Storage system

Abstract

A storage structure includes a housing. A front wall is movable to and from a closed position closing a forwardly facing opening of the housing. The front wall includes an upper section covering an upper part of the opening in the closed position thereof and a lower section covering a lower part of the opening in the closed position thereof. The lower section can be moved generally rectilinearly relative to the upper section into generally parallel, overlapped relation with the upper section. The upper section is pivotably mounted to the housing so that the front wall can be pivoted upwardly into a storage position generally parallel to and underneath the top wall for storing the upper and lower sections in the generally parallel, overlapped relation underneath the top wall. An actuator is connected to the upper section to apply a force that urges the upper section to pivot upwardly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A storage structure comprising: 
 a housing having a plurality of walls including at least a top wall and two opposing lateral side walls defining a storage area with a forwardly facing opening;    a front wall movable to and from a closed position closing the forwardly facing opening of the housing;    the front wall including an upper section covering an upper part of the forwardly facing opening in the closed position of the front wall and a lower section covering a lower part of the forwardly facing opening in the closed position of the front wall;    the lower section being mounted to the upper section so that the lower section can be moved generally rectilinearly relative to the upper section into generally parallel, overlapped relation with the upper section;    the upper section being pivotably mounted to the housing so that the front wall can be pivoted upwardly to enable the front wall to be positioned in a storage position generally parallel to and underneath the top wall for storing the upper and lower sections of the front wall in the generally parallel, overlapped relation thereof underneath the top wall; and    an actuator connected to the upper section of the front wall, the actuator being constructed to apply a force that urges the upper section to pivot upwardly, thus facilitating the pivoting of the upper section.    
     
     
         2 . A storage structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises at least one spring.  
     
     
         3 . A storage structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one spring is a torsion spring.  
     
     
         4 . A storage structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper section includes a rod connected to upper side edges thereof, the rod including a pair of gears fixed on opposing ends thereof, and wherein the gears are engaged in intermeshed relation with a pair of gear racks mounted to upper edges of the side walls of the housing for enabling the upper and lower sections to be moved inwardly to the storage position with the gears riding along the gear racks.  
     
     
         5 . A method for accessing a storage area in a storage structure, the storage structure comprising: (a) a housing having a plurality of walls including at least a top wall and two opposing lateral side walls defining a storage area having a forwardly facing opening; and (b) a front wall movable to and from a closed position closing the forwardly facing opening of the housing, the front wall including a lower section that covers a lower part of the forwardly facing opening in the closed position of the front wall and an upper section that covers an upper part of the forwardly facing opening in the closed position of the front wall; the method comprising: 
 moving the lower section of the front wall generally rectilinearly relative to the upper section of the front wall so that the lower section is in generally parallel, overlapped relation with the upper section;    moving the front wall into a storage position wherein the upper and lower sections are in the generally parallel, overlapped relation and generally parallel to and underneath the top wall, the moving the front wall into the storage position including at least pivoting the upper section to be generally parallel to the top wall, the pivoting including applying a force with an actuator to urge the front wall to pivot upwardly.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator comprises at least one spring and the spring applies the force.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one spring is a torsion spring.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the moving the lower section in generally parallel, overlapped relation with the upper section occurs before the moving the front wall into the storage position.  
     
     
         9 . A storage system comprising: 
 a lower housing having a plurality of drawers therein, the lower housing providing an upper support surface; and    a storage structure supported on the upper support surface of the lower housing, the storage structure comprising:    a housing having a plurality of walls including at least a top wall and two opposing lateral side walls defining a storage area with a forwardly facing opening;    a front wall movable to and from a closed position closing the forwardly facing opening of the housing;    the front wall including an upper section covering an upper part of the forwardly facing opening in the closed position of the front wall and a lower section covering a lower part of the forwardly facing opening in the closed position of the front wall;    the lower section being mounted to the upper section so that the lower section can be moved generally rectilinearly relative to the upper section into generally parallel, overlapped relation with the upper section;    the upper section being pivotably mounted to the housing so that the front wall can be pivoted upwardly to enable the front wall to be positioned in a storage position generally parallel to and underneath the top wall for storing the upper and lower sections of the front wall in the generally parallel, overlapped relation thereof underneath the top wall; and    an actuator connected to the upper section of the front wall, the actuator being constructed to apply a force that urges the upper section to pivot upwardly, thus facilitating the pivoting of the upper section.    
     
     
         10 . A storage system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a vertically oriented cabinet having a hinged door for accessing an interior thereof, the cabinet attached to a side of the lower housing.  
     
     
         11 . A storage system according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises at least one spring.  
     
     
         12 . A storage system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one spring is a torsion spring.  
     
     
         13 . A storage system according to  claim 9 , wherein the upper section is pivoted upwardly after the lower section is moved into the generally parallel, overlapped relation with the upper section.  
     
     
         14 . A storage system according to  claim 9 , wherein the upper section includes a rod connected to upper side edges thereof, the rod including a pair of gears fixed on opposing ends thereof, and wherein the gears are engaged in intermeshed relation with a pair of gear racks mounted to upper edges of the side walls of the housing for enabling the upper and lower sections to be moved inwardly to the storage position with the gears riding along the gear racks.