Furniture system

Abstract

One of the inventor's concepts is a furniture system comprising first and second articles of furniture and a hoist. The hoist raises the first article of furniture. The second article of furniture fits the freed space underneath enhancing its utilization. Another of the inventor's concepts is a freestanding frame to support a hoist that can raise an article of furniture. The system can be installed without the aid of a contractor and without damaging ceilings or walls. The frame can be a cabinet. A cabinet allows the furniture to be stored against a wall or as a room partition while hiding the stored furniture from view. These concepts can be used to increase the utility of a room. Multiple articles of furniture having different uses can be stored in one or more cabinets and or closets and selectively removed to adapt the room to one or another function.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A furniture system, comprising:
 at least one frame having an upper portion and a lower portion;   at least one hoist adapted to be supported by the at least one frame;   a plurality of first articles of furniture located in the upper portion of the at least one frame; and   at least one second article of furniture located in the lower portion of the at least one frame,   wherein the plurality of first articles are adapted to be raised and lowered from the upper portion to the lowered portion by the at least one hoist, and   wherein the at least one second article is adapted to be movable within the lower portion of the at least one frame to create space for at least one of the plurality of first articles to be lowered to the lower portion.   
   
   
       22 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one second article of furniture is on rollers; and the plurality of first articles of furniture are adapted to readily couple with and decouple from the hoist. 
   
   
       23 . The furniture system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one frame fits against a flat wall substantially within a space extending no more than about 30″ from the wall. 
   
   
       24 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first and the second articles of furniture are selected from the group consisting of cases of shelves, desks, file cabinets, tables, bureaus, and armoires, and bars.   
   
   
       25 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , wherein the system is adapted for use in an apartment or single-family home living space selected from the group consisting of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. 
   
   
       26 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one frame further includes doors. 
   
   
       27 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one frame is from 8 to 10 feet tall. 
   
   
       28 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one frame spans a floor to ceiling height. 
   
   
       29 . The furniture system of  claim 21 , the plurality of first articles includes three pieces of first articles; and the at least one second article includes two pieces of second articles.