U.S. patent application number 09/748461 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for media storage table.
Invention is credited to Kuvshinikov, Daniel.
Application Number | 20020078865 09/748461 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25009543 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020078865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuvshinikov, Daniel |
June 27, 2002 |
Media storage table
Abstract
A furniture piece which is both functional and aesthetically
pleasing includes a storage compartment for storing compact disks,
videotape cassettes and the like. The storage compartment includes
fixed and adjustable dividers. The storage compartment is adapted
to be concealed from view by means of a sliding top which is
integrated into the furniture piece thereby to produce an
uncluttered appearance as well as easy access to the contents of
the storage compartment.
Inventors: |
Kuvshinikov, Daniel;
(Pasadena, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
G. DONALD WEBER, JR.
18442 Taft Avenue
Villa Park
CA
92861
US
|
Family ID: |
25009543 |
Appl. No.: |
09/748461 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/143 ;
312/290; 312/9.54; 312/9.55; G9B/23.017; G9B/33.017 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 46/00 20130101;
G11B 33/0461 20130101; G11B 23/0236 20130101; A47B 81/068
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/143 ;
312/290; 312/9.54; 312/9.55 |
International
Class: |
A47B 081/00 |
Claims
1. A furniture unit comprising, a storage compartment having front
and rear walls and bottom substantially fixed to each other,
extendable glides mounted at the top edge of said front and rear
walls, and a pair of top elements mounted to said extendable glides
whereby each of said top elements can move relative to said storage
compartment.
2 The unit recited in claim 1 including, at least one divider
disposed within said storage compartment between said front and
rear walls.
3. The unit recited in claim 2 wherein, at least one divider is
adjustably disposed within said storage compartment.
4. The unit recited in claim 1 including, interlocking devices at
the inner ends of said pair of top elements.
5. The unit recited in claim 2 wherein, at least one divider is
fixed within said storage compartment
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention is directed to a piece of furniture which has
a pleasing style, in general, and to such a piece of furniture
which also functions as a stylish media storage unit, in
particular.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] There are many known styles of furniture and many known
pieces of furniture with specific functional uses. Beyond chairs,
sofas and the like are storage devices such as chests, bookcases
and the like, which are used in residences or offices to provide a
pleasing and functional decor.
[0005] Likewise, in many locations in residences, offices and the
like appliances such as TV sets, VCR sets, stereo equipment and the
like are included as routine on conventional furniture-like
components. Many of these appliances use recorded media such as
tapes, CD's, DVD's and the like.
[0006] In many environments, it is highly desirable to store these
media units for one or more reasons. For example, these media units
are stored to prevent loss or damage thereto. Storage is also
desirable to keep the units in a desired order or sequence Also, by
storing these units a less cluttered environmental appearance is
achieved.
[0007] There are several approaches to the storage concept. For
example, simple crates or boxes can be and have been used. Towers
or columns are frequently designed and used specifically for CD's
or the like. In addition, drawers (with or without dividers) can be
provided in chests or cupboards.
[0008] However, the towers and crates are, generally, not
attractive and frequently do not blend with the decor or fashion of
the surrounding room or space. Likewise, the conventional drawers
are not often convenient for the user and, as well, utilize
otherwise valuable living and/or storage space.
[0009] Thus, a new and unique media storage furniture component is
desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION
[0010] A furniture piece, typically a table, which is both
functional and aesthetically pleasing includes a storage
compartment for storing compact disks, video tape cassettes and the
like. The storage compartment includes fixed and adjustable
dividers to separate and support the various items stored therein.
The storage compartment is a space within the table with a secure
bottom and sides but with a slidable table top (or one or more
segments). Thus, the storage compartment is adapted to be concealed
from view thereby to produce an uncluttered appearance. Another
advantage of the slidable top is that items placed on top of the
table need not be removed to access the contents of the
compartment. These items can merely move with the slidable top
section and be returned to the original position along
therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a piece of furniture which is
representative of one embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the piece of furniture shown in
FIG. 1 but with the slide top partially open.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the piece of furniture shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 with the top completely removed.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inner compartment
formed in the piece of furniture as taken along the lines 4-4 in
FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an oblique view of a
piece of furniture which is representative of one embodiment of the
instant invention. In this embodiment, the piece of furniture takes
the form of a table 100, in particular, a coffee table or cocktail
table.
[0016] The table 100 includes a main body or cabinet 101 with a
plurality of supports 102 at the corners thereof. Of course, it is
contemplated that the cabinet 101 can be constructed to rest on the
floor wherein supports or legs are not required. Also,
representative hardware 113 such as knobs, handles or the like is
shown. However, the hardware 113 is not limitative of the
invention, per se, and can be eliminated altogether if so
desired.
[0017] The top of the table 100 is formed of two slidable sections,
viz. sections 103 and 104, respectively. (It is contemplated that a
single slidable section could be provided but this arrangement is
less desirable.) The slidable sections 103 and 104 move outwardly
from the center portion of the table as indicated by the arrows
103A and 104A, respectively.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an oblique, top view
of the table 100 with the slidable top sections 103 and 104
partially repositioned in order to open the cabinet 100 to the
interior thereof.
[0019] As seen in FIG. 2, each of the top sections 103 and 104 is
mounted to the cabinet 101 by a pair of high quality metal glides
105 and 106. Metal glides 105 and 106 each have one portion thereof
embedded into the top surface of the outer walls 107 and 108,
respectively, of cabinet 101. The complementary portions of the
metal glides are mounted to the under surface of the respective top
sections. Thus, the top sections 103 and 104 can move in a smooth
sliding action relative to the cabinet 101. The top sections can be
moved individually or together to open or close the cabinet or a
portion thereof.
[0020] In the preferred embodiment, the inner ends of the slidable
top components include mating components. For example, the inner
end of one of the top components, for example section 104, can
include one or more pegs 109 which extend outwardly therefrom. The
inner end of the other one of the top components, for example
section 103, includes holes or bores 110 therein to receive the
pegs 109. This arrangement provides and assures alignment of the
two top components 103 and 104 as well as affording stability and
preventing end-to-end sliding of the two top components in the
closed positions. Of course, it is contemplated that other types of
interlocking mechanisms can be developed and used in this furniture
piece.
[0021] Within the cabinet 101 are located a plurality of dividers
111. In the preferred embodiment, the dividers 111 extend across
the width of the cabinet to form a plurality of compartments within
the cabinet. Preferably, the dividers 111 are movable whereby the
width of the compartments defined by the dividers is adjustable. Of
course, the dividers 111 may be rigidly affixed, if so desired. In
the preferred embodiment, the center or middle divider 112 is,
typically, fixed in order to provide a measure of stability to the
compartment structures.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the length and depth of the
cabinet 101 is selected to receive various types of disks and/or
cassettes such as CD's, DVD's and the like. The stored items are
stacked on edge so that the identification label is disposed
outwardly (upwardly) for easy viewing by a user thereof. By
properly adjusting the compartment dividers, the CD's, DVD's or the
like can be supported.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a top, plan view of
the cabinet 101 portion of the piece of furniture 100. In FIG. 3,
components which are similar to components in FIGS. 1 and 2 have
similar reference numerals.
[0024] The front 107 and rear 108 of the cabinet 101 are joined to
ends 115 and 116 in any conventional manner such as mortise and
tenon, dove tail or the like. The fixed center divider 112 is
placed midway between the ends 115 and 116 and joined to the front
107 and back 108 in any suitable fashion such as tongue and groove,
glue or the like. A plurality of movable dividers 111 are mounted
in slidable (adjustable) fashion between the front 107 and back 108
of the compartment. In one embodiment of the invention, the
dimensions of the cabinet 101 and the arrangement of the dividers
permits about 54 DVD's and 144 CD's to be stored.
[0025] The glides 105 and 106 (as well as the glides 117 and 118)
are mounted in the top surfaces of the front 107 and back 108,
respectively. These glides mate, slidingly, with complementary
guides mounted in the under surface of top sections 103 and 104 as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional
view of the furniture piece 100 including the storage area or
cabinet 101 taken along the lines 44 in FIG. 3. The front and rear
outer walls 107 and 108, respectively, are shown forming the outer
walls of the compartment. Likewise, the bottom 114 and sliding top
section 104 are shown as well. The front and rear walls, as well as
the bottom of the compartment are fixed. However, the slide top 104
is movably mounted in the glides 105 and 106 mounted in the top
edges of the front and rear walls 107 and 108 of the compartment
121.
[0027] Grooves 301 are provided in the inside surface of front wall
107 and grooves 302 are provided in the inside surface of rear wall
108. The grooves 301 and 302 are adapted to receive slidable
connectors 303 which are placed on the ends of the dividers. The
connectors 303 and 304 can take any suitable configuration.
However, in a suitable arrangement, the connectors include a
grooved body 301A for receiving the ends of the adjustable
dividers, e.g. divider 111. The ends of the dividers 111 may be
reduced in thickness to fit within the body 301A of the connectors
301. The connectors 301 also include an extension 301B which fits
into the respective groove 302. The extension is 301B slidably
retained in the groove 302 to permit the connector (and divider) to
be slidably adjusted within the compartment 101 while retaining the
dividers upright.
[0028] The locking pegs 109 are shown in the end of slidable top
section 103. These pegs mate with apertures 110 in the counterpart
top section 104 shown best in FIG. 2.
[0029] Likewise, the glides 105 and 106 are depicted as being
embedded in the front and back 107 and 108, respectively of the
cabinet 101. The complementary glide elements are shown embedded
within the top section 103. (Counterpart glides provided in top
section 104 and the front and back 107 and 108, respectively, are
not shown in FIG. 4.)
[0030] Thus, there is shown and described a unique design and
concept of a media storage table with slidable top sections. While
this description is directed to a particular embodiment, it is
understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications
and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described
herein. Any such modifications or variations which fall within the
purview of this description are intended to be included therein as
well. It is understood that the description herein is intended to
be illustrative only and is not intended to be limitative. Rather,
the scope of the invention described herein is limited only by the
claims appended hereto.
* * * * *