Shelving system

Abstract

A shelving system includes an outer frame and an interior unit. The interior unit is connected to the frame using one or more linkage assemblies. The linkage assemblies include a bracket attached to the frame, with first and second arms pivotally connected to the bracket. The first and second arms are pivotally connected to a multi-bar linkage that is in turn connected to the interior unit. A guide arm is pivotally connected to the multi-bar linkage and is also able to travel within a curved opening on the bracket. One or more actuators transition the shelving system from an upper configuration to a lower configuration, and vice versa. In the upper configuration, the interior unit is substantially within the frame, while in the lower configuration, the interior unit is substantially away from and lowered from the frame.

1 . A shelving system comprising:
 an outer frame;   an interior unit;   one or more linkage assemblies connecting the interior unit to the frame and configured to cause a transition of the shelving system between an upper configuration, wherein the interior unit is located within the frame, and a lower configuration, wherein the interior unit is located horizontally and vertically offset from the frame, each of the linkage assemblies comprising:
 a bracket attached to the frame, the bracket comprising an elongated curved bracket opening; 
 a multi-bar linkage attached to the interior unit; 
 first and second bracket arms pivotally connected to the bracket and to the multi-bar linkage; 
 a guide assembly, wherein the guide assembly is pivotally connected to the multi-bar linkage and adapted to engage with the bracket opening; and 
 an actuator comprising an actuator body and an actuator arm configured to move longitudinally with respect to the actuator body, wherein the actuator body is attached to the frame and the actuator arm is pivotally connected to one of the first and second bracket arms; 
   
       wherein movement of the actuator arm with respect to the actuator body causes movement of the interior unit with respect to the frame to effect the transition, including movement of the guide assembly along the bracket opening during at least a portion of the transition. 
     
     
         2 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further comprises a bushing. 
     
     
         3 . The shelving system of  claim 2 , wherein the guide assembly comprises:
 guide first and second ends;   a guide arm extending between the guide first and second ends, wherein the guide arm is pivotally connected to the multi-bar linkage proximate to the guide second end;   a guide wheel attached to the guide arm proximate to the guide first end, wherein the guide wheel is adapted to engage with the bracket opening; and   an engagement member extend from the guide arm, the engagement member and the guide arm defining, at least in part, a slot,   
       wherein the engagement member is adapted to engage with the bushing by engaging the bushing within the slot during at least a portion of the transition. 
     
     
         4 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-bar linkage comprises at least three bars. 
     
     
         5 . The shelving system of  claim 4 , wherein the multi-bar linkage comprises four bars. 
     
     
         6 . The shelving system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second bracket arms are pivotally connected to two of the four bars. 
     
     
         7 . The shelving system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the four bars are pivotally connected to two other ones of the four bars. 
     
     
         8 . The shelving system of  claim 7 , wherein one of the four bars is fixedly connected to the interior unit. 
     
     
         9 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second bracket arms comprises a bend. 
     
     
         10 . The shelving system of  claim 9 , wherein an angle of the bend is greater than 90°. 
     
     
         11 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket opening comprises opening first and second ends, and wherein in the upper configuration, the guide assembly engages the bracket opening proximate to the opening first end. 
     
     
         12 . The shelving system of  claim 11 , wherein during the transition, the guide assembly moves along the bracket opening towards the opening second end. 
     
     
         13 . The shelving system of  claim 3 , wherein the slot comprises an open end and a closed end, and wherein in the upper configuration, the slot engages with the bushing proximate to the closed end. 
     
     
         14 . The shelving system of  claim 13 , wherein during the transition, the guide assembly moves with respect to the bushing such that the engagement member slides along the bushing towards the open end. 
     
     
         15 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises an upper panel and two exterior side panels extending from the upper panel, and wherein the linkage assemblies are connected to the exterior side panels. 
     
     
         16 . The shelving system of  claim 15 , wherein the interior unit comprises a lower panel and two interior side panels extending from the lower panel, and wherein the linkage assemblies are connected to the interior side panels. 
     
     
         17 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is electrically powered. 
     
     
         18 . The shelving system of  claim 16 , wherein the interior unit comprises one or more wheels attached to the lower panel, and wherein the bracket comprises a protrusion adapted to engage with the one or more wheels in the upper configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The shelving system of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket further comprises:
 a planar portion comprising the bracket opening; and   one or more flanges extending from the planar portion, the one or more flanges separating the planar portion from the exterior side panel;   
     
     
         20 . The shelving system of  claim 19 , wherein the bracket further comprises one or more attachment portions extending from the one or more flanges, the attachment portions adapted to engage with the exterior side panel.