System and method for a counterbalance mechanism

Abstract

A counterbalance mechanism which applies a balancing force to lift a load. The counterbalance mechanism includes an adjustment arm pivotally attached at first end to a frame and to a spring at a second end. The counterbalance mechanism further includes a travelling arm pivotally attached at a first end to the frame and connected to the spring at a second end. The counterbalance mechanism further includes one or more cables attached at one end to a container securing a load or arms securing the container. A second end of the one or more cables are attached to the travelling member or pass over a pulley attached to the travelling arm. The one or more cables transmit an assisting force to the container for lowering and raising the container. A relative position of the spring, adjustment arm, and travelling arm are adjusted in response to the load acting on the one or more cables to generally offset the load in the container.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for storing goods having a weight in an automatically adjusting storage system, the method comprising:
 extending a carriage enabled to store the goods in response to a first user force;   automatically adjusting a linkage connected between the an energy reservoir and the carriage in an adjusting mode to configure a force countering the weight of the goods applied by the energy reservoir during an operating mode, wherein the automatically adjusting is performed in response to a change of the weight of the goods during an adjusting mode; and   applying the force to retract the carriage securing the goods in response to a second user force.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy reservoir is a compression spring, and wherein the carriage remains level through a displacement path. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the linkage and the energy reservoir during the adjusting mode results in zero or a substantially small change of an energy state of the energy reservoir, wherein the force generated by the energy reservoir is substantially non constant, and wherein the linkage transforms the force to a substantially constant force. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the carriage is extended substantially out of the frame and then down for access by a user, and wherein the carriage remains level through the displacement path. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the carriage is stabilized utilizing a pulley attached to a frame and a second pulley attached to the carriage, wherein the first pulley and second pulley are connected to ends of an arm, wherein one or more cables or chains are attached between the first pulley and the second pulley, and wherein the one or more cables or chains are rotationally fixed to at least one point to the first pulley and the second pulley. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy state of reservoir increases as the variable member is displaced toward the maximum capacity position. 
     
     
         7 . A force engine operable to variably adjust a counterbalance to a load through a displacement, comprising:
 one or more energy reservoirs operable to store energy associated with displacement of the one or more reservoirs, wherein the one or more energy reservoirs generate the force to substantially support motion of the load through the displacement in an operating mode;   a traveling member hingedly connected to the variable member, wherein the force generated by the one or more energy reservoirs is transferred to the load through the traveling member;   a variable member coupled directly or indirectly to the one or more energy reservoirs for transferring the force from the one or more energy reservoirs to the traveling member, wherein in the adjusting mode the variable member is displaced to configure the operating relationship between the one or more energy reservoirs and the traveling member in the operating mode, and wherein displacing the variable member results in a substantially small change of an energy state of the one or more energy reservoirs; and   a release interacting with the variable member, wherein in the operating mode the release fixes a position of the variable member in one of one or more positions, and wherein the release is disengaged when the force engine transitions from the operating mode to the adjusting mode.   
     
     
         8 . The force engine of  claim 7 , wherein the displacement of the variable member is associated with the displacement of the load in the adjusting mode. 
     
     
         9 . The force engine of  claim 8 , wherein a biasing member biases the variable member toward a minimum capacity position. 
     
     
         10 . The force engine of  claim 7 , wherein the energy state of the one or more reservoirs increases as the variable member is displaced toward the maximum capacity position. 
     
     
         11 . A counterbalance mechanism which applies a balancing force to lift a load, comprising:
 an adjustment arm pivotally attached at first end to a frame and to a spring at a second end;   a travelling arm pivotally attached at a first end to the frame and connected to the spring at a second end;   one or more cables attached at one end to a container securing a load or arms securing the container, wherein a second end of the one or more cables are attached to the travelling member or pass over a pulley attached to the travelling arm, wherein the one or more cables transmit an assisting force to the container for lowering and raising the container, wherein a relative position of the spring, adjustment arm, and travelling arm are adjusted in response to the load acting on the one or more cables to generally offset the load in the container.   
     
     
         12 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is a gas spring. 
     
     
         13 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the counterbalance mechanism is non-electrical. 
     
     
         14 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the counterbalance mechanism is mounted to a wall of a structure. 
     
     
         15 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the counterbalance mechanism is attached to rails which are mounted to a wall of a structure 
     
     
         16 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the container drops vertically. 
     
     
         17 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment arm is fixed in place when lowering or raising the container. 
     
     
         18 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment arm and traveling arm rotate in opposite directions when moving in response to the load. 
     
     
         19 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting arm moves away from the traveling arm in response to an increased load. 
     
     
         20 . The counterbalance mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein an adjusting mode and a lifting mode are utilized.