Method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects

Abstract

A method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects includes a pulling handle and a base that support the movement of an upper-to-lower arm across a roller mechanism. This causes the upper-to-lower arm to rise. A lower-to-upper arm pivotally hinges to upper-to-lower arm and lower-to-upper arm slides in a groove of the base to exert a general upward motion of pans occurs.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/604,517, filed on Aug. 26, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure pertains generally to a storage and retrieval methods and systems for articles of manufacture, such as cooking utensils and the like, and, more specifically, to a method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects by changing their elevation.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Storage space in a household or commercial kitchen may be study in either inefficiency or efficiency. In other words, most kitchen fall somewhere between being a chaotic assortment of pots, pans, dishes, bowls, and other cooking and food preparation tools, or a skillfully organized and accessible array of the finest instruments of the culinary craft. Unfortunately, for most kitchens, providing the needed storage systems for cooking utensils, such as pots, pans, and the like, can be an expensive undertaking that often requires the installation of additional shelving, cabinets, and other fixed components.

One particularly troubling storage problem for a typical kitchen is in the area of storage and retrieval of pots and pans. Oftentimes, pots and pans storage is in a cabinet or drawer beneath a stove or kitchen appliance.

A problem with drawer or similar storage for pots, pans, and similar kitchen utensils is that utensil storage and retrieval requires stooping down to open the drawer or cabinet door. Then, the desired utensil often sits at the bottom of a stack of other pots or pans. Pulling the desired utensil from underneath the stack or removing one or more other utensils resting on the desired utensil, for some individuals, can be a straining and potentially dangerous maneuver. This is particularly true for the elderly or handicapped population. Since as many as 20% of a population has some sort of chronic physical handicap during their lifetime and a much larger percentage will suffer from a physical injury or other temporary handicap, a need exists to address the problem of cooking utensil storage and retrieval.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system that enhances the organizations of pot, pans, and similar utensils, without requiring significant remodeling and construction costs.

A need exists for a method and system for cooking utensil storage and retrieval that avoids the limitations of drawers and other cabinet configurations.

Moreover, a further need exists to address in other ways the challenges of handicapped individuals in storing and retrieving cooking utensils.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying FIGURES, in which like reference numerals indicate like features:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects according to the claimed subject matter;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects in a stowed position;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects in a raised position;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two positions of the lifting mechanism which forms part of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure pertains generally to a storage and retrieval methods and systems for articles of manufacture, such as cooking utensils and the like, and, more specifically, to a method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects by changing their elevation. Such method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects can include, in an embodiment of the invention, a pulling handle and a base that support the movement of an upper-to-lower arm across a roller mechanism. This causes the upper-to-lower arm to rise. A lower-to-upper arm pivotally hinges to upper-to-lower arm and lower-to-upper arm slides in a groove of the base to exert a general upward motion of pans occurs

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary method and system 10 for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects according to the present. Although a number of different cooking utensils may be stored and retrieved using the present invention, for the sake of simplicity the present embodiment is here referred to as pan storage/retrieval system 10. Pan storage/retrieval system 10 includes handle 12, upper-lower lifting arm 14, lower-upper lifting arm 16, and base 18. As will be seen, upper-lower lifting arm 14 and lower-upper lifting arm 16 form part of a shelf (shown below) for holding rows 20 and 22 of pans, for example.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects in a stowed position within cabinet 24.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects in a raised position. Upon pulling handle 12, base 18 pulls upper-to-lower arm 14 across roller 30. This causes upper-to-lower arm 14 to rise. Since lower-to-upper arm 16 is pivotally hinged 26 to upper-to-lower arm 26 and lower-to-upper arm 16 slides in groove 19 of base 18, a general upward motion of pans 20 and 22 occurs.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two positions of the lifting mechanism which forms part of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the resting position of shelf 34. In FIG. 5, after pulling handle 12, upper-to-lower arm 14 has rolled along roller 30 to rise. This has exerted an upward force causing lower-to-upper arm 16 to rise. The result of shelf 34 rising and presenting to the user the pans 20 and 22 occurs.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing embodiments of the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-described element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A storage and retrieval unit comprising:

(a) a base unit having a front edge, a back edge and first and second side edges, wherein the base unit is coupled to a surface in a recessed opening of a cabinet such that the base unit may be slid into the recessed opening for storage or extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening;

(b) a rack coupled to the base unit and having features for holding stored objects in fixed orientations within the rack; and

(c) a lift mechanism coupling the rack to the base unit such that the lift mechanism has mechanical advantage for placing the rack in a first position when the base unit is slid into the recessed opening and placing the rack in a second position when the base unit is extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening for accessing the stored objects.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a wire form unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a plastic mold unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism is a scissor lift with opposing pairs of pivoted scissor arms.

5. The unit of claim 4, wherein the mechanical advantage of the lift mechanism is realized with a lever with a fulcrum, an end of the lever rotatably coupled to one end of each scissor arm of each of the pairs of pivoted scissor arms.

6. A method for storing and retrieving objects from a recessed opening in a cabinet type structure comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a base unit to a bottom surface of the recessed opening such that the base unit may be slid into the recessed opening on guides that hold the base unit in an alignment with the recessed opening;

(b) placing objects on a rack as stored objects, wherein the rack holds the stored objects in fixed orientations within the rack; and

(c) coupling the rack to the base unit with a lift mechanism such that the lift mechanism has mechanical advantage for placing the rack in a first position when the base unit is slid into the recessed opening and placing the rack in a second position when the base unit is extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening for accessing the stored objects.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the rack comprises a wire form unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the rack comprises a plastic mold unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the lift mechanism is a scissor lift with two opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mechanical advantage of the lift mechanism is realized using a lever with a fulcrum, an end of the lever rotatably coupled to one end of a scissor arm of each of the opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.

11. A component for a storage and retrieval unit comprising:

(a) a rack operable for coupling to a base unit and having features for holding stored objects in fixed orientations within the rack; and

(b) a lift mechanism coupled to the rack and operable for coupling the rack to the base unit such that the lift mechanism has mechanical advantage for placing the rack in a first position when the base unit is slid into a recessed opening of the base unit for storage and placing the rack in a second position when the base unit is extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening for accessing the stored objects.

12. The component of claim 11, wherein the rack comprises a wire form unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.

13. The component of claim 11, wherein the rack comprises a plastic mold unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.

14. The component of claim 11, wherein the lift mechanism is a scissor lift with two opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.

15. The component of claim 14, wherein the mechanical advantage of the lift mechanism is realized using a lever with a fulcrum, an end of the lever rotatably coupled to one end of a scissor arm of each of the opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.