Lazy susan with pull-out shelving

Abstract

A lazy susan device ( 100 ) includes a platform or support base ( 108 ). The support base ( 108 ) is rotatably coupled to a centralized support pole ( 102 ). A series of linear slides ( 140 ) are arranged in pairs ( 142 ). Pie or wedge-shaped shelves ( 148 ) are mounted to the linear slides ( 140 ). The slides ( 140 ) are properly secured to a corresponding shelf ( 140 ) in a manner such that the shelf ( 140 ) is permitted to slide radially outwardly from the platform or support base ( 108 ).

1 . A lazy susan-like apparatus adapted for use in supporting items and facilitating access to said items by a user, said apparatus comprising: 
 at least one platform or support base;    support means coupled to structures separate from said apparatus for supporting said apparatus, and for supporting said at least one platform;    a plurality of shelves associated with said at least one platform, each of said plurality of shelves being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein a shelf being in said extended position facilitates access by a user to said items positioned on said shelf; and    slide means connected to said at least one platform and to said plurality of shelves, so that said shelves are moveable in radial directions relative to said at least one platform.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that each of said plurality of shelves comprises a wedge-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one platform is circular in configuration.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said support means comprises a centralized and vertically disposed pole.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized in that: 
 each of said plurality of shelves comprises a wedge-shaped configuration, with each of said shelves having an apex, lateral sides and an outer side; and    when any of said retracted shelves is in said retracted position, said apex of said retracted shelf is adjacent said centralized pole.    
     
     
         6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 each of said plurality of shelves comprises a wedge-shaped configuration, having an apex, lateral sides and an outer side; and    when any of said plurality of shelves is in an extended position, said apex of said extended shelf is adjacent an outer edge of said platform.    
     
     
         7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said slide means comprises a plurality of linear slides, with each of said linear slides mounted to said platform, and associated with different ones of said plurality of shelves.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized in that said drawer slides are mounted so that when any one of said plurality of shelves is in said extended position, said extended shelf is cantilevered relative to a stationary portion of said linear slide.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that each of said plurality of shelves is capable of moving between said extended and said retracted positions, independently of movement or non-movement of any other ones of said plurality of shelves.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said platform is capable of rotation throughout a 360° circle.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 said support means comprises a centralized pole;    said platform comprises an aperture having a vertically disposed configuration and extending through a central portion of the platform so as to receive the centralized pole;    said platform is coupled to said centralized pole through a lower hub having a cylindrical sleeve, forming a centralized aperture which is sized so as to appropriately fit around the periphery of said centralized pole, said lower hub further being sized in a manner so that a collar of said hub may be positioned below said platform and adjacent a lower surface of said platform, with said collar being securely connected to said platform;    said apparatus further comprising an upper hub having a sleeve sized so as to form an aperture, said aperture being further sized so as to receive said centralized pole there through, while permitting said upper hub to freely rotate relative to said centralized pole;    said upper hub comprising a collar having a horizontally disposed configuration and positioned above said platform and adjacent an upper surface of said platform; and    said apparatus further comprises connecting means for securing said platform between said upper hub and said lower hub.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 11 , characterized in that: 
 said centralized pole comprises a bearing pin extending through a center point thereof;    said bearing pin extending through apertures within said centralized pole and through a center point of a longitudinal axis extending through a center of said centralized pole, with said bearing pin remaining stationary during rotation of said platform;    interconnection of said platform with said lower hub and said upper hub is such that said interconnection provides for said bearing pin to be positioned between said lower hub and said upper hub; and    with said configuration, said platform is rotatably positioned on said centralized pole in a manner such that said upper hub rests on said bearing pin, thereby permitting said platform to appropriately rotate about said longitudinal axis of said centralized pole.    
     
     
         13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , characterized in that positioning of said upper hub relative to said platform is keyed by providing a detent in said platform positioned adjacent a center aperture, with a corresponding protuberance positioned at a lower portion of said sleeve of said upper hub, and sized and configured so as to extend into said keyed detent of said platform.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said slide means comprises pairs of linear slides, with each of pair of linear slides being connected to one of said plurality of said shelves.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , characterized in that each of said shelves is of a pie-shaped or wedge-shaped configuration, having an outer side, lateral sides and an apex, said lateral sides being angled so as to meet at said apex, which is a nearestmost position of said shelf to said support means, with each of said shelves further including a floor which is horizontally disposed within each of said shelves.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , characterized in that: 
 each of said linear slides of a linear slide pair associated with a corresponding one of said shelves extends radially outward from said support means and is received within a slot formed within a corresponding one of said lateral sides of a corresponding shelf, with said linear slides being received through said slots and positioned below said floor of said corresponding shelf;    said linear slides are secured to said corresponding shelf in a manner so that said corresponding shelf is permitted to slide radially outwardly from said support means; and    when a shelf is in an extended state, said shelf is supported in a cantilevered manner on said corresponding linear slides.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that each of said shelves is of a wedge-shaped configuration, and comprises a finger nub for facilitating a user exerting pulling force on a shelf so as to move such shelf from a retracted position to said extended position.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that: 
 each of said plurality of shelves comprises a wedge-shaped configuration; and    said platform is of a circular or kidney-shaped configuration.    
     
     
         19 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , characterized in that said support means comprises a centralized pole.  
     
     
         20 . A lazy susan-like apparatus adapted for use in supporting items and facilitating access to said items by a user, said apparatus comprising: 
 at least one platform having a circular or kidney-shaped configuration;    a centralized pole coupled to structure separate from said apparatus for supporting said apparatus, and for rotatably supporting said at least one platform;    slide means connected to said at least one platform, so as to provide for a configuration for moving certain elements between extended and retracted positions, relative to said platform; and    a plurality of shelves, each of said shelves having a wedge-shaped configuration, and mounted to said slide means so as to be moveable between retracted and extended positions, and wherein a shelf being in said extended position facilitates access by a user to items positioned on said shelf.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , characterized in that each of said shelves is movable between extended and retracted positions relative to said platform, independent of movement of others of said plurality of shelves.  
     
     
         22 . A lazy susan-like apparatus adapted for use in supporting items and facilitating access to said items by a user, said apparatus comprising: 
 at least one platform or support base;    a plurality of shelves associated with said at least one platform, each of said plurality of shelves being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein a shelf being in said extended position facilitates access by a user to said items positioned on said shelf;    slide means connected to said at least one platform or support base and to said plurality of shelves, so that such shelves are movable in radial directions relative to said at least one platform;    bearing means positioned under said platform, and comprising an upper bearing race, lower bearing race and a set of bearings captured therebetween; and    said upper bearing race is coupled to said platform so as to be rotatable therewith, and said lower bearing race is coupled to a surface external of said apparatus, with said lower bearing race remaining stationary when said upper bearing race rotates with said platform.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 22 , characterized in that said apparatus further comprises: 
 a pair of angled side rails coupled to the top of each of said shelves, and where each of said pair of side rails meets at a nearestmost location to the center of said platform; and    an outer rail coupled to the top of each of said shelves, with each of said outer rails being adjacent to outer ends of one of said pairs of angled side rails.