FOLDING TV CABINET

Abstract

A folding entertainment cabinet can be assembled and is connectable without tools. Hinged end walls, allowing for foldability, interconnect with rigid front and back walls. A rigid floor and a top removably connect to the unfolded frame structure for a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure. The rigidity of the cabinet supports a television and an interior vertical support wall adds additional support, while providing the means to add shelves for storage or additional entertainment components. Doors and windows may also be added, as needed, for functionality or aesthetics.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to folding knock-down cabinets in which the side panels are hinged to a rigid back wall and particularly to a folding television cabinet which requires no tools or hardware to set up; the folding cabinet comprises a planar back wall, a framed planar front wall with openings, a first folding end wall and a second folding end wall which are hinged together at the sides thereof to the front and back walls of the cabinet, the first and second folding end walls each comprising at least two panels being hinged together vertically to allow the first and second end walls to fold to collapse into the interior of the cabinet when the interior support wall is removed, a floor panel rigidly secured to the front and back walls by elongated ridge in groove connections, a decorative top cover panel pegged and clamped to front, back and side walls, a removable vertically oriented interior support wall, and at least one horizontally oriented removable shelf.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

It is known in prior art to provide articles of furniture with foldable walls and major components which may be reduced to a compact, knock-down condition for storage and shipment. The walls and shelves are hingedly connected together so that they may be quickly assembled and also disassembled and returned to the compact condition for further storage or shipment. Examples of foldable ready-to-use entertainment stand devices may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,039,419 and 6,722,750. These however do not provide secured folding side walls. Each movable wall is connected on one side only and therefor is more apt to become damaged. The prior patents lack a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure foldable and connectable without tools.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,758, issued Feb. 1, 2005 to Yeh et al, is for a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) modular cabinet. The DIY cabinet has a foldable frame, a top panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel and multiple pop-it fasteners. The panels are attached to the foldable frame with the pop-it fasteners. Each pop-it fastener is composed of a countersunk tube and a stud. The countersunk tubes are pressed into head holes in panels, and the studs are screwed into and extend from base holes in the foldable frame and align with corresponding head holes in the panels. The studs extending from the base holes are pressed respectively into the countersunk tube in the head holes. Thereby, the panels are conveniently mounted on the foldable frame without using any tools. Moreover, the foldable frame can be folded to reduce the size of the disassembled DIY cabinet.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,419, issued Mar. 21, 2000 to Brown et al., describes a preassembled, foldable entertainment stand for a computer printer and the like having a folded and erect configuration wherein a vertical back panel pivotally carries a plurality of vertical shelf panels. The shelf panels fold upwardly to a generally vertically position disposed near the front surface of the back panel while a top shelf panel folds upwardly to overlay the rear surface of the back panel. A pair of side panels are pivotally carried by the back panel. Panel hinges with displaced pivots secure the top panel and the side panels to the back panel so that the top panel lies flush against the back panel and the side panels fold generally flat over the shelf panels when the stand is folded for a compact folded configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,787, issued Sep. 27, 2005 to McBrayer, III et al, provides a folding wardrobe with an integral hinge assembly. The foldable sheet metal wardrobe has a front wall, a rear wall, a foldable right side wall, a foldable left side wall, a top member, and a bottom member defining an inner wardrobe space when the wardrobe is in an open position. A left and a right unitary front side panel, each of the unitary front side panels has a first section of a closed loop hinge assembly integrally formed in the sheet metal of the front side panel. The first integral hinge section has an offset stiffener member. A left and right unitary rear side panel, each of the unitary rear side panels has a second, complimentary closed loop hinge assembly section integrally formed in the sheet metal of the rear side panels. The second integral hinge section also has an offset stiffener member. Each of the front side and the rear side panels are connected along the first and second sections by a single continuous steel hinge pin to join the sections into single foldable left and right hinged side walls. The wardrobe hinges are stronger and more secure from exposure to unauthorized entry.

U.S. Patent Application #20050067927, published Mar. 31, 2005 by Ho et al, discloses a collapsible closet which includes a front frame, a rear frame and two foldable lateral plank assemblies through which the front frame is connected with the rear frame. Each of the foldable plank assemblies includes two planks pivotally connected with each other. One of the planks of each of the foldable lateral plank assemblies is pivotally connected with the front frame. The other of the planks of each of the foldable lateral plank assemblies is pivotally connected with the rear frame.

U.S. Patent Application #20080084149, published Apr. 10, 2008 by Ho, claims a collapsible cabinet which includes a body, two doors, a cover and a bottom member. The body includes two inner panels, two inner posts, two outer panels and two outer posts. All panels and posts of the body are hinged to each other. Each door is hinged detachably to one of the outer posts of the body. The cover is mounted detachably on the body. The bottom member is mounted detachably in the body. Because each door is hinged detachably to one of the outer posts of the body, the collapsible cabinet can be assembled and detached easily without using tools. Labor cost and assembling time of the collapsible cabinet can also be reduced. When the collapsible cabinet is detached, the collapsible cabinet can be transporting and storing easily and cost therefor can be reduced.

U.S. Patent Application #20050174019, published Aug. 11, 2005 by Chi-Sheng, describes a foldable storage structure, wherein all panels of the foldable storage structure of the invention are connected to the front and the rear panels by means of pivot connection, and the respective panels are provided with engaging structures (engaging blocks, engaging seats) so that the panels can be engaged and positioned with respect to each other, such that the foldable storage structure can be folded into a convenient shape for transportation, and can save space when not in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 700,237, issued May 20, 1902 to Randall, shows a combined folding wardrobe and dresser with a top and bottom folding sections which may be knocked down to draw the front and back closer together for an overall reduced size for ease of transportation.

U.S. Pat. No. 889,741, issued Jun. 2, 1908 to Additon, claims a folding safe having a cabinet which includes a pair of folding side portions hingedly attached to a rear portion and a front portion which allows the safe to be reduced to a smaller size.

U.S. Pat. No. 933,210, issued Sep. 7, 1909 to Ullom, describes a folding wardrobe, cupboard or the like which has folding side panels which allow the device to be compactly stored or transported.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,342,269, issued Jun. 1, 1920 to Stewart, discloses a portable knock-down wardrobe having a folding top and bottom which allow the unit to be compactly stored when not in use. A removable interior horizontally-oriented shelf provides stability and prevents collapse of the unit when inserted with the interior of the wardrobe.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,389, issued Apr. 26, 1960 to Krey, indicates a foldable cabinet which is movable between an operating configuration and a collapsed storage configuration, said cabinet comprising a base, two side walls, a back wall and a front wall wherein the side walls are foldable and the front and back walls are movable between an operating position in which they are spaced apart by the side walls, and a storage position in which said front and back walls are closely spaced together.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,704, issued Apr. 5, 1994 to Thorby, puts forth a collapsible locker box movable between an open, use, configuration and a collapsed storage configuration. The locker is particularly suited for use on motor vehicles. The locker box comprises a base, two side walls, two end walls and a lid. The end walls are foldable such that the two side walls are able to approach one another when the locker box is not in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,464, issued Dec. 27, 1966 to Lew, concerns a knockdown wardrobe or the like with folding side walls which allow the cabinet to be collapsed into a compact configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,854, issued Sep. 9, 1997 to Letch, illustrates a collapsible showcase for retail/trade show use which has a rear panel, top panel, front panel, floor panel and two pairs of side panels. These panels are hinged in such a manner as to allow the top panel to fold back and hang parallel to the rear panel, the floor panel to fold up parallel to the front panel, the pairs of side panels to fold inward, drawing the front panel and rear panel together to achieve a collapsed configuration. A means for support for at least one shelf is attached inside the showcase and is rotated 90.degree. out of the way in the collapsed configuration. An access to the interior is provided through the rear of the showcase. The top panel can be secured in position in the assembled configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,981, issued Nov. 3, 1987 to Stewart, is for a collapsible storage cabinet having a set-up, operating position and a collapsed, storage position. The cabinet includes a pair of side portions, a rear portion formed by a pair of hinged rear panels, a front portion including two hinged doors, and a top portion. Each side portion includes a vertical front leg and a vertical rear leg with a side panel extending therebetween. The rear panels forming the rear portion are hingedly attached to the rear legs such that the rear panels are perpendicular to the side portions when the cabinet is in the operating position and are parallel to the side portions when the cabinet is in the storage position. Each door is reversibly hingedly attached to a front leg such that the doors may be pivoted inwardly when the cabinet is in the storage position, and pivoted outwardly when the cabinet is in the operating position. Each of the doors has a vertical groove therein into which is received an edge of the corresponding front leg when the door is in a fully opened position. When the cabinet is collapsed, the doors, rear panels and side panels define storage cavities therebetween for storably receiving removable panels positionable in the cabinet. At least one shelf is provided which has touch-release latches thereon which eliminate the need for external hardware on the doors. The storage cavity includes latch receiving recesses therein for receiving the latches when the corresponding shelf is placed in the storage cavity.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,526, issued Dec. 4, 1990 to Wiygul, Jr., provides a portable self-storing folding table device comprising a removable table top and a hinged frame assembly. The frame assembly has recesses or a detent-and-recess arrangement for neatly securing the table top for storage in a vertical position in which the table top is held when the frame assembly is folded. The removable top, held in place with horizontal stops may be reversible, with a different pattern or material on each major side, or may have a routed perimeter to nest in the top of the frame assembly for a more secure fit.

What is needed is a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure foldable and connectable without tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provided an entertainment cabinet having hinged end walls interconnecting rigid front and back walls and a floor connected along its entire length to the front and back walls by upwardly extending ridges along the length of both the front and back walls adjacent to the bottoms for insertion in mating longitudinal grooves in the bottom adjacent to each longitudinal edge of the floor for a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure foldable and connectable without tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means to access the storage area of the cabinet and provide shelving.

In brief, a folding entertainment cabinet can be assembled and is connectable without tools. Hinged end walls, allowing for foldability, interconnect with rigid front and back walls. A rigid floor and a top removably connect to the unfolded frame structure for a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure. The rigidity of the cabinet supports a television and an interior vertical support wall adds additional support, while providing the means to add shelves for storage or additional entertainment components. Doors and windows may also be added, as needed, for functionality or aesthetics.

The present invention provides a rigid structural connection of the primary horizontal bottom shelf and top with the folding vertical structure for strengthening the overall structure sufficiently for supported heavy electronic equipment, such as a TV.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides structural differences producing structural integrity not found in the prior art related to folding cabinets assembled without tools.

Another advantage of the present invention is that doors, windows and shelves can be added as needed for functionality or aesthetics.

One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides a greater level of portability for moving and storage than non-foldable cabinets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls folded in for storage and transport;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls partially folded out;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls fully opened to form flat end walls and showing the cabinet floor and vertical cabinet wall aligned for insertion into the cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through 4-4 of FIG. 5 showing grooves on the bottom of the cabinet floor aligned to be inserted onto the upwardly extending ridges of the front wall frame and the back wall;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls fully opened to form flat end walls and the cabinet floor and vertical cabinet wall installed in the cabinet with two horizontal cabinet shelves aligned for insertion into the cabinet;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls fully opened to form flat end walls and the cabinet floor, the vertical cabinet wall, and two horizontal cabinet shelves installed in the cabinet with the cabinet top aligned for installation on top of the cabinet;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a low wide embodiment having three interior compartments side by side with two interior vertical walls separating them, the cabinet top supporting a large flat screen TV;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a tall narrow embodiment having two interior compartments side by side and a horizontal interior space above the two side by side compartments, the cabinet top supporting a large flat screen TV;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a medium height medium width embodiment having two interior compartments side by side with one interior vertical wall separating them, the cabinet top supporting a large flat screen TV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-9, a folding entertainment cabinet 10 can be assembled into a foldable rigid cabinet structure 20 without tools.

In FIGS. 1-6, a rigid back wall 23 comprises a rigid vertical planar wall has an upwardly extending ridge 14 (FIG. 4) along the length of the back wall of the interior surface adjacent to a bottom edge of the back wall 23. In addition, a pair of wall clamp components 17 is spaced apart adjacent to a top edge of the back wall 23, and at least two upwardly protruding pegs 19 are spaced apart on the top edge.

In FIGS. 1-6, a rigid front wall frame 21 has at least one opening 25 therein for accessing the interior of the assembled cabinet 10. The front wall frame 21 further comprises an upwardly extending ridge 14 (FIG. 4) along the length of the front wall frame 21 along the interior surface adjacent to a bottom edge of the front wall frame 21. At least one pair of clamps 17 is spaced apart on adjacent to a top edge opposite the back wall clamps, and at least two upwardly protruding pegs 19 spaced apart on the top edge of the front wall frame 21.

In FIGS. 1-6, a pair of folding end walls 22 and 24, each comprising a vertical pair of panels hinged 18 together vertically, interconnects the front wall frame 21 and the back wall 23 Each of the end walls 22 and 24 is connected to the front wall 21 by a hinge 18 and also connected to the back wall 23 by a hinge 18. Each of the end walls 22 and 24 folds flat with the front wall 21, and the back wall 23 collapses against the end walls 22 and 24 into a first storage position (FIG. 1). In the open position (FIGS. 3, and 5-9), each of the end walls 22 and 24 open out to form a vertical planar panel orthogonally connected to both the front wall frame 21 and the back wall 23 which are spaced apart in parallel alignment and interconnected by the end walls 22 and 24. The pair of folding end walls 22 and 24 each has at least one upwardly protruding peg 19 along the top edge.

In FIGS. 3-6, a rigid cabinet floor 26 comprises a rigid planar structure having a pair of bottom grooves 15 along the length of the rigid cabinet floor 26, one adjacent to the front wall frame 21, and a second adjacent to the back wall 23. The bottom or floor grooves 15 receive the mating upwardly protruding vertical ridges 14 therein from both the front wall frame 21 and the back wall 23. The bottom grooves 15 inserted into the length of the upwardly extending ridges 14 create a rigid connection between the rigid cabinet floor 26 and the rigid front wall frame 21 and the rigid back wall 23.

In FIG. 6, a rigid cabinet top 29 comprises a rigid planar structure having bottom holes 12 spaced around the rigid cabinet top 29 adjacent to the edges to receive the mating pegs 19 from the top edges of the back wall 23, front wall frame 21, and end walls 22 and 24. It further comprises at least a pair of top clamp components 13 on the bottom surface of the cabinet top 29 adjacent to a front edge and adjacent to a back edge to mate with the wall clamp components 17, thus establishing a rigid connection between the cabinet top 29, front wall frame 21, back wall 23, and end walls 22 and 24 and forming a rigid frame cabinet structure 20 in conjunction with the cabinet floor 26.

In FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the cabinet 10 further comprises at least one vertical cabinet wall 28 extending between the front wall frame 21 and the back wall 23. The vertical cabinet wall 28 comprises at least two downwardly protruding pegs 19 spaced apart along the bottom edge to be inserted in mating spaced openings 12 in a top surface of the cabinet floor 26, and likewise, at least two upwardly protruding pegs 19 spaced apart along the top edge to be inserted in mating spaced openings 12 in a bottom surface of the cabinet top 29. When properly inserted, additional structural support and rigidity of the rigid frame cabinet is provided, and at least two vertically separated internal compartments are created in the folding entertainment cabinet 10.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the vertical cabinet wall 28 further comprises a series of spaced pairs of horizontally aligned holes 16 forming a vertical array of spaced paired horizontal holes 16. Each of the end walls 22 and 24 also has a mating vertical array of paired spaced horizontal holes 16. Horizontal cabinet shelves 27 may be inserted on one or both sides of the vertical cabinet wall 28 by removably inserting a pair of shelf supports (or pegs) 19A in any of the mating pairs of horizontal holes 16 in the vertical cabinet wall 28 and the end walls 22 and 24 and by resting the horizontal cabinet shelf or shelves 27 thereupon. The vertical array of paired spaced horizontal holes 16 accommodates a variety of vertical positions for the horizontal shelves 27 within the entertainment cabinet 10.

In FIG. 7, a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet 10 of the present invention has a low wide frame structure 20 having three interior compartments 25 side by side with two interior vertical walls 28 separating them and accessed by two doors 30 with windows 31 on the two sides and having a center drawer 33 with an open shelf 27 above the drawer in the center compartment, and the cabinet top 29 supporting a large flat screen TV 50.

In FIG. 8, a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet 10 of the present invention has a tall narrow cabinet structure 20 having two interior compartments side by side and a horizontal interior space on top which may have a flip down door 34 or a drawer, and the cabinet top 29 supporting a large flat screen TV 50.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a medium height medium width embodiment having two interior compartments 25 each covered by a door 30 with a window 31, side by side with one interior vertical wall separating them, and the cabinet top 29 supporting a large flat screen TV 50.

Many other cabinet shapes are possible using the components of the present invention, including cabinets used for other purposes.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A folding entertainment cabinet assembled without tools, the cabinet comprising:

a rigid back wall comprising a rigid vertical planar wall having an upwardly extending ridge along the length of the back wall on an interior surface adjacent to a bottom edge of the back wall, at least a pair of wall clamp components spaced apart on adjacent to a top edge, and at least two upwardly protruding pegs spaced apart on the top edge;

a rigid front wall frame having at least one opening therein for accessing the interior of the assembled cabinet, the front wall frame further comprising an upwardly extending ridge along the length of the front wall frame on an interior surface adjacent to a bottom edge of the front wall frame, at least a pair of clamps spaced apart on adjacent to a top edge, and at least two upwardly protruding pegs spaced apart on the top edge;

a pair of folding end walls interconnecting the front wall frame and the back wall, each of the end walls comprising a vertical pair of panels hinged together vertically, each of the end walls connected to the front wall by a hinge and connected to the back wall by a hinge so that each of the end walls folds flat with the front wall and the back wall collapsed against the end walls in a first storage position and each of the end walls open out to form a vertical planar panel orthogonally connected to both the front wall frame and the back wall with the front wall frame and back wall spaced apart in parallel alignment interconnected by the end walls, the pair of folding end walls each having at least one upwardly protruding peg along a top edge;

a rigid cabinet floor comprising a rigid planar structure having a pair of bottom grooves along the length of the rigid cabinet floor, a first bottom groove adjacent to the front wall frame to receive the mating upwardly protruding vertical ridge inserted into the length of the first bottom groove, and a second bottom groove adjacent to the back wall to receive the mating upwardly protruding vertical ridge inserted into the length of the second bottom groove to create a rigid connection between the rigid cabinet floor and the rigid front wall frame and the rigid back wall;

a rigid cabinet top comprising a rigid planar structure having bottom holes spaced around the rigid cabinet top adjacent to the edges to receive the mating pegs from the top edges of the back wall, front wall frame, and end walls, and at least a pair of top clamp components on a bottom surface of the cabinet top adjacent to a front edge and adjacent to a back edge to mate with the wall clamp components for establishing a rigid connection between the cabinet top, front wall frame, back wall, and end walls, thereby forming a rigid frame cabinet structure in conjunction with the cabinet floor.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 further comprising at least one vertical cabinet wall extending between the front wall frame and the back wall, the at least one vertical cabinet wall comprising at least two downwardly protruding pegs spaced apart along the bottom edge to be inserted in mating spaced openings in a top surface of the cabinet floor and at least two upwardly protruding pegs spaced apart along the top edge to be inserted in mating spaced openings in a bottom surface of the cabinet top, thereby providing additional structural support and rigidity to the rigid frame cabinet and creating at least two vertically separated internal compartments in the folding entertainment cabinet.

3. The cabinet of claim 2 wherein the at least one vertical cabinet wall further comprising a series of spaced pairs of horizontally aligned holes forming a vertical array of spaced paired horizontal holes, and each of the end walls having a mating vertical array of paired spaced horizontal holes, and further comprising at least one horizontal shelf on at least one side of the vertical cabinet wall and a pair of shelf supports removable inserted in any of the mating pairs of horizontal holes in the vertical cabinet wall and the end walls and communicating with the at least one horizontal shelf to support the horizontal shelf in any of a variety of vertical positions within the entertainment cabinet.