Lift

Abstract

A support for a television or other device, including a telescopic column; an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column; a beam, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the L-shaped bracket; at least one connector for securing the television to the beam; and an actuator, arranged inside the column, for extending the column.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The material described here generally relates to lifts, and more particularly cabinet structure supports for a television and/or other motion furniture

BACKGROUND

Low-profile television designs, such as plasma screen and LCD panels, provide maximum viewing area with minimum depth. However, such designs are generally less decorative, less stable, and heavier than older television sets. These aesthetic and stability deficiencies are often addressed by housing the television within a cabinet, or other structure. The television is then extended from, and retracted into, the cabinet via a lift.

The application of a lift within a cabinet, desk, mirror, or other furnishing is sometimes referred to as “motion furniture.” For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,243 to Bober discloses a modular sub-cabinet for motion furniture which is incorporated by reference here in its entirety. As illustrated in FIGS. 17-25 of that patent, the lift includes a support unit which is telescoped above a base unit. Horizontal support elements are secured to the vertical support elements via brackets and fasteners so as to provide adjustability for various mounting requirements. Mounting holes are provided along the horizontal support elements so as to accommodate hardware to secure a low-profile television to the support unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,150 to Phoenix et al. is also incorporated by reference here and discloses an elevating apparatus for visual displays such as large flat television monitors. The lift assembly disclosed in this patent includes a motor that drives a pair of threaded, vertical rods with a threaded nut on each of the rods affixed to a bushing. A platform is affixed to both bushings and extends away from the rods in order to support a display or television set as it is raised and lowered.

Other references which generally describe motion furniture are also incorporated by reference here, including U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,094 which discloses a lifting device for an LCD screen in a desk with a chain, wheels, bars, and adjusting screws; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,712,653 and 4,558,648 which disclose an energy-recycling scissors lift with a platform coupled to a sealed gas cylinder for lifting an article, such as a television set, on the platform.

These and other conventional technologies can suffer from a variety of drawbacks. For example, they are often cumbersome to set-up and maintain, noisy, and difficult to repair and service. In addition, conventional technologies often combine mechanical and electrical functions so that means electrical problems are difficult to repair.

SUMMARY

The technology disclosed here generally relates to a lift support for multiple uses such as televisions, computer screens, bars, workstations, etc. In one embodiment, the support may include an extendable column; a hanger, extending substantially parallel to the column, for securing to a top of the column; a beam arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the hanger; and at least one connector for securing the television to the beam. For example, the column may be telescopic and an ear may extend from the column for securing the support to a cabinet or other structure. The hanger may include an L-shaped bracket with one or more holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column, and the connector may slidably engage a generally C-shaped beam. The support may also include an actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator, for extending the column.

The technology disclosed here also generally relates to a support for a television or other device including a telescopic column; an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column; a beam, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the bracket; at least one connector for securing the television to the beam; and an actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator, arranged inside the column, for extending the column. An ear may extend from the column, for securing the column to a cabinet, and the L-shaped bracket includes a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column. The connector may slidably engage the beam and the device may also include a television attached to the connector.

The technology disclosed here further relates to a support for a television or other device including an extendable column; first means, extending substantially parallel to the column, for securing to a top of the column; second means, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the hanger; and third means for securing the television to the beam. A fourth means may be arranged inside the column for extending the column. For example, the first means may include an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column, and the L-shaped bracket may include a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column. The device may also include a television secured to the third means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of this technology now be described below with reference to the following Figures (“FIGS.”) which are not necessarily drawn to scale, but use the same reference numerals to identify corresponding features in each of the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front orthographic view of a cabinet housing a television and television support.

FIG. 2 is a front orthographic view of the support shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a rear assembled view of the support and television shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a front assembled view of the support and television shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a front, assembled view of the connector and beam from FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a front, orthographic view of the bracket from FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an actuator for use with the television support in FIG. 2

FIG. 12 is a front, orthographic view of a television bracket for use with the support system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of a support 2 for a television 4 housed in a cabinet 6. Although the support 2 has been illustrated here for supporting a television 4 over a cabinet 6, the support may also be used with other types of motion furniture in order to carry a wide variety of other devices, in this and/or other configurations. For example, the support can be implemented with other furniture, such as a foot post in a bed, a kitchen cabinet, or other application. For example, the support 2 may be used with a wide variety of other devices such as computer screens, bars, and workstations. The support 2 may also be used without the cabinet 6 and/or television 4 and can be modified to swivel and/or tilt.

In FIG. 1, the support 2 is provided with a switch 8 for activating an actuator (not shown in FIG. 1) that moves the support. An optional receiver 10, such as an infrared, sonic, or radio receiver, is also provided for remotely switching the actuator. For example, the receiver 10 and/or switch 8 may be connected to the actuator through a control box 12.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the television support 2 shown in FIG. 1. The support includes an extendable column 22 with feet 24 and/or ears 26 for securing the column to a cabinet 6 (shown in FIG. 1) or other structure. Although the column 22 is illustrated in these figures as being arranged in a vertical orientation, other orientations may also be used. For example, the support 2 may also be arranged in order to extend downwardly, rather than upwardly, as shown in these figures.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the column 22 is arranged in a telescopic configuration and is extensible or compressible by the sliding of overlapping sections. Although three overlapping sections are illustrated in the figures, any other number of sections may also be provided. Other types of extendable and or retractable columns may also be used.

The remaining components of the support 2 will now be described with additional reference to the assembly diagrams shown in FIGS. 3-8 and the detailed component diagrams shown in FIGS. 9-11. During a typical assembly process, the connectors 30 are first secured to the rear side of the television 4 as shown in FIG. 3. Although FIG. 3 illustrates the connectors 30 being bolted into threaded holes in the rear side of the television 4, a variety of other fasteners may also be used, such as screws, clips, pins, and/or adhesive.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the connectors 30 may be configured to slidably receive the beams 40. For example, as best illustrated in the detailed diagram of FIG. 9, the beams 40 may be generally C-shaped in order to improve their structural rigidity. However, a variety of other beam shapes may also be used including square, rectangular, round, oval, L-shaped, and I-shaped. For the C-shaped beam 40 illustrated in these figures, the connectors 30 also have a C-shaped cross section which generally corresponds to the outer shape of the beam 40. For example, each of the connectors 30 may be provided with an inwardly-angled finger 32 for abutting against the top surface of the beam 40. A similar finger may also be provided on the connectors 30 for abutting against the bottom surface of the beam 40 and providing additional stability.

Turning now to FIG. 5, once the beams 40 are slid into the connectors 30, a hanger 50 is secured to the beams 40 by bolts 52 or other fasteners. As best illustrated in the orthographic view of FIG. 10, the illustrated hanger 50 is formed as an L-shaped bracket which includes two substantially vertical rows of holes 54 arranged at each edge of the hanger. The holes 54 allow the top surface, or shoulder, of the hanger 50 to be arranged at the appropriate vertical position relative to the television 4. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, after the hanger 50 is secured to the beams 40, the shoulder 56 of the hanger 50 is secured to the top of the column 22 using bolts 60 or other fasteners. Rear and front views of the assembled support 2 and television 4 are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively.

FIG. 12 is a front orthographic view of a television bracket 90 for use with the support 2 shown in FIG. 1. For example, the television bracket 90 may be used with conventional, tube-type televisions (not shown). The television bracket 90 includes an upper arm 92 for hooking over the top surface of the television and a lower arm or plate 94 for engaging with, or securing to, a bottom surface of the television. The upper arm 92 and lower plate 94 are connected by a post 96 which extends vertically behind the television (not shown). The television bracket 90 may then be secured to the hangar 50 by any suitable means including the use of U-bolts 98 which extend around one side of the post 96 and through additional holes 100 in the hangar 50.

The support 2 carrying television 4 may be raised and or lowered by any conventional means, including, but not limited to, an actuator that may be arranged inside the column 22. In FIG. 11, the exemplary actuator 70 includes extendable arms 72 arranged on each end of a rectangular base 74. The arms 72 are connected to the base 74 by hinges 76 so that the arms 74 may be rotated into a vertical position. The clips 78 pinned to the end of each of the arms 74 may then be secured under the top surface of the column 22. The control cables 80 extending from the pumping units 82 may then be connected to the control box 12 so that the actuator 70 can be activated by the switch 8 and/or receiver 10. Although a hydraulic actuator 70 is illustrated in FIG. 11, a variety of other mechanical electromechanical, and/or other devices may also be used.

It must be emphasized that the embodiments described above, and particularly in a “preferred” embodiment, are merely examples of various implementations that have been described here in order to provide an understanding of the principles of this technology. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many variations and modifications can be made to these embodiments. As such, they are included within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A support for a device, comprising:

an extendable column;

a hanger, having a portion extending substantially parallel to the column, for securing to a top of the column;

a beam, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the hanger; and

at least one connector for securing the device to the beam.

2. The support recited in claim 1, wherein the hanger comprises an L-shaped bracket.

3. The support recited in claim 2, wherein the L-shaped bracket includes a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column.

4. The support recited in claim 1 wherein the connector slidably engages the beam.

5. The support recited in claim 4, wherein the beam is generally C-shaped.

6. The support recited in claim 1, further comprising an actuator for extending the column.

7. The support recited in claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator.

8. The support recited in claim 1, further comprising an ear, extending from the column, for securing the column to a cabinet.

9. The support recited in claim 1, wherein the extendable column is telescopic.

10. A support for a television, comprising:

a telescopic column having a face;

an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column;

a beam, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the L-shaped bracket;

at least one connector for securing the television to the beam; and

an actuator, arranged inside the column, for extending the column.

11. The support recited in claim 10, wherein the L-shaped bracket includes a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column.

12. The support recited in claim 11, wherein the beam is generally C-shaped.

13. The support recited in claim 12, wherein the connector slidably engages the beam.

14. The support recited in claim 13, further comprising an ear, extending from the column, for securing the column to a cabinet.

15. The support recited in claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator.

16. The device recited in claim 15 further comprising a television secured to the connector.

17. A support for a television, comprising:

an extendable column having a face;

first means, extending substantially parallel to the column, for securing to a top of the column;

second means, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the hanger; and

third means for securing the television to the beam.

18. The support recited in claim 17, wherein the first means comprises an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column.

19. The support recited in claim 18, wherein the L-shaped bracket includes a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column.

20. The support recited in claim 19 further comprising

fourth means, arranged inside the column, for extending the column; and

a television secured to the third means.