Abstract:
A support for a television or other device, including a telescopic column; an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column; a beam, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the L-shaped bracket; at least one connector for securing the television to the beam; and an actuator, arranged inside the column, for extending the column.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The material described here generally relates to lifts, and more particularly cabinet structure supports for a television and/or other motion furniture 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Low-profile television designs, such as plasma screen and LCD panels, provide maximum viewing area with minimum depth. However, such designs are generally less decorative, less stable, and heavier than older television sets. These aesthetic and stability deficiencies are often addressed by housing the television within a cabinet, or other structure. The television is then extended from, and retracted into, the cabinet via a lift. 
         [0003]    The application of a lift within a cabinet, desk, mirror, or other furnishing is sometimes referred to as “motion furniture.” For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,243 to Bober discloses a modular sub-cabinet for motion furniture which is incorporated by reference here in its entirety. As illustrated in  FIGS. 17-25  of that patent, the lift includes a support unit which is telescoped above a base unit. Horizontal support elements are secured to the vertical support elements via brackets and fasteners so as to provide adjustability for various mounting requirements. Mounting holes are provided along the horizontal support elements so as to accommodate hardware to secure a low-profile television to the support unit. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,150 to Phoenix et al. is also incorporated by reference here and discloses an elevating apparatus for visual displays such as large flat television monitors. The lift assembly disclosed in this patent includes a motor that drives a pair of threaded, vertical rods with a threaded nut on each of the rods affixed to a bushing. A platform is affixed to both bushings and extends away from the rods in order to support a display or television set as it is raised and lowered. 
         [0005]    Other references which generally describe motion furniture are also incorporated by reference here, including U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,094 which discloses a lifting device for an LCD screen in a desk with a chain, wheels, bars, and adjusting screws; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,712,653 and 4,558,648 which disclose an energy-recycling scissors lift with a platform coupled to a sealed gas cylinder for lifting an article, such as a television set, on the platform. 
         [0006]    These and other conventional technologies can suffer from a variety of drawbacks. For example, they are often cumbersome to set-up and maintain, noisy, and difficult to repair and service. In addition, conventional technologies often combine mechanical and electrical functions so that means electrical problems are difficult to repair. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The technology disclosed here generally relates to a lift support for multiple uses such as televisions, computer screens, bars, workstations, etc. In one embodiment, the support may include an extendable column; a hanger, extending substantially parallel to the column, for securing to a top of the column; a beam arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the hanger; and at least one connector for securing the television to the beam. For example, the column may be telescopic and an ear may extend from the column for securing the support to a cabinet or other structure. The hanger may include an L-shaped bracket with one or more holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column, and the connector may slidably engage a generally C-shaped beam. The support may also include an actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator, for extending the column. 
         [0008]    The technology disclosed here also generally relates to a support for a television or other device including a telescopic column; an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column; a beam, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the bracket; at least one connector for securing the television to the beam; and an actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator, arranged inside the column, for extending the column. An ear may extend from the column, for securing the column to a cabinet, and the L-shaped bracket includes a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column. The connector may slidably engage the beam and the device may also include a television attached to the connector. 
         [0009]    The technology disclosed here further relates to a support for a television or other device including an extendable column; first means, extending substantially parallel to the column, for securing to a top of the column; second means, arranged substantially perpendicular to the column, for securing to the hanger; and third means for securing the television to the beam. A fourth means may be arranged inside the column for extending the column. For example, the first means may include an L-shaped bracket having one leg secured to a top of the column and another leg extending along a face of the column, and the L-shaped bracket may include a plurality of holes arranged in at least two lines extending substantially parallel to the column. The device may also include a television secured to the third means. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of this technology now be described below with reference to the following Figures (“FIGS.”) which are not necessarily drawn to scale, but use the same reference numerals to identify corresponding features in each of the several views. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front orthographic view of a cabinet housing a television and television support. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front orthographic view of the support shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a rear, partial assembly view of the support and television shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a rear assembled view of the support and television shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a front assembled view of the support and television shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front, assembled view of the connector and beam from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a front, orthographic view of the bracket from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top view of an actuator for use with the television support in  FIG. 2   
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a front, orthographic view of a television bracket for use with the support system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is an orthographic view of a support  2  for a television  4  housed in a cabinet  6 . Although the support  2  has been illustrated here for supporting a television  4  over a cabinet  6 , the support may also be used with other types of motion furniture in order to carry a wide variety of other devices, in this and/or other configurations. For example, the support can be implemented with other furniture, such as a foot post in a bed, a kitchen cabinet, or other application. For example, the support  2  may be used with a wide variety of other devices such as computer screens, bars, and workstations. The support  2  may also be used without the cabinet  6  and/or television  4  and can be modified to swivel and/or tilt. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 1 , the support  2  is provided with a switch  8  for activating an actuator (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) that moves the support. An optional receiver  10 , such as an infrared, sonic, or radio receiver, is also provided for remotely switching the actuator. For example, the receiver  10  and/or switch  8  may be connected to the actuator through a control box  12 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the television support  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . The support includes an extendable column  22  with feet  24  and/or ears  26  for securing the column to a cabinet  6  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) or other structure. Although the column  22  is illustrated in these figures as being arranged in a vertical orientation, other orientations may also be used. For example, the support  2  may also be arranged in order to extend downwardly, rather than upwardly, as shown in these figures. 
         [0026]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the column  22  is arranged in a telescopic configuration and is extensible or compressible by the sliding of overlapping sections. Although three overlapping sections are illustrated in the figures, any other number of sections may also be provided. Other types of extendable and or retractable columns may also be used. 
         [0027]    The remaining components of the support  2  will now be described with additional reference to the assembly diagrams shown in  FIGS. 3-8  and the detailed component diagrams shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . During a typical assembly process, the connectors  30  are first secured to the rear side of the television  4  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Although  FIG. 3  illustrates the connectors  30  being bolted into threaded holes in the rear side of the television  4 , a variety of other fasteners may also be used, such as screws, clips, pins, and/or adhesive. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the connectors  30  may be configured to slidably receive the beams  40 . For example, as best illustrated in the detailed diagram of  FIG. 9 , the beams  40  may be generally C-shaped in order to improve their structural rigidity. However, a variety of other beam shapes may also be used including square, rectangular, round, oval, L-shaped, and I-shaped. For the C-shaped beam  40  illustrated in these figures, the connectors  30  also have a C-shaped cross section which generally corresponds to the outer shape of the beam  40 . For example, each of the connectors  30  may be provided with an inwardly-angled finger  32  for abutting against the top surface of the beam  40 . A similar finger may also be provided on the connectors  30  for abutting against the bottom surface of the beam  40  and providing additional stability. 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , once the beams  40  are slid into the connectors  30 , a hanger  50  is secured to the beams  40  by bolts  52  or other fasteners. As best illustrated in the orthographic view of  FIG. 10 , the illustrated hanger  50  is formed as an L-shaped bracket which includes two substantially vertical rows of holes  54  arranged at each edge of the hanger. The holes  54  allow the top surface, or shoulder, of the hanger  50  to be arranged at the appropriate vertical position relative to the television  4 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , after the hanger  50  is secured to the beams  40 , the shoulder  56  of the hanger  50  is secured to the top of the column  22  using bolts  60  or other fasteners. Rear and front views of the assembled support  2  and television  4  are shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  respectively. 
         [0030]      FIG. 12  is a front orthographic view of a television bracket  90  for use with the support  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the television bracket  90  may be used with conventional, tube-type televisions (not shown). The television bracket  90  includes an upper arm  92  for hooking over the top surface of the television and a lower arm or plate  94  for engaging with, or securing to, a bottom surface of the television. The upper arm  92  and lower plate  94  are connected by a post  96  which extends vertically behind the television (not shown). The television bracket  90  may then be secured to the hangar  50  by any suitable means including the use of U-bolts  98  which extend around one side of the post  96  and through additional holes  100  in the hangar  50 . 
         [0031]    The support  2  carrying television  4  may be raised and or lowered by any conventional means, including, but not limited to, an actuator that may be arranged inside the column  22 . In  FIG. 11 , the exemplary actuator  70  includes extendable arms  72  arranged on each end of a rectangular base  74 . The arms  72  are connected to the base  74  by hinges  76  so that the arms  74  may be rotated into a vertical position. The clips  78  pinned to the end of each of the arms  74  may then be secured under the top surface of the column  22 . The control cables  80  extending from the pumping units  82  may then be connected to the control box  12  so that the actuator  70  can be activated by the switch  8  and/or receiver  10 . Although a hydraulic actuator  70  is illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a variety of other mechanical electromechanical, and/or other devices may also be used. 
         [0032]    It must be emphasized that the embodiments described above, and particularly in a “preferred” embodiment, are merely examples of various implementations that have been described here in order to provide an understanding of the principles of this technology. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many variations and modifications can be made to these embodiments. As such, they are included within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.