Media lift
A media lift that is configured for mounting in a storage chamber is provided. The media lift is comprised of a flat panel screen holder; the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber. The media lift utilizes gas cylinders to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder. The media lift can be formed in structures such as a footboard of a bed or a quilt rack. In addition, a bed having a footboard frame comprising the media lift is described. Speakers are mounted within the bed's structure to provide a surround sound system. The headboard of the bed has storage compartments for multimedia equipment. Furthermore, a desk unit comprising the media lift is described.
The present invention relates to a mechanical lift mechanism which can be integrated with home and office furniture to both store and display various electronics while utilizing efficient use of space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFurniture styling, especially that of bedroom furniture, incorporates a wide variety of styles, borrowing ideas from cultures across the globe in order to achieve a unique, signature style for bedrooms of adults and children alike. For those that are on the cutting edge of modern interior decorating practices, they know all too well that interior design is susceptible to the same type of trends or cyclical popularity as that experienced in the fashion world or other areas.
Furthermore, television (TV) sets have become larger over the years. Recently, the TV displays, or monitors, have become very large, often separated from the TV set. Some are thin but of large area including the new plasma displays. They have become so large that it is often desirable to hide them when not in use. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,804 “Elevating apparatus particularly adapted for television receiver support-tables and the like” issued Jan. 1, 1979 to Wache. In addition, it has been known to provide various pieces of furniture, including beds, with entertainment centers which have a TV or stereo sets that can be concealed while not being viewed by that person. One example of an integrated sofa-bed and TV unit can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,101 “Integrated Sofa-bed and Television Unit” issued Sep. 28, 1971 to Castro et al.
Some of the systems that conceal and reveal electronics utilize electronic motors; others utilize scissors-type lifts. In addition, gas spring cylinders can also be utilized to elevate and lower electronics in furniture. A gas spring is an energy-storage device similar in function to mechanical coil springs. Mechanical coil springs store energy by straining the material composing the spring. A gas spring stores energy by compressing the nitrogen gas within the gas spring. As a mechanical coil spring is compressed, additional strain is placed within the spring, which adds to the spring's stored energy. Likewise, as a gas spring is compressed, the gas chamber volume is reduced due to the intrusion of the shaft into the gas spring tube; thereby causing the gas pressure to rise, storing more energy.
The goal is the same with either type of spring; to move or resist the movement of some object. Typically for gas springs, the object to be moved is an automotive liftgate, hood or trunk. Gas springs are not limited to just this use, and in fact can be used in many applications where mechanical springs are applied.
One of the significant differences between mechanical springs and gas springs is the force provided at their free length. Gas springs always require some initial force to begin compression. Mechanical springs have a characteristic known as free length. This is the length of the spring with no force applied. The force required to move the spring begins at zero and increases according to the spring rate. Gas springs in their “free length” require some initial force before any movement takes place. After the full initial force is applied the gas spring will begin to compress. In mechanical springs this initial force is called pre-load and requires additional hardware to achieve. Another significant difference is the spring rate. Gas springs can be designed with a very low spring rate utilizing a small package. A similar mechanical spring would require as much as twice the package space. The ability to have a controlled rate of extension is another major difference. Gas springs can provide a rate of extension (controlled release of the stored energy) that can be set to a prescribed velocity. Mechanical springs do not have this ability. In fact, gas springs can have multiple extension rates within the same gas spring (typically two: one through the majority of the extension stroke, another at the end of the extension stroke to provide dampening).
Applicant has been marketing a media lift that uses a platform supported at opposite sides by a pair of gas springs that raise and lower in synchrony. With the new flat plasma displays, it would be desirable to provide a more compact device with simple construction to take advantage of the compact configuration of these new displays. Moreover, an attractive piece of bedroom furniture that fits within or complements a room's decor and incorporates a multimedia system has commercial advantages. Where the set is a console or is placed on a conventional TV stand the viewing angle is less than comfortable and a substantial amount of floor space is required. The present invention overcomes these and other problems and inconveniences associated with viewing a TV from a bed by positioning the TV at the optimal angle and the optimal distance from the viewer, with little obstruction of floor space. The present invention provides a solution to these needs and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a media lift is configured for mounting in a storage chamber. The media lift is a type of mechanical lift mechanism used to conceal and reveal multimedia equipment in home and office furniture. The media lift is comprised of a flat panel screen holder; the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber. The media lift utilizes gas springs to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder. The storage chamber can be formed in structures such as a footboard of a bed, quilt rack, dressers, etc. In addition, a bed having a footboard frame comprising the media lift is described. Speakers are mounted within the bed's structure to provide a surround sound system. The headboard of the bed has storage compartments for multimedia equipment. Furthermore, a desk unit comprising the medial lift is described.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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- media lift.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1. A media lift operatively configured and arranged for mounting in a storage chamber and a flat panel screen holder, the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber.
2. The media lift of claim 1 which utilizes gas springs to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder.
3. The media lift of claim 1 which utilizes a combination of a scissors-type lift mechanism and gas cylinders to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder.
4. The media lift of claim 1 which utilizes discharging and regenerating gas spring cylinders to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder.
5. A storage chamber comprising the media lift of claim 1 wherein the chamber is formed into a structure selected from the group consisting of: a quilt rack, a book shelf, a footboard of a bed, a credenza, a deacon's bench, a desk, a nightstand, and a dresser.
6. The media lift of claim 1 that further comprises at least one mount for a speaker operatively configured to an audio system.
7. A bed having a footboard frame comprising:
- a storage chamber formed within the footboard frame;
- a flat panel screen holder operatively configured to securely hold a flat panel screen; and
- a media lift operatively coupled to a portion of the storage chamber and the flat panel screen holder, the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber.
8. The bed of claim 7 wherein the flat panel screen holder comprises a flat panel screen mounted therein.
9. The bed of claim 8 wherein the flat panel screen holder comprises a television tuner mounted therein.
10. The bed of claim 7 wherein a computer system is arranged in a storage chamber configured in the headboard of the bed frame.
11. The bed of claim 7 further comprising an audio system with at least one speaker built into a structure of the bed.
12. The bed of claim 11 further comprising an audio system with one speaker within each post of the bed.
13. The bed of claim 7 wherein an electronic system is built into the bed.
14. The bed of claim 7 further comprising a remote gyro mouse and keyboard that are operatively configured to a receiving station mounted within a structure of the bed.
15. The bed of claim 7 wherein the footboard frame and storage chamber comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: oak solids and veneers, birch, maple, pine, rustic style log, and stainless steel.
16. The bed of claim 7 wherein the flat panel screen holder is supported within a bed type selected from the group consisting of: a daybed, four poster, pencil post, sleigh, futon and sofa, bunk, metal, and motion bed.
17. The bed of claim 7 wherein the flat panel screen holder is supported within a bed size selected from the group consisting of: a standard king, California king, queen, full, or twin bed.
18. A desk unit comprising:
- a body;
- a flat panel screen holder operatively configured to securely hold a flat panel screen;
- a media lift operatively coupled to a portion of the cavity and the flat panel screen holder, the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the cavity and a viewing position outside the cavity;
- a shelf system operatively configured to the body, the shelf system configured to receive and store office paraphernalia and electronic equipment;
- a door hingedly fixed to the body for selectively opening and closing the shelf system; and
- a sliding drawer system operatively configured to the body, the drawer system configured to receive and store office paraphernalia and electronic equipment.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 13, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 13, 2006
Inventor: Thomas Hanson (Baldwin, WI)
Application Number: 10/964,507
International Classification: A47B 81/06 (20060101); A47D 11/00 (20060101); A47C 17/00 (20060101);