Cabinet with rotatable and hydraulically liftable tabletop

Abstract

A cabinet with a rotatable and hydraulically liftable tabletop uses a swivel means and at least one hydraulic cylinder to join a tabletop to a base cabinet. A second hydraulic cylinder additionally supports the tabletop above a caster that rolls along a circuit path about the cabinet such that the tabletop may be manipulated into a long table, tall table, or compact table configuration. The hydraulics may also be employed to lift the base cabinet off the ground such that the entire article of furniture may easily be moved like a push cart.

1 . An article of furniture comprising: 
 a base cabinet having a back, a first side and a second side;    a tabletop having a first half and a second half;    a first hydraulic cylinder that at least partially supports the first half of the tabletop at least partially above the first side of the base cabinet;    a swivel means that joins the tabletop to the base cabinet;    at least one wheel;    a second hydraulic cylinder that at least partially supports the second half of the tabletop substantially above the at least one wheel;    a hydraulic pump that can force a liquid into the hydraulic cylinders; and    a means for controlling the hydraulic pump such that a user can adjust the height of the tabletop relative to the base cabinet.    
   
   
       2 . The article of furniture of  claim 1  wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is characterized by a tube and a rod; and wherein the swivel means is characterized by an ability of the rod to turn inside of the tube.  
   
   
       3 . The article of furniture of  claim 1  wherein at least part of the first hydraulic cylinder is fixed relative to the first side of the base cabinet; and wherein the swivel means is a turntable that substantially joins the first half of the tabletop to the first hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . The article of furniture of  claim 1  wherein at least part of the first hydraulic cylinder is fixed relative to the first half of the tabletop; and wherein the swivel means is a turntable that substantially joins the first hydraulic cylinder to the first side of the base cabinet.  
   
   
       5 . The article of furniture of  claim 1  further comprising at least one roller that functions to reduce the freedom of movement of the swivel means.  
   
   
       6 . The article of furniture of  claim 1  wherein the at least one wheel is a pair of casters.  
   
   
       7 . The article of furniture of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional hydraulic cylinder that at least partially supports the tabletop.  
   
   
       8 . An article of furniture comprising: 
 a base cabinet having a back, a first side, a second side and a top;    a tabletop having a first half and a second half;    a first pair of hydraulic cylinders that at least partially supports the first half of the tabletop;    a swivel means that joins the tabletop to the base cabinet;    at least one rolling means;    a second pair of hydraulic cylinders that at least partially supports the second half of the tabletop substantially above the at least one rolling means;    a hydraulic pump that can force a liquid into the hydraulic cylinders; and    a means for controlling the hydraulic pump such that a user can adjust the height of the tabletop relative to the base cabinet.    
   
   
       9 . The article of furniture of  claim 8  further comprising a long table configuration characterized by the first half of the tabletop being substantially adjacent the first side of the cabinet base, and by the height of the tabletop being substantially in a plane defined by the top of the base cabinet.  
   
   
       10 . The article of furniture of  claim 8  further comprising a tall table configuration characterized by the tabletop being at least one hundred millimeters above and substantially parallel to the top of the base cabinet.  
   
   
       11 . The article of furniture of  claim 8  further comprising a compact table configuration characterized by the tabletop being in a position that is substantially over the top of the base cabinet.  
   
   
       12 . The article of furniture of  claim 11  further comprising at least two wheels that support the first side of the base cabinet.  
   
   
       13 . The article of furniture of  claim 11  further comprising a handle on the second side of the base cabinet; a lifting member for joining the handle to the second half of the tabletop; and wherein an upward adjustment of the height of the tabletop causes the second side of the base cabinet to be lifted by the lifting member when it is joined to the handle.  
   
   
       14 . The article of furniture of  claim 13  further comprising at least two wheels that support the first side of the base cabinet.  
   
   
       15 . The article of furniture of  claim 8  wherein the at least one rolling means is a pair of casters.  
   
   
       16 . An article of furniture comprising: 
 a base cabinet;    a tabletop;    at least one hydraulic cylinder, characterized by a tube and a rod, that at least partially supports the tabletop;    a sleeve, fastened to the base cabinet, that fits around at least part of the tube such that movement of the tube is substantially limited to rotational movement that causes the tabletop to swivel relative to the base cabinet;    a hydraulic pump that can force a liquid into the at least one hydraulic cylinder; and    a means for controlling the hydraulic pump such that a user can adjust the height of the tabletop relative to the base cabinet.    
   
   
       17 . The article of furniture of  claim 16  further comprising a swivel means that is fastened to the base cabinet and that supports weight distributed to the tube of the at least one hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       18 . The article of furniture of  claim 16  wherein the sleeve is a hollow pipe.  
   
   
       19 . The article of furniture of  claim 16  wherein the at least one hydraulic cylinder is a pair of hydraulic cylinders having their tubes joined by a bracket.  
   
   
       20 . The article of furniture of  claim 19  further comprising a swivel means that is fastened to the base cabinet and to the bracket.