Motorized Upper and Lower Storage Shelves
A storage VBS with opposing side walls, a top, a bottom, a back with an open or openable front, houses moveable upper and lower adjustable shelving boxes. The shelving boxes are moveably motorized and controlled sequentially. An upper shelf is made accessible by driving an upper shelving box out of the VBS and then adjusting the shelf height for storage or retrieval of an item. The upper shelving box must be returned to the VBS prior to operating the lower shelving
The present disclosure is a divisional application that claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/370,547, filing date Feb. 10, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to motorized shelving, to move the shelving and items contained therein to different heights, to, for example, meet the special needs of the physically challenged, or those who are otherwise healthy and productive having limited reaching and kneeling abilities.
BACKGROUNDConventional storage cabinets, particularly of the kitchen wall mounted type, are not ergonomically convenient to certain groups of people; moreover, most top shelves are too high and out of reach for the average person. Consequently, people in wheel chairs, for example, otherwise capable of performing normal activities, may be unable to reach items stored in any of the cabinet shelves. Similarly, the ability to reach or to kneel can be difficult for some in the elderly populace, those with disabilities or physical ailments and for individuals of less than average height.
A number of storage cabinets have been created that allow access to shelves that are difficult to reach. Bond et al, (U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,605) discloses a cabinet which drives a basket or shelf forward and then lifts it upward using a motor driven linear actuator or pulleys rotated by drive cords of belts. Jobe, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,898) shows a cabinet assembly which moves reversibly along a track on roller guide bearings, down and out away from a wall, and which can be moved by a motorized hoist. Kingsborough et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,461) describes a storage device for cabinets having shelves carried by pairs of spaced, pivotally mounted arms. The arms are adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly, with the shelves maintaining a substantially horizontal attitude. A power unit extends and retracts a flexible cord to move the assembly. Several other U.S. patents have been found, most however, are based upon assemblies that can be unsafe. From the above-mentioned related art, it is apparent that there continues to be a need for reachable cabinet assemblies which are strong and safe.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. The disclosure connects to, for example, the special needs of the physically challenged, and to otherwise healthy and productive elders, or others, who may have difficulty reaching items on shelves. The design approach for reachable shelving in kitchen cabinets, or for tools in a garage, manufacturing parts for assembly, office file documents, or any business requiring storage, and other applications, is to provide a stable and adjustable cabinet that is designed for individuals who use wheelchairs or who cannot reach for items stored on shelves that are above or below their reaching comfort zone. This motorized wall cabinet adjustment system uses a powered push button system to lower and raise cabinet shelves.
A primary objective of the present disclosure is to provide reachable shelves for the physically challenged.
Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a product with motorized shelving units for storage and retrieval, as for example, items in a kitchen, tools in a garage, manufacturing parts for assembly, office file documents, or any business requiring storage.
Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an improved cabinet such that the upper shelving and lower shelving units are separately moved out of the cabinet and vertically adjusted by the by an individual for storage or retrieval of articles placed therein, or removed therefrom.
Still another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a safe operating sequence wherein both shelving units must in the cabinet before moving a particular shelving unit out of the cabinet.
A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanized and electrified cabinet using “off the shelf” mechanical and electrical components
Other features and advantages of the embodiment of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The above objects are achieved by: A vertical box system comprising: a vertical box structure; an upper motorized platform, and a lower motorized platform; the upper and lower motorized platforms horizontally and separately moves an upper shelving box or a lower shelving box from inside of the vertical box structure to an outside position; the upper and lower shelving boxes are positioned with an open front and at least one shelf; the upper motorized platform is activated only if the lower motorized platform is sensed as being inside the vertical box; the upper and lower shelving boxes are separately and vertically adjusted while in the outside position; the adjusted means is controlled with a push button.
An upper vertical box system comprising: a vertical box structure; a motorized platform; the motorized platforms horizontally moves a shelving box from inside of the upper vertical box structure to an outside position; the shelving box is positioned with an open front and at least one shelf; the shelving box is vertically adjusted while in the outside position; the adjusted means is controlled with a push button.
A lower vertical box system comprising: a vertical box structure; a motorized platform; the motorized platforms horizontally moves a shelving box from inside of the vertical box structure to an outside position; the shelving box is positioned with an open front and at least one shelf; the shelving box is vertically adjusted while in said outside position; the adjusted means is controlled with a push button.
This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the detailed description below. This disclosure relates to, for example, the special needs of the physically challenged, as well as to healthy and productive elders, or others, having reaching difficulties. The design approach for reachable shelving in kitchen cabinets is to provide a stable and adjustable walled shelving unit designed for individuals who use wheelchairs or cannot reach for items stored above or below their reaching comfort zone. This motorized shelving adjustment system uses a powered push button system in concert with sensors to safely lower and raise walled shelving units.
Related cabinet apparatuses with moving shelves fail to provide means to adjust from an upward unreachable position to a lower retrieval position and/or, from a lower unreachable position to an upward retrieval position.
Referring to drawings,
The illustrative views in
Vertical positioning for shelf access is controlled by a person wanting reachable access to an item stored or to be stored on a particular shelf.
Referring now to
After the upper motorized platform and upper shelving box are moved out of the VBS (refer also to
Referring now to
Referring also to
While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A lower vertical box system comprising:
- a vertical box structure;
- a motorized platform; said motorized platforms horizontally moves a shelving box from inside of said vertical box structure to an outside extended position; said shelving box is positioned with an open front and at least one shelf; said shelving box is vertically adjusted while in said outside position; said adjusted means is controlled with a push button
2. The lower box system of claim 1 wherein said shelving box is moveably attached to said motorized platform.
3. The lower box system of claim 1 wherein said shelving box is guided vertically with a pair of roller bearings sited in vertical channels mounted on opposing sides of said boxed shelving wherein said roller bearing is mounted to a first end of a pivot member and the other end is pivotally mounted to said motorized platform.
4. The lower box system of claim 1 wherein vertical movement of said shelving box is driven by a linear actuator located vertically at an outer back side of said shelving box wherein a stationary end of said linear actuator is mounted to said motorized platform, a moveable ram end of said linear actuator is connected to a horizontal bar member, said horizontal bar member having pulleys mounted at each end, said pulleys support coated stainless steel cables used as lifting connectors having one end connected to the top surface of said motorized platform, said other end connected to a bottom back side of said shelving box forming a cable pulley system for raising and lowering said shelving box, said cable pulley system raises and lowers said shelving box at a 2 to 1 ratio compared to stroke of said linear motor.
5. The lower box system of claim 1 wherein sequences for activating said motorized platform and shelving box are controlled with switch means comprises a first switch for selectively connecting said linear actuator to a source of electrical energy.
6. The lower box system of claim 1 wherein materials to build said lower box system can be from the group consisting of wood, metals or plastic depending on a type of application, whether for kitchen use, to store and retrieve food items, garage use, or manufacturing assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 19, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 19, 2013
Inventors: Gary Strauss (Poughquag, NY), Eliza Strauss (Poughquag, NY)
Application Number: 13/866,237
International Classification: A47B 51/00 (20060101);