Cabinet with a retractable bar section

Abstract

A cabinet includes a cabinet base and a countertop. The countertop includes a top surface having a bar section opening. A bar section is slidably positioned within the bar section opening. The bar section has an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion is configured to contain a plurality of beverage containers. The upper portion includes an outer perimeter that is larger than a perimeter of the bar section opening. A lift mechanism is mounted inside of the cabinet base and supports the bar section. The lift mechanism is operable to move the bar section from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position. In the fully extended position, the bar section extends above the top surface such that the beverage containers are accessible to a user. In the fully retracted position, the lower portion is retracted below the top surface and the upper portion extends above the top surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cabinet comprising:
 a cabinet base;   a countertop mounted on the cabinet base, the countertop including a top surface having a bar section opening disposed therethrough;   a bar section slidably positioned within the bar section opening, the bar section having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being configured to contain a plurality of beverage containers, and the upper portion being mounted on top of the lower portion, the upper portion including an outer perimeter that is larger than a perimeter of the bar section opening; and   a lift mechanism mounted inside of the cabinet base and supporting the bar section, the lift mechanism being operable to move the bar section from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position, wherein:
 in the fully extended position, the bar section extends above the top surface such that the beverage containers are accessible to a user, and 
 in the fully retracted position, the lower portion is retracted below the top surface and the upper portion extends above the top surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises:
 an inner chamber sized to receive therein a base and a portion of a stem associated with a stemware; and   a bottom wall defining a bottom of the inner chamber, the bottom wall including a stemware opening and a stemware slot, wherein:
 the stemware opening is sized to enable the base to be placed into the inner chamber, and 
 the stemware slot is sized to enable the stem to be slid along the stemware slot and positioned such that the bottom wall supports the base of the stemware as the stemware hangs from the inner chamber. 
   
     
     
         3 . The cabinet of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the stemware opening is centrally positioned in the bottom wall; and   the stemware slot includes a pair of stemware slots extending longitudinally along the bottom wall from opposing sides of the stemware opening.   
     
     
         4 . The cabinet of  claim 2 , wherein the stemware comprises a plurality of stemware having a plurality of bases and a plurality of stems. 
     
     
         5 . The cabinet of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of stemware is a plurality of wine glasses. 
     
     
         6 . The cabinet of  claim 2 , wherein the upper portion comprises a top wall defining a top of the inner chamber, the top wall being removable in order to enable access to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the upper portion includes a decorative molding disposed thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the lower portion having a lower portion height sized to receive the plurality of beverage containers; and   the upper portion having an upper portion height that is less than one quarter the height of the lower portion.   
     
     
         9 . The cabinet of  claim 4 , comprising:
 the lower portion having a lower portion height sized to receive the plurality of beverage containers and to enable the plurality of stemware to hang from the inner chamber without coming into contact with the plurality of beverage containers; and   the upper portion having an upper portion height that is less than one quarter the height of the lower portion.   
     
     
         10 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein, when the bar section is in the fully extended position, the lower portion extends substantially entirely above the top surface. 
     
     
         11 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the bar section opening has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . A cabinet comprising:
 a cabinet base;   a countertop mounted on the cabinet base, the countertop including a top surface having a bar section opening disposed therethrough;   a bar section slidably positioned within the bar section opening, the bar section having:
 a lower portion configured to contain a plurality of beverage containers, and 
 an upper portion being mounted on top of the lower portion, the upper portion including:
 an inner chamber sized to receive therein a base and a portion of a stem associated with a stemware, and 
 a bottom wall defining a bottom of the inner chamber, the bottom wall including a stemware opening and a stemware slot, wherein the stemware opening is sized to enable the base of the stemware to be placed into the inner chamber, and the stemware slot is sized to enable the stem to be slid along the stemware slot and positioned such that the bottom wall supports the base of the stemware as the stemware hangs from the inner chamber; and 
 
   a lift mechanism mounted inside of the cabinet base and supporting the bar section, the lift mechanism being operable to move the bar section from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position.   
     
     
         13 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein:
 in the fully extended position, the bar section extends above the top surface such that the beverage containers are accessible to a user, and   in the fully retracted position, the lower portion is retracted below the top surface and the upper portion extends above the top surface.   
     
     
         14 . The cabinet of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion comprises an outer perimeter that is larger than a perimeter of the bar section opening. 
     
     
         15 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the stemware opening is centrally positioned in the bottom wall; and   the stemware slot includes a pair of stemware slots extending longitudinally along the bottom wall from opposing sides of the stemware opening.   
     
     
         16 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein the stemware comprises a plurality of stemware having a plurality of bases and a plurality of stems. 
     
     
         17 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein the upper portion comprises a top wall defining a top of the inner chamber, the top wall being removable in order to enable access to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , comprising:
 the lower portion having a lower portion height sized to receive the plurality of beverage containers; and   the upper portion having an upper portion height that is less than one quarter the height of the lower portion.   
     
     
         19 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , comprising the lower portion having a lower portion height sized to enable the stemware to hang from the inner chamber without coming into contact with the plurality of beverage containers. 
     
     
         20 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein, when the bar section is in the fully extended position, the lower portion extends substantially entirely above the top surface.