BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to wall-mounted storage systems, and, more particularly, to a wall-mounted cabinet that can be raised or lowered for convenient accessibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cabinets are conventionally used for storing everyday items that can be easily accessed. For instance, a kitchen cabinet may store shelves full of bottles and cans. Kitchen cabinets may also be used to store dinnerware and cutlery, as well as various kitchen tools such as measuring cups, vegetable peelers, mixers, blenders, etc. In other parts of the home, cabinets may have other uses. For instance, a cabinet in the garage may be filled with various tools, gadgets, and fasteners.
Except for bathroom cabinets that are generally placed under sinks, most cabinets are mounted to a wall at a height suitable for the majority of people when standing. However, there are many people, such as the elderly, disabled, and persons of a shorter stature, who are either unable to reach a wall-mounted cabinet or find it difficult. Furthermore, even for those among us who are quite able to reach the cabinet, conventional positioning of the cabinet may sometimes cause strain.
SUMMARY
A pull-down cabinet is retrofitted into a conventional kitchen cabinet housing. The pull-down cabinet includes a base affixed to a wall and a cabinet body that fits into the base. On each side of the pull-down cabinet, a first arm is pivotally connected on a first distal end to the base and on a second distal end to the cabinet body, and a second arm is pivotally connected on a first distal end of the base and on a second distal end to the cabinet body. In operation, as the cabinet body is pulled away from the base, on respective sides of the pull-down cabinet the first arm and the second arm extend outwardly to permit the cabinet body to be lifted outwardly and then downwardly. Preferably, the cabinet body is lifted slightly upwardly before being lifted outwardly and then downwardly
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an example pull-down cabinet retrofitted into a conventional kitchen cabinet housing, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example cabinet body and base useable in conjunction with the example pull-down cabinet.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example side view of the pull-down cabinet exposing the pull-down mechanism of the example pull-down cabinet, according to an embodiment.
FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the example pull-down mechanism at various stages as the cabinet is pulled down from the initial stowed position until the final resting position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates an example pull-down cabinet 100 retrofitted into a conventional kitchen cabinet housing 160, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure. Installation of the pull-down cabinet 100 involves removing the shelving of the existing kitchen cabinet and installing the pull-down cabinet 100 within the existing kitchen cabinet housing 160 or the like. In an embodiment, the shelves 166 can be slid into place, repositioned, or removed, as desired. Furthermore, the existing cabinet doors 165 can be kept so that the outward appearance does not change.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example cabinet body 110 and cabinet base 150, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure. As will be described in greater detail, the base 150 is affixed to the wall 118 or other such structure. Fitted into the base 150 is the cabinet body 110 which can be pulled away from the base 150 in a controlled manner. More particularly, the cabinet body 110 can be pulled outwardly and then downwardly using a novel mechanism involving a pair of arms on each side of the pull-down cabinet. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism allows the cabinet body 110 to rise slightly at first to clear lower cabinet framing or the like.
The cabinet body 110 includes a cabinet body backside 112 that will be flush with the wall 118 when the pull-down cabinet 100 is in its initial position. From the left- and right-hand sides, respectively, extend cabinet body lateral sides 111. Along the lateral sides 111 can be shelving support holes 115 useable to insert shelving supports, such as pegs or screws, to support shelving 166. The cabinet body 110 can further include flanges 114 (as illustrated) or flooring covering the entire bottom side. Additionally, the cabinet body 110 can include bearing mounting holes 116 useable to mount various bearings for the pair of arms that support the cabinet body 110 as it is pulled away from the cabinet base 150. As mentioned, the cabinet base 150 can be affixed to the wall 118 to anchor the cabinet body 110. The cabinet base 150 includes a cabinet base backside 152 and a pair of base lateral sides 151 extending therefrom. On the base backside 152, a plurality of base mounting holes 155 can be provided to permit the cabinet base 150 to be fastened to the wall using suitable screws or bolts, for example. On the base lateral sides 151, various bearing mounting holes 116 are provided. Between the base lateral sides 151, a base open area 153 is formed that is sized to allow the cabinet body 110 to be inserted therein. As shown, the base lateral sides 151 each include a base lateral side top edge 151t. The base lateral side top edge 151t includes a base lateral side top edge first portion 151A, a base lateral side top edge downward concave portion 151B, and a base lateral side top edge second portion 151C. As will be more readily understood, the top edge downward concave portion 151B is designed to accommodate bearing mounts on the cabinet body 110 that would otherwise be in the way. The cabinet base 150 includes a base bottom side that includes base flanges 154 (as illustrated) though the base bottom side could be entirely covered. The cabinet body 110 and the cabinet base 150 can be fabricated from sheet metal using any known fabrication methods such as bending, cutting, and punching. Alternatively, the cabinet body 110 and cabinet base 150 can be formed using other materials and/or another suitable fabrication methods.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example side view of the pull-down cabinet 100 exposing a pull-down mechanism 120 on a lateral side 111, according to an embodiment. It is to be understood that another such identical pull-down mechanism 120 would be disposed on the opposite lateral side 111. However, for the sake of brevity, discussion of the pull-down mechanism 120 will be limited to one side with this understanding. As shown, the cabinet body 110 is sitting in the cabinet base 150. In this position, the pull-down cabinet 100 is stowed in the cabinet housing 160. As illustrated, an upper arm 122 is pivotally connected using bearing 132 at a first distal end 123 of the upper arm 122 to the cabinet body 110 and pivotally connected using bearing 133 at a second distal end 124 of the upper arm 122 to the cabinet base 150; and a lower arm 125 is pivotally connected using bearing 134 at a first distal end 126 of the lower arm 125 to the cabinet body 110 and pivotally connected using bearing 135 at a second distal end 127 of the lower arm 125 to the cabinet base 150. The upper arm 122 is linear but includes an upper arm sloped portion 122B between an upper arm first portion 122A and an upper arm second portion 122C such that the upper arm first portion 122A is elevated relative to the upper arm second portion 122C. Similarly, the lower arm 125 includes an upper arm sloped portion 125B between an upper arm first portion 125A and an upper arm second portion 125C such that the upper arm first portion 125A is elevated relative to the upper arm second portion 125C. This design allows the upper arm 122 and the lower arm 125 to operate freely without interference. Additionally, the pull-down mechanism 120 can include a support strut 140 connecting the upper arm 122 with the cabinet base 150 to facilitate a smooth pull down of the pull-down cabinet 100. The support strut 140 can be a gas strut, hydraulic strut, spring strut, or any other suitable strut.
FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the example pull-down cabinet 100 at various stages as the cabinet body 110 is pulled down from its initial stowed position until the fully pulled out position. In these FIGS. 4-8, the pull-down mechanism 120 is shown with the support strut 140 removed so as to more clearly illustrate the operation. However, it is to be understood that preferably the support strut 140 would be utilized.
FIG. 4 shows the pull-down cabinet 100 in its stowed position. In this initial position, the cabinet body 110 sits in the cabinet base 150, and the upper arm 122 and the lower arm 125 are disposed along the laterals sides.
FIG. 5 shows the cabinet body 110 at its highest position. In this position, the upper arm 122 is extended vertically to be parallel with the wall 118. The upper arm 122 constrains the cabinet body 110 from being pulled any higher. Notably, the cabinet body 110 is elevated slightly with respect to the cabinet base 150, which may be desirable so that the cabinet body 110 can clear any obstacles, such as cabinet framing.
FIG. 6 shows the cabinet body 110 entirely pulled away from the cabinet base 150. In general, the movement of the cabinet body 110 is constrained by the upper arm 122. The upper arm 122 moves along a circular arc wherein the longitudinal axis of bearing 133 is the center of the arc. After this position, the cabinet body 110 will be forced to move outwardly and downwardly.
FIG. 7 shows the pull-down cabinet 110 at an even greater distance from the wall. The lower arm 125 is almost fully extended. From this position, the cabinet body 110 will travel downwardly.
FIG. 8 shows the pull-down cabinet 110 at its final resting position. In this position, the upper arm 122 has travelled the entire length of the arc. The cabinet body 110 is supported by the upper arm 122 and the lower arm 125. The cabinet body 150 can rest on a level surface such as a counter top.
Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the invention is not limited to the details provided. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive.
Patent Application
20210059405
