Patent Application
20170245636
The disclosure relates to storage devices and more particularly pertains to a new storage device that is vertically positionable.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a cabinet. A pair of tracks, which is parallel, is configured to mount to a vertical surface. A plurality of guides, which is complimentary to the tracks, is configured to couple to a back of the cabinet. A biaser is operationally coupled to the back of the cabinet. The biaser is configured to return the cabinet to a raised position from a lowered position. The tracks are mountable to the vertical surface and the guides are couplable to the back of the cabinet such that the tracks are positioned to receive the guides to couple the cabinet to the tracks. The biaser is configured to allow the user to position the cabinet in a lowered position, with the guides moving through the tracks. The biaser will return the cabinet to a raised position.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A horizontal stabilizer 22 is coupled to and extends between the tracks 14, such that the tracks 14 are fixedly parallel. The horizontal stabilizer 22 may comprise a track plate 24 that is substantially rectangular and coupled to the vertical surface. A recess 26 is positioned in a front surface 28 of the track plate 24. The recess 26 extends from a top 32 of the track plate 24 to a bottom 34 of the track plate 24, defining a pair of side supports 36. Each track 14 is coupled to a respective inside edge 38 of a respective side support 36. Each of a set of four plate mounting holes 30 is positioned proximate to a respective corner 40 of the track plate 24, such that the plate mounting holes 30 are configured to receive mounting hardware to couple the track plate 24 to the vertical surface.
The device 10 includes a guide panel 42 that is substantially rectangular and complimentary to the recess 26 of the track plate 24. Each of the plurality of guides 16 is coupled proximate to a respective opposing side 44 of the guide panel 42. The guide panel 42 is positionable in the recess 26 with each guide 16 positioned in a respective track 14, such that the guide panel 42 is slidable within the recess 26. Each of a set of four panel mounting holes 46 is positioned proximate to a respective corner 40 of the guide panel 42, such that the panel mounting holes 46 are configured to receive mounting hardware to couple the guide panel 42 to the back 18 of the cabinet 12. The plurality of guides 16 comprises four guides, with each guide 16 coupled proximate to a respective corner 40 of the guide panel 42. The plurality of guides 16 comprises wheels 62 oriented perpendicularly to the back 18 of the cabinet 12.
The biaser 20 comprises a pair of spools 48. Each spool 48 is positioned in and rotationally coupled to a respective side support 26 of the track plate 24. The spools 48 are positioned proximate to the top 32 of the track plate 24. Each of a pair of wires 50 is positionable around a respective spool 48. Each wire 50 has a first end 52 coupled to a respective spool 48. A second end 54 of each wire 50 extends through a respective orifice 56 in the respective side support 36 and is coupled to the back 18 of the cabinet 12 proximate to an upper edge 58 of the cabinet 12. Each of a pair of springs 60 is coupled to the respective spool 48, such that the springs 60 are deflected as the cabinet 12 is lowered. The springs 60 are compelled to assist in positioning the cabinet 12 to a raised position. Preferably, the springs 60 are torsional and coiled.
A pair of locks 64 is coupled to and positioned through the back 18 of the cabinet 12. Preferably, the locks 64 comprise locking pins 66 that are spring loaded. The locks 64 are positioned proximate to a bottom edge 68 of the cabinet 12. Each of a pair of receivers 70 is coupled to a respective side support 36. The receivers 70 are complimentary to the locks 64. Preferably, the receivers 70 comprise lock holes 72, with each lock hole 72 positioned in the respective side support 36 proximate to the bottom 34 of the side support 36.
In another embodiment of the invention, the biaser 20 comprises at least one motor 74. The motor 74 is operationally coupled to the spools 48. The motor 74 is positioned to rotate the spools 48 such that the wires 50 extends to lower the cabinet 12 and retracts to raise the cabinet 12. The device 10 also may include control unit 76 and a communicator 78. The control unit 76 is operationally coupled to the motor 74, such that the control unit 76 is configured to compel the motor 74 to rotate the spools 48 to raise or lower the cabinet 12. Preferably, the control unit 76 is wireless. The communicator 78 is operationally coupled to the motor 74. The communicator 78 is positioned to relay wireless commands from the control unit 76 to the motor 74 to raise or lower the cabinet 12.
In use, the tracks 14 are mountable to the vertical surface and the guides 16 are couplable to the back 18 of the cabinet 12, such that the tracks 14 are positioned to receive the guides 16 to couple the cabinet 12 to the tracks 14. The locking pins 66 are configured to be pulled by the user to disengage the locking pins 66 from the lock holes 72, such that the cabinet 12 is positionable from a raised to a lowered position. The biaser 20 is configured to allow the user to position the cabinet 12 in a lowered position with the guides 16 moving through the tracks 14. The biaser 20 will return the cabinet 12 to a raised position.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
