U.S. patent application number 12/704847 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-18 for flat screen armoire.
Invention is credited to Stephen Ardis, Robert Kirkeby.
Application Number | 20110198972 12/704847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44369173 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110198972 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kirkeby; Robert ; et
al. |
August 18, 2011 |
FLAT SCREEN ARMOIRE
Abstract
A flat screen armoire is disclosed which includes a flat screen
enclosure area defining first and second interior side walls, a
lower interior surface and an upper interior surface. A flat screen
support bracket is provided including a vertical support member
pivotably engaged to the upper and lower interior surfaces and
extending proximate the first side wall. The support bracket
further includes a horizontal support member engaged to and
extending horizontally from the vertical support member. The
support bracket is pivotable from a stowed position within the
enclosure area to a position substantially exterior of the armoire,
while maintaining clearance from the interior side walls. A false
back is engaged to and supported by the horizontal support member
so as to pivot with the support bracket so as to conceal the flat
screen enclosure area behind the false back when the support
bracket is in the stowed position.
Inventors: |
Kirkeby; Robert; (Orange,
CA) ; Ardis; Stephen; (Orange, CA) |
Family ID: |
44369173 |
Appl. No.: |
12/704847 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/7.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/7.2 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/06 20060101
A47B081/06 |
Claims
1. A flat screen armoire comprising: 1) a flat screen enclosure
area defining first and second interior side walls, a lower
interior surface, and an upper interior surface; 2) a flat screen
support bracket, the support bracket including: a) a vertical
support member pivotally engaged to the upper and lower interior
surfaces and extending proximate the first side wall; and b) a
horizontal support member engaged to and extending horizontally
from the vertical support member; c) wherein the support bracket is
pivotable from a stowed position within the enclosure area to a
position substantially exterior of the armoire, while maintaining
clearance between the support bracket and the interior side
walls.
2. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 1 further comprising
a false back engaged to and supported by the horizontal support
member so as to pivot with support bracket so as to substantially
conceal the flat screen enclosure area behind the false back when
the support bracket is in the stowed position.
3. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 2 wherein the
support bracket is pivotable about a pivot axis spaced from the
first side wall to facilitate pivoting of the support bracket and
false back to a position exterior of the armoire.
4. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 2 further comprising
a flat screen display mounted to the horizontal support member, and
pivotable therewith, the false back being disposed intermediate the
flat screen and the horizontal support member.
5. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 2 further comprising
a front storage shelf connected to the false back and pivotable
therewith.
6. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 2 further comprising
a secure storage area disposed within the enclosure area behind the
support bracket, the secure storage area being accessible only when
the support bracket is pivoted away from the stowed position.
7. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 6 wherein the secure
storage area includes a plurality of rear storage shelves.
8. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 6 wherein the secure
storage area includes a safe.
9. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 6 wherein the secure
storage area includes at least one lockable storage
compartment.
10. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 2 further including
a locking apparatus engaged to the false back and operable to
substantially preclude movement of the horizontal support bracket
from the stowed position.
11. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 1 wherein the
vertical support member includes at least one lip extending forward
of the vertical support member for receiving an exterior surface of
a flat screen display.
12. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 11 wherein the
vertical support member is vertically extendable to accommodate
different sizes of flat screen displays.
13. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 1 wherein the
vertical support member is alternately disposable substantially
adjacent to the first side wall or the second side wall.
14. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 2 wherein the
support bracket and false back are pivotable by 90 degrees.
15. The flat screen armoire as recited in claim 1 wherein the
horizontal support member includes at least one aperture for
passing electrical wire therethrough.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present invention relates to the furniture for storing
entertainment systems, such as televisions. In particular, the
present invention is directed to an armoire for storing flat screen
TVs along with other articles.
[0004] These types of furniture products have long been used to
support and store televisions and other entertainment components.
Armoires have long been useful for storing TVs in a stylish
furniture piece that compliments a room decor. Due to their size
and shape, armoires have long been used to store televisions, which
may have substantial depth.
[0005] More recently, flat screen TVs have come to dominate the TV
marketplace, due to their light weight, picture quality and other
factors. Such flat screen TVs can be placed in an armoire. However,
some of the advantages of such flat screen TVs, such as the thin
width and light weight, are substantially lost where a flat screen
TV is simply placed within the armoire, which is compatible with
TVs having much greater depth.
[0006] Some armoires have included slideable stands on which flat
screen TVs can be located. The stand is slideable out of the
armoire to permit the flat screen TV to be moved forward and
pivoted to facilitate viewing from a location on either side of the
armoire. After viewing, the TV can be returned to its stowed
position within the armoire. While such armoires allow for
additional viewing areas, they still leave much unused space within
the armoire, which has very little visual appeal when the flat
screen TV is pivoted to allow view into the rear area of the
armoire.
[0007] The present invention is directed to an armoire which takes
further advantage of the flat screen TV and armoire features to
allow for additional functionality, additional storage, security of
contents, and enhances the visual appeal of the armoire, both when
the flat screen TV is in the stowed position and in extended
position.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A flat screen armoire is disclosed which includes a flat
screen enclosure area defining first and second interior side
walls, a lower interior surface and an upper interior surface. A
flat screen support bracket is provided including a vertical
support member pivotably engaged to the upper and lower interior
surfaces and extending proximate the first side wall. The support
bracket further includes a horizontal support member engaged to and
extending horizontally from the vertical support member. The
support bracket is pivotable from a stowed position within the
enclosure area to a position substantially exterior of the armoire,
while maintaining clearance between the support bracket and the
interior side walls. A false back is engaged to and supported by
the horizontal support member so as to pivot with the support
bracket so as to conceal the flat screen enclosure area behind the
false back when the support bracket is in the stowed position.
[0009] A flat screen display may be mounted to the horizontal
support member, and pivotable therewith to a position exterior to
the armoire, while maintaining clearance from the interior side
walls. Preferably the flat screen display and support bracket are
pivotable to at least 90 degrees from the stowed position.
[0010] A front storage area may be connected to the false back, and
pivotable therewith, to allow for storage of flat screen display
controls and other articles.
[0011] A secure storage area is disposed within the enclosure area,
behind the false back and the support bracket. The secure storage
area is accessible only when the support bracket is pivoted away
from the stowed position.
[0012] The storage area may include a plurality of rear storage
shelves, a lockable storage compartment, and/or a safe.
[0013] Locking apparatus may be provided to engage the false back
to the interior side walls, lower interior surface and/or the upper
interior surface. The locking mechanism is operable to
substantially preclude movement of the horizontal support bracket,
false back and flat screen display from the stowed position.
[0014] The vertical support member may include one or more lips,
extending forward of the vertical support member for receiving an
exterior surface(s) of a flat screen display.
[0015] The vertical support member may also be vertically
extendable to accommodate different sizes of flat screen
displays.
[0016] The vertical support member may be disposed on either side
of the enclosure area (proximate the first or second interior side
walls) to allow the flat screen display to pivot toward viewers on
either side of the armoire.
[0017] The horizontal support member preferably includes at least
one aperture for passing electrical wire therethrough.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] These and other features and advantages of the various
embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect
to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers
refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a flat screen armoire
in accordance with the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the flat
screen armoire shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a front view of a front screen armoire, with the
screen and support bracket removed;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a flat screen armoire
showing the flat screen and support bracket in a first rotated
position;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a flat screen armoire
showing the flat screen and the support bracket mounted to rotate
from the opposite side; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an exemplary support
bracket used in conjunction with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art
could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the
invention disclosed herein, including various ways of constructing
the support bracket, or mounting the support bracket to the
armoire. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed
herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each
other and are not intended to be limited to the specific
combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not
to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 1 of a front perspective view of an exemplary flat
screen armoire in accordance with the present invention. As shown
therein flat screen armoire 10 may be formed as an armoire style
furniture enclosure, with or without front doors or other closing
structures. A flat screen display 11 may be disposed within the
armoire in a manner to pivot from the armoire to facilitate viewing
from various angles. Because such flat screen displays may be
relatively thin, in relation to the depth of a typical armoire, the
area behind the flat screen display may be used for secure storage,
as described in more detail below. In order to enhance the appeal
of the flat screen armoire and to conceal the secure storage area,
a false back 13 is provided which obscures the view of the rear
storage area when the flat screen display 11 is in stowed position,
as shown at FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0027] The present invention allows the flat screen display 11 and
false back 13 to pivot to either side, as may best serve a given
viewing area. FIG. 1 shows an arrangement where the flat screen
display 11 and false back 13 pivot from the left side of the
armoire. FIG. 2 shows an arrangement where the flat screen display
11 and false back 13 pivot from the right side of the armoire.
[0028] The flat screen display 11 and false back 13 are disposed
within a flat screen enclosure area 20 defined by interior side
walls 15, 17, lower interior surface 19 and upper interior surface
21. Also within the enclosure area 20, rearward of the flat screen
display 11 and false back 13, lies secure storage area 23. Secure
storage area 23 may be formed and arranged in a variety of
different ways, as shown at FIGS. 3-5. In general, secure storage
area 20 may include a variety of shelves, cabinets, or safes, as
may be useful to a particular user. FIG. 3 shows a rear storage
area arrangement with a plurality of shelves 25 and a locking
drawer 27.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows an arrangement which also includes safe 29 and
lockable storage compartment 31. As will be apparent, the secure
storage areas may be used to secure items such as cash, legal
documents, jewelry or firearms. The security of such articles is
enhanced by the fact that none of the secure compartments are even
visible to an observer unless the flat screen display 11 and false
back 13 are pivoted to allow viewing. The false back 13 may be
provided with a front storage area 14, for receiving articles such
as remote controls for flat screen display 11 or other device
controls, which may be disposed in shelving areas below the
enclosure area 20.
[0030] The pivoting of the flat screen display 11 and false back 13
is enabled by means of a pivotable support bracket 30, shown at
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The flat screen support bracket 30 includes a
vertical support member 33, disposed within the enclosure area 20,
proximate one of the side walls, 15,17. Vertical support member 33
is pivotably engageable to upper and lower interior surfaces 19,
21. The vertical support member 33 may include extendable portions
35, 37 to accommodate armoires having different size enclosure
areas, and displays of different sizes.
[0031] The vertical support member 33 further includes flanges or
lips 39, 41, having apertures 43, 45, respectively. The lips 39, 41
are further useful to receive and help stabilize the false back 13,
as shown at FIG. 4. The vertical support member 33 may be fastened
to upper and lower interior surfaces 19, 21 by fasteners 47, 49
extending through apertures 43, 45, respectively, to secure the
support bracket 30 in place within the enclosure area 20.
[0032] The apertures 43, 45, are spaced from the vertical plane of
the vertical support arm 33 in order to define a support bracket
pivot axis that is spaced from the interior side walls 15, 17, as
shown at FIG. 2. The spacing allows the support bracket 30, false
back 13 and flat screen display 11 to pivot from the stowed
position completely within the enclosure area 90 degrees or more,
to an extended position, as shown at FIGS. 4 and 5. The spacing of
the support bracket pivot axis from the enclosure area side walls,
15, 17, allows a rotation to be affected without abutment of the
flat screen display 11, false back 13 or support bracket 30 against
the interior side walls 15, 17, which would otherwise further limit
rotation.
[0033] The horizontal support arm 57 may be implemented as a
tapered member having a plurality of apertures 59 and slots 61. The
apertures 59 are useful to pass through electrical wires or the
like that engage to the flat screen display 11, e.g. cable wires,
and audio/visual inputs or outputs. The particular apertures 49
used for such purposes would vary in accordance with the connector
arrangement of a particular flat screen display 11, and the
location of apertures formed in the false back 13.
[0034] Slots 61 are useful to accommodate fasteners, such as
fasteners 53, 55, shown most clearly at FIG. 4. The fasteners 53,
55 extend through the false back 13 and secure to the flat screen
display 11 at locations that may vary in accordance with the
construction of the flat screen display 11. Additional fasteners
may be used as necessary to secure the flat screen display 11 and
false back 13 to the horizontal support arm 57 of the support
bracket 30.
[0035] As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art,
the flat screen armoire of the present invention may be implemented
in a relatively thin armoire, without a secure rear storage area,
in which case a false back would not be necessary. Alternatively,
where the invention is implemented in a deeper armoire with a rear
storage area, use of the false back is preferable.
[0036] Moreover, the invention may alternately be implemented using
a pair of pivotable support brackets, one connected to pivot the
flat screen display, and another connected to separately pivot the
false back. In such an embodiment the flat screen display could
pivot while the false back could remain in place to obscure the
secure rear storage area, until access to the storage area is
desired.
[0037] These and other modifications and enhancements will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are intended to
be encompassed within the broader scope and sphere of the present
invention.
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