Media core cabinet furniture system and method
A contemporary custom wood furniture-styled cabinet, which houses a home computer system and various electronic components, has been designed to integrate into a home living environment. It features a cabinet built from high-grade plywood supported by four legs. Internal shelving is designed to allow easy access to computer and electronic components. When closed it adapts to the surrounding furniture scheme of the living environment. When open it allows for access and use of the computer and peripheral electronic components. The design is executed to enhance the look of the living environment and encourage greater use of the computer system.
The subject matter herein relates generally to a system and method for media center, entertainment and computer furniture and more particularly to a computer cabinet that can be integrated into a living room or designer furniture environment. Further, the subject matter also relates generally to a means for providing designer style furnishings to house computer components, entertainment, media, and storage therein.
Most home computers are under utilized because they do not integrate attractively into a living environment and are usually set up in a separate space such as an office. If they are set up in a living room or living area, they tend to be placed out of the way because their bulk and the multitude of wires make them unattractive. Home computers will not be utilized fully unless their presence can be streamlined, be accessible and be readily available to all members in a household. This would occur most naturally in a living room environment. To accomplish these objectives, the computer needs to be housed in an attractive piece of contemporary furniture that integrates controls and functions into one unit.
Many people would benefit by having their computers readily and easily available to them. Designing a piece of furniture that attractively allows the computer to be placed in a living or entertainment room would allow people to get greater use out of their computer system. Greater availability and easy use would allow them to search information, listen to music, record and watch television and use e-mail. As such what is needed is a system and method for consolidating such equipment in such a way to integrate the designer style of existing living room or entertainment room designer furniture with designer furniture for computer, electronics, and media equipment in the home.
SUMMARYIt is the object of this invention to incorporate a computer system into a cabinet that is functional, yet aesthetically attractive enough to be placed in the home living and entertaining environment. A piece of furniture that can fit attractively into a living room and entertainment room environment will provide greater access to the system. This approach integrates functionality of various devices with aesthetic appeal, and therefore enhances and encourages greater use of the computer system itself.
Computer system cabinets and furniture have typically been developed with designs suitable for a workspace such as a commercial office building or a home office. However, with many technologies converging, including telecommunications, desktop computing, television broadcasting, cable television broadcasting, streaming media Internet Protocol (IP), VoIP telephony, video on demand, satellite broadcasting, cellular telephones, traditional telephony, wireless networking, data broadband networking, i-Pod audio/video, stereo and various handheld mobile devices, there is a need to consolidate access in home locations and for device control. Further, there is a need to provide such access from the entertainment center or living room environment with suitable furniture designs to integrate attractively into such spaces.
The entertainment, media and information superhighway is converging in a dramatic and rapid way recently. A consumer of these devices would like to use and enjoy the services such devices provide in an abundance of comfort and relaxation. As such, there is a need for centrally located devices to co-exist in a high end designer style living room or entertainment media room environment. For example, in many high end custom homes, many of these entertainment and media products are enjoyed from the comfort of a home theatre environment. On the other hand, for many others, such enjoyment and use of entertainment and media devices would ideally be experienced in the living room.
However, most traditional furniture, whether designed as an entertainment center, computer cabinet or media center, does not allow a central control location for the consumer to send commands to the plethora of entertainment, computing and media devices available today. Further, no existing modular system today will allow a consumer to access these devices, universally, wirelessly and in a low profile, concealed and flush mounted, attractive high end designer style article of furniture.
Most traditional furniture, whether designed as an entertainment center, computer cabinet or media center, does not allow a central access point for the consumer to load content, make configuration changes to output signals, or controls to the plethora of entertainment, computing and media devices available today. Further, no existing modular system today will allow a consumer to access these devices, universally, wirelessly or manually.
Also, most traditional furniture, whether designed as an entertainment center, computer cabinet or media center, does not allow a consumer to enjoy using such entertainment, computing and media devices from a central location of relaxation. Further, no existing modular system today will allow a consumer access to these devices in a low profile, concealed and flush mounted, attractive high end designer style article of furniture. Therefore, a new article of furniture is needed to solve these and other problems.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
It is the object of this invention to incorporate a computer system into a cabinet that is functional, yet aesthetically attractive enough to be placed in the home living and entertaining environment. A piece of furniture that can fit attractively into a living room and entertainment room environment will provide greater access to the system. This approach integrates functionality of various devices with aesthetic appeal, and therefore enhances and encourages greater use of the computer system itself.
It is a primary object of a first embodiment of the present invention to provide a media core furniture system assembly. The first embodiment generally includes various panels, doors, shelves, drawers, runners and trays for housing a plurality of computer, entertainment, and media equipment in various modular shapes. The multiple furniture components are assembled in such a way as to conceal the equipment while maintaining the beautiful designer features of the furniture and maintaining flexible access for the user.
A single piece of furniture serves as both a contemporary, designer unit suitable for use in a living room or entertainment room and also as a computer, electronics and media station in the same configuration.
The new designer article of manufacture will allow a consumer to enjoy using such entertainment, computing and media devices from a central location of relaxation. A media center with a modular design, central access and universal control is one primary objective of the invention. Further, the new modular system will allow a consumer access to these devices in a low profile, concealed and flush mounted, attractive high end designer style article of furniture.
One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many ways to effect the collection of computer, electronics, and media equipment into a desk, coffee table or cabinet configuration suitable for display in a contemporary, designer living room or entertainment room environment upon having the benefit of the attached disclosure.
The lower three front doors 10, 20, 30 open out and are hinged with a bottom mounted piano hinge 201 allowing the door to fold out and down 90 degrees (
The top front door of the unit 40, is hinged with a snap locking hinge 401 on each side allowing the door to fold out and lock in a 90 degree position. This allows user access to various electronic components that can be placed on the fixed interior shelf 200. The computer is hung from the bottom of the sliding pull out shelf 210. Which slides a hidden nub (male) 50, opens the top front door 40, and closes into recessed female catch 51 located on the front side of the top panel 120. Metal push levers 60, (see
The compact disc tray facia 90 is seated attached to the front lower support member 70, and the upper support member 80. A user can store and access CD cases from the front of the unit.
A cantilevered control box 100, is attached to the back of the bottom door panel 20.
The mouse storage unit 110, consists of a curved, perforated aluminum rear panel, a bottom panel and a top panel, both curved on side to fit into a rear panel. The bottom of the unit is attached to the rear of the bottom door. The wireless mouse is designed to sit on its charging unit while in the cabinet.
The top panel 120 of the cabinet enclosure is comprised of plywood or a plurality of composite materials. A center square 130 is cut out of the top panel and replaced with a perforated aluminum vent 180, that allows heat generated by electronic devices to escape. A glass top 290 is seated atop four risers 300, which are secured on each corner of the top panel 120. Two support brackets 230, run along the top of the side panels 140, which secures the top panel 120, to said side panels 140.
Cabinet side panels 140 are formed from plywood or a plurality of composite materials. The bottom panel 150, consists of a medium density composite or fiberboard. A hole is cut into the center of the bottom panel 150, and an extractor fan 220, is seated into the hole, electrically coupled thereto.
Two door support members 70, are placed at the bottom of the front and rear of the unit. The piano hinges 201 (see
The rear of the unit consists of a panel 160, with a bottom mounted piano hinge 201 (see
The media core cabinet furniture system is designed to integrate aesthetically into a living environment by providing a method of housing computer, electronics and media equipment in a concealed but easily accessible designer article of furniture. The disclosed method simplifies and consolidates user access into aesthetically pleasing, designer style living environment and dispenses with the need to separately access entertainment, media, computer and storage locations.
Finally in
In another embodiment of this disclosure, said fastening and latching means is a push to open mechanism 60, spring loaded to allow for no visible hardware on the face of the media core center article of furniture and suitable to support the weight of said front and rear, top and bottom hinged doors 160, 40, 10, 20, 30, 165.
The cabinet chassis and frame assembly is further mounted with an internal skin, chassis or frame suitable for mounting a rail mount hardware apparatus 312 (see
The above illustrations provide many different embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A media center computer furniture system comprising:
- A media core computer furniture cabinet,
- one or more personal computer,
- a passive cooling system,
- an active extractive fan cooling system,
- electrical controls including I/O switch, reset button, wireless mouse, peripheral connection module, and compact disk drives; and
- client-based peripherals including cable television set top boxes, or amplifiers,
- wherein the computer furniture system is a contemporary article of furniture of a suitable designer quality such that the additional living environment furniture is similar design and quality.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the article of furniture is constructed of high grade wood or other suitable material.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the media core computer furniture cabinet is assembled to conceal computer, electronics, media and associated peripheral equipment.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the media core furniture cabinet is designed to provide a central access point while simultaneously concealing said computer, electronics, media and associated peripheral equipment.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the media core furniture cabinet includes a passive cooling system.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the media core furniture cabinet is designed to provide a central passive cooling system while simultaneously concealing said passive cooling system.
7. The active extractive fan cooling system of claim 1 comprising:
- a horizontal cooling fan facing panel,
- a cooling fan; and
- two elevating legs,
- wherein said active extractive fan system actively cools the computer furniture system.
8. The horizontal cooling fan facing panel of claim 7 wherein the bottom panel is suitably cut out to provide mounting means for cooling fan by any suitable L shaped support member and associated vertical support assembly mechanism.
9. The two elevating legs of claim 7 wherein said two elevating legs are smoothly connected to said bottom panel via a suitable fastening or bonding means to allow appropriate room for said vertical support assembly mechanism.
10. A home entertainment electronics retractable access panel, capable of providing a method performing the steps comprising:
- pulling a handle mechanism securely fastened to said panel;
- sliding outwardly from the computer furniture cabinet to a point beyond the vertical axis of the rear chassis enclosure panel wherein said retractable access panel edge does not strike the chassis frame edge when said panel is pivoted upwardly;
- pivoting upwardly about said point beyond the vertical axis until said retractable access panel has reached a substantially vertical orientation;
- translating up in the vertical axis where necessary to align with a vertical plane cavity in opening of said chassis frame;
- becoming a vertically oriented cover,
- wherein said cover conceals the said computer, electronics, media and associated peripheral equipment.
11. The retractable access panel of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
- sliding inwardly to a point parallel to said vertical axis flush with said cabinet chassis frame; and
- latching said vertically oriented cover mechanically coupled a first latching portion and latching said first latching portion to a second latching receiving portion said second latching portion mechanically coupled to said chassis frame.
12. The retractable access panel of claim 10 wherein the handle mechanism is mechanically coupled to or bonded to a perpendicular panel top edge of said access panel via a plurality of bonding means.
13. The handle mechanism of claim 10 comprising:
- A top edge vertically offset from a right side of retracting access panel;
- A cavity in said access panel creating a gripping means clearance; and
- A handle mechanism bonded to said top edge vertically offset panel.
14. A method of increasing user entertainment media access comprising the following steps in any order:
- Housing a plurality of user entertainment media devices in a central location;
- Controlling a pc based computer system coupled to at least one wireless remote wherein said media devices are controlled externally to said housing;
- coupling the wireless remote electronically to a wireless pc based computer system mouse; and
- selecting from a menu of media, entertainment, computer and peripheral devices,
- wherein said remote mouse selects from a virtual menu on a display screen housed internal or external to the media core cabinet.
15. The method of claim 14 comprising:
- providing a designer styled furniture finish to said housing wherein said housing is an enclosure;
- Concealing said media devices from a user external to said centrally located devices.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 30, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Inventor: Adrian Robins (San Anselmo, CA)
Application Number: 11/799,280
International Classification: A47B 21/00 (20060101);