CABLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND FURNITURE STRUCTURES

Abstract

A one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable is provided in one embodiment by a cable management apparatus including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween. In various exemplary non-limiting embodiments, the innovation provides multimedia furniture that includes structure for supporting an entertainment device, at least one outwardly facing rear section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes an opening through which a cable is receivable and a cable management apparatus disposed on the outwardly facing rear section, the cable management apparatus includes at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present innovation is directed generally to entertainment and/or multimedia furniture, and more specifically to cable management apparatus that can be used independently or incorporated or integrated with entertainment center furniture such as for example but not limited to multimedia furniture that houses media devices, consoles, computers, peripherals, and/or media storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For decades, entertainment devices such as networked and standalone media devices and computing devices/components have been continually invading the living room, home offices, bedrooms, basements, conference rooms, commercial spaces, etc. However, at the same time, generally speaking, some of the furniture that has been employed to house these devices and peripherals has remained static in terms of its functionality. For instance, “coffee tables” have largely remained the same. For another example, while the notion of a “TV stand” has existed, i.e., a stand suited for supporting a television (TV), the TV stand in its various formations tends to be little more than a flat surface with shelves or drawers underneath.

Through time, some of the furniture that has been employed to house these devices and peripherals has changed, for example, the TV stand has morphed into entertainment centers that house a plurality of entertainment devices and can include one or more hinged doors on the front to shield the entertainment devices (gaming consoles, games, Digital Video Disk (DVD) players, Compact Disk (CD) players, set top boxes, Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs), etc.) from view and/or from damage. Most if not all of the plurality of entertainment devices plug into a wall outlet to receive electrical power. Additionally, many times other cables interconnect different devices or other data sources such as the Internet, a video digital recorder (VDR), a game console, a display, and/or a computer.

For example, it is not uncommon, to have a satellite receiver having a cable going to a satellite dish and having a cable going to a VCR or DVR that in turn has a cable connected to a game console that is connected to a display device. Additionally, there can be multiple speaker wires. In some instances, wire management in an entertainment center environment is very difficult both from a functional aspect and from an aesthetic aspect. Accordingly, for these and other reasons, improved cable management apparatus that can be incorporated or integrated with targeted entertainment centers that house media consoles, peripherals and/or media devices and content are desired. Because the type of wiring employed is limitless, for example, some devices utilize phone lines, as employed herein the term cable means all wiring whatsoever such as coaxial cable, two wire speaker wire, Cat 5 cable, electrical cords, a single wire, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary non-limiting embodiments, the innovation provides a one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable. In various exemplary non-limiting embodiments, the innovation provides multimedia furniture that includes structure for supporting an entertainment device, at least one outwardly facing rear section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes an opening through which a cable is receivable and a cable management apparatus disposed on the outwardly facing rear section, the cable management apparatus including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween. The cable management apparatus can be a one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable.

For better integration of media devices having cables to the media devices or from the media devices while the devices are positioned in a multimedia furniture such as an entertainment center, the innovation also may include structure for the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable. For instance, in one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, a furniture structure for a display device is provided having a main surface for supporting a display device. In a back panel, the furniture structure includes a cutout or slot for receiving a cable for a media device. On the back side of the back panel a cable management apparatus can be provided.

A simplified summary is provided herein to help enable a basic or general understanding of various aspects of exemplary, non-limiting embodiments that follow in the more detailed description and the accompanying drawings. This summary is not intended, however, as an extensive or exhaustive overview. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts related to the various exemplary non-limiting embodiments of the innovation in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The cable management apparatus that can be employed independently or incorporated or integrated with entertainment center furniture structures of the innovation are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a is a top plan view of a cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1b is a side plan view of a cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1c is a perspective view of a cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1d is an end plan view of a cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1e is a perspective view of a flush mounted cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1f is an end plan view of a flush mounted cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1g is a top plan view of a flush mounted cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 1h is a side plan view of the flush mounted cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 2a illustrates a half cleat cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 2b illustrates a half cleat cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of cable management apparatus mounted to a wall such as, for example, but not limited to a back wall of an entertainment center in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of cable management apparatus mounted to a wall such as, for example, but not limited to a back wall of an entertainment center in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a single cable positioned in the cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a plurality of cables positioned in the cable management apparatus in accordance with the innovation; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a furniture structure environment in accordance with the innovation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Overview

As described in the background, traditional entertainment center furniture has been somewhat tailored to the media equipment space that has evolved in the living spaces everywhere. Typically a media device or console includes data for more than one medium such as data for both video and audio, and as such, the terms multimedia and media are employed interchangeably herein. While some prior art furniture is provided with generic shelves, drawers and/or swing doors on hinges so that a user can place a console inside on a shelf, in a drawer and/or swing a door shut to enclose the console, such furniture is generic by nature in that shelves and drawers can house any item. In most cases, a plurality of openings are provided in a back wall to enable cables to be provided to devices inside the furniture as well as to allow power cords to exit the furniture. However organization of the cables has heretofore been problematic.

In various exemplary non-limiting embodiments, the innovation provides a one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable. In various exemplary non-limiting embodiments, the innovation provides multimedia furniture that includes structure for supporting an entertainment device, at least one outwardly facing rear section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes an opening through which a cable is receivable and a cable management apparatus disposed on the outwardly facing rear section, the cable management apparatus including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween. The cable management apparatus can be a one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable.

In addition, in another aspect of the innovation, for better integration of media devices having cables to the media devices or from the media devices while the devices are positioned in a multimedia furniture such as an entertainment center, the innovation also may include structure for the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable. For instance, in one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, a furniture structure for a display device is provided having a main surface for supporting a display device. In a back panel, the furniture structure includes a cutout or slot for receiving a cable for a media device. On the backside of the back panel a plurality of cable management apparatuses can be provided.

Exemplary Non-Limiting Full Cleat Cable Management Apparatus

As described herein, various embodiments of the present innovation relate generally to entertainment and/or multimedia furniture, and more specifically to cable management apparatus that can be employed independently or incorporated or integrated with entertainment center furniture such as, for example, but not limited to, multimedia furniture that houses media devices, consoles, computers, peripherals, and/or media storage. As shown in FIGS. 1a-1d, for instance, one of ordinary skill in the entertainment center art can appreciate that there are a variety of uses for a cable management apparatus 100. FIG. 1a is a top plan view of the cable management apparatus 100, FIG. 1b is a side plan view of the cable management apparatus 100, FIG. 1c is a perspective view of the cable management apparatus 100, and FIG. 1d is an end plan view of the cable management apparatus 100.

The cable management apparatus 100 includes two longitudinally extending guide members 102 forming a channel 103 therebetween. The longitudinally extending guide members 102 include flexible ends 104 and 106. As illustrated in FIG. 1a, end 104 is a top end and end 106 is a bottom end. However the cable management apparatus 100 can be turned upside down with no detrimental effect. Therefore, as employed herein the terms top and bottom are employed to differentiate one end or portion from another end or portion regardless of actual orientation. The channel 103 includes a top portion 108 and a bottom portion 110 which are both wider than a central portion 112. The top and bottom portions are wider to hold a cable as illustrated and explained below. Note that the flexible top end 104 of the longitudinally extending guide members 102 is above the top portion 108 of the channel 103. Note that the flexible bottom end 106 of the longitudinally extending guide members 102 is below the bottom portion 110 of the channel 103. Because the end 104 is flexible this flexibility facilitates the placement of a cable in cable management apparatus 100 by allowing the end 104 to move and open access to top portion 108 and then the end 104 springs back to the original position biased against the held cable. The bottom end 106 functions identically. The cable management apparatus 100 has a width and a height. As illustrated the height is about two and a half times the width, however it should be appreciated that the height to width ration can be very different than two and a half to one and the width can be greater than the height.

The longitudinally extending guide members 102 each include a partially arcuate outside edge 114 and an inside edge 115 that extends linearly with two arcuate cable holding sections defined by the top and bottom portions 108 and 110 where channel 103 becomes wider. In one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, cable management apparatus 100 is a one piece molded unit and cable management apparatus 100 includes two longitudinally extending side members 120 and a longitudinally extending bottom member 124 that has at least one attachment opening 126 thereon.

FIG. 1d illustrates that the longitudinally extending side members 120 are at an angle θ₁ with respect to the longitudinally extending back member 124. θ₁ can be any suitable angle such as any angle between 10 and 80 degrees. As illustrated θ₁ is about 45-65 degrees, but in another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, θ₁ is between 20 and 70 degrees. The longitudinally extending guide members 102 are at an angle θ₂ with respect to the longitudinally extending back member 120. θ₂ can be any suitable angle such as any angle between 10 and 80 degrees. As illustrated, θ₂ is about 45-65 degrees, but in another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, θ₂ is between 20 and 70 degrees.

In use, cable management apparatus 100 facilitates the routing and storing of cable as set forth below in more detail. More particularly, cable management apparatus 100 holds cable in the top portion 108 and the bottom portion 110. Because the top end 104 and the bottom end 106 are flexible this flexibility facilitates the placement of a cable in cable management apparatus 100 such that the cable is positioned behind top and bottom ends as best illustrated in FIG. 5. Additionally, as best illustrated in FIG. 1b, the longitudinally extending bottom member 124 and the longitudinally extending side members 120 are shorter than longitudinally extending guide members 102 creating a location 130 for looping cable as illustrated below in FIGS. 3-4 to facilitate cable storage. In other words, the cable management apparatus 100 is, in one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, a one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable.

In one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, cable management apparatus 100 is fabricated from an Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic that is a copolymer made by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. The proportions can vary from 15 to 35% acrylonitrile, 5 to 30% butadiene, and 40 to 60% styrene. The result is a long chain of polybutadiene crisscrossed with shorter chains of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile). The nitrile groups from neighboring chains, being polar, attract each other and bind the chains together, making ABS stronger than pure polystyrene. The styrene gives the plastic a shiny, impervious surface. The butadiene, a rubbery substance, provides resilience even at low temperatures. ABS can be employed between −25 and 60° C.

In another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, the cable management apparatus 100 is fabricated from a non-ABS plastic such as polypropylene, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and/or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, cable management apparatus 100 is fabricated from a non-plastic material such as, for example, but not limited to, metal, rubber, wood, and/or ceramic. When fabricated from a relatively non flexible material, widths and other dimensions can be chosen to be thin enough to provide the desired flexibility. The attachment openings 126 allow for the cable management apparatus 100 to be surface mounted to a structure such as a back wall of an entertainment center. However, it is to be appreciated that it can be desirable to provide a mount other then a surface mount.

FIG. 1e illustrates cable management apparatus 100 with a plurality of rib members 140 disposed on the longitudinally extending side members 120. In the exemplary non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 1e, θ₁ and θ₂ are both approximately 90 degrees (as best seen in FIG. 1f). The rib members 140 of cable management apparatus 100 provide structural support and the rib members 140 are tapered to allow the cable to slide down to the lowest place against the back wall or panel when wrapping the cable around the cleat to shorten the cable (store slack).

Therefore, FIG. 1e illustrates an exemplary non-limiting embodiment in which cable management apparatus 100 can be flush mounted as opposed to being surface mounted. The flush mounted embodiment can be fabricated from plastic and non-plastic material as described above with reference to the surface mount embodiment. The cable management apparatus 100 can be surface mounted employing the attachment opening 126 and a conventional fastener such as a nail or a screw. Cable management apparatus 100 can be surface mounted not employing the attachment opening such as for example using an adhesive to glue cable management apparatus 100 to the surface of a structure such as a back wall of an entertainment center.

FIG. 1e is a perspective view of the flush mounted cable management apparatus 100 embodiment, FIG. 1f is an end plan view of the flush mounted cable management apparatus 100 embodiment, FIG. 1g is a top plan view of the flush mounted cable management apparatus 100 embodiment, and FIG. 1h is a side plan view of the flush mounted cable management apparatus 100 embodiment. Note that as best seen in FIGS. 1d, 1f, and 1h, the longitudinally extending guide members 102 extend planerly as well as longitudinally. However, in the surface mounted cable management apparatus 100 embodiment as shown in FIG. 1d, the ends 104 and 106 can be non planer and extend away from the longitudinally extending back member 124. It should be noted that as illustrated in FIG. 1h, when the flush mounted cable management apparatus 100 embodiment is flush mounted against a surface such as a back wall of an entertainment center, a back side 160 is flush against the surface and there is not an area similar to location 130 is which loops of extra cable can be held. Therefore it is contemplated that top portion 104 and bottom portion 106 can be bent away from the back member 124 such that cable management apparatus 100 is only partially flush mounted. More specifically, cable management apparatus 100 is mounted flush in central area 112 and non-flush at end portions 104 and 106 such that cable can be looped around and under top portion 104 and bottom portion 106 for cable storage purposes and also effectuates routing as explained above.

Exemplary Non-Limiting Half Cleat Cable Management Apparatus

FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c illustrate an aspect of the innovation in which a half cleat cable management apparatus 200 is provided. FIG. 2a is a front perspective view of the half cleat cable management apparatus 200, FIG. 2b is a front plan view of the half cleat cable management apparatus 200, and FIG. 2c is a side plan view of the half cleat cable management apparatus 200. The cable management apparatus 200 includes two longitudinally extending guide members 202 forming a channel 203 therebetween. The guide members 202 include a flexible end 204. The cable management apparatus 200 includes two side members 206 and a bottom member 208. More particularly, the cable management apparatus 200 holds cable in a top portion 210. Because the end 204 is flexible this flexibility facilitates the placement of a cable in cable management apparatus 200 by allowing the end 204 to move and open access to top portion 210 and then the end 204 springs back to the original position biased against the held cable. Also side members 206 are shorter than guide members 202 creating a location 230 for looping cable as illustrated below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 to facilitate cable storage. In other words, cable management apparatus 200 is, in one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, a one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable.

Additionally, cable management apparatus 200 includes an attachment opening 234 and a plurality of rib members 236 providing structural support and tapered to allow a wrapped cable to slide into the lowest position (as mentioned above with respect to rib members 140). Cable management apparatus 200 can be surface mounted employing the attachment opening 234 and a conventional fastener such as a nail or a screw. The cable management apparatus 200 can be surface mounted not employing the attachment opening such as for example using an adhesive to glue the cable management apparatus 200 to the surface of a structure such as a back wall of an entertainment center. The cable management apparatus 200 has a width and a height. As illustrated the height is about one and a half times the width, however it should be appreciated that the height to width ration can be very different than one and a half to one and the width can be greater than the height.

To facilitate mounting the cable management apparatus 200 to a wall, and as best illustrated in FIG. 2c wherein the cable management apparatus 200 can be part of a kit 238, the cable management apparatus 200 includes a plurality of bosses 240. Bosses allow the use of a single fastener to mount the cable management apparatus 200 such that the cable management apparatus 200 does not rotate under rotational forces typically encountered. For example, three holes are drilled into the wall to be mounted on such as a wall 250, and the bosses fit into two of the holes while the fastener is used on the third hole. While illustrated with the bosses 236 and the attachment opening 234 in a linearly extending vertical arrangement, is should be appreciated that other arrangements can be employed.

The kit 238 also includes a plurality of spacing members 254, such that a distance 260 between the wall 250 and the cable management apparatus 200 is user selectable. For example, a user can select to use no spacers and the distance 260 is about equal to a distance 262 as illustrated. When the user desires a greater distance 260, the user can employ one or more spacers 254. For example, one or more thinner spacers 254a and one or more thicker spacers 254b can be employed either alone or in combination. As illustrated, a distance 264 is the distance 262 plus a width of spacer 254a, a distance 266 is the distance 262 plus a width of spacer 254b, and a distance 268 is the distance 262 plus the width of spacer 254a and the width of spacer 254b. Accordingly, the distance 260 is user selectable by the selection of how many, if any, and what width, spacer(s) to employ in mounting the cable management apparatus 200 to the wall 250.

In other words, the cable management apparatus 200 is coupled to a spacer 254 that is coupled to the wall 250. The spacer 254 (if thin enough) can be coupled with the same fastener employed to couple the cable management apparatus 200 to the wall 250. Alternatively, the spacer 254 can be coupled to the wall with a first fastener, and the cable management apparatus 200 can be coupled to the spacer 254 with a second fastener. The spacer can include a plurality of bosses like bosses 236 or other manner of rotational control. Additionally, the spacers can be made with three openings to receive the two bosses 236 and a fastener.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of cable management apparatus 100 mounted to a wall 300 such as, for example, but not limited to a back wall of an entertainment center. The wall 300 includes a plurality of openings 302 that allow for cable to go through the wall. The cable management apparatus 100 are arranged in a matrix or array or rows and columns.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of cable management apparatus 100 mounted to a wall 400 such as, for example, but not limited to a back wall of an entertainment center. The wall 400 includes a plurality of openings 402 that allow for cable to go through the wall. The cable management apparatus 100 are arranged in a some rows and columns but do not form a matrix. Both walls 300 and 400 can be a wall behind a display in a store or other location (such as a trade show) displaying wired devices such as media devices. As illustrated in the bottom right of both FIGS. 3 and 4, the cable can be warped in a FIG. 8 pattern around one or more cable management apparatus(es) 100 to facilitate storage of excess cable. The cable management apparatuses 100 are both appropriately sized and positioned such that the cable is not bent past the cable's bend radius when being looped around a cable management apparatus 100. The bend radius, which is measured to the inside curvature, is the minimum radius one can bend a pipe, tube, sheet, cable or hose to without kinking it, damaging it, or shortening its life.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example 500 of a single cable 502 positioned in the cable management apparatus 100 and illustrates how the cable 502 is actually behind portions 104 and 106. As stated above, because the end 104 is flexible this flexibility facilitates the placement of cable 502 in cable management apparatus 100 by allowing the end 104 to move and open access to top portion 108 and then the end 104 springs back to the original position biased against the held cable. Bottom end 106 functions identically. In one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, top portion 108 is sized to hold one 8 mm cable. In other exemplary non-limiting embodiments, top portion 108 is sized to hold other sizes of cable such as from N mm . . . 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 9 mm . . . M mm, where N and M are non-zero and non-negative integers. In another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, N and M are non-zero and non-negative real numbers. Additionally, multiple cables can be held as discussed below.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example 600 of a plurality of cables 602 positioned in the cable management apparatus 100 and illustrates how the cables 602 are actually behind portions 104 and 106. As illustrated, two cables 602 are held, but it should be appreciated that any number of cables can be held. For example, in one exemplary non-limiting embodiment, top portion 108 is sized to hold three 8 mm cables for a total holding capacity of 24 mm. In other exemplary non-limiting embodiments, top portion 108 is sized to have a total holding capacity of from N mm . . . 22 mm, 23 mm, 25 mm, 26 mm . . . M mm, where N and M are non-zero and non-negative integers. Of course the total holding capacity does not have to be an even multiple of one mm, and in another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, N and M are non-zero and non-negative real numbers.

FIG. 7 illustrates a furniture structure environment 700. An entertainment cabinet 702 includes a plurality of shelves 704 and a plurality of openings 706. The shelves 704 are such that a plurality of media devices 710 can be placed or positioned on the shelves. One media device 710 can be a display device 710a. Each device has at least one associated cable 712, but it should be appreciated that objects without cables can be placed or positioned on the shelves 704. The entertainment cabinet 702 includes a back wall 720 similar to the walls shown in FIGS. 3-4, and a cable management apparatus 100 is shown in phantom on a back side of wall 720. It should be appreciated that multiple cable management apparatus 100 can be positioned or placed on wall 720 in arrangements as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 as well as any other arrangement.

While the present innovation has been described in connection with the exemplary embodiments of the various Figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be employed or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present innovation without deviating therefrom. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the present innovation as described in the present application may apply to any cable management environment, and may be applied to any number of such devices, peripherals, and storage. Therefore, the present innovation should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cable management apparatus including:

at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.

2. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion to hold a cable.

3. The cable management apparatus of claim 2, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are flexible above the top portion and below the bottom portion.

4. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members comprise flexible ends.

5. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members comprise partially arcuate outside edges and an inside edge that extends linearly with two arcuate cable holding sections.

6. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are molded as a single unit.

7. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are molded as a single unit that comprises a back portion having at least one attachment opening thereon.

8. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are molded as a single unit that comprises a back portion and at least two side portions with rib members disposed on external surfaces of the side portions.

9. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members extend from a non flexible end to a flexible end forming a half cleat.

10. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion sized to hold an 8 mm cable.

11. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion sized to hold a plurality of cables totaling 24 mm.

12. A cable management system including:

a wall board; and

a plurality of cable management apparatuses each including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.

13. The cable management system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of cable management apparatuses are arranged in rows and columns forming a matrix for cable storage.

14. The cable management system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of cable management apparatuses are arranged in either a row or a column.

15. The cable management system of claim 12, wherein the channels are wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion to hold a cable.

16. The cable management system of claim 15, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are flexible above the top portion and below the bottom portion.

17. The cable management system of claim 15, wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members extend from a non flexible end to a flexible end forming a plurality of half cleats.

18. A furniture structure for supporting an entertainment device housed by the furniture structure, including:

a surface capable of supporting the entertainment device;

at least one outwardly facing rear section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes an opening through which a cable is receivable; and

a cable management apparatus disposed on the outwardly facing rear section, the cable management apparatus including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.

19. The furniture structure of claim 18, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes a plurality of cable management apparatuses disposed thereon.

20. The furniture structure of claim 19, wherein the plurality of cable management apparatuses are arranged in either a row or a column to facilitate cable storage.

21. A wall mounting kit comprising:

a cable management apparatus; and

a plurality of spacers enabling a user selectable cable storage width between the cable management apparatus and the wall.