Cabinet with elevator support platform

Claim 2

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 including front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and closed positions relative to said openings.

Claim 4

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generaly horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.

Claim 5

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generaly horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 including turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 7

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and closed positions relative to said openings, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 8

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projected upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, front and top door means operatively associated with said first and second openings and shiftable between open and closed positions relative to said openings, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation thereof, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 9

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projEcted upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position, turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 10

An enclosure defining an interior storage area and including an upstanding front wall and an upper generally horizontal top, a first opening formed in said front wall in horizontal registry with said storage area, said top wall having a second opening formed therein in vertical registry with said storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position generally horizontally registered with a lower portion of said first opening and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent said top wall, whereby an object supported from said support platform may be projEcted upwardly through said second opening in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position, turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable positioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 including a pressure-sensitive panel disposed within said storage area below the support platform when the latter is in its lower position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said pressure panel including motor control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower said platform in response to an item of a predetermined weight being placed on said pressure-sensitive panel.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 1 wherein said power means includes a friction resisted slip-type drive coupling with said turntable, whereby the latter may be angularly adjusted according to an object positioned thereon to obtain the desired orientation of the object when said turntable is in said intermediate position and the motor means may continue to operate if an obstruction preventing return of the turntable to its intermediate position is encountered.

Claim 13

An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed in a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform and disposed within said storage area when said platform is in its lowered position may be projected upwardly and at least partially outwardly of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower saId support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 14

An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertical shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed in a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform and disposed within said storage area when said platform is in its lowered position may be projected upwardly and at least partially outwardly of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable structure supported for oscillation about an upstanding axis, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about its axis of oscillation between limit positions thereof, said turntable including an intermediate position thereof disposed between said limit positions of oscillation, and turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in said intermediate position and including control means operative to prevent actuation of said motor means to lower saId support platform unless said turntable is disposed in said intermediate position.

Claim 15

An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertically shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed within a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform within a lower portion of said storage area when said platform is in its lowwred position may be projected upwardly to a position projecting upwardly out of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.

Claim 16

An enclosure defining an upwardly opening storage area, a support platform disposed within said storage area, said platform and enclosure including coacting means guidingly supporting said support platform for vertically shifting within said storage area between a lowered position disposed within a lower portion of said storage area and a raised position with said platform elevated to a position at least adjacent the upper extremity of said storage area, whereby an object supported from said support platform within a lower portion of said storage area when said platform is in its lowwred position may be projected upwardly to a position projecting upwardly out of the upper extremity of said storage area in response to said platform being raised from its lower position to its upper position, motor means operatively connected to said support platform for raising and lowering the latter within said storage area, said support platform including a turntable, power means operatively connected between said support platform and said turntable for selectively oscillating the latter about an upstanding axis between limit positions of oscillation, said support platform and cabinet including means operative to sense the lowering of said platform from its upper position and including power means control means operative to prevent operation of said power means to oscillate said turntable whenever said support platform is lowered below its upper position.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 10 including turntable positioning sensing means operative to sense the positioning of said turntable in an intermediate position disposed between said limit positions, said turntable posigioning sensing means including control means for controlling the operation of said motor means and to prevent operation of said motor means to lower said platform from said upper position except when said platform is disposed in said intermediate position.