US2878089A - Combination work and storage unit having sliding platform - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1959 v, EFMARK 2,878,089

COMBINATIQN WORK AND STORAGE UNIT HAVING SLIDING PLATFORM Filed March 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. VENNICE E. MARK ATTORNEYS March 17, 1959 V. E. MARK COMBINATION WORK AND STORAGE UNIT HAVING SLIDING PLATFORM Filed March 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VENNlCE E. MARK BY I w ATTORNEYS V. E. MARK March 17, 1959 COMBINATION WORK AND STORAGE UNIT HAVING SLIDING PLATFORM Filed Maxch 11, 1957 4 Sheets-SheefS INVENTOR." VENNICE MARK Pic-3.8

ATTORNEYS March 17, 1959 v. E. MARK 2,873,089

COMBINATION WORK AND STORAGE UNIT HAVING SLIDING PLATFORM Filed March 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Hm 5 VENNICE E. MARK ATTORNEYS United States PatentO COMBINATION WORK AND STORAGE UNIT HAVING SLIDING PLATFORM Vennice E. Mark, East Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application March 11, 1957, Serial No. 645,240

11 Claims. (Cl. 312-29) I This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a combination support and concealed storage means for a typewriter or other equipment.

Patented Mar. 17, 1959 Fig. 5 is an oblique view of the platform-carriage assembly showing one leaf down and one raised.

. f Fig. 8 is an oblique view of a stabilizing block for the While this invention may be used in an office or other carriage spring.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, broken, isometric view of a glodified carriage for use with the housing illustrated in Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, oblique view of the housing showing a modified construction for this invention. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevation view of the hold down latches for the modified carriage-platform construction.

Fig. 12 is an oblique view of a piece of furniture incorporating this invention.

Fig; 13 is an oblique, partially exploded view of a modified support for this invention. Fig. 14 is an oblique view of a framework for supporting the carriage and platform of this invention.

and concealed storage for it when not in use. It has the additional advantage of providing both of these facilities without requiring the machine to be removed from the unit.

This invention permits various types of furniture to be used as a combination stand and storage facility. For example, it may be incorporated in a desk, an end'table, a night stand, a telephone stand or cabinet of any nature. The nature of the invention is such that the dual purpose of the furniture is entirely camouflaged.

This invention provides a firm support for the machine which will withstand the vibration incident to the use of many types of equipment. Yet it requires minimum effort on the operators part to raise and lower the equipment. Its simplicity assures freedom from mechanical difiiculty and durability in operation. v,

This invention solves the problem of usings'uchequipment as typewriters in the home. Heretofore, the only facilities adapted for home use were standsproviding, at best, exposed storage. The only other available storage facilities were either cupboards or drawers. These require the machine to be moved from its place of storage to its place of use at the beginning and end of each use. This invention solves these problems.

This invention provides the further advantage of making it possible to move the machine forward toward the operator without shifting the machines position on the platform. The forward shifting of the machine makes it possible to incorporate this invention in a piece of furniture which conventionally provides no leg room for v These and other advantages ofthis invention will be Y imediately recognized by those skilled in the design and manufacture of furniture upon reading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of this invention, illustrating the front and one side panel in phantom to expose the interior of the housing, the platform being shown in storage position.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the invention showing the platform in raised and forwardly shifted position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the invention showing the platform in storage position.

Fig. 4 is an oblique view of the carriage showing a fragmentary portion of the platform.

supporting carriage, can be telescoped entirely into it.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, plan view of one of the side standards of the framework illustrated in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a broken sectional elevation view taken along the plane XVI-XVI of Fig. 15.

In the following description, the invention is described as one for a typewriter. This is only for convenience and is not to be considered as a limitation on the use of this invention to typewriters. It may be used with any type of machine ofjsuch compact structure that may be concealed within a storage chamber of any type of furniture, cupboard or cabinet. For example, it may be used for 'such equipment as a kitchen mixer or other small home appliance.

In executing the objectives of this invention, there is provided a hollow housing having a central storage well or chamber open at its upper end. Cooperating with this storage chamber is a carriage mounted for vertical travel within the chamber. Mounted on the carriage is a platform having a central portion and a pair of end wings. The end wings are attached by hinges to the central portion whereby they may be folded from a position aligned with the central portion to one substantially normal to it. When the carriage is at the upper limits of its travel, the platform is free to slide forwardly with respect to the carriage so that its forward end may project forwardly of the housing in the form of a shelf. In folded position, the platform may telescope down into the storage chamber with the carriage. In its bottom position, the platform is totally concealed within the storage chamber.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a housing having sides 2, a front 3 and a back 4. The lower end is closed by a bottom 5 forming a storage chamber 6, open only at the top. The size of the storage chamber 6 corresponds closely to that of the central portion of the hereinafter described platform. Its depth is such that the platform, when folded, togetherv with its The housing 1 may be a separate unit within itself or it may be an integral part of a larger piece of furniture, such as a desk, end table, cabinet, corner table, night stand or cupboard. This is illustrated by the night stand 8 (Fig. 12) in which the storage compartment is concealed behind the dummy drawer 9 while the lower portion of the night stand, behind the door 10, retains traditional structure and function. Access to the storage compartment is obtained by raising the hinged top 11. The integration of this invention into various pieces of furniture does not change it but rather serves the purpose of blending it into its surroundings and of concealing its true purpose.

To facilitate andsimplify the understanding and description of this invention, it is illustrated as a separate unit. It should, however, be considered that the housing described in the following specification and illustrated. in the several figures may constitute an integral part of a larger piece of furniture.

Seated within the storage chamber 6 is. a. carriage 20. The carriage 20 has a top board 21 and a pair of legs22, one at eachend. The lower ends of the legs 22 are extended to form ears 23 projecting beyond the sides ofv the top board 21 (Figs. 4 and The ears 23 on each side of the carriage are connected by a bar 24 extendingyfore and aft.- The bars 24- cooperate with stops 25 secured to the side walls 2 of the housing 1 (Fig. 7 Thestops 25 are seated slightly below the top of. the housing (Fig. 6'). The purpose of this will become apparent in the. description of the platform. The carriage is urged upwardly by a spring 26 (Fig. 3), hearing at its lower endagainst the bottom 5 and its upper end against the lower surface of the top board 21. Preferably, the strength of the spring 26 is such that it willraise the carriage 20 to the top or substantially to the top of the storage well when the carriage is loaded with the hereinafter described platform and an oflice instrument such as a typewriter. To prevent the ends of the spring 26 from moving laterally, they are preferably stabilized by a disk-shaped block 2.7 at each end (Fig. 8). The blocks 27 are secured to the adjacent structure by screws installed through the holes 28; Thespring seats closely about the, blocks 27.

Stability of the carriage and its associated platform, as it is being manipulated, can be increased by using a plurality of springs 26such as one at each corner. of the carriage. In this case, each spring will be weaker and their combined strength will approximate that of the single spring 26.

Seated on the carriage 20 is-a platform 30. The platform 30 consists of a main portion 31 of approximately the same size as the carriage 20. A side leaf 32 is pivotally secured to each of the side margins. of the main portion 31 by hinges 33. Inopen or operating position, the leaves 32 are aligned with the central portion 31. to form a flat table-like surface. In folded position, the leaves 32 aresubstantially normal to the main portion 31 and the platform is of such size that it may be telescopicall depressed. into, the storage chamber 6.

Atits rearward end, the platform 30 has a laterally extending bar34secured to its lowersurface (Fig. 4). The outer ends of the bar. 34 project beyond the edges of the platform approximately the same distance as the cars 23 project from the legs 22. The bar 34 is preferably of metal and may consist of a single strip extending the entire width of the platform or it may consist of two short sections, one mountedat each sideof the platform. The bar 34 is mounted to the under surface of the platform 30 and therefore spaces the platform from. the carriage a distance equal to its thickness. Tosupport the forward end of the platform, a pair of. slides 35 (Fig. 4) of. the same thickness as the bar. 34 is secured to the forward end of the carriage 20.

The platform 30 is slidably secured to the carriage20 .by the plates 36 for forward and rearward adjustment (Figs. 4 and 7). The plates 36 have a vertical leg which is inset into the edge of the main portion 31 of the platform and a lower leg which wraps under the top board of the carriage. One plate 36 is used on each side of the carriage and is located sufficiently rearwardly that the platform may slide forwardly approximately one-half its length. It will be recognized that instead of employing a single long plate 36 on each side that two or. morev short plates 36a (Fig. 9.) of the same configuration may besub- ,stituted.

the same plane as the top of the housing, thus giving some vertical support to each of the side leaves 32. To this end, the stops 25 are depressed below the top surface of the sides 2 a distance equal to the thickness of the bar 34 (Fig. 7).

Since the spring will bias the platform upwardly, it is necessary that the platform and carriage be held down when in storage. For this purpose, the outer, lower. edge of each of the side leaves 32 is rabbeted to provide a shoulder 40 (Fig. 6). The shoulders 40 engage under the stops 25 to lock the platform in depressed position. When the platform is in storage, it is entirely concealed within the storage chamber 6 by closure of the cover 41 which is hingedly secured to the back panel 4.

It will be recognized that the platform and the housing may be constructed of any suitable material. It may be finished in any suitable manner to make the unit attractive as a piece of furniture.

Modifications In the. modified form of thisinvention, the stops 25 are eliminated together with the ears 23 on the ends of the legs 22. 1 The housing sides 2 are provided with vertical slots'50,.51 and 52 (Fig. 10). The depth ofthe slots is suchthat they extend partially through the side walls and open into. the .storagechamber 6. The modified carriage 20a (Fig. 9)v has a laterally projecting-pin at'the front and rear on each side. The front pins 53 seat in the slot 50. The-rear, pins'5'4- seatin the slots 51. The pins-53 and 54 aresecured to the. bars 24. Thesein: turn are secured to. the legs, 22a. Since the pins project beyond the side margins of the carriage 20a, the bars 24 are aligned beneath the. top board 21 and the legs 2211 have no ears on the ends. The slots 52 permit the carriage and platform tobe lowered with the ends of vthebar 34 projecting laterally frornthe carriage.

The slots50,.51 and 52 all initially open through the top. ofrthe housing. However, the slots 50 and 51 are, after the installation of the carriage, closed at their upper ends by a removable block 55 detachably secured by any suitable means suchasa screw 56. The blocks 55 act as stops limitingupward travel of the carriage. Thus, they serve the samepurpose as the cooperation between the bar 24 and the stops 25 in the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7.

In this construction, the bar 34 is offset rearwardly of the .pin 54to permit the pin to come against the limiting stop 55 at the upper end of its travel while the bar is free to. pass through the top of the slot 52. The ends of the bar 34. project further than in the construction illustrated in ,Figs. 1, 2 and 3, since it is necessary that they ride over a. portion of the housing side Walls 2a rather than the stops 25.. In .order that theplatform may seat uponthe top of the housing, the rearwardend. of the. side wall 2a isupro- .vided. with a. channel. 57 of sufficient depth to. receive the bar 34.

Theplatform 30 isof the same constructionand is secured to the carriage 20 by the same means as thatillustrated. in. Figs. 5 and 7. However, since the stops 25 have .beeneliminated, it is necessary to provide hold-down latches consisting -.of akeeper plate 58-secured to eachof the side walls.2a.and.a latch plate 59 secured to the under surface of each of the leaves 32 of the platform (Fig. 1.1). An access pocket 60; is providedbehind the keeper plate 58 to. permitengagementof the latch bar 59. These are held in engagement by the upper biasing eifect of the spring.

Fig. 13. illustrates a further modification of. this invention. It is adaptedfor use with. the type of guiding and holdingmeans illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. In this construction the carriage and platform are not secured to the ,housingl directly but toanindependentchassis or framework 70'. The framework'm consists of. a base. 71 and When the platform 30 is open, its lower surface is in 75 a pair of side standards 72. The base is provided with blocks 27 for seating the bottoms of a plurality of the springs 26. g t

The side standards 72 are rigidly secured to the base 71.

Each is equipped with the slots 50, 51 and 52 exactly as are the sides 2a of the housing in Fig. 10. The slots 50 and 51 are closed at the top by blocks 55 secured by screws 56. Also, the tops of the side standards have channels 57 for seating the ends of the bar 34. v The framework 70 is designed to have the platform 30 and carriage 30:: (Fig. 9) assembled to it to form a complete structure. The framework 70, with the assembled carriage and platform, is seated in the storage chamber 6 of the housing 1 and is secured to the housing by screws installed through the holes 73.

This construction makes it possible to fabricate the platform, carriage and their associated structure as an integrated unit of various standardized sizes. These units may then be incorporated in a piece of furniture, a kitchen cabinet or a cupboard by constructing them with a storage chamber of the correct dimensions. The operation of the platform and carriage is identical to that illustrated in Figs. l-5.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate a further modification of the invention involving a carrying forward of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13. In this case the framework 70a retains the base 71 but the side standards, instead of being panels, each consist of three U-shaped channel sections 50a, 51a and 52a. These correspond to the slots 50, 51 and 52 respectively. The lower ends of the channel sections are inset into the base 71 and are secured by screws 75. The open side of each channel is turned inwardly upon the framework.

The upper ends of the channels 50a and 51a are notched at 76 leaving the outer web standing up as a flange 77. The tops of the channels 50a, 51a and 52a are connected by a bar 78. The bar abuts the front side of the channel 52a and is notched to receive the flanges 77. Seated against the outer surfaces of both the channels and the bar 78 is a mounting strip 79 secured to the channels and the bar by suitable fasteners such as screws 80.

After the channels have been assembled to the base 71, the carriage and platform are assembled to them. The strip 79 and bar 78 are then assembled to the channels, tying them together, providing a track for the bar 34 of the carriage and closing the upper ends of channels 50a and 51a.

The channels and strip 79 may be of any suitable material such as steel, aluminum or reinforced plastic. The structure, like the one shown in Fig. 13, permits the platform-carriage assembly to be installed in the frame to The rearward end of the platform is locked to the carriage. movement by the seating of the platform upon the front panel 3 of the housing. The leaves 32 are similarly supported by the sides 2 of the housing on which they rest. Further, the inner edges of the leaves 32 tightly abut the main portion of the platform and are held by the hinges.

To return the platform to storage, this procedure is merely reversed. That is, the platform is shifted to its rearward position and the leaves 32 are folded up normal to the main portion. The platform is then depressed into the storage chamber until the side leaves 32 may be engaged under the stops 25.

It will be seen that a typewriter or any other type of machine or small appliance may be placed on the platform and moved from operating position into storage without being shifted on the platform since it will travel back with the platform as the latter slides rearwardly on the cradle and will be received into the storage chamber as the platform is lowered. Thus, it is never necessary to lift the weight of the machine nor is it ever necessary to move it from one support to another. The machine may be merely seated upon or permanently secured to the platform.

The wings provide an additional working space on each side of the typewriter for holding papersor making notes. They thus serve notonly to hold the plat form down when it is in storage but as additional work area when the platform is operating.

Once the machine is in storage on the platform, the closure of the cover 41 conceals the machine andpro tects it against external damage and from dust or other foreign material being deposited on it. i

The operation of the modified construction is identical to that of the construction shown in Figs. 1-4.. The

only difference between these two structures lies in the form a self-contained assembly ready for installation in a suitable cabinet. The operation of the structure is the same as that illustrated in Fig. 13.

Operation manner in which the parts are designed to cooperate but the cooperation is identical.

It will be seen that this invention provides an inexpensive combination typing table and storage cabinet for a typewriter, small appliance or any other machine or instrument of suitable size. The simplicity of the structure lends itself to inexpensive manufacture and to a minimum of effort on the part of the operator to manipulate. Since the platform is positively secured to the housing, the entire structure of the unit of furniture into which it is incorporated cooperates with the platform to steady it and make it a firm and rigid support for the machine. Further, the invention provides a structure specifically adapted as a facility for machines such as typewriters and adapting their incorporation into existing home furniture and cabinet designs without loss of efliciency or sacrifice of esthetic qualities. This has not previously been accomplished.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention and several modifications thereof, it will The operator then allows the platform to rise under the influence of the spring 26 until bars 24 contact the stops be understood that other embodiments may be made incorporating the principles of this invention. Such of these modifications as incorporate the principles of this invention are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim: 1. A combination work and storage unit, comprising:

a carriage; a platform seated on said carriage for fore at least one-half the depth of the platform. At this and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of said platform extending outwardly beyond the side margins thereof; a pair of stop members along at least a portion of each of the sides of said carriage and extending laterally beyond the margins of said carriage; an enclosure for said carriage and platform and said The platform is" supported against downward carriage-and platformbeing vertically movable in said enclosureystop means on said enclosure'paralleling the being? bearing surfaces-for said projections when said carriage and platform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform is shifted forwardly with respect to said carriage.

2. A combin'ation work and storage unit, comprising: a carriage; a platform seatedon said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said-platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of saidplatform-with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of saidplatform extendingoutwardlybeyond the side marginsthereof; a pair of stop members along at least a portion of each of the sides of said carriage and extending laterally beyond the margins of said carriage; an enclosure for-said carriage and platform and said carriage and platform-being vertically movable in said enclosure; stop means on said enclosure paralleling the sides of said carriageand platform: for engaging each of said stop members; the top surfaces ofsaid stop members being bearing surfaces for said projections when said carriage and platform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform is shifted forwardly with respect to said carriage; a wall at'the forward end of said enclosure; said platform being adapted to rest on said wall when said platform is shifted forwardly.

3. A combination work and storage unit comprising: aframe having upstanding side standards; a carriage seated-in said frame and vertically movable with respect thereto; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent verticaland lateral movement-ofsaid platform with re spect to said carriage; said side standards each having a bearing surface; a lateral projection on each side of said platform at'the rear thereof seated on said bearing surface when said platform is at its upper limit of travel and is shifted forwardly with relation to said carriage; said projections being disengaged from said bearing surfaces when said platform is at-the-aft limit of its sliding travel; said carriage having means engaging awallon said-side standards for limiting upward travel of said carriage when saidprojections are aligned with said bearing surfaces for sliding travel therealong.

4. A combination work and storage unit comprising: a housing havingupstandingside walls and a front wall; a carriage seated-in said housing and vertically movable with-respect thereto; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform: embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; said side walls each having a bearing surface; a lateral projection on each side of said platform at the rearthereof seated on said bearing" surface when said platform is at its upper limit of travel and is shifted forwardly with relation to said carriage; said projections being, disengaged from said bearing surfaces when said platform is at the aft limit of its sliding travel; a stop on each of said walls; said carriage having means engaging said stop on each of said side walls for limiting upward travel of said carriage when said projections are aligned with said bearing surfaces for sliding travel therealong; said platform when shifted forwardly being adapted to seat on said front wall.

5. A combination: work and storage'unit comprising: a housing having upstanding sidewalls anda front wall; a carriage seated insaid housingand vertically movable with respect thereto; a platform seated-on said carriage for fore and sliding movement with relation thereto; means on, saidplatform: embracing2 said carriage: and

having a bearing surface; a lateral projection on each side of said platform at the rear thereof seated on said bearing: surface when said platform is atits upper limit oftravel and is shifted forwardly with relation to said carriage; saidprojections being disengaged from said bearing surfaces when said platform is at-the aft limit of its sliding travel; said side walls each having vertical channels therein; one of said channelsin each of said walls adapted to receive said projections; a pair of stop elements projecting fronr eachof the side margins of said carriage; one of said stop elements projecting into each of the other of said channels; end members seated in theupper ends of each of said other'channels for engaging said stop elements and limiting upward travel of said carriage when said projections are aligned with said bearing surfaces for sliding travel therealong; said platform when shifted forwardly being adapted to seat on said front wall.

6. A piece of furniture having front, back and side walls defining a storage chamber open at the top; a carriage seated in said chamber and vertically movable with respect thereto; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of said platform extending outwardly beyond the side margins thereof; a pair of stop members along at least a portion of each of the sides of said carriage and extending laterally beyond the margins of said carriage; said carriage and platform being vertically movable in said chamber; stop means on said side walls of said chamber paralleling the sides of said carriage and-platform for errgaging each of saidstop members; the top surfaces of said stop members being bearing surfaces for said projections when said carriage andplatform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform is shifted forwardly with respect to said carriage; said platform when shifted forwardly being adapted to seat on said front wall.

7. A combination work and storage unit, comprising: a carriage; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of said platform extending outwardly beyond the side margins thereof; a pair of stop members extending laterally beyond the periphery of-said carriage; an enclosure for said carriage and platform and said carriage and platform-being vertically movable in said enclosure; stop means on said enclosure for engaging each of'said stop members; a pair of bearing surfaces on said enclosure, one engaging beneath each of said projections when said car. riage and platform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform is shifted forwardly with respect to said carriage.

8. A combination work and storage unit, comprising: a carriage; a platform seated on'said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of said platform extending outwardly beyond the side margins thereof; a pair of stop members extending laterally beyond the periphery of said carriage; an enclosure for said carriage and platform and said carriage and platform t being vertically movable in said enclosure; stop means on said enclosure for engaging each of said stop members; a pair of bearing surfaces on said enclosure, one engaging beneath each of said projections when said carriage and platform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform isshifted forwardly with respect to said carriage;

adptedto prevent vertical'and lateral movement of said means at the forward end of said enclosure adapted to support said platform when said platform is shifted forwardly.

9. A combination work and storage unit, comprising: a carriage; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform embracing said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of said platform extending outwardly beyond the side margins thereof; a pair of stop members along at least a portion of each of the sides of said carriage and extending laterally beyond the margins of said carriage; an enclosure for said carriage and platform and said carriage and platform being vertically movable in said enclosure; stop means on said enclosure paralleling the sides of said carriage and platform for engaging each of said stop members; the top surfaces of said stop members being bearing surfaces for said projections when said carriage and platform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform is shifted forwardly with respect to said carriage; means at the forward end of said enclosure adapted to support said platform when said platform is shifted forwardly.

10. A combination work and storage unit, comprising: a carriage; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform engaging said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; a projection on each side of said platform extending outwardly beyond the side margins thereof; a pair of stop members extending laterally beyond the periphery of said carriage; an enclosure for said carriage and platform and said carriage and platform being vertically movable in said enclosure; stop means on said enclosure for engaging each of said stop members; a pair of bearing surfaces on said enclosure, one engaging beneath each of said projections when said carriage and platform are at the upper limit of their travel and said platform is shifted forwardly with respect to said carriage; means at the forward end of said enclosure adapted to support said platform when said platform is shifted forwardly.

11. A combination work and storage unit, comprising: a carriage; a platform seated on said carriage for fore and aft sliding movement with relation thereto; means on said platform engaging said carriage and adapted to prevent vertical and lateral movement of said platform with respect to said carriage; an enclosure for said carriage and the platform and said carriage and the platform being vertically movable in said enclosure; stop means on said enclosure for limiting upward travel of said carriage and platform; a first element on said platform and a second element on said enclosure, said first and second elements being disengaged when platform is at the aft limit of its sliding travel and said carriage and platform are vertically movable and engaged when said platform is shifted forwardly of said aft limit for preventing both said platform and said carriage from moving downwardly into said enclosure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,093,344 McLean Apr. 14, 1914 1,778,510 Richardson Oct. 14, 1930 2,069,707 Herman Feb. 2, 1937

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