U.S. patent application number 11/325849 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for flat tv lift in unit for furniture.
This patent application is currently assigned to Z-Line Designs. Invention is credited to Thomas B. Hazzard.
Application Number | 20060261714 11/325849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37447716 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060261714 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hazzard; Thomas B. |
November 23, 2006 |
Flat TV lift in unit for furniture
Abstract
Furniture for receiving, storing, and displaying a flat-panel TV
includes a floor mounted cabinet having a top surface. A vertically
moving flat-panel TV mount is utilized for moving a flat-panel TV
vertically between a position enclosed within the cabinet and an
elevated position overlying the top surface of the cabinet for
viewing. The mechanism for effecting lifting utilizing a single
vertical linear actuator is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Hazzard; Thomas B.;
(Asheville, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Z-Line Designs
San Ramon
CA
|
Family ID: |
37447716 |
Appl. No.: |
11/325849 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60641723 |
Jan 5, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/319.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/064
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/319.8 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Claims
1. Furniture for receiving and displaying a flat-panel TV
comprising: a floor mounted cabinet having a top surface; a
vertically moving flat-panel TV mount for moving vertically between
a position enclosed within the cabinet and an elevated position
overlying the top surface of the cabinet; spaced apart parallel
slides having attachment to the cabinet and to the vertically
moving flat-panel TV mount for sliding the mount from within the
cabinet to elevate and overlie the top surface of the cabinet; and,
a lift attached to the cabinet one end and to the vertically moving
flat-panel TV mount at other end for raising and lowering the
flat-panel TV mount into and out of the cabinet whereby a
flat-panel TV can be mounted to the vertically moving flat-panel TV
mount for installation to the floor mounted cabinet.
2. Furniture for receiving and displaying a flat-panel TV according
to 2 claim 1 further comprising: the floor mounted cabinet includes
a backside; and, the spared apart parallel sides and lift are
mounted to the cabinet backside.
3. Furniture for receiving and displaying a flat-panel TV according
to claim 1 further comprising: the vertically moving flat-panel TV
mount comprises a relatively moving drawer moving vertically
through the top surface of the cabinet.
4. Furniture for receiving and displaying a flat-panel TV according
to claim 3 further comprising: the vertically moving flat panel TV
mount includes a section of the top surface of the cabinet
overlying the vertically moving flat-panel TV mount.
5. Furniture for receiving and displaying a flat-panel TV according
to claim 1 further comprising: the cabinet the findings underlying
the vertically moving drawer a spatial interval for receiving
components connected to the flat-panel TV.
6. Mounting hardware for holding and elevating a flat-panel TV
comprising: a mount for attachment to a flat vertical surface; a
flat-panel TV mount for attachment to a flat-panel TV; paired
spaced apart vertical slides extending between the respective sides
of the mount for attachment to a flat vertical surface and
respective sides of the flat-panel TV mount for permitting a
flat-panel TV mount to be raised and lowered relative to the mount
for attachment to a flat vertical surface; and, a lift mechanism of
having attachment between the mount for attachment to the vertical
surface and the flat-panel TV mount to enable raising and lowering
of the flat panel TV mount relative to the mount for attachment to
a vertical surface; whereby a flat-panel TV can be attached to the
flat-panel TV mount and raised and lowered relative to the mount
for attachment to a flat vertical surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of provisional patent
application No. 60/641,723 filed Jan. 5, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a cabinet for accommodating a
so-called flat panel TV. More particularly, a cabinet and lift
mechanism for use in combination with the flat panel TV is
disclosed for selectively elevating the flat-panel TV from storage
in the cabinet for viewing from above and in front of the
cabinet.
[0003] Flat-panel TVs, such as those having plasma displays and/or
liquid crystal displays, are now common. Over so-called "CRT"
(cathode ray tube) TVs, flat-panel displays have a depth on the
order of 4 inches, reduced from at least 12 inches. Such flat-panel
TVs in a common viewing size, such as 42 inches (measured on the
diagonal) has a screen having an overall dimension of 4 inches
thick, 38 inches of length, and 24 inches of height weighing on the
order of 120 pounds. The problem that is addressed is concealing
the flat panel TV in a concealed cabinet of small footprint and
elevating the flat-panel TV only for viewing.
[0004] As initially sold, flat-panel TVs come with attached feet.
The idea is that the feet are set up on any table or counter with
the panel protruding upwardly for viewing. While this enables
immediate viewing, such mounting is generally unacceptable. The
flat-panel TV when not in use is an unsightly addition to the decor
of the average home.
[0005] Wall mounted flat-panel TVs are known. Unfortunately, these
TVs occupy a large section of wall space on a permanent basis where
they are generally considered unattractive, are extraordinarily
heavy (in the range of 120 pounds), and frequently have unsightly
cables dangling from their wall mount to supporting components
below. As the flat panel TVs are about 4 inches thick and have a
weight in the range of 100 pounds, conventional wall hanging of
such flat panel TVs is generally not feasible. For the modest home,
there is needed a cabinet having minimum depth and consequent
minimum footprint capable of concealing such a flat-panel TV when
it is not in use. At the same time, the flat-panel TV must be
elevated to a comfortable viewing disposition when in use.
[0006] Flat-panel TVs of necessity must be connected to support
appliances commonly called "components" including cable boxes, DVD
players, or recording devices (such as the TiVo.TM. recorder, a
trademark of the TiVo Company of Alvisio, Calif.). Such components
are on the order of approximately 12 inches wide, 2 to 5 inches
high, and most importantly require approximately 18 inches in
depth; this distance including both the depth of the components
chassis itself and the required distance for cable attachments to
plug into the back of the components without undue dimensional
constraint.
[0007] It is known to lower and elevate flat-panel TVs into
pockets. In the lowered position, the flat-panel TVs are concealed
when not in use. In the raised position, the flat-panel TVs are
arrayed for viewing. Unfortunately, lifting mechanisms so far
proposed are extraordinarily expensive, arranged to frame the
flat-panel TV, and in the usual case custom designed into
specialized custom cabinetry.
[0008] An exemplary apparatus for receiving a flat-panel TV into
custom cabinetry is made by the Inca Corporation of Gardena,
Calif., and sold under the description and/or trademark Plaza
LineTV Lift or Plasma Ultrastable TV Lift. These respective units
are made for mounting at the respective sides close to the custom
cabinetry and to the flat-panel TV. The lift mechanism contains the
flat-panel TV between the respective sides of the elevating
apparatus for being raised and lowered for viewing. Since
flat-panel TVs vary at their respective edges or bezels in both
thickness and surrounded dimension, mounting of such flat-panel TVs
to the raising and lowering mechanisms is difficult. Complex
mechanisms such as rack and pinions on either side of the lifts
form sturdy but extraordinarily expensive mechanisms for raising
and lowering the bezel framed flat-panel TVs. Simply stated,
simplicity has not been not present in these prior art devices.
[0009] Further, attention is directed to US Patent Publication US
2004/0164659 of Bober et al. illustrating a sub cabinet for
insertion to a regular cabinet having a vertical lift for elevating
and retracting a flat panel TV into and out of a position of
storage in the sub cabinet. The simplified lift mechanism structure
set forth herein is not disclosed.
[0010] A solution in assembling such custom cabinetry with these
prior are lifts has been to place the components either in front of
or to the side of the flat-panel TV. Where the components are in
front of the flat-panel TV, adding a 6 inch depth required for the
thickness of the flat-panel TV to the 18 inch depth required for
the components produces an unduly large depth footprint for the
cabinet. Alternatively, such components can be placed on either
side of the flat-panel TV. In this case, they expand the overall
width of the entertainment unit to a width that is otherwise
untenable. Adding at least an additional foot to a cabinet
containing an object 38 inches long (for a total of at least 50
inches) is undesirable.
[0011] The homeowner of modest circumstance purchasing a flat-panel
display is not given a convenient alternative in storing, mounting
and displaying a flat-panel TV for home use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Furniture for receiving, storing, and displaying a
flat-panel TV includes a floor mounted cabinet having a top
surface. A vertically moving flat-panel TV mount is utilized for
moving a flat-panel TV vertically between a position enclosed
within the cabinet and an elevated position overlying the top
surface of the cabinet for viewing. Spaced apart parallel slides
(typically of the over travel design) have attachment to the
cabinet and to a vertically moving flat-panel TV mount for sliding
the mount from within the cabinet to elevate the mount to overlie
the top surface of the cabinet. A lift is attached to the cabinet
at one end and to the vertically moving flat-panel TV mount at the
other end for raising and lowering the flat-panel TV mount into and
out of the cabinet for storage and viewing respectively. The
cabinet configuration is disclosed where components are stowed
below the stored flat-panel TV to enable a shallow footprint
cabinet having optimum connection from the components to the
flat-panel TV. Mounting hardware for holding and elevating a
flat-panel TV includes a mount for attachment to the back panel
flat vertical surface of the cabinet. A flat-panel TV mount for
attachment to a flat-panel TV is utilized and has paired spaced
apart vertical slides extending between the respective sides of the
mount for attachment to a flat vertical surface and respective
sides of the flat-panel TV mount. The slides permit a flat-panel TV
mount to be raised and lowered relative to the mount for attachment
to a flat vertical surface. A central lift mechanism between the
slides and the mount for attachment to the vertical surface of the
flat-panel TV mount enables raising and lowering of the flat panel
TV mount. Mounting of the flat-panel TV to the mount quickly
installs the unit for attractive storage and optimum elevated
viewing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet of this
invention with the flat-panel TV concealed interior of the
cabinet;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet of this
invention with the flat-panel TV elevated for viewing showing
components stowed underlying flat-panel TV storage volumes;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cabinet similar to FIG.
2 illustrating the flat-panel TV at the lift mechanism attached to
the back of the cabinet with a section of the top of the cabinet
attached to the top of the elevated flat panel TV;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a stripped away view of the cabinet before a flat
panel TV is mounted illustrating brackets for receiving the flat
panel TV; and,
[0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the lift mechanism of this
invention from the reverse side shown separate and apart from the
cabinet so that lift operation can be fully understood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, cabinet 10 having top 11, front 12, and
respective sides 14, 15 is illustrated in perspective. Total
cabinet depth is on the order of 18 inches. Total cabinet height is
on the order of 36 inches. Overall length is on the order of 50
inches. It is to be noted that the flat-panel TV cabinet has a
dimension not unlike a typical credenza.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, flat-panel TV 20 is shown elevated with
portion 21 of top 11 overlying the upper edge of the flat-panel TV
20. Components storage compartment 30 is illustrated with typical
components including a DVD player 31 and a cable box 32. It is to
be noted that storage compartment 30 is completely under the
lifting mechanism for the flat-panel TV 20 as well as the
flat-panel TV 20 when it is in the stored position. Further,
components storage compartment 30 has a depth on the order of 18
inches. This depth is necessary to permit the components (normally
having a depth on the order of 14 inches) but to additionally
accommodate their plug-in features, such as cable connections,
sound connections, electrical connections, and the like. The reader
will thus understand that it is the depth of the components storage
compartment 30 that controls the overall depth of the cabinet 10
which constitutes the flat-panel TV storage cabinet 10.
[0020] Respective doors 16, 17 are shown open with appropriate disk
storage at 33, 34. Side door 18 is shown in the open position here
illustrating storage of respective discs 35, 36. The reader will as
well understand that side speakers can be mounted at this location,
either within the cabinet or to the respective doors for acoustical
exposure when the doors are open. A central speaker 39 is
illustrated for connection to a typical "surround sound"
system.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, flat-panel TV 20 is shown in the
elevated position with top section 21 elevated in overlying top 11
of the cabinet. Top section 21 typically recesses into top II of
cabinet 10. All components of the cabinet have been removed to
expose the back cabinet side 43. Respective over travel drawer
guides 41, 42 mount to the inside surface of back panel 43 with
lift mechanism 40 mounted at step 45 overlying components storage
compartment 30. Lift 40 is here shown having elevated the
flat-panel TV 20 for viewing, while over travel drawer guides 42,
43 assure non-canted upward lift of the mounted flat-panel TV
20.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, the cabinet is illustrated with the
lift mechanism retracted before a flat-panel TV 20 is attached.
Lift mechanism 40 is shown retracted with respective over travel
slides 42, 43 confined to the interior of the cabinet. The mounting
panel 50 includes brackets 51, 52 with keyhole mounting apertures
53, 54 for receiving and mounting the flat-panel TV 20 (not shown)
and respective rear protruding knobs conventional with such
flat-panel TVs 20.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, the lift mechanism utilized is
illustrated from the reverse side. Lift 40 is manufactured by LINAK
of Guderup, Denmark and can be obtained from LINAK, U.S. Inc. at
North and South American Headquarters, 2200 Stanley Gault Parkway,
Louisville, Ky. 40223 under the designation Desklift DL4. This
linear actuator is intended for tandem operation with one or more
identical actuators from a controller, sold by the manufacturer. In
the present configuration, only one of these actuators is required
when used with over travel drawer guides 42, 43. As can be seen,
each of the over travel drawer guides 42, 43 includes three
discrete segments, 42a, 42b, 42c and 43a, 43b and 43c. The
respective over travel drawer guides are fastened at their
respective segments 42c and 43c to angles 52, 53 which in turn
conveniently fasten to the flat inner surface of the cabinet back
43 (See FIG. 3).
[0024] Angle bracket 41 fastens to the bottom of lift 40. A similar
bracket 41 fastens to panel 50. Thus as panel 50 is raised and
lowered, it is steadied by the respective over travel drawer guides
42, 43. Once a flat-panel TV is fastened, raising and lowering of
the panel 50 with the weight of the flat-panel TV easily
occurs.
[0025] I have shown a lifting mechanism which includes a linear
actuator. Other lifting mechanisms will work as well. For example,
cable revving systems well work as well. For example, by stringing
cables over pulleys and allowing lifting responsive to cable
gathering, raising and lowering of the flat-panel TV can occur as
well.
* * * * *