US3285682A

US3285682A - Kitchen cabinet structure

Info

Publication number: US3285682A
Application number: US381267A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R Nelson
Original assignee: KRANEL Mfg CO
Current assignee: KRANEL Mfg CO
Priority date: 1964-07-08
Filing date: 1964-07-08
Publication date: 1966-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1966 ,w. R. NELsoN KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1964 /475 /56 INVENTOR Wdczfzfo@ BY dum/1.a, una

W. R. NELSON KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE v Nov. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1964 Nov. 15, 1966 w. R. NELSON 3,235,682

KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8', 1964 INVENTOR.

Nov. 15, 1966 w. R. NELsoN 3,285,682

KITCHEN CABINET sauqmm; Filed July s, 1964 5 sheets-sheet 4 w. R. NELSON KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE Nov. l5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1964 United States Patent C) 3,285,682 I KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE William R. Nelson, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Kranel Mfg. Co., Elmhurst, Ill., a partnership Filed July 8, 1964, Ser. No. 381,267 17 Claims. (Cl. 312 223) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in kitchen cabinet structures.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a kitchen cabinet structure having a lower section provided with an upper surface disposed below .a window in a wall of the kitchen, an upper cabinet section having compartments movable in a vertical direction and disposed :in elevated position above the Window, and means for raising the compartments to position labove the window and ifor lowering the compartments to lopen accessible position in front to the window to aiIord access to said compartments.

Another object is to provide a |k-itchen cabinet structure as above set forth wherein there is power operating means for raising the compartments, latch means for holding the compartments in raised position, and means for releasing the latch means for lowering the compartments to accessible positions by the weight of the compartments. p

Another object is to provide a kitchen cabinet structure as above set Iforth wherein there are solenoids for the respective compartments, and switches on the upper cabinet section in `association with the respective compartments for energizing the power means and the solenoid [for the compartment associated with the selection switch.

Another object is 4to provide a kitchen cabinet structure wherein there is a drive wheel for each vertically movable compartment, :a motor which when energized rotates all of the drive wheels, 'a solenoid for each compartment, and means under control of the switches for energizing the solenoid tor the selected compartment to produce raising of the selected compartment by the drive wheel (for said compartment.

Another object is to provide :a kitchen cabinet structure wherein there is a first drive wheel ttor each vertically movable compartment, freely rotatably drive wheels, one for each of said rst drive wheels, a series of second drive wheels, one in driving cooperation with each of said iirst drive wheels, Ia solenoid dior each compartment, means under control of the switches ror energizing the solen-o-id for the selected compartment to move the selected second drive wheel into cooperation with the -freely rotatable wheel to rotate the selected freely rotatable wheel, and means actuated by the selected freely rotatable wheel :for raising the selected compartment.

Another object is to provide an opper cabinet section having a plurality lot vertcia-lly movable compartments in side by side relation .and switches at the bottom of said upper cabinet section with one switch aligned below each lof the vertically movable compartments for energiz-ing the power operating means and the solenoid for the selected compartment for raising the selected compartment into the rupper cabinet structure.

Another object is -to provide switch means comprising a irst contact member jand a second contact member normally disengaged Ifrom the rst contact member and a exible wall over the forwardly directed lower portion of the upper cabinet section and over the forward'portion of the bottom 4of the upper cabinet section adapted to be pressed along its forwardly directed portion or along its bottom portion to close the switch means for the purpose of raising the selected compartment into the upper cabinet structure.

Ano-ther object is to provide an upper cabinet section 3,285,682 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 ICC , having a lluorescent lighting arrangement over its fron-t portion and above the switch mean-s.

Another object -is to provide a .cabinet structure having lower storage lcompartments or drawers in the lower cabinet section and improved power operating means for moving the drawers 'from closed to open positions.

Another object is Ito provide a cabinet structure having lower drawers and improved means for moving the lowe-r drawers when in open position upwardly to accessible position so that the person does not have to bend or stoop unduly .to reach the contents.

Another object is to provide latch means tor holding the drawers in the lower cabinet section in closed position which latch means is released by slight inward movement of the drawers.

Further features and advantages and adaptations of the invention will be appa-rent from the lfollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the invention is limited only within the scope of the appended claims and not to the particular embodiment selected for illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a kitchen cabinet structure employing the features of the present invention in the rupper .and lower cabinet sections;

FIGUR-E 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken general-ly along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is ya fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken `generally along the line 4 4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view showing the power operating means or driving motor and the drive wheels for raising the compartments into the upper and lower cabinet sections;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken generally along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 5 and showing end views of the drive wheels for one o f the upper and lower compartments;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a circuit diagram showing the motor for raising the upper compartments, the solenoid for setting in operation the wheel for raising the selected compartment and the switch for energizing the motor and the selected solenoid;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 9 9 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE l0 is a rear view of the lower drawer of FIGURE 9 taken generally along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 with the lower drawer in its lowered position within the lower cabinet section.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description, in FIGURE l the kitchen wall 10 has a window 11. The cabinet structure has a lower section 12 provided with an upper work surface 13 disposed below the window 11. The cabinet structure also has an upper cabinet section 14 having compartments 15 movable vertically and normally disposed in the upper cabinet section 14 above the window 11. The lower section 12 has a sink 17 in the work surface 13.

The upper section 14 has a plurality of vertically movable compartments 15 disposed in side `by side relation. While the number of compartments 15 may vary, the illustrated embodiment of the invention has four compartments 15 as shown in FIGURE 2. Each compartment 15 has angular upright metallic corner members 16, a top wall 18, a bottom wall 20, and

shelves

22 and 24. The compartments 15 are guided in their vertical movements by movement of the angular metallic corner Ine-mbers 16 vertically along -angular shaped vertical tracks 26 8 mounted within the upper cabinet section 14 at the four corners of each of the compartments 15. I

As shown in FIGURE 5, power operating means 1n the form of an electric motor 28 when energized drives a shaft 30 through a whe-el or pulley 32 on the motor shaft, a wheel or pulley 34 on the shaft 30 and a belt 36 trained about the wheels or

pulleys

32 and 34. The shaft 30 has fixed thereon, as shown at 38 in FIGURE 7, four drive wheels 40, one for each of the compartments 15. All of the drive wheels 40 rotate with the shaft 30 when the 4motor 28 is energized. The shaft 30 is journaled in bearings 42. a

A second shaft 46 parallel with the shaft 30 is journaled for rotation in

bearings

48 and 50. The shaft 46 drives a shaft 46 through a wheel or pulley 52 on the shaft 46', a wheel or pulley 54 on the shaft 46 and a belt 56 trained about the Wheels or pulleys 52 and 54. The shaft 46 extends into a gear box 44 which acts to reduce the speed of downward movement of the compartments 15. This prevents Ibreakage of dishes or glasses in the compartments,` or other injury, or disturbance of the contents of the compartments. Drive wheels 58 are freely rotatable about the shaft 46 with one of the wheels 58 laterally aligned with each of the drive wheels 40. Each wheel 58 has a pulley portion 60 about which an elevating cable 62 is trained. There is a separate wheel 58, pulley portion 60 and elevating cable 62 for each compartment 15.

The elevating cable 62 for the left hand compartment shown in FIGURE 3 passes up along the end wall 64 of the cabinet structure and passes over

idler pulleys

66 and 68 attached to the `bottom of the top wall 70 of the cabinet structure and down under an idler pulley 72 attached to the top Wall 18 of the compartment 15 associated with this elevating cable. The compartment end of the cable 62 is attached to the bottom of the top wall 70 of the cabinet structure at 74.

The elevating cable 76 for the right hand compartment shown in FIGURE 3 similarly passes along the wall 64 and over a pulley similar to the pulley 66 and over a pulley 78 attached to the top wall 70v a'bove this compartment and down under an idler pulley 80 attached to the top wall 18 of the right hand compartment 15 as shown in FIGURE 3. The compartment end of the cable 76 `is attached to the top wall 70 of the cabinet structure at 82.

Separate cables

84 and 86 for the other two compartments are similarly arranged, as shown in FIGURE 2.

For the purpose of driving the selected drive wheel 58 from its associate-d drive wheel 40 each driven wheel 40 has a pair of arms 88 on opposite sides thereof. The arms 88 are free to turn on the shaft 30 and are pivotally connected at 90 to arms 92 on opposite sides of a second drive wheel 94. As shown in FIGURE 6, the upper ends of the arms 92- carry a pin 93 for the second drive wheel 94. The

drive wheels

40 and 58 may be formed of metal and the second drive wheel 94 is preferably formed of plastic or other material and constantly engages the drive wheel 40 for rotation thereby. The drive wheel 58 does not engage the drive wheel 40.

For the purpose of engaging the drive wheel 94 with the wheel 58 for rotating the wheel 58 from the wheel 40 through the wheel 94, each set of

wheels

40, 58 and 94 is provided with a solenoid 95. The solenoid 95 is mounted upon a bracket 96 carried by a base member 98 and has a stem 100 connected or cooperating at 102 with the adjacent ends of the two associated arms 88. When the solenoid 95 is energized its stem 100 moves upwardly and swings the

arms

88 and 92 to their dotted line positions as shown in FIGURE 6 to engage the drive wheel 94 with its associated wheel 58 to wind the associated cable 62 on the pulley portion 60 of the selected wheel 58 to raise the selected compartment 15. There are

separate wheels

40, 58 and 94; and also

separate arms

88 and 92 and a separate solenoid 95 for each compartment 15.

Associated with each wheel 58 is a clutch collar 104 fixed on the shaft 46 as shown at 106` in FIGURE 7. A clutch spring 108 is coiled about each collar 104 and about a collar 110 on the adjacent wheel 58. The springs 108 act to slip the wheels 58y to the respective clutch collars 104 when the associated wheel 58 is rof tated about the shaft 46 by the wheel 94.

For the purpose of energizing the motor 28 and the solenoid 95 for the selected compartment 15, the bottom of the upper cabinet section 14 has four switches, one `beneath each compartment 15 and thus associated there with. As shown in FIGURE 4, each of these switches comprises ya 'brass switch plate 112 secured t-o the wall 114 of the cabinet structure and a brass switch plate 116 having protuberances 118 normally spaced from the plate 112 by rubber yor other suitable resilient members 120 positioned between the plates 112 .and 116. The bottom of the s-witchplate 116 is angular and extends in along the Ibottom of the cabinet wall 114. The bottom of the switchplate 112 is also angular and extends along the bottom of .the wall 114 and has ea protuberance 122 normally spaced from ythe switchplate 116 by rubber lor other suitable resilient member 124.

The front and under surface of the switchplate 116 -is covered with a layer 126 of formica, Bakelite, ber glass, or other suitable material having resilience which will permit pressing the switchplate 116 into contact with the switchplate 112. When the operator presses ythe .forward or under surface of the layer 126, the switchplate 116 engages the switc'hplate 112 for the compartment 15 beneath which the switch and layer 126 are disposed. This closes the 24 volt circuit 128 which is connected to the 110 volt circuit 130 thro-ugh a transformer 132 yas shown in FIG- IURE 8. This closes .the circuit for a -solenoid 134 which closes a switch 136 and thus closes the 110 volt circuit 130 4through the motor 28 .and the solenoid 95 for the compartment above the switchpla-

tes

112 and 116 and the layer of material 126.

Assuming that the compartment 15 is in its lower posi- 4tion as shown to the right in FIGURE 3, pressing of the layer 126 associated with this compartment closes the switch for rthis compartment. This energizes the motor 28 and also the solenoid 95 for this compartment. As a result of energization of thesolenoid 95 for .the selected compartment, the idler wheel 94 moves into `driving engagement wit'h Ithe -pulley wheel 458 `for the selected compantment. The eleva-ting cable 62 for the selected -compartment is wound on its pulley `60 and the compartment 15 is raised from its lower position to its raised position through the elevating cable 62. When the compartment `15 reaches its raised or eleva-ted position within the up# per cabinet section 14, .as shown to the left in FIGURE 3, latch means 138 on oppio-site sides `of the upper end of the compartment 15'engages latch means 140 on the cabinet structure and holds the compartment in raised position as a compartment 15 reaches its upper position it actuates the switch 112-116 yfor that compartment. This energizes fthe 214 vol't solenoid 134 for the -compartment and the energization of the solenoid 134 deenergizes the solenoid 95 and shuts olf ythe motor 28.

The compartment 15 is lowered from its raised position as shown to `the left in FIGURE 3, by closing the switch for this compartment. This raises the compartment 15 from its raised position sufficiently to release the latch means 138 from the latch means 140 and to shut off the motor 28. With the latch means thus released yand the moto-r shut olf, .the compartment 15 moves downwardly by its own weight to yits lowered position as shown to the rig-ht in FIGURE 3. The gear box 44 reduces the speed of the downward movement of the compartment 15 so that dishes .or glasses in .the compartment will not be broken and so that there will 4be no other injury or disturbance of the contents of the compartment.

FIG-URE 5 shows a spacer 142 between the

shafts

30 and 46. This .figure also show-s a gang box 144 in which the transforme-r 162, lsolenoid 134 and switch 136 of FIG- URE 8 may be disposed.

The front of the upper Kcabinet section 14 has an enclosure within which are arranged 'a series of iluorescent 'lights 146. The fluorescent light enclosure has a top wall 148, end walls 150 and a bottom wall 152. The front of the uorescent light enclosure is provided with a glass or other transparent wall 154 hinged along its upper edge yat 156 to the forward end of the top wall 148. The .transparent wall 154 may be swung open about the hinges 1516 for access to the 'uo'rescent light-s 146, or example, for replacement thereof. The top wall 148, end walls 150 and bottom wall 152 may be formed of transparent material, if desired.

The lower section 12 of the cabinet structure has lower storage compartments or drawers which move outwardly from the lower section to :open position for access to the interiors of the drawers.

FIGURES 1 and 9 show three of the drawers, the lower drawer being the drawer 160, the drawer above the drawer 160 being the drawer 162, and the top drawer being the drawer 164. Each drawer has sides 166, a back wall 168, a bottom wall 170 and a front wall 172. Mounted on the cabinet structure 174 rearwardly of the back wall 168 of the drawer 164 is a latch 176 for holding the drawer 164 closed. A latch similar to the latch 176 is provided beneath the drawer 162 for holding the drawer 162 open. The latches 176 are released by pushing the drawers inwardly so that the drawers may be opened. Mounted on the cabinet structure 174 rearwardly of the top drawer 164 is a spring 178 which moves this drawer outwardly for opening when the latch 176 therefore is released.'

The cabinet structure carries a pulley or idler sheave 180 at the side of the top of the forward end of the drawer 162, and there is an idler sheave 182 mounted on the top of the back wall 168 of the drawer and an idler sheave 184 mounted on the bottom of the back wall 168. An actuating cable 186 is attached to the cabinet structure at the side of the drawer 162 at 188. This cable extends rearwardly and around the idler sheave 184, then upwardly around the sheave 182, then forwardly and around the idler sheave 180, and then rearwardly and around an idler sheave 190 on the cabinet structure 174, from whence it is lead to pulley portion 60 to be operated by motor 28 for operation of compartments 15. t

The front wall 172 of the drawer 162 has a switch similar to the switch shown in FIGURE 4. This switch comprises a Contact plate 193 and a switch plate 194 having protuberances 196 normally spaced from the plate 193 by rubber or other suitable resilient members 198. The front of the drawer 162 is covered by a layer 200 of formica, Bakelite, ber glass, or other suitable liexible material similar to the layer 126 described in connection with FIGURE 4. With the drawer 162 closed when the switchplate 194 is engaged with the contact plate 193 by manually pressing against the layer 200, the switch is closed and the motor sheave 190 moves the upper portion of the cable 186 inwardly thereby causing the cable to move the drawer outwardly to open position by its cooperation with the

sheaves

182 and 184 on the drawer. When the drawer 162 is closing the cable 186 moves in the opposite direction.

When the drawer 162 is open and released it is closed by springs, there being a coiled spring 202 attached to the front of the drawer 162 at 204 and attached at its opposite end at 206 to a tube 268 which telescopes within a tube 210. The opposite end of the tube 210 is secured to the cabinet structure 174 and a second spring 214 is attached at 216 to the tube 208 and at 217 to the cabinet structure 174. The springs 202 and 214 move the door 162 to closed position when released.

The bottom drawer 160 has pulleys or

sheaves

182 and 184 on its rear wall as previously described for the drawer 162. A pulley or sheave 180 (not shown) is carried by the cabinet structure at the side of the top of the forward end of the drawer as previously described for the drawer 162. An actuating cable similar to the actuating cable 186 previously described is trained about the pulleys and arranged as previously described for the drawer 162. This cable when actuated moves the drawer 160 outwardly to open position as previously described for the drawer 162.

The front wall 172 of the drawer 160 has a switch similar to the switch shown in FIGURE 4. This switch comprises a contact plate 220 and a switch plate 222 having protuberances 224 normally spaced from the plate 220 by rubber or other suitable resilient members 226. The front of the drawer 160 is covered by a layer 228 of formica, Bakelite, fiber glass or other suitable exible material similar to the layer 126 previously described. The front wall 172 of the drawer, the contact plate 220, switch plate 222 and layer 228 are of angular form as shown in FIGURE 9 so that the switch may be closed manually as previously described, or with the foot by engaging the foot with the bottom of the layer 228.

When the switch for the lower drawer is closed with the lower drawer in closed position the cable is operated to move the lower drawer outwardly to open position. When the lower drawer 160 is in its lower open position and released, this drawer is closed by springs, there being coiled springs 230 attached to the front of the drawer at 232 and attached at their opposite ends at 234 to a tube 236 which telescopes within tubes 238. The opposite ends of the tubes 238 instead of being secured to the cabinet structure as described for the drawer 162 are attached to brackets 240 having rollers 242 movable vertically on vertical posts 244. Second springs 246 are attached at 248 to the tubes 236 and at 250 to the opposite ends of the tubes 238, or to the brackets 240. The

springs

230 and 246 move the drawer 160 when in lowered position and released to closed position within the cabinet structure 12 as described for the drawer 162.

Elevating cables 252 are attached to the tubes 238 at 254 and extend upwardly around pulleys or idler sheaves 256 and then rearwardly around idler sheaves 258 on the cabinet structure. The idler sheaves 258 are driven by the motor 28 through the instrumentalities of

elements wheels

58 and 94, so that when the lower drawer is moved outwardly to open position the motor may be actuated to operate the cables 252 to move the drawer 160 upwardly along the vertical posts 244 to accessible position so that the person does not have to bend or stoop unduly to reach the interior of the lower drawer 160. A latch 260 operates similar to the latch 176 for the drawer 164 to hold the lower drawer 160 in raised position.

In closing the lower drawer 160 from the position shown in FIGURE 9 it is moved downwardly to position where the drawer may move inwardly into the cabinet structure 12. The

springs

230 and 246 then move the lower drawer into place in the cabinet structure beneath the drawer 162.

The bottom of the switch for each compartment, as shown in FIGURE 4, acts as a safety feature. If, for example, a persons arm is in a compartment 15 and the compartment is being raised, the upward movement of the compartment pushes the persons arm against the bottom or lower part of the

related switch

112, 116 and shuts off or stops the motor 28.

The switch 136 with the solenoid 134 is a spirng released toggle or pull switch similar to the usual switch with alternate on and off positions. The solenoid closes the switch to start the motor on one operation and the next operation opens the switch and shuts ofIr the motor.

The switch 136 shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 8 is a spring released toggle or pull switch similar to the usual ele-ctric light switch with alternate on and oit positions. The solenoid 134 makes the circuit through the switch 136 when the switch contacts 112-116 are closed. The next closing of the contacts 112-116 breaks the circuit through the switch 136 and shuts off the motor and the next closing of the contacts 112-116 makes the circuit and starts the motor 28.

The kitchen cabinet structure of the present application provides the objectives and advantages previously set forth. The upper compartments are normally disposed in the upper cabinet section and moved downwardly in front of the window for convenient access to these compartments. The upper compartments are moved upwardly by the motor 28 into the cabinet structure and the drive wheels for accomplishing this when the motor 28 and solenoid 95 are energized by the switch means related to the selected upper compartment provides an improved and highly advantageous operation. The latch means for holding the upper compartments in raised positions and which when released permits the respective upper compartments to move downwardly by their own weight is also highly advantageous. The mechanism for operating the lower compartments or

drawers

160, 162 and 164 is also highly advantageous.

The embodiments of the invention disclosed in the drawings and specication are for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the specication are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In combination, a kitchen having a wall provided with a window, a cabinet structure having a lower section with an upper surface and disposed below said window, said cabinet `structure having an upper section disposed above said window, said upper cabinet section having compartments movable in a vertical direction and normally disposed in elevated position above said window, means for lowering said compartments to accessible position in front of said window and for raising said compartments to position above said window, power operating means for raising said compartments, and latch means for holding the compartments in raised position, said latch means being released by slight upward movement of the compartment from their raised positions for lowering of said compartments by the weight thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the compartments when in raised position are in side by side relation in said upper cabinet section, power operating means for raising said compartments, solenoids for the respective compartments, which when energized produce raising of said compartments by said power operating means, and switch means on said upper cabinet section in association with the respective compartments for energizing said power operating means and the solenoid for the compartment associated with said switch means.

3. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section, a plurality of vertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation in said upper section and movable downwardly to position below said upper section for access to said compartments, a plurality of switches on said upper section with one switch associated with each compartment, a single motor for operation of all of said compartments and energized by said switches separate drive means between said single motor and the `respective compartments, and a solenoid for each compartment energized by the switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive means for the selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment.

4. A cabinet structure according to claim 3, wherein the upper section has switch means at the bottom of each compartment when in raised position for energizing the motor and the solenoid for the selected compartment.

S. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 3, wherein the separate drive means between the motor and the respective compartments comprises a rst shaft driven by said motor, rst drive wheels for the respective compartments xed to rotate with said rst shaft, a second shaft parallel with said rst shaft, second drive wheels, one for each compartment, on said second shaft, a plurality of third drive wheels, one in driving engagement with each of said rst drive wheels, and means operated by the energization of the solenoid for the selected cornpartment for moving the third drive wheel for the selected compartment into driving cooperation with the second drive wheel for the selected compartment.

6. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section, a plurality of vertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation in said upper section and movable downwardly to position below said upper section for :access to said compartments, a plurality of switches on said upper section with one switch associated with each compartment, a motor energized by said switches, separate drive means between said motor and the respective cornpartments, a solenoid for each compartment energized by the switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive means for the selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment, said separate drive means between the motor and the respective compartments comprising a first shaft driven by said motor, first drive wheels for the respective compartments xed to rotate with said first shaft, a second shaft parallel with said first shaft, second drive wheels, one for each compartment, on said second shaft, a plurality of third drive wheels, one in driving engagement with each of said first drive wheels, means operated by the energization of the solenoid for the selected compartment for moving the third drive wheel for the selected compartment into driving cooperation with the second drive wheel for the selected compartment, pulley portions associated with said second drive wheels and elevating cables, one for each compartment, cooperating with the respective pulley portions and operativtly related to the respective compartments for elevating the selected compartment when the motor and the solenoid for the selected compartment are energized.

7. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 6, wherein the elevating cables for the respective compartments pass over pulleys attached to the cabinet structure above the compartments, down around pulleys attached to the respective compartments and .are attached at their compartment ends to the cabinet structure.

8. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 6, wherein the elevating cables pass upwardly along an end wall of the cabinet structure and over pulleys attached to a top wall of the cabinet structure.

9. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 6, wherein there are clutch collars xed on said second shaft for rotation therewith, and clutch springs coiled about said clutch collars and about collars on said second drive wheels.

10. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section, a plurality of vertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation-in said upper section and movable downwardly to position below said upper section for access to said compartments, a plurality of switches on said upper section, with one switch associated with each compartment, a single motor for operation of all -o'f said compartments and energized by said switches, separate drive means between said motor .and the respective compartments, a solenoid for each compartment energized by the switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive lmeans for the selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment, and latch means operable in the raised position of the selected compartment for holding said compartment in raised position.

11. A kitchen cabinet Astructure according to claim 1i), wherein the latch means for the selected compartment is released by upward movement of said compartment from its raised position whereupon the selected compartment moves downwardly to accessible position by its own weight.

12. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section anda lower section, la plurality of vertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation in said upper section and movable downwardly to position below said upper section for -access to said compartments, a plurality of switches on said upper section, with one switch associated with each compartment, a single motor for all of said compartments and energized by said switches, separate drive means between said motor and the respective compartments, 'a solenoid for each compartment energized by the switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive means for the selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment, drawers disposed in said lower section, and means operated by said motor for moving certain of said drawers outwardly for `access to the interiors thereof.

13. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 12, wherein the means operated by the motor for moving the drawers outwardly for access to the interiors thereof comprises pulleys on the cabinet structure and on the drawers, and a cable operated by the motor and cooperating with said pulleys.

14. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 12, wherein there are telescoping tubes between the drawer and the cabinet structure, and spring means attached to the drawer and to `one tube and to said tube and the cabinet structure for moving the drawers to closed position within the lower cabinet section.

15. A kitchen cabinet structure having a lower section, a drawer in said lower section, a motor for moving said drawer outwardly from said lower section for laccess to the interior of said drawer, a pair of telescoping tubes, one slideable vertically on a vertical post, a spring connected between the drawer and one tube and a spring connected between said one tube and the cabinet structure for moving the drawer to closed position within said lower cabinet section, and a cable connected to the other tube and operated by said motor for elevating said drawer when moved to its open position.

16. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 15, wherein there is switch means at the front of said drawer for energizing said motor.

17. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 15, wherein there is switch means at the front of said drawer for energizing said motor, said switch means -at the front of the drawer being of angular form for operation along its upper portion with the lower portion of said switch means disposed for operation by the foot.

References Cited by the Examinerl UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,230 8/ 1929 Ulrich 240-4 X 2,506,086 5/1950 .Tess 312-247 2,758,901 8/1956 Cole 312-223 2,803,855 8/1957 Suter 20-1.11 2,873,159 2/1959 Becker 312-223 2,875,012 2/1959 Riley 312-223 2,889,442 6/ 1959 Schultz 312-247 X 3,028,209 4/ 1962 Hinkel 312-223 3,077,967 2/1963 Woodnard 192-130 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, A KITCHEN HAVING A WALL PROVIDED WITH A WINDOW, A CABINET STRUCTURE HAVING A LOWER SECTION WITH AN UPPER SURFACE AND DISPOSED BELOW SAID WINDOW, SAID CABINET STRUCTURE HAVING AN UPPER SECTION DISPOSED ABOVE SAID WINDOW, SAID UPPER CABINET SECTION HAVING COMPARTMENTS MOVABLE IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION AND NORMALLY DISPOSED IN ELEVATED POSITION ABOVE SAID WINDOW, MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID COMPARTMENTS TO ACCESSIBLE POSITION IN FRONT OF SAID WINDOW AND FOR RAISING SAID COM-