US20240099463A1

US20240099463A1 - Remotely controlled chest of drawers and the like

Info

Publication number: US20240099463A1
Application number: US17/954,443
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcelo de Marco de Marchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-09-28
Filing date: 2022-09-28
Publication date: 2024-03-28

Abstract

A generally square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers or a wall shelf having a structural main body and a set of electro-electronic mechanisms to safely keep hazardous and precious things and objects away from reach of children or unauthorized third parties. The main body and drawers are manufactured with MDF or MDP panels or similar material having a thickness of 15 mm to 18 mm.The opening operation of the drawers is executed either by a hand-operated remote control or by an application software from a computer or mobile phone.Opening operation is also made by a voice commandThe mechanisms are built-in on the main body and include voice command, lighting, and sensors to manage and advise, by an alarm, lack of power in public energy network, humidity data, movement sensor and change of temperature by sending information to owner's mobile phone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technical field of this invention is related to furniture either used at home or at office with the purpose to keep things and objects in general, like, jewels, gold bars, cash, medicines, small-sized guns like pistols and revolvers and other suitable things, to maintain said things and objects safely and away from the reach of children and unauthorized persons.
Said furniture are alternatively a chest of drawers, a dresser, a cabinet, a wall shelf, or any other similar furniture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Several types and designs of chest of drawers, dressers, cabinets, and the like are available in the market. Mostly what differs one from another is the ornamental shape claimed in design patents or some change in the mechanisms that make drawers slide on through tracks and in locking means in utility patents.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,747 an illuminating device is disclosed for use with a drawer. Such a device utilizes a housing having a pair of components. A lamp is used to provide illumination in the lamp's compartment. Another compartment holds a battery and a closed switch. A bar pivotably secured to the housing prevents the drawers from being opened and from causing the lamp to energize, thus avoiding danger to small children. But no other utilities are available except lighting.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,347 a locking system used in a cabinet drawer is disclosed. The system permits a user to lock the cabinet drawers by placing it in a locked position after closing the drawer or placing the system in a locked position and then closing the drawers. Other auxiliary mechanisms, like a shaft and a lever, are provided in helping the locking operation. However, no device other than mechanical system is employed.

SUMMARY

This present invention is directed to furniture; particularly, it is directed to furniture used either at home or at office. And more particularly, it is related to chest of drawers, dressers, wall shelves, cabinets and the like.
Chest of drawers is generally made with a set of two, three, four drawers that have locking mechanisms and moving means wherein said drawers are engaged to be displaced in operations to open and close drawers.
The invention now claimed combines a traditional chest of drawers with a novel practical chest of drawers in the meaning that three of its drawers are open manually, by pulling out knobs, while four of its drawers are open only by safety mechanisms. The invention is not solely directed to operations of opening said drawers but combines other utilities that make the invention now claimed practical and useful as described throughout the patent specification.
A first embodiment of this present invention refers to an improved chest of drawers; a second embodiment refers to a wall shelf having the same improvements added to said chest of drawers.
In the hidden and secret drawers of this claimed invention the usual manual operation of opening drawers is replaced with an automatic opening operation at distance, including addition of several utilities like an application software, a voice command and other items as fully described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the chest of drawers showing centrally located drawers, right and left side opposite drawers, sidewalls, upper wall and lower wall and knobs.

FIG. 2 is an explosion front view of said chest of drawers of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of right and left side opposite drawers.

FIG. 4 is top general view of said chest of drawers showing arrangement of built-in electrical and electronic devices.

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of said chest of drawers having a user pressing a key in hand control.

FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of said chest of drawers having a user pressing a key in hand control.

FIG. 5C is a front perspective view of said chest of drawers having a user pressing a command in a mobile phone.

FIG. 5D is a front perspective view of said chest of drawers having a user pressing a command in a mobile phone.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of said wall shelf showing said upper and lower portions of said wall shelf and left and right damper gas springs on opposite distal ends, as well locker and latches.

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6 showing said built-in control mechanisms.

FIG. 8 is a side view of said wall shelf showing door hinges on opposite distal ends of said wall shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The expressions “owner” and “user” are alternatively used throughout the patent application, namely, the patent specification, set of claims and abstract, having the same meaning for both words.
The objective of this invention is to provide safe furniture commonly used either at home or at office. Said furniture now claimed as invention are intended to be unique furniture to contain things and objects of owner's possession that he or she would like to safely keep away or hidden from children, in case of hazardous things, or from unauthorized individuals who are not allowed to handle such things or objects.
Said things or objects at home or at office are, for instance, jewels, gold bars, medicines, small-sized guns like pistols and revolvers, coins and cash, business papers or such any other items that the owner would like to keep away or unknown from the reach of children or third parties.
Furniture like chest of drawers, shelves, dressers, cabinets, and others are usually found in stores, magazines, big shopping centers and commercial shops dealing with furniture and the like.
Said furniture are generally square-shaped or rectangular-shaped provided with two, three or four drawers although not limited to such numbers. Drawers are provided with knobs fastened to a drawer's face by means of screws, bolts, or any other means so that one can grab a knob and displace the drawer frontally to open it free, thus having access to the contents inside.
Like the usual furniture found at stores, the claimed invention is also provided with three drawers 2 b 2 c and 2 d that have functional knobs 4 a 4 b and 4 c as those well-known in the prior art in which one must grab a hand and pull it out to open drawers. Said three drawers 2 b 2 c and 2 d having knobs, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 , are not provided with said locker mechanisms 5 and function in the same way as usual as those found in the market. These drawers 2 b 2 c and 2 d are manufactured with the same raw material as hereinafter mentioned and have the same finishing as those of security drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g having no knobs as also depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
The furniture in this instant invention is made with novelty and are described in the following embodiments.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the invention refers to a chest of drawers 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , generally square-shaped, although sometimes it might have a rectangular configuration; said chest of drawers 10 has five centrally located drawers, namely upper drawer 2 a, mid drawers 2 b 2 c and 2 d, lower drawer 2 e and two lateral drawers 2 f and 2 g located at the opposite sides of said chest of drawers 10.
The chest of drawers 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly a combination of a traditional chest of drawers, having drawers with knobs 4 a 4 b and 4 c, and of an innovative chest of drawers 10 having not drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g with knobs. This configuration of said novel chest of drawers 10 gives chest of drawers 10 an appearance of having just three drawers 2 b 2 c and 2 d since one who looks towards the front side of said chest of drawers 10 will not perceive the existence of four hidden drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g. These hidden drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g are secret drawers because they have no knobs, and they are meant to keep things away from reach.
In the other hand existing knobs 4 a 4 b and 4 c secured to mid drawers 2 b 2 c 2 d will give an observer an appearance of just seeing three drawers instead of seven drawers in said chest of drawers 10. This imparts novelty to the present invention.
The main body 1 of said chest of drawer 10 is manufactured with MDF (medium density fiberboard) or MDP (medium density particleboards) panels having a thickness of between 15 mm to 18 mm. The parts that make up said chest of drawers 10, namely the five centrally located drawers 2 a 2 b 2 c 2 d and 2 e, the two laterally located drawers 2 f and 2 g, the sidewalls 3 a 3 b, the upper wall 3 c and the bottom wall 3 d of said main body 1 are made with varied dimensions depending upon the role they play on the structure of said chest of drawers 10 either as base portion or side portion of each drawer 2 a 2 b 2 c 2 d 2 e 2 f and 2 g and of said main body 1.
As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the drawers 2 b 2 c and 2 d are provided with knobs 4 a 4 b 4 c, normally a metal finished or similar piece, secured to drawers' face wall by means of a screw or a bolt (not Illustrated). However, drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g cannot be open by grabbing a hand because they are not provided with knobs; these are the so-called hidden or secret drawers. This is due to a set of locker and control mechanisms 5 that is specifically developed and built-in for the invention now disclosed.
Said set of locker and control mechanisms 5, also referred to as system, are electrical and electronic devices that make part of the claimed invention, imparting novelty, safety, ease of use and utility to said invention.
The invention is intended to avoid access to the contents inside the hidden drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g by permanently keeping drawers locked up by way of said control mechanisms 5. This avoids, for instance, children having access to pistols and revolvers or even to ammunition, avoids access to hazardous substances like chemicals, also avoids access to cash or to any documents that must be kept away from reach.
The access to internal contents of drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g is only allowed by pressing down a key in the hand control 6 that prepares opening of the drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g. Soon after having pressed down a key in said hand control 6 said drawers will open automatically and light will illuminate the interior of said drawers.
The opening operation of drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g takes up to 2 seconds from pressing down said key in the hand control 6 in front of said chest of drawers 10. Then one touches said drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g and they become open and illuminated.
This opening mode of this claimed invention is operable within 10 meters away from said chest of drawers 10 using said hand control 6.
Additionally, said drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g might also be open at any distance by means of an application software specifically created and used in this claimed invention. This is far more practical and may be used through a mobile phone, a computer or any such tool when a hand control 6 is not available at once.
Locker and control mechanisms 5 are built-in electrical and electronic parts that are incorporated into the main body 1 of said chest of drawers 10. Their function and features are planned specifically to work with this claimed invention. Control mechanisms 5 are described as follows.
An AC110V 240V module (a motherboard) 5 h as shown in FIG. 4 , is specifically chosen and arranged to fit this invention and is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 to function as a distributor of the incoming information and power.
A DC3V-40V converter 5 g device, as shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 to convert the incoming electrical power.
A DC12V locker device 5 a, as shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 to lock said drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g.
A ZBX module device 5 i, as shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 to monitor and load the system.
A latch device 5 d, as shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into each security drawer (hidden drawer) 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g of said chest of drawers 10 to lock and unlock said drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g upon using said hand control 6.
A LED device DC12V 5 c, as also shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 to function as a light source.
A 12V/SAH portable battery 5 j, as also shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 to store electrical power used in the system.
An electric module 5 e, as also shown in FIG. 4 , is incorporated into the main body 1 of the chest of drawers 10 as a receiver.
A door switch 5 b, as shown in FIG. 4 , is used in the chest of drawers 10 to open hidden drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g at pressing a key in the hand control 6.
A DC12V transmitter device 5 f, as shown in FIG. 4 , is used in connection with said remote control 6 to open drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g.
The system, as a set of electrical and electronic parts as previously described, provides a series of convenient utilities to facilitate the use of the chest of drawers 10.
Such utilities may translate into four useful sensor devices that are incorporated into said chest of drawers 10.
A first sensor device is a temperature sensor to advise owner of a fall or increase in the temperature when it occurs and may cause any damage to the contents inside.
A second sensor device is a shortage of electric power sensor when power from public supply is interrupted.
In the other hand, a third sensor device will measure humidity and accordingly report the user in case of a fall or increase in humidity data.
Finally, a fourth sensor device will control movements of said chest of drawers 10 and accordingly will report to the owner any such movements that might occur in said chest of drawer 10.
Additional utilities available in this present invention is an automatic lighting system that will automatically illuminate said chest of drawers 10 at the opening of said drawers 2 a 2 e 2 f and 2 g and assist the owner to find a determined object or thing; yet a voice command will greatly assist in cases that the hand-operated control 6 is lost or hidden in an unknown place.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment the invention now claimed refers to a wall shelf 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 , having a rectangular configuration.
Said wall shelf 20 comprehends two portions, namely, the upper portion 20 a and the lower portion 20 b as shown in FIG. 6 . Said portions 20 a and 20 b are fastened to one another by means of two hinges 20 c, 20 d, as shown in FIG. 8 , fastened longitudinally in each distal end of said lower portion 20 b at the furthest end as frontally seeing the lower portion 20 b.
Said upper portion 20 a encloses said lower portion 20 b when said wall shelf 20 is in closed position. Thereafter upper portion 20 a is a main first body, working as lid, and lower portion 20 b is a main second body, working as bed in forming said wall shelf 20. Wall shelf 20 is secured to a wall by metal or steel supporting pieces (not shown), or similar types of bars, by means of screws (not shown).
At opposite distal ends of the wall shelf 20 a pair of damper gas springs 20 e and 20 f is fastened internally to both upper 20 a and lower 20 b portions, as shown in FIGS. 6 , to absorb upward motion of the lower portion 20 b when it is returning to closed position into upper portion 20 a, thus avoiding any accident, shock or break of parts.
A pair of solenoid locks 20 g and 20 h is provided also at both distal ends of said lower portion 20 b in the wall shelf 20, as shown in FIG. 6 , to assist in the locking operation; additionally, a pair of electronic lock 20 i and 20 j is provided at both distal ends of said upper portion 20 a also to assist in the locking operation as shown in FIG. 6 .
A cabinet light 20 k and a door light switch 201, as part of said system or said set of electro-electronic devices, are installed internally in the upper portion 20 a with the purpose to provide internal lighting to said wall shelf 20 as shown in FIG. 7 .
Said wall shelf 20 has the same functional principles and mechanisms 5 of the first embodiment as described.
As for opening operation said wall shelf 20 requires no touch after pressing down a key on said hand command 6 or on said software application. In this second embodiment the upper portion 20 a and lower portion 20 b will become automatically open by simply pressing down said key and will become illuminated as well. The opening operation is automatic.
The raw material employed to manufacture the parts of said wall shelf 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment, namely MDF or MDP panels having a thickness from 15 mm to 18 mm Depending upon the size of said wall shelf 20 a thicker raw MDF or MDP material may be employed to be adequate to the weight of objects or things inside.
Yet, said second embodiment 20 refers to an automatic wall shelf 20 having the same command given by a hand-operated control 6 in which a key thereof is pressed down by the owner to send operational command Thereafter said lower portion 20 b moves down and automatically turns open to allow access to the objects inside.
Likewise, the first embodiment, the hand-operated control 6 is activated from 10 meters away from the owner.
Second embodiment 20 also allows opening of the door 20 b (namely said lower portion 20 b) by means of a software application at any distance. This operation by means of a software application may be executed from any source like a mobile phone, a computer, or any other means able to have such software installed for use.
The invention and its particularities as detailed above is now disclosed.
It should be understood the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the patent specification since modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The principles of the invention can be applied to several furniture that, for those skilled in the art, will be understood as being part of this present invention.

Claims

1. A generally square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers used either at home or at office having a main body and a set of built-in electro-electronic mechanisms comprising:

A structural main body,

A hand-operated remote control,

A built-in DC12V receptor module,

A built-in DC3V-40V energy converter,

An AC110V-240V electronic module,

A DC12V locker device,

A DC12V transmitter device,

A 12V/5 AH battery,

A wireless automatic monitoring device,

A door switches,

A voice commands,

A pair of damper gas spring.

2. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, further comprising centrally located upper, mid, and lower horizontal drawers.

3. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, further comprising a right-hand vertical drawer and a left-hand vertical drawer located at opposite distal ends.

4. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein said right-hand and left-hand vertical drawers and said upper and lower drawers are drawers having no knobs for opening operation.

5. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein said chest of drawers is manufactured with MDF or MDP panels material.

6. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein the opening by a remote hand control is followed by a hand touch on face wall of the drawer within an interval of up to 2 seconds from pressing hand control key.

7. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein the opening of said right-hand and left-hand vertical drawers and of said upper and lower horizontal drawers is made by means of a hand-operated remote control in a distance within a range of up to 10 meters away from said chest of drawers.

8. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein the opening of said right-hand and left-hand vertical drawers and of said upper and lower horizontal drawers is further made by an application software at any distance away from said chest of drawers.

9. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein the opening of said right-hand and left-hand vertical drawers and of upper and lower horizontal drawers is further made by a voice command at up to 10 meters away from said chest of drawers.

10. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein an automatic lighting system is built-in to light up at the opening operation of the set of hidden drawers.

11. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein a system for maintaining supply of electrical energy for a period from 7 to 10 ten days is built-in upon shortage of supply from residential or commercial electrical power public network.

12. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein a system for maintaining supply of electrical energy comprehends a portable battery.

13. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein a sensor of movement device is built-in to send an alarm in an application software at users' mobile phone.

14. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein a sensor of temperature is built-in to send an alarm in an application software at the users' mobile phone.

15. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein a sensor of shortage of energy device at residential or commercial electrical energy public network is built-in to send an alarm in an application software at the users' mobile phone.

16. The square-shaped remotely controlled chest of drawers of claim 1, wherein a sensor of humidity is built-in to send an alarm in an application software at the users' mobile phone.

17. A generally rectangular shaped remotely controlled wall shelf, comprising:

A first structural main body as lid,

A second structural main body as bed,

A pair of damper gas spring,

A set of electro-electronic control device,

A hand-operated control,

Wherein said first main body engages said second main body by fitting second main body into first main body,

Wherein said first main body covers said second main body when said wall shelf is in closed position,

Wherein the opening operation is fully automatic and made by said electro-electronic control device.