GALLEY UNIT INCLUDING CONTAINER HANDLING MECHANISM

1 . A galley unit for storing at least one container therein, comprising:

(a) a deck defining a surface for supporting the at least one container; and

(b) at least one support arm including a first member and a second member interconnected by a lift cylinder, wherein the first member is attached to the galley unit and the second member is attached to the deck;

wherein the deck is selectively movable between a fully lowered and a fully raised position.

2 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are pivotably attached to the lift cylinder to permit the at least one support arm to fold to a compact configuration and extend to an extended configuration.

3 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a slot defined by the galley unit for receiving at least a portion of the deck when the deck is in the fully raised position.

4 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the deck comprises a single member.

5 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the deck comprises two or more members that are hinged together to permit folding.

6 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the lift cylinder is selected from the group consisting of a gas strut, a gas cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder and a pneumatic cylinder.

7 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the deck has neutral buoyancy and may be raised and lowered using only a relatively small amount of manual force.

8 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the deck forms a generally horizontal working surface when in the fully lowered position.

9 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , wherein the deck is folded and covers at least one galley compartment when the deck is in the fully raised position.

10 . The galley unit according to claim 1 , further comprising two support arms.

11 . A galley unit including at least one container stored at a position elevated from a floor of a vehicle within a compartment, the galley unit comprising a container lifting mechanism attached to the galley unit and comprising a container supporting deck supported by a pair of foldable lifting arms, the lifting arms operable for moving the container supporting surface between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position.

12 . The galley unit according to claim 11 , wherein each of the lifting arms comprises a first member attached to the galley unit, a second member attached to the deck, and a lift cylinder interconnecting the first member and the second member.

13 . The galley unit according to claim 11 , wherein the deck comprises a first member and a second member hinged together to permit the deck to fold.

14 . The galley unit according to claim 11 , wherein the deck covers the compartment when in the fully raised position.

15 . The galley unit according to claim 13 , wherein the deck is horizontal when in the fully lowered position.

16 . A method for storing a galley container within a galley unit of a passenger vehicle comprising a deck defining a surface for supporting the container and a pair of support arms including a first member and a second member interconnected by a lift cylinder, wherein the first member is attached to the galley unit and the second member is attached to the deck, and wherein the deck is selectively movable between a fully lowered and a fully raised position, the method comprising:

positioning the deck in a lowered position elevated from a floor of the passenger vehicle;

positioning and supporting the galley container on the deck;

raising the deck to a raised position; and

sliding the galley container within a compartment of the galley unit.