Method and apparatus for movable structure having alternative accessible sides

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a structure having a moving object are disclosed in the present application. The structure, in one embodiment, includes an object and a outside structure. A first side of outside structure is situated at a substantially fixed distance from a second side of outside structure. The structure further includes two links wherein a first end of a first link is coupled to the first side of outside structure and a second end of first link is coupled to the object. Also, a first end of a second link is coupled to the second side of outside structure and a second end of second link is coupled to the object. The object is capable of performing a rotaxial rotation in response to the first and second links.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an object having a first orientation and a second orientation;    an outer end of a first link pivotally coupled to a first location and an inner end of the first link pivotally coupled to a first location on the top side of the object; and    an outer end of a second link pivotally coupled to a second location and an inner end of the second link pivotally coupled to a second location on the top side of the object, wherein the first link, the top side of the object, and the second link are coupled in a series allowing the object to move from an original space with the first orientation and return to the original space with the second orientation.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an outer end of a third link pivotally coupled to a third location and an inner end of the third link pivotally coupled to a bottom side of the object; and    an outer end of a fourth link pivotally coupled to a fourth location and an inner end of the fourth link pivotally coupled to the bottom side of the object.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a first support member coupled to the first location and a second end of first support member coupled to the third location; and    a first end of a second support member coupled to the second location and a second end of second support member coupled to the fourth location, wherein the first support member is situated at a substantially fixed distance from the second support member.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the object is a storage structure.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a first torsion bar coupled to the outer end of the first link; and    a second end of said first torsion bar coupled to the outer end of the third link, wherein said first torsion bar provides substantial synchronous movement between the first and third links.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a second torsion bar coupled to the outer end of the second link; and    a second end of said second torsion bar coupled to the outer end of the fourth link, wherein said second torsion bar provides substantial synchronous movement between the second and fourth links.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the object is capable of performing a rotaxial movement in response to the first and second links, wherein the rotaxial movement includes a compound motion that allows the object to move from original space with the first orientation and return to the original space with the second orientation.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a first low-friction contact device coupled to the third link for support of the third link; and    a second low-friction contact device coupled to the fourth link for support of the fourth link.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a storage device having one storage section, wherein the storage section is on the first orientation of the object.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a storage device having two separate storage sections, wherein one storage section is on the first orientation of the object and another storage section is on the second orientation of the object.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an outside structure having a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member, wherein the first vertical support member is placed at a substantially fixed distance from the second vertical support member of the outside structure;    a first end of a first link coupled to a top end of the first vertical support member and a second end of the first link coupled to a first location of a top plate;    a first end of a second link coupled to a top end of the second vertical support member and a second end of the second link coupled to a second location of the top plate; and    an object coupled to the top plate, wherein the first link, the top plate, and the second link are coupled in a series allowing the object to move from original space with a first orientation and to return to the original space with a second orientation.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a third link coupled to a bottom end of the first vertical support member and a second end of the third link coupled to a first end of a bottom plate;    a first end of a fourth link coupled to a bottom end of the second vertical support member and a second end of the fourth link coupled to a second end of the bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate is coupled to the object.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the object is a storage device, wherein the storage device includes two storage sections.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a first torsion bar coupled to the first end of the first link; and    a second end of the first torsion bar coupled to the first end of the third link, wherein the first torsion bar assists substantial synchronous movement between the first and third links.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a second torsion bar coupled to the first end of the second link; and    a second end of the second torsion bar coupled to the first end of the fourth link, wherein the second torsion bar provides substantial synchronous movement between the second and fourth links.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a first low friction contact device coupled to the first link for support of the third link; and    a second low friction contact device coupled to the fourth link for support of the fourth link.    
     
     
         17 . A method for moving an object comprising: 
 coupling a first end of a first link pivotally to a first support member;    coupling a first end of a second link pivotally to a second support member;    coupling a second end of the first link pivotally to a first location on the first surface of an object;    coupling a second end of the second link pivotally to a second location on said first surface of the object;    moving the object through a pre-defined trajectory from original space occupied by the object with a first orientation; and    returning the object back to the original space with a second orientation.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 attaching a first end of a third link pivotally to the first support member; and    coupling a second end of the third link pivotally to a second surface of the object.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 attaching a first end of a fourth link pivotally to the second support member; and    coupling a second end of the fourth link pivotally to the second surface of the object.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 attaching a first end of a first torsion bar to the first end of the first link; and    attaching a second end of the first torsion bar to the first end of the third link, wherein attaching the first torsion bar further includes synchronizing movement between the first link and the third link.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 attaching a first end of a second torsion bar to the first end of the second link; and    attaching a second end of said second torsion bar to the first end of the fourth link, wherein attaching said second torsion bar further includes synchronizing movement between the second link and the fourth link.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus of moving an object comprising: 
 means for coupling a first end of a first link pivotally to a first support member;    means for coupling a first end of a second link pivotally to a second support member;    means for coupling a second end of the first link pivotally to a first location on a first surface of an object;    means for coupling a second end of the second link pivotally to a second location on said first surface of the object; and    means for moving the object through a pre-defined trajectory from original space occupied by the object with a first orientation; and    means for returning back to the original space with a second orientation of the object.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 means for attaching a first end of a third link pivotally to the first support member; and    means for coupling a second end of the third link pivotally to a second surface of the object.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 means for attaching a first end of a fourth link pivotally to the second support member; and    means for coupling a second end of the fourth link pivotally to the second surface of the object.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 means for attaching a first end of a first torsion bar to the first end of the first link; and    means for attaching a second end of the first torsion bar to the first end of the third link, wherein attaching the first torsion bar further includes synchronizing movement between the first link and the third link.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 means for attaching a first end of a second torsion bar to the first end of the second link; and    means for attaching a second end of the second torsion bar to the first end of the fourth link, wherein attaching the second torsion bar further includes synchronizing movement between the second link and the fourth link.    
     
     
         27 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a structure having a first location and a second location, wherein the second location of the structure is situated at a substantially fixed distance from the first location of structure;    a moveable orientable object;    a first link having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first link is coupled to the first location of structure and the second end of first link is coupled to a first location on the object; and    a second link having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second link is coupled to the second location of the structure; and the second end of the second link is coupled to a second location on the object, wherein the first location is physically different location from the second location on the object.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the object is capable of being held at a nominal space in a first nominal position and in a first nominal orientation; and wherein the object is capable of moving from the nominal space in a first position with the first nominal orientation in compound motion to a second position.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the object is capable of finishing the compound motion of the object in second position such that the object is occupying substantially same nominal space with second nominal orientation; and wherein the object is capable of being held in the second position and the second orientation.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the object is capable of moving in compound motion from the second position with the second orientation to the first position; and wherein the object is capable of finishing the compound motion of the object in the first position such that the object is occupying substantially same nominal space with the first nominal orientation.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a third link is coupled to the structure at a location corresponding to the first location of the structure; and    a second end of the third link is coupled to the object at a location on the object corresponding to the first location on the object, wherein motion of the third link corresponds to motion of the first link.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 a first end of a fourth link is coupled to the structure at a location corresponding to the second location of the structure; and    a second end of the fourth link is coupled to the object at a location on the object corresponding to the second location on the object, wherein motion of the fourth link corresponds to motion of the second link.    
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , 
 wherein the object is capable of being held at a nominal space with a first nominal position and a first nominal orientation;    wherein the object is capable of moving from the nominal space with the first position and the first nominal orientation in compound motion to second alternate position;    wherein the object is capable of finishing the compound motion of the object in second alternate position such that the object is occupying substantially same the nominal space with second nominal orientation;    wherein the object is capable of being held in the second position and the second orientation;    wherein the object is capable of moving in compound motion from the second position and the second orientation to the first nominal position; and    wherein the object is capable of finishing the compound motion of the object in the first nominal position such that the object is occupying substantially same nominal space with the first nominal orientation in response to the third and fourth links.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 a first end of a first bar coupled to the first link and a second end of first bar is coupled to third link.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising: 
 a first end of a second bar coupled to the second link and a second end of second bar coupled to the fourth link; wherein the first and second bars assist the object to perform a rotaxial motion.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , 
 wherein the object is capable of being held at a nominal space in a first nominal position in a first nominal orientation;    wherein the object is capable of moving from the nominal space and the first position and the first nominal orientation in compound motion to second alternate position;    wherein the object is capable of finishing the compound motion of the object in second alternate position such that the object is occupying substantially same the nominal space with second nominal orientation;    wherein the object is capable of being held in the second position and the second orientation;    wherein the object is capable of moving in compound motion from the second position and the second orientation to the first nominal position; and    wherein the object is capable of finishing the compound motion of the object in the first nominal position such that the object is occupying same the nominal space with the first nominal orientation.    
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the object is a storage structure, wherein said structure has at least one side for storing objects.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the first end of first link is pivotally attached to the first location of structure and the first end of second link is pivotally attached to the second location of structure.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the second end of first link is pivotally attached to the third location on object and the second end of second link is pivotally attached to the third location on object.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the links are located at the top of the object.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a support means for supporting at least one link.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the support means includes one of wheels, slides, and bearings.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , 
 wherein the object has two sides;    wherein the object is a storage device having two separate storage sections; and    wherein one storage section is on the first side of object and another storage section is on the second side of object.    
     
     
         44 . A device having more than one access sides comprising: 
 a movable structure for holding at least one article;    means for holding the movable structure, wherein the means for holding includes a linkage mechanism of at least one link;    wherein the movable structure is capable of performing a rotaxial motion; and    wherein the rotaxial motion includes a compound motion that allows the structure to return to the same space at the end of motion with one of many predefined orientations.    
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the movable structure is a cabinet having a front storage section and a back storage section.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the linkage mechanism includes a first link and a second link.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , 
 wherein the two-link mechanism includes a third link, wherein the first, second, and third links are movable and serially connected; and    wherein two outside links are pivotally coupled.    
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 44 , further comprising a second two-link mechanism located at opposite side of movable structure, wherein the second two link mechanism includes a third link and a fourth link.  
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the first link of the first two-link mechanism is rigidly connected to corresponding third link of the two link second mechanism.  
     
     
         50 . The device  claim 44 , wherein the means for holding the movable structure further includes a motor system for facilitating rotaxial motion automatically.  
     
     
         51 . A method for providing a structure having moveable object comprising: 
 coupling first location of the object to first corresponding location of the structure by linkage of at least one link;    coupling second location of the object to second corresponding location of the structure by linkage of at least one link;    holding the object at a nominal space in first nominal position in first nominal orientation;    moving the object from the nominal space and the first position and the first nominal orientation in compound motion to second position;    finishing the compound motion of the object in second position such that the object occupies substantially same nominal space with second nominal orientation;    holding the object in the second position and the second orientation;    moving the object in compound motion from the second position and the second orientation to the first nominal position;    finishing the compound motion of the object in the first nominal position such that the object occupies substantially same nominal space with the first nominal orientation.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising accessing the object via a third orientation during motion from one alternate position to another alternate position.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 attaching a second end of first link to a first support; and    attaching a second end of second link to a second support.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein moving the object through a trajectory away from its original space with rotaxial motion further includes transporting the object by moving object axis along a predefined trajectory while the object rotates around its axis.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein changing orientation of the object further includes rotating the object by moving object axis along a predefined trajectory while the object rotates around its axis.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein moving the object back to its original space further includes rotating the object back to its original space by moving object axis along a predefined trajectory while the object rotates around its axis.