Furniture lifting system
View Patent ↗A structure includes an item of furniture coupled to a lift system. The lifting system is configured to move the item of furniture vertically along a path between a lowered position and a raised position. The item of furniture is coupled to the lifting system in a manner that allows the item of furniture to move upward along the path when the lifting system is stationary. When the item of furniture is in the lowered position, it is supported on the floor of the structure. This configuration allows the item of furniture to float relative to the lifting system so that when the item of furniture reaches the lowered position, it is supported only by the floor and not the lifting system.
1. A structure comprising:
an item of furniture; and
a lifting system configured to move the item of furniture vertically along a path between a lowered position and a raised position;
wherein the item of furniture is coupled to the lifting system in a manner that allows the item of furniture to move upward along the path when the lifting system is stationary; and
wherein the item of furniture is supported on a floor of the structure when the item of furniture is in the lowered position.
2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the lifting system moves the item of furniture from the lowered position to the raised position and only gravity moves the item of furniture from the raised position to the lowered position.
3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the lifting system controls downward movement of the item of furniture along at least a majority of the path, and wherein the item of furniture can move freely upward along at least a majority of the path.
4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the lifting system comprises a moving member that supports the item of furniture and moves along the path, and wherein the item of furniture is movable upward relative to the moving member.
5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the moving member is not coupled to another item of furniture.
6. The structure of claim 1 wherein the item of furniture is the lowermost item of furniture coupled to the lifting system.
7. The structure of claim 1 comprising a support base positioned on the floor, wherein the item of furniture is supported solely by the support base when the item of furniture is in the lowered position.
8. The structure of claim 1 wherein the lifting system comprises a flexible drive member extending vertically along the path, and wherein the lifting system is configured to move the item of furniture along the path between the lowered position and the raised position.
9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the path is an endless path, and wherein the flexible drive member is configured to reciprocally move the item of furniture along the endless path between the lowered position and the raised position.
10. The structure of claim 8 wherein the lifting system comprises a moving member coupled to the flexible drive member, and wherein the item of furniture is supported by the moving member.
11. The structure of claim 8 wherein the flexible drive member comprises a roller chain that forms at least part of the path.
12. The structure of claim 8 wherein the flexible drive member comprises a cable that forms at least part of the path.
13. A structure comprising:
an item of furniture; and
a lifting system configured to move the item of furniture vertically along a path between a lowered position and a raised position;
wherein the item of furniture is coupled to the lifting system in a manner that allows the item of furniture to move upward along the path when the lifting system is stationary; and
wherein the item of furniture is the lowermost item of furniture coupled to the lifting system.
14. The structure of claim 13 wherein the lifting system moves the item of furniture from the lowered position to the raised position and only gravity moves the item of furniture from the raised position to the lowered position.
15. The structure of claim 13 wherein the lifting system controls downward movement of the item of furniture along at least a majority of the path, and wherein the item of furniture can move freely upward along at least a majority of the path.
16. The structure of claim 13 wherein the lifting system comprises a moving member that supports the item of furniture and moves along the path, and wherein the item of furniture is movable upward relative to the moving member.
17. The structure of claim 16 wherein the moving member is not coupled to another item of furniture.
18. The structure of claim 13 comprising a support base positioned on a floor of the structure, wherein the item of furniture is supported solely by the support base when the item of furniture is in the lowered position.
19. The structure of claim 13 wherein the lifting system comprises a flexible drive member extending vertically along the path, and wherein the lifting system is configured to move the item of furniture along the path between the lowered position and the raised position.
20. The structure of claim 19 wherein the path is an endless path, and wherein the flexible drive member is configured to reciprocally move the item of furniture along the endless path between the lowered position and the raised position.
21. The structure of claim 19 wherein the lifting system comprises a moving member coupled to the flexible drive member, and wherein the item of furniture is supported by the moving member.
22. The structure of claim 19 wherein the flexible drive member comprises a roller chain that forms at least part of the path.
23. The structure of claim 19 wherein the flexible drive member comprises a cable that forms at least part of the path.