Patent ID: 7246865

Claim:
A storage system for selectable providing access to a space above a ceiling and for storing articles therein, said system comprising: a frame mounted to the ceiling for pivotal movement between a storage position wherein the frame is disposed substantially within the space and an access position; a support having a supporting surface; a pivot mechanism coupling the support to the frame, said pivot mechanism being configured to maintain the supporting surface in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the ceiling as the frame is moved between the storage position and the access position; and, an actuator coupled to the frame and the support configured to drive the support between the access position and the storage position and to cooperate with the pivot mechanism to maintain the support surface in the fixed orientation, wherein the actuator is a motor and further comprising a shaft coupled to the motor, a lift pulley coupled to the shaft, a support pulley coupled to the shaft, a lift coupler coupled at a first end to the frame and configured to wind about the lift pulley, a support coupler coupled at a first end to the support and configured to wind about the support pulley and wherein upon actuation of the motor in a first direction the shaft is driven to induce the lift coupler and support coupler to wind about the lift pulley and support pulley, respectively.