Abstract:
A cover for a television that provides for an interchangeable screen insert sleeve into which decorative art work can be selectively displayed when the television is not in use. An adjustable elastic retention band within the cover allows for selective attached engagement and retention on the television with adaptable storage pockets for television remotes and the like positioned thereon.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/404,177, filed on Sep. 29, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to devices used to cover the screen of a television while not in use with a decorative display. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been directed to covers for flat panel displays that are hung on walls and present a large static blank surface area when not in use. As such, a number of covers have been developed to hide and cover the flat panel screens when not in use, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,418,426, 5,175,627, 6,846,083, 7,312,836 and U.S. Publication 2008/0230192. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,418,426 illustrates a removable protective cover for a TV in which a housing attached to the front surface is provided and a protective panel is inserted therewithin. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,627 claims an adjustable television mask to impart borders to the screen to accommodate letter box and wide screen aspect ratios of broadcast material. The mask attaches to the perimeter front edges of the screen leaving the desired unmasked center portion viewable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,083 discloses a TV screen cover in which a cover for reducing glare and light is releasably secured thereon with a winding spool allowing the cover to be retracted like a window blind when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,866 describes a television display cover for an LCD flat panel screen in which the cover is attached to a pair of support brackets that allow it to hinge upwardly from the screen for TV use. 
     Finally, in U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0230192 a television tapestry cover is disclosed in which a tapestry extends from a reel positioned above the television. This allows the decorative tapestry to be rolled up by the spring urged reel when not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A self-contained integrated television cover for adjustably positioning over the screen thereof. The cover extends around the edge of the screen and television resiliently retained thereon by an inclusive perimeter elastic strap. A large sleeve is created within the front wall into which screen size decorative panels can be inserted concealing this screen when not in use. Optional equipment receiving pockets may be provided to allow the television accessories such as TV remotes to be stored for easy access and use on the sides of the cover. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the television cover positioned on a flat panel television. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged end elevational view thereof showing access insertion of a decorative panel into the cover. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate cover configuration for conventional tube-type televisions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, a decorative cover  10  for a flat panel television  11  can be seen to provide a cover therefore. A decorative cover  10  of the invention, best seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings is positioned over the flat panel  11 , such as an LCD or plasma television display common in the industry. Such flat panel displays  11  typically of a large dimension and often mounted to the walls, not shown, in most applications. 
     The decorative cover  10  of the invention has a main rectangular body member  12  with an integral top wall  13 , oppositely disposed depending sidewalls  14  and  15  and interconnected bottom  16  in spaced parallel relation to the top wall  13 . A front transparent wall  17  interengaged to the respective top, side and bottom walls  13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  define an open back housing for positioning over the front and onto the flat panel television  11 . 
     A continuous elastic retaining band  18  is secured to and about the respective top, side and bottom walls,  13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  surface preferably along their respective perimeter edges. 
     A decorative panel insert receiving sleeve  19  is formed between the transparent front wall  17  and the open back of the housing by an intermediate partition  20  preferably of a visually opaque material which directly overlies the television screen surface  21  when positioned thereon. 
     The transparent front wall  17  may have tapered portions  17 A and  17 B as illustrated to accommodate the sleeve  19  as well as variation in TV bezel designs as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The elastic retaining band  18  enables positioning, placement and secure selective retainment of the cover  10  onto the flat panel TV  11  adjusting to variables and television designs in sizes within known parameters. 
     It will be evident to those skilled in the art that multiple size covers  10  would be needed to accommodate the variety of known television screen sizes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, an access sleeve portal  22  can be seen formed within the sidewall  15  defined as an elongated rectangular opening therewithin in offset alignment to the hereinbefore described sleeve partition  20  forming the insert receiving sleeve  19 . 
     In operation, a decorative insert panel  23 , shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1  of the drawings for illustration, can be selectively inserted within the insert receiving sleeve  19  and correspondingly covering the television screening area  21  of the flat panel TV  11  onto which the decorative cover  10  of the invention has been resiliently retained. The decorative display panel  23  which can be of any subject, color or pattern such as art work, commercial posters and the like will thus be visible through the transparent front wall  17  imparting a unique custom decorative display for the television when not in use. 
     It will be well understood that the cover  10  may be made of a variety of sheet good materials seamed together including synthetic resin material, cloth or even leather, all of which would be well within the parameters defined under the doctrine of equivalency. 
     Preferably the front wall  17  will be of synthetic resin material given the transparent nature required for functionality. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, an alternate form of the invention can be seen wherein a modified television cover  24  has increased dimensional top, bottom and sidewalls  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  respectively which will allow the use on traditional televisions  30  of a tube type. An elastic retainment band  33  extends about the respective pressure walls. As such, the increased wall dimension allows for inclusion of multiple equipment storage pockets  31  and  32  which can be used to store TV remotes (not shown) and the like. 
     It will be seen that such storage pockets may also be placed in the preferred embodiment cover  10  of the invention within the area of the cover beyond the transparent front wall  17  so as to provide ancillary storage as noted above, if so desired. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel decorative cover for a television has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.