first inner panel and the second inner panel at the front aspect; 
 a rear frame strip extending upright between the first inner panel and the second inner panel at the rear aspect; 
 a top strip extending transversely between the first inner panel and the second inner panel and extending between the front aspect and the rear aspect, and disposed at the upper end; 
 a bottom strip extending transversely between the first inner panel and the second inner panel and extending between the front aspect and the rear aspect, and disposed at the lower end; 
 a leveling foot disposed adjacent the front aspect, and a leveling foot disposed adjacent the rear aspect, each leveling foot being threadably mounted in the bottom strip for selective adjustment of the frame subassembly upward and downward, so as to level the frame subassembly; and 
 an access tube extending upright between the top strip and the bottom strip adjacent the front aspect, and an access tube extending upright between the top strip and the bottom strip adjacent the rear aspect, each one of the access tubes being aligned with a leveling foot, each access tube being adapted for receiving an elongated adjusting tool and guiding the tool into engagement with the leveling foot, so as to allow leveling the frame subassembly from the upper end; 
 
 a front panel attached to the base at the front aspect, the front panel extending between the base lower surface and the base upper surface, the front panel extending between the first and second opposite ends; 
 a rear panel attached to the base at the rear aspect, the rear panel extending between the base lower surface and the base upper surface, the rear panel extending between the first and second opposite ends; and 
 a counter top disposed on the base upper surface, the counter top extending between the first and second opposite ends and between the front aspect and the rear aspect; 
   at least one cooking apparatus disposed adjacent the counter top;   at least one water control panel disposed beneath the at least one cooking apparatus, so as to direct water away from the base;   at least one grease control panel disposed beneath the at least one cooking apparatus, so as to capture and contain grease;   at least one shelf panel disposed between adjacent frame subassemblies and adjacent the base lower surface;   a refrigerator disposed in the base, the refrigerator being adapted for access through the front panel; and   at least one decorative outer panel attached to the base on at least one of:
 the front aspect; 
 the rear aspect; 
 the first opposite end; and 
 the second opposite end. 
   
     
     
         12 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 11 , wherein the leveling foot further comprises:
 a bushing having female threads, the bushing being fixedly mounted in the bottom strip; and   a threaded shaft rotatably attached to the leveling foot and threadably received in the bushing, the threaded shaft being adapted to drivingly engage the adjusting tool, so as to allow movement of the bushing up and down, thereby allowing adjusting the frame subassembly up and down.   
     
     
         13 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 11 , wherein the cooking apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:
 a natural gas grill;   a propane gas grill;   an electric stove; and   a microwave oven.   
     
     
         14 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 11 , wherein the decorative outer panel further comprises a finish resembling natural stone or tile or wood, and is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:
 stone-based material;   cement-based material;   ceramic;   thermoset polymer resins;   thermoplastic polymer resins;   fiberglass; and   wood.   
     
     
         15 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 11 , further comprising a retractable bar for storing beverages, the bar being mounted in the base, the bar being adapted for selectively rising upward under external power into a position for use, and descending downward into a position for storage flush with the counter. 
     
     
         16 . The modular outdoor kitchen of  claim 11 , further comprising a retractable television mounted in the base, the television being adapted for selectively rising upward under external power into a position for use, and descending downward into a position for storage flush with the counter. 
     
     
         17 . A method for constructing a modular outdoor kitchen, the method comprising:
 extending a base between first and second opposite ends, and between a lower surface adjacent the ground and an upper surface disposed above the lower end;   extending a frame subassembly between a front aspect and a rear aspect, and between a lower end adjacent the ground and an upper end disposed above the lower end;   supporting the base with a plurality of frame subassemblies;   threadably mounting a leveling foot in the frame subassembly adjacent the front aspect at the lower end;   threadably mounting a leveling foot in the frame subassembly adjacent the rear aspect at the lower end;   selectively adjusting the frame subassembly upward and downward with the leveling foot, so as to level the frame subassembly;   extending an access tube upright between a top strip and a bottom strip of the frame subassembly adjacent the front aspect, and extending an access tube upright between a top strip and a bottom strip of the frame subassembly adjacent the rear aspect;   aligning each one of the access tubes with the leveling foot;   receiving an elongated adjusting tool in each access tube and guiding the tool into engagement with the leveling foot, so as to allow leveling the frame subassembly from the upper end;   extending a front panel between the base lower surface and the base upper surface, and extending the front panel between the base first and second opposite ends at the base front aspect;   extending a rear panel between the base lower surface and the base upper surface, and extending the rear panel between the base first and second opposite ends at the base rear aspect;   extending a counter top on the base upper surface between the first and second opposite ends and between the front aspect and the rear aspect;   mounting at least one cooking apparatus in the base adjacent the counter top;   mounting a water control panel beneath the cooking apparatus, and directing water away from the base with the water control panel;   mounting a grease control panel beneath the cooking apparatus, and capturing and containing grease with the grease control panel;   mounting a shelf panel between adjacent frame subassemblies and adjacent the base lower surface;   mounting a refrigerator in the base through the front panel; and   attaching a decorative outer panel to the base on one or more of:
 the front aspect; 
 the rear aspect; 
 the first opposite end; and 
 the second opposite end. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 fixedly mounting a bushing having female threads in the bottom strip;   rotatably attaching a threaded shaft to the leveling foot and threading the shaft into the bushing;   adapting the threaded shaft for drivingly engaging the adjusting tool, allowing movement of the bushing up and down, and adjusting the frame subassembly up and down with the adjusting tool.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 selecting the cooking apparatus from the group consisting of:
 a natural gas grill; 
 a propane gas grill; 
 an electric stove; and 
 a microwave oven. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 finishing the decorative outer panel to resemble natural stone or tile or wood;   selecting the outer panel material from the group consisting of:
 stone-based material; 
 cement-based material; 
 ceramic; 
 thermoset polymer resins; 
 thermoplastic polymer resins; 
 fiberglass; and 
 wood.