Equipment Support Cabinet with Slide-Out Top and Sliding Drawer

Abstract

A cabinet for supporting items on its top and removably supporting other items underneath the top. The cabinet has an open-front base assembly having two generally vertical side panels and defining an interior volume between the side panels, and a top assembly coupled to and slidable relative to the base assembly. The top assembly has a top shelf member and a top shelf member support structure coupled to the top shelf member to support the top shelf member. The top assembly is adapted to be moved from a stowed position in which the top shelf member is over the two side panels of the base assembly, to an open position in which the top shelf member is at least partially removed from its position over the two side panels of the base assembly, to allow top access into the interior volume of the base assembly. The cabinet also has a drawer assembly slidably received within the base assembly and including a lower shelf. The drawer assembly is adapted to be located such that its support surface is within the base assembly interior volume in a stowed position, and such that the lower shelf is at least partially removable from the cabinet base assembly interior volume into an open position, to provide access to the lower shelf from the front of the cabinet.

1 . A cabinet for supporting items on its top and removably supporting other items underneath the top, the cabinet comprising:
 an open-front base assembly having two generally vertical side panels and defining an interior volume between the side panels;   a top assembly coupled to and slidable relative to the base assembly, the top assembly comprising a top shelf member and a top shelf member support structure coupled to the top shelf member to support the top shelf member, the top assembly adapted to be moved from a stowed position in which the top shelf member is over the two side panels of the base assembly, to an open position in which the top shelf member is at least partially removed from its position over the two side panels of the base assembly, to allow top access into the interior volume of the base assembly; and   a drawer assembly slidably received within the base assembly and comprising a support surface, the drawer assembly adapted to be located such that its support surface is within the base assembly interior volume in a stowed position, and such that the support surface is at least partially removable from the cabinet base assembly interior volume into an open position, to provide access to the support surface.   
   
   
       2 . The cabinet of  claim 1  in which the cabinet is free-standing. 
   
   
       3 . The cabinet of  claim 1  in which the base assembly defines an open front between the side panels that receives the drawer assembly in its stowed position. 
   
   
       4 . The cabinet of  claim 1  in which the base assembly further comprises two spaced horizontal slides, one proximate the top of each side panel. 
   
   
       5 . The cabinet of  claim 4  in which the top shelf member is coupled to the slides, to allow the top assembly to be slid between its stowed and open positions. 
   
   
       6 . The cabinet of  claim 5  in which the base assembly further comprises front and rear horizontal supports that are coupled to the side panels and that support the slides. 
   
   
       7 . The cabinet of  claim 1  in which the top shelf member has a front edge, and the top assembly support structure is coupled to the top shelf member proximate its front edge. 
   
   
       8 . The cabinet of  claim 7  in which the top assembly support structure comprises left and right essentially vertical support members. 
   
   
       9 . The cabinet of  claim 8  in which the left and right essentially vertical support members define a front open area that accepts the drawer assembly in its stowed position. 
   
   
       10 . The cabinet of  claim 8  in which the left and right essentially vertical support members each carry a caster, to allow the top assembly to be rolled between its stowed and open positions. 
   
   
       11 . The cabinet of  claim 1  in which the top shelf member is generally horizontal and is slidingly engaged with the base assembly. 
   
   
       12 . The cabinet of  claim 1  in which the drawer assembly support surface comprises a generally horizontal lower shelf. 
   
   
       13 . The cabinet of  claim 12  in which when the drawer assembly is in the stowed position the lower shelf is close to the bottom of the interior volume of the base assembly, so that most of the volume is available to hold items located on the shelf. 
   
   
       14 . A cabinet for supporting items on its top and removably supporting other items underneath the top, the cabinet comprising:
 an open-front base assembly having two generally vertical side panels, and defining an interior volume between the side panels that communicates with an open front between the side panels, the base assembly further comprising two spaced horizontal slides, one proximate the top of each side panel;   a rolling and sliding top assembly coupled to and slidable relative to the slides of the base assembly, the top assembly comprising left and right essentially vertical support members each carrying a caster at a lower end and supporting a generally horizontal top shelf member at an upper end, the top shelf member coupled to the slides of the base assembly, the top assembly adapted to be slid from a stowed position in which the top shelf member is over the two side panels of the base assembly, to an open position in which the top shelf member is at least partially removed from its position over the two side panels of the base assembly, to allow top access into the interior volume of the base assembly; and   a drawer assembly slidably received within the base assembly and comprising a support surface, the drawer assembly adapted to be located such that its support surface is within the base assembly interior volume in a stowed position, and such that the support surface is at least partially removable from the cabinet base assembly interior volume into an open position, to provide access to the support surface.   
   
   
       15 . The cabinet of  claim 14  in which the cabinet is free-standing. 
   
   
       16 . The cabinet of  claim 15  in which in which the base assembly further comprises front and rear horizontal supports that are coupled to the side panels and that support the slides. 
   
   
       17 . The cabinet of  claim 16  in which the top shelf member has a front edge, and the left and right essentially vertical support members are coupled to the top shelf member proximate its front edge. 
   
   
       18 . The cabinet of  claim 17  which the left and right essentially vertical support members define a front open area that accepts the drawer assembly in its stowed position. 
   
   
       19 . A cabinet for supporting items on its top and removably supporting other items underneath the top, the cabinet comprising:
 a rolling, open-front base assembly having two generally vertical side panels and defining an interior volume between the side panels;   a top shelf member carried by the base assembly; and   a drawer assembly slidably received within the base assembly and comprising a support surface, the drawer assembly adapted to be located such that its support surface is within the base assembly interior volume in a stowed position, and such that the support surface is at least partially removable from the cabinet base assembly interior volume into an open position, to provide access to the support surface.   
   
   
       20 . The cabinet of  claim 19  in which when the drawer assembly is in the stowed position the support surface is close to the bottom of the interior volume of the base assembly, so that most of the volume is available to hold items located on the support surface.