Wheelchair accessible cabinet apparatus

Abstract

A system and method for a moveable cabinet apparatus. The cabinet apparatus includes a vertical bin having a shelving arrangement. The shelving arrangement is accessible from a first side of the vertical bin, and the vertical bin has an upper position and a lower position. The upper position is vertically offset from the lower position. The method involves the vertical bin movement being controlled by activating a motor to move the vertical bin between the upper position and the lower position. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

1 . A moveable cabinet apparatus comprising:
 a vertical bin including a shelving arrangement accessible from a first side of the vertical bin, the vertical bin having an upper position and a lower position, the upper position being vertically offset from the lower position;   a suspension mechanism mechanically coupling the vertical bin to a recessed location of a vertical wall, the suspension mechanism having two arms, each arm having a first end mechanically coupled to an exterior of the vertical bin and a second end mechanically coupled to a motor disposed within the recessed location of the vertical wall, wherein the bin is moveable between the upper position and the lower position while the shelving arrangement remains accessible from the first side of the vertical bin, the motor of the suspension mechanism being configured to move at least a chain that is mechanically coupled between the motor and the second end of each arm; and   the suspension mechanism including a thread and bolt arrangement that is configured to prevent undesirable bin movement as well as to create a gap between the vertical bin and the vertical wall when the vertical bin is moved into the lower position through chain movement by the motor;   wherein, the vertical bin movement is controlled by activating the motor to move the vertical bin between the upper position and the lower position by means of the chain.   
   
   
       2 . The moveable cabinet apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suspension mechanism includes gear teeth mechanically coupled to the second end of the arms of the suspension mechanism. 
   
   
       3 . The moveable cabinet apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the gear teeth are engaged with a gear rack positioned within the recessed location of the vertical wall. 
   
   
       4 . The moveable cabinet apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suspension mechanism includes a spring mounted in the suspension mechanism to provide tension with the arms as they are used to support weight of the vertical bin. 
   
   
       5 . The moveable cabinet apparatus of  claim 4  wherein each arm includes a sliding carriage that interacts with the spring to reduce tension of the spring as the vertical bin moves from the upper position to the lower position. 
   
   
       6 . The moveable cabinet apparatus of  claim 5  wherein a cable is mechanically coupled between the spring and the sliding carriage of each of the arms, wherein the vertical bin is stabilized regardless of a position of the vertical bin. 
   
   
       7 . A method of moving a cabinet apparatus between an upper position and a lower position, the method comprising:
 activating a motor of a suspension mechanism, the suspension mechanism supporting a vertical bin at a recessed location of a vertical wall, the suspension mechanism having two arms, each arm having a first end mechanically coupled to an exterior of the vertical bin and a second end mechanically coupled to a motor disposed within the recessed location of the vertical wall, wherein the vertical bin is moveable by the motor between the upper position and the lower position while a shelving arrangement of the vertical bin remains accessible from a first side of the vertical bin, the motor of the suspension mechanism being configured to move at least a chain that is mechanically coupled between the motor and the second end of each arm; and   maintaining substantially constant chain tension between the vertical bin and the arms of the suspension mechanism as the vertical bin moves from the upper position to the lower position, the substantially constant chain tension being created by a thread and bolt arrangement that is configured to prevent undesirable bin movement as well as to create a gap between the vertical bin and the vertical wall when the vertical bin is moved into the lower position through chain movement by the motor.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the suspension mechanism includes gear teeth mechanically coupled to the second end of the arms of the suspension mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising engaging the gear teeth with a gear rack positioned within the recessed location of the vertical wall. 
   
   
       10 . A moveable cabinet apparatus comprising:
 a vertical bin including a shelving arrangement accessible from a first side of the vertical bin, the vertical bin having an upper position and a lower position, the upper position being vertically offset from the lower position;   a suspension mechanism mechanically coupling the vertical bin to a recessed location of a vertical wall, the suspension mechanism having two arms, each arm having a first end mechanically coupled to an exterior of the vertical bin and a second end mechanically coupled to a motor disposed within the recessed location of the vertical wall, wherein the bin is moveable between the upper position and the lower position while the shelving arrangement remains accessible from the first side of the vertical bin, the motor of the suspension mechanism being configured to move at least a chain that is mechanically coupled between the motor and the second end of each arm;   the suspension mechanism including a thread and bolt arrangement that is configured to prevent undesirable bin movement as well as to create a gap between the vertical bin and the vertical wall when the vertical bin is moved into the lower position through chain movement by the motor;   the suspension mechanism also including gear teeth mechanically coupled to the second end of the arms of the suspension mechanism, the gear teeth being engaged with a gear rack positioned within the recessed location of the vertical wall;   the suspension mechanism further including a spring mounted in the suspension mechanism to provide tension with the arms as they are used to support weight of the vertical bin, each arm including a sliding carriage that interacts with the spring to reduce tension of the spring as the vertical bin moves from the upper position to the lower position;   a cable mechanically coupled between the spring and the sliding carriage of each of the arms, wherein the vertical bin is stabilized regardless of a position of the vertical bin; and   wherein, the vertical bin movement is controlled by activating the motor to move the vertical bin between the upper position and the lower position by means of the chain.