Zero-gravity convertible cabinet

Abstract

Convertible wall mountable cabinets including a spring assist opening and closing mechanism. The convertible wall mountable cabinet may comprise a housing configured to be mounted to a wall. A drop-down assembly may be pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The cabinet may further include a bracket assembly including a first portion coupled to the housing, a second portion coupled to the drop-down assembly, and a spring assembly configured to pivotably couple the first and second portions. The spring assembly may be configured store mechanical energy as the drop-down assembly is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

1 . A convertible wall mountable cabinet comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted to a wall;   a drop-down assembly pivotably coupled to the housing, the drop-down assembly movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   a bracket assembly including:
 a first portion coupled to the housing; 
 a second portion coupled to the drop-down assembly; and 
 a spring assembly configured to pivotably couple the first and second portions, the spring assembly comprising:
 a first torsion spring assembly including a first hex nut, a torsion spring, and a second hex nut; 
 a second torsion spring assembly including a first hex nut, a torsion spring, and a second hex nut; and 
 a sleeve; 
 
   wherein the spring assembly is configured to store mechanical energy as the drop-down assembly is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration and the second hex nuts of the first and second torsion spring assemblies are adjustable to adjust a preloaded tension on the torsion springs of the first and second torsion spring assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second torsion spring assemblies are disposed over the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly further comprises:
 a first arm secured to the second portion of the bracket assembly and rotatable relative to the sleeve; and   a second arm secured to the second portion of the bracket assembly and rotatable relative to the sleeve.   
     
     
         5 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first arm and the second arm define a hexagonal opening, the hexagonal opening of the first arm configured to receive the first hex nut of the first torsion spring assembly and the hexagonal opening of the second arm configured to receive the first hex nut of the second torsion spring assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second arms are configured to rotate the first hex nuts of the first and second torsion spring assemblies to wind the first and second torsion springs as the drop-down assembly is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 2 , wherein the second hex nut of the first torsion spring assembly and the second hex nut of the second torsion spring assembly are secured to the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the bracket assembly includes a plurality of panels configured to be secured to a lower portion of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the bracket assembly is configured to receive a portion of the drop-down assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the drop-down assembly comprises a table and a leg, the leg pivotably coupled to the table. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein, in the closed configuration, the table and the leg are in a substantially vertical orientation adjacent to a front side of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein, in the open configuration, the table is in a substantially horizontal configuration extending from a bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein, in the open configuration, the leg is in a substantially vertical configuration and laterally spaced from the housing. 
     
     
         14 . A convertible wall mountable cabinet comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted to a wall, the housing defining a cavity;   a drop-down assembly including a table and a leg, the drop-down assembly pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   a bracket assembly including:
 a first portion coupled to the housing; 
 a second portion coupled to the table of the drop-down assembly; and 
 a spring assembly configured to pivotably couple the second portion to the first portion; 
   wherein in an absence of an external force, the spring assembly is configured to maintain the drop-down assembly in the closed configuration; and   wherein the spring assembly is adjustable to adjust an amount of force to move the drop-down assembly between the closed configuration and the open configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 14 , wherein the spring assembly is configured store mechanical energy as the drop-down assembly is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 14 , wherein the spring assembly comprises:
 a cylindrical sleeve extending between a first side of the bracket assembly to a second side of the bracket assembly;   a first torsion spring assembly disposed over the cylindrical sleeve;   a second torsion spring assembly disposed over the cylindrical sleeve;   a first arm secured to the second portion of the bracket assembly and rotatable relative to the cylindrical sleeve; and   a second arm secured to the second portion of the bracket assembly and rotatable relative to the cylindrical sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 16 , wherein the first arm is coupled to the first torsion spring assembly and the second arm is coupled to the second torsion spring assembly such that rotation of the first and second arms is translated into winding and/or unwinding of a portion of the first and second torsion spring assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 16 , wherein a first end of the cylindrical sleeve is configured to pass through a first opening in the first portion of the bracket assembly and a second end of the cylindrical sleeve is configured to pass through a second opening in the first portion of the bracket assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible wall mountable cabinet of  claim 18 , wherein one or more fixation collars are disposed over the first and second ends of the cylindrical sleeve to secure the cylindrical sleeve relative to the first portion of the bracket assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A convertible wall mountable cabinet comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted to a wall, the housing defining a cavity;   a drop-down assembly including a table and a leg, the drop-down assembly pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration;   a bracket assembly including:
 a first portion coupled to the housing; 
 a second portion coupled to the table of the drop-down assembly; and 
 a spring assembly configured to pivotably couple the second portion to the first portion; and 
   a biometric locking mechanism;   wherein in the closed configuration the drop-down assembly is positioned over the cavity and of the housing and in the opening configuration the drop-down assembly is rotated away from the housing to position the table in a horizontal orientation;   wherein the spring assembly is configured store mechanical energy as the drop-down assembly is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration.