Abstract:
An article of furniture having multiple surfaces including a substantially horizontal top and substantially vertical sidewalls. At least one of these surfaces is provided with a substantially planar support layer, an article receiving layer and a removable outer substantially transparent window wherein the substantially transparent window is spaced from the article receiving layer and is selectively repositionable with respect to the at least one surface to facilitate the insertion and removal of objects from the article receiving layer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention involves articles of furniture whose visual appearance can be altered and personalized to suit the needs of a user. Almost any piece of furniture such as media cabinets, bookshelves, desks and drawer dressers can be produced incorporating the present invention in order to provide the desired aesthetic appearance. Although the present invention can be used by virtually anyone, it is anticipated that it would appeal particularly to teens and young adults.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Virtually all furniture is composed of structural elements for providing function and stability and facia components to create a desired visual appearance. Facia can consist of a veneer providing a wood or wood-like appearance or a composite such as plastic sheeting to create a more high-tech look. In either case, once the furniture article has been created, little latitude is provided for change in its visual appear or in any way customizing the furniture article to suit the aesthetic tastes of the user.  
         [0003]     It is quite commonplace for all furniture users to associate the furniture with personal memorabilia in order to either change the look and feel of the furniture to match room decor or mood or to personalize a working surface with personal photographs or mementos. For example, many workers who find themselves at a desk for long periods of time will display photographs of family members, friends or even pets below a glass or transparent protective surface covering the desktop. Teens will oftentimes redact photos of movie or rock stars from magazines and tape them to the doors or sidewalls of media cabinets. In such instances, prior attempts to accommodate this activity have proven to be limiting and somewhat less than ideally satisfactory.  
         [0004]     When photographs are placed on a desktop and covered with protective glass, the photographic surfaces oftentimes adhere to the back surface of the glass particularly if the photographs have remained in place for an extended period of time. Later attempts to remove the photographs causes their destruction as portions of the photographs adhere to the glass surface. Further, objects placed upon a desk are limited to those which are two-dimensional, such as photographs or drawings as the inner surface of the glass is coplanar and is supported by the horizontal surface of the desktop.  
         [0005]     In instances where teens wish to append memorabilia to, for example, a cabinet or armoir door, the possibility exists for the degrading of the door surface. Taped photographs to a door oftentimes can only be removed with a consequent delamination of a portion of the door facia or at least its outer finish. Thumb tacks have also been commonly used but they obviously create holes in the facia surface which, in effect, destroys any attempt to maintain a quality visual appearance. In addition, if small dolls, keychains or other three-dimensional objects are adhered to the door surface, they tend to protrude, inadvertently fall from their vertical support and generally interfere with the intended furniture function.  
         [0006]     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a unique solution to the above-noted shortcomings.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel line of furniture which is capable of being highly personalized in a way which satisfies the aesthetic needs of a user and yet avoids the limitations of the prior art.  
         [0008]     These and further objects will be more readily apparent in considering the following disclosure and appended claims.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention is directed to an article of furniture having multiple surfaces which include a substantially horizontal top and substantially vertical sidewalls. It is contemplated that at least one surface be provided with a substantially planar support layer, an article receiving layer and a removable outer substantially transparent window which is spaced from the article receiving layer and selectively repositionable with respect to the at least one surface to facilitate the insertion and removal of objects from the article receiving layer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a media cabinet configured according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a coffee or support table produced according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a drawer cabinet produced pursuant to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bookcase produced pursuant to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views of a desk produced according to the present invention showing the subject transparent window in place and as being partially removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     As noted previously, the present invention involves an article of furniture having multiple surfaces. One iteration of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  as media cabinet  10 . The media cabinet is provided with substantially horizontal top surface  11  and substantially vertical sidewalls  14 . The version of the present invention in the form of a media cabinet can best be visualized in considering  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0018]     Door  9  is shown as being substantially vertical. It is characterized as having an outer door frame  12  hingedly appended through hinge  23  ( FIG. 2 ) for swinging engagement to substantially vertical sidewall  14 . Door  9  is provided with an inner frame  15  which is in turn hingedly appended to substantially vertical sidewall  14  through the use of hinge  24 . As such, outer frame  12  and inner frame  15  can be independently moved with respect to one another while remaining hinged to media cabinet  10 .  
         [0019]     Turning again to  FIG. 1 , outer frame  12  is shown as providing the peripheral edge for substantially transparent window  13 . Inner door frame  15  provides the peripheral support for planar support member  22  and one or more article receiving layers  16  and  21  which can be composed of a relatively soft resilient material capable of receiving tacks or similar attachment means. It has been determined that cork would be an ideal article receiving layer for use in the present invention. As a further optional expedient, a second transparent surface  19  can be applied as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]     In operation, a user of cabinet  10  can grasp knob  17  and pull outer frame  12  from inner frame  15  thus exposing article receiving layer  16 . Various two-and-three dimensional objects could thus be applied to article receiving layer  16  whereupon frame  15  can be reapplied to the inner edge of outer frame  12 . It is an important feature of the present invention to note that, as best visualized by reference to  FIG. 2 , a significant space  25  is provided between substantially transparent window  13  and inner article receiving layer  16  so that once door  9  is fully closed, sufficient space is provided between these various layers to enable one to apply three-dimensional objects and even thumb tacks having substantial depth to article receiving layer  16  while still enabling door  9  to fully close. This feature of the present invention is important in differentiating the furniture articles of the present invention from its predecessors. Ideally, space  25  should be approximately ½ inch to 3 inches.  
         [0021]     In addition to configuring the present invention into a substantially vertical door as depicted by reference to media cabinet  10 , it can also be applied to a substantially horizontal surface as shown in the remaining embodiments discussed hereinafter. For example,  FIG. 3  is directed to a coffee or support table. Table  30  can be used to simply operate as a decorative furniture article or it could be used to support other objects such as a television or stereo system. Table  30  consists of substantially vertical legs  33 , lower shelf  39  and a substantially horizontal top in the form of frame  31  which defines the perimeter of substantially transparent window  32 .  
         [0022]     In referring to  FIG. 4 , it is noted that substantially transparent window  32  is supported by frame  31  and is spaced apart from article receiving layer  36  by free space  35 . As was the case with  FIG. 2 , spacing  35  is critical in practicing the present invention and is ideally approximately  12  inch to  3  inches to accommodate both two-and-three dimensional objects for placement upon article receiving layer  36  which is in turn supported by substantially planar support layer  37 . As an alternate expedient, substantially planar support layer  37  could be eliminated enabling article receiving layer  36  to reside directly upon structural support member  38 . Cutout portions  34   a  and  34   b  are configured within substantially transparent window  32  to enable one to grip substantially transparent window  32  for its removal from frame  31  for applying and removing personal items to the surface of article receving layer  36 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  depicts a drawer dresser including substantially vertical sidewall  52 , drawers  53  and a substantially horizontal top which is configured of the various elements of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , frame  51  is shown as delineating the perimeter of substantially transparent window  54 . The remaining elements within the substantially horizontal top are virtually identical to those constituting  FIG. 4  and include cutout portions  55   a  and  55   b  to facilitate removal of substantially transparent window  54  from frame  51 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  depicts a bookcase again embracing the various elements of the present invention. Specifically, bookcase  60  is provided with substantially vertical sidewalls  62  and and a series of substantially horizontal supports  65  capped by a substantially horizontal top surface. The top surface includes frame member  61  which defines the perimeter of substantially transparent window  64 . The remaining elements of the invention as depicted in  FIG. 6  include the various article receiving and planar support layers such as those shown in  FIG. 4 . Substantially transparent window  64  is also provided with cutout region  63   a  and  63   b  to facilitate its removal.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 7 and 8  depict desk  70 , again having the elements of the present invention. Substantially vertical sidewalls  72  are provided which help to define a region supporting drawers  75 . The top surface of desk  70  is provided with frame  71  defining the perimeter of substantially transparent window  73 . Desk  70  is further shown with the application of various pictures applied to substantially planar article receiving layer  77  which, again, could be cork facilitating the acceptance of tacks and other article attachment means without experiencing significant degradation. As noted by reference to  FIG. 8 , one could employ cutout region  76   a  and  76   b  to lift substantially transparent window  73  from frame  71  in order to enable one to gain access to article receiving layer  77 . Although  FIG. 8  shows substantially transparent window tipped away from the surface of frame  71 , it could be entirely removed from desk  70  if desired.  
         [0026]     In summary, the present invention as shown is one which enables a user to personalize the look of virtually any type of furniture not only by being able to apply two-dimensional objects such as pictures to the furniture article but also three-dimensional attachment means as well as small dolls or other three-dimensional objects of art without degrading the furniture in any significant fashion while avoiding the application of any such personal items to an exterior surface of the furniture which might otherwise compromise its utility.