US2429523A - Cabinet having inner shelving unit movable downwardly therefrom and operating means therefor - Google Patents

Description

1947- F. P. MURPHY 2,429,523

- CABINET HAVING INNER SHELVING UNIT MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 26, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. F/m/v/r I? MURPHY.

fl TTORNEY.

21, 194.7. F. P. MURPHY 2,429,523

CABINET HAVING INNER SHELVING UNIT MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM A ND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 26, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 2 E] 2 i 5 A a I l v I 'I ll/ INVENTOR.

U FRANK P. MURPH). W25 h gy 37 Oct. 21, 1947 F, p, MURPHY 2,429,523

CABINET HAVING INNER SHELVING UNIT MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR.

FRANK P MURPHY.

HTTOR/VEY.

Patente d Oct. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CABINET HAVING INNER SHELVING UNIT MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR 11 Claims.

My present invention relates to cabinets and more particularly to cabinets which have a plurality of shelves therein and which are usually installed in a high position wherein the upper shelves cannot be easily reached.

The primary object of my invention is to provide such a cabinet in which the shelves may be lowered to a position wherein the upper shelves can be easily reached, and then raised to their normal position,

A still further object of my invention is to provide, for such cabinets, a mechanism to lower and raise the shelves in the cabinet and which is preferably operated by pressure and controlled by simple push button means.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view in section on line l--l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a front view, in central vertical section, of a, cabinet embodying the present invention, with the inner unit shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view in vertical section on line 44 of Fig. 2 showing the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view in central vertical section of the check valve.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing a plurality of cabinets operated by a modified form of my invention; one of said cabinets being shown partly in section.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view with a part of the mechanism used therein.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating the latch mechanism embodied in my invention.

Fig. 9 is a view in central vertical section showing the combined valve and switch mechanism.

Fi 10 is a view in central vertical section of the by-pass valve shown in Fig. 7 and with the latch member connected thereto.

Fig. 11 is a front view partly broken away and illustrating a further modified form of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the mechanism used in the modified form in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view in central vertical section showing the control valves and mechanism used in said modified form of the invention.

Fig. 14 is an elevational front view, showing the inner unit in lowered position.

As illustrated in the drawings, a cabinet comprising this invention may include an outer casing 5 having side walls 6-6, a rear wall 1, front wall portions 88 and doors 9-4! mounted thereon by means of hinges |0l ll.

The interior of said outer cabinet is provided with guide bars ll between which is slidably mounted an inner unit l2 containing a plurality of shelves I3, a top l4, and a bottom l5 between side wall members IBI6, and a back Wall l2a. The outer casing 5 is also provided with an opening IT in the bottom I8 thereof through which the inner unit I2 is raised or lowered between the guides I I.

Stop bars |9l9 are provided at each side of the inner unit I2, and near the bottom thereof, to locate the inner unit within the outer casing 5 and also to seal the opening I! when the inner unit is in its normal position.

In the embodiment of my invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the operating mechanism may comprise hydraulic means which include a pump member 2| that is mounted at one side of the cabinet, between the outer casing 6 and the inner unit l2, and upon the floor [8 of the outer casing. The said pump has a plunger 22 which is connected to a bracket 23 that is secured to the side of the inner member.

An oil pump 24 is connected by an oil pipe 25, through a check valve 25a, to the bottom of the pump member 2l as at 26. Oil is supplied to the pump 24 from an oil reservoir 21 which is conngcted to the said pump by means of an oil pipe 2 The said pump 24 is operated by means of an electric motor 29, through a chain and pulley connection 30, and the operation of said motor is controlled by means of an electric switch, indicated at 3! and which is preferably controlled by means of a push button 32. The said switch is connected in series with said motor in an electric circuit including a source of electric energy 33, a conductor 34 leading directly to the motor and another conductor 35 leading through the switch 3! to said motor.

A release valve 36 is provided in the oil pipe 25 and is connected to the reservoir 21 by means of an oil pipe 31. The said release valve is retained in seated position by a spring 36-a and controlled by means of a push button 38 which is provided for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

In order to prevent cramping action between the inner unit 2| and the guides H, during the movement of said inner unit, I provide an equaliz- 3 ing mechanism which may consist of a cable 39 that is attached at one side of the inner member E? by means of a bracket 40 and extended around a pulley H secured to the side of the outer casing, around the pulleys E2 and 43 secured to the top of said outer casing, and is connected to another bracket/l4 at the opposite side of the inner unit by means of an adjustable screw eye 45. The said screw eye is adjustable in the bracket M by means of a nut 36 to apply proper tension to the cable 39 and thereby balance the inner unit if so that it will slide easily between the guides When it is desired to raise the inner member E2 to the position illustrated in the drawings, the button 3'2 is pressed inwardly. This will close the electric circuit to the motor 29 and cause the operation thereof to drive the pump 24. The saidpump 25. will then pump oil from the reservoir 2'? through the check valve 25a and the oil pipe 25, into the lower end of the pump member 2|. The pressure provided by said oil will cause a piston within the pump member 2| to raise the plunger 22 and therewith raise the inner unit |2 with the shelves |3 therein to the position illustrated in the drawings. During the said operation, the end of the cable 39, Which is secured to the bracket M, will move upwardly with the member I2 and apply a lifting action to the opposite end of the cable whichis secured to the bracket 4%. This will cause the opposite side of the unit i2 to be also pulled upwardly with a pull that is equal to the lifting action applied to the plunger 22 until the said unit 12 has reached its uppermost position.

When it is desired to lower the inner unit l2 so that the shelves l3 may be, easily reached from the exterior of the cabinet, the button 38 is pressed inwardly. This will cause the release valve 36 to open and permit the. oil, which is under pressure in the pump 2|, to be released and flow back through the pipe 31 into the reservoir 2?; thereby permitting the piston in the pump 2| and theplungerfiZZ to move downwardly into said cylinder and thereby lower the inner unit through the opening When it is desired to again raise the inner unit to its uppermost position, the button 32 is again pressed and the operation above described, for raising the inner unit, will be repeated.

From the .above description it will be under stood that I have provided a novel cabinet including a mechanism by means of which the shelves of the cabinet may be raised or lowered by simply pressing a button at theexterior of the cabinet; thereby permitting the upper shelves to be broughtwithin reach of a person standing on the floor. It will be also understood that the appearance of the outside of the cabinet will be the same as any ordinary kitchen cabinet and that the doors Sl will operate in the same manner as in ordinary cabinets. Further, it will be noted that the uppermost portion of the inner member i2 may extend above the top of the doors since the top shelf will be entirely exposed through the doors, when it is lowered, and thereby rendered fully accessible.

In the modified form of my invention, as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, the pumping unit, consisting of the motor 29, the pump 24 and the reservoir 2?, may be used as a central unit for operating each of a plurality of cabinets. In thisapplication ofthe invention, each cabinet may include only the pump member 2|, the control valves, and an electric switch. The said central pumping unit may be located at any convenient position and connected to each of said cabinets by a series of pipes and an electric circuit as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

In this modified form, a separate valve 50, for each cabinet, is connected to the pipe 25 and rendered operatable with the electric switch 3 as will be hereinafter described.

If desired, a latch 5|, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket Eli-a, secured to a front wall portion may be employed for retaining the inner unit in its upper position; the inner unit l2 carrying a projection 52 which engages a detent 53 near the top of the latch 5| when the said inner unit is in its upper position. The said latch is connected to the push button 38, on the release valve 36 to be operated thereby as hereinafter described.

A switch-holding latch 55, is operated by a bar 56 which is slidably connected to a bracket 56-a carried by the inner unit, in the manner also to be hereinafter described, and the said latch may be provided for holding the switch button and automatically releasing it when the inner unit has reached its upper position.

In the operation of the modified form illustrated in Figs. 6 to l0,'when it is desired to lower the inner unit of any one of the plurality of cabinets connected to a central pumping unit, the button 33 is pressed inwardly. This will rock the latch 5| to release the detent 52 and permit lowering of the inner unit l2. At the same time, the release valve 35 will be opened to release the oil in the pump 2|, permitting said oil to flow back through the pipe 31', the pump 24 and the pipe 28', into the reservoir 21 and thereby causing the inner unit to be lowered as above described.

When it is desired to again raise the inner unit, the button 32 is pressed inwardly. This will bring a suitable switch closing member, as at 51, against contacts 58; thus closing the electric switch 3|, and the circuit to the motor 29, and thereby starting the operation of said motor for pumping oil from the reservoir 2? into the pump 2|. At the same time that the said push button 32 is operated, the valve 59 will be'opened, by means of the bar til connecting said valve with the push button 32, and permit the oil to pass through said valve into the pump 2| and thereby raise the inner unit.

moved back to its normal position, by means of the spring 62, wherein the valve is again closed and the switch 3| is open.

It will be understood th'at withthe above described mechanism, it will not be necessary to hold the push button 32 inwardly while the inner unit is being raised, since the latch will hold the said button until the inner unit has reached its upper position and then automatically disengage it to permit the valve to close and the switch 3| to open. Therefore, it is only necessary to press the button inwardly and the rest of the raising operation will be automatically performed. The lowering operation, however,- is controlled by continuing pressure on the button 33 until the inner unit has been lowered to the position desired.

As illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, my invention may also be embodied in a mechanism wherein the raising and lowering of the inner unit is performed by compressed air instead of by hydraulic means as above described. In this latter form, a central unit may be provided which consists of a motor 15, a compressor 16, and a pressure tank Tl in which the air is maintained at a desired pressure by means of an automatic pressure operated control switch 18 that is in series with the motor in an electric circuit I9.

The said modified form includes, for each cabinet, an air pump 30, a valve 8| controlled by the push button 32, and an air release valve 82 controlled by the push button 38.

The operation of said modified form is as follows.

When it is desired to lower the inner unit, the push button 38 is pressed inwardly. This will release the detent 53 from the bracket 52 and at the same time open the release valve 82. As the inner unit l2 moves downwardly, the piston connected to the plunger 22 will compress air in the cylinder 80 and retard the downward movement of the inner unit according to th rate at which the said air is permitted to pass through the valve-82. Thus, the said cylinder 80 will act as a cushion for the downward movement of the inner unit.

When it is desired to again raise the inner unit to its upper position, the push button 32 is pressed inwardly. This will open the valve BI and cause air under pressure to enter the cylinder 80 and thereby raise the plunger 22 and the inner unit.

When the inner unit is in its lowered position,

the latch 55a will engage and retain the push button 32 inwardly and thus hold the valve 8| in its open position until the inner unit reaches its upper position and the bracket 56--a causes the latch 55a to disengage the push button 32. This permits the valve Bl to close after the inner unit has reached its uppermost position and the bracket 52 is again in engagement with the detent 53 for supporting the inner unit in the upper position.

I claim:

1. A cabinet of the character described including an outer casing, an inner unit, means for raising said inner unit relatively to said casing; said means including a pressure operated mechanism comprising an electric motor for operating said mechanism, a valve for controlling the pressure, an electric switch for controlling said motor, single manually operable means for operating said valve and switch, and means for releasing said pressure to permit lowering of said inner unit.

2. A cabinet of the character described including an outer casing, an inner unit vertically slidable relatively to said casing, pressure operated means for raising said inner unit; said pressure operated means including a pressure operated mechanism, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said mechanism, a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said mechanism for raising said inner unit, a latch for retaining said valve in open position during the upward movement of said inner unit, means for operating said latch to permit closing of said valve upon the inner unit reaching its upper position, and a release valve for releasing pressure from said mechanism to permit lowering of said innerunit by gravity.

3. A cabinet of the character described including an outer casing, an inner unit having a plurality of shelves and vertically slidable relatively to the said casing, pressure operated means for raising said inner unit and pressure releasing 6 means for permitting said inner unit to be lowered by gravity; said first means including a cylinder having a piston therein operatable by pressure within said cylinder, a valve for admitting fluid under pressure into said cylinder to cause operation of said piston for raising said inner unit, manually operatable means for operating said valve, and means for retaining said valve in open position until said inner unit has reached its upper position and then automatically operating to release the retaining means.

4. A cabinet of the character described comprising an outer casing, an inner unit vertically slidable relatively to said casing, and pressure operated means for raising said inner unit; said means including a cylinder having a piston therein, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to operate said piston and raise said inner unit, latch means for retaining said inner unit in its raised position, a release valve for releasing pressure from said cylinder, and single push button means for operating said latch means and valve to permit lowering of said inner unit.

5. A cabinet of the character described including a casing having an inner unit vertically slidable relatively thereto, pressure operated mechanism for raising said inner unit; said mechanism including means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, a valve for controlling said pressure and operatable to cause raising of said inner unit, a valve for releasing said pressure to permit lowering of said unit by gravity, a latch for retaining said inner unit in its raised position, and single manually 'operatable means for operating said latch, to permit lowering of said inner unit, and said release valve to allow the downward movement of said unit.

6. In a cabinet of the character described, an outer casing, an inner unit movable in said casing, mechanism for raising said inner unit, manually operatable controlling means for initiating the operation of said mechanism, means for holding said manually operable controlling means in operative condition to permit the operation of said mechanism until said unit has reached a raised position, and means for automatically releasing said manually operable controlling means when said unit has reached the raised position.

7. A cabinet of the character described including an outer casing, an inner unit, means for raising said inner unit relatively to said casing, said means including a pressure operated mechanism comprising an electric motor for operating said mechanism, a valve for controlling the pressure, an electric switch for controlling the operation of said motor, means operated by a. single push button for operating said valve to permit said pressure to raise said inner unit and said switch to close an electric circuit to said motor, and means for releasing said pressure to permit lowering of said inner unit.

8. A cabinet of the character describe-d including an outer casing, an inner unit vertically slidable relatively to said casing, pressure operated means for raising said inner unit; said pressure operated means including a pressure operated mechanism, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said mechanism, a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said mechanism for raising said inner unit, a, member connected to said unit for retaining said valve in open position during the upward movement of said unit, means carried by said unit for operating said member to permit closing of said valve upon the inner valve for releasing pressure from. said ,mechanism to permit lowering of saidunit by gravity.

9. A cabinet 'of the character described including an outer casing, an inner unit having a plurality of shelves and vertically slidable relatively to the said casing, pressure operated mechanism for raising said inner unit, pressure releasing means for permitting said inner unit to be lowered by gravity, saidmechanism including a valve for admitting fluid under pressure into said mechanism to cause operation thereof for raisingsaid inner unit, and manually operable means for operating said valve for initiating the raising operation of said mechanism, an'dmeans actuated by said inner unit upon reaching its raised position to cause operation of said valve to terminate the raising operation of said mechanism,

10'. A cabinet of the character described comprising a casing, an inner unit vertically slidable relatively to said casing, pressure operated means for raising said inner unit, latch means for retaining said inner unit in its raised position, said pressure operated means comprising a release valve for releasing pressure from said raising means for permitting lowering of said inner unit, and single push button means for operating said latch means and valve to cause lowering of said inner unit.

11. In a cabinet of the character described, an outer casing, an inner unit movable in said casing, mechanism for raising said inner unit, manually operatable controlling means for initiating the 8 operation of said mechanism, means for holding said manually operable controlling means in operative condition to permit the operation of said mechanism until said unit has reached a raised position, andmeans actuated by the movement of said inner unit as it reaches its raised position for releasing said manually operable controlling means and terminating the operation of said mechanism.

FRANK P. MURPHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 912,921 Ucker Feb. 26, 1909 929,457 Macon July 27, 1909 1,583,971 Hammond May 11, 1926 398,188 Rittinger Feb. 19, 1889 1,425,259 Howe Aug. 8, 1922 642,894 Bunker Feb. 6, 1900 2,222,685 Raymond Nov. 26, 1940 1,055,567 Stiver Mar, 11, 1913 730,046 Price June 2, 1903 1,952,744 Chapman Mar. 27, 1934 399,752 Horrocks Mar, 19, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 433,422 France Oct. 26, 1911

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