Abstract:
A media lift that is configured for mounting in a storage chamber is provided. The media lift is comprised of a flat panel screen holder; the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber. The media lift utilizes gas cylinders to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder. The media lift can be formed in structures such as a footboard of a bed or a quilt rack. In addition, a bed having a footboard frame comprising the media lift is described. Speakers are mounted within the bed&#39;s structure to provide a surround sound system. The headboard of the bed has storage compartments for multimedia equipment. Furthermore, a desk unit comprising the media lift is described.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a mechanical lift mechanism which can be integrated with home and office furniture to both store and display various electronics while utilizing efficient use of space.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Furniture styling, especially that of bedroom furniture, incorporates a wide variety of styles, borrowing ideas from cultures across the globe in order to achieve a unique, signature style for bedrooms of adults and children alike. For those that are on the cutting edge of modern interior decorating practices, they know all too well that interior design is susceptible to the same type of trends or cyclical popularity as that experienced in the fashion world or other areas.  
         [0003]     Furthermore, television (TV) sets have become larger over the years. Recently, the TV displays, or monitors, have become very large, often separated from the TV set. Some are thin but of large area including the new plasma displays. They have become so large that it is often desirable to hide them when not in use. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,804 “Elevating apparatus particularly adapted for television receiver support-tables and the like” issued Jan. 1, 1979 to Wache. In addition, it has been known to provide various pieces of furniture, including beds, with entertainment centers which have a TV or stereo sets that can be concealed while not being viewed by that person. One example of an integrated sofa-bed and TV unit can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,101 “Integrated Sofa-bed and Television Unit” issued Sep. 28, 1971 to Castro et al.  
         [0004]     Some of the systems that conceal and reveal electronics utilize electronic motors; others utilize scissors-type lifts. In addition, gas spring cylinders can also be utilized to elevate and lower electronics in furniture. A gas spring is an energy-storage device similar in function to mechanical coil springs. Mechanical coil springs store energy by straining the material composing the spring. A gas spring stores energy by compressing the nitrogen gas within the gas spring. As a mechanical coil spring is compressed, additional strain is placed within the spring, which adds to the spring&#39;s stored energy. Likewise, as a gas spring is compressed, the gas chamber volume is reduced due to the intrusion of the shaft into the gas spring tube; thereby causing the gas pressure to rise, storing more energy.  
         [0005]     The goal is the same with either type of spring; to move or resist the movement of some object. Typically for gas springs, the object to be moved is an automotive liftgate, hood or trunk. Gas springs are not limited to just this use, and in fact can be used in many applications where mechanical springs are applied.  
         [0006]     One of the significant differences between mechanical springs and gas springs is the force provided at their free length. Gas springs always require some initial force to begin compression. Mechanical springs have a characteristic known as free length. This is the length of the spring with no force applied. The force required to move the spring begins at zero and increases according to the spring rate. Gas springs in their “free length” require some initial force before any movement takes place. After the full initial force is applied the gas spring will begin to compress. In mechanical springs this initial force is called pre-load and requires additional hardware to achieve. Another significant difference is the spring rate. Gas springs can be designed with a very low spring rate utilizing a small package. A similar mechanical spring would require as much as twice the package space. The ability to have a controlled rate of extension is another major difference. Gas springs can provide a rate of extension (controlled release of the stored energy) that can be set to a prescribed velocity. Mechanical springs do not have this ability. In fact, gas springs can have multiple extension rates within the same gas spring (typically two: one through the majority of the extension stroke, another at the end of the extension stroke to provide dampening).  
         [0007]     Applicant has been marketing a media lift that uses a platform supported at opposite sides by a pair of gas springs that raise and lower in synchrony. With the new flat plasma displays, it would be desirable to provide a more compact device with simple construction to take advantage of the compact configuration of these new displays. Moreover, an attractive piece of bedroom furniture that fits within or complements a room&#39;s decor and incorporates a multimedia system has commercial advantages. Where the set is a console or is placed on a conventional TV stand the viewing angle is less than comfortable and a substantial amount of floor space is required. The present invention overcomes these and other problems and inconveniences associated with viewing a TV from a bed by positioning the TV at the optimal angle and the optimal distance from the viewer, with little obstruction of floor space. The present invention provides a solution to these needs and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a media lift is configured for mounting in a storage chamber. The media lift is a type of mechanical lift mechanism used to conceal and reveal multimedia equipment in home and office furniture. The media lift is comprised of a flat panel screen holder; the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber. The media lift utilizes gas springs to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder. The storage chamber can be formed in structures such as a footboard of a bed, quilt rack, dressers, etc. In addition, a bed having a footboard frame comprising the media lift is described. Speakers are mounted within the bed&#39;s structure to provide a surround sound system. The headboard of the bed has storage compartments for multimedia equipment. Furthermore, a desk unit comprising the medial lift is described.  
         [0009]     Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a media lift configured to a footboard of a bed.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway view of a media lift configured to a footboard of a bed, with a flat screen monitor stored inside the footboard.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of a media lift configured to a footboard of a bed, with a flat screen monitor elevated outside the footboard.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a footboard of a bed configured with a media lift and a flat screen monitor stored inside the footboard.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a footboard of a bed configured with a media lift and a flat screen monitor elevated outside the footboard.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front cutaway view of a media lift  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top cross sectional view of a media lift.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a partially cutaway view of one embodiment of a gas spring.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a headboard with storage for multimedia equipment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a front cross sectional view of a desk unit configured with a 
        media lift.          
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a side cross sectional view of a desk unit configured with a media lift. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a media lift  101  configured to a footboard  108  of a bed  100 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the media lift  101  can be configured to other furniture such as a quilt rack, a book shelf, a credenza, and a deacon&#39;s bench. The media lift  101  conceals a flat screen monitor  126  when not in use, and elevates the flat screen monitor  126  to a position outside the footboard  108  when in use.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway view of the media lift  101  configured to the footboard  108  of a bed  100 , with the flat screen monitor  126  stored inside. A television tuner can be configured to the flat screen monitor  126  so that a person may watch television from the bed  100 . In addition, in preferred embodiments the headboard  106  of the bed  100  has separate computer storage  110  and DVD player, keyboard and mouse storage  122 . In preferred embodiments, the bed  100  is composed of oak solids and oak veneers. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the bed  100  may be made of other types of wood such as birch, maple, pine and rustic style log. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the bed  100  may alternatively be constructed from metal, glass, or composites. Furthermore, the bed  100  can be any bed type selected from the group consisting of: a daybed, four poster, pencil post, sleigh, futon and sofa, bunk, metal, and motion bed. Also, the bed size may be a standard king, California king, queen, full, or twin bed. A flat panel screen holder  102  holds the flat screen monitor  126  inside a storage chamber  103 . The storage chamber  103  is formed within the footboard  108 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the storage chamber  103  can also be formed within furniture consisting of the following but not limited to a quilt rack, a book shelf, a credenza, a deacon&#39;s bench, a desk, a nightstand, and a dresser.  FIG. 2  also shows a mattress  114  and a bed structure  104 . A headboard  106  and bed posts  120  are also shown.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of the media lift  101  configured to a footboard  108  of a bed  100 . The flat screen monitor  126  is elevated outside the footboard  108  by means of gas springs  128 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the flat screen monitor  126  may be elevated by other mechanisms, such as a scissors—lift mechanism.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views of the media lift  101 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the footboard  108  of the bed  100  configured with the media lift  101  and the flat screen monitor  126  stored inside the footboard  108 . In preferred embodiments, an audio system is built into the bed structure  104 . Furthermore, in preferred embodiments each bed post  120  comprises a speaker  118  which is coupled to the audio system. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a subwoofer  116  may be configured to the bed structure  104 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the footboard  108  of the bed  100  configured with the media lift  101  and the flat screen monitor  126  elevated outside the footboard  108 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a front cutaway view of the media lift  101 . If necessary, the flat panel screen holder  102  may have a weight  132  for lift compensation. Furthermore, a latch  138  is configured to the bottom of the flat panel screen holder  102  for a “latch and release” type mechanism. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of latches may be used, such as spring loaded latches and catches. The flat panel screen holder  102  is configured to a remote push button release. When the flat screen monitor  126  is not in use, both the flat screen monitor  126  and the flat panel screen holder  102  are moved down into the footboard  108  of the bed  100  via a downward force or manual push down. The flat panel screen holder  102  comprising the flat screen monitor  126  latches to a receiver in the footboard  108 . When the flat screen monitor  126  is to be viewed, the remote push button release moves the flat panel screen holder  102  to a viewing position outside the footboard  108  of the bed  100 . This releases the latch  138  from the receiver and gas springs  128  synchronously elevate the flat screen monitor  126  to a position outside the footboard  108  of the bed  100 . In addition, a slide  130  is configured to two sides of the flat panel screen holder  102  for smooth movement of the flat screen monitor  126  from the inside of the footboard  108  to a position outside the footboard  108 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the slide  130  utilizes a standard gliding mechanism.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top cross sectional view of the media lift  101 . A decorative front and mount plate  136  is attached to the viewing side of the flat panel screen holder  108  and flat screen monitor  126 . A cover panel  134  is attached to the back non-viewing side of the flat panel screen holder  108  and flat screen monitor  126 . Both the decorative front and mount plate  136  and the cover panel  134  provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the media lift  101  that blends with any surrounding room furniture.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a partially cutaway view of one embodiment of the gas spring  128 . Mounting hardware  140  is attached to a rod  142  that leads into a main seal  144 . The main seal  144  provides positive sealing under static and dynamic conditions. The main seal  144  is part of a seal system  146 . Furthermore, a limit groove  148  follows the seal system  146  to provide an internal piston stop to assure precise free length. A piston seal  150  ensures that gas and liquid are properly metered through the piston orifice during dynamic conditions. The piston seal  150  is configured in a standard piston assembly  152  to provide controlled extension and free compression. A pressure cylinder  154  follows the standard piston assembly  152 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a gas spring is interchangeable with a variable positioning strut or similar piston mechanisms.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a headboard  106  with storage for multimedia equipment. In preferred embodiments the headboard  106  has speakers  118  configured to posts  120 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the headboard  106  need not have posts  120 . Instead, the speakers  118  could be configured to any part of the bed structure  104 . Moreover, in preferred embodiments the speakers  118  and subwoofer  116  together form a surround sound system for the bed  100 . This surround sound system provides a pleasing audio addition to viewing the flat screen monitor  126 . The headboard  106  has the storage for computer  110  and the storage for DVD player, keyboard, and mouse  122 . In preferred embodiments, a keyboard and a mouse utilize a wireless connection to a receiver coupled to a computer. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that wireless keyboards and mouse can be used interchangeably with a variety of remote gyro keyboards and mouse found in the market. Additionally, the headboard  106  has a sliding door  124  that provides access to the storage for computer  110  and storage for DVD player, keyboard, and mouse  122 .  
         [0030]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are cross sectional views of a desk unit  160  configured with the medial lift  101 .  FIG. 10  is a front cross sectional view of desk unit  160 . The desk unit  160  consists of a body  162  and the flat panel screen holder  102  operatively configured to securely hold the flat screen monitor  126 . In preferred embodiments of the desk unit  160  the flat screen monitor  126  is configured to a computer, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the flat screen monitor  126  can be configured to a television tuner as well. The media lift  101  is operatively coupled to the flat panel screen holder  102 , the media lift  101  utilizing gas springs  128  to move the flat panel screen holder  102  between a stored position in the body  162  and a viewing position outside the body  162 . Also, a remote push button release system is configured to the desk unit  160  so that no external force is necessary to move the flat panel screen holder  102 . Furthermore, the desk unit  160  has a shelf system  164  which is operatively configured to the body  162 , the shelf system  164  configured to receive and store office paraphernalia and electronic equipment. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that office paraphernalia includes but is not limited to writing instruments, staplers, hole punches, paper files, etc. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that electronic equipment includes but is not limited to compact disk and/or DVD players, radios, keyboards, mouse, printers  170 , etc. Also, at least one door  166  is hinged to the body  162  for selectively opening and closing the shelf system. The door  166  can be any standard cabinet—types found in the industry. The desk unit  160  may also have one or more sliding drawer systems  168  to hold office paraphernalia and electronic equipment. Furthermore, the desk unit  160  may be constructed out of a variety of woods and metals, including but not limited to birch, maple, pine, rustic log, and stainless steel.  FIG. 11  shows a side cross sectional view of the desk unit  160 . In preferred embodiments, the desk unit  160  is configured with one or more speakers  118  and a sub woofer  116 . The speakers  118  and sub woofer  116  would be tuned to a receiver or speaker control  169  configured to the desk unit  160 . The combination of speakers  118  and sub woofer  116  would create a surround sound—type audio system. The audio system would add a pleasing effect to utilizing a computer  112  or multimedia equipment.  
         [0031]     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.