Appliance with movable carriage for storing goods

Abstract

There is described a novel appliance that, on the one hand, can be used to access goods stored in the appliance while, on the other hand, can be retracted when access to the goods is not required. Preferably, the appliance is in the form of a refrigeration unit although other applications are possible (e.g., dishwasher, freezer and the like). The present appliance is well-suited to be incorporated into a counter, for example a kitchen counter.

1 . An appliance comprising: 
 a housing;    a carriage comprising at least one support element for storing goods and a cover element; and    and a non-pneumatic drive mechanism connected to the carriage and operable between (i) a retracted position in which the cover element and the housing combine to form an enclosure for the goods, and (ii) an extended position in which the cover element is spaced from the housing to allow access to the goods.    
   
   
       2 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a screw drive mechanism.  
   
   
       3 . The appliance defined in  claim 2 , wherein the screw drive mechanism comprises a rotatable threaded element and a thrust tube threadably engaged to one another.  
   
   
       4 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein a proximal portion of the drive mechanism is connected to an electric drive motor.  
   
   
       5 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the drive mechanism is connected to a proximal portion of the carriage.  
   
   
       6 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein a lift element is interposed between the carriage and the drive mechanism, the lift element comprising a base element secured to the housing and a slider element in telescoping engagement with the base element.  
   
   
       7 . The appliance defined in  claim 6 , wherein a distal portion of the lift element comprises a first locating portion for contact with a second locating portion disposed on the carriage.  
   
   
       8 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a seal interposed between the cover element and the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an insulation element to insulate the goods.  
   
   
       10 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling unit coupled to the housing for cooling an interior of the enclosure.  
   
   
       11 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a detector element for detecting interposition an object between the cover element and the housing.  
   
   
       12 . The appliance defined in  claim 11 , wherein the detector element is coupled to an interruption switch operable between a first position which causes interruption of operation of the non-pneumatic drive mechanism and a second position in which the non-pneumatic drive mechanism is operable.  
   
   
       13 . The appliance defined in  claim 12 , wherein the detector element causes the interruption switch to be in the first position an object is interposed between the cover element and the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein the carriage comprising a plurality of shelves for storing goods.  
   
   
       15 . The appliance defined in  claim 1 , wherein the carriage comprises a tubular element for receiving at least a portion of the drive mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The appliance defined in  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of shelves are engaged to the tubular element.  
   
   
       17 . An under-the-counter refrigeration unit comprising: 
 an insulated housing;    a carriage comprising at least one shelf for storing goods and a cover element;    a cooling unit coupled to the insulated housing;    and a non-pneumatic drive mechanism connected to the carriage and operable between (i) a retracted position in which the cover element and the housing combine to form an enclosure for the goods, and (ii) an extended position in which the cover element is spaced from the housing to allow access to the goods.    
   
   
       18 . The refrigeration unit defined in  claim 17 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a screw drive mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The refrigeration unit defined in  claim 18 , wherein the screw drive mechanism comprises a rotatable threaded element and a thrust tube engaged to one another.  
   
   
       20 . The refrigeration unit defined in  claim 18 , wherein the screw drive mechanism comprises a rotatable threaded element and a thrust tube threadably engaged to one another.