Patent Application
20160037912
The disclosed device relates generally to storage systems, and particularly to cabinetry.
Finding sufficient space to store and organize household objects is a perennial challenge, particularly in urban environments. Installing shelving can help with organization, but generally at the expense of floor space. Shelves attached to walls higher up can leave more floor space, but are hard to reach. Past solutions to this issue have involved using stepladders or folding or sliding cabinets. The use of stepladders is unwieldy, and past pull-down cabinets have been heavy and inconvenient to use.
Therefore, there remains a need for a convenient pull-down cabinet for space-saving storage.
In one aspect, a pull-down cabinet with a piston resistance mechanism includes a first element fixed to an elevated structure, a second element having at least one storage surface, and at least one resistance mechanism including a tube having a substantially closed end, a piston within the tube creating a chamber between the piston and the substantially closed end, and a one-way valve communicating with the chamber such that the one-way valve opens, allowing fluid to pass through the one-way valve rapidly, when the piston is moved in a first direction within the tube, and closes, allowing substantially less fluid to pass through the one-way valve, when the piston is moved in a second direction within the tube, the resistance mechanism joining the first element to the second element so that when the second element slides away from the first element, the one-way valve closes, and when the second element slides toward the first element, the one-way valve opens.
In a related embodiment, the first element further includes a housing into which the second element slides when pushed upward. In another related embodiment, the one-way valve includes a washer that seals the piston against the side of the tube, a first support element that supports the washer against the side of the tube when the piston is being pulled in one direction, and a second support element that allows part of the washer to be forced away from the side of the tube by fluid pressure when the piston is being pushed in the opposite direction. In another related embodiment, the one-way valve includes a check valve. In an additional embodiment, the resistance mechanism further includes a bleed valve, communicating with the chamber, that allows a limited flow of fluid though the bleed valve. In another embodiment, the bleed valve may be adjusted to modify the rate of fluid flow permitted by the bleed valve. In another embodiment still, the fluid is a liquid. In yet another embodiment, the fluid is a gas. In an additional embodiment, the tube further includes at least one cross-sectional irregularity in the interior surface of the tube, the at least one cross-sectional irregularity allowing gas to pass around the piston when the piston passes over the at least one cross-sectional irregularity. In another embodiment, the at least one cross-sectional irregularity includes at least one groove.
An additional embodiment includes a latch that immobilizes the first element and second element relative to each other when the latch is engaged. In one embodiment, the latch further includes a cam follower element rotably attached to one element of the first element and second element, the cam follower element having an exterior surface and a cam follower mounted on the exterior surface, and a cam arrangement fixed to the other element of the first element and second element, and positioned so that the cam follower element is inserted within the cam arrangement when the first element and second element are together, the cam arrangement including a plurality of catch elements separated by grooves, each catch element having a cam surface that guides the cam follower into a groove when the cam follower element is inserted into the cam arrangement and a notch that admits the cam follower, such that when the cam follower rests in the notch the first element and second element are latched together, and a plurality of wedge cams positioned to guide the cam follower into the notch of one of the plurality of catch elements when the cam follower passes through one of the grooves prior to contacting the wedge cams, and to guide the cam follower into a groove when the cam follower exits a notch prior to contacting the wedge cams. Some embodiments further include at least one slide track coupling the first element to the second element.
In another aspect, a pull-down cabinet includes a first element fixed to an elevated structure, a second element slidably attached to the first element such that the second element may be pulled downward from the first element, the second element having at least one storage surface, and a latching mechanism, including a cam follower element rotably attached to one element of the first element and second element, the cam follower element having an exterior surface and a cam follower mounted on the exterior surface, and a cam arrangement fixed to the other element of the first element and second element, and positioned so that the cam follower element is inserted within the cam arrangement when the first element and second element are together, the cam arrangement including a plurality of catch elements separated by grooves, each catch element having a cam surface that guides the cam follower into a groove when the cam follower element is inserted into the cam arrangement and a notch that admits the cam follower, such that when the cam follower rests in the notch the first element and second element are latched together, and a plurality of wedge cams positioned to guide the cam follower into the notch of one of the plurality of catch elements when the cam follower passes through one of the grooves prior to contacting the wedge cams, and to guide the cam follower into a groove when the cam follower exits a notch prior to contacting the wedge cams.
In a related embodiment, the first element further includes a housing into which the second element slides when pushed upward. Another embodiment further includes at least one resistance mechanism that resists the motion of the second element when it slides away from the first element. An additional embodiment includes a return mechanism that pulls the second element up to the first element.
In another aspect, a method for using a pull-down cabinet with a piston resistance mechanism includes providing a pull-down cabinet as described above, causing the second element to descend from the first element, placing an item on the at least one storage surface, and causing the second element to ascend to the first element.
Other aspects, embodiments and features of the device will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The accompanying figures are for schematic purposes and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of each embodiment of the device shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the device.
The preceding summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosed device, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. It should be understood that the device is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
Referring to
The first element 101 is fixed to an elevated structure. In an embodiment, an elevated structure is a structure sufficiently elevated to permit the second element 102 to be slid far enough down from first element 101 to give the user full access to the at least one storage surface 103. The elevated structure may be a wall. The elevated structure may be a ceiling. The elevated structure may be a door. The elevated structure may be a pillar, such as an anti-seismic pillar in an office or dwelling. The elevated structure may be a pole. The elevated structure may be a fixture, such as another cabinet; for instance, the first element 101 may be fixed to the side of an elevated set of kitchen cabinets. The elevated structure may be another item of furniture, such as a bookcase or desk. The first element 101 may be attached to the elevated structure by any device suitable for fixing one rigid object to another; the first element 101 may be nailed to the elevated structure. The first element 101 may be bolted to the elevated structure. The first element 101 may be screwed to the elevated structure. The first element 101 may be adhered to the elevated structure.
In some embodiments, the first element 101 includes a housing into which the second element 102 slides when pushed upward. The housing may enclose substantially all of the second element 102. The housing may enclose enough of the second element 102 to conceal all of the at least one storage surface 103. In some embodiments, the housing includes one or more detachable panels 106. The one or more detachable panels 106 may be formed from any material or combination of materials suitable for the construction of the first element 101. The one or more detachable panels 106 may have one or more colors contrasting with another portion of the first element 101. The one or more detachable panels 106 may be interchangeable with other detachable panels 106; for instance, the user may be able to select detachable panels 106 from an assortment of detachable panels having various colors, so as to cause the detachable panels 106, and hence the pull-down cabinet 101 to match the user's desired decorative scheme. In other embodiments, the detachable panels 106 contain at least one light-producing element. The light-producing element may include an incandescent light bulb. The light-producing element may include a florescent light bulb, such as a compact florescent light. The light-producing element may include an electroluminescent device such as a light-emitting diode (LED). The light-producing element may be bioluminescent. The light-producing element may be phosphorescent; for instance, the one or more detachable panels 106 may contain phosphorescent dye. The light-producing element may be chemiluminescent. The light-producing element may be radioluminescent. The one or more detachable panels 106 may include a painting. The one or more detachable panels 106 may include a bamboo panel. Although in the embodiments depicted in
In some embodiments, the first element 101 and one or more detachable panels 106 are formed to accept an additional element between them. The additional element may have a display; for instance, the additional element may be a clock, television, computer monitor, tablet, or other electronic item that displays through a transparent detachable panel 106. The additional element may be a picture. The additional element may be a work of art.
The pull-down cabinet 100 includes a second element 102 having at least one storage surface 103. The second element 102 may be composed of any material or combination of materials suitable for constructing the first element 101. The at least one storage surface 103 may be one or more shelves. The at least one storage surface 103 may include one or more drawers. The at least one storage surface 103 may include any storage element used in cabinets. The at least one storage surface 103 may include one or more slanted holders, such as those commonly used for toothbrushes. In some embodiments, the second element 102 includes one or more braces 107 that hold together portions of the second element 102; the braces 107 may strengthen the second element 101. The braces 107 may make it easier to move the second element as a unit; for instance, the braces 107 may make the second element 102 more rigid. The braces 107 may help the second element 101 to slide smoothly against or within the first element 101. Some embodiments of the pull-down cabinet 101 include at least one slide track 108 coupling the first element to the second element. In one embodiment, a slide track 108 is a device such as a drawer glide or a groove and projection combination that constrains the second element 102 to slide along a certain path relative to the first element 101. As a further example the slide track 108 may also include a rod fixed to the first element 101 that passes through one or more holes in the second element 102, so that the second element 102 is constrained to slide up and down the rod. The rod may be fixed to the second element 102 and slide through at least one hole in the first element 101, alternatively.
In some embodiments, the pull-down cabinet 100 has at least one resistance mechanism 104 that resists the motion of the second element 102 when it slides away from the first element 101. In some embodiments, the resistance mechanism 104 includes a biasing means; the resistance mechanism 104 may include a spring. The spring may be a coil spring. The spring may be a leaf spring. The spring may be a gas spring made up of a piston sealed in a gas-filled tube, such that the elasticity of the gas causes the piston to exert a recoil force when pulled into or pushed out of the tube. The resistance mechanism 104 may include a weight; for instance, a cable attached to the second element 102 may pass over a pulley attached to the first element 101 and attach to a counterweight at the other end of the cable, such that pulling the second element 102 downward pulls the counterweight upward toward the pulley; as a result, the counterweight may exert a force resisting the downward motion of the second element 101.
In other embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, the tube 200 is connected to the second element 102 and the piston rod 205 is connected to the first element 102, as depicted in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, the one-way valve 204 is a check valve. The valve 204 may be a diaphragm check valve. The valve 204 may be a swing check valve. The valve 204 may be a tilting disc check valve. The valve 204 may be a lift-check valve. The valve 204 may be an in-line check valve. The valve 204 may be a duckbill valve. The valve 2054may be located at the substantially closed end 202 of the tube 200.
In some embodiments, the resistance mechanism 104 further includes a bleed valve 213, communicating with the chamber 203, that allows a limited flow of fluid though the bleed valve 213; this may result in some fluid being able to pass into or out of the chamber 203 even when the one-way valve 204 is closed. In some embodiments, the bleed valve 213 may be adjusted to modify the rate of fluid flow permitted by the bleed valve 213. For instance, the bleed valve 213 may be threaded so that rotation in one direction opens the bleed valve 213 further while rotation in another direction closes the bleed valve 213 to a greater extent; a user may thus be able to adjust the resistance of the resistance mechanism by rotating the bleed valve 213. The bleed valve 213 may be in the piston 202; for instance, the bleed valve 213 may be a small hole in the piston 202.
In some embodiments, the fluid used in the resistance mechanism 104 is a liquid. The liquid may enter and exit the chamber 203 via the one-way valve 204 and the bleed valve 213 through tubes connected to a tank containing the liquid. Alternatively, in a double-chambered embodiment, the tube may be sealed sufficiently at both ends to keep the fluid from leaking out. In other embodiments, the fluid is a gas. The fluid may be air, for instance, such as the ambient air where the pull-down cabinet 100 is located. In some embodiments, the tube includes at least one cross-sectional irregularity 214 in the interior surface of the tube 200, the at least one cross-sectional irregularity 214 allowing gas to pass around the piston 202 when the piston passes over the at least one cross-sectional irregularity. For instance, the tube 200 may be slightly elliptical for a portion of its length, allowing some air to leak around a circular piston 202. The at least one cross-sectional irregularity 214 may include at least one groove in the interior surface of the tube 200. The at least one cross-sectional irregularity 214 may run along a portion of the length of the tube 200. The at least one cross-sectional irregularity 214 may be located in a part of the tube 200 that the piston 202 passes through when the second element 102 begins to descend from the first element 101, so that initially the descent has very little resistance, and the resistance gradually builds up as the second element 102 descends further and the piston 202 moves into the part of the tube 200 that has no irregularity 214; this may have the effect of smoothly reducing the speed of descent of the second element 102 and preventing it ending its descent with a jerk.
The pull-down cabinet 100 may also include a return mechanism 109 that pulls the second element up to the first element. The return mechanism 109 may be a gas spring; in some embodiments, the gas spring is a piston 203 in a tube 200 as described above in relation to
In some embodiments, the cabinet 100 includes a power source (not shown). The power source may be hydraulic; for instance, the power source may be a line connected to the running water of the office or dwelling containing the cabinet 101, e.g. using water pressure to force water into the chamber 203 as described above for a return mechanism 109 in reference to
In some embodiments, the pull-down cabinet 100 includes a latch 105 that immobilizes the first element 101 and second element 102 relative to each other when the latch 105 is engaged. The latch 105 may engage the bottom of the first element 101 and the bottom of the second element 102 when the first element 101 and the second element 102 are together; for instance, where the first element 101 includes a housing that can contain the second element 102, the latch 105 may extend one or more catches from the edges of the housing to overlap the second element 102 when it is inserted, preventing the second element 102 from being pulled downward until the one or more catches are disengaged.
It will be understood that the device may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the device is not to be limited to the details given herein.
