Method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects

Abstract

A method and system for assisting in the storage and retrieval of objects includes a pulling handle and a base that support the movement of an upper-to-lower arm across a roller mechanism. This causes the upper-to-lower arm to rise. A lower-to-upper arm pivotally hinges to upper-to-lower arm and lower-to-upper arm slides in a groove of the base to exert a general upward motion of pans occurs.

1 . A storage and retrieval unit comprising: 
 (a) a base unit having a front edge, a back edge and first and second side edges, wherein the base unit is coupled to a surface in a recessed opening of a cabinet such that the base unit may be slid into the recessed opening for storage or extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening;    (b) a rack coupled to the base unit and having features for holding stored objects in fixed orientations within the rack; and    (c) a lift mechanism coupling the rack to the base unit such that the lift mechanism has mechanical advantage for placing the rack in a first position when the base unit is slid into the recessed opening and placing the rack in a second position when the base unit is extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening for accessing the stored objects.    
   
   
       2 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the rack comprises a wire form unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.  
   
   
       3 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the rack comprises a plastic mold unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.  
   
   
       4 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism is a scissor lift with opposing pairs of pivoted scissor arms.  
   
   
       5 . The unit of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical advantage of the lift mechanism is realized with a lever with a fulcrum, an end of the lever rotatably coupled to one end of each scissor arm of each of the pairs of pivoted scissor arms.  
   
   
       6 . A method for storing and retrieving objects from a recessed opening in a cabinet type structure comprising the steps of: 
 (a) coupling a base unit to a bottom surface of the recessed opening such that the base unit may be slid into the recessed opening on guides that hold the base unit in an alignment with the recessed opening;    (b) placing objects on a rack as stored objects, wherein the rack holds the stored objects in fixed orientations within the rack; and    (c) coupling the rack to the base unit with a lift mechanism such that the lift mechanism has mechanical advantage for placing the rack in a first position when the base unit is slid into the recessed opening and placing the rack in a second position when the base unit is extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening for accessing the stored objects.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the rack comprises a wire form unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the rack comprises a plastic mold unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the lift mechanism is a scissor lift with two opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mechanical advantage of the lift mechanism is realized using a lever with a fulcrum, an end of the lever rotatably coupled to one end of a scissor arm of each of the opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.  
   
   
       11 . A component for a storage and retrieval unit comprising: 
 (a) a rack operable for coupling to a base unit and having features for holding stored objects in fixed orientations within the rack; and    (b) a lift mechanism coupled to the rack and operable for coupling the rack to the base unit such that the lift mechanism has mechanical advantage for placing the rack in a first position when the base unit is slid into a recessed opening of the base unit for storage and placing the rack in a second position when the base unit is extended and cantilevered from the recessed opening for accessing the stored objects.    
   
   
       12 . The component of  claim 11 , wherein the rack comprises a wire form unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.  
   
   
       13 . The component of  claim 11 , wherein the rack comprises a plastic mold unit with spaced supports for holding the stored objects in the fixed positions.  
   
   
       14 . The component of  claim 11 , wherein the lift mechanism is a scissor lift with two opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.  
   
   
       15 . The component of  claim 14 , wherein the mechanical advantage of the lift mechanism is realized using a lever with a fulcrum, an end of the lever rotatably coupled to one end of a scissor arm of each of the opposing center pivoted cross coupled scissor arms.