U.S. patent application number 11/183208 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for furniture system enclosing entertainment electronics in range of widths.
Invention is credited to Nielsen, Andreas K..
Application Number | 20050248240 11/183208 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30443076 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050248240 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nielsen, Andreas K. |
November 10, 2005 |
Furniture system enclosing entertainment electronics in range of
widths
Abstract
An entertainment center includes a base that expands
horizontally to accommodate different width home theater displays;
and, a light bridge that rests on top of one or more cabinets
placed on either side of the base. The side cabinets provide a
vertical column of open space for accommodating wiring among the
entertainment system components and ventilation for heat generated
by those components. The base includes casters to facilitate moving
the base in and out from between the side cabinets. Sliding
portions of the base extend horizontally yet continue to transfer
all load weight onto the casters. The front woodwork of the base
presents a pleasing seamless appearance as a consequence of
overlapping trim pieces.
Inventors: |
Nielsen, Andreas K.; (Valley
Center, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
Two Renaissance Squire, suite 2700
40 North Central Avenue
Phoenix
AZ
85004-4498
US
|
Family ID: |
30443076 |
Appl. No.: |
11/183208 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11183208 |
Jul 14, 2005 |
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10925355 |
Aug 23, 2004 |
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10925355 |
Aug 23, 2004 |
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10198204 |
Jul 17, 2002 |
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6796622 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/062 20130101;
A47B 45/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/205 |
International
Class: |
A47B 045/00; A47B
053/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cabinet for supporting a plurality of provided consumer
electronic assemblies on shelving, wherein the cabinet comprises: a
first side that is horizontally adjacent to a space; a second side
displaced from the first side; and shelving located between the
first and second sides; wherein the second side has a depth greater
than a depth of the first side for accommodating cabling from the
assemblies to a provided home theater display placed in the
space.
2. A furniture system comprising: a first cabinet that includes: a
first side that is horizontally adjacent to a space; a second side
displaced from the first side; and shelving located between the
first and second sides; wherein the second side has a depth greater
than a depth of the first side for accommodating cabling from one
or more of a plurality of provided consumer electronic assemblies
to a provided home theater display placed in the space; and a
second cabinet that includes: a third side adjacent to the space;
and a fourth side displaced from the third side; wherein the fourth
side has a depth greater than a depth of the third side.
3. The furniture system of claim 2 further comprising a panel
extending between the cabinets to cover at least a portion of the
space.
4. The furniture system of claim 3 wherein the panel is supported
to slide in relation to at least the first cabinet when a width of
the space is changed.
5. The furniture system of claim 2 further comprising a bridge
extending between the cabinets to cover at least a portion of the
space.
6. The furniture system of claim 5 wherein the bridge is supported
to slide in relation to at least the first cabinet when a width of
the space is changed.
7. The furniture system of claim 2 further comprising means,
separate from the first cabinet and from the second cabinet, for
supporting the provided home theater display in the space.
8. The furniture system of claim 7 wherein the means for supporting
further comprises: first means in supportive contact with at least
a first portion of the provided display; and second means, coupled
to the first means, in supportive contact with at least a second
portion of the provided display.
9. The furniture system of claim 8 wherein the first means and the
second means are coupled at a width of a set of widths between the
first means and the second means to accommodate a width of the
provided display.
10. The furniture system of claim 7 wherein the means for
supporting further comprises a plurality of casters, each caster
able to rotate about a respective vertical axis, the casters for
transportation of the means for supporting across a provided
surface.
11. The furniture system of claim 7 wherein the means for
supporting further comprises a handle for manually urging
transportation of the means for supporting across a provided
surface.
12. The furniture system of claim 7 wherein the means for
supporting further comprises a hand hold for manually urging
transportation of the means for supporting across a provided
surface.
13. A base for supporting any one of a variety of provided home
theater displays of various widths, the base comprising: a first
portion; and a second portion, the second portion mechanically
coupled to the first portion at a position of a set of positions so
that the base has a width of a set of widths, each portion for
supportive contact with the provided home theater display.
14. The base of claim 13 further comprising a third portion
mechanically coupled to each of the first portion and the second
portion to support each of the first portion and the second
portion.
15. The base of claim 14 wherein the third portion comprises a
plurality of wheels for moving the base across a provided
surface.
16. The base of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of wheels
for moving the base across a provided surface.
17. The base of claim 13 wherein each portion comprises a
respective front surface that blocks view to a space beneath the
respective portion.
18. A method for installing a provided home theater display in a
furniture system, the method comprising: adjusting a horizontal
width of a base of the system for supporting the provided home
theater display; placing the provided display on the base; and
placing the base and provided display between a first cabinet of
the system and a second cabinet of the system.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising placing the first
cabinet in spaced apart relation from the second cabinet prior to
placing the base and provided display between the cabinets.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein placing the base and provided
display between the cabinets comprises rolling the base and
provided display into a position between the cabinets.
21. The method of claim 18 further comprising routing signal cables
between the provided display and at least one of the first cabinet
and the second cabinet before placing the base and provided display
between the cabinets.
22. A furniture system comprising: a first cabinet; a second
cabinet; and one or more members between the first cabinet and the
second cabinet; wherein at least one of the first cabinet and the
second cabinet defines a space for which, in a first configuration
of the system, the one or more members reside outside of the space,
and in a second configuration of the system, at least one of the
one or more members resides at least partially within the
space.
23. The furniture system of claim 22 wherein the first cabinet and
the second cabinet each define the space.
24. The furniture system of claim 22 wherein the first cabinet
includes: a first side; a second side displaced from the first
side; and shelving located between the first and second sides;
wherein the second side has a depth greater than a depth of the
first side for accommodating the at least one of the one or more
members at least partially within the space.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of and claims priority to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/925,355, filed Aug. 23, 2004 in
the name of Andreas K. Nielsen, which is a divisional of and claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/198,204, filed Jul.
17, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,622) also in the name of Andreas
K. Nielsen, each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to furniture
such as an entertainment center.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Component electronics for audiovisual applications
conventionally include multiple, free-standing enclosures that
receive power and signals from facility wiring and communicate with
other components on wired cables or wireless links. Support for
numerous components has conventionally been provided by furniture
called an entertainment center. A conventional entertainment center
may have open shelving and enclosed shelving for supporting and
enclosing not only the components but also media used with the
components. Such furniture also conventionally provides holes
through the back and through the shelving for accommodating the
signal cables and power cables associated with the components.
[0004] A conventional entertainment center is spaced away from a
facility wall to allow cabling to be tucked behind the cabinetry of
the entertainment center because provisions for cabling inside the
cabinetry of the entertainment center are inadequate. The space
between the entertainment center and the facility wall also
supplies ventilation air for the components.
[0005] The conventional entertainment center provides movable
shelving for accommodating consumer electronics assemblies of
different vertical height; but, provides fixed horizontal
dimensions designed for a maximum component width. Use of a
conventional entertainment center is limited by the fixed
horizontal width of its design. Users seeking, for example, to
accommodate a larger home theater display (e.g., a big screen
television set, a rear projection system, or a front illuminated
screen) have little recourse but to purchase new furniture in the
event the larger width display does not fit the fixed horizontal
width provided by an existing entertainment center.
[0006] A large market exists for furniture to support consumer
electronics. New products of various sizes are launched into this
market annually. Without furniture capable of accommodating
different horizontal widths, consumers may be reticent to purchase
more expensive entertainment center furniture or may forego the
acquisition of newer larger components. Consequently, without the
present invention, both the consumer electronics and furniture
industries face significant economic impairments to growth in
sales.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A furniture system according to various aspects of the
present invention includes an enclosure of a first space to be
occupied by a home theater display wherein the enclosure, when
placed against a facility wall provides a second space open to the
top of the furniture system for ventilation of the home theater
display.
[0008] When the enclosure includes shelving for consumer
electronics assemblies, the shelving may be located between a first
vertical side and a second vertical side. The first vertical side
is adjacent to the display. The second vertical side has a depth
greater than the depth of the first vertical side so that a portion
of the second space is behind the shelving for ventilation of the
consumer electronics assemblies.
[0009] Another furniture system according to various aspects of the
present invention includes an enclosure of a space to be occupied
by a home theater display and a base for transporting the display
into and out from the space. The enclosure includes adjustable
members that facilitate extending the enclosure to enclose the
display at a width of a set of widths.
[0010] Another furniture system according to various aspects of the
present invention includes an enclosure of a space to be occupied
by a home theater display and a base for transporting the display
into and out from the space. The base includes adjustable members
that facilitate extending the base to support the display at a
width of a set of widths.
[0011] Another furniture system according to various aspects of the
present invention includes a pair of cabinets and a base for
supporting a home theater display. The base includes wheels
attached to a lower surface of the base to facilitate rolling the
base between the cabinets. The base includes at least one section,
mechanically coupled to the base that may be placed in one of a set
of positions apart from a center of the base to give the base an
apparent width that approximates a corresponding width of any of a
set of home theater displays of various widths. The section
includes a trim surface to block viewing of the wheels from the
front of the entertainment furniture system when the section is
placed in any position of the set.
[0012] The cabinets may include inner sides shorter in depth than
outer sides, thereby forming a passage in the rear of the system
for ventilation and cabling.
[0013] By including a multi-section base, the load weight of the
display is efficiently coupled to the wheels for a variety of
displays. By including trim pieces that overlap, the overall
appearance of the base is improved. When the furniture system
further includes a bridge, an overlapping aspect of the bridge
relative to the cabinets is aesthetically similar to the
overlapping appearance of the base for improved appearance of the
furniture system as a whole.
[0014] A base, according to various aspects of the present
invention, supports a home theater display and includes a stage and
at least two sections. The stage and each section provide a
respective front surface to block viewing of a space beneath the
home theater display and to enhance the appearance of the base. The
sections facilitate horizontal positioning relative to each other
to establish a width of the base to approximate the width of any
one of a set of home theater displays having differing respective
widths. The base includes a plurality of wheels in the space that
allow movement of the stage and display as a unit on a provided
surface.
[0015] The stage and sections may be mechanically coupled by
slides. Locks may be added to the slides to maintain the selected
positioning.
[0016] According to various aspects of the present invention, a
method is performed to mount a home theater display in a furniture
system. The method includes, in any order: adjusting a horizontal
width of a base for supporting the home theater display; placing a
first cabinet against a facility wall; placing a second cabinet
against the facility wall and spaced apart from the first cabinet a
width sufficient for the base; and rolling the base between the
first cabinet and the second cabinet. By supporting the display on
a wheeled base and transporting the display on the base as a unit,
access is facilitated to cabling for power and signals to the
display. Cabling may be fully connected and routed prior to rolling
the base between the cabinets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will now be further
described with reference to the drawing, wherein like designations
denote like elements, and:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a furniture system according
to various aspects of the present invention wherein the doors of
one of the cabinets are omitted for clarity of presentation;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of the furniture system of FIG. 1
wherein the bridge and crown of one of the cabinets are omitted for
clarity of presentation;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of a base for
use in the furniture system of FIG. 1; and
[0021] FIG. 4 is a top view of the bridge and a crown of the
furniture system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] A furniture system according to various aspects of the
present invention supports any of a variety of home theater
displays of various widths. The furniture system generally encloses
a space for locating the home theater display, the space being
enclosed on several sides, for example, the left side, the right
side, and the top. The furniture system may further enclose a
portion of the rear of the space. Enclosing is typically for
establishing, improving, or cooperating with the interior design of
a room where the home theater display is to be used. The enclosure
provides ventilation for the display according to various aspects
of the present invention.
[0023] The display is supported on a base having wheels to
transport the base and display as a unit separate from the
enclosure portion of the furniture system. The furniture system is
typically arranged to abut each vertical side of the home theater
display and present to a front view a continuous series of trim
surfaces that substantially hide the wheels from view. When the
rear of the furniture system is placed against a facility wall,
spaces defined by the enclosure accommodate wiring and ventilation
and are easily accessible from the front of the furniture system.
Conventional materials and techniques of furniture manufacture may
be used in the design and construction of furniture systems of the
present invention except as described below.
[0024] For example, furniture system 100 of FIGS. 1-4 includes
cabinets 102 and 103, back panel 101, bridge 104, and base 105.
Cabinets 102 (and 103) support component electronics and media (not
shown). Each cabinet 102 (103) includes inner side 242 (244), outer
side 250 (252), crown 132 (133), any number of suitable shelves 121
and 123, and a cabinet back 246 (248) having holes 122 and 124
through which power and signal cables may be routed. Because outer
side 250 (252) extends further to the rear than inner side 242
(244), cabinet 102 (103) defines a space 216 (218) for cabling and
ventilation.
[0025] A back panel of the furniture system enhances the finished
appearance and is retained in a vertical position while cabinets
102 and 103 are moved to establish a suitable width 110 for base
105. For example, back panel 101 is mounted to allow cabinets 102
and 103 to be repositioned without access to the rear of the
furniture system to effect a change in mounting of back panel 101.
Back panel 101 in one implementation rests on a hook 262 (264) on
each cabinet 102 (103) and slides in groove 414 of bridge 104. When
cabinets 102 and 103 are positioned closer together or farther
apart, back panel 101 slides on hooks 262 and 264 and is maintained
in a vertical position by groove 414. Back panel 101 does not
obstruct cable passage holes (e.g., 122 and 124) or significantly
block ventilation holes in cabinet backs 246 and 248 when cabinets
102 and 103 are positioned for a minimum width 110. Back panel 101
includes stiffeners 210, 212, and 214 to reduce warping.
[0026] A bridge provides a visual connection between cabinets,
usually at the top of a furniture system, by spanning the width
between cabinets. While cabinets are moved to establish a suitable
width, the bridge cooperates with the cabinets and the back panel
to maintain its position on top of the cabinets. The horizontal
position of the bridge can be adjusted (e.g., to center the bridge
between the cabinets) without access to the top or rear of the
furniture system. A bridge may be supported on the front of crowns
of two cabinets and may also be supported via a back panel and
hooks on which the back panel is supported. A bridge may have a
depth when installed that is substantially equal to the depth of
the inner sides of cabinets on which it rests.
[0027] For example, bridge 104 rests on the top of cabinet 102 and
rests on the top of cabinet 103. Bridge 104 nests with back panel
101 in groove 414 to prevent movement of bridge 104 toward the
front of furniture system 100. Preferably, back panel 101 bears no
weight of bridge 104 so that back panel 101 slides easily when
cabinets are moved. Bridge 104 nests with crowns 132 and 133 via
slots 406 and 408 to prevent movement of bridge 104 toward the
front or toward the rear of furniture system 100. A front surface
422 of crown 132 (and a symmetric surface of crown 133(not shown))
is overlapped by a portion 402 of bridge 104. When surface 422
includes raised or recessed features, corresponding recesses or
raised features may be added to surface 424 to provide an integral
appearance when surfaces 422 and 424 are pressed against each
other. When supported by cabinets 102 and 103, bridge 104 covers a
space 106 between cabinets 102 and 103. Bridge 104 may include
conventional lighting to illuminate space 106. In one
implementation, bridge 104 is not fastened to either cabinet 102 or
103 but slides on the crown portion 132 and 133 of each cabinet so
that bridge 104 is aligned easily over the center of space 106 and
flush against crowns 132 and 133. Bridge 104 may further include
U-shaped slots for avoiding interference between body 404 of bridge
104 and lighting in crowns 132 and 133 (e.g., installed in
apertures 135 and 137).
[0028] A crown provides an aesthetically pleasing top to a cabinet
and provides support for lighting and a bridge. A crown cooperates
with a bridge according to various aspects of the present invention
to support the bridge while the cabinet is being moved toward or
away from the other cabinet on which the bridge is supported. For
example, crowns 132 and 133 cooperate with bridge 104 as discussed
above. Further, crowns cooperate with a bridge of the present
invention to provide an aperture 430 for convection cooling of the
home theater display and any entertainment equipment components
located within cabinets 102 and 103. Aperture 430 includes a
portion 216 rear of cabinet back 246, a portion 218 rear of cabinet
back 248, and a portion 430 above base 105. Rear panels, crowns,
and/or a bridge of furniture system 100 may include any
conventional grills, hole patterns, slots, or voids to facilitate
cooling.
[0029] A base, according to various aspects of the present
invention provides an adjustable width so as to support one of
various width home theater displays and provides a concealed
mechanism for moving the base in and out of position between
cabinets of the furniture system. Such a base includes sections
mechanically coupled to each other and capable of being positioned
with respect to each other to provide a base having one of various
overall widths. Any mechanical coupling technique may be used to
provide discrete or continuously variable positions. Concealment of
wheels may be accomplished by expandable trim surfaces, where
expansion is accomplished by overlapping, telescoping, deploying,
or stretching trim surfaces. A deployed trim surface may be stored
as rolled stock in the base. Stretching may include elastic,
pleated, or accordioned material. For example, base 105 of FIGS.
1-4 includes stage 113, section 112 attached to stage 113 by
integral slides, and section 114 attached to stage 113 by integral
slides. The stage provides wheels for movement of the base; and the
sections and the stage provide cooperative overlapping trim
surfaces to conceal the wheels. A trim surface of each section
overlaps a portion of the nearest cabinet that abuts the base.
[0030] A stage provides support for at least one section and
provides transportation for an object placed on the stage or on the
section. For example, stage 113 includes platform 111, casters
302-305, studs 311-314, and trim piece 108. Section 112 (114)
includes platform 322 (323), side 306 (308), and trim piece 107
(109). Platform 322 (323) includes a pair of slots 326 (327) and
328 (329) for attaching the section to the stage. The underside of
section platforms 322 and 323 bears on the an upper side of stage
platform 111. Studs 311-314 pass through slots 326-329 to accept a
stud termination (e.g., a fender washer and nut). Each slot, stud,
and termination cooperate to form a slide for mechanically coupling
a section to the stage. By loosening stud terminations, each
section 112 and 114 may be moved along its respective slides (e.g.,
along axis 110) toward and away from the center of platform 111. By
moving each section a proportional distance from the center of
platform 111, base 113 is extended to any width (W) 110 within the
range of the slides. After moving the sections, any suitable lock
(e.g., a locking mechanism) may be employed to secure the position,
fix the overall width of stage 113, and more efficiently transfer
load borne by base 105 to casters 302-305. For example, stud
terminations may be tightened to draw and bind the stage and
section together.
[0031] Casters 302-305 are fixed to an underside surface of
platform 111 and provide load bearing support. Each caster pivots
around a vertical axis. Each caster provides a wheel that rotates
on a horizontal axis. Any conventional caster may be used. A home
theater display placed onto base 113 may rest in part against an
upper surface of platform 111 and/or on an upper surface of section
platforms 322 and 323. Weight of the display is communicated via
slides to stage 113 and through casters 302-305 to the facility
surface on which furniture system 100 is placed. In operation,
casters 302-305 facilitate movement of stage 113 (and a display
placed on stage 113) along an axis of width 110 so to align stage
113 between cabinets 102 and 103, and along an axis of depth 120 so
to move stage 113 into space 106. A home theater display atop stage
113 may completely fill the width 110 and depth 120 of space
106.
[0032] The space directly below stage platform 111 is substantially
hidden from view by the cooperation of trim pieces 107-109. Trim
piece 107 (109) extends away from the center of platform 111 and
beyond the extremity of platform 322 (323) to overlap a portion of
cabinet 102 (103) and consequently to cover any portion of space
106 that might remain between base 113 and cabinet 102 (103). Trim
piece 107 (109) also extends toward the center of platform 111 to
overlap a portion of trim piece 108. When section 112 (113) is slid
toward or away from stage 111, trim piece 107 (109) slides in front
of trim piece 108 to continue to perform the hiding function.
[0033] Each section 112 and 114 may further include a railing on
one or more edges of the section to reduce the risk that an object
placed on the base will unexpectedly slide off the base. For
example, section 112 (114) may further include side 306 (308) that
extends above platform 322 (323) to form a lip 202 (206). Railings
may be added to the upper surfaces of any platform 111, 322, and/or
323. For example, railing 204 (208) is added on the top rear edge
of platform 322 (323).
[0034] Movement of base 105 is facilitated in any conventional
manner. According to various aspects of the present invention, base
105 provides at least one handle or hand-hold to move base 105. For
example, trim piece 108 extends downward yet leaves space for a
user to place his or her hand or hands under trim piece 108 and
pull on trim piece 108 to move base 105 on depth axis 120 out from
between cabinets 102 and 103. In an alternate implementation,
platform 111 is formed with a hand access hole through platform 111
to facilitate pulling base 105 on depth axis 120 out from between
cabinets 102 and 103.
[0035] Assembly of an entertainment system with an entertainment
furniture system as discussed above may proceed according to a
method performed in any order as follows. Measure the width of the
home theater display to be positioned in space 106. Determine
whether it is desired to abut both cabinets 102 and 103 to the
sides of the home theater display, and if not add a suitable amount
to the width. Assemble sections 112 and 114 to stage 113. Before
tightening stud terminations, extend each section 112 and 114
symmetrically from the center of stage 113 an amount equal to about
half the desired width, then lock the sections to the stage (e.g.,
by tightening the stud terminations). Place back panel 101 against
a facility wall. Place cabinet 102 within a few inches of the
facility wall as desired, allowing for access to cable TV, power,
telephone, Internet, and other facility wiring connections for use
by the entertainment system. Place cabinet 103 roughly the desired
width from cabinet 102. Lift back panel 101 onto hooks 162 and 164.
Place bridge 104 on top of the crown portions of cabinets 102 and
103, centering bridge 104 over space 106, and fitting bridge 104
onto back panel 101 for maintaining back panel 101 in a vertical
position. Move cabinets 102 and/or 103 to obtain the desired width
of space 106. While cabinets 102 and 103 are being moved apart (or
together), back panel 101 is confined to slide on axis 120 while
being maintained in a vertical position; and, bridge 104 is
confined to slide only on axis 120 while being maintained square to
the top of cabinets 102 and 103. If cabinet lighting is provided in
bridge 104 or crown portions of cabinets 102 and 103, connect power
wiring. Place a home theater display on base 105 and transport the
base and display as a unit to a position in front of space 106.
Place all other entertainment system components (e.g., tuner,
amplifier, audio media player, speakers) in cabinets 102 and 103.
Route all cables and wiring from the display to the components.
Reach around cabinet inner side 242 (244) to access cables passing
through holes 122 and 124 (and suitable holes in cabinet back 248
(not shown)). Transport the base and display as a unit into space
106 until the trim pieces 107 and 109 meet and overlap a portion of
the front trim pieces 142 and 144 of cabinets 102 and 103.
[0036] Another furniture system according to various aspects of the
present invention may include a base as discussed above and an
enclosure. The enclosure may include: (a) shelving to one side of a
space to be occupied by the base; and (b) a vertical panel on the
opposite side of the space. The enclosure may include a bridge
and/or a back panel that spans the top and/or rear sides of the
space. For example, such a furniture system may include all of the
structures discussed above with reference to system 100, except
that: (a) cabinet 102 is replaced by a panel similar to side 250
(e.g., omitting crown, doors, drawer, shelves, as well as front,
inside, and rear structures) and supported by being attached to
either a back panel similar to 101 and/or to a bridge similar to
104; and (b) bridge 104 is replaced with a bridge modified to
attach to or cooperate with side 250 (e.g., omitting all of the
structure associated with resting on top of and cooperating with a
full size cabinet 102). The structures and cooperation of the
bridge and cabinet 103 would be included in this alternate
furniture system. The asymmetric implementation discussed here
(cabinet to the right of display) may be implemented as a mirror
image (cabinet on left of display) in an alternate
implementation.
[0037] In alternative implementations of the furniture systems
discussed above, cabinet doors and drawers are partially or
entirely omitted. In still further alternate implementations, any
arrangement of shelving, doors, and/or drawers may be located
between sides 244 and 252 (and/or sides 250 and 242 if
implemented).
[0038] Another alternate furniture system according to various
aspects of the present invention includes merely a base as
discussed above (cabinets 102 and 103, bridge 104, and back panel
101 are omitted).
[0039] The foregoing description discusses preferred embodiments of
the present invention which may be changed or modified without
departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the
claims. While for the sake of clarity of description, several
specific embodiments of the invention have been described, the
scope of the invention is intended to be measured by the claims as
set forth below.
* * * * *