Powered vanity pullout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12495901-B2
Application number	US-202418595180-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2024
Priority date	Jan 1, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A powered vanity system with a power outlet positioned on the bottom of a drawer box adjacent a face plate with an optical trigger that prevents the flow of electricity to the power outlet when the drawer box is in a closed position and allows the flow of electricity to the power outlet when the drawer box is in an open position. A cable manager controls the power cord as the drawer box moves between open and closed positions. The drawer box is easily removable from the cabinet carcass and provides for a novel convenience lighting system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A powered drawer comprising:
a drawer box, having a front portion, releasably fixed to a set of drawer slides; a power outlet located in the front portion; an optical trigger, coupled to a relay, and installed on a bottom of the drawer box, adjacent to and directed toward a first drawer slide of the set of drawer slides; a power cable connecting the relay and the power outlet; a cable manager, attached to the drawer box, and supporting the power cable; and wherein the relay deactivates the power outlet when the drawer box is in a closed position; wherein the relay activates the power outlet when the drawer box is in an opened position.

2 . The powered drawer of claim 1 :
wherein the optical trigger receives a reflection from the first drawer slide when the drawer box is in the closed position; wherein the optical trigger receives no reflection from the first drawer slide when the drawer box is in the opened position.

3 . The powered drawer of claim 2 , further comprising:
a bracket attached to the first drawer slide; wherein the bracket includes a reflector adjacent the optical trigger.

4 . The powered drawer of claim 3 , wherein the optical trigger further comprises a lens for focusing a light signal on the reflector.

5 . The powered drawer of claim 3 , further comprising:
a light source, fixed within the drawer box; and a dimmer circuit operatively connected between the light source and the relay; wherein the dimmer circuit ramps a voltage level to the light source down as the drawer box transitions to the closed position from the opened position.

6 . The powered drawer of claim 5 , further comprising:
an outlet housing supporting the power outlet; and the light source attached to the outlet housing; wherein the dimmer circuit ramps the voltage level to the light source up when the power outlet is activated.

7 . The powered drawer of claim 1 :
wherein the cable manager comprises a first extension arm connected to a second extension arm by a hinge; and wherein the first extension arm and the second extension arm are collapsed when the drawer box is in the closed position; wherein the first extension arm and the second extension arm are articulated when the drawer box is in the opened position.

8 . The powered drawer of claim 7 :
wherein the first extension arm further comprises a top section; wherein the second extension arm further comprises a bottom section; wherein the power cable includes a vertical drop down section; and wherein the power cable is attached to the top section and the bottom section; wherein the power cable is not attached to the first extension arm and the second extension arm over the vertical drop down section.

9 . The powered drawer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first set of cable mounts attached to the drawer box; wherein the power cable is attached to the drawer box by the first set of cable mounts.

10 . The powered drawer of claim 1 , further comprising:
an angled implement tray located in the drawer box; and a set of metallic implement cannisters removably positioned in the angled implement tray.

11 . The powered drawer of claim 1 , wherein the cable manager further comprises:
a quick disconnect coupling releasably attached to a hinged wall bracket; and the hinged wall bracket further comprising a connection flange with a set of diametrically opposed flexible latches; wherein compression of the set of diametrically opposed flexible latches allows an extension arm of the cable manager to disconnect from the hinged wall bracket.

12 . A powered vanity system for providing movable electrical power, comprising:
a drawer box having a face plate and a back panel; a first slide attached to the drawer box; a second slide attached to the drawer box; a power outlet, adjacent the face plate; a cable manager, attached to the drawer box, wherein the cable manager is expanded when the drawer box is in an opened position and is collapsed when the drawer box is in a closed position; an optical trigger, installed on a bottom of the drawer box operatively adjacent the first slide; a power cable, connected to the power outlet and the optical trigger attached to the cable manager; and a control circuit, operatively connected to the power outlet and the optical trigger, for discharging the power outlet when the drawer box is in the closed position and for charging the power outlet when the drawer box is in the opened position.

13 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a bracket, having a vertical switch guide plate, fixed to the first slide; and a lens, attached to the optical trigger, wherein the lens is directed toward the vertical switch guide plate when the drawer box is in the closed position and wherein the lens is not directed toward the vertical switch guide plate when the drawer box is in the opened position.

14 . The powered vanity system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a reflective surface formed on the vertical switch guide plate; wherein the lens produces light which impinges on the reflective surface as the drawer box moves from the opened position to the closed position.

15 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , wherein:
the cable manager further comprises a first extension arm articulatively connected to a second extension arm; and the power cable is attached to the first extension arm and the second extension arm through an untethered vertical drop down section.

16 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a light source, mounted in the drawer box, facing an interior of the drawer box; wherein the light source is illuminated when power is supplied to the power outlet.

17 . The powered vanity system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a dimmer circuit, operatively connected to the optical trigger.

18 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a power outlet mounting enclosure having an inwardly angled mounting surface; wherein the power outlet is fixed to the inwardly angled mounting surface.

19 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , further comprising:
an angled implement tray attached to the drawer box; and a set of implement canisters supported by the angled implement tray.

20 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a switch enclosure, adjustably attached to the drawer box; wherein the switch enclosure houses the optical trigger.

21 . The powered vanity system of claim 12 , wherein the optical trigger further comprises:
a relay operatively connected to a dimmer circuit, and the dimmer circuit is operatively connected to a light source inside the drawer box.

22 . The powered vanity system of claim 21 , wherein:
the first slide further comprises a first soft close mechanism; and the second slide further comprises a second soft close mechanism.

23 . The powered vanity system of claim 22 , wherein the first soft close mechanism and the second soft close mechanism are positioned to close the drawer box as the dimmer circuit dims the light source.

Assignees

• Hardware Resources Inc

Inventors

• Gomez Joel
• Mcgregor Dennis

Classifications

• H01H47/24

  having light-sensitive input · CPC title

• A47B67/00

  Chests; Dressing-tables; Medicine cabinets or the like; Cabinets characterised by the arrangement of drawers · CPC title

• A47B88/919 Primary

  Accessories or additional elements for drawers, e.g. drawer lighting (drawers having organising or sorting means A47B88/969) · CPC title

• H01H3/161

  for actuation by moving a closing member, e.g. door, cover or lid (the switch controlling enclosed equipment H01H9/226; switches operated by a removable member, wherein one single insertion movement of a key comprises an unlocking stroke and a switch actuating stroke, e.g. security switch for safety guards H01H27/002) · CPC title

• A47B2220/0077

  Lighting for furniture, e.g. cupboards and racks · CPC title