Abstract:
Apparatus ( 2 ) for housing a product comprising a frame ( 4 ) mounted on or in a surface; and a member ( 6 ) moveable within the frame ( 4 ) and for securing the product wherein the member ( 6 ) is moveable between a first position in which the product is concealed from view and a second position in which the product is in view and accessible by a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation of Ser. No. 10/580,985, filed Oct. 5, 2006 and now abandoned, which is a 371 of PCT/AU2004/001648, filed Nov. 25, 2004. Foreign priority is claimed to AU 2004905002, filed Sep. 1, 2004 and AU 2003906484, filed Nov. 25, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to apparatus for housing a product, such that when the product is not in use, it is concealed from view. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many installations of products, such as data/video projectors, monitors, telephones or keyboards it is paramount that protection is afforded to the product against theft or damage. It is often not feasible to remove these products from their locations when not in use either due to the size of the product or connection of leads to the product. Previous solutions to this problem have included the use of a motorized lift which retracts the product into a surface, such as a ceiling. Some problems associated with these devices are that often when the product is in use the opening in the ceiling is not sealed off, giving unsightly views and loss of effectiveness of heating and/or cooling systems. These types of lifts are also quite cumbersome requiring a large surface cavity in which to be housed and a difficult installation process. Another benefit of this type of discrete installation is the aesthetics, in many applications it is not desirable to view the projection unit when not in use. 
     The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for housing a product which is concealed from view when not in use. In this manner, after a product has been used, it can be stowed away from view and its surrounds are aesthetically more appealing when the product is unnoticeable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for housing a product comprising:
         a frame mounted on or in a surface; and   a member moveable within the frame and for securing the product; wherein the member is moveable between a first position in which the product is concealed from view and a second position in which the product is in view and accessible by a user.       

     According to an embodiment, the member may substantially cover an opening through the frame in the first position or the second position. The apparatus may further comprise pivot means, such as pins, axles or rods, connecting the frame to the member to enable movement of the member between the first position and the second position. The member may comprise a panel that fits within the frame and is rotatable within the frame through the pivot means. An elongate bar may be attached adjacent opposite sides of a four sided panel and in which is formed a portion of the pivot means. The pivot means may comprise a rod attached to or formed in each of the bars and a bush formed in corresponding sides of a four sided frame for receiving a respective rod. The panel preferably is level with the frame in each of the first and second positions. 
     The panel may rotate up to 360 degrees about the pivot means. In this manner, the apparatus retracts the product, such as a projection unit, into a surface, such as a ceiling by means of the revolving panel that fits within the frame and rotates 360° within this frame, pivoted in the center of either two parallel sides. 
     There may be one or more recesses in a side (section) of the frame to enable cables to be connected to the product without interfering with the movement of the product and the member. 
     According to a further embodiment, the member may include a first panel and a second panel connected by one or more side frames. The first panel may be level with the frame and closes the opening in the first position. The second panel may be level with the frame and closes the opening in the second position. A portion of the first panel may be connected to the frame through the pivot means. The first panel may have a pair of legs extending therefrom, a distal end of each leg being connected to the frame through the pivot means. The pivot means may comprise a rod attached or formed in each of the legs and a bush formed in corresponding sides of a four sided frame for receiving a respective rod. Each side frame may be shaped to enable the first panel to remain level with and in the frame in the first position and to enable the second panel to remain level with and in the frame in the second position. Each side frame may comprise four sections joined in the shape of a quadrilateral, with a section joined respectively to the first panel and the second panel. 
     In another form of the invention a motor can be connected to the pivot means in order to control the pivot means to operate the member to move between the first position and the second position. Thus, one of the axles/rods could be extended outside the frame in such a way that a motor may be attached to the axle allowing the panel or panels to be rotated by the motor. The motor may be remote controlled. 
     The product may be any one of a projector unit, keyboard, telephone or monitor and the surface may be any one of a ceiling, wall, floor, desktop or a part of a piece of furniture. Each panel may be made of craft wood or any other appropriate material that can be attached to the pivot means and allows for the ability to attach a product, such as a projection unit to the panel. The frame may be fabricated from metal or be constructed from moulded plastic. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a frame and member of apparatus for concealing a product according to a first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2(A) ,  2 (B) and  2 (C) respectively depict the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a first (closed) position, the member in a rotating position and the apparatus in a second (open) position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of apparatus for concealing a product according to a second embodiment shown in a slightly open position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  shown in a fully open or second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  there is shown a first embodiment of apparatus that is used to conceal a product. The apparatus  2  includes a frame  4  and a member  6  which includes a panel freely rotatable within the frame  4 . The frame  4  is constructed of four sections or sides  8 ,  10 ,  12  and  14  that are shown joined to each other approximately in the form of a square. The sections  8 ,  10 ,  12  and  14  may be made from metal, such as steel, or from moulded plastic and be joined to each other by welding or other known joining techniques. In this instance these sections are all approximately of the same length, but may vary in length or shape depending on the application or for which product is to be concealed when not in use. Located at approximately midway along the sections  10  and  14  are bushes  16  and  18  for receiving and supporting corresponding rods or axles  20  and  22  forming part of the member or panel  6 . Located either end of the section  14  are recesses  24  and  26  to enable cables to be attached to the product so as not to get entangled when the apparatus  2  is rotated between a second position in which it is in use and a first position when it is concealed from view and not in use. The bushes  16 ,  18  may be suitably made of brass or nylon or any other low wearing material. 
     The member  6  comprises a panel  28  of a thickness and size so that it fits within the opening of the frame  4 . The panel  28  can be made of a suitable material such as craft wood that is easily painted and can match the surrounding surface. Attached adjacent two opposite sides of the panel  28  are pivot bars  30  and  32  which are shorter in length than the adjacent side of the panel  28 . Approximately at the center of the bars  30  and  32  are the axles  20  and  22  that fit within corresponding bushes  16  and  18  of frame  4  to support the member  6  within the frame  4  and allow free rotation of the member  6  within the frame  4 . The axles  20  and  22  may suitably be made of metal and in particular brass or steel. The bars  30  and  32  may also be made of steel and for added rigidity and strength are in the form of an L section or right-angled bar. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C there is shown three views showing the operation of the apparatus with a product, in the form of a projector unit, attached to member  6 . In  FIG. 2A  the projector unit  34  is concealed from view and is not in use. The frame  4  together with the member  6  are fitted to a surface  36 , in this particular instance a ceiling. Alternatively the product may be a keyboard, monitor or telephone that is fitted to the apparatus  2  and installed in a cavity mounted in another surface, such as a desk, piece of furniture, wall or floor. In  FIG. 2A  the sections  8  and  12  are directly mounted to the internal portion of ceiling  36  to provide a support for the apparatus  2 . The projector unit  34  is shown in a first position where it is concealed from view and securely attached or fitted to panel  28  of member  6 . In  FIG. 2B  the member  6  is rotated, pivoting on rods  20  to  22  towards a second position as shown in  FIG. 2C  where it is ready for use. Thus the projector unit  34  is able to be rotated 180° from its position shown in  FIG. 2A  to its position shown in  FIG. 2C . It maybe further rotated another 180° so that a full 360° rotation is possible. In  FIG. 2C  the projector unit  34  may be secured or locked in position (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIG. 3  there is shown a further embodiment of an apparatus  40  used to conceal a product. The apparatus  40  comprises a frame  42  and a member  44  which freely rotates within the frame  42 . The frame  42  comprises four sections/sides  46 ,  48 ,  50  and  52  which are preferably made from metal, such as steel or brass and are joined to each other to form substantially a rectangular shape. Such joining may be done by welding or any other suitable joining means. The frame  42  is adapted to fit within a cavity protruding through a surface, such as a ceiling. 
     The member  44  comprises a pair of panels  54  and  56  with panel  54  adapted to fit flush within the frame  42  when the member  44  is in an open position, such that a product housed between the panels  54  and  56 , is operable and in use. Panel  56  is adapted to fit flush within the frame  42  when the product is not in use and is therefore concealed by the panel  56 . Suitably the panel  56  and the panel  54  are adapted to match the surrounding ceiling characteristics or surface characteristics. The panels  54  and  56  may be made from a suitable timber that can be painted to match the surrounding surface characteristics. Both panels  54  and  56  are joined together by side frames  58  and  60  each of which comprises four sections or members defining an opening. Member  62  of side frame  58  and member  64  of side frame  60  are suitably secured to a top face of panel  56 . Member  65  of side frame  58  and member  66  of side frame  60  are suitably secured to a lower face of panel  54 . Members  68  and  70  of side frame  58  and members  72  and  74  of side frame  66  provide necessary support between the respective panels  54  and  56 . 
     A pair of legs  76  and  78  extend from members  65  and  66  and are connected at their distal ends to frame  42  by a pair of rods  67  and  69  which are housed in respective bushes formed in members  46  and  50  of frame  42 . The rods  67  and  69  are secured respectively to the legs  76  and  78  so that the member  44  is able to freely rotate within the frame  42  via the hinge motion or action provided by the rods connecting the legs  76  and  78  to the frame  42 . 
     In situations where the panels  54  and  56  are shorter in length than the entire frame  42  a further ceiling panel  80  may be incorporated within the frame  42 . 
     Thus in  FIG. 3  the apparatus  40  is shown partially open where the panel  56  is below the level of frame  42 . Where it is in a first closed position such that the product mounted between the panels  54  and  56 , such as a projector unit, is concealed the panel  56  is level and fits within the frame  42  between ceiling portion  80  and members  46 ,  50  and  52  of frame  42 . It can be secured or suitably locked in position. With reference to  FIG. 4  the apparatus  40  is shown in a fully open position whereby the product that is housed between the panels  54  and  56  is able to be used or operated. In this situation the panel  54  is flush within the frame level with members  46  and  50  and extra panel  80 . Thus to the user the panels  54  and  80  are level with the surrounding ceiling so that aesthetically there is no gap provided in the ceiling. Again the position of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4  can be locked in place by suitable locking means. Each of the bushes, rods and side frames may be made from a suitable material such as steel, brass, plastics or nylon. Each of the sections  48  and  52  may be suitably made in an L shaped configuration having a ledge which can provide suitable connection to the inner portion of the ceiling or surface that the apparatus is attached to. 
     Where additional ceiling panel  80  is not required then the panels  54  and  56  will extend along the entire area within the frame so that either in the open position or the closed position the respective panel matches the surrounding surface and therefore provides no gap or a cavity, in which the apparatus is installed, is not visible to users. Additionally the side frames  58  and  60  have respective legs or portions  68 ,  70 ,  72  and  74  which are so shaped that enable panel  54  to remain substantially level within frame  42  in the open position and allows panel  56  to be substantially level within frame  42  in the closed position. 
     With regard to both embodiments described a motor may be connected to the apparatus in order to rotate the respective members  6  or  44  between open and closed positions. With regard to the first embodiment a motor may be attached to either one or both of rods or pins  20  and  22 . In the second embodiment of  FIG. 3  a motor may be attached accordingly to the rods  67  and  69  connected to legs  76  and  78  so that rotation of the rods or pins rotate the frame  44  between open and closed positions. The motor may include an electronic circuit that has an infrared receiver so that infrared signals may be sent from a remote control unit to control a motor to operate the apparatus. Hence, rotation of the members  6  or  44  can be initiated and stopped when the product is in the desired position. 
     As mentioned previously the apparatus is not only useful for a ceiling mounting of projector units and the like but can also be used to conceal products in a wall, a floor, a piece of furniture or another suitable location such as a desk top. The invention is not limited to concealing projector units and the like but also may be used to conceal other products such as visual display units, keyboards, telephones and any other particular product that requires concealment when not in use.