Abstract:
A coffee maker stand includes a drawer for brewing cartridges and a two position latch or handle. The latch or handle has a first position locking the drawer into the stand and extending rollers under the stand allowing easy movement of the stand, and second position retracing the rollers to resist moving the stand and releasing the drawer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to coffee maker stands and in particular to a coffee maker stand have rollers for easy moving and a drawer. 
         [0002]    Coffee makers are often located on counter tops under kitchen cabinets. There is often a desire to move the coffee maker out from under the cabinet for use, and to return the coffee maker to a position under the cabinet to make more counter space available. There is a further need for storage of brewing cartridges. Known coffee maker stands either resist relocation, or may be unintentionally moved. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a coffee maker stand including a drawer for brewing cartridges and a two position latch or handle. The latch or handle has a first position locking the drawer into the stand and extending rollers under the stand allowing easy movement of the stand, and second position retracing the rollers to resist moving the stand and releasing the drawer. 
         [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a coffee maker stand with a vertically sliding handle. In a down position the handle pushes vertical arms against a roller assembly to lift the stand to be supported by rollers residing against a supporting surface. The rollers can be spherical rollers, casters, or wheels. When the rollers support the stand, the stand is easily moved to relocate the coffee maker. In an up position of the handle, the roller assembly moves up away from the supporting surface and the stand is supported by pads resisting movement. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a coffee maker stand with a horizontally sliding latch. The latch cooperates with a cam inside the drawer. The cam is pivoted by the latch to extend down against the roller assembly to lift the stand to be supported by the rollers residing against the supporting surface. 
         [0006]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a coffee maker stand which locks the draw when the stand is supported by rollers, so that a user can use the drawer handle to move the stand without withdrawing the drawer from the stand. The locking function is coupled with the roller assembly so that the draw may be removed when the roller assembly is not supporting the stand (i.e., the stand resists movement), and the draw is locked to the stand when the roller assembly is supporting the stand allowing movement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first coffee maker stand with a drawer closed, according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the first coffee maker stand with the drawer open according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom perspective view of the first coffee maker stand with the drawer closed, according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  shows a top view of the first coffee maker stand invention with the drawer closed, according to the present. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  shows a front view of the first coffee maker stand invention with the drawer closed, according to the present. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4C  shows a side view of the first coffee maker stand invention with the drawer closed, according to the present. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  shows a bottom perspective view of a handle assembly and a roller assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  shows a top perspective view of the handle assembly and the roller assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A  shows a top view of the handle assembly and the roller assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6B  shows a side view of the handle assembly and the roller assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6C  shows a front view of the handle assembly and the roller assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  shows a perspective top view of a second coffee maker stand with a drawer closed, according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7B  shows a perspective bottom view of the second coffee maker stand with the drawer closed, according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the second coffee maker stand with the drawer open according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9A  shows a front view of a latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch unlocked according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9B  shows a front view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch locked according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10A  shows a first rear view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch unlocked according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10B  shows a first rear view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch locked according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11A  shows a second rear view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch unlocked according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11B  shows a second rear view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch locked according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13A  shows a front perspective view of a second latch assembly have a rotatable knob according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12A  shows a more detailed top view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch unlocked according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12B  shows a more detailed top view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch locked according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13A  shows a more detailed rear view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch unlocked according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 13B  shows a more detailed rear view of the latch assembly of the second coffee maker stand with the latch locked according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 14A  shows a front perspective view of a second latch assembly have a rotatable round handle according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14B  shows a front perspective view of a second latch assembly have a rotatable flat handle according to the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15A  shows a second cam of the second latch assembly in an unlocked position according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15B  shows the second cam of the second latch assembly in a locked position according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0037]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0039]    Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement. 
         [0040]    A perspective view of a first coffee maker stand  10  with a drawer  14  closed is shown in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the first coffee maker stand  10  with the drawer  14  open is shown in  FIG. 2 , and a bottom perspective view of the first coffee maker stand  10  with the drawer  14  closed is shown in  FIG. 3 . A roller assembly  26  (see  FIGS. 5A-6C ) including two laterally spaced apart rollers  18  is attached to the housing  12  proximal to a housing front  12   c  and two laterally spaced apart rear rollers  20  are attached to a housing bottom  12   e  proximal to a housing rear  12   d  and housing sides  12   b . A vertically moving handle  16  is attached to the drawer  14  and cooperates with the roller assembly  26  to push the rollers  18  down to support the stand  10 . 
         [0041]    The rollers  18  and rear rollers  20  may be wheels, ball rollers, or casters, and the rollers  18  are preferably ball rollers and the rear rollers  20  are preferably wheels. The roller assembly  26  further includes two laterally spaced apart pads  22  which support the front of the stand  10  when the roller assembly  26  is pivoted up. Support feet  23  reside on the housing bottom  12   e  proximal to the housing front  12   c  and housing sides  12   b . When the roller assembly  26  is pivoted up to lift the rollers  18 , the stand  10  is supported by the rear rollers  20  and the support feet  23 . 
         [0042]    A top view of the stand  10  with the drawer  14  closed is shown in  FIG. 4A , a front view of the stand  10  with the drawer  14  closed is shown in  FIG. 4B , and a side view of the stand  10  with the drawer closed is shown in  FIG. 4C . The handle  14  presses vertical arms  28  against a front edge of the roller assembly  26 , pivoting the roller assembly  26  to lift the pads  22  causing the stand  10  to be supported by the rollers  18 . 
         [0043]    A bottom perspective view of a handle assembly  24  and roller assembly  26  is shown in  FIG. 5A , a top perspective view of the handle assembly  24  and roller assembly  26  is shown in  FIG. 5B , a top view of the handle assembly  24  and roller assembly  26  is shown in  FIG. 6A , a side view of the handle assembly  24  and roller assembly  26  is shown in  FIG. 6B , and a front view of the handle assembly  24  and roller assembly  26  is shown in  FIG. 6C . The handle assembly  24  includes the handle  16  and the vertical arms  28 . The vertical arms  28  are guided by passages  29  (see  FIG. 3 ) in the drawer  14  to move vertically with the handle  16 , and are aligned with the front of the roller assembly  26 . The roller assembly  26  includes axles  30  rotatingly engaging the housing  12  to allow the roller assembly  26  to pivot to support the stand  10  by the rollers  22 . The vertical arms  28  further pass through the passages  29  to lock the drawer  14  in the housing when the handle  16  is lowered. Thus, the stand  10  has two states: 1) where the handle  16  is lowered to lock the drawer  14  in the housing  12  and the stand  10  is supported by the rollers  18  and free to move; and 2) where the handle  16  is raised to free the drawer  14  and the housing  12  is supported by the pads  22  and restricted from movement. 
         [0044]    A perspective top view of a second coffee maker stand  10 ′ with a drawer  14 ′ closed is shown in  FIG. 7A , a perspective bottom view of a second coffee maker stand  10 ′ with a drawer  14 ′ closed is shown in  FIG. 7B , and a perspective view of the stand  10 ′ with the drawer  14 ′ open is shown in  FIG. 8 . The drawer  14 ′ includes a fixed handle  16  and a horizontally moving lever  32 . The lever  32  cooperates with the housing  12 ′ roller assembly  26  to lock the drawer  14 ′ and pivot the roller assembly  26 . A cam  36  passes through a slot  29 ′ in the housing  12 ′ to lock the drawer. 
         [0045]    A front view of a latch assembly  34  of the stand  10 ′ with the latch unlocked is shown in  FIG. 9A  and a front view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch locked is shown in  FIG. 9B . A first rear view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch unlocked is shown in  FIG. 10A , a first rear view of the latch  34  with the latch locked is shown in  FIG. 10B , a second rear view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch unlocked is shown in  FIG. 11A , and a second rear view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch locked is shown in  FIG. 11B . A more detailed top view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch unlocked is shown in  FIG. 12A , a more detailed top view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch locked is shown in  FIG. 12B , a more detailed rear view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch unlocked is shown in  FIG. 13A , and a more detailed rear view of the latch assembly  34  with the latch locked is shown in  FIG. 13B . An interior portion  33  of the horizontally moving lever  32  pivots sides against a top surface  36   a  of the cam  36  to pivot the cam  36  when the horizontally moving lever  32  is moved laterally. The cam  36  pivots down and through the slot  29 ′ (see  FIG. 7B ) in the housing  12 ′ to lock the drawer and pivot the roller assembly  26  down. 
         [0046]    While a latch is shown including a horizontally moving lever, those skilled in that art will recognize that a similar latch using a vertically move lever may similarly couple vertical motion of the lever with the cam to lock the drawer and pivot the roller assembly down, and any latch coupling the motion of a lever with a pivoting cam is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0047]    A front perspective view of a second latch assembly  34 ′ have a rotatable round handle  38  is shown in  FIG. 14A , a front perspective view of a second latch assembly  34 ′ have a rotatable flat handle  40  is shown in  FIG. 14B , a second cam  36 ′ of the second latch assembly  34 ′ in an unlocked position is shown in  FIG. 15A , and the second cam  36 ′ of the second latch assembly  34 ′ in a locked position is shown in  FIG. 15B . The handles  38  and  40  rotate the cam  36 ′ directly, and a stand having the second latch assembly  34 ′ is otherwise similar to the stand  10 ′. 
         [0048]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.