Abstract:
An entertainment center includes a base that expands horizontally to accommodate different width home theater displays; and, a light bridge that rests on top of one or more cabinets placed on either side of the base. The side cabinets provide a vertical column of open space for accommodating wiring among the entertainment system components and ventilation for heat generated by those components. The base includes casters to facilitate moving the base in and out from between the side cabinets. Sliding portions of the base extend horizontally yet continue to transfer all load weight onto the casters. The front woodwork of the base presents a pleasing seamless appearance as a consequence of overlapping trim pieces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/925,355, filed Aug. 23, 2004 in the name of Andreas K. Nielsen, which is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/198,204, filed Jul. 17, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,622) also in the name of Andreas K. Nielsen, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Embodiments of the present invention relate to furniture such as an entertainment center.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Component electronics for audiovisual applications conventionally include multiple, free-standing enclosures that receive power and signals from facility wiring and communicate with other components on wired cables or wireless links. Support for numerous components has conventionally been provided by furniture called an entertainment center. A conventional entertainment center may have open shelving and enclosed shelving for supporting and enclosing not only the components but also media used with the components. Such furniture also conventionally provides holes through the back and through the shelving for accommodating the signal cables and power cables associated with the components.  
         [0004]     A conventional entertainment center is spaced away from a facility wall to allow cabling to be tucked behind the cabinetry of the entertainment center because provisions for cabling inside the cabinetry of the entertainment center are inadequate. The space between the entertainment center and the facility wall also supplies ventilation air for the components.  
         [0005]     The conventional entertainment center provides movable shelving for accommodating consumer electronics assemblies of different vertical height; but, provides fixed horizontal dimensions designed for a maximum component width. Use of a conventional entertainment center is limited by the fixed horizontal width of its design. Users seeking, for example, to accommodate a larger home theater display (e.g., a big screen television set, a rear projection system, or a front illuminated screen) have little recourse but to purchase new furniture in the event the larger width display does not fit the fixed horizontal width provided by an existing entertainment center.  
         [0006]     A large market exists for furniture to support consumer electronics. New products of various sizes are launched into this market annually. Without furniture capable of accommodating different horizontal widths, consumers may be reticent to purchase more expensive entertainment center furniture or may forego the acquisition of newer larger components. Consequently, without the present invention, both the consumer electronics and furniture industries face significant economic impairments to growth in sales.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention includes an enclosure of a first space to be occupied by a home theater display wherein the enclosure, when placed against a facility wall provides a second space open to the top of the furniture system for ventilation of the home theater display.  
         [0008]     When the enclosure includes shelving for consumer electronics assemblies, the shelving may be located between a first vertical side and a second vertical side. The first vertical side is adjacent to the display. The second vertical side has a depth greater than the depth of the first vertical side so that a portion of the second space is behind the shelving for ventilation of the consumer electronics assemblies.  
         [0009]     Another furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention includes an enclosure of a space to be occupied by a home theater display and a base for transporting the display into and out from the space. The enclosure includes adjustable members that facilitate extending the enclosure to enclose the display at a width of a set of widths.  
         [0010]     Another furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention includes an enclosure of a space to be occupied by a home theater display and a base for transporting the display into and out from the space. The base includes adjustable members that facilitate extending the base to support the display at a width of a set of widths.  
         [0011]     Another furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention includes a pair of cabinets and a base for supporting a home theater display. The base includes wheels attached to a lower surface of the base to facilitate rolling the base between the cabinets. The base includes at least one section, mechanically coupled to the base that may be placed in one of a set of positions apart from a center of the base to give the base an apparent width that approximates a corresponding width of any of a set of home theater displays of various widths. The section includes a trim surface to block viewing of the wheels from the front of the entertainment furniture system when the section is placed in any position of the set.  
         [0012]     The cabinets may include inner sides shorter in depth than outer sides, thereby forming a passage in the rear of the system for ventilation and cabling.  
         [0013]     By including a multi-section base, the load weight of the display is efficiently coupled to the wheels for a variety of displays. By including trim pieces that overlap, the overall appearance of the base is improved. When the furniture system further includes a bridge, an overlapping aspect of the bridge relative to the cabinets is aesthetically similar to the overlapping appearance of the base for improved appearance of the furniture system as a whole.  
         [0014]     A base, according to various aspects of the present invention, supports a home theater display and includes a stage and at least two sections. The stage and each section provide a respective front surface to block viewing of a space beneath the home theater display and to enhance the appearance of the base. The sections facilitate horizontal positioning relative to each other to establish a width of the base to approximate the width of any one of a set of home theater displays having differing respective widths. The base includes a plurality of wheels in the space that allow movement of the stage and display as a unit on a provided surface.  
         [0015]     The stage and sections may be mechanically coupled by slides. Locks may be added to the slides to maintain the selected positioning.  
         [0016]     According to various aspects of the present invention, a method is performed to mount a home theater display in a furniture system. The method includes, in any order: adjusting a horizontal width of a base for supporting the home theater display; placing a first cabinet against a facility wall; placing a second cabinet against the facility wall and spaced apart from the first cabinet a width sufficient for the base; and rolling the base between the first cabinet and the second cabinet. By supporting the display on a wheeled base and transporting the display on the base as a unit, access is facilitated to cabling for power and signals to the display. Cabling may be fully connected and routed prior to rolling the base between the cabinets.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0017]     Embodiments of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the drawing, wherein like designations denote like elements, and:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention wherein the doors of one of the cabinets are omitted for clarity of presentation;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the furniture system of  FIG. 1  wherein the bridge and crown of one of the cabinets are omitted for clarity of presentation;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the underside of a base for use in the furniture system of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the bridge and a crown of the furniture system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     A furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention supports any of a variety of home theater displays of various widths. The furniture system generally encloses a space for locating the home theater display, the space being enclosed on several sides, for example, the left side, the right side, and the top. The furniture system may further enclose a portion of the rear of the space. Enclosing is typically for establishing, improving, or cooperating with the interior design of a room where the home theater display is to be used. The enclosure provides ventilation for the display according to various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0023]     The display is supported on a base having wheels to transport the base and display as a unit separate from the enclosure portion of the furniture system. The furniture system is typically arranged to abut each vertical side of the home theater display and present to a front view a continuous series of trim surfaces that substantially hide the wheels from view. When the rear of the furniture system is placed against a facility wall, spaces defined by the enclosure accommodate wiring and ventilation and are easily accessible from the front of the furniture system. Conventional materials and techniques of furniture manufacture may be used in the design and construction of furniture systems of the present invention except as described below.  
         [0024]     For example, furniture system  100  of  FIGS. 1-4  includes cabinets  102  and  103 , back panel  101 , bridge  104 , and base  105 . Cabinets  102  (and  103 ) support component electronics and media (not shown). Each cabinet  102  ( 103 ) includes inner side  242  ( 244 ), outer side  250  ( 252 ), crown  132  ( 133 ), any number of suitable shelves  121  and  123 , and a cabinet back  246  ( 248 ) having holes  122  and  124  through which power and signal cables may be routed. Because outer side  250  ( 252 ) extends further to the rear than inner side  242  ( 244 ), cabinet  102  ( 103 ) defines a space  216  ( 218 ) for cabling and ventilation.  
         [0025]     A back panel of the furniture system enhances the finished appearance and is retained in a vertical position while cabinets  102  and  103  are moved to establish a suitable width  110  for base  105 . For example, back panel  101  is mounted to allow cabinets  102  and  103  to be repositioned without access to the rear of the furniture system to effect a change in mounting of back panel  101 . Back panel  101  in one implementation rests on a hook  262  ( 264 ) on each cabinet  102  ( 103 ) and slides in groove  414  of bridge  104 . When cabinets  102  and  103  are positioned closer together or farther apart, back panel  101  slides on hooks  262  and  264  and is maintained in a vertical position by groove  414 . Back panel  101  does not obstruct cable passage holes (e.g.,  122  and  124 ) or significantly block ventilation holes in cabinet backs  246  and  248  when cabinets  102  and  103  are positioned for a minimum width  110 . Back panel  101  includes stiffeners  210 ,  212 , and  214  to reduce warping.  
         [0026]     A bridge provides a visual connection between cabinets, usually at the top of a furniture system, by spanning the width between cabinets. While cabinets are moved to establish a suitable width, the bridge cooperates with the cabinets and the back panel to maintain its position on top of the cabinets. The horizontal position of the bridge can be adjusted (e.g., to center the bridge between the cabinets) without access to the top or rear of the furniture system. A bridge may be supported on the front of crowns of two cabinets and may also be supported via a back panel and hooks on which the back panel is supported. A bridge may have a depth when installed that is substantially equal to the depth of the inner sides of cabinets on which it rests.  
         [0027]     For example, bridge  104  rests on the top of cabinet  102  and rests on the top of cabinet  103 . Bridge  104  nests with back panel  101  in groove  414  to prevent movement of bridge  104  toward the front of furniture system  100 . Preferably, back panel  101  bears no weight of bridge  104  so that back panel  101  slides easily when cabinets are moved. Bridge  104  nests with crowns  132  and  133  via slots  406  and  408  to prevent movement of bridge  104  toward the front or toward the rear of furniture system  100 . A front surface  422  of crown  132  (and a symmetric surface of crown  133 (not shown)) is overlapped by a portion  402  of bridge  104 . When surface  422  includes raised or recessed features, corresponding recesses or raised features may be added to surface  424  to provide an integral appearance when surfaces  422  and  424  are pressed against each other. When supported by cabinets  102  and  103 , bridge  104  covers a space  106  between cabinets  102  and  103 . Bridge  104  may include conventional lighting to illuminate space  106 . In one implementation, bridge  104  is not fastened to either cabinet  102  or  103  but slides on the crown portion  132  and  133  of each cabinet so that bridge  104  is aligned easily over the center of space  106  and flush against crowns  132  and  133 . Bridge  104  may further include U-shaped slots for avoiding interference between body  404  of bridge  104  and lighting in crowns  132  and  133  (e.g., installed in apertures  135  and  137 ).  
         [0028]     A crown provides an aesthetically pleasing top to a cabinet and provides support for lighting and a bridge. A crown cooperates with a bridge according to various aspects of the present invention to support the bridge while the cabinet is being moved toward or away from the other cabinet on which the bridge is supported. For example, crowns  132  and  133  cooperate with bridge  104  as discussed above. Further, crowns cooperate with a bridge of the present invention to provide an aperture  430  for convection cooling of the home theater display and any entertainment equipment components located within cabinets  102  and  103 . Aperture  430  includes a portion  216  rear of cabinet back  246 , a portion  218  rear of cabinet back  248 , and a portion  430  above base  105 . Rear panels, crowns, and/or a bridge of furniture system  100  may include any conventional grills, hole patterns, slots, or voids to facilitate cooling.  
         [0029]     A base, according to various aspects of the present invention provides an adjustable width so as to support one of various width home theater displays and provides a concealed mechanism for moving the base in and out of position between cabinets of the furniture system. Such a base includes sections mechanically coupled to each other and capable of being positioned with respect to each other to provide a base having one of various overall widths. Any mechanical coupling technique may be used to provide discrete or continuously variable positions. Concealment of wheels may be accomplished by expandable trim surfaces, where expansion is accomplished by overlapping, telescoping, deploying, or stretching trim surfaces. A deployed trim surface may be stored as rolled stock in the base. Stretching may include elastic, pleated, or accordioned material. For example, base  105  of  FIGS. 1-4  includes stage  113 , section  112  attached to stage  113  by integral slides, and section  114  attached to stage  113  by integral slides. The stage provides wheels for movement of the base; and the sections and the stage provide cooperative overlapping trim surfaces to conceal the wheels. A trim surface of each section overlaps a portion of the nearest cabinet that abuts the base.  
         [0030]     A stage provides support for at least one section and provides transportation for an object placed on the stage or on the section. For example, stage  113  includes platform  111 , casters  302 - 305 , studs  311 - 314 , and trim piece  108 . Section  112  ( 114 ) includes platform  322  ( 323 ), side  306  ( 308 ), and trim piece  107  ( 109 ). Platform  322  ( 323 ) includes a pair of slots  326  ( 327 ) and  328  ( 329 ) for attaching the section to the stage. The underside of section platforms  322  and  323  bears on the an upper side of stage platform  111 . Studs  311 - 314  pass through slots  326 - 329  to accept a stud termination (e.g., a fender washer and nut). Each slot, stud, and termination cooperate to form a slide for mechanically coupling a section to the stage. By loosening stud terminations, each section  112  and  114  may be moved along its respective slides (e.g., along axis  110 ) toward and away from the center of platform  111 . By moving each section a proportional distance from the center of platform  111 , base  113  is extended to any width (W)  110  within the range of the slides. After moving the sections, any suitable lock (e.g., a locking mechanism) may be employed to secure the position, fix the overall width of stage  113 , and more efficiently transfer load borne by base  105  to casters  302 - 305 . For example, stud terminations may be tightened to draw and bind the stage and section together.  
         [0031]     Casters  302 - 305  are fixed to an underside surface of platform  111  and provide load bearing support. Each caster pivots around a vertical axis. Each caster provides a wheel that rotates on a horizontal axis. Any conventional caster may be used. A home theater display placed onto base  113  may rest in part against an upper surface of platform  111  and/or on an upper surface of section platforms  322  and  323 . Weight of the display is communicated via slides to stage  113  and through casters  302 - 305  to the facility surface on which furniture system  100  is placed. In operation, casters  302 - 305  facilitate movement of stage  113  (and a display placed on stage  113 ) along an axis of width  110  so to align stage  113  between cabinets  102  and  103 , and along an axis of depth  120  so to move stage  113  into space  106 . A home theater display atop stage  113  may completely fill the width  110  and depth  120  of space  106 .  
         [0032]     The space directly below stage platform  111  is substantially hidden from view by the cooperation of trim pieces  107 - 109 . Trim piece  107  ( 109 ) extends away from the center of platform  111  and beyond the extremity of platform  322  ( 323 ) to overlap a portion of cabinet  102  ( 103 ) and consequently to cover any portion of space  106  that might remain between base  113  and cabinet  102  ( 103 ). Trim piece  107  ( 109 ) also extends toward the center of platform  111  to overlap a portion of trim piece  108 . When section  112  ( 113 ) is slid toward or away from stage  111 , trim piece  107  ( 109 ) slides in front of trim piece  108  to continue to perform the hiding function.  
         [0033]     Each section  112  and  114  may further include a railing on one or more edges of the section to reduce the risk that an object placed on the base will unexpectedly slide off the base. For example, section  112  ( 114 ) may further include side  306  ( 308 ) that extends above platform  322  ( 323 ) to form a lip  202  ( 206 ). Railings may be added to the upper surfaces of any platform  111 ,  322 , and/or  323 . For example, railing  204  ( 208 ) is added on the top rear edge of platform  322  ( 323 ).  
         [0034]     Movement of base  105  is facilitated in any conventional manner. According to various aspects of the present invention, base  105  provides at least one handle or hand-hold to move base  105 . For example, trim piece  108  extends downward yet leaves space for a user to place his or her hand or hands under trim piece  108  and pull on trim piece  108  to move base  105  on depth axis  120  out from between cabinets  102  and  103 . In an alternate implementation, platform  111  is formed with a hand access hole through platform  111  to facilitate pulling base  105  on depth axis  120  out from between cabinets  102  and  103 .  
         [0035]     Assembly of an entertainment system with an entertainment furniture system as discussed above may proceed according to a method performed in any order as follows. Measure the width of the home theater display to be positioned in space  106 . Determine whether it is desired to abut both cabinets  102  and  103  to the sides of the home theater display, and if not add a suitable amount to the width. Assemble sections  112  and  114  to stage  113 . Before tightening stud terminations, extend each section  112  and  114  symmetrically from the center of stage  113  an amount equal to about half the desired width, then lock the sections to the stage (e.g., by tightening the stud terminations). Place back panel  101  against a facility wall. Place cabinet  102  within a few inches of the facility wall as desired, allowing for access to cable TV, power, telephone, Internet, and other facility wiring connections for use by the entertainment system. Place cabinet  103  roughly the desired width from cabinet  102 . Lift back panel  101  onto hooks  162  and  164 . Place bridge  104  on top of the crown portions of cabinets  102  and  103 , centering bridge  104  over space  106 , and fitting bridge  104  onto back panel  101  for maintaining back panel  101  in a vertical position. Move cabinets  102  and/or  103  to obtain the desired width of space  106 . While cabinets  102  and  103  are being moved apart (or together), back panel  101  is confined to slide on axis  120  while being maintained in a vertical position; and, bridge  104  is confined to slide only on axis  120  while being maintained square to the top of cabinets  102  and  103 . If cabinet lighting is provided in bridge  104  or crown portions of cabinets  102  and  103 , connect power wiring. Place a home theater display on base  105  and transport the base and display as a unit to a position in front of space  106 . Place all other entertainment system components (e.g., tuner, amplifier, audio media player, speakers) in cabinets  102  and  103 . Route all cables and wiring from the display to the components. Reach around cabinet inner side  242  ( 244 ) to access cables passing through holes  122  and  124  (and suitable holes in cabinet back  248  (not shown)). Transport the base and display as a unit into space  106  until the trim pieces  107  and  109  meet and overlap a portion of the front trim pieces  142  and  144  of cabinets  102  and  103 .  
         [0036]     Another furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention may include a base as discussed above and an enclosure. The enclosure may include: (a) shelving to one side of a space to be occupied by the base; and (b) a vertical panel on the opposite side of the space. The enclosure may include a bridge and/or a back panel that spans the top and/or rear sides of the space. For example, such a furniture system may include all of the structures discussed above with reference to system  100 , except that: (a) cabinet  102  is replaced by a panel similar to side  250  (e.g., omitting crown, doors, drawer, shelves, as well as front, inside, and rear structures) and supported by being attached to either a back panel similar to  101  and/or to a bridge similar to  104 ; and (b) bridge  104  is replaced with a bridge modified to attach to or cooperate with side  250  (e.g., omitting all of the structure associated with resting on top of and cooperating with a full size cabinet  102 ). The structures and cooperation of the bridge and cabinet  103  would be included in this alternate furniture system. The asymmetric implementation discussed here (cabinet to the right of display) may be implemented as a mirror image (cabinet on left of display) in an alternate implementation.  
         [0037]     In alternative implementations of the furniture systems discussed above, cabinet doors and drawers are partially or entirely omitted. In still further alternate implementations, any arrangement of shelving, doors, and/or drawers may be located between sides  244  and  252  (and/or sides  250  and  242  if implemented).  
         [0038]     Another alternate furniture system according to various aspects of the present invention includes merely a base as discussed above (cabinets  102  and  103 , bridge  104 , and back panel  101  are omitted).  
         [0039]     The foregoing description discusses preferred embodiments of the present invention which may be changed or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. While for the sake of clarity of description, several specific embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the invention is intended to be measured by the claims as set forth below.