U.S. patent application number 11/787398 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for expandable stand.
Invention is credited to Kevin John Roy McGowan.
Application Number | 20070188057 11/787398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36032873 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070188057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGowan; Kevin John Roy |
August 16, 2007 |
Expandable stand
Abstract
An expandable stand is provided to accommodate televisions of
different sizes. The expandable stand includes a fixed frame to
support the television, shelves for electronic components or other
items, an expandable top, and a rear panel which may include a box
to hide electrical wires and cables.
Inventors: |
McGowan; Kevin John Roy;
(St. Peters, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCCRACKEN & FRANK LLP
200 W. ADAMS STREET
SUITE 2150
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
36032873 |
Appl. No.: |
11/787398 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10939899 |
Sep 13, 2004 |
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11787398 |
Apr 16, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/7.2 ;
312/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/007.2 ;
312/205 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/06 20060101
A47B081/06 |
Claims
1. An expandable television stand, comprising: a top member secured
to an upright leg, a horizontal rail, and a rear member having an
aperture therethrough to form a frame; and an expandable member
adjustably secured to the frame, wherein the expandable member is
adjustable to a width corresponding to a width of a television to
be supported by the expandable member via a plurality of laterally
spaced holes.
2. The expandable television stand of claim 1, wherein the top
member has a first width and a second width.
3. The expandable television stand of claim 2, wherein the rear
member has a first width.
4. The expandable television stand of claim 3, wherein the first
width of the rear member is less than at least one of the first
width or the second width of the top member.
5. The expandable television stand of claim 1, further comprising a
shelf.
6. The expandable television stand of claim 1, wherein a pair of
expandable members is secured to the top member.
7. An expandable television stand, comprising: a top member
supported by and secured in direct contact with a rear member and
an upright leg; and a pair of expandable members secured above the
top member, wherein the expandable members are adjustable to a
width corresponding to a width of a television to be supported by
the expandable members.
8. The expandable television stand of claim 7, further comprising a
horizontal rail secured to the upright leg.
9. The expandable television stand of claim 8, further comprising a
shelf disposed beneath the top member.
10. The expandable television stand of claim 9, wherein the shelf
is supported by the horizontal rail.
11. The expandable television stand of claim 7, wherein the upright
leg is secured to the rear member.
12. The expandable television stand of claim 7, wherein the
expandable members are secured to the top member.
13. An expandable television stand, comprising: a fixed width top
member secured to a pair of side members; a rear member comprising
a front panel with an aperture therethrough and a pair of side
panels; and a pair of expandable members adjustably secured above
the top member, wherein the expandable members are adjustable to a
width corresponding to a width of a television to be supported by
the expandable members.
14. The expandable television stand of claim 13, further including
a plurality of holes through the fixed width top member.
15. The expandable television stand of claim 14, wherein the
expandable members further comprise a plurality of holes
therethrough that correspond to standard widths of televisions.
16. The expandable television stand of claim 15, wherein the
expandable members are detachably secured to the fixed width top
member by way of the plurality of holes.
17. The expandable television stand of claim 15, wherein the
standard widths of televisions comprise at least one of 28 inches,
32 inches, 36 inches, 42 inches, 46 inches, 50 inches, and 61
inches.
18. The expandable television stand of claim 13, wherein the fixed
width top member has a generally trapezoid shape.
19. The expandable television stand of claim 13, wherein the rear
member further comprises a bottom panel, and a removable rear panel
with a notch therein to form an open topped box.
20. The expandable television stand of claim 13, further comprising
first and second glass shelves disposed beneath the fixed width top
surface and supported by horizontal rails of the side members.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/939,899, filed Sep. 13, 2004.
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTING
[0003] Not applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention generally relates to furniture and,
more particularly, to a television stand which may be expanded to
accommodate many differently sized televisions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Televisions come in many different sizes. Varying screen
sizes and shapes and chassis sizes necessitate different television
stand sizes to accommodate each of the differently sized
televisions. A manufacturer of television stands must produce
several different sizes and must be aware of new television screen
and chassis sizes and configurations offered by the television
manufacturers. Additionally, a retailer of television or television
stands must stock many different stands for the different
television models. If a television model is discontinued, the
retailer and manufacturer of the corresponding television stand may
be left with excess television stands. Manufacturers and retailers
may offer universal or "one-size-fits-all" television stands which
avoid the problem of stocking many differently sized television
stands and the associated risk of having a surplus of obsolete
television stands. However, the customer who buys a universal stand
often must settle on an ill-fitting stand that doesn't match the
television.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a television stand which is
expandable to accommodate differently sized televisions to provide
a custom fit stand for the television. The stand includes a fixed
top and an expandable top which are attached to a frame. The
expandable top may be adjusted to match the size of the television.
A horizontal front panel is sized to match the width of the
expandable top and is attached to the frame. A horizontal front
panel is sized to match the width of the expandable top and
vertical leg panels. Additional horizontal front panels may be
included to create numerous widths matching the intervals of the
expandable top and vertical leg panels. Vertical leg panels are
aligned with the horizontal front rail and expandable top and
attached to the frame. Vertical leg panels are also adjustable
matching the intervals of the expandable top. One or more shelves
may be included with the stand along with a wire management system
which hides the electrical wires and cables of electronic
components such as VCRs, DVD players, receivers and speakers which
may be set on the shelves and interfaced with the television or
other components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the expandable stand of the
present invention showing ranges of expansion;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the frame
components of the expandable stand of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled frame of FIG.
2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the expandable
top, horizontal front rails and vertical leg panels and the frame
of FIG. 3; and
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cable management
component.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the expandable stand of the present
invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.
Expandable stand 10 includes a fixed top 12, side frame members 14
and 16, a back panel 18, left and right expandable top members 20
and 22, a horizontal front panel 24, vertical leg panels 26 and 28,
and shelves 30 and 32.
[0013] Fixed top 12 generally has a trapezoid shape to generally
match the shape of a chassis of a television (not shown). Fixed top
12 may be made of any suitable material such as a composition wood
sheet, plywood, or synthetic material, for example.
[0014] Side frame members 14 and 16 include identical components
and thus will be described only for side frame member 14. Side
frame member 14 includes a pair of upright legs 34 and 36 and
horizontal rails 38 and 40. Upright legs 34 and 36 and horizontal
rails 38 and 40 may be constructed of square or round steel or
aluminum tubing, for example, and may be welded, bolted or
otherwise fastened together to form the rigid side frame member 14.
The rear upright leg 36 is fastened to the back panel 18. The fixed
top is secured to the upright legs 34 and 36 of each frame member
14 and 16 at the corners and to the back panel 18 using screws or
other fasteners, for example, to form the base frame generally
indicated by reference numeral 42. Base frame 42 is a rigid, sturdy
frame which may be structurally sufficient to support a broad range
of television sizes and weights.
[0015] The expandable top members 20 and 22 may be attached to the
fixed top 12 using screws or other fasteners. The width of the top
(indicated by dimension 44) is adjusted to match the width of a
television (not shown) before the expandable top members 20 and 22
are secured to the fixed top 12. Fixed top 12 may include
pre-drilled holes 46. Expandable top members 20 and 22 may include
two rows of a plurality of pre-drilled holes 48 and 50,
respectively. The rows are spaced apart to match the front to rear
spacing of the holes 46 in the fixed top 12. The individual holes
in the rows of holes 48 and 50 are laterally spaced at
predetermined intervals which correspond to the standard widths of
television, such as 28'', 32'', 36'', 42'', 46'', 50'', 61'', for
example, to name a few.
[0016] After the width of the television to be used with the
expandable stand 10 is determined, the expandable top members 20
and 22 may be secured to the fixed top 12 at a matching width 44
corresponding to the width of the television. The horizontal front
panel 24 may be cut to the same width 44 and secured to the front
of the frame 42 flush with the top surface of the expandable top
members 20 and 22 to hide the gap 52 between the members 20 and 22.
A plurality of horizontal front panels 24 may be provided with the
expandable stand 10, one of each corresponding to a standard width
of a television such as 28'', 32'', 36'', 42'', 46'', 50'' and
61'', for example, so that the horizontal front panel 24 does not
have to be cut to size to match the width 44 of the expandable top
members 20 and 22. The vertical leg panels 26 and 28 may be secured
to the upright legs 34 of the side frame members 14 and 16,
respectively, using screws or other fasteners. Side frame members
14 and 16 may include pre-drilled holes. Vertical leg panels may
include two rows of a plurality of pre-drilled holes. The two rows
of holes are spaced at predetermined intervals, which correspond
with the expandable top intervals. Glass shelves 30 and 32 may be
placed across the horizontal rails 38 and 40 to support other
electronic components (not shown), for example.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 5, back panel 18 may be configured to hide
wires and cabling of any electronic components situated on the
shelves 30 and 32. Back panel 18 includes a front panel 54, sides
56 and 58, a bottom panel 60, and a removable rear panel 62. When
assembled together the members of the back panel 18 form an
open-top box. Front panel 54 includes upper 64 and lower 66
apertures which are spaced to be above the shelves 30 and 32. Wires
and cabling from electronic components and equipment may be passed
through the apertures 64 and 66 so that the wires are hidden from
view from the front of the expandable stand 10. Removable rear
panel 62 includes a notch 68 through which electrical cords may be
passed to provide power to the components and which may be used to
open the removable rear panel 62. When all of the components and
the television are wired together, all of the wires may be arranged
in the back panel 18 and the removable rear panel 62 put in place
to hide the wires from view.
* * * * *