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  Cabinet with rotatable and hydraulically liftable tabletopThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060284529. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to an article of furniture suitable for the storage and use of audio-visual components used for presentations, and more specifically to a cabinet having a moveably joined tabletop. Many of the rotatable tables in the prior art have a single point of support that allows the table surface to be rotated within reach of a user, such as the Lazy Susan and over-the-bed type tables shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,963,288; 4,158,997; 4,334,482 and 6,543,369. Heavier duty prior art cabinets having a rotatable table require at least one leg support in addition to the rotational support point, such as those shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,005,925; 5,454,636 and 5,743,603, but they are not height adjustable. [0002] The ability to selectively position the height of a tabletop capable of supporting significant weight while maintaining the ability to rotate the tabletop into various configurations relative to a base cabinet presents some challenges. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,469, Liggett sidestepped the problem by placing the entire furniture assembly onto height adjustable legs having casters, but the entire assembly can accidentally be moved if someone leans against it. Burdi et al. addressed the problem by simultaneously operating two drive assemblies while counting the number of rotations of each drive assembly so the height change was consistent, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,441. The best solution seems to be the use of hydraulic lifts, such as those used with some medical and industrial tables, but hydraulic lifts can be damaged when they are twisted or improperly loaded. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention includes several unique combinations that provide a tabletop that may be selectively positioned upwardly or downwardly and that may be turned about an axis normal to a horizontal plane. The tabletop is joined at one end to a base cabinet using a swivel means and at least one hydraulic cylinder, and the tabletop is joined at the other end to a leg having at least another hydraulic cylinder atop a wheel such that the tabletop may be lifted and rotated relative to the base cabinet. A hydraulic pump that can force a liquid into the hydraulic cylinders is used to selectively adjust the height of the tabletop. The article of furniture can be manipulated into a long table, tall table, or compact table configuration in addition to being rotatable and liftable into numerous other positions. [0004] The most preferred embodiment of the present invention uses paired hydraulic cylinders for extra stability and reliability. Additionally, the hydraulics may be used to lift the heavy base cabinet such that the entire article of furniture may be rolled on wheels when it is in the compact table configuration. The features designed into the present invention make the article of furniture exceptionally well suited as a presentation desk that may be fully equipped with audio and visual devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the most preferred embodiment of the article of furniture of the present invention in a long table configuration. [0006] FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view through line 2-2 in FIG. 1. [0007] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the article of furniture of FIG. 1. [0008] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through line 4-4 in FIG. 3. [0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the article of furniture of FIG. 1 in a tall table configuration that has been partially swiveled. [0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the article of furniture of FIG. 1 in a compact table configuration. [0011] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the compact table configuration of FIG. 5. [0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the article of furniture of FIG. 5 with the base cabinet lifted. [0013] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a first alternate swivel means. [0014] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a second alternate swivel means. [0015] [0016] The following is the list of numerical callouts used in FIGS. 1-10: [0017] 10 base cabinet [0018] 12 top [0019] 14 back [0020] 16 first side [0021] 18 second side [0022] 20 tabletop [0023] 22 first half [0024] 24 second half [0025] 26 channel [0026] 30 Hydraulic pump [0027] 32 electric motor [0028] 34 switch [0029] 40 first hydraulic cylinder [0030] 42 second hydraulic cylinder [0031] 44 tube [0032] 46 rod [0033] 50 first leg framework [0034] 52 first leg cylinder bracket [0035] 54 first leg case [0036] 56 first leg access panel [0037] 58 turntable [0038] 60 second leg framework [0039] 62 second leg cylinder bracket [0040] 64 second leg case [0041] 66 second leg access panel [0042] 68 casters [0043] 70 sleeve [0044] 72 cylinder bracket [0045] 74 perpendicular mounting surface [0046] 76 swivel means [0047] 80 lifting member [0048] 82 handle [0049] 84 cabinet wheels DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0050] The most preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, is a cabinet with a rotatable and hydraulically liftable tabletop. This description will describe the base cabinet, tabletop, swivel means and vertical adjustment means needed to make the present invention. The preferred embodiment's structure with optional features will be described first, followed by function and alternate embodiments. Preferred materials, shapes, methods of attachment and methods of assembly will be discussed, but these preferences are not intended to exclude suitable or functionally equivalent alternatives. The term "join" has a broad meaning that is not limited to a direct connecting of parts, so there may be intermediate parts that are not specifically named but that contribute to the joining of named parts. Unnamed brackets, supports, framework and fasteners are assumed to be used whenever it should be obvious to an ordinarily skilled cabinet maker. [0051] FIGS. 1-8, which are views of the most preferred embodiment, show a very basic base cabinet 10. The base cabinet, like the majority of the article of furniture, is preferable made from a wood product or other suitable cabinet making material. Because this article of furniture is typically used for presentations, a desk-sized structure made from a quality hardwood or veneer covered plywood having a beautiful finish is preferred. The base cabinet includes a top 12, back 14, first side 16 and second side 18. The first side serves as an at least one structure for supporting the tabletop in a horizontal plane. The base cabinet's enclosure should be combined with any necessary article supporting means, not shown, such as drawers, racks, shelves, etc., fixed or movable partly or wholly out of the enclosure to make an article supported more readily accessible. Additional components that may be added include compartments, walls, doors, shelves, partitions, racks or other article supports, or similar parts of a compartment, fixed or removable. [0052] The tabletop 20 is a horizontally supported planar surface that is rigid, preferably a wood material. The tabletop has a first half 22 and a second half 24. The first half may be selected arbitrarily, such as would be required for a round tabletop. The first half is joined to the first side 16 of the base cabinet 10 such that the base cabinet provides the structure needed to at least partially support the tabletop in a horizontal plane. The bottom surface of the tabletop includes a channel 26, which could alternately be conduit or a cover, for concealing lines, wires or cables. The bottom surface of the tabletop may include mounting plates and brackets where extra strength is needed. [0053] The tabletop 20 is hydraulically liftable by a vertical adjustment means that uses a hydraulic pump 30 that imparts motion to the tabletop when a means for controlling the pump is operated, such as an electric motor 32 that is actuated by a switch 34. An alternate means for controlling the pump is a simple hand crank. The hydraulic pump provides a fluid pressure that acts on a cross section of a rod or piston of one or more hydraulic cylinders. Hydraulic lines, not shown, extend from the hydraulic pump to each of the hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic pump and electric motor may be mounted to the back 14 of the base cabinet 10. An access panel may be used to hide the pump and motor from view. Continue reading... Full patent description for Cabinet with rotatable and hydraulically liftable tabletop Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cabinet with rotatable and hydraulically liftable tabletop patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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