Retractable vented attic storage system

Abstract

A closet 100 fits into an attic. A raiseable panel ( 4275 ) forms the bottom of the closet. The raiseable panel can be lowered to the living space below manually or by using a return spring or electrical means. The raiseable panel holds a cabinet, box, or other storage item ( 105 or 2225 ). Air space ( 150 ) around the cabinet or items insulates it from thermal contact with the closet walls. Alternatively a cabinet is hung from a restraining member ( 145 ), or arm ( 1105 ), so it can be raised for storage and lowered for access. In this aspect, a bottom panel ( 110 ) is secured to the bottom of the cabinet. Optional vents ( 155 ) and fan ( 160 ) urge circulation between the air space and the living space, reducing temperature extremes in the air space and hence the cabinet. In other aspects, air treatment units (HVAC, dehumidifier, etc.) condition the air within the closet.

1 . A storage system comprising:
 a closet having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top, and a downward-facing opening,   a cabinet, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and a plurality of side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet,   said cabinet and said closet being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet, there will be a first air space around and surrounding substantially all of said side walls of said cabinet, between the outsides of all of said side walls and said inner sides of said walls of said closet and a second air space below said bottom of said cabinet,   said first air space around and substantially surrounding the outsides of all of said side walls of said cabinet communicating with said second air space below said bottom of said cabinet so that air can flow therebetween,   a panel attached to said bottom of said cabinet, said panel arranged to seal said downward-facing opening when said cabinet is raised into said closet, said panel including at least a first vent opening permitting communication between said first and said second air spaces, and   means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet,   whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet, air can circulate around substantially the entire outside of said side walls of said cabinet and said first and second air spaces will be in communication so that air can flow between said first and second air spaces, and the temperatures of said first and said air spaces will tend to equalize when the air in said first air space is colder than the air in said second air space.   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further including an electrically activated locking means to engage said cabinet to secure said cabinet in an elevated position when not in use. 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further including a human sensor located within a predetermined distance of said cabinet's upward and downward movement paths, said human sensor arranged to detect and emit a predetermined output when a human is present within said predetermined distance, and means responsive to said predetermined output for inhibiting movement of said cabinet in response to said predetermined output, whereby said movement of said cabinet is restricted when a human is detected within said predetermined distance from said cabinet. 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further including at least one flapper valve over said vent opening, springably arranged to close, at least one fusible link holding said flapper valve in an open position so that air can freely pass between said first and second air spaces, whereby in the event of a fire, said fusible link will release said flapper valve, thereby allowing said flapper valve to close, and prevent said fire from passing between said first and second air spaces. 
     
     
         5 . A storage system comprising:
 a closet having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top and a downward-facing opening,   a cabinet having a plurality of side walls, a bottom, and a top, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet,   said cabinet and said closet being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet, there will be a first air space substantially between said side walls of said cabinet and said inner sides of said walls of said closet,   a second air space below said bottom of said closet,   a fan positioned and arranged so that when energized, said fan urges air from said second air space to flow to said first air space,   means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet,   whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet, said fan can be energized to cause air to flow from said second air space through said first air space so that the temperatures of said first and said second air spaces will tend to equalize.   
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 5 , further including a forced air unit, selected from the group consisting of an air conditioner, a heater, a heat pump, a heat recovery ventilator, an energy recover ventilator, a dehumidifier, an evaporative cooler, a chiller, a heat exchanger, an air handler, a heating, ventilating, and an air conditioning unit, connected to said closet, said forced air unit including said fan positioned and arranged so that when energized, said forced air unit urges air to flow to said first air space. 
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 5 , further including an electrically activated locking means to engage said cabinet to secure said cabinet in an elevated position when not in use. 
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 5 , further including a human sensor located within a predetermined distance of said cabinet's upward and downward movement paths, said human sensor arranged to detect and emit a predetermined output when a human is present within said predetermined distance, and means responsive to said predetermined output for inhibiting movement of said cabinet in response to said predetermined output, whereby said movement of said cabinet is restricted when a human is detected within said predetermined distance from said cabinet. 
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 5  wherein said means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet includes an electric motor equipped to prevent said motor from turning in the reverse direction causing said cabinet to fall. 
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 5 , further including a panel having a vent opening, attached to said bottom of said cabinet, so that when cabinet is raised to said ceiling said panel seals said opening between said first and second air spaces, except for said vent opening. 
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 10 , further including: at least one flapper valve over said vent opening, springably arranged to close, at least one fusible link holding said flapper valve in an open position so that air can freely pass between said first and second air spaces, whereby in the event of a fire, said fusible link will release said flapper valve, thereby allowing said flapper valve to close, and prevent said fire from passing between said first and second air spaces. 
     
     
         12 . A storage system comprising:
 a closet having at least four side walls with inner sides, a top, and a downward-facing opening,   a cabinet, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet, said cabinet having a bottom, a top and at least four side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet,   said cabinet and said closet being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet, there will be a first air space substantially surrounding said at least four side walls of said cabinet, between the outsides of said at least four side walls and said inner sides of said walls of said closet,   said first air space including at least one airflow block arranged and positioned between at least one of said side walls of said cabinet and an adjoining inner side of said closet so that when said panel is raised to said downward-facing opening, said airflow block provides means for modulating airflow in said first air space,   means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet,   whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet, air can circulate substantially around the outside of said at least four side walls of said cabinet, as modulated by at least one said airflow block, and said first and second air spaces will be in communication so that air can flow therebetween,   whereby the temperatures of said first and said air spaces will tend to equalize when the air in said first air space is colder than the air in said second air space.   
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 12 , further including a panel attached to said bottom of said cabinet, said panel including at least a first vent opening arranged to seal said downward-facing opening, except for said first vent opening, when said cabinet is raised into said closet, said first vent opening in said panel permitting communication between said first air space and a second air space below, whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet air can flow between said first and second air spaces, whereby the temperatures of said first and said air spaces will tend to equalize when the air in said first air space is colder than the air in said second air space. 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 12  further including a fan positioned and arranged so that when said cabinet is raised into said closet and said fan is energized, said fan urges air from said second air space to flow to said first air space, whereby the temperatures of said first and said second air spaces will tend to equalize as modulated by said at least one airflow block. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 12 , further including a human sensor located within a predetermined distance of said cabinet's upward and downward movement paths, said human sensor arranged to detect and emit a predetermined output when a human is present within said predetermined distance, and means responsive to said predetermined output for inhibiting movement of said cabinet in response to said predetermined output, whereby said movement of said cabinet is restricted when a human is detected within said predetermined distance from said cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 11 , further including an electrical or mechanical locking means for engaging said cabinet to secure said cabinet in an elevated position when not in use. 
     
     
         17 . A storage system for use in a building with a space above and a space below, where said spaces are separated by a ceiling structure, which ceiling structure has an opening,
 a cabinet, said cabinet being movable from a location in said space below through said opening in said ceiling structure to a location in said space above, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and at least four side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet,   means for raising said cabinet upward from said location in said space below through said opening in said ceiling structure to said location in said space above and lowering said cabinet back to said location in said space below,   at least one, floating guide member for constraining said cabinet to move only vertically, a first end of said guide member being slidably attached to said ceiling structure such that said guide member can slide or translate only in a vertical direction with respect to said ceiling structure and a second end of said guide member slidably attached to a side wall of said cabinet so that said guide member can slide or translate in a vertical direction with respect to said cabinet, said floating guide member comprising a single member without any parts that can move with respect to each other,   whereby said cabinet maintains vertical stability and a resistance to swaying when said cabinet is lowered from said space above to said space below.   
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 17 , further including a closet having at least four side walls, a top and a downward facing opening, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet through said opening in said ceiling, whereby when said cabinet is raised into said space above said cabinet shall be located inside said at least four walls and top of said closet. 
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 17  wherein said guide member has at least one elongated slot extending vertically within said guide member. 
     
     
         20 . The storage system of  claim 17 , further including a human sensor located within a predetermined distance of said cabinet's upward and downward movement paths, said human sensor arranged to detect and emit a predetermined output when a human is present within said predetermined distance, and means responsive to said predetermined output for inhibiting movement of said cabinet in response to said predetermined output, whereby said movement of said cabinet is restricted when a human is detected within said predetermined distance from said cabinet. 
     
     
         21 . A storage system comprising:
 a cabinet having a plurality of walls, a bottom, and a top, said cabinet being movable into and out of a downward-facing opening in a ceiling,   said opening being coplanar with a ceiling,   said cabinet and said downward-facing opening in said ceiling being positioned at a predetermined distance from a wall,   a pivoting bracket arranged and positioned between said cabinet and said wall when said cabinet is in a lowered position, and   means for raising said cabinet upward into said downward-facing opening and lowering said cabinet downward out of said downward-facing opening,   whereby said cabinet is held stable when said cabinet is in a lowered position.   
     
     
         22 . The cabinet of  claim 21 , further including a closet having at least four side walls connected to a top and a downward facing opening, said opening being coplanar with said opening in said ceiling, whereby when said cabinet is raised into said room above said cabinet shall be located inside said at least four walls and top of said closet. 
     
     
         23 . A storage system comprising:
 a closet having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top and a downward-facing opening, a cabinet having a plurality of walls, a bottom, and a top,   said cabinet being rotatably joined to a ceiling structure by a tilting mechanism so that said cabinet is movable into and out of said closet,   said cabinet and said closet being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet, there will be a first air space substantially around said walls and said top of said cabinet between said inner sides of said walls and top of said closet, a second air space below said bottom of said closet, said first air space communicating with said second air space so that air can flow there between,   a fan positioned and arranged so that when energized, said fan urges air from said second air space to flow to said first air space, and   means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet,   whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet, said fan can be energized to cause air to flow from said second air space through said first air space so that the temperatures of said first and said second air spaces will tend to equalize.   
     
     
         24 . For use in a building with a room below and a room above, where said rooms are separated by a ceiling of said room below, which ceiling has an opening, a system for moving at least one item from said room below and storing said item in said room above, or moving said item from said room above to said room below, comprising:
 a raiseable panel that can be raised from a location in said room below to said opening in said ceiling, said panel arranged to substantially cover said opening in said ceiling when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling,   a human sensor located within a predetermined distance of said panel's upward and downward movement paths, said human sensor arranged to detect and emit a predetermined output when a human is present within said predetermined distance, and means responsive to said predetermined output for inhibiting movement of said panel in response to said predetermined output, and   means for raising said panel upward from said location in said room below to said opening in said ceiling, and lowering said panel from said opening in said ceiling to said location in said room below,   said panel being capable of supporting a predetermined item so that when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling, said item will be located in said closet in said room above, and when said panel is lowered to said location in said room below, said item will be accessible in said room below,   whereby said movement of said panel is restricted when a human is detected within said predetermined distance from said panel.   
     
     
         25 . The panel of  claim 24 , further including a closet having at least four side walls connected to a top and a downward facing opening, said opening being coplanar with said opening in said ceiling, whereby when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling panel shall be located adjacent to said downward facing opening. 
     
     
         26 . The raiseable panel of  claim 24 , further including a cabinet, said cabinet attached to the top of said raiseable panel and being movable into and out of said closet, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and a plurality of side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet, said cabinet and said closet being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet, there will be (a) a first air space around and surrounding substantially all of said side walls of said cabinet, between the outsides of all of said side walls and said inner sides of said walls of said closet, and (b) a second air space below said bottom of said cabinet. 
     
     
         27 . For use in a building with a room below and a room above, where said rooms are separated by a ceiling of said room below, which ceiling has an opening, a system for moving at least one item from said room below and storing said item in said room above, or moving said item from said room above to said room below, comprising:
 a raiseable panel that can be raised from a location in said room below to said opening in said ceiling, said panel arranged to substantially cover said opening in said ceiling when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling,   an accessory cabinet, attached to said bottom of said panel so that when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling, said accessory cabinet remains exposed below said ceiling and   means for raising said panel upward from said location in said room below to said opening in said ceiling, and lowering said panel from said opening in said ceiling to said location in said room below,   said raiseable panel being capable of supporting a predetermined item so that when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling, said item will be located in said closet in said room above, and when said panel is lowered to said location in said room below, said item will be accessible in said room below and said accessory cabinet remains exposed below said panel when said panel is in the raised or lowered position.   
     
     
         28 . The raiseable panel of  claim 27 , further including a closet having at least four side walls connected to a top and a downward facing opening, said opening being coplanar with said opening in said ceiling, whereby when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling panel shall be located adjacent to said downward facing opening. 
     
     
         29 . The raiseable panel of  claim 27 , further including a cabinet, said cabinet attached to the top of said raiseable panel and being movable into and out of said closet, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and a plurality of side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet, said cabinet and said closet being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet, there will be (a) a first air space around and surrounding substantially all of said side walls of said cabinet, between the outsides of all of said side walls and said inner sides of said walls of said closet, and (b) a second air space below said bottom of said cabinet. 
     
     
         30 . For use in a building with a room below and a room above, where said rooms are separated by a ceiling of said room below, which ceiling has an opening, a system for moving at least one item from said room below and storing said item in said room above, or moving said item from said room above to said room below, comprising:
 a raiseable panel that can be raised from a location in said room below to said opening in said ceiling, said panel arranged to substantially cover said opening in said ceiling when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling,   a flexible compression seal positioned between said raiseable panel, and the periphery of said opening in said ceiling when said raiseable panel is elevated,   means for raising said panel upward from said location in said room below to said opening in said ceiling, and lowering said panel from said opening in said ceiling to said location in said room below,   said panel being capable of supporting a predetermined item so that when said panel is raised to said opening in said ceiling, said item will be located in said room above, and when said panel is lowered to said location in said room below, said item will be accessible in said room below,   whereby when said raiseable panel is elevated to said opening in said ceiling said flexible compression seal forms a seal therebetween.   
     
     
         31 . The raiseable panel of  claim 30 , further including a cabinet, said cabinet attached to the top of said raiseable panel, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and a plurality of side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet.