Patent Application
20070236116
Not Applicable.
The invention relates to furniture cabinets that are directed to housing a video display device. More specifically, a display cabinet with a faux front concealing panel of the invention is directed to concealment of the display device with a sliding panel. The sliding panel is adapted to conceal the display devise and present an impression of a book case.
Video display devices, including thin panel LCD and plasma screens, compact LCD and front projection displays, are well accepted and commonly seen in many home and office settings. These displays are also typically a visually large and imposing element, if not in fact physically large, in whatever room environment they may be located. Thus, one's attention may be inappropriately drawn to the display, merely by its presence, even when it is not active. These displays may also present an undesired contrast in the aesthetics of a room environment in which they are located; clashing with the room decor.
While a large video display device must be readily seen in use, it is not always a desired visual element in many room environments when not in use. Thus, one may appreciate a desire to conveniently access and conversely conceal a display device in a manner in which the display does not impose upon its environment when not in use.
Accordingly, a display cabinet with a faux front concealing panel of the invention provides a cabinet with a display space, that houses a display device. The cabinet also has a faux front concealing panel that conveniently conceals and reveals the display by sliding manipulation of the panel.
More specifically, a faux front display cabinet of the invention may have a base, a top spaced above the base, and a pair of opposing cabinet sides that extend between the base and the top. A cabinet space is defined between the cabinet sides and between the base and the top. A display space is defined in the cabinet space and extends partially between the base and the top. The rest of the cabinet space may define a storage space. A concealing panel covers the display space in a closed position and is connected with the cabinet to slide from the closed position to an open position in which the display space is revealed. At least a portion of the storage space is concealed by the open panel. The panel also has an outward face that presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books. A panel transport mechanism is connected between the panel and the cabinet and facilitates sliding the panel between the closed and the open positions. The transport mechanism also holds the panel in a preselected position.
In other aspects of the invention, the concealing panel slides vertically between the base and the top. The panel transport mechanism includes a counterbalance to the concealing panel. And, the display cabinet may further include lighting that illuminates the storage space. The lighting may include a switch that is operatively connected with the concealing panel, so the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is open.
These and other features, and benefits of the invention will be recognized by one having ordinary skill in the art and by those who practice the invention, from this disclosure, including the specification, the claims, and the drawing figures.
A preferred and exemplary embodiment 100 of a display cabinet with faux front concealing panel 120 according to the invention is generally shown in the drawing and discussed below. The cabinet may be provided with a base 102 and a top 104 that is spaced above and aligned with the base. A pair of opposing cabinet sides 106 may extend from the base to the top. A cabinet space is defined between the base, the top, and the opposing sides.
The cabinet space further defines a display space 112 and a storage space 114. The display space is adapted to house a video display device 116, which may include thin panel LCD and plasma screens, LCD and DLP rear projection displays, and front projection displays. While some of these displays may be provided with housings that are configured as what is commonly known as a table top 104 unit and others may be provided with table top stands, still others may be configured for wall mounting. Thus, the display space 112 specifically, and the cabinet generally, preferably includes a back wall 118 or panel that includes adaptation to support a wall mount variety display.
The storage space 114 is specifically shown in the drawing as a shelving or bookcase variety space. While the storage space may be expected to commonly be configured with various shelving, this visualization of the storage space is not a limitation on the invention. The storage space may also be configured as an open space adapted to presentation of a picture or other article of interest, for example. Further, the display space 112 is shown at the bottom of the display cabinet in the drawing, with the storage space 114 above the display space. This arrangement is an aesthetic result as opposed to a structural or utility result, in that the concealing panel 120 has a thickness and a visual presentation that add visual mass. Thus, the panel 120 is aesthetically more natural or appealing at the bottom of the display cabinet in its closed position [
Further, while the cabinet space extends the full height from the base 102 to the top 104, the display space 112 extends only partially between the base and the top, and more specifically will typically extend only about half the cabinet space height or less, as a basic matter of geometry. Considering that covering the display space with the panel 120 in a closed position and that revealing the display space, more directly a housed display 116, are desired, then the height of the display space is limited to at most half of the cabinet space height. If the display space height is greater than half the cabinet space height, then the display space 112 will remain partially covered with the panel 120 in the open position or the panel must at least partially leave the display cabinet 100 to fully reveal the display space.
The concealing panel 120 is connected with the cabinet at the front of the cabinet and in sliding engagement. The panel 120 slides between a closed position in which the display space 112 is concealed and an open position in which the display space is revealed [
More specifically as to the faux front, the concealing panel 120 has a front face 126 [
The concealing panel 120 then has not only visual depth and mass, it has actual depth or thickness as just discussed above and has actual mass. A counterbalance system is, therefore, preferably provided to ease lifting of the panel from a lower or closed position as shown, to an upper or opened position [
A counter weight 142 is connected by various known methods with each end 144 of the concealing panel 120 by a flexible tie 146 that is routed over at least one pulley 148 [FIGS. 3-5]. To minimize bulk in the counter balance system at the front of the display cabinet 100, a second pulley 152 may be used to locate the weight at the back of the cabinet. A weight pocket 154 is preferably defined at the cabinet back and provides a defined travel for the weight. The pulleys are any of various suitable pulleys that are commonly available and known. The tie may be one of various known and available cords and the like, including wrapped and braided fiber cords of metal, plastic, and natural fiber, for example.
Illumination of the storage space 114 is desirably included by installation of known can-style lamps 162 at the cabinet top 104, although alternative lamp styles may also be used. As is schematically shown [
The exemplary embodiment of a display cabinet 100 with faux front concealing panel 120 according to the invention is noted as being shown in the drawing in a hutch configuration context with a storage chest 180 extending down from the base 102 to a supporting floor. Thus, the display cabinet and specifically the display cabinet base may be supported by a chest. As the drawing discloses, a provided storage chest may be configured with a variety of door and drawer storage. An advantage of the illustrated inclusion of a chest is that the chest may provide a convenient location for housing various multimedia or entertainment support equipment for a display 116 that is housed in the display cabinet. Such multimedia equipment may include audio and video tuners and amplifiers and other signal processing and presentation devices.
One having ordinary skill in the art understands that the display cabinet 100 and the chest 180 are furniture that may be assembled of various components, including the above discussed side panels 106, concealing panel 120, top 104, and base 102. Each component may be fabricated of any suitable material, employing methods appropriate to the material selected. Further, the components may be interconnected with various suitable methods or connectors. Materials technology and fabrication methods appear to develop and change fairly continually. One having ordinary skill in the art has knowledge of suitable materials and of effective methods for furniture fabrication, each of which is ancillary to the present invention of a configuration of a display cabinet 100 with faux front concealing panel 120.
One having ordinary skill in the art and those who practice the invention also understand from this disclosure that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed inventive concept. Various relational terms, including left, right, front, back, top, and bottom, are used in the detailed description of the invention and in the claims only to convey relative positioning of various elements of the claimed invention.
