Assembly for lifting and mechanizing movement of home appliances and methods thereof

Abstract

Provided is an appliance lift assembly, comprising a surface base, a support frame, a platform configured to support an appliance unit, such as a dishwasher, the platform being movable in relation to the support frame, and a lifting system mounted to the movable platform and mounted to the support frame, the lifting system moving the platform between an extended mode and a retracted mode, wherein the appliance lift assembly fit into standard built-in cabinet enclosure. Further provided is a method for elevating or lowering an appliance unit using a lifting system, the method comprising pulling a cable attached to a platform of the lift assembly supporting the appliance, lifting the movable platform by using a rotational or linear motion drive and by using a passive lifter, and stopping movement of the platform when a predetermined height is reached. A method for installing an appliance lift assembly is also provided.

1 . An appliance lift assembly comprising:
 a surface base;   a support frame mounted to the surface base;   a platform configured to support an appliance unit, the platform being movable in relation to the support frame; and   a lifting system moving the platform and mounted to the support frame, the lifting system moving the platform between an extended mode and a retracted mode, wherein the appliance lift assembly has dimensions to fit in an under-counter appliance enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 1 , the support frame comprising a reinforcement panel. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising side panels and a back panel attached to the movable platform. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 1 , the lifting system comprising a pulling system mounted to the platform and to the support frame. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 4 , the pulling system further comprising a drive unit. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 5 , the drive unit being outside of the under-counter appliance enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 4 , the pulling system comprising a first force multiplication member and a second force multiplication member movable with regard to the support frame, the second force multiplication member being mounted to the movable platform. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 7 , the support frame comprising a track and a groove for slidably receiving the second force multiplication member along a substantially vertical path. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 8 , the track comprising a groove and the second force multiplication member comprising a sliding member slidably mating with the groove. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 8 , the first and second force multiplication members being block pulleys, the pulling system comprising a cable operatively connected to the pulleys, the cable being anchored to the support frame at one end. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 10 , the cable made of a synthetic material or of a metal core coated with a synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 1  comprising an accessory bracket to allow passage of service hoses/cord, cable and crossing outside of the lift assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 1 , the lifting system having a passive lifter for vertically moving the platform. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 13 , the passive lifter being selected from any one of scissor legs and vertical structural channels comprising cam followers or cable support pulley arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 3 , the side panels and the back panel being partly visible when the platform is in extended mode. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 4 , comprising an access limiting mechanism for restricting entry under the appliance when lifted. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 16 , the access limiting mechanism being selected in any one of a roller shutter or a stacking plate shutter. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance lift assembly of  claim 1 , the appliance being a dishwasher. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing an appliance lift assembly comprising:
 installing floor anchor brackets in an under-counter appliance enclosure;   sliding an appliance unit comprising a surface base and a support frame in the floor anchor brackets;   installing the accessory bracket in the opening; and   fastening the surface base to the floor anchor brackets.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising cutting an opening in adjacent cabinetry for receiving an accessory bracket containing hoses, cord and cable. 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing an appliance lift assembly, the method comprising:
 mounting a movable platform to a surface base;   rigidly mounting a support frame of the appliance lift assembly to a surface base;   mounting an appliance unit to a movable platform of the appliance lift assembly; and   connecting flexible service hoses/cord to the dishwasher or applicable appliance unit.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , the mounting of the movable platform further comprising connecting the movable platform to a passive lifter. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 mounting the appliance unit to the movable platform;   mounting to each side of the appliance unit side panels, a top panel and a back panel; and   fixing brackets to one another and to the movable platform.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising mounting a reinforcement panel as support frame of the appliance lift assembly to a surface base. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising anchoring brackets in the floor to secure the surface base and support frame from movement. 
     
     
         26 . A method for elevating or lowering an appliance unit using a lift system, the method comprising:
 pulling a cable attached to a movable platform of the lift system supporting the appliance unit;   using a rotational motion drive system to lift the movable platform by expansion or guide follower or cable support arrangement of a passive lifter; and   stopping movement of the platform when a selected or predetermined height is reached.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further activating switches or a user interface to stop the movement of the platform. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising alternatively using a single electrical circuit for powering both the appliance lift assembly and the appliance unit. 
     
     
         29 . A method for elevating or lowering an appliance unit using a lift system, the method comprising:
 pulling a cable attached to a movable platform of the lift assembly supporting the appliance unit;   using a linear motion actuator system to lift the movable platform; and   stopping movement of the platform when a selected or predetermined height is reached.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further activating switches or a user interface to stop the movement of the platform. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising alternatively using a single electrical circuit for powering both the appliance lift assembly and the appliance unit.