Rotating mechanism for a storage cabinet and the cabinet

Abstract

There is provided a storage cabinet that includes a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the storage units within the storage cabinet. The rotating mechanism comprises a first set of rotational gears having a first direction of rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first direction of rotation, a second set of rotational gears having a second direction of rotation and a second central axis perpendicular to the second direction of rotation. The mechanism further comprises a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first and second set of rotational gears, and a rail adapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the storage cabinet, wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive the at least one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one storage unit clockwise or counterclockwise movement within the storage cabinet along the first and second rotation directions.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A rotating mechanism configured to rotate at least one storage unit of a storage cabinet extending vertically along a vertical axis and horizontally along a horizontal axis, the rotating mechanism comprising;
 a first set of rotational gears having a first direction of rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first direction of rotation, the first set of rotational gears being adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the first direction of rotation of the first set of rotational gears is parallel to the vertical axis of the storage cabinet;   a second set of rotational gears having a second direction of rotation and a second central axis perpendicular to the second direction of rotation, the second set of rotational gears being adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the second direction of rotation of the second set of rotational gears is parallel to the horizontal axis of the storage cabinet;   a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first and second set of rotational gears, the chain being adapted to be engaged by the first and second set of rotational gears and being further adapted to slide along the first and second rotation directions by the effect of said engagement in a circular or semi-circular manner; and   a rail adapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the storage cabinet;   
       wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive the at least one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one storage unit clockwise or counterclockwise movement within the storage cabinet along the first and second rotation directions. 
     
     
         2 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit is configured to be mounted at and slide along the chain at least at one extremity forming the wall of the storage unit. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit comprises drawer rails located along at least at one extremity forming the wall of the storage unit. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit includes inward depressions throughout the external walls, while the chain includes outward protrusions, such that the storage unit is engaged in between the rail and the chain with the help of outward protrusions of the chain and the inward depressions of the storage unit. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating mechanism is actuated manually. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating mechanism is actuated automatically. 
     
     
         7 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the rotation is controlled through rotary actuators or linear actuators. 
     
     
         8 . The rotating mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising flexible supporting members adapted to be mounted along the internal walls of the storage cabinet for supporting the storage units while moving vertically upwardly and downwardly along the vertical axis of the cabinet. 
     
     
         9 . A storage cabinet comprising:
 at least one storage unit,   a first set of rotational gears having a first direction of rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first direction of rotation, the first set of rotational gears being adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the first direction of rotation of the first set of rotational gears is parallel to the vertical axis of the storage cabinet;   a second set of rotational gears having a second direction of rotation and a second central axis perpendicular to the second direction of rotation, the second set of rotational gears being adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the second direction of rotation of the second set of rotational gears is parallel to the horizontal axis of the storage cabinet;   a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first and second set of rotational gears, the chain being adapted to be engaged by the first and second set of rotational gears and being further adapted to slide along the first and second rotation directions by the effect of said engagement in a circular or semi-circular manner; and   a rail adapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the storage cabinet;   
       wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive the at least one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one storage unit clockwise or counterclockwise movement within the storage cabinet along the first and second rotation directions. 
     
     
         10 . The storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the storage unit wherein the storage unit is configured to be mounted at and slide along the chain at each extremity of the storage unit. 
     
     
         11 . The storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the storage unit comprises drawer rails located along the external walls at each extremity of the storage unit, which help the storage unit to be engaged to a chain through said drawer rails. 
     
     
         12 . The storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the storage unit includes inward depressions throughout the external walls, while the chain includes outward protrusions, such that the storage unit is engaged in between the rail and the chain with the help of outward protrusions of the chain and the inward depressions of the storage unit. 
     
     
         13 . The storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the storage unit is made of wood. 
     
     
         14 . The storage cabinet of  claim 9 , further comprising flexible supporting members adapted to be mounted along the internal walls of the storage cabinet for supporting the storage units while moving vertically upwardly and downwardly along the vertical axis of the cabinet.