Accessible Cabinetry System

Abstract

A high cabinet may be mechanically lowered to within reach of a disabled user. In the first exemplary embodiment, a cabinet is attached to a wall by two sets of rotatable lever arms, which allow the cabinet to be translationally moved between a raised position against a wall and a lowered position out from the same wall, optionally resting on a countertop. In the second exemplary embodiment, a scissor-jack type mechanism pushes an outer cabinet out from the wall and a sliding mechanism allows an inner cabinet to drop down from within the outer cabinet. In the third exemplary embodiment, a single cabinet is mounted between a pair of vertically sliding plates, which are mounted between a pair of horizontally sliding plates.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanical cabinet system comprising:
 (a) a rigid cabinet structure having at least a rear surface, left side surface, and right side surface;   (b) a vertical support;   (c) a moveable cabinet structure mounting means for mounting said cabinet structure to said vertical support such that said cabinet may be moved along a mechanically limited path between a storage position and an access position such that said mechanically limited path avoids an obstructable region located below or above said storage position and behind said access position;   (d) said moveable cabinet mounting means comprises a plurality of rigid supports, each having a first end and a second end;   (e) the first ends of said rigid supports being rotatably mounted to said cabinet structure, each to either the left side surface or the right side surface; and   (f) the second ends of said rigid supports being rotatably mounted to said vertical support;   (g) said cabinet structure being mounted to said vertical support by said moveable cabinet structure mounting means;   (h) a powered motion-generating means for selectively urging said cabinet structure between said storage position and said access position; and   (i) said powered motion-generating means being mechanically affixed to any combination of said cabinet structure, said vertical support, and said cabinet mounting means; and   (j) wherein said powered motion generating means is rotatably mounted both to said vertical support and to the rear surface of said cabinet structure;   
       whereby, said cabinet structure may be selectively urged between said storage position and said access position. 
     
     
         2 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 1  wherein said powered motion generating means is a linear motor. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 1  wherein said powered motion generating means is one of a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 1  wherein said powered motion generating means is a motor-driven lead screw. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 1  wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 2  wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 3  wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanical cabinet system of  claim 4  wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface.