초록 ▼

A closet can fit into an attic and a cabinet (105) can be retracted out of the closet to the living space below manually, or using a return spring or electrical means. An air space (150) around the cabinet insulates it from thermal contact with the walls. A panel (110) with vent openings (155) is af

A closet can fit into an attic and a cabinet (105) can be retracted out of the closet to the living space below manually, or using a return spring or electrical means. An air space (150) around the cabinet insulates it from thermal contact with the walls. A panel (110) with vent openings (155) is affixed to the bottom of the cabinet. In an alternative embodiment the cabinet is hung from a restraining member (145), or arm (1105), by which it can be raised for storage and lowered for access. When raised, the panel is in contact with the ceiling (110) between the attic and air from the living space mixes into the air space by convection. A fan (160) can urge circulation between the air space and the living space, reducing of temperature extremes in the air space and hence the cabinet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A storage system comprising: a closet or enclosure having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top, and a downward-facing opening,a cabinet, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet or enclosure, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and a plurality of side walls connec

1. A storage system comprising: a closet or enclosure having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top, and a downward-facing opening,a cabinet, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet or enclosure, said cabinet having a bottom, a top, and a plurality of side walls connecting said bottom and said top of said cabinet,said cabinet and said closet or enclosure being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet or enclosure, there will be (a) a first air space around and surrounding all of said side walls and said top of said cabinet, between the outsides of all of said side walls and said top and said inner sides of said walls of said closet or enclosure, and (b) a second air space below said bottom of said cabinet,said first air space around the outsides of all of said side walls and said top of said cabinet communicating with said second air space below said bottom of said cabinet so that air can flow there between,means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet or enclosure and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet or enclosure, and a panel attached to said bottom of said cabinet, said panel arranged to seal said downward-facing opening when said cabinet is raised into said closet or enclosure, said panel including at least a first vent opening permitting communication between said first and said second air spaces,whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet or enclosure, air can circulate around the entire outside of said side walls and said top of said cabinet and said first and second air spaces will be in communication so that air can flow between said first and second air spaces, whereby the temperatures of said first and said air spaces will tend to equalize when the air in said first air space is colder than the air in said second air space. 2. The storage system of claim 1 wherein said means for raising and lowering said cabinet comprises a motor, a speed reducer, a plurality of pulleys, a plurality of cables, and at least one bracket attached to said cabinet. 3. The storage system of claim 1, further including an attic and a living space adjacent and beneath said attic and a ceiling separating said attic and said living space, said closet or enclosure being mounted in said attic and said downward-facing opening communicating with said living space. 4. The storage system of claim 1, further including a fan positioned and arranged so that when energized, said fan urges air to flow from said second air space to said first air space, thereby causing the temperature of air within said first air space to equalize with the temperature of said second air space below. 5. The storage system of claim 1, further including: a vent opening between said first and second air spaces,at least one flapper valve over said vent opening, springably arranged to close,at least one fusible link holding said flapper valve in an open position so that air can freely pass between said first and second air spaces,whereby in the event of a fire, said fusible link will release said flapper valve, thereby allowing said flapper valve to close, and prevent said fire from passing between said first and second air spaces. 6. The storage system of claim 1, further including a decorative material selected from the group consisting of woven screening, woven fabric, porous material, non-porous material, and plastic located between said first and second air spaces. 7. The storage system of claim 1, further including: a first baffle secured to an inner side of one of said enclosing walls of said closet or enclosure, said one of said enclosing walls of said closet or enclosure being located adjacent one wall of said cabinet,a second baffle secured to an inner side of another of said enclosing walls of said closet or enclosure, said other of said enclosing walls of said closet or enclosure being located adjacent a wall of said cabinet opposite said one wall of said cabinet,said first and said second baffles being positioned in said air space between said inner sides of said one and said other enclosing walls of said closet or enclosure and said cabinet when said cabinet is fully raised, said first and said second baffles thereby defining a ducted air space,a panel located in said ceiling,a first vent opening in said panel at a point between said first and second baffles on a first vertical side of said cabinet,a second vent opening in said panel at a point between said first and second baffles on a second vertical side of said cabinet,a fan arranged to urge air from said second air space to pass through said first and second vent openings and said ducted air space,whereby air from said second air space is circulated over said cabinet in a predetermined path. 8. The storage system of claim 1 wherein said panel is attached to said bottom of said cabinet by means selected from the group consisting of removable and non-removable means. 9. The storage system of claim 1, further including a fan located to force air through said first air space, thereby increasing the rate of circulation to said air space between said cabinet and said inner sides of said walls of said closet or enclosure. 10. The storage system of claim 1, further including: a duct secured within said closet or enclosure and extending upward from a bottom area of said closet or enclosure and reaching to a top, inner surface of said closet or enclosure,said duct having a fan and having at least one opening at said top, inner surface of said closet or enclosure,said duct opening being positioned so that when activated, said fan exhausts said air from said top, inner area of said closet or enclosure via said duct, thereby circulating air from said second air space through said first air space in order to equalize the temperature of air within said first air space with said second air space below. 11. The storage system of claim 1, further including: a support member selected from the group consisting of a joist, a header, a bottom chord, a framing member, a timber structured ceiling, and a concrete ceiling,at least one bracket comprising at least first and second parts, said first part being secured to said support member and said second part being secured to said cabinet,whereby said bracket guides the path of said cabinet when said cabinet is raised and lowered. 12. The storage system of claim 1 wherein said closet or enclosure is made from a thermally insulating material selected from the group consisting of calcium silicate, fireproof expanded polyethylene foam sheet with aluminum film siding, magnesium oxide cementitious foam, and polystyrene. 13. The storage system of claim 1 wherein said means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet or enclosure and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet or enclosure uses power selected from the class consisting of manual power and electrical power. 14. A storage system comprising: a closet or enclosure having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top and a downward-facing opening,a cabinet having a plurality of walls, a bottom, and a top, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet or enclosure,said cabinet and said closet or enclosure being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet or enclosure, there will be a first air space around said top and said walls of said cabinet and said inner sides of said walls of said closet or enclosure,a second air space below said bottom of said closet or enclosure,a fan positioned and arranged so that when energized, said fan urges air from said second air space to flow to said first air space,means for raising said cabinet upward into said closet or enclosure and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet or enclosure,whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet or enclosure, said fan can be energized to cause air to flow from said second air space through said first air space so that the temperatures of said first and said second air spaces will tend to equalize. 15. The storage system of claim 14 wherein said fan is mounted in said closet or enclosure. 16. The storage system of claim 14, further including a duct connected to said first air space and wherein said fan is mounted so as to supply air to said duct. 17. The storage system of claim 14 wherein said means for raising and lowering said cabinet comprises a motor, a speed reducer, a plurality of pulleys, a plurality of cables, and at least one bracket attached to said cabinet. 18. The storage system of claim 14, further including: an attic and a living space adjacent and beneath said attic, a ceiling separating said attic and said living space, said closet or enclosure being mounted in said attic and said downward-facing opening communicating with said living space. 19. The storage system of claim 14, further including: a vent opening between said first and second air spaces,at least one flapper valve over said vent opening, springably arranged to close,at least one fusible link holding said flapper valve in an open position so that air can freely pass between said first and second air spaces,whereby in the event of a fire, said fusible link will release said flapper valve, thereby allowing said flapper valve to close, and prevent said fire from passing between said first and second air spaces. 20. A storage system comprising: a closet or enclosure having a plurality of enclosing walls with inner sides, a top and a downward-facing opening,a cabinet having a plurality of side walls, a bottom, and a top, said cabinet being movable into and out of said closet or enclosure,said cabinet and said closet or enclosure being dimensioned so that when said cabinet is positioned in said closet or enclosure, there will be (a) a first air space around and surrounding all of said side walls and said top of said cabinet, between the outsides of all of said side walls and said top and said inner sides of said walls of said closet or enclosure, and (b) a second air space below said bottom of said cabinet,a panel attached and positioned at the bottom of said cabinet arranged to seal said first air space from said second air space at their bottom junction when said cabinet is elevated into said closet or enclosure,at least one duct attached to said closet or enclosure, said duct being arranged and positioned to allow air communication between said first air space and said second air space below said bottom of said cabinet so that air can flow therebetween, andmeans for raising said cabinet upward into said closet or enclosure and lowering said cabinet downward out of said closet or enclosure,whereby when said cabinet is raised into said closet or enclosure, said first and second air spaces will be in communication so that air can flow between said first and second aid spaces, whereby the temperatures of said first and said air spaces will tend to equalize when the air in said first air space is colder than the air in the second air space. 21. The storage system of claim 20, further including at least one fan positioned and arranged so that when activated, said fan increases circulation of air from said second air space through said first air space in order to equalize the temperature of air within said first air space with the temperature of said second air space below.