Patent Application
20240138559
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to storage solutions. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to an elevated storage system that can store items close to a ceiling of a home without decreasing floor space.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Storage space is often sacrificed for living space in homes, especially in smaller homes. Users may add storage spaces, but they typically require floor space for their deployment. Some storage solutions, such as shelves or platforms, can be used, but are typically difficult to install and reduce the overall aesthetics of the room.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a storage solution that may not reduce floor space while maintaining the overall aesthetics of the living space.
Embodiments of the present invention aim to solve the aforementioned problems in conventional storage solutions. Aspects of the present invention may be more useful in smaller houses and expandable houses where the living spaces are limited, and the owner cannot afford to include a room that is only for storage. The items can be stored in the system include, but not limited to, a bed mattress, a drawer like container, a TV, and the like. The storage system also allows easier access to the stored item when compared to a regular storage room. When activated, the system can automatically move the stored item to the room on the side and make them accessible to the user.
Embodiments of the present invention provide an elevated storage structure comprising a track for moving a movable member horizontally out of a storage configuration located near a ceiling of a structure and into a deployed configuration; and a plurality of cables attached to and extendable from the movable member, the plurality of cables operable to move a stored item vertically from the movable member when the movable member is in the deployed configuration.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a elevated storage structure comprising a storage area disposed adjacent a ceiling of a structure; an opening of the storage area opening into a first space in or adjacent the structure; first and second tracks, located along opposite sides of the storage area, operable to move respective first and second movable members horizontally out of the opening of the storage area, from a storage configuration into a deployed configuration; a movable member driving mechanism operable to move the first and second movable members along the first and second tracks; and a plurality of cables attached to and extendable from the movable member, the plurality of cables operable, via a cable driving mechanism, to move a stored item vertically from the movable member when the movable member is in the deployed configuration.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a elevated storage structure comprising a storage area disposed adjacent a ceiling of a structure; an opening of the storage area opening into a first space in or adjacent the structure; first and second tracks, located along opposite sides of the storage area, operable to move respective first and second movable members horizontally out of the opening of the storage area, from a storage configuration into a deployed configuration; a movable member driving mechanism operable to move the first and second movable members along the first and second tracks; a first pivot axis located at a distal end of each of the first and second movable members, the first pivot axis providing a pivot between a television connector, attached to a television, and the first and second movable members; and a second pivot axis located at proximal ends of each of the first and second movable members, the second pivot axis providing a second pivot between the first and second tracks and the first and second movable members.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.
The illustrations in the figures may not necessarily be drawn to scale.
The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal configuration of a commercial implementation of any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a storage mechanism for houses and expandable houses that allows items to be stored in a space close to the ceiling so the storage space will not reduce the available floor space in the house. The storage will only reduce the height of the ceiling by a small amount, which does not affect most people. Aspects of the present invention may be more useful in smaller houses and expandable houses where the living spaces are limited, and the owner cannot afford to include a room that is only for storage. The items can be stored in the system include, but not limited to, a bed mattress, a drawer like container, a TV, and the like. The storage system also allows easier access to the stored item when compared to a regular storage room. When activated, the system can automatically move the stored item to the room on the side and make them accessible to the user.
The design aims to allow the users to store many items on top of their head to save spaces. It essentially eliminates the need of an additional storage room in smaller houses. It also allows for a multifunctional room when the storage system has some furniture like a mattress and a TV installed therein. The system can help smoothly transform a living room to a bedroom and vice versa.
Referring to
Multiple storage chambers may be disposed in the storage system 12. For example, the storage system 12 can include a large storage area 14, a small storage area 16 and a television storage chamber 18. Of course, the number and size of the storage chambers can vary depending on the specific application. The room 18 may include one or more indicators 22, such as a rug, that indicate where an item from one of the storage areas, such as the large storage area 14 may be disposed, once lowered, as discussed in greater detail below. A remote control 28 may be disposed on the wall of the room 18 to operate the storage system 12, as discussed in greater detail below.
While
As can best be seen in
It should be understood that the mattress 30 and the storage basket 32 are exemplary items in the storage areas 14, 16. Other items may be stored as well. Further, the stored items may be attached to the cords 42, 44 in various manners, such as be straps, screws, bolts, adhesive, or the like. Further, the cords 42, 44 may be various material suitable to support the weight of the items, including nylon cords, rope, cable, straps, or the like.
Referring now to
The movable rail 40 may slide from opposite fixed rails 54 disposed on opposite sides of the storage areas 14, 16. The movable rails 40 may be driven by various driving means 60, such as a linear actuator, a screw member, a belt or chain drive, or the like. The driving means 60 can move the movable rails 40 between the storage configuration and the deployed configuration. The driving means 60 may drive one side or both sides, thus driving one movable rail 40 or both movable rails 40. The movable rails 40 may be interconnected by two or more cross members 58. The cross members 58 may be mounted to the spools 56, as shown, or in different positions along the length of the movable rails 40.
Referring now to
The cord 68 may be driven out from the spool 56 or back into the spool 56. In some embodiments, the remote control 28 may have controls for each storage area to operate each set of spools 56 therein. In some embodiments, the mounting base 64 can include a cord moving device 98, operable to move the cord 68 into and out of the spool 56. In some embodiments, the cord 68 may wrap along an interior portion 71 of the spool cover 70 and a driving means 57 (see
Referring now to
The television mount 48 may include side rails 74 that extend from side to side, extending outward from slide rails 78, the slide rails 78 having a channel 80 formed therein. Legs 76 can extend upward in this case, where the side rails 74 and the slide rails 78 are disposed adjacent a bottom surface of the storage area 18 and the legs 76 extend upward toward the top of the storage area 18. The side rails 78 extend generally perpendicular to the movement of the television 34, as discussed below, while the slide rails 78 extend generally parallel to the movement of the television 34.
Sliding rails 82 may be disposed inside the slide rails 78 and may be configured to slide outward from the slide rails 78 to move the television between the storage position and the use position. The sliding rails 82 may slide by a driving means similar to that discussed above with respect to the driving means 60 for moving the movable rails 40 from the fixed rails 54 (see
A first pivot connector 84 may attach to television connectors 94 that are configured to attach to the television 34. The first pivot connector 84 and the television connector 94 can attach with a pivot pin 90, which forms the first pivot axis. The first pivot connector 84 may attach to a distal end (relative to the slide rail 78 when in the deployed configuration) of the sliding rails 82.
A second pivot connector 86 may attach to a proximal end of the sliding rails 82. The second pivot connector 86 forms a pivot axis via a pivot pin 88 that connects the second pivot connector 86 with the sliding rails 82. In some embodiments, the second pivot connector 86 may provide an extension limit so that the sliding rail 82 does not overly extend out of the slide rails 78.
During deployment, the sliding rails 82 can slide out of the slide rails 78. Once the sliding rails 82 extend beyond the first pivot connector 84, the television 34 can pivot about the pivot axis provided by pivot pins 90 so that the screen is directed away from the opening of the storage area 18. The sliding rails 82 continue to extend until the pivot axis provided by the pivot pins 88 is extended out of the slide rails 78, causing the sliding rails 82 to pivot downward, thus placing the television 34 in the deployed position, as best seen in
While three storage areas are provided in the storage system 12 discussed above, there can be any number of storage areas, depending on the usage and needs of the end user.
All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.
The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.
The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.
