Furniture article with displaceable drawer case

Claim 2

In a furniture article provided with a top having a peripheral edge and an undersurface, the combination including, a drawer case assembly provided with a front opening and having means pivotally attaching the assembly adjacent said top undersurface for alternate movement from a storage position wherein said case assembly is spaced well inwardly of said top edge to a use position wherein said case assembly front opening is disposed adjacent the vertical plane of said top edge, said case assembly including a pair of side case units fixedly joined together in a spaced apart manneR, said pivot attaching means including at least a pair of parallel links each having its lower portion pivotally connected at a fixed point beneath said top undersurface, said parallel links passing through a vertical position as said assembly is moved between said storage and use positions with said assembly disposed in a lowermost plane when said links are in the vertical position while said assembly is disposed in higher planes when in both said storage and use positions, biasing means joined to said case assembly on the one hand and connected at fixed points beneath said top undersurface on the other hand, said biasing means alternately urging said assembly to remain in said storage and use positions as said links are moved to either side of the vertical position, and a drawer mounted within and supported by said case assembly for rectilinear movement through said front opening when said case assembly is in said use position.

Claim 3

A furniture article according to claim 1 including, a fixed mounting plate depending from said top undersurface and to which the upper portions of said links are connected, and said biasing means comprises at least one spring element constantly maintaining an upward force on said case assembly.

Claim 4

A furniture article according to claim 1 wherein, said top includes a depending apron adjacent said peripheral edge whereby, when said case assembly is moved to the use position the top of the assembly abuts the bottom of said apron and said assembly may be displaced to the storage position wherein the top of the assembly is juxtaposed said top undersurface.

Claim 5

A furniture article according to claim 1 wherein, each said side case units includes a longitudinal channel element having a bottom wall joined to spaced apart upstanding outside and inside walls defining a cavity therebetween, and the lower portions of each said links and said biasing means are connected to said channel element within said cavity.

Claim 6

A furniture article according to claim 1 wherein, said side case units are connected by a tie strap along the bottom thereof adjacent said front opening, and said tie strap includes hand-engageable pull means.

Claim 7

A furniture article according to claim 2 wherein, said spring element is connected at its upper portion to said mounting plate.

Claim 8

A furniture article according to claim 2 wherein, the longitudinal axis of said spring element is non-parallel to said links when said case assembly is in the storage and use positions thereby insuring an overcenter application of spring force to said assembly.

Claim 9

A furniture article according to claim 4 wherein, said channel element inside wall includes an uppermost horizontal flange and said drawer is provided with opposite side walls each having an outwardly projecting support flange adapted to overlie said channel element horizontal flange.

Claim 10

A furniture article according to claim 4 wherein, said drawer includes opposite side walls juxtaposed said channel element inside walls, cooperating out stop means comprising a pair of components mounted respectively on the opposed surfaces of at least one said channel element inside wall and drawer side wall for limiting the normal outward movement of said drawer from said case assembly.

Claim 11

A furniture article according to claim 9 wherein, one of said components of said out stop means comprises a fixed bumper and the other of said components includes a movable catch having an abutment plate normally disposed in the same horizontal plane as said bumper, and means pivotally mounting said catch whereby said abutment plate may be manually removed from the horizontal plane of said bumper.

Claim 12

In a furniture article provided with a top having a peripheral edge and an undersurface, the combination including, a drawer case assembly provided with a front opening and having means pivotally attaching the assembly adjacent said top undersurface for alternate movement from a storage position wherein said case assembly is spaced well inwardly Of said top edge to a use position wherein said case assembly front opening is disposed adjacent the vertical plane of said top edge, said case assembly including a pair of side case units fixedly joined together in a spaced apart manner, said pivot attaching means including at least a pair of parallel links each having its lower portion pivotally connected to said case assembly and its upper portion pivotally connected at a fixed point beneath said top undersurface, biasing means joined to said case assembly and alternately urging said assembly to remain in said storage and use positions, each said side case unit including a longitudinal channel element having a bottom wall joined to spaced apart upstanding outside and inside walls defining a cavity therebetween, the lower portions of each said links and said biasing means connected to said channel element within said cavity, a mounting plate depending from said top undersurface above said channel element bottom wall, the upper portions of said biasing means and links connected to said mounting plate whereby, when said case assembly is in the storage position said biasing means and links are fully disposed within said channel element cavity, and a drawer mounted within and supported by said case assembly for rectilinear movement through said front opening when said case assembly is in said use position.

Claim 13

In a furniture article provided with a top having a peripheral edge and an undersurface, the combination including, a drawer case assembly provided with a front opening and having means pivotally attaching the assembly adjacent said top undersurface for alternate movement from a storage position wherein said case assembly is spaced well inwardly Of said top edge to a use position wherein said case assembly front opening is disposed adjacent the vertical plane of said top edge, said case assembly including a pair of side case units fixedly joined together in a spaced apart manner, said pivot attaching means including at least a pair of parallel links each having its lower portion pivotally connected to said case assembly and its upper portion pivotally connected at a fixed point beneath said top undersurface, biasing means joined to said case assembly and alternately urging said assembly to remain in said storage and use positions, each said side case unit including a longitudinal channel element having a bottom wall joined to spaced apart upstanding outside and inside walls defining a cavity therebetween, the lower portions of each said links and said biasing means connected to said channel element within said cavity, a mounting plate depending from said top undersurface above said channel element bottom wall, the upper portions of said biasing means and links connected to said mounting plate whereby, when said case assembly is in the storage position said biasing means and links are fully disposed within said channel element cavity, and a drawer mounted within and supported by said case assembly for rectilinear movement through said front opening when said case assembly is in said use position.