Abstract:
A device for concealing a space between an object and a planar surface includes a first interlocking strip and a second interlocking strip engageable with the first interlocking strip. The first and second interlocking strips move relative to each other such that they span the space between the object and the planar-surface. The first and second interlocking strips are movable linearly, angularly, and vertically to achieve concealment of the space between the object and the planar surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the concealment of objects, and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation to a concealment device employed in the fields of cable management, concealment, and audio/visual equipment mounting. Specifically, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for concealing the cables and mounting hardware of wall mounted flat panel devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Devices such as the “Tria Wall Mount System” by OmniMount are available to conceal the wiring of a wall mounted flat panel television as the wires run along the wall. The problem with such devices is that they do not conceal the wires as they extend from the wall to the television nor do they conceal the wall mount. Other devices such as the Chief “In-wall Accessory” conceal portions of the wall mounting equipment, however these devices do not fully conceal the mount as it extends from the wall to the television and do not conceal the wires. The “DFK Decorative Frame” by Chief Manufacturing conceals the cables and wall mount of a flat panel television by building a rectangular frame around the edges of the television. The problem with this device is that the television must be mounted essentially parallel to the wall (i.e. the frame cannot accommodate any significant tilt in the orientation of the television) and the frame requires precision cutting and fitting because it must closely fit the front or sides of the television. 
     The present invention solves the problem of the current state of the art by concealing cables as they extend from the wall to the wall mounted device, concealing the wall mount, and accommodating tilted panels without requiring precision cutting or fitting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device according to the present invention is designed to conceal a space between an object and a planar surface. The device includes a first interlocking strip and a second interlocking strip engageable with the first interlocking strip. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second interlocking strips are held together by friction. The frictionally joined first and second interlocking strips are adjustable linearly, vertically, and angularly to facilitate the spanning of the space between the object and the planar surface. 
     The first and second interlocking strips each include a mounting flange, a concealment panel, an end panel, and a friction panel. The concealment panel is substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange, while the end panel is substantially perpendicular to the concealment panel. Further, the end panel resides in a direction opposite to the mounting flange. The friction panel connects with the end panel and is angled towards the concealment panel. 
     The first and second interlocking strips engage through the insertion of the friction panel for the second interlocking strip between the concealment panel and friction panel of the first interlocking strip. The friction panel and the concealment panel of the first interlocking strip frictionally engage the friction panel of the second interlocking strip. Likewise, the friction panel for the first interlocking strip inserts between the concealment panel and friction panel of the second interlocking strip. The friction panel and the concealment panel of the second interlocking strip frictionally engage the friction panel of the first interlocking strip. 
     The mounting flanges of the first and second interlocking strips allow the device to mount to the planar surface and abut the object. Spanning the space between the object and the planar surface is achieved through the adjustment of friction panels relative to each other. Linear adjustment is achieved by moving the friction panel of the second interlocking strip linearly relative to the friction panel and the concealment panel of the first interlocking strip. Vertical adjustment is achieved by moving the friction panel of the second interlocking strip vertically relative to the friction panel and the concealment panel of the first interlocking strip. Angular positioning is achieved by moving an edge of the friction panel for the second interlocking strip linearly relative to an edge of the friction panel of the first interlocking strip while an opposite edge of the friction panel for the second interlocking strip remains substantially stationary relative to an opposite edge of the friction panel for the first interlocking strip. Once properly adjusted, the concealment panels of the first and second interlocking strips span and thus conceal the space between planar surface and the object. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembly view showing a concealment device according to the preferred embodiment in combination with a wall and an adjacent flat-panel device. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view showing a concealment device according to the preferred embodiment in combination with a wall and an adjacent flat-panel device. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the concealment device, assembled in combination with the wall and the adjacent flat-panel device. 
         FIG. 4A  is an end view of the interlocking strips which make up the concealment device. 
         FIG. 4B  is an end view of the interlocking strips which make up the concealment device. 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of the interlocking strip showing the detail of the chamfered edges. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the interlocking strip showing the detail of the chamfered edges. 
         FIG. 6A  is a side view of the interlocking strips showing the maximum linear distance between the mounting flanges. 
         FIG. 6B  is an end view of the interlocking strips showing the maximum linear distance between the mounting flanges 
         FIG. 7A  is a side view of the interlocking strips showing the minimum linear distance between the mounting flanges. 
         FIG. 7B  is an end view of the interlocking strips showing the minimum linear distance between the mounting flanges. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the interlocking strips showing them in a step configuration. 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view of the interlocking strips showing the interlocking strips at maximum angular distance. 
         FIG. 9B  is an end view of the top of interlocking strips, which are angled at the maximum angular distance; the view shows the strips at maximum linear distance between the mounting flanges. 
         FIG. 9C  is an end view of the bottom of interlocking strips, which are angled at the maximum angular distance; the view shows the strips at minimum linear distance between the mounting flanges. 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the interlocking strips which are angled at the maximum linear distance in combination with a wall and an adjacent flat-panel device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components or steps. The present invention can be used to conceal wires between a wall and any surface, however for purposes of explanation the present invention will be described in terms of concealing wires between a wall and flat-panel television. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show the general arrangement of the invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the components of the invention as well as an object requiring concealment, in this case the wall mount  11  and the wires of a flat-panel television  14 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of the components of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown the concealment devices  12  and  13  that make up the preferred embodiment of the invention. In a typical assembly there will be a wall  10 , a wall mount  11 , a flat panel television  14 , and concealment devices  12  and  13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention after it has been assembled. The wall mount  11  is mounted onto the wall  10 ; thereafter the flat-panel television  14  will be attached to the wall mount  11 . The concealment devices  12  and  13  will be placed between the wall  10  and the flat-panel television  14  in order to conceal the wall mount  11  and any wires that extend from the wall  10  to the flat-panel television  14 . The concealment devices  12  and  13  will be mounted to the wall  10 , using any means suitable in the art such as screws or double-sided tape. The concealment devices  12  and  13  will then be extended so that they reach flat-panel television  14 . The concealment devices  12  and  13  can be mounted to the flat-panel television  14  using any means common in the art or they can be left un-mounted having friction hold them in place. In the alternative, this process can be reversed having the concealment devices  12  and  13  mounted to the flat-panel television  14  using any means common in the art, and then extended to the wall  10 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the components that make up the concealment devices  12  and  13 . Concealment devices  12  and  13  consist of 4 interlocking strips  15 ,  16 ,  28  and  29 . In this preferred embodiment of the present invention the interlocking strips  15 ,  16 ,  28  and  29  are identical, this is beneficial in the manufacture of the invention in that only one piece needs to be manufactured. However, it should be noted that the interlocking strips  15 ,  16 ,  28 , and  29  can be manufactured in different sizes in order to meet a particular job requirement. The interlocking strips  15 ,  16 ,  28 , and  29 , which make up concealment devices  12  and  13 , can be made of molded plastic, metal, or any other material suitable in the art. In the alternative the interlocking strips  15 ,  16 ,  28 , and  29  can be assembled from separate individual parts. In order to assemble the concealment devices  12  and  13 , the interlocking strips  15 ,  16 ,  28 , and  29  are oriented as mirror images of each other. The assembly of concealment devices  12  and  13  are explained in greater detail below. 
     The concealment device  12  consists of two interlocking strips  15  and  16 . The interlocking strip  15  consists of, a mounting flange  20 , a concealment panel  21 , an end panel  22 , a friction panel  23 , a first edge  80 , and a second edge  81 . The interlocking strip  16  consists of; a mounting flange  24 , a concealment panel  25 , an end panel  26 , a friction panel  27 , a first edge  82 , and a second edge  83 . 
     The mounting flange  20  of the interlocking strip  15  consists of an inside surface  70  and an outside surface  71 . The mounting flange  24  of the interlocking strip  16  consists of an inside surface  72  and an outside surface  73 . The outside surface  71  of interlocking strip  15  and the outside surface  73  of interlocking strip  16  allows the interlocking strip  15  and  16  to attach to flat surfaces, in this case either a wall  10  or a flat-panel television  14 . This can be accomplished by any suitable means such as a screws or an adhesive such as Velcro or double sided tape. In the preferred embodiment the mounting flange  20  and  24  are oriented perpendicular to the concealment panel  21 . However, if so desired the mounting flange  20  and  24  could be angled relative to the concealment panel  21  and the concealment panel  25  thereby allowing the angled mounting of the concealment device  12 . 
     The interlocking strip  15  contains a concealment panel  21  and an end panel  22 . The concealment panel  21  consists of an observable surface  38  and a non-observable surface  39 . The concealment panel  21  is substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange  20  and prevents the wall mount  11  and any wires from being observed by a person. The observable surface  38  of the concealment panel  21 , faces away from the wall mount  11  and is observable by a person. The non-observable surface  39  of the concealment panel  21  faces towards the wall mount  11  and any wires or cables, and is not observable by a person when the concealment device  12  is assembled and mounted. The end panel  22  of interlocking strip  15  consists of an outside surface  42  and an inside surface  43 . The end panel  22  is oriented so that it is perpendicular to the concealment panel  21 . 
     The interlocking strip  16  contains a concealment panel  25  and an end panel  26 . The concealment panel  25  consists of an observable surface  40  and a non-observable surface  41 . The concealment panel  25  is substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange  24  and prevents the wall mount  11  and any wires from being observed by a person. The observable surface  40  of the concealment panel  25 , faces away from the wall mount  11  and is observable by a person. The non-observable surface  41  of the concealment panel  25  faces towards the wall mount  11  and any wires or cables, and is not observable by a person when the concealment device  12  is assembled and mounted. The end panel  26  of interlocking strip  16  consists of an outside surface  44  and an inside surface  45 . The end panel  26  is oriented so that it is perpendicular to the concealment panel  25 . 
       FIGS. 4A ,  5 A,  5 B illustrate the friction panel  23  and the friction panel  27  of interlocking strip  15  and  16 . The friction panel  23  of interlocking strip  15  is angled relative to end panel  22  and towards non-observable surface  39  of concealment panel  21 . The friction panel  23  of interlocking strip  15  consists of an inside surface  51  an outside surface  52 , sides  46  and  47 , chamfered edges  48  and  49 , and a flat edge  50 . The inside surface  51  of friction panel  23  faces towards the non-observable surface  39  of the concealment panel  21 . The outside surface  52  of friction panel  23  faces away from the concealment panel  21 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5  the friction panel  23  consists of a flat edge  50 , chamfered edges  48  and  49 , and sides  46  and  47 . The flat edge  50  of the friction panel  23  does not run completely across the friction panel  23  rather the flat edge terminates in chamfered edges  48  and  49  which are angled downward towards the sides  46  and  47 . 
     The friction panel  27  of interlocking strip  16  is angled relative to end panel  26  and towards observable surface  40  of concealment panel  25 . The friction panel  27  of interlocking strip  16  consists of an inside surface  58  an outside surface  59 , sides  53  and  54 , chamfered edges  55  and  56 , and a flat edge  57 . The inside surface  58  of friction panel  27  faces towards the observable surface  40  of the concealment panel  25 . The outside surface  59  of friction panel  27  faces away from the concealment panel  25 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5  the friction panel  27  consists of a flat edge  57 , chamfered edges  55  and  56 , and sides  53  and  54 . The flat edge  57  of the friction panel  27  does not run completely across the friction panel  27  rather the flat edge  57  terminates in chamfered edges  55  and  56  which are angled downward towards the sides  53  and  54 . The benefits of this design will be discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  7 A and  7 B illustrate how interlocking strips  15  and  16  fit together. In order to accommodate different distances between a wall  10  and a flat panel television  14 , the present invention is adjustable. This adjustability comes from the interlocking design.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate how the maximum distance can be achieved between mating edge  20  and mating edge  24 . 
     In order to create the maximum linear distance between mounting flange  20  and the mounting flange  24  the friction panel  23  of interlocking strip  15  is positioned between the friction panel  27  and the concealment panel  25  of interlocking strip  16 . The friction panel  23  is positioned so that the flat edge  50  is touching the inside surface  45  of the end panel  26 . Likewise, the friction panel  27  of interlocking strip  16  is positioned between the friction panel  23  and the concealment panel  21  of interlocking strip  15 . The friction panel  27  is also positioned so that the flat edge  56  is touching the inside surface  43  of the end panel  22 . The inside surface  51  and  58  of the friction panel  22  and  27  will be mated together. As shown in  FIG. 6 , part of the outside surface  52  and  59  of the friction panel  23  and  27  will be mated against the non-observable edge  39  and the observable edge  40  of the concealment panel  21  and  25 . This mating of surfaces will force the interlocking strip  15  and the interlocking strip  16  to fit tightly together so that friction holds them in place. 
     As mentioned above the interlocking strips  15  and  16  can slide towards each other or apart so that the width of the shape formed by the interlocking strips  15  and  16  can be adjusted.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate how the minimum linear distance can be achieved between the mounting flange  20 , and the mounting flange  24 . In order to achieve the minimum linear distance between mounting flange  20 , and the mounting flange  24 , the friction panel  23  of interlocking strip  15  is positioned between the friction panel  27  and the concealment panel  25  of interlocking strip  16 . However, unlike in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the friction panel  23  is not positioned so that the flat edge  50  is touching the inside surface  45  of the end panel  26 . Rather the friction panel  23  is pulled until just before the frictional forces that hold interlocking panel  15  and  16  together are no longer present. As in  FIG. 6  the surfaces of the friction panels  23  and  27  and the concealment panel  21  and  25  will be mated together, creating friction which will hold the interlocking strip  15  and  16  in place. The assembly of concealment device  13  will be identical to concealment device  12 , the only difference being that interlocking panels  28  and  29  will be oriented in opposite directions to interlocking panels  15  and  16 . 
     As mentioned above, the sliding motion of the interlocking strips  15  and  16  is not constrained in either planar direction so the shape formed by sliding the interlocking strips  15  and  16  can be rectangular or trapezoidal. This allows the concealment device  12  and the concealment device  13  to mount to angled surfaces and also to be arranged in a step configuration. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates how the interlocking design of concealment device  12  and  13  allow the interlocking strip  15 ,  16 ,  28  and  29  to slid relative to each other and form a step configuration. In forming a step configuration interlocking strip  15  and interlocking strip  16  are slid in opposite directions relative to each other. In doing so the friction panel  27  of interlocking strip  16  is exposed to an observer. It should be noted that if an end user does not desire to expose the friction panel  27  to an observer, the portion of the friction panel  27  that is exposed to the observer can be removed. The assembly of concealment device  13  will be identical to concealment device  12 , the only difference being that interlocking panels  28  and  29  will be oriented in opposite directions to interlocking panels  15  and  16 . 
       FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  9 C and  10  illustrate how the interlocking design of concealment device  12  and  13  allow interlocking panel  15  and  16  to form a trapezoidal shape. As mentioned above the interlocking panel  15  and  16  contain chamfered edges  47 ,  48 ,  55 , and  56 . The chamfered edges allow the interlocking panel  15  and  16  to move angularly relative to each other, and in turn allow the concealment device  12  and  13  to mount to angled surfaces. In should be noted that  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  show the concealment device  12  and concealment device  13  mounting to surfaces that are angled downward, however if desired the concealment device  12  and  13  could be mounted to surfaces that are angled upward. 
       FIG. 9A  shows how the maximum angular distance can be achieved between interlocking strip  15  and interlocking strip  16 . In order to achieve the maximum angular distance the second edge  81  of the interlocking strip  15  and the second edge  83  of the interlocking strip  16  will be positioned so that the mounting flange  20  of interlocking panel  15  and the mounting flange  24  of interlocking panel  16  are placed at the minimum linear distance, this was described above and shown in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and illustrated in  FIG. 9C . Conversely, the first edge  80  of the interlocking strip  15  and the first edge  82  of the interlocking strip  16  will be positioned so that the mounting flange  20  of interlocking panel  15  and the mounting panel  24  are at their maximum linear distance this was also described above and shown in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and illustrated in  FIG. 9B . 
     The angle between interlocking panel  15  and interlocking panel  16  can be adjusted. This is achieved changing the position of the mounting flange  20  and the mounting flange  24  at the first edge  80  and first edge  82  of the interlocking strip  15  and  16 . The second edge  81  of the interlocking strip  15  and the second edge  83  of the interlocking strip  16  stay substantially stationary while the angle of the first interlocking strip  15  and the second interlocking strip  16  are adjusted. In order to change the angle between interlocking strip  15  and interlocking strip  16 , the mounting flange  20  at the first edge  80  of the interlocking strip  15  and the mounting flange  24  at the first edge  82  of the interlocking strip  16  slide towards each other or apart and towards either their maximum or minimum linear distance. 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing preferred embodiments, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing detailed description; rather, it is defined only by the claims that follow.