Counterbalanced door system for a storage cabinet

• US 6,779,856 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Griepentrog, Dennis G., Hornberger, Timothy G., Koehler, Karl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Application Number:
  US10/080,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 312/319.1, 312/322, 312/323, 312/326, 312/327, 312/378, 312/319.2, 312/315, 312/245, 312/295, 312/271, 312/324, 312/325, 49/40, 492/03, 492/04, 492/05, 491/14, 491/09, 491/10
• US Class Current: 312/295
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/02 gravity-actuated , e.g. by use of counterweights
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1075 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 17/004 for wings which abut when closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furniture, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

A storage unit includes a cabinet defining an interior and a door assembly, which has a first door section and a second door section. Each of the door sections is pivotably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an open position and a closed position. The first and second door sections prevent access to the interior of the cabinet when in the closed position and provide access to the interior of the cabinet when in the oven position. The storage unit also includes a link pivotably interconnected between the first and second door sections so as to synchronize movement of the first and second door sections between the open and closed positions. A biasing arrangement counterbalances the door assembly and maintains the first and second door sections in both the open position and closed position and positions therebetween.

Claims

1. A storage unit, comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior;

a door assembly comprising a first door section and a second door section, each of which is pivotably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first door section comprises a first door member and a first arm secured to the first door member in a fixed angular relationship and wherein the second door section comprises a second door member and a second arm secured to the second door member in a fixed angular relationship, wherein the first and second arms are pivotably interconnected with the cabinet to provide movement of the first and second door sections, respectively, between the open and closed positions, and wherein the first and second door sections prevent access to the interior of the cabinet when in the closed position and provide access to the interior of the cabinet when in the open position;

a link pivotably interconnected between the first and second arms so as to synchronize movement of the first and second door sections between the open and closed positions; and

a biasing arrangement interconnected with at least one of the door sections for counterbalancing the door assembly;

wherein the biasing arrangement and the first and second door sections are constructed and arranged so that the biasing arrangement applies a biasing force to the first and second door sections that biases the first and second door sections toward the open position, wherein the biasing force applied by the biasing arrangement is operable to maintain the first and second door sections in the open position when the first and second door sections are moved to the open position, and is further operable to enable the first and second door sections to remain in the closed position when the first and second door sections are moved to the closed position, and is further operable to maintain the position of the first and second door sections in position when the first and second door sections are moved to a position between the open and closed positions.

2. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm members are pivotably mounted to the cabinet at spaced locations.

3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a spring interconnected with one of the first and second arm members, wherein the spring is operable to exert a biasing force on the arm member at a location offset from a pivot axis defined by the pivotable mounting of the arm member to the cabinet.

4. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a weight mounted to one of the first and second arm members at a location offset from a pivot axis defined by the pivotable mounting of the arm member to the cabinet.

5. A storage unit, comprising:

a cabinet defining an open front;

a first door section pivotably mounted to the cabinet, wherein the first door section comprises a first door member and a first arm secured to the first door member in a fixed angular relationship, wherein the first arm is pivotably mounted to the cabinet for pivotably mounting the first door section to the cabinet for movement relative to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position;

a second door section pivotably mounted to the cabinet, wherein the second door section comprises a second door member and a second arm secured to the second door member in a fixed angular relationship, wherein the second arm is pivotably mounted to the cabinet for pivotably mounting the second door section to the cabinet for movement relative to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position;

wherein the first and second door sections are together when in the closed positions to close the open front of the cabinet, and are apart when in the open positions to provide access to the open front of the cabinet;

a link member pivotably interconnected between the first arm and the second arm, wherein the link member is constructed and arranged so as to move one of the door sections in response to movement of the other; and

a biasing arrangement interconnected with one of the door sections for counterbalancing the weight of at least one of the door sections.

6. The storage unit of claim 5, wherein the biasing arrangement and the first and second door sections are constructed and arranged so that the force of the biasing arrangement applies a biasing force to the first and second door sections that biases the first and second door sections toward the open position, wherein the biasing force applied by the biasing arrangement is operable to maintain the first and second door sections in the open position when the first and second door sections are moved to the open position, and is further operable to enable the first and second door sections to remain in the closed position when the first and second door sections are moved to the closed position, and is further operable to maintain the position of the first and second door sections when the first and second door sections are moved to a position between the open and closed positions.

7. The storage unit of claim 6, wherein the link member is pivotably engaged with one of the first and second arms at a location between the open front of the cabinet and a pivot axis defined by the pivotable mounting of the arm to the cabinet, and is pivotably engaged with the other of the first and second arms at a location rearwardly of a pivot axis defined by the pivotable mounting of the other arm to the cabinet.

8. The storage unit of claim 6, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a spring interconnected between the cabinet and one of the first and second arms, wherein the spring is operable to apply a biasing force to the arm.

9. The storage unit of claim 6, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a counterweight mounted to one of the first and second arms at a location rearwardly of a pivot axis defined by the pivotable mounting of the arm to the cabinet.

10. In a storage unit including a cabinet defining an open front and an upper door member, the improvement comprising an upper arm secured to the upper door member, in a fixed angular relationship and a pivot connection interposed between the upper arm and the cabinet for providing movement of the upper arm, and thereby the upper door member, about an upper pivot axis, and a lower door member and a lower arm secured together in a fixed angular relationship, wherein the lower arm is interconnected with the cabinet via a pivot connection for providing movement of the lower arm, and thereby the lower door member, about a lower pivot axis, wherein the upper and lower door members are movable between an open position providing access to the open front of the cabinet and a closed position for closing the open front of the cabinet, and a spring interconnected between the cabinet and one of the arms, and further comprising a link member interconnected between the upper arm and the lower arm, wherein the link member is operable to synchronize movement of the upper and lower door members between the open and closed positions, wherein the spring and the arm are constructed and arranged such that the spring applies a biasing force to the arm which counterbalances the weight of the door members, wherein the biasing force urges the door members toward the open position, and wherein the spring, the arms and the door members are constructed and arranged so that the biasing force applied by the spring is operable to maintain the door members in the open position when the door members is are moved to the open position, and is further operable to enable the door members to remain in the closed position when the door members are moved to the closed position, and is further operable to maintain the door members in position when the door members are moved to a position between the open and closed positions.

11. The storage unit of claim 10, wherein the link member is pivotably interconnected with the upper arm at a location forwardly of the upper pivot axis, and wherein the link member is pivotably interconnected with the lower arm at a location rearwardly of the lower pivot axis.

12. The storage unit of claim 10, wherein the spring comprises a linear spring having forward and rearward ends, wherein the rearward end of the spring is fixed to the cabinet and wherein the forward end of the spring is mounted to a spring mounting arrangement associated with the arm.

13. The storage unit of claim 12, wherein the spring mounting arrangement associated with the arm comprises a spring mounting section that extends upwardly from the arm at a location above the pivot axis.

14. The storage unit of claim 13, wherein the rearward end of the spring is interconnected with the cabinet at a location below the engagement of the forward end of the spring with the spring mounting section of the arm.