U.S. patent application number 13/491926 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for end table with concealed built-in refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas C. Stein. Invention is credited to Thomas C. Stein.
Application Number | 20130327064 13/491926 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49714219 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130327064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stein; Thomas C. |
December 12, 2013 |
END TABLE WITH CONCEALED BUILT-IN REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
An end table with a concealed built-in refrigerator unit for use
next to a chair, sofa, or bed with a front door that opens down
like a dishwasher door for easy access to the interior compartment
of the refrigerator unit to retrieve canned and bottled beverages
or food, while in a seated position. The built-in refrigerator of
the end table has a thermoelectric Danby Diplomat type cooling
system for maximum efficiency in cooling and whisper soft
operation.
Inventors: |
Stein; Thomas C.; (Eudora,
KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stein; Thomas C. |
Eudora |
KS |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49714219 |
Appl. No.: |
13/491926 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ;
108/50.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2400/08 20130101;
F25B 21/02 20130101; F25D 23/10 20130101; A47B 37/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.6 ;
108/50.11 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02; A47B 37/00 20060101 A47B037/00; F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02; F25B 21/02 20060101 F25B021/02 |
Claims
1. An end table with a concealed built-in refrigerator comprising:
a table structure member; a refrigerator unit member housed within
said table structure member; a faux front door member hingedly
attached to the said table structure member at its front horizontal
base end; and said faux front door member opening downward for easy
access to the interior compartment of the said refrigerator unit
member.
2. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the table structure
member is constructed of maple or other hardwood.
3. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the table structure
member has an inside hollow cavity space to house the refrigerator
unit member.
4. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the table structure
member is finished on the outside in different colors.
5. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the faux front door
member has faux drawers with hardware handles.
6. The end table as recited in claim 5 wherein the hardware handles
may be of different shapes, sizes and designs.
7. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the top of the table
structure member has an inset edge band to create a lip that is
higher than the rest of the top table surface.
8. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the refrigerator
unit member has a plurality of shelves and racks disposed within
the interior refrigerated compartment to hold beverage cans,
bottles, food containers, and food.
9. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the refrigerator
member is equipped with a thermoelectric cooling unit that allows
for extremely quiet function.
10. The end table as recited in claim 1 wherein the refrigerator
unit member uses an LED light to minimize heat production and save
energy.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to end tables popularly
used next to a bed, chair, sofa, or other related furniture. More
particularly, the invention relates to an end table with a built-in
concealed refrigerator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The American Heritage Dictionary defines an end table as a
small table, usually placed at either end of a couch or beside a
chair. End tables are also commonly used as bedside tables.
Therefore, advantageously, end tables act as appendages to other
furniture. End tables placed next to another piece of furniture
such as a couch, chair, or bed are generally used for supporting
other accessories such as a lamp, clock, photo frame, books, or
other memorabilia. They also provide a convenient surface for
parking a can or glass of beverage, or a plate of food while
watching television from a chair or couch next to the table. In
general, the end table is an indispensable piece of furniture in a
house, parlor, or lounge. The first known use of an end table in
recorded history was around 1851.
[0003] Lounging with a can or bottle of soda, beer, and glasses of
wine or other drinks while watching sports, movies, or other shows
is a common practice that demands replenishment of the beverages at
periodic intervals, requiring the person to get up from their seats
to fetch the drink from a refrigerator that may be located in
another room, primarily, the kitchen. The periodic commute to the
kitchen refrigerator to fetch a beverage or food in the midst of
watching an exciting game, movie, or other entertainment can be
frustrating as it would mean missing important segments of the
game, movie, or other shows as the case may be.
[0004] The convenience of being able to fetch a drink or get some
food when seated in a chair or sofa watching a game, movie, or show
without having to leave the seats is an idea that would be popular
and welcomed by the aficionados of sports, movies, or other
entertainment shows. The present invention provides that
convenience in the form of an end table with a built-in
refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is an end table that has a concealed
built-in refrigerator capable of holding beverage cans and bottles
as well as food containers.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the end
table is constructed of hardwood such as maple, with a tobacco,
espresso, or black finish on the outside. In this embodiment of the
invention, each of the finishes is paired with hardware that
accents the woods shine and luster and conveys the appearance of a
standard end table when observed from the outside. In this
embodiment of the invention, the inside of the end table is
equipped with a refrigerator unit that is not visible from the
outside, but accessible through the front door of the end
table.
[0007] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the front door
of the end table is constructed from a single panel of wood
hingedly connected to the main frame of the end table at the front
through the bottom horizontal end of the table so that the front
door of the end table can be opened downward in the manner of a
dishwasher door to reveal the refrigerator unit ensconced within
the hollow body of the end table. The ability to open the front
door of the end table downward allows for easy access of beverage
cans, bottles and food from the refrigerated interior from a
sitting position on a chair, or sofa next to the end table. In this
embodiment, the end table has a faux front door mimicking actual
drawers with handles juxtaposed at the appropriate spots for each
drawer.
[0008] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the back of
the end table has a hollow opening to allow the refrigerator unit
to be inserted into the cavity of the end table with the front of
the refrigerator unit facing the inside front door of the end
table.
[0009] In the exemplary embodiment of the end table of the present
invention, the inside front door of the end table is configured
with removable shelves and racks to hold beverage cans and bottles
of various heights such as wine bottles within the refrigerator
unit. In this embodiment, the inside of the refrigerator unit
ensconced within the hollow frame of the end table is partitioned
into shelves as in a standard refrigerator to facilitate placement
of food and food containers besides beverage cans and bottles.
[0010] In yet another embodiment of the present invention the back
of the end table may be covered with a wood panel to hide the back
end of the refrigerator unit that accommodates the thermoelectric
cooling unit condenser and other related parts. In a related
embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the table is constructed
from plywood with a cutout to allow ventilation to the underside of
the refrigerator unit and is also sufficiently elevated from the
floor with legs of appropriate height to allow for better
airflow.
[0011] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
refrigerator unit ensconced within the end table uses a Danby
Diplomat thermoelectric cooling unit that runs whisper quiet and
cools to 30 degrees below ambient temperature, making it more
environmentally friendly than a conventional refrigerator unit. In
a related embodiment of the invention, the interior of the
refrigerator unit is lit by an LED light that uses less energy and
produces minimal heat.
[0012] In this summary of the invention and in the specification in
general, the various references to "exemplary embodiment" "related
embodiment," or "yet another embodiment," do not all necessarily
refer to the same embodiment (s). Rather, these references in
general mean that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is
included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all
embodiments of the invention. It should be understood and obvious
to one skilled in the art that the embodiments thus described may
be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention. The features and advantages of the embodiments of
the present invention as described in the summary of the invention
will be further appreciated and will become obvious to one skilled
in the art when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, detailed description of the invention and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the end table as seen from
the outside.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of
the end table of the present invention with the front door hinged
open to reveal the concealed refrigerator unit ensconced within the
table.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back side of the end
table showing the metal grill frame on the back end of the
refrigerator unit.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front of the end table
showing the hardware features.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the front of the end table
with the front door open to reveal the hollow inside space for the
placement of the refrigerator unit.
[0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the back of the end table
showing the inside cavity for placement of the refrigerator
unit.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view of the end table.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the back of the end table
covered with a wood panel to conceal the refrigerator unit back
end.
[0021] FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the top of the end table.
[0022] FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the bottom of the end
table.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention is an end table housing a concealed
built-in refrigerator unit with shelves and racks to hold beverage
cans, bottles of wine and other beverages as well as food and food
containers. In the exemplary embodiment of the end table of the
present invention, the table is built around a Danby Diplomat
thermoelectric cooling unit which runs off 110 voltage electricity
and is approximately 1.8 cubic feet.
[0024] The end table is constructed from maple or other hardwood
and finished on the exterior in a color of choice such as tobacco,
espresso and black with matching hardware to accent the woods shine
and luster. In the exemplary embodiment of the end table of the
present invention, the table is approximately 24 inches tall, 21
inches wide and 21 inches deep and fits perfectly next to any
couch, chair, sofa, or bed.
[0025] Referring now to the drawings, more specifically to FIG. 1,
a perspective view of the end table 10 of the present invention is
shown with the faux front door 12 mimicking actual drawers 1 and 2
with hardware handles 3 and 4 juxtaposed at the appropriate spots
for each drawer. In this embodiment, the handles 3 and 4 may be
replaced by handles of other shapes, sizes and ornamental designs
in other embodiments of the end table 10.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of
the end table 10 of the present invention with the front door
hinged open to reveal the concealed refrigerator unit ensconced
within the table. The inside surface 14 of the front door 12 is
overlaid with thermoplastic material that is molded into shelves
and racks to hold beverage cans and bottles. The interior
refrigerator unit 16 is equipped with shelves to hold beverage
cans, bottles, and food containers as well as fresh food that can
be held outside containers such as fruits, vegetables etc. In this
embodiment of the end table 10 the refrigerator unit within the end
table 10 has the capacity to hold 40 beverage cans or 30 bottles of
various sizes, including wine bottles.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back side of the end
table 10 showing the back end of the refrigerator unit with its
grilled metal frame 18. In this embodiment of the end table 10 of
the present invention, the back side of the end table 10 may be
left open and placed against a wall to conceal the grilled metal
frame 18 or alternately covered with a wood panel provided there
are appropriate cut outs or holes on the wood panel for ventilation
of the thermal cooling unit of the refrigerator. The back side of
the end table 10 should in general be appropriately placed at least
4 inches from the wall for best cooling results. The 3/4 inch
overhang on the top surface panel of the end table 10 facilitates
the placement of the back side of the table, a distance from the
wall.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the end table 10 with the
front faux door 12 showing the distinct partition of the faux
drawers 1 and 2 with their respective hardware handles 3 and 4.
[0029] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the front of the end table 10
with the front door 12 hingedly open to reveal the hollow inside
space for the placement of the refrigerator unit.
[0030] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the back of the end table 10
showing the inside cavity for placement of the refrigerator unit
and the front door 12 hingedly open at the front of the table.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a side view of the end table 10 and the hardware
handles 3 and 4.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the back side of the end
table 10 covered with a wood panel to conceal the refrigerator unit
back end.
[0033] FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the top 22 of the end table
10. In the exemplary embodiment of the end table 10 the top 22 of
the table has a 1/4 inch lip inset edge band that is higher than
the rest of the top 22.
[0034] FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the bottom of the end table
10.
[0035] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the end table
10 of the present invention as described herein do not limit any
application or scope of the invention and that the invention can be
carried out and practiced in various ways and implemented in
embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.
It is to be further understood that the phraseology and terminology
used to describe the invention are for descriptive purposes only.
In general, it should be understood and obvious to one skilled in
the art that alternatives, modifications and variations of the
embodiments of the invention may be construed as being within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *