Abstract:
A support device for moving an item on a surface. A main body includes a panel and a sidewall. A handle assembly engages the main body and includes a first transportation mechanism. The support device includes a resistance portion on the main body for engaging a surface and resisting movement of the support device when in a resistive mode. The handle mechanism lowers the first transportation mechanism to engage the surface and disengage the resistance portion from the surface in a transportive mode to encourage movement of the support device and the item supported thereon.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of movable support devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Space in modern kitchens has become a precious commodity as more and more small appliances and gadgets are available to the consumer. Many such appliances have become a part of the everyday routine for their owners. For example, coffee makers may be a vital part of a user&#39;s morning routine. Thus, the placement of the appliance on a work surface, such as a countertop, to provide ease of access is important. Due to the finite amount of countertop space, it is generally desirable to minimize the amount of space used by the appliance. 
     In addition, the placement of an appliance on a countertop can cause problems with the use of the appliance. For example, due to the depth and/or height of the countertop, the appliance may be located a distance from a user that renders operation inconvenient or difficult. Further, in most kitchens much of the countertop is positioned below wall-mounted storage cabinets. Certain appliances may be of such a construction that they can not be operated when positioned underneath the storage cabinets. For example, a cartridge-based single serving coffee machine may require access to the top of the machine with sufficient clearance to insert and remove the single serve cartridge. Similarly, the water reservoirs of traditional drip-style coffee makers are typically filled through an opening in the top of the maker, which typically requires sufficient clearance for the user to pour the contents of a carafe into the reservoir. 
     While a user may drag the appliance out from under the wall-mounted cabinets to create sufficient clear to prepare the machine for operation, that is often undesirable or unsafe because the appliance may not be readily or easily movable or may contain hot water or surfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A support device comprising a main body. The main body has a panel and a sidewall extending therefrom, the main body further having a resistance portion adapted to provide resistance to movement in at least one direction when in contact with a surface. A handle assembly is partially disposed within the main body. The handle assembly comprises a lever and a first transportation mechanism. The lever has a first portion substantially interior to the main body and hingedly attached to the main body and a second portion substantially exterior to the main body. The first transportation mechanism is connected to the handle assembly and movable relative to the main body and the surface. The resistive portion of the main body is in contact with the surface in a resistive mode and movement of the handle assembly to pivot away from the panel engages the first transportation mechanism with the surface and moving at least a portion of the resistance portion away from the surface in a transportive mode. 
     A support device comprising a main body. The main body has a panel and a sidewall extending downward from the periphery of the panel. The sidewall includes a bottom surface having a resistance portion for engaging a surface to resist movement of the support device. A handle assembly is hingedly attached at a first end to a bottom surface of the panel and extends through a void in the sidewall. The handle assembly has a first transportation mechanism attached to the handle assembly between the hinged attachment and the void. The handle assembly is movable within the void to rotate relative to the main body between a first position and a second position. When the handle assembly is in the first position, the first transportation mechanism is disposed within main body and when the handle assembly is in the second position, the first transportation mechanism is at least partial outside of the main body, such that the first transportation mechanism extends below a plane defined by the bottom surface of the sidewall. 
     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a movable support device; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the top of the movable support device of claim  1 ;  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the bottom of the movable support device of claim  1 ;  FIG. 2C  is a side elevation view of the movable support device of claim  1 ;  FIG. 2D  is a front elevation view of the movable support device of claim  1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate an embodiment of the movable support device in the resistive mode;  FIG. 3A  being a front elevation view;  FIG. 3B  a side elevation view; and  FIG. 3C  a cross sectional view along line A-A; 
         FIGS. 4A-C  illustrate an embodiment of the movable support device in the transportive mode;  FIG. 4A  being a front elevation view;  FIG. 4B  a side elevation view; and  FIG. 4C  a cross sectional view along line B-B; and 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a side view of the lever of one embodiment;  FIG. 5B  illustrates a top view of the lever of  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     A movable support device  100  is described herein. The movable support device  100  is a movable platform that may be used to support items such as small appliances and transport them back and forth, such as from under wall mounted cabinets so that the transported item can be accessed. For example, in the case of coffee makers that need to be filled from the top with water, the movable support device  100  may be utilized to transport the coffee maker out from under a kitchen upper cabinet overhanging the countertop to access the filling door of the coffee maker. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exploded view is provided of one embodiment of a movable support device. The movable support device  100  includes a main body  110 . The main body  110  includes a panel  111  and a sidewall  112 . In one embodiment, the sidewall  112  extends from the panel  111  and includes a void  115  adapted to receive at least a portion of a handle assembly  120 . 
     The handle assembly  120  includes a lever  121  and a first transportation mechanism  140 . The lever  121  is hinged with respect to the main body  110 , allowing the lever  121  to rotate relative to the main body  110 . In one embodiment, the lever  121  is hingedly affixed to a bottom surface  116  of the panel  111  at a retention portion  122  of the lever  121 . The lever  121  extends outward from the hinge  124 , such that an actuation portion  123  of the lever  121  extends through the void  115  of the sidewall  112  to be exterior to the main body  110 . The main body  110  may include a stop  117  that interacts with the lever  121  to limit the range of motion of the lever  121  relative to the main body  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the lever  121  and the first transportation mechanism  140  are connected, with the first transportation mechanism  140  positioned on the lever  121  to be engageable with a work surface (not shown) under the main body  110 . In one embodiment, the first transportation mechanism  140  may consist of one or more wheels, rollers, coasters, skids, or the like. 
     In one embodiment, the lever  121  is freely hinged to the main body  110  with no bias other than that exerted by the mechanical relationship of the two components. It should be appreciated that due to the force exerted by the mass of the movable support device  100 , and any item placed thereon, the lever  121  will be rotated upwards towards the panel  111  and the resistive portion  160  of the main body  110  will be engaged with the work surface. Actuation of the handle assembly  120 , such as by pressing with a downward force sufficient to overcome the force exerted by the mass of the support device  100  and any item on it, causes the lever  121  to rotate downwards towards the work surface. The first transportation mechanism  140  is associated with the lever  121  and moves with it such that the first transportation mechanism  140  engages the work surface. 
     In one embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 5A , the lever  121  has a shape that positions the first transportation mechanism  140  to contact the work surface upon actuation of the handle assembly  120 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the lever  121  may have a generally “S”-shaped profile such that the first transportation mechanism  140  will be the closest portion of the handle assembly  120  to the work surface when in the resistive state. It should be appreciated that such a structure ensures that the first transportation mechanism  140  will engage the work surface due to actuation of the handle actuation portion  123  prior to the handle actuation portion  123  itself contacting the work surface and preventing further rotation of the lever  121 . In one embodiment, only a slight rotation of the lever  121  is necessary to engage the first transportation mechanism  140  with the work surface. 
     A second transportation mechanism  150  may also be provided to reduce the necessary force exerted in the transportation mode. The second transportation mechanism  150  may be a low-friction portion of the sidewall  112  that is positioned to engage the work surface when in the transportative mode, i.e. when the main body  110  is slightly tilted. In an alternative embodiment, the second transportation mechanism  150  may consists of one or more wheels, rollers, coasters, skids, or the like, which may connected with the main body  110 . For example,  FIG. 2C  illustrates an embodiment wherein the second transportation mechanism  150  comprises a plurality of rollers  151 , including, in one embodiment, roller covers  154 , that are positioned on axles  152  engageable with brackets  153  affixed to the bottom surface  116  of the panel  111 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first transportation mechanism  140  comprises at least one roller  141  consisting of a first roller cover  143  and a first roller  142 . It should be appreciated that the at least one roller  141  may comprise two rollers  141  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , connected by an axle  144 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 4A-C , roller  141  is attached to the lever  121 . The roller  141  is lowered as the lever  121  is depressed, rotating away from the panel  111  towards the work surface. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the first transportation mechanism  140  includes the axle  144  affixed to the lever  121 . 
     In one embodiment, a handle cover  129  is provided which is engageable with the lever  121 . The handle cover  129  may comprise material selected for its ability to assist a user in gripping the lever  121  or material selected for comfort to a user. 
       FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate the movable support device  100  of  FIG. 1  in the resistive position. In the resistive position the handle assembly  120  is rotated towards the panel  111 . The weight of the item and the movable support device  100  are sufficient to cause a resistance portion  160  to engage a work surface, such as a countertop or other surface upon which the movable support device  100  rests. For example, friction between a grip ring  161  and the work surface serves to resist movement (forward/backward/right/left) of the movable support device  100 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4A-C , when the item on the movable support device  100  is to be moved, the handle assembly  120  may be actuated. Actuation of the handle assembly  120  results in movement of the first transportation mechanism  140  away from the main body  110 . The first transportation mechanism  140  engages the work surface. The force exerted on the handle assembly  120  acts to push the first transportation mechanism  140  against the work surface, which results in the main body  110  being displaced away from the work surface. This movement of the main body  110  due to the engagement of the transportation mechanism  140  with the work surface is sufficient to reduce the resistance provided by the resistance portion  160 , such as by lifting the resistance portion  160  from the work surface. This reduction of resistance allows the movable support device  100  to be transported. In one embodiment, the force exerted on the handle assembly  120  is such that the force vectors both are sufficient to engage the first transportation mechanism  140  with the work surface and to move the movable support device  100 , such as where a user pushes or pulls the caddy into the desired location. When the handle mechanism  120  is released, the first transportation mechanism  140  disengages from the work surface and the main body  110  approaches the work surface such that the resistance portion engages the work surface. 
     In one embodiment, the movable support device provides a resistive mode and a transportive mode. In the resistive mode, the engagement of the resistance portion  160  to the work surface provides resistance against movement of the movable support device  100 . In the transportive mode, the engagement of the first transportation mechanism  140  with the work surface reduces the resistance of the movable support device in at least one direction. Thus, in one embodiment, the movable support device  100  may be used with a variety of small appliances or other items that need to be stored under the upper cabinets and pulled out for access including coffee makers, toasters, blenders, bread boxes and the like. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the movable support device  100  stays securely in place when the handle assembly  120  is not depressed. In this way the appliance will not move if accidentally bumped or, in the case of a coffee maker, it will not substantially move when the carafe is removed from the coffee maker. Further, when the movable support device  100  is moved, the first and second transportation mechanisms  140 ,  150  enable a smooth motion so that items will not spill or tip over in transit. 
     In one embodiment, the movable support device include features for retaining the item placed on the device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the main body  110  may includes a top surface  114  which is recessed in relation to the sidewall  112 , so that the sidewall  112  essentially forms a lip  113  or ridge about the top surface  114 , which at least partially retains an item placed on the support device  100 . Further, the top surface  114  may be of a material that aids in retaining the item placed on the support device  100 . For example, the top surface  114  may include a pattern or features which engage the item or may comprise a material that exhibits a high degree of friction, e.g. a nonskid surface such as a thermoplastic elastomer. In one embodiment, a nonskid panel  180  may be provided for placement on the top surface  114 .  FIG. 1  illustrates such an embodiment. The nonskid panel  180  is disposed on the top surface  114  within the recess device by the top surface  114  and the lip  113  of the sidewall  112 . The nonskid panel  180  may be physically affixed to the top surface such as via sonic welding, rivets, adhesive, clips, or the like. It may be desirable to be able to easily clean the nonskid panel  180 . Therefore, in one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the nonskid panel  180  is removably retained on the main body  110  by a cover  190 . The cover  190  includes a sidewall  191  defining an opening through which the nonskid panel  180  is accessible when the cover  190  is placed on the main body  110 . The cover  190  may be substantially the same shape, including providing a void  192  corresponding to the main body void  115 , such that the cover  190  substantially covers the sidewall  112  of the main body  110 . The cover  190  may be in a snap-fit arrangement with the sidewall  112  of the main body  110 . 
     While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications, or modifications of the invention.