Height adjustable lazy susan shelf

Abstract

A height adjustment mechanism ( 170 ) is disclosed for use in a lazy susan-like device ( 100 ). The mechanism ( 170 ) includes an adjustment nut ( 172 ) coupled to a bearing pin ( 256 ) and a release pin assembly ( 215 ). Rotation of a shelf ( 136 ) causes the adjustment nut ( 172 ) to rotate and move linearly along a support pole ( 102 ) through threaded engagement with the bearing pin ( 256 ).

1 . A lazy susan-like apparatus adapted for use in supporting items and facilitating access to said items by a user, said apparatus comprising: 
 at least one shelf;    support means for supporting said apparatus and for supporting said shelf;    a height adjustment mechanism, said mechanism comprising: 
 mechanism securing means for coupling said support means to said height adjustment mechanism; and  
 threaded means threadably coupled to said mechanism securing means, so that rotational movement of said threaded means about said support means causes said threaded means to move linearly along said support mean.  
   
     
     
         2 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said height adjustment mechanism further comprises shelf support means for supporting said shelf on said height adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         3 - 26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises a nut assembly adapted to fit around said support means, and comprising internal threads; and    said mechanism securing means is adapted to threadably engage said internal threads.    
     
     
         28 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing adapted to be coupled to said support means.  
     
     
         29 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said height adjustment mechanism further comprises shelf support means for supporting said shelf on said height adjustment mechanism in a manner so that said shelf is capable of rotation relative to said threaded means.  
     
     
         30 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having a substantially cylindrical configuration with an internal core received on said support means, and internal threads forming an interior surface of said internal core.  
     
     
         31 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing coupled to said support means;    said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut positioned on said support means and comprising internal threads; and    said bearing is adapted to be received within said internal threads, and interaction between said bearing and said internal threads during rotation of said adjustment nut causes positional adjustment of said adjustment nut longitudinally along said support means.    
     
     
         32 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads, said threads being formed as two, nonintersecting helical paths.  
     
     
         33 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said support means comprises a centralized support pole; and    said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut sized and configured so as to securely fit around said centralized support pole.    
     
     
         34 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads; and    said adjustment nut comprises a plurality of elongated and physically separable nut segments.    
     
     
         35 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises a nut assembly adapted to fit around said support means, and comprising internal threads;    said mechanism securing means is adapted to threadably engage said internal threads; and    said internal threads are configured so as to provide dual leads.    
     
     
         36 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut formed from a plurality of nut segments, with said nut segments molded in a straight draw action.  
     
     
         37 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut adapted to be received on said centralized support pole;    said apparatus further comprises a sleeve having a hollow and substantially cylindrical interior, and sized and configured so as to snuggly receive said adjustment nut through a central aperture of said sleeve; and    at least a subset of said nut segments comprise means for providing a positive locking of said sleeve onto to said nut segments.    
     
     
         38 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said support means comprises a centralized support pole; and    said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing pin adapted to be received through apertures extending through said support pole.    
     
     
         39 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing pin positioned on said support means at a predetermined longitudinal location along said support means;    said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut; and    rotation of said adjustment nut relative to said support means causes engagement of said bearing pin with said internal threads, so that further rotation of said adjustment nut relative to said support means causes said adjustment nut to move longitudinally along said support means, as a result of relative interaction between said bearing pin and said internal threads.    
     
     
         40 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut; and    rotation of said adjustment nut relative to said support means in one direction will cause said adjustment nut to move upwardly relative to said support means, while rotation of said adjustment nut in an opposing direction will cause said adjustment nut to move downwardly relative to said support means.    
     
     
         41 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut; and    said adjustment nut comprises a plurality of elongated nut segments.    
     
     
         42 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut, and said adjustment nut comprises a plurality of elongated nut segments;    each nut segment having a cross-sectional configuration in the form of a circular arc;    at least one of said elongated nut segments comprises a nut segment notch projecting inwardly from at least one edge of said at least one nut segment; and    at least one of said nut segments comprises a nut segment lug projecting outwardly from an edge of said at least one nut segment.    
     
     
         43 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut, and said adjustment nut comprises a plurality of nut segments;    said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    for purposes of installation and assembly of said nut segments on said centralized support pole, individual ones of said nut segments are brought together so as to encircle said support pole:    each nut segment is coupled to a pair of others of said nut segments; and    said coupling of said nut segments occurs by interconnecting insertion of nut segment lugs into nut segment notches.    
     
     
         44 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 43 , characterized in that said internal threads are formed with reverse lead sections, said sections functioning as partial detents formed in said internal threads, so as to permit said shelf to be indexed at desired heights along said support means, and to further permit radial indexing of said adjustment nut relative to said support means.  
     
     
         45 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 44 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut;    said top cap comprises at least one locking tab;    said adjustment nut comprises at least one nut slot at an upper portion thereof; and    said locking tab is adapted to be received within said nut slot when said top cap is received on said upper portion of said adjustment nut, so that an interlocking relationship exists between said locking tab and said nut slot to prevent any substantial relative rotational movement between said top cap and said adjustment nut.    
     
     
         46 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprise an adjustment nut having internal threads; and    said internal threads are constructed so as to form a pair of non-intersecting helical paths.    
     
     
         47 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads; and    said internal threads are formed and constructed with an irregular pitch.    
     
     
         48 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut, and said apparatus further comprises: 
 means for indexing said shelf relative to said adjustment nut; and    means for indexing said adjustment nut relative to said support means.    
     
     
         49 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut; and    said apparatus further comprises an inner tube or sleeve having a hollow cylindrical configuration, and sized and configured so that said tube or sleeve snuggly receives said adjustment nut.    
     
     
         50 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 49 , characterized in that said apparatus further comprises: 
 an outer tube or sleeve; and    said outer tube or sleeve comprises a longitudinal length so as to ensure that said inner tube or sleeve is at least partially received within said outer tube or sleeve, and not interfere with said adjustment nut at all practical adjustment heights for said shelf.    
     
     
         51 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said shelf comprises at least one detent located on a lower portion thereof; and said apparatus further comprises at least one stud located on an upper portion thereof, said stud being sized and configured so as to be at least partially receivable within said detent of said shelf.    
     
     
         52 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 51 , characterized in that: 
 said height adjustment mechanism further comprises shelf engagement means for engaging said shelf with said height adjustment mechanism;    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch mechanism, said release catch mechanism comprising a release catch;    when at least one of said studs are positioned in at least one particular one of said detents, said release catch is located directly below a mating feature in said shelf;    when said release catch mechanism is in a disengaged state, said release catch is disengaged from said mating feature, and said shelf is free to rotate about said support means on said studs, independent of said height adjustment mechanism; and    when said release catch mechanism is in an engaged state, said release catch engages said mating feature, and said shelf is therein prevented from any rotation independent of said adjustment nut.    
     
     
         53 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 52 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut;    said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    rotational forces manually exerted on said shelf will cause rotation of said adjustment nut, through engagement of said release catch with said mating feature when said release catch mechanism is in said engaged state;    said rotation of said nut will cause said nut to move upwardly or downwardly along said centralized support pole, through threaded engagement of a bearing with said threaded means; and    said upward or downward movement of said adjustment nut along said support pole causes a vertical height of said shelf to be adjusted along said support pole.    
     
     
         54 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut;    said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing adapted to be coupled to said support means; and    said height adjustment mechanism further comprises means for biasing said adjustment nut to discreet and fixed height increments, relative to a positional location of said bearing along said support pole.    
     
     
         55 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 54 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads;    said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    said height adjustment mechanism further comprises shelf engagement means for engaging said shelf with said height adjustment mechanism;    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch mechanism, said release catch mechanism comprising a release catch;    said shelf comprising at least one detent located on a lower portion thereof;    said apparatus further comprising at least one stud located on an upper portion thereof, said stud being sized and configured so as to be at least partially receivable within said detent of said shelf;    said means for biasing said adjustment nut further comprising: 
 a set of partial detents formed within nut segments of said adjustment nut, so as to bias said nut to said discreet and fixed height increments, relative to said bearing pin;  
 a partial detent between said shelf and said at least one stud which is configured so that externally applied forces required to overcome said partial detent between said shelf and said stud are less than the forces necessary to overcome said partial detents between said adjustment nut and said centralized support pole, thereby ensuring that when said release catch mechanism is in a disengaged state and said shelf is rotated, said partial detent between said adjustment nut and said centralized support pole will be maintained.  
   
     
     
         56 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment having internal threads; and    said internal threads comprise a thread pitch of approximately 1.5 inches per revolution.    
     
     
         57 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads; and    said internal threads comprise an irregular pitch having certain sections of reverse lead, acting as partial detents.    
     
     
         58 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads; and    said internal threads are formed as dual leads, with said internal threads comprising a pair of non-intersecting helical paths.    
     
     
         59 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 58 , characterized in that said bearing comprises an extrusion formed in said support means.  
     
     
         60 . A lazy-susan like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut;    said adjustment nut comprises a single helix nut; and    said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing protruding from only one side of said support means.    
     
     
         61 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 60 , characterized in that said bearing comprises a stud welded to said support means.  
     
     
         62 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said height adjustment mechanism further comprises shelf engagement means for engaging said shelf with said height adjustment mechanism, so that rotational forces exerted of said shelf cause said threaded means to move linearly along said support means.  
     
     
         63 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means provides for selective engagement by a user of said shelf with said height adjustment mechanism.  
     
     
         64 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said shelf engagement means is structurally positionable in a first engagement state and alternatively structurally positionable in a second disengagement state;    when said shelf engagement means is in said first engagement state, external forces exerted on said shelf so as to rotate said shelf cause corresponding forces to be translated through said shelf engagement means, so as to correspondingly rotate said threaded means; and    when said shelf engagement means is in said second disengagement state, said shelf is substantially free to rotate independent of said threaded means.    
     
     
         65 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly for selectively engaging said shelf with said height adjustment mechanism, so that said rotational movement of said threaded means causes said shelf to move linearly along said support means, and for further selectively disengaging said shelf from said height adjustment mechanism, so that said shelf is substantially free to rotate about said support means independent of rotation of said threaded means.  
     
     
         66 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    said mechanism securing means comprise a bearing coupled to said centralized support pole;    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch manually manipulable into an engaged state with said shelf, so that rotation of said shelf correspondingly causes a rotation of said height adjustment mechanism about said bearing and said centralized support pole, thereby adjusting a relative height of said shelf along said centralized support pole; and    disengagement of said release catch from said shelf permits said shelf to be rotated independently of said height adjustment mechanism.    
     
     
         67 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing pin coupled to said centralized support pole;    said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut having internal threads threadably coupled to said bearing pin, so that rotational movement of said adjustment nut about said centralized support pole causes said adjustment nut to move linearly along said centralized support pole; and    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch mechanism for engaging said shelf and said height adjustment mechanism, so that rotational movement of said shelf causes said adjustment nut to move linearly along said support means.    
     
     
         68 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises an adjustment nut;    said mechanism securing means comprises a bearing pin;    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch mechanism having an engaged state and a disengaged state;    said support means comprises a centralized support pole;    said height adjustment mechanism further comprises a top cap adapted to be received at an upper portion of said adjustment nut, with said top cap having shelf support means for supporting said shelf above said adjustment nut;    said adjustment nut is received on said centralized support pole;    said top cap is coupled to said adjustment nut through means for locking    said top cap to said adjustment nut;    said bearing pin is inserted into at least one aperture located on said centralized support pole;    upon initial assembly, said adjustment nut can be moved downwardly on said centralized support pole until said bearing pin is received within a bottom portion of said adjustment nut, so that rotation of said adjustment nut relative to said centralized support pole and said bearing pin causes said adjustment nut to move longitudinally along said centralized support pole, as a result of relative interaction between said bearing pin and said adjustment nut within which said bearing pin resides; and    said relative interaction between said bearing pin and said threaded means results in rotation of said adjustment nut in one direction causing said nut to move upwardly relative to said centralized support pole, while rotation in an opposing direction causes said adjustment nut to move downwardly relative to said centralized support pole.    
     
     
         69 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly having a release catch attached to said shelf, with said release catch being manually movable by a user between an engaged state and a disengaged state in a horizontal direction.  
     
     
         70 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly operable by a user between engaged and disengaged states; and    said release catch assembly is coupled to said threaded means and manually operable in a rotating or pivotable motion so as to be moved between said engaged and said disengaged states.    
     
     
         71 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly attached to a bottom portion of said shelf, and comprising a release catch having a translational motion to move between engaged and disengaged states.  
     
     
         72 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly attached to a bottom portion of said shelf, said release catch assembly comprising a release catch being capable of rotational motion so as to move between engaged and disengaged states.  
     
     
         73 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises a nut assembly adapted to fit around said support means;    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly attached to said nut assembly; and    said release catch assembly comprises a release catch having a translational motion so as to move between engaged and disengaged states.    
     
     
         74 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises a nut assembly adapted to fit around said support means;    said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly attached to said nut assembly; and    said release catch assembly comprises a release catch having a rotational motion so as to move between engaged and disengaged states.    
     
     
         75 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly, said release catch assembly comprising a remote actuator manually operable by a user so as to move said engagement means between engaged and disengaged states without requiring said user to manipulate any elements adjacent said support means.  
     
     
         76 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that: 
 said threaded means comprises a nut assembly fitting around said support means, and including internal threads;    said nut assembly is adapted to rotate about said support means, as said mechanism securing means is threadably engaged with said internal threads; and    during rotation of said nut assembly about said support means, and during threadable engagement of said mechanism securing means with said internal threads, said mechanism securing means remains substantially stationary relative to said support means.    
     
     
         77 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch assembly, said release catch assembly comprising: 
 a top cap positioned substantially above said threaded means and secured thereto;    a release catch housing connected to said top cap;    a release catch mechanism substantially received within said release catch housing;    said release catch mechanism comprising a release catch manually operable by a user between first and second positions; and    when said release catch is in said first position, said threaded means is engaged with said shelf, and when said release catch is in said second position, said threaded means is disengaged from said shelf.    
     
     
         78 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 77 , characterized in that said release catch mechanism is maintained in said first engaged state, absent application of external forces, through elements having magnetic properties.  
     
     
         79 . A lazy susan-like apparatus in accordance with  claim 62 , characterized in that said shelf engagement means comprises a release catch mechanism, said release catch mechanism comprising: 
 a release catch; and    means connected to said release catch and manually operable by a user so as to move said release catch between a first engaged state, wherein rotation of said shelf will correspondingly translate into linear movement of said threaded means along said support means, and a second disengaged state, wherein said shelf is rotatable independent of any rotation or linear movement of said threaded means along said support means.    
     
     
         80 . A threaded mechanism for selectively moving an object axially along the length of an elongated shaft, said mechanism comprising: 
 securing means for coupling said shaft to said threaded mechanism;    an adjustment nut mounted around said shaft and comprising at least one internal thread, said internal thread having an irregular pitch;    object engagement means for selectively engaging said object with said adjustment nut, so that movement of said object causes said adjustment nut to rotate about said support means;    said adjustment nut is threadably coupled to said securing means, so that rotational movement of said adjustment nut causes said adjustment nut to move linearly along said shaft; and    when said object engagement means is selectively engaging said object with said adjustment nut, linear movement of said adjustment nut along said shaft correspondingly causes linear movement of said object along said shaft.    
     
     
         81 . A threaded mechanism in accordance with  claim 79 , characterized in that: 
 said securing means comprises a bearing coupled to said shaft and adapted to be received within said at least one internal thread; and    said object engagement means is positionable in an engagement state and a disengagement state, so that when said object engagement means is in said engagement state, movement of said object causes said adjustment nut to rotate about said shaft, and when said object engagement means is in said disengagement state, said object is free to move independent of said adjustment nut.    
     
     
         82 . A threaded mechanism in accordance with  claim 79 , characterized in that said adjustment nut comprises a pair of nonintersecting internal threads.  
     
     
         83 . A threaded mechanism in accordance with  claim 79 , characterized in that said at least one internal thread is molded in a plurality of segments.