TRANSLATIONAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A worktop assembly for use in a travel trailer including a first structural portion, a second structural portion and a plurality of bracket assemblies. The first structural portion has a first end and a second end and the second structural portion has a first end and a second end. The plurality of bracket assemblies include a first bracket assembly and a second bracket assembly. The first bracket assembly is connected to the first structural portion proximate to the first end and to the second structural portion proximate to the first end. The second bracket assembly is connected to the first structural portion proximate the second end and the to the second structural portion proximate to the second end. Each bracket assembly has a plurality of pivot points. The plurality of bracket assemblies allow the first structural portion to move in a translational movement from a position above the second structural portion to a position beside the second structural portion while the pivot points have at least three pivot points in non-alignment during the translational movement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bracket system of the present invention connected to a worktop assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of the worktop assembly of FIG. 1 adjacent to the lower portion;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the worktop assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing upper portion adjacent to the lower portion;

FIG. 4 illustrates the bracket assembly of FIGS. 1-3 as it transitions the upper portion of the cabinet onto the lower portion; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the bracket assembly utilized in FIGS. 1-4.

Claims

1. A worktop assembly for use in a travel trailer, comprising: a first structural portion having a first end and a second end;a second structural portion having a first end and a second end;a plurality of bracket assemblies including a first bracket assembly and a second bracket assembly, said first bracket assembly being connected to said first structural portion proximate said first end and to said second structural portion proximate said first end, said second bracket assembly being connected to said first structural portion proximate said second end and to said second structural portion proximate said second end, each bracket assembly having a plurality of pivot points, said plurality of bracket assemblies allowing said first structural portion to move in a translational movement from a position above said second structural portion to a position beside said second structural portion while at least three of said plurality of pivot points are not substantially aligned with each other during said translational movement.

2. The worktop assembly of claim 1, further comprising a torque member connecting said first bracket assembly and said second bracket assembly.

3. The worktop assembly of claim 2, wherein said torque member is a torque tube.

4. The worktop assembly of claim 1, wherein said first structural portion has a top and said second structural portion has a top, when said first structural portion is in said position beside said second structural portion said top of said first structural portion is at a lower level than said top of said second structural portion.

5. The worktop assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said bracket assemblies include a set of substantially parallel arms.

6. The worktop assembly of claim 1, wherein said first bracket assembly and said second bracket assembly are substantially mirror images of each other.

7. The worktop assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of pivot points is six pivot points.

8. A translational bracket assembly for a worktop assembly for use in a travel trailer, comprising: a plurality of bracket assemblies including a first bracket assembly and a second bracket assembly, said first bracket assembly being connectable to a first portion of the worktop assembly proximate a first end and to a second portion of the worktop assembly proximate a first end, said second bracket assembly being connectable to a second end of the first portion and to a second end of the second portion, each bracket assembly having a plurality of pivot points, said plurality of bracket assemblies being movable so as to preclude an alignment of at least three of said pivot points during any portion of a translational movement of the first portion relative to the second portion.

9. The translational bracket assembly of claim 8, further comprising a torque member connecting said first bracket assembly to said second bracket assembly.

10. The translational bracket assembly of claim 9, wherein said torque member is a torque tube.

11. The translational bracket assembly of claim 8, wherein the first portion has a top and the second portion has a top, the top of said first portion being at a lower level than the top of the second portion when said first bracket assembly and said second bracket assembly are moved to a predetermined position.

12. The translational bracket assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said bracket assemblies include a set of substantially parallel arms.

13. The translational bracket assembly of claim 8, wherein said first bracket assembly and said second bracket assembly are substantially mirror images of each other.

14. The translational bracket assembly of claim 8, wherein each bracket assembly includes a torque lever arm that is connected to said torque member.

15. A method of lowering a profile of a worktop, comprising the steps of: moving a first structural portion of the worktop from a position atop a second structural portion of the worktop to a position adjacent said second structural portion, said moving step being accomplished by the rotation of a plurality of bracket members of a bracket assembly about a plurality of pivot points having at least three pivot points which are not in alignment during said moving step.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said bracket assembly includes six pivot points.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising an other bracket assembly connected to said bracket assembly by way of a torque member, said other bracket assembly being attached to both said first structural portion and said second structural portion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said torque member is proximate a top of said second structural portion when said first structural portion is atop said second structural portion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said torque member is at a higher level than a top of said first structural portion when said first structural portion is adjacent to said second structural portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said torque member is proximate said top of said second structural portion when said first structural portion is adjacent to said second structural portion.