Storage cabinet device

Abstract

The storage cabinet device includes a housing having a cavity, a door closing the cavity, and a support assembly coupled to the storage cabinet assembly. The support assembly can move according to several different types of motion. For example, the support assembly can move upward and downward relative to the storage cabinet assembly along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly. The support assembly can rotate about a first rotation axis to move a retaining member of the support assembly between a stowed position and an expanded position, in which the retaining member is stored and in which the retaining member protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly. The support assembly can rotate about a second rotation axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining member protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial number 16 / 800,831 filed on February 25, 2020, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial number 62 / 979,492 filed on February 21, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Storage cabinets are used in whole families and certain office environments to store articles in invisible places but in easily accessible positions. For example, medicine storage cabinets are usually hung in bathrooms and include mirrored doors. People usually store articles related to personal hygiene such as deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes and medicines in medicine storage cabinets. Some users wish to perform multitasking when carrying out various activities in the bathroom. For example, users may wish to watch videos on electronic devices to kill time, obtain information or enhance their experience during specific activities such as brushing teeth. Or users may expect to read articles on electronic devices or published articles when performing such activities. However, there is currently no way to support electronic devices, publications, etc. in such a way that it can be easily seen by users, will not suffer water damage, and can be easily collected when not in use. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the storage cabinet space so as to provide users with a place to support certain articles away from the countertop and in the user's field of vision during personal hygiene activities. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention may relate to a storage cabinet device, which includes a housing having a cavity, a door closing a front opening of the cavity, and a support assembly coupled to a storage cabinet assembly. The support assembly can move according to several different types of motion. For example, the support assembly can move upward and downward relative to the storage cabinet assembly along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly. The support assembly can rotate about a first rotational axis to move a retaining member of the support assembly between a stowed position and an expanded position, in which the retaining member is stored and in which the retaining member protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly. The support assembly can rotate about a second rotational axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining member protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly.

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention may relate to a storage cabinet device, which includes a storage cabinet assembly and a support assembly, wherein the storage cabinet assembly has a longitudinal axis and includes: a shell, the shell including a cavity with a front opening and a door, the door is connected to the shell to close the front opening of the cavity, and the support assembly is connected to the storage cabinet assembly and can move vertically relative to the storage cabinet assembly in opposite (two) directions parallel to the longitudinal axis, the support assembly includes a retaining component, the retaining component is configured to retain items for user viewing, and the retaining component can be rotated relative to the storage cabinet assembly about a first rotation axis between a storage position and an expanded position: (1) in the storage position, the door can be closed and the retaining component is located inside the cavity of the shell; and (2) in the expanded position, the door can be closed and the retaining component is located outside the cavity of the shell.

[0006] In another aspect, the present invention may relate to a storage cabinet device, which includes a storage cabinet assembly and a support assembly, wherein the storage cabinet assembly has a longitudinal axis and includes: a shell, the shell including a cavity having a front opening and a door, the door being connected to the shell to close the front opening of the cavity; the support assembly is connected to the storage cabinet assembly, the support assembly including a retaining component, the retaining component being configured to retain items for user observation, the retaining component being capable of rotating relative to the storage cabinet assembly about the following axes: rotating about (1) a first rotation axis to move the retaining component between a storage position and an expanded position, in which the retaining component does not protrude from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly and in which the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly; and rotating about (2) a second rotation axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining component extends from the storage cabinet assembly when the retaining component is in the expanded position; and wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are spaced apart from each other and are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly.

[0007] In yet another aspect, the present invention may relate to a cabinet device comprising a cabinet assembly and a support assembly, wherein the cabinet assembly has a longitudinal axis, the support assembly comprises a retaining component configured to retain items in a detachable manner for viewing by a user, and the support assembly is movably connected to the cabinet assembly so that the support assembly can move relative to the cabinet assembly according to a variety of types of movements, the various types of movements comprising: (1) upward and downward along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet assembly to adjust the height of the support assembly relative to the cabinet assembly; (2) rotation about a first rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet assembly to move the retaining component of the support assembly between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the stowed position, no portion of the support assembly protrudes from the periphery of the cabinet assembly, and in the deployed position, the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the cabinet assembly; and (3) rotation about a second rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet assembly to adjust the angle at which the retaining component extends from the cabinet assembly when in the deployed position.

[0008] On the other hand, the present invention may relate to a storage cabinet device, which includes a storage cabinet assembly and a support assembly, wherein the storage cabinet assembly includes a shell and a door connected to the shell, the door having an inner surface facing the shell when the door is closed, the support assembly is connected to the inner surface of the door of the storage cabinet assembly, the support assembly includes a retaining component, the retaining component is configured to retain items for viewing by a user, and the retaining component is capable of: (1) rotating about a first rotation axis to move the retaining component between a storage position and an expanded position, in which the retaining component is adjacent to the inner surface of the door and in the expanded position, the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the door; and (2) rotating about a second rotation axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the door when the retaining component is in the expanded position.

[0009] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a storage cabinet device, wherein a door of the storage cabinet assembly is in an open state and a retaining member of the support assembly is in an extended position;

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a storage cabinet device, wherein the support assembly has been moved downwardly in a vertical direction relative to the storage cabinet assembly;

[0013] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of ;

[0014] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a support assembly;

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded view of a support assembly;

[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a storage cabinet device, wherein the door is in an open state and the retaining member of the support assembly is in a storage position;

[0017] Fig. 7A yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a storage cabinet device, wherein the door is in a closed state and the retaining member of the support assembly is in an extended position;

[0018] Figure 7B It is along Fig. 7A A cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII;

[0019] Fig. 8A yes Fig. 7A A perspective view of a cabinet assembly, wherein the retaining member of the support assembly has been rotated relative to the cabinet assembly to change its viewing angle;

[0020] Figure 8B It is along Fig. 8A A cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of ;

[0021] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a storage cabinet device, wherein the door is in a closed state and the retaining member of the support assembly is in a storage position;

[0022] Fig. 10A It is along Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view taken along line XX of , wherein the retaining member of the support assembly is in a first storage position;

[0023] Fig. 10B It is along Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view taken along line XX of , wherein the retaining member of the support assembly is in a second storage position; and

[0024] Fig.11A and Fig. 11B A process of coupling an item to a retaining component according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0026] The description of the illustrative embodiments according to the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are considered to be part of the entire written description. In the description of the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is intended only for ease of description and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Relative terms such as "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "top" and "bottom" and their derivatives (such as "horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be interpreted as referring to the orientation as described subsequently or as shown in the drawings discussed. These relative terms are only for ease of description, and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a specific orientation unless explicitly stated. Unless otherwise explicitly described, terms such as "attachment", "attachment", "connection", "connection", "interconnection" and similar terms refer to the relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other directly or indirectly through intermediate structures, as well as removable or rigid attachments or relationships. In addition, the features and benefits of the present invention are illustrated by reference to exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

[0027] First refer to Figure 1 , shows a storage cabinet device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The storage cabinet device 1000 includes a storage cabinet assembly 10 and a support assembly 300 coupled to the storage cabinet assembly 10. The storage cabinet assembly 10 includes a longitudinal axis AA, such that the storage cabinet assembly 10 extends from a bottom end 11 to a top end 12 along the longitudinal axis AA. The storage cabinet assembly 10 generally includes a housing 100 and a door 200, which is pivotally coupled to the housing 100 so that the door 200 can be opened in an open state ( Figure 1 shown) and the closed state ( Fig. 7A The housing 100 includes a cavity 110 in which various items can be stored. In an exemplary embodiment, the support assembly 300 is coupled to the housing 100 and is configured to enable a variety of different types of motion relative to the housing 100 to optimize the viewing height and viewing angle of items held or supported by the support assembly 300, details of which will be described throughout this disclosure.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cabinet assembly 10 may be a medicine cabinet, but the invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments. Thus, the cabinet assembly 10 may be a kitchen cabinet, an office cabinet, or any other type of cabinet that may benefit from including a support assembly 300 for holding and / or supporting external equipment or items such as those described in more detail below. The disclosure set forth herein may also be applicable to bookshelves, desks, or other furniture to which the support assembly 300 may be attached.

[0029] The cabinet assembly 10 can be attached to a support surface using flush mounting or recessed mounting techniques, such as a wall in a bathroom or other room in a home. In a recessed mounting, a large portion of the housing 100 is recessed into the wall, while a flange at the front of the housing 100 is against the surface of the wall. In a flush mounting, the entirety of the cabinet assembly 10 is positioned on the outer surface of the wall, and no portion of the housing 100 is recessed. These are conventional techniques for mounting cabinets, particularly medicine cabinets, to walls in a home, and further details related to mounting techniques will not be provided herein.

[0030] The housing 100 can be formed by any material that is usually or conventionally used to make storage cabinets. Therefore, for example, in various different embodiments, the housing 100 can be formed by metal, plastic or wood. The housing 100 can include a rear wall 101 and a plurality of side walls extending from the rear wall 101 to the front opening 106 of the cavity 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of side walls include a left side wall 102, a right side wall 103, a top side wall 104 and a bottom side wall 105. The left side wall 102, the right side wall 103, the top side wall 104 and the bottom side wall 105 jointly define the cavity 110 of the housing 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 100 and the cavity 110 have a rectangular shape or a square shape. However, in other embodiments, different numbers of side walls can be used, which will change the shape of the cavity 110. For example, if there are three side walls, the cavity 110 can have a triangular shape, and if there are six side walls, the cavity can have a hexagonal shape, etc.

[0031] The plurality of side walls 102-105 each extend from the front surface 112 of the rear wall 101 to the front opening 106 of the cavity 110. More specifically, each of the plurality of side walls 102-105 extends from the rear wall 101 to a distal end or terminal end 113, wherein the distal end 113 surrounds the front opening 106 of the cavity 110. The front opening 106 of the cavity 110 may be coplanar with the distal end 113 of the side wall. In addition, the housing 100 includes a frame 114 extending from the distal end 113 of the plurality of side walls in a direction away from the cavity 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame 114 extends vertically from the side walls 102, 103, 104, and 105, but in other embodiments, it may be inclined. The frame 114 forms a flange surrounding the front opening 106 of the cavity 110. The frame 114 has a front surface 115 that abuts against or faces the inner surface 201 of the door 200 when the door 200 is closed. In some embodiments, a gap may exist between the front surface 115 of the frame 114 and the inner surface 201 of the door 200 when the door 200 is closed.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, there are a plurality of shelves 190 extending horizontally from the left side wall 102 to the right side wall 103 within the cavity 110. The shelves can be formed of any desired rigid material, such as plastic, glass, wood, etc. The shelves 190 can be coupled to or supported by pins or other support members that are coupled to the left and right side walls 102, 103 of the housing 100. Although Figure 1 Two shelves are shown, but more or less than two shelves may be used in other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the exact structure, shape and other details of the shelves 190, including the spacing therebetween and their specific positioning within the cavity 110 of the housing 100, are not limitations of the present invention.

[0033] The door 200 is connected to the housing 100 by one or more hinges to allow the door 200 to change between an open state and a closed state. In an exemplary embodiment, the door 200 is hingedly connected to the left side wall 102 of the housing 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this in all embodiments, and the door 200 can be hingedly connected to the right side wall 103 of the housing 100 instead. In other embodiments, the door 200 can also be hingedly connected to the top side wall 104 or the bottom side wall 105, although this will be a less traditional method. In addition, the door 200 can be a slidable door, rather than a door that pivots around a hinge relative to the housing 100. Therefore, the door 200 can be connected to the housing 100 in such a way that the door 200 can slide left, right, upward or downward to open and / or close the front opening 106 of the cavity 110.

[0034] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the coupling of the door 200 to the housing 100 may be interchangeable, such that a user may decide to couple the door 200 to the left side wall 102 or the right side wall 104, which may be determined by the location where the cabinet device 1000 will be hung. Regardless of the specific manner in which the door 200 is coupled to the housing 100, the door 200 may be coupled to the housing 100 in a manner such as Figure 1 The open state shown is the same as Fig. 7A The door 200 is shown in the figure as changing between the closed states, wherein: (1) in the open state, the front opening 106 of the cavity 110 is exposed to provide access to the cavity 110; and (2) in the closed state, the door 200 closes the front opening 106 of the cavity 110. Therefore, when a user wishes to access items stored in the cavity 106 (such as on a shelf, on the bottom side wall 105, etc.), the user will open the door 200 to expose the front opening 106. When removing a desired item from the cavity 110 or replacing a desired item, the user will close the door 200.

[0035] The door 200 includes an inner surface 201 and an outer surface 202. When the door 200 is in a closed state, the inner surface 201 faces the cavity 110 (for example, in Fig. 7A 200). In some embodiments, the outer surface 202 can be a mirrored surface. Thus, the outer surface 202 of the door 200 can be a mirror or include a mirror so that the user can see his / her reflection therein. Thus, the user can perform daily hygiene activities with the door 200 closed so that the user can see him or herself performing such daily hygiene activities. Of course, the outer surface 202 of the door 200 need not be a mirrored surface in all embodiments. In some embodiments, the inner surface 201 can also be a mirrored surface.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a track 210 formed in the inner surface 201 of the door 200. The track 210 is a channel in the inner surface 201 of the door 200 to which the support assembly 300 can be coupled. Figure 1 and Figure 3As best shown in , in an exemplary embodiment, the track 210 is located near a distal edge 220 of the door 200, which is the edge of the door 200 farthest from the housing 100. However, in other embodiments, the track 210 may be located at other locations along the door 200. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, the track 210 extends along the entire height of the door 200 from the bottom edge of the door 200 to the top edge 222 of the door 200. In other embodiments, the track 210 may extend along only a portion of the height of the door 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the track 210 extends along a vertical axis BB that is parallel to the longitudinal axis AA of the storage cabinet assembly 10. Therefore, many variations in the location and positioning of the track 210 are possible within the scope of the invention described herein.

[0037] As described above and shown in the drawings, in an exemplary embodiment, the support assembly 300 is coupled to the door 200, and more specifically to the inner surface 201 of the door 200, in which the track 210 is located. However, the present invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the support assembly 300 may be coupled to the housing 100 instead of the door 200. For example, the housing 100 may include a track or channel formed in the inner surface of one of the side walls 102-105 or along the rear wall 101 for coupling the support assembly 300 to the housing 100. Therefore, in some embodiments, the support assembly 300 may be coupled to the cabinet assembly 10, which includes the housing 100 and the door 200, so that in various different embodiments, the support assembly 300 may be coupled to the housing 100 or the door 200.

[0038] Also refer to Figure 1 as well as Figures 3 to 5 , the support assembly 300 generally includes a mounting assembly 310 coupled to the cabinet assembly 100, a retaining member 340 configured to retain items for viewing by a user, and a linkage assembly 370 pivotally or rotationally coupled to each of the mounting assembly 310 and the retaining member 340 to facilitate various types of movement of the support assembly 300 relative to the cabinet assembly 100. Details of these general components and / or components of the support assembly 300 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] The mounting assembly 310 includes a mounting plate 311 and a connecting plate 312 fixedly connected to the mounting plate 311. The connecting plate 312 can be connected to the mounting plate 311 using fasteners such as screws, nails, bolts, etc. or using adhesives or other techniques. Although in an exemplary embodiment, the mounting plate 311 and the connecting plate 312 are two separate parts connected together, in other embodiments, the mounting plate 311 and the connecting plate 312 can be part of an integral and single (i.e., monolithic) structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the mounting plate 311 is a flat plate that is mounted within the track 210 in the door 200 to connect the support assembly 300 to the storage cabinet assembly 10. In some embodiments, during assembly, the mounting plate 311 is first placed in the track 210, and then the connecting plate 312 is connected to the mounting plate 311.

[0040] The mounting plate 311 can be coupled to the cabinet assembly 10 (e.g., within the track 210) via a friction fit or an interference fit such that the mounting plate 311 is stationary until an upward or downward force is applied to the support assembly 300 to move it upward or downward relative to the cabinet assembly 10. In other embodiments, the mounting plate 311 can be coupled to the cabinet assembly 10 within the track 210 using an actuable clamp or an arcuate clamp, such as described in U.S. Patent No. 9,211,004, issued December 15, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, the mounting plate 311 can be coupled to the cabinet assembly 10 within the track 210 so that the mounting plate 311 can slide within the track 210 using other techniques and structures, including a ratchet mechanism, a depressible locking member that holds the mounting plate 311 in place under normal conditions and allows the user to slide the mounting plate 311 (and the support assembly 300) up and down relative to the cabinet assembly 10 within the track 210 when actuated. In other embodiments, the mounting plate 311 can be located within the track 210 and then held in place using a set screw so that when the set screw is loosened, the mounting plate 311 can move along the track 210, and when the set screw is tightened, the mounting plate 311 remains in place. Thus, there are many different ways to couple the mounting plate 311 to the cabinet assembly 10 while allowing the mounting plate 311 (and therefore the support assembly 300 as a whole) to remain at a fixed height and then move up and down to adjust its height along the cabinet assembly 10 when needed. In all of the embodiments described herein, the mounting plate 311 remains disposed within the track 210 and is thus coupled to the storage cabinet assembly 10 as it moves upward and downward along the vertical axis BB.

[0041] Briefly refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2Due to the interaction between the mounting assembly 310 and the rail 210, the support assembly 300 is configured to move / slide upward and downward in the vertical direction along the vertical axis BB, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis AA of the storage cabinet assembly 10. Therefore, the support assembly 300 can move vertically along the vertical axis BB in opposite (two) directions parallel to the longitudinal axis AA of the storage cabinet assembly 10 to change the height at which the support assembly 300 (or its retaining member 340) is positioned along the storage cabinet assembly 10. Specifically, from Figure 1 Move to Figure 2 , the support assembly 300 has been moved downward along the vertical axis BB so that it is located at a lower height along the storage cabinet assembly 10 (and relative to the floor surface or work surface suspended above it by the storage cabinet device 1000). Therefore, the altitude or height at which the support assembly 300 is positioned can be modified to enhance its use according to the height or size of the user. Shorter users may want to position the support assembly 300 at a lower height / altitude than taller users for viewing optimization. During the vertical movement of the support assembly 300 along the vertical axis BB, the mounting assembly 310 remains positioned in the track 210. Due to friction fit, interference fit or other fits as described above, the support assembly 300 can be selectively moved along the vertical axis BB, which means that the support assembly 300 maintains its altitude / height until the user intervenes in the support assembly 300 and applies force to the support assembly 300 to adjust its altitude / height.

[0042] As will be described in more detail below, the retaining member 340 of the support assembly 300 is configured to hold an item, which in one embodiment may be an electronic device such as a tablet, smart phone, etc. Therefore, the user will want to hold the member 340 and the item at a desired height so that the user does not need to strain his / her neck to view the item. The up / down adjustability along the vertical axis BB as described above makes this possible. The top and bottom ends of the track 210 may have stop features (e.g., walls) that prevent the mounting plate 311 from being removed from the track 210 via the ends of the track 210.

[0043] Refer again Figure 1 as well as Figures 3 to 5, the description of the support assembly 300 will continue. As described above, the connecting plate 312 is fixedly coupled to the mounting plate 311 so that the connecting plate 312 does not move relative to the mounting plate 311 under normal use. The connecting plate 312 includes a plate portion 313 and a connecting portion 314, the plate portion 313 having an aperture for receiving a fastener as described herein, and the connecting portion 314 facilitates coupling the mounting assembly 310 to the linkage assembly 370. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting portion 314 includes a pair of protrusions 315 protruding from its ends in a spaced-apart manner. The hinge pin 371 of the linkage assembly 370 is configured to be received in the space between the pair of protrusions 315 to facilitate the pivotal connection between the linkage assembly 370 and the mounting assembly 310, as described in more detail below.

[0044] The link assembly 370 includes a hinge pin 371 and a hinge plate 372. The hinge plate 372 includes a first end 373 having a first attachment portion 374 and a second end 375 having a second attachment portion 376. More specifically, the first attachment portion 374 includes two protrusions extending from the first end 373 of the hinge plate 372 in a spaced manner, and the second attachment portion 376 includes two protrusions extending from the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 in a spaced manner. The above-mentioned hinge pin 371 is configured to be received in a space between a pair of protrusions 315 of the mounting assembly 310 and in a space between a pair of protrusions of the first attachment portion 374 of the hinge plate 372. As shown in the figure, the hinge pin 371 and the various protrusions have apertures formed therein so that pins (see pins 380, 381, 382) can be inserted through the apertures to facilitate coupling the hinge pin 371 to each of the mounting assembly 310 and the hinge plate 372. The coupling should be done in such a way that the hinge pin 371 remains rotatable relative to the mounting assembly 310 and the hinge plate 372 remains rotatable relative to the hinge pin 371. Each of the pins 380, 381, and 382 may have a cap or bolt or head on one or both of its opposite ends to hold the various components in a coupled state while allowing rotation between the various components as described herein. As will be described in more detail below, the connection between the hinge pin 371 and the hinge plate 372 forms a first rotation axis CC, and the connection between the hinge pin 371 and the mounting assembly 310 forms a third rotation axis EE parallel to the first rotation axis CC.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the holding part 340 includes a base member 341, a first clamping arm 342 coupled to the base member 341, and a second clamping arm 343 coupled to the base member 341. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 is movably coupled to the base member 341, but in other embodiments, only one of the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 may be movably coupled to the base member 341, while the other of the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 is fixedly coupled to the base member 341. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 has an "L" shape so that an article (such as a tablet computer, a smart phone, etc.) can be clamped between the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 to hold the article in place. Thus, the first clamp arm 342 has a coupling portion 345 coupled to the base member 341 and a holding portion 346 for holding an article, and the second clamp arm 343 has a coupling portion 347 coupled to the base member 341 and a holding portion 348 for holding an article. The holding portions 346, 348 extend vertically from the coupling portions 345, 347. In addition, the holding portion 346 of the first clamp arm 342 and the holding portion 348 of the second clamp arm 343 have a channel 344 formed in the bottom surface thereof for receiving a portion of the article to facilitate the ability of the holding member 340 to hold the article.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling portion 345 of the first clamp arm 342 and the coupling portion 347 of the second clamp arm 343 are configured to slide on the opposite end portions of the base member 341 to couple the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 to the base member 341. In addition, the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 can be coupled to the base member 341 using fasteners such as screws inserted through openings in various components. In such an embodiment, the fasteners can be tightened or loosened to allow the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 to move toward or away from each other relative to the base member 341 to accommodate items of different sizes. Therefore, the size of the space between the holding portion 346 of the first clamp arm 342 and the holding portion 348 of the second clamp arm 343 can be changed or modified so that the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 can hold items of different sizes, for example, holding a tablet in one configuration and a smart phone in another configuration. It should be understood that the retaining member 340 holds one or more items in a detachable manner so that the items can be separated from the retaining member 340 as needed. This will allow the user to determine the specific items he / she wishes to be held by the retaining member 340, and also allow the user to interchange the items with another item as needed.

[0047] In other embodiments, the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343 can be coupled to the base member 341 using a spring. For example, the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343 can be coupled to the base member 341 via a tension spring. Thus, a user can pull the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343 away from each other to insert an item into the space between the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343. Upon releasing the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343, the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343 will be biased in a direction back toward each other via the tension spring. This force of the spring holds the item tightly between the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343. Although in the exemplary embodiment, the present invention is described such that both the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 can move relative to the base member 341, the present invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments, and in some other embodiments, only one of the first clamping arm 342 and the second clamping arm 343 can move relative to the base member 341. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The use of retaining member 340 to retain and secure items is described in further detail.

[0048] The base member 341 has a front surface 350 facing a space defined for holding items and has a rear surface 351 opposite the front surface 350. In addition, the base member 341 includes an attachment member 352 on the rear surface 351 for coupling the retaining component 340 to the linkage assembly 370. More specifically, the attachment member 352 includes a cylindrical element 353 extending from the rear surface 351 of the base member 341. In an exemplary embodiment, the cylindrical element 353 has a circular outer surface 354, which facilitates rotational / pivotal movement between the retaining component 340 and the hinge plate 372, as described in more detail below. The attachment member 352 also includes a plurality of protrusions 355 extending from the outer surface 354 of the cylindrical element 353. The plurality of protrusions 355 form a portion of a locking feature or locking mechanism that can lock the retaining component 340 into any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the hinge plate 372 and the storage cabinet assembly 10, as described below with particular reference to 7A to 8B Described in more detail.

[0049] In alternative embodiments, the retaining member 340 may have other structures and components that are different from the exemplary embodiment, as long as the function remains as disclosed herein. There are many different arrangements of the structure of the retaining member 340, which will result in a structure that works in terms of the rotation relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10 and the ability to retain one or more items according to the teachings described herein. Therefore, although an exemplary embodiment is described herein, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed structure for retaining members in all embodiments.

[0050] The retaining member 340 is coupled to the hinge plate 372 of the linkage assembly 370 by inserting the attachment member 352 into the space between the protrusions of the second attachment portion 376 and then inserting the pin 382 through the aperture in the protrusion of the second attachment portion 376 and the aperture in the attachment member 352. As a result of this attachment, the retaining member 340 is able to rotate relative to the hinge plate 372, wherein the axis of the pin 382 forms an axis of rotation about which the retaining member 340 can rotate relative to the hinge plate 372. As will be described below, when the retaining member 340 is deployed as described herein, this rotation of the retaining member 340 relative to the hinge plate 372 can change the viewing angle of the items and can change the angle at which the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly 10.

[0051] like Figure 3 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the protrusion 355 of the attachment member 352 of the retaining component 340 interacts with the second end 375 (also referred to as the end surface) of the hinge plate 372 to form a locking mechanism or locking feature. The second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 is located on the locking feature 377 of the hinge plate 372. The hinge plate 372 has a through hole 378 extending between the locking feature 377 of the hinge plate 372 and the rest of the hinge plate 372 so that the locking feature 377 can be deflected into the through hole 378 as needed to allow the protrusion 355 to pass over the locking feature 377 to change the orientation of the retaining component 340, as further described below.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the second end 375 or end surface of the hinge plate 372 (which is the distal end of the locking feature 377) has a convex or rounded / dome shape. This allows the protrusion 355 to pass over the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 when sufficient force is applied to the retaining member 340. Specifically, when the retaining member 340 is rotated relative to the hinge plate 372, the interaction between the protrusion 355 and the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 will require the retention member 340 to apply a reasonable force to enable the protrusion 355 to pass over the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372. When the protrusion 355 passes over the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372, the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 or the protrusion 355 can deflect to achieve the rotation described herein. Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, when the protrusion 355 passes over the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372, the locking feature 377 of the hinge plate 372 will deflect into the through hole 378. The protrusion 355 and its interaction with the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 ensure that the retaining member 340 will not rotate freely relative to the hinge plate 372, but rather requires some user force to rotate the retaining member 340 relative to the hinge plate 372. This inhibition of free rotation due to the locking feature / mechanism formed by the interaction of the protrusion 355 with the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 ensures that once the retaining member 340 is positioned at a desired viewing angle, the retaining member 340 will not be easily moved away from that viewing angle without specific user interaction. It should be understood that the protrusion 355 can be omitted in some embodiments where such a locking feature is not needed or desired.

[0053] The support assembly 300 is vertically movable relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10 in opposite directions along the vertical axis BB, as described above with reference to FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In addition, the retaining member 340 is also capable of rotationally moving relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10 with multiple degrees of freedom. Figure 3 and Figure 4 , different types of rotational movement of the retaining member 340 relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10 will be described.

[0054] The retaining member 340 is capable of rotating about a first rotation axis CC and a second rotation axis DD relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10. The first rotation axis CC and the second rotation axis DD are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. In addition, the first rotation axis CC and the second rotation axis DD are parallel to the longitudinal axis AA of the storage cabinet assembly 10. As described above, the connection between the hinge pin 371 and the hinge plate 372 forms the first rotation axis CC, and the connection between the attachment element 352 of the retaining member 340 and the hinge plate 372 forms the second rotation axis DD. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining member 340 is also capable of rotating about a third rotation axis EE relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10, wherein the third rotation axis EE is formed at the connection between the hinge pin 371 and the mounting assembly 310. The third rotation axis EE is also parallel to the first rotation axis CC and the second rotation axis DD and spaced apart from the first rotation axis CC and the second rotation axis DD.

[0055] Therefore, as will be described in more detail below, when the support assembly 300 is connected to the storage cabinet assembly 10 as described herein, the retaining member 340 can rotate around the first rotation axis CC to move between the storage position and the deployed position. In the storage position, any part of the retaining member 340 does not protrude from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly 10. In the deployed position, the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly 10 so that the articles retained by it can be observed and / or used by the user. Therefore, the retaining member 340 and the articles retained thereby can be stored in the cavity 110 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 and not visible in the cavity 110 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 when the door 200 is closed, or the retaining member 340 can extend out of the cavity 110 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 for use. When the retaining member 340 is in the storage position, the rotation around the third rotation axis CC can help to position the retaining member 340 in the cavity 110.

[0056] In addition, when the retaining member 340 is in the deployed state, the rotation of the retaining member 340 about the second rotation axis DD changes the angle at which the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly 200. When in the stowed state, the rotation of the retaining member 340 about the second rotation axis DD changes the positioning of the retaining member 340 within the cavity 210. These various ways of rotating and / or moving the retaining member 340 relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10 will be described in more detail below.

[0057] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 6 , the rotation of the holding member 340 around the first rotation axis CC will be described. The holding member 340 can rotate around the first rotation axis CC so that the holding member 340 Figure 1 The expanded position shown is the same as Figure 6 In the deployed position, the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10. The periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 may include a periphery edge of the door 200 between the front surface 201 and the rear surface 202 of the door 200 and a periphery edge of the shell 100 between the front surface 115 of the frame 114 and the rear surface of the shell 100. Therefore, the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 is the outer edge of the door 200 and the outer edge of the shell 100.

[0058] In the exemplary embodiment, in the deployed position, the retaining member 340 protrudes from the distal edge 220 of the door 200 (which forms part of the perimeter 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10), but the present invention is not limited to this in all embodiments, and the support assembly 300 can be positioned at other locations along the storage cabinet assembly 10 to change the exact location where the retaining member 340 protrudes from the perimeter 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 when in the deployed position. For example, if the support assembly 300 is coupled to the housing 100 instead of the door 200, the retaining member 340 can protrude from the right side wall 103 of the housing 100 in the deployed position. In addition, when the retaining member 340 is in the deployed position, the door can be closed so that the retaining member 340 is located outside the cavity (see, e.g. Fig. 7A ). In this case, the hinge plate 372 passes through the space between the inner surface 201 of the door 200 and the front surface 115 of the frame 114 of the housing 100, thereby leaving the retaining member 340 outside the cavity 110 and in the user's field of view. When the retaining member 340 holds an item such as described herein, the item (and its display surface, etc.) is also in the user's field of view.

[0059] The holding member 340 is Figure 1 The expanded position shown changes to Figure 6 The stowed position shown requires that the retaining member 340 be rotated about a first rotation axis CC defined by the connection between the hinge plate 372 and the hinge pin 371. Thus, when rotating about the first rotation axis CC, the retaining member 340 and the hinge plate 372 rotate together, while the mounting assembly 310 and the hinge pin 371 remain stationary. This causes the retaining member 340 to move from a position in which it protrudes from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 to a position in which the retaining member 340 is adjacent to the inner surface 201 of the door 200. Of course, rotating the retaining member 340 in the opposite direction about the first rotation axis CC will cause the retaining member 340 to return from the stowed position to the deployed position.

[0060] exist Figure 6In the stowed position shown, no portion of the retaining member 340 (and more specifically, no portion of the support assembly 300) protrudes from the perimeter 199 of the cabinet assembly 10. Thus, the support assembly 300 is completely within the boundaries of the cabinet assembly 10 (and more specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, completely within the boundaries of the door 200 because the support assembly 300 is coupled to the door 200). Figure 6 In the storage position shown, the door 200 can be closed, which will cause the retaining member 340 to be positioned in the cavity 110 of the housing 100 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 (it should be understood that when the door 200 is closed, the cavity 110 is defined as the entire space between the inner surface 201 of the door 200 and the rear wall 101 of the housing 100). In an exemplary embodiment, the door 200 can be closed with the retaining member 340 in the storage position or the deployed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the first rotation axis CC is located inside the periphery 199 of the door 200, regardless of whether the retaining member 340 is in the deployed position or the storage position.

[0061] In other words, each side of the perimeter 199 of the door 200 and / or the housing 100 can be located on a plane such that the planes together define a hollow cuboid. In the stowed position, the support assembly 300 is located as a whole inside the hollow cuboid defined by the plane of the door 200, inside the hollow cuboid defined by the plane of the housing 100, or inside both the hollow cuboid defined by the plane of the door 200 and inside the hollow cuboid defined by the plane of the housing 100. In the deployed position, at least the retaining member 340 of the support assembly 300 is located outside the hollow cuboid defined by the planes of the door 200 and the housing 100.

[0062] exist Figure 6 In some embodiments, the holding member 340 may not lie flat on the inner surface 201 of the door 200. Instead, in some embodiments, the support assembly 300 may also be rotated about the third rotation axis EE ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 310) is rotated so that the retaining member 340 lies flat on the inner surface 201 of the door 200, so that the retaining member 340 occupies less space in the cavity 110 when the door 200 is closed. In order to rotate the support assembly 300 in this manner, the hinge pin 371 rotates relative to the connecting plate 312 of the mounting assembly 310.

[0063] Reference 7A to 8B , the rotation of the retaining member 340 relative to the cabinet assembly 10 about the second rotation axis DD to modify the viewing angle of the retaining member 340 will be described. Fig. 7A and Fig. 8A In the embodiment, the holding member 340 is in a state as Figure 1As previously described, when the retaining member 340 is in the deployed position, the door 200 can be opened as shown. Fig. 7A Close as shown or Figure 1 As shown in the expanded position, in which the door 200 is closed, the retaining member 340 extends or protrudes from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 200. In addition, when the retaining member 340 is in the expanded position, the second end 375 of the hinge plate 372 also protrudes from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10, which enables the retaining assembly 340 to rotate about the second rotation axis DD, as described herein. Specifically, since the second rotation axis DD is located outside the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 when the retaining member 340 is in the expanded position, rotation about the second rotation axis DD is possible when the retaining member 340 is in the expanded position and the door 200 is closed. It should be understood that when the retaining member 340 is in the stowed position and the door 200 is closed (see description below), Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B ), the second rotation axis DD is located inside the cavity 110, and when the retaining member 340 is in the deployed position and the door 200 is closed (see Figure 7B and Figure 8B ), the second rotation axis DD is located outside the cavity 110.

[0064] Will Fig. 7A and Figure 7B and Fig. 8A and Figure 8B By comparison, it can be seen that the holding member 340 has been rotated in the counterclockwise direction around the second rotation axis DD. To achieve this rotation, the user will grasp the holding member 340 and move the holding member 340 in the counterclockwise direction, but it should be understood that movement in the opposite direction (clockwise) can also be achieved, such as Figure 7B When the retaining member 340 is in the deployed position, rotating the retaining member 340 about the second rotation axis DD will change the angle at which the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10. Figure 7B and Figure 8B As shown, angle θ is measured between the perimeter 199 of the cabinet assembly 10 and the forward most viewing surface of the retaining member 340 when the door 200 is closed.

[0065] exist Figure 7B In the embodiment, the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery 199 of the cabinet assembly 10 at an angle θ of approximately 90°, or may protrude at an angle θ of only slightly less than 90° (e.g., between 85° and 90°). Figure 8B, the retaining member 340 protrudes from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 at an angle of approximately 5°. The retaining member 340 can be rotated about the second rotational axis DD so as to protrude from the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 at any of a plurality of different angles. In some embodiments, a locking feature formed by the protrusion 355 and the hinge plate 372 can be used to lock the retaining member 340 at a desired position / angle relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining member 340 can rotate between 1° relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10 and 135° relative to the storage cabinet assembly 10. Of course, in other embodiments, the attachment member 352 and / or the hinge plate 372 can be designed to modify the range of angles at which the retaining member 340 can be positioned relative to the periphery 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10.

[0066] Reference Fig. 9 , shows a storage cabinet device 1000, wherein the door 200 is in a closed state and the support assembly 300 is in a storage position. Fig. 9 The support assembly 300 is not visible or exposed at all in the storage position because when the support assembly 300 is in the storage position and the door 200 is closed, no portion of the support assembly 300 protrudes from the perimeter 199 of the storage cabinet assembly 10 and therefore it is not in view.

[0067] Fig. 10A and 10B The support assembly 300 is shown in different positions or configurations when in the stowed position. Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B , the support assembly 300 is in the storage position, so that the support assembly 300 or a portion thereof is located within the cavity 110 of the housing 100 of the storage cabinet assembly 10. The mounting assembly 310 of the support assembly 300 is disposed within the track 210, and the positioning of the linkage assembly 370 and the retaining member 340 can be adjusted by rotating the various components about the first rotation axis CC, the second rotation axis DD, and the third rotation axis EE. Fig. 10A Move to Fig. 10B The support assembly 300 needs to rotate around each of the first rotation axis CC, the second rotation axis DD and the third rotation axis EE. When the support assembly 300 is in the storage position and the door 200 is closed, the first rotation axis CC, the second rotation axis DD and the third rotation axis EE are all located inside the cavity 110 of the housing 100.

[0068] Briefly refer to Figure 3 , the vertical axis BB is located in a reference plane RP1-RP1 perpendicular to the door 200. Figure 3In the deployed position shown, the first rotation axis CC and the second rotation axis DD are located on opposite sides of the reference plane RP1-RP1. Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B As shown, when the holding member 340 is in the storage position, the first rotation axis CC and the second rotation axis DD are located on the same side of the reference plane RP1 - RP1 .

[0069] Reference Fig.11A and Fig. 11B , the process of coupling the article 500 to the retaining member 340 will be briefly described. Fig.11A As shown, the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 are pulled in a direction away from each other so that there is enough space between the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 for inserting the article 500. Once the article 500 is positioned between the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343, the user can release the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 so that the spring can bias them into contact with the article 500 to firmly hold the article 500. The user can pull the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 apart to remove the article 500 as needed. Of course, as described above, the use of the spring is only one embodiment of the way in which the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 firmly hold the article 500. In other embodiments, various fasteners such as screws, bolts, etc. can be used to move the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343 for the purpose of holding the article 500. In other embodiments, ratchets, depressible button / aperture interactions, etc., may be used to move the first clamp arm 342 and / or the second clamp arm 343 for the purpose of holding the article 500. Thus, any technique, component, structure, etc. may be used as long as one or both of the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 can be moved relative to the other to insert the article 500 therebetween so that the first clamp arm 342 and the second clamp arm 343 can securely hold the article 500 for viewing by the user. Although Fig.11A and 11B Article 500 is shown as being held in a landscape orientation, but article 500 may also be held in a portrait orientation.

[0070] In an exemplary embodiment, article 500 is an electronic device such as a tablet computer. However, the present invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, article 500 may be other types of electronic devices such as e-books, laptop computers, smart phones, etc. In other embodiments, article 500 may be a book, newspaper, magazine, notebook, folder, or frame. Article 500 may be any type of device or article that a user may wish to view when performing an activity or routine near storage cabinet assembly 10. As described herein, article 500 is detachably coupled to retaining member 500, and different articles may be retained by retaining member 500, depending on user preferences and needs.

[0071] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each value within a range. Any value within a range can be selected as the endpoint of the range. In addition, the entire contents of all references cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event that a definition in the present disclosure conflicts with a definition of the cited reference, the present disclosure shall prevail.

[0072] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples including currently preferred modes for carrying out the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are many variations and permutations of the above-described systems and techniques. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention should be broadly interpreted as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage cabinet device, comprising: A storage cabinet assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a housing including a cavity having a front opening; and a door coupled to the housing to close the front opening of the cavity; and a support assembly coupled to the cabinet assembly and movable vertically relative to the cabinet assembly in opposite directions parallel to the longitudinal axis, the support assembly comprising a retaining member configured to retain items for viewing by a user, the retaining member being rotatable relative to the cabinet assembly about a first rotation axis between a stowed position and an extended position: (1) in the stowed position, the door is closed and the retaining member is located inside the cavity of the shell; and (2) in the extended position, the door is closed and the retaining member is located outside the cavity of the shell, wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the storage cabinet assembly about a second rotation axis spaced apart from the first rotation axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining member protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly when in the deployed position, thereby changing the viewing angle of the item retained by the retaining member as perceived by a user, The support assembly includes a mounting assembly slidably coupled to the storage cabinet assembly, the retaining component, and a connecting rod assembly pivotally coupled to the mounting assembly and the retaining component, and the connecting rod assembly includes a hinge plate, the first rotation axis is formed at a connection portion between the hinge plate and the mounting assembly, and the second rotation axis is formed at a connection portion between the hinge plate and the retaining component. The retaining component includes a cylindrical element and a plurality of protrusions extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical element, wherein the cylindrical element is pivotally connected to the hinge plate, and the plurality of protrusions interact with an end surface of the hinge plate to lock the retaining component relative to the storage cabinet assembly in one of a plurality of different viewing angles when the retaining component is in the expanded position.

2. The storage cabinet device according to claim 1, wherein: The first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet.

3. The storage cabinet device according to claim 1, wherein: The second rotation axis is located inside the cavity when the retaining member is in the stowed position and the door is closed, and is located outside the cavity when the retaining member is in the deployed position and the door is closed.

4. The storage cabinet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The support assembly is capable of moving vertically along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis being located in a reference plane perpendicular to the door, and wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are located on the same side of the reference plane when the retaining member is in the storage position and are located on opposite sides of the reference plane when the retaining member is in the deployed position.

5. The storage cabinet device according to claim 1, wherein: The linkage assembly also includes a hinge pin, the hinge plate includes a first end having a first attachment portion and a second end having a second attachment portion, the hinge pin is connected to the mounting assembly and the first attachment portion of the hinge plate, and the retaining component includes an attachment member pivotally connected to the second attachment portion of the hinge plate.

6. The storage cabinet device according to claim 5, wherein: The connection between the hinge pin and the hinge plate forms the first rotation axis, and wherein the connection between the hinge pin and the mounting assembly forms a third rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis.

7. The storage cabinet device according to claim 6, wherein: The retaining component includes a base member, a first clamping arm connected to the base member, and a second clamping arm connected to the base member, at least one of the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm is movable relative to the base member to facilitate coupling the article to the retaining component, wherein the attachment member of the retaining component includes the cylindrical element extending from the base member and the plurality of protrusions extending from the outer surface of the cylindrical element, the cylindrical element being pivotally connected to the second attachment portion of the hinge plate.

8. The storage cabinet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The cabinet assembly includes a track and the mounting assembly of the support assembly includes a mounting plate coupled to the cabinet assembly within the track to allow vertical movement of the support assembly relative to the cabinet assembly.

9. The storage cabinet device according to claim 8, wherein: The track is positioned along an inner surface of the door that faces the cavity when the door is closed.

10. The storage cabinet device according to claim 1, wherein: The retaining member is configured to retain the article in a detachable manner.

11. The storage cabinet device according to claim 10, wherein: The holding member is a clamp including a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm, at least one of which is movable relative to the other of the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm so that the holding member can hold articles of different sizes.

12. The storage cabinet device according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein: The item is selected from the group consisting of a tablet, an e-book, a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a notebook, a laptop, a smart phone, a folder and a frame.

13. The storage cabinet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The support assembly is vertically movable relative to the storage cabinet assembly by sliding the support assembly relative to the storage cabinet assembly while the support assembly remains coupled to the storage cabinet assembly.

14. A storage cabinet device, comprising: A storage cabinet assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a housing including a cavity having a front opening; and a door coupled to the housing to close the front opening of the cavity; and A support assembly, the support assembly is connected to the storage cabinet assembly, the support assembly includes a retaining component, the retaining component is configured to retain an item for viewing by a user, the retaining component is capable of rotating relative to the storage cabinet assembly about the following axes: rotating about (1) a first rotation axis to move the retaining component between a storage position and an expanded position, in which the retaining component does not protrude from a periphery of the storage cabinet assembly and in which the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly; and rotating about (2) a second rotation axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly when the retaining component is in the expanded position; and wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are spaced apart from each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly, The support assembly includes: a mounting assembly for mounting the support assembly to the storage cabinet assembly; the retaining member; and a connecting rod assembly, the connecting rod assembly including a hinge plate, the hinge plate being pivotally coupled to the mounting assembly about the first rotation axis and being pivotally coupled to the retaining member about the second rotation axis, The retaining component includes a cylindrical element and a plurality of protrusions extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical element, wherein the cylindrical element is pivotally connected to the hinge plate, and the plurality of protrusions interact with an end surface of the hinge plate to lock the retaining component relative to the storage cabinet assembly in one of a plurality of different viewing angles when the retaining component is in the expanded position.

15. The storage cabinet device according to claim 14, wherein: The mounting assembly is disposed in a track on the inner surface of the door, and the support assembly is movable upward and downward along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly while remaining connected to the storage cabinet assembly by the mounting assembly disposed in the track.

16. The storage cabinet device according to any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein: The retaining member is rotatable relative to the cabinet assembly about a third rotational axis that is parallel to each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis.

17. A storage cabinet device, comprising: a storage cabinet assembly, the storage cabinet assembly having a longitudinal axis; as well as A support assembly, the support assembly including a retaining component, the retaining component being configured to retain items in a detachable manner for viewing by a user, the support assembly being movably connected to the storage cabinet assembly so that the support assembly can move relative to the storage cabinet assembly according to multiple types of movements, the multiple types of movements including: (1) upward and downward along a vertical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly to adjust the height of the support assembly relative to the storage cabinet assembly; (2) rotating about a first rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly to move the retaining component of the support assembly between a stowed position and an expanded position, in which the stowed position no portion of the support assembly protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly, and in the expanded position the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly; and (3) rotating about a second rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage cabinet assembly to adjust the angle at which the retaining component protrudes from the storage cabinet assembly when in the expanded position. The support assembly includes: a mounting assembly for mounting the support assembly to the storage cabinet assembly; the retaining member; and a connecting rod assembly, the connecting rod assembly including a hinge plate, the hinge plate being pivotally coupled to the mounting assembly about the first rotation axis and being pivotally coupled to the retaining member about the second rotation axis, The retaining component includes a cylindrical element and a plurality of protrusions extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical element, wherein the cylindrical element is pivotally connected to the hinge plate, and the plurality of protrusions interact with an end surface of the hinge plate to lock the retaining component relative to the storage cabinet assembly in one of a plurality of different viewing angles when the retaining component is in the expanded position.

18. The cabinet device according to claim 17, wherein: The cabinet assembly includes a housing having a cavity and a door that closes an open front end of the cavity when in a closed state, wherein in the deployed position, the retaining member and the second rotation axis are located outside the cavity of the housing.

19. A storage cabinet device according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein: The retaining member of the support assembly is configured to removably retain an item selected from the group consisting of a tablet computer, an e-book, a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a notebook, a laptop, a smart phone, a folder and a frame.

20. The cabinet device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein: The support assembly remains coupled to the storage cabinet assembly during movement of the support assembly according to each of the plurality of types of movement.

21. A storage cabinet device, comprising: A storage cabinet assembly, the storage cabinet assembly comprising: a housing; and a door coupled to the housing, the door having an inner surface facing the housing when the door is closed; and A support assembly coupled to the inner surface of the door of the storage cabinet assembly, the support assembly comprising a retaining member configured to retain an item for viewing by a user, the retaining member: (1) rotatable about a first rotational axis to move the retaining member between a stowed position and an extended position, wherein the retaining member is adjacent to the inner surface of the door and wherein the retaining member protrudes from a periphery of the door; and (2) rotatable about a second rotational axis to adjust an angle at which the retaining member protrudes from the periphery of the door when the retaining member is in the extended position. The support assembly includes: a mounting assembly for mounting the support assembly to the storage cabinet assembly; the retaining member; and a connecting rod assembly, the connecting rod assembly including a hinge plate, the hinge plate being pivotally coupled to the mounting assembly about the first rotation axis and being pivotally coupled to the retaining member about the second rotation axis, The retaining component includes a cylindrical element and a plurality of protrusions extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical element, wherein the cylindrical element is pivotally connected to the hinge plate, and the plurality of protrusions interact with an end surface of the hinge plate to lock the retaining component relative to the storage cabinet assembly in one of a plurality of different viewing angles when the retaining component is in the expanded position.

22. The cabinet arrangement according to claim 21, wherein: The first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are parallel to each other.

23. A storage cabinet arrangement according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein: The support assembly is vertically movable relative to the door along a vertical axis parallel to the first and second rotational axes while remaining coupled to the inner surface of the door.

24. A storage cabinet arrangement according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein: The retaining member is configured to rotate about the second rotational axis when the retaining member is in the deployed position and the door is closed.

25. A storage cabinet device, comprising: A storage cabinet assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a housing including a cavity having a front opening; and a door coupled to the housing to close the front opening of the cavity; and A support assembly, which is connected to the storage cabinet assembly and can be moved vertically relative to the storage cabinet assembly in an opposite direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the support assembly including a retaining component, the retaining component being configured to retain items for viewing by a user, the retaining component being able to rotate relative to the storage cabinet assembly about the following axes: about (1) a first rotation axis to move the retaining component between a stowed position and an expanded position, in which the retaining component does not protrude from a periphery of the storage cabinet assembly and in which the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly; and about (2) a second rotation axis to adjust the angle at which the retaining component protrudes from the periphery of the storage cabinet assembly when the retaining component is in the expanded position; and The support assembly includes: a mounting assembly, which is used to mount the support assembly to the storage cabinet assembly; a retaining component; and a connecting rod assembly, which includes a hinge plate, which is connected to the mounting assembly in a manner that can pivot around the first rotation axis and is connected to the retaining component in a manner that can pivot around the second rotation axis, the retaining component includes a cylindrical element and a plurality of protrusions extending from the outer surface of the cylindrical element, the cylindrical element is pivotally connected to the hinge plate, and the plurality of protrusions interact with the end surface of the hinge plate to lock the retaining component relative to the storage cabinet assembly in one of a plurality of different viewing angles when the retaining component is in the expanded position.

Images