Cabinet with elevating shelf

A cabinet for retractably storing audio/video equipment is provided. The cabinet comprises a main body and a flip-up/slide-in top door adapted to rotate from a horizontal to a vertical position, and thereafter descend vertically within the main body. A support shelf is disposed within the main body and adapted to slideably vertically traverse within the main body as the top door descends. Connecting means are provided for elevating the support shelf when the top door descends within the main body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to cabinets and, more particularly, to a 
cabinet having an elevating shelf for storing objects, such as a 
television, in a manner that such objects are stored out of sight yet 
easily raised to a position for use. 
Various types of cabinets are well known for storing a variety of different 
types of objects. Cabinets are constructed to have an attractive 
appearance and also be functional in their storage functions. Often the 
two objectives conflict in that constructions that are intended to 
optimize functionality do so at the cost of impairing the aesthetic 
appearance of the cabinet. The present invention is directed to providing 
a construction which is intended to achieve a high degree of functionality 
without sacrificing appearance. 
There are a number of cabinets intended to house different types of audio 
equipment In some cases the audio/video equipment simply sits in an open 
well area where it is permanently exposed to view. In other cases, the 
audio/video equipment is concealed by doors that open outwardly or 
upwardly to expose the audio/video equipment as may be necessary for use. 
In the case where the audio/video equipment ia stored in a well area 
behind doors it is frequently necessary to provide an extension mechanism 
in order to slide the television or other equipment to a position wherein 
it can ba rotated and viewed from a wider range of locations. 
In addition, consumers frequently find that cabinetry that incorporates the 
desired functional features are not constructed in a design that is 
consistent with the customer's tastes and/or the design of other furniture 
items in the area in which the cabinet is to be located. Accordingly, the 
functional limitations of existing cabinets for storing audio/video 
equipment, and the limited design selections of suitable products serve to 
limit the available selection of products that satisfy the needs of many 
customers. The present invention is directed to providing a product which 
is easily modifiable in appearance to conform to the tastes of a 
particular customer and is highly functional for the storage of 
audio/video equipment. Moreover, the present invention is designed to be 
usable not only in homes and offices, but also in vehicles, such as vans, 
where base limitations and functional requirements are exteremely 
important. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A cabinet for retractably storing audio/video equipment is provided. The 
cabinet comprises a main body and a flip-up/slide-in top door adapted to 
rotate from a horizontal to a vertical position, and thereafter descend 
vertically within the main body. A support shelf is disposed within the 
main body and adapted to slideably vertically traverse within the main 
body as the top door descends. Connecting means are provided for elevating 
the support shelf when the top door descends within the main body. 
A vertical panel is secured to the support shelf and forms a first outer 
surface of the cabinet. As the top door descends within the main body the 
vertical panel is elevated with the support shelf, thereby exposing a 
first cavity within the main body. In the preferred embodiment a 
television is disposed on the support shelf and a video cassette recorder 
is disposed adjacent the first panel. Thus, as the top door descends 
within the main body the television is elevated to the top surface of the 
cabinet and the video cassette recorder is exposed as a consequence of 
movement of the vertical panel. 
The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes counterweights 
connected to offset the weight of the television and thereby facilitating 
the vertical movement of the top door within the main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The detailed description set forth below is intended merely as a 
description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is 
not intended to represeent the only form in which the present invention 
may be constructed or utilized. The description below sets forth the 
functions and sequence of operation affected in connection with use of the 
illustrated embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the same, or 
equivalent functions or operations may be accomplished by different 
embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and 
scope of the invention. 
FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a perspective view of the presently 
preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown at FIG. 1 the cabinet 11 
includes a main body 13 and a flip up/slide in top door 15. The main body 
13 includes a front portion 17 formed to support an upper panel 19 and a 
lower panel 21. The front portion 17 also includes a recess 23, behind 
which is disposed retractable panel 25. 
The presently preferred embodiment is also formed to include beverage 
holder 27 secured to the side portion 29 of main body 13. The beverage 
holder 27 is typically formed to include a plurality of container 
receiving apertures for holding beverages. It is to be understood that for 
certain uses it may not be desirable to incorporate beverage holder 37 in 
the construction of cabinet 11. For example, where cabinet 11 is disposed 
in a bedroom the incorporation of beverage holder 27 may not be deemed 
suitable. However, for other uses, such as where the cabinet 11 is 
disposed in a vehicle, it may be very desirable to incorporate features 
such as beverage holder 27. 
The cabinet 11 is formed to include a shelf 37 adapted to vertically 
traverse within body 11. The shelf 37 is formed to support equipment, such 
as a television in such a manner as to permit the television 30 to be 
retracted within body 13 of cabinet 11. Alternatively, the shelf 11 may be 
elevated to a position substantially even with the upper surface of the 
body 13 to permit viewing of the television 30. The television 30 may be 
mounted on a swivel plate 39 secured to shelf 37 to facilitate rotation of 
the television to permit viewing from different directions. It is 
noteworthy that when the shelf 27 is in the elevated, or unstowed postion 
there are no side members to hinder viewing of the television from 
different angles. Consequently, the present invention provides an 
advantageous construction that permits a wide range of television viewing 
angles without suffering appearance penalties when the television is not 
in use. 
Vertical panel 25 is preferably attached to shelf 37 such that as shelf 37 
is elevated the vertical panel 25 such that as the shelf 37 the vertical 
panel 25 is displaced from recess 23 exposing and allowing access to video 
cassette recorder 40, or similar equipment. As the shelf 37 is restored to 
the stowed position vertical panel 25 is returned to its original position 
adjacent recess 23. As described more fully below the shelf 37 is elevated 
to the unstowed position as a result of the movement of flip top/slide in 
door 15. The shelf 37 is returned to the lower, stowed position by 
depression of release mechanism 41, which allows the shelf 37 and the 
television 30 to return to the lower stowed position. As is also more 
fully described below, the mechanism within cabinet 11 includes 
counterweights which are useful to regulate the motion of shelf 37 so 
that, upon depression of the lock release mechanism 41 the shelf 37 slowly 
drops into the stowed position. 
FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d illustrate the construction of the exterior of the 
cabinet 11 from different views. FIG. 2a illustrates a front view of the 
cabinet 11. As shown therein the cabinet 11 is formed to include an upper 
panel 19, a retractable intermediate panel 25 and a lower rotatable panel 
21. The upper panel 19 is formed to snap-fit into recess 18, by means of 
various types of snap fasteners. (See also FIG. 3b) Thus, the panel 19 may 
be removed and replaced with another panel of similar size but of 
different style. Accordingly, the visual styling of the cabinet 11 may be 
modified by simply replacing one type panel with another. 
The removability of panel 19 also permits easy access to the interior of 
cabinet 11 as may be desired. 
Lower panel 21 is formed to cover aperture 22, formed in the main body 13. 
The lower panel 21 may be rotated downwardly about hinges 24, 26 to expose 
a lower storage area within main body 13. The lower storage area may be 
used to store video cassettes or other items as desired. As with upper 
panel 19, the lower panel 21 may be replaced with a panel of different 
styling without the need to modify any of the structural aspects of 
cabinet 11. Additionally, it is anticipated that, where reduced height is 
desirable, the height of main body 13 may be reduced by eliminating the 
portion corresponding to lower panel 21. For example, where it is desired 
to use the cabinet 11 in a mini van, it may be useful to use a smaller 
version, which does not incorporate a lower compartment. The remaining 
portion of cabinet 11 may be retained. 
FIGS. 2b, 2c and 2d provide further illustration of the construction 
illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 2a. FIG. 2c further illustrates the bracket 
support 43 which keep the rod from being able to slide out of the cabinet 
illustrated at FIGS. 3c and 3d. FIG. 2d further illustrates retractable 
ring mechanism 47 used to elevate the flip top/slide in door 15 to the 
vertical position. 
FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d provide sectional views of the cabinet 11 showing 
various aspects of the internal construction and mechanism for elevating 
and lowering the sliding shelf 37 and vertical panel 25. FIG. 3a is a 
front sectional view of the cabinet 11 illustrating the shelf 37 in the 
upper or unstowed position. As further shown in FIGS. 3b, 3c and 3d, the 
shelf 37 is a plurality of slides 47 to permit shelf 37 to vertically 
traverse within main body 13. The slides 47 may be any of number of 
commercially available mechanisms, such as the medium duty utility slide 
Model C-214 marketed by Accuride. The shelf 37 is also connected to a 
first end of steel roller chain 49. The second end of steel roller chain 
49 is secured to counterweights 51 which, along with top door 15 
vertically traverse main body 13 in the opposite direction of shelf 37. 
Top door 15 is pivotal about hinge mechanism 53 to rotate from a horizonal 
position to a vertical position. The hinge mechanism 53 is in turn 
engageable with one or more slides 55. When the top door 15 is rotated to 
a vertical orientation the top door 15 may therefore be depressed 
downwardly as the hinge mechanism 53 rides along slides 55. The depression 
of top door 15 downwardly causes the chain 49 to engage chain sprocket 57, 
which rotates about steel rod 45. The sliding shelf 37, attached to the 
other end of chain 49 is therefore urged upwardly until the shelf 37 is 
elevated to the uppermost position. At that point the latch mechanism 41 
engages the recess formed in or attached to the side wall to hold the top 
door in the depressed position, and thereby hold the shelf 37 in the 
elevated or unstowed position. 
In the presently preferred embodiment counterweights 51 are formed as three 
one-half inch thick metal plates welded together. The weight of the 
counterweights 51 is preferrably selected to be slightly less than the 
weight of the shelf 37 and supporting television 40. Consequently, when 
the latch mechanism 41 is released the television will slowly descend into 
the main body of cabinet 11 without effort by the user. However, the 
counterweights are sufficiently close to the weight of the shelf 37 in 
combination with television 30 that little effort is required to depress 
the top door 15 into the main body 13. Prototypes have established that a 
small child can easily depress top door 15 into the main body 13 when a 
television is disposed on shelf 37. 
In the presently preferred embodiment steel chain 49 is formed as a #25 
steel roller chain such as sold by Milano Imports and slides 55, as with 
slides 47, may be implemented as a medium duty utility slide Model C214 by 
Accuride. Sprocket 57 may be implemented as a Browning Roller Chain 
Sprocket, Part #25B10. The swivel 39 may be implemented as a number of any 
commercially available swivels, such as the plastic T.V. base marketed by 
O.W. Donald Co. 
Release mechanism 41 may be implemented using a spring latch such as that 
marketed by Weslok, 23/4 inches. 
Upper panel 19 may be secured to main body 13 by any of a plurality of 
catch mechansims, such as the plastic post and catch, Part #JB3701 sold by 
Louis and Company. 
It is to be understood that various other types of support and slide or 
other elevational mechanisms may be substituted without departing from the 
broader aspects of the present invention. For example, it is anticipated 
that a motor may be installed in or adjacent cabinet 11 in order to 
electrically elevate and retract the shelf 37 within main body 13. It is 
further to be understood that the cabinet 11 may be sized or shaped in 
various ways to suit the particular decor requirements without departing 
from the broader aspects of the invention.