Abstract:
A media cabinet with reversing door is adapted to house multimedia equipment. The door is hinged with the cabinet and adapted to selectively conceal and reveal the equipment. The cabinet may have left and right module sections, each of these module sections having a modular width. The door preferably has the same modular width. The cabinet may further have a center section of two modular widths and a second reversing door. At least one of the left, the center, and the right sections may define an equipment space. The reversing doors may alternatively hinge to conceal the center section, revealing the left and right sections, and hinge to reveal the center section, concealing the left and right module sections. Each door has two opposing face surfaces and presents a closed visual impression in each hinged position of alternatively concealing the center section or concealing the respective left and right sections.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The invention relates to furniture cabinets that are directed to housing what may commonly be referred to as multimedia or entertainment equipment, including signal processing and presentation devices. More specifically, a media cabinet with reversing door of the invention is directed to alternating concealment and revealing of multimedia devices and the like, with a door that has two opposing finished or front sides, instead of a finished front and a less than finished back. Thus, the door presents a visual impression of being closed when either surface is presented with the door in a position to conceal or a position to reveal the multimedia devices.  
         [0005]     The multimedia devices may, more specifically, include audio and video tuners and amplifiers and speakers. These components of multimedia presentation may commonly be visually distracting or otherwise inconsistent with a room environment in which they may be located. Thus, one&#39;s attention may be inappropriately drawn to the multimedia equipment, merely by its presence, even when it is not active. Such components of technology support may also present an undesired contrast in the aesthetics of a room environment in which they are located; clashing with the room decor.  
         [0006]     While various audio and video components, or multimedia equipment, must be readily accessible and seen in use, it is not always a desired visual element in many room environments when not in use. Thus, one may appreciate a desire to conveniently access and conversely conceal multimedia equipment in a manner in which the equipment does not impose upon its environment when not in use.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, a media cabinet with reversing door of the invention provides a cabinet that is adapted to house multimedia equipment and that is provided with at least one reversing door that conveniently conceals and reveals the equipment by swinging manipulation of the reversing door. The equipment is housed in a defined equipment space. The door has two opposing finished or front sides, instead of a finished front and a less than finished back. Thus, the door presents a visual impression of being closed when either surface is presented, with the door in a position to conceal or a position to reveal the multimedia equipment.  
         [0008]     The media cabinet has a top spaced above and generally aligned with a base. A first or left panel extends upward from the base toward the top. A second panel is parallel with and spaced a first or modular distance from the left panel. A left or first modular section is defined between the left and the second panels. A right panel may be parallel with and spaced the same modular distance from the second panel, with the second panel interposed between the left and the right panels. A second or right modular section is defined between the second and the right panels. A reversing door extends between the base and the top and is connected in swinging engagement with one of the top, the second panel, and the base. The door is provided with opposing first and second front surfaces that are both finished and effectively a door front, instead of a conventional door that is provided with opposing front and back surfaces with only the front surface finished. The door preferably also has the modular width. Thus, the door may swing to alternatively cover or reveal one or the other of the first and the second modular sections, with the door presenting a finished surface and a closed appearance in either position.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, a center modular section may be defined between the left and the right modular sections with the center section having a defined equipment space. Thus, a third panel may be interposed between the second and the right panels, be parallel with and spaced about two modular distance from the second panel. The center modular section is, thereby, defined between the second and the third panels. A second door may extend between the base and the top and be connected in swinging engagement with one of the top, the third panel, and the base. The second door may also be provided with opposing first and second front surfaces that are both finished and effectively a door front. The second reversing door may also have the modular width. Thus, the prior or first door and the second door may swing toward one another into a first or center position in which the doors conceal the center modular section and reveal the left and right, side sections. Alternatively, the doors may swing away from one another into a second or side position in which the side sections are concealed and the center section equipment space is revealed. The doors present a closed appearance in either position.  
         [0010]     These and other features and benefits of the invention will be recognized by one having ordinary skill in the art and by those who practice the invention, from this disclosure, including the specification, the claims, and the drawing figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front left perspective view of a media cabinet with reversing door of the invention, showing a first alternative design with a pair of reversing doors in a center position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation thereof;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevation thereof;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevation thereof with the doors in a reversed, side position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front right perspective view thereof, showing the reversing doors reversed in the side position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation thereof;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary front elevation thereof;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged fragmentary view of detail X of  FIG. 8 , showing a top hinge pin arrangement in elevation; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged fragmentary view of detail XI of  FIG. 8 , showing a bottom hinge pin in elevation;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is an upper, front, and left perspective view of a media cabinet with reversing door of the invention, showing a second alternative design with reversing doors in a center position; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is the view of  FIG. 12 , showing the doors in a reversed, side position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is an upper, front, and left perspective view of a media cabinet with reversing door of the invention, showing a third alternative design with reversing doors in a center position; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is the view of  FIG. 12 , showing the doors in a reversed, side position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     A preferred and exemplary embodiment  100  of a media cabinet with reversing door according to the invention is generally shown in the drawing figures and discussed below. More specifically, the media cabinet  100  is shown with left  142 , center  144 , and right  146  sections or modules ( FIGS. 1, 2 ,  5 , and  6 ).  
         [0027]     The media cabinet  100  provides flexibility for housing multimedia support equipment, including signal processing and presentation devices. Thus, the media cabinet may be provided with various configurations for such equipment, including the shelving as shown, which shelving may be fixed or adjustable as is known by one having ordinary skill in the art. The multimedia devices housed in the media cabinet may include audio and video tuners and amplifiers, and speakers and video display devices. More specifically as to the storage shelving arrangement shown, a centered placement of the equipment is anticipated with an optional placement of a power center  132  and a cable pass through  134  ( FIG. 6 ). Placement of a large video display device upon a top panel  102  of the cabinet  100  is also anticipated.  
         [0028]     The power center may provide power conditioning and electronic component protection and may include various program source signal filtering, as is known. The inventor has found a power supply cord set model FC-717-CP with 720 Joules surge suppressor and with co-axial cable and phone wire connections from Furnlite, Inc. of Fallston, N.C., [www.furnlite.com] to be satisfactory.  
         [0029]     The cable pass through  134  may be accomplished with various constructions and may preferably include a slot opening through the cabinet back as shown in the example. The cable pass through may further include two rows of flexible bristles  136  that extend into the slot from opposing top and bottom edges or the like. More specifically, Doug Mockett &amp; Company, Inc. of Torrance, Calif., [www.mockett.com] offers a brush extrusion kit model BRKIT1 that is suitable for a pass through slot of about 3.75 inch (95 mm) width and about 12 inch (305 mm) length.  
         [0030]     The top  102  of the media cabinet  100  may preferably be spaced above and generally aligned with a base  104  ( FIGS. 1-6 ). A first or left side panel  112  extends upward from the base toward the top and extends between a front  106  and an opposing back  108  of the media cabinet ( FIG. 3 ). A second panel  114  is spaced a first distance from the left panel. The second panel is parallel with the left panel and also extends upward from the base  104  toward the top  102  and between the front  106  and the back  108 . The left and the second panels define a left section or module  142  of the media cabinet.  
         [0031]     A third panel  116  is spaced a second distance from the second panel  114 , so the second panel is interposed between the first and the third panels. The third panel is also parallel with the first panel  112 , extends upward from the base  104  toward the top  102 , and extends between the front  106  and the back  108 . The second and the third panels define a center section or module  144  of the media cabinet.  
         [0032]     As discussed above, an equipment space is anticipated in the embodiment shown as being defined between the second  114  and third  116  panels and the base  104  and top  102 . The equipment space is adapted to house multimedia support equipment with placement of the power conditioner or a power strip  132  in the center section  144  for easy access and with placement of the cable pass through  134  in the center section. Of course, one may have a preference to adapt an alternative embodiment to use one or both of the side sections  142  and  146 , for equipment housing with equivalent effect.  
         [0033]     Finally, a fourth or right side panel  118  is spaced a third distance from the third panel  116 , so the third panel is interposed between the second  114  and the fourth panels. The fourth panel is also parallel with the first panel  112 , extends upward from the base  104  toward the top  102 , and extends between the front  106  and the back  108 . The third and the right panels define a right section or module  146  of the media cabinet.  
         [0034]     The media cabinet  100  is provided as shown with at least one reversing door and more preferably a pair of doors  122  and  124 . The reversing doors are connected with the media cabinet  100  in swinging engagement, so the doors swing between a first or center position ( FIG. 1 ) in which the doors cover and conceal at least a portion of the center section  146 , and a second or side position in which the center section is revealed and the doors cover and conceal at least a portion of the respective side sections  142  and  146 . The swinging engagement may include pining the doors between the top  102  and the base  104 , which is discussed further below, or hinging the doors  122  and  124  with the respective adjacent one of the second  114  and the third  116  panels, as one having ordinary skill in the art understands. Thus, the doors swing to cover the side media cabinet sections  142  and  146  separately ( FIG. 5 ) or cover the center section  144  together ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0035]     More specifically in the design example shown of a media cabinet  100 , the left door  122  has a first door edge  126  that is adjacent the second panel  114  when in the first position and the door extends toward the third panel  116  to an opposite second door edge  128  ( FIG. 1 ). The first door edge  126  is most preferably flush with a surface of the second panel that faces the left panel  112 . The same arrangement is noted regarding the right door  124  in mirror image and relative to the third panel  116 .  
         [0036]     As shown in the drawing figures, this characteristic of the reversing doors is conveniently provided by pining the doors between the top  102  and the base  104 . A top hinge pin  162  may be mounted on and extends downward from a bottom surface of the top panel  102  ( FIG. 10 ). The pin  162  extends into a cooperating pin pocket  164  that is formed in a top edge of the door  122 , near edge  126 . The pocket  164  may be formed by various methods as may be desired and may include drilling or boring a blind hole into the top edge of the door and may further include pressing or placing a wear bushing into the hole.  
         [0037]     A counter part bottom hinge pin  166  may extend upward through the base  104  ( FIG. 11 ). The pin  166  extends into a cooperating pin pocket  168  that is formed in a bottom edge of the door  122 , near edge  126 . The pocket  168  may also be formed by various methods as may be desired, including drilling or boring a blind hole into the bottom edge of the door and further including pressing or placing a wear bushing into the hole. Threaded engagement of the bottom hinge pin  166  with the base  104  is preferably provided, so the pin  166  may be conveniently removable and facilitate installation and removal of the door  122 . Thus, a screw may be provided for the pin  166 . Further, a cooperating threaded insert  170  may be provided in the base  104 . The threaded insert may be one of various commonly known hardware items, including a screw in or press in threaded barrel insert and a T-nut. While the pin hinge of door  122  is specifically discussed, the arrangement of door  122  again applies to the other door  124 .  
         [0038]     The left door  122  first door edge  126  remains adjacent the second panel  114  when in the second position and the door extends toward the left panel  112  to the opposite second door edge  128  ( FIG. 5 ). The first door edge  126  is now most preferably flush with an opposing surface of the second panel  114 , which opposing surface faces the third panel  116 . Further in the design example shown, the second door edge  128  is preferably flush with an outer surface of the left panel  112 , which outer surface faces away from the media cabinet. Thus, the first door aligns with and fully overlays the media cabinet left module  142  with the opposing door edges  126  and  128 , flush with outer panel surfaces of the module. The same arrangement is again noted regarding the right door  124  in mirror image and relative to the third panel  116 , the right panel  118 , and the right module  146 .  
         [0039]     Another facet of the unique character of the reversing door media cabinet of the invention is a consideration that standard cabinet door latches and the like are not suited to use with reversing doors. Thus, an unique door catch is preferably used to releasably hold the doors  122  and  124  in their respective center and side closed positions. A magnet  182  may preferably be embedded into, although clearances may be arranged to permit surface mounting upon, the bottom surface of the top panel  102  ( FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 ). A cooperating magnet  184  may also be embedded into the top edge of the door  122  and near the door terminal edge  128 . The magnet  184  and each of the magnets  182  are located to align in the respective center and side closed positions. A strong and durable magnet for this use is an earth magnet as is known. To further locate the door precisely, a stop  186  may be added as desired. This magnetic latch may alternatively or in combination, be located in the base  104 . As an alternative, a bullet catch may be used as is commonly known to releasably latch a door. Again, this disclosure applies to door  124  as well as to door  122 .  
         [0040]     Considering again that the doors may swing inward across the front of the media cabinet to a first position in which the doors cover the center section  144  together ( FIG. 1 ) and that the doors may swing outward across the front of the media cabinet to a second position in which the doors cover the side media cabinet sections  142  and  146  separately ( FIG. 5 ), one understands that the center section extends along about half of a length of the media cabinet  100 . Thus, the second distance, which is discussed above as being a spacing between the left and the second panels  112  and  114 , is about half the length of the media cabinet and a remaining about half the length of the media cabinet is divided between the left and the right side modules  142  and  146 , respectively. While the third distance, which is discussed above as being a spacing between the third and the fourth panels  116  and  118 , may be different from the first distance, one having ordinary skill in the art appreciates an aesthetic desirability of having each of the first and the third distances the same. Having a common or modular width across the side sections also yields fabrication benefits in minimizing the number of unique components required and increasing use of duplicate components.  
         [0041]     Understanding the relational geometry of the doors  122  and  124  with the media cabinet  100  and its various respective segments as suggested above, one having ordinary skill in the art will also understand that the doors may conceal a little more than half of the media cabinet when in either of the first ( FIG. 1 ) and the second ( FIG. 5 ) positions as shown. If the panels  112 - 118  had no physical thickness, then the doors would cover exactly half of the media cabinet. The panels do have thickness, however, which has a subtle and significant influence upon the relational geometry of the doors. A further influence of the same nature includes a foreseeable modification in which the doors do not overlay the side panels and abut them instead or in which the doors overlay only a portion of the side modules.  
         [0042]     Considering that each of the reversing doors swings between the center ( FIG. 1 ) and the side positions ( FIG. 5 ) and thereby reveals each of two opposing surfaces or faces of the door panel, each door is provided with two opposing finished faces or front surfaces  152  and  154  relative to the left door  122 , for example ( FIGS. 2, 5 , and  6 ). This is contrasted with a typical furniture door that has distinctly defined front and back surfaces.  
         [0043]     The typical furniture door has its front surface displayed when the door is in a closed position. The back of the typical door is concealed when the door is closed and only revealed when the door is opened temporarily for access into the door&#39;s supporting cabinet. Thus, neither of the center ( FIG. 1 ) and the side ( FIG. 5 ) positions of the reversing doors  122  and  124  is dictated as either an open or a closed position by the character of each of the opposing door faces. Therefore, the cabinet provides enhanced flexibility of use by allowing a user to choose whether to consider the doors either opened or closed in either of the center and the side positions. This choice may also correspond with a choice to house the equipment in either the center or the side modules.  
         [0044]     One having ordinary skill in the art understands that the media cabinet  100  is a piece of furniture that is assembled of various components, including the above panels  1   12 - 118 , top  102 , base  104 , and doors  122  and  124 . Each component may be fabricated of any suitable material and employing methods appropriate to the selected material. Further, the cabinet components may be interconnected with various suitable selected methods or connectors and adhesives. Materials technology and fabrication methods appear to develop and change fairly continually. One having ordinary skill in the art has knowledge of suitable materials and of effective methods for furniture fabrication, each of which is ancillary to the present invention of a configuration of a media cabinet with reversing door.  
         [0045]     One having ordinary skill in the art and those who practice the invention will understand from this disclosure that various modifications and improvements beyond those suggested here, may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed inventive concept. One will also understand that various relational terms, including left, right, front, back, top, and bottom, for example, are used in the detailed description of the invention and in the claims only to convey relative positioning of various elements of the claimed invention.