Patent Publication Number: US-2004045224-A1

Title: Media wall

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates generally to furniture, and in particular to pieces of furniture that support electrical or electronic equipment, such as plasma screen or flat screen television sets, computer monitors, and other devices.  
       [0002] As technology has advanced, more and more television sets and computer monitors are being manufactured that are substantially thinner than prior television sets and computer monitors. Such thin screen technology includes plasma screen televisions, flat screen displays for both computers and televisions, as well as other technologies. As these technologies have become more prevalent, the need for furniture specifically adapted to support these thin screen media has grown. Existing furniture has generally been ill suited to support these thin screen media because of the very thinness of the media.  
       [0003] For example, plasma screen televisions may have a thickness of only several inches but a height and width of several feet. This shape makes these screens very prone to tipping if they are not properly secured. Prior art television display cabinets often do not have the means to prevent such tipping, and also tend to have shelf depths that are far greater than is necessary to accommodate plasma screen televisions. Furthermore, the height and width of plasma screen televisions is generally greater than that of standard television sets. This further renders prior art television cabinets incapable of supporting plasma screen televisions.  
       [0004] Apart from the inability of prior art furniture to easily accommodate thin display media, prior art furniture has also suffered from further disadvantages. Specifically, prior art furniture that is designed to support electrical or electronic equipment has generally been poor at facilitating the installation and any modifications that are made to the equipment supported on the furniture. As one example, prior art television stands generally include a back wall with one or more relatively small holes through which various cords associated with the television are threaded. These cords typically include at least a power cord and a cord for communicating with a VCR or DVD player, or other device supported on the stand. When installing these and other electronic devices on the stand, the cords often have to be threaded through these holes while the stand is positioned up against a wall. This substantially prevents access to the rear of the stand and makes the installation or modification of the cord connections difficult. Further, after the stand has been set up in its desired location, gaining access to power outlets or communications ports located behind the television stand is exceedingly difficult. The need can therefore be seen for a type of furniture that overcomes these difficulties and allows easy set-up and modification of electronic components and their wire connections. The need can also be seen for a type of furniture that can accommodate thin display media.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a new type of furniture referred to herein as a media wall. The media wall is specially adapted to facilitate the installation and set-up of electronic components, as well as any changes made to either the electrical components or the wires connected to the components. The media wall is also specially adapted to support thin display media. The media wall further allows easy access to be obtained to power and other types of communication ports. Still further, the media wall accomplishes all of these functions in an aesthetically pleasing manner.  
       [0006] A media wall according to one aspect of the present invention includes an upright vertical wall having a front face and a back face. At least one aperture is defined in the wall and is adapted to allow at least one cable to extend from the front face to the back face of the wall. A support is also provided and is adapted to be affixed to a stationary structure. A hinge is attached to the support and the wall, and allows the wall to pivot about a vertical axis.  
       [0007] A media wall according to another aspect of the present invention includes an upright vertical wall with a front and back face. At least one shelf is attached to, and extends forwardly from, the upright wall. A support is provided and adapted to be fixed to a stationary structure. A hinge is attached to the support and the wall and is arranged to allow the wall to pivot about a vertical axis.  
       [0008] A media wall according to still another aspect of the present invention includes an upright, vertical wall having a front and back face. A pair of sidewalls are attached to the back face of the upright wall. At least one shelf is attached to the front face of the wall and extends forwardly therefrom. A support is affixed to the wall and is adapted to be attached to a stationary structure such that the support secures the wall in a fixed position when the support is affixed to a stationary structure.  
       [0009] In still other aspects of the invention, the media wall may include an adjustable video camera support mounted on the front face of the wall. One or more drawers may also be included on the wall for storage. A conduit, such as a cable trough or other structure, may be provided on the back face of the wall for holding any cable(s) used to operate the electronic equipment supported on the media wall. The sidewalls may also include data, telephone, and power ports to allow other electrical devices to both draw power through the media wall and to communicate with the electrical devices supported on the media wall. The shelf may include a pivotable panel disposed at the rear end of the shelf which pivots to allow greater access between the front and back faces of the media wall.  
       [0010] The media wall of the present invention provides a convenient and aesthetically pleasing structure for supporting thin display media, as well as video cameras and other related electronic devices. The media wall conceals the electrical cabling necessary to operate such equipment while still allowing easy access to such equipment for maintenance and modification purposes. The media wall provides these advantages while taking up only a minimum amount of space. These and other benefits of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a media wall according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the media wall of FIG. 1;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a back side of the media wall of FIG. 1;  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a media wall including a schematic of the wiring for the media wall according to one aspect of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a video camera support according to one aspect of the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is side, elevational view of the video camera support of FIG. 5;  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a rear, elevational view of the video camera support of FIG. 5;  
     [0018]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a media wall illustrated with a plasma screen television attached;  
     [0019]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a media wall according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0020]FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a video camera support according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0021]FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the video camera support of FIG. 10. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0022] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals correspond to like elements in the several drawings. A media wall  20  according to one aspect of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1. Media wall  20  is shown positioned in front of a building or structural wall  22  which may be a permanent or semi-permanent wall that one would find in an office or a residential home. Structural wall  22  forms no part of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, media wall  20  is constructed to be pivotable with respect to structural wall  22 , as indicated by arrow  30 , in order to allow easy access to the structures located between media wall  20  and structural wall  22 . Media wall  20  includes a front face  24  on which one or more plasma screen televisions  26  or other types of media display devices may be mounted (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Such mounting may occur at any desirable location along front face  24 .  
     [0023] Media wall  20  may include one or more apertures  28  which allow cords to be passed from the devices mounted on front face  24  to a back face  32  (FIG. 1). A shelf  34  may also be provided on front face  24  of media wall  20  to support additional electronic components, such as DVD players, VCRs, CD players, or other equipment. An opening behind shelf  34  is provided to allow the cables from these devices to be inserted to the back side of media wall  20 . As will be explained in more detail below, outlets may be provided within media wall  20  adjacent shelf  34  and in other areas which allow the electronic devices to plug directly into media wall  20  for power. The wiring and cords necessary to implement the particular media devices which a user has chosen are all easily implemented or modified by way of the pivoting action of media wall  20 , which allows easy access to back face  32 .  
     [0024] A video camera support  36  is mounted on media wall  20  to support a video camera which may be used to implement teleconference calls. Video camera support  36  may be both horizontally and vertically adjustable, as described more fully herein. Video camera support  36  may, of course, be used to support devices other than video cameras. A pair of drawers  38  are also included in media wall  20  on opposite sides of shelf  34  to provide storage space for items associated with the mounted electronic components, as well as other items. Drawers  38  are slidable forwardly from media wall  20  such that they can be accessed by a user standing in front of media wall  20 . A second shelf  40  above first shelf  34  is also provided and creates additional space for supporting equipment that may be desirably supported on media wall  20 .  
     [0025] As illustrated in FIG. 2, media wall  20  is pivotable about a vertical axis  42  positioned adjacent one side of media wall  20 . The pivoting of media wall  20  occurs by way of a hinge or other suitable device attached between a stationary support  44  and a frame  46  of media wall  20 . Stationary support  44  supports frame  46  and all of its attachments as it pivots. Stationary support  44  includes a straight section  48 , a knee  50 , and a top support  52 . A mounting plate  54  is attached to the bottom of both straight section  48  and knee  50 . Mounting plates  54  each include a plurality of fastener holes for use with screws, bolts, etc. to firmly mount stationary support  44  to the floor. Top support  52  is mounted to structural wall  22  by way of any suitable fasteners, such as screws, bolts, nails, or other types of fasteners. In order to ensure a proper mounting, the fasteners inserted through top support  52  should be inserted into one or more studs in stationary wall  22 . Stationary support  44  is preferably made from any suitably strong metal, such as steel, although other materials can be used. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the structure of stationary support  44  can vary considerably from that described herein and depicted in the attached drawings without departing from the scope of the invention.  
     [0026] Frame  46  generally has a rectangular shape that matches the shape of media wall  20 . Frame  46  includes a top section  56 , a bottom section  58 , and a pair of side sections  60 , which are all secured together and designed to support the weight of media wall  20 . While frame  46  may be made of any suitably strong material, it has been found that aluminum provides sufficient strength to support media wall  20  while still being relatively lightweight. Frame  46  generally extends about the periphery of a main wall  62  and is secured thereto by way of any suitable fasteners, such as screws, bolts, nails, or others. Such fasteners are used in sufficient number and inserted into main wall  62  to a sufficient depth to firmly secure main wall  62  and frame  46  together without having any of the fasteners visible on front face  24  of main wall  62 .  
     [0027] A pair of sidewalls  64   a  and  b  are attached to back face  32  of main wall  62 . Sidewalls  64   a  and  b  extend rearwardly from back face  32  a relatively small distance, such as six inches or less, although greater distances are contemplated within the scope of the invention. At least one sidewall  64  preferably includes a connection panel  66  (FIGS.  3 - 4 ) disposed within the sidewall. In the most preferred embodiment, each sidewall  64   a  and  b  includes a connection panel  66   a  and  b . Connection panels  66  provides an interface for a variety of electrical and electronic cords or cables. For example, connection panel  66  may include a power outlet  68  (FIG. 4) into which electrical or electronic devices may be plugged in order to receive electrical power. Connection panel  66  may also include a telephone jack  70  into which a telephone or other device that uses telephonic communications may be inserted. Connection panel  66  may still further include a video jack  72  and a data jack  74 . Video jack  72  allows a cable over which video signals are transmitted, such as one used in connection with a VCR or DVD player, to be inserted into connection panel  66 . Data jack  74  allows a cable over which electronic data is transmitted, such as an Internet or other network connection, to be inserted into connection panel  66 . Telephone, video, and data jacks  70 - 74  allow one or more telephones, computers, or other electronic equipment to be plugged into connection panel  66  on a sidewall  64  and thereby be able to communicate with one or more electronic devices mounted on media wall  20 , as well as external networks, as will be described in more detail below.  
     [0028] A wiring diagram illustrating the wiring for media wall  20  according to one preferred embodiment is depicted in FIG. 4. A power wire  76   a  is connected to connection panel  66   a  and extends along a horizontal wire management channel  78  mounted on back face  32  of main wall  62 . Power wire  76   a  extends horizontally in channel  78  to generally a midpoint of main wall  62  and then extends vertically in a vertical wire management channel  80 . A power wire  76   b  is connected to connection panel  66   b  and extends along horizontal wire management channel  78  to generally the midpoint of main wall  62 . From there, wire  76   b  extends vertically upward along vertical wire management channel  80 , where it is electrically coupled to wire  76   a.  Power wires  76   a  and  76   b  terminate at any desired location along vertical wire management channel  80  in one or more power outlets  82  (FIG. 3). Alternatively, power wires  76   a  and  b  can terminate along horizontal wire management channel  78  in outlets  82 . As yet another alternative, power wires  76   a  and  b  can be arranged to provide power outlets  82  at any desirable location or locations on back face  32 . Power outlets  82  are preferably positioned such that power cords from electronic devices mounted to the front face of main wall  62  or supported on shelves  34  or  40  can be plugged into these power outlets  82  to receive power. While any number of power outlets can be used within the scope of the invention, at least four power outlets are preferably provided. Power wires  76   a  and  b  are electrically coupled to a plug  84  which can be inserted into a power outlet connected to a power source, such as a conventional power outlet in a wall, a power strip, or any other source of electrical power.  
     [0029] As illustrated in FIG. 4, eight power outlets  82  are provided on the back face  32  of main wall  62 . Five of these power outlets  82  are electrically coupled to a plurality of electrical cords or wires  86   a - e  which supply power to a variety of electrical devices  88   a - e . Wire  86   a  provides power to a first electrical device  88   a , which may be a VGA automatic switcher, as will be described in more detail below. Wire  86   b  provides electrical power to device  88   b  which is positioned on video camera support  36 . Device  88   b  is preferably a video camera that may be used for video-conferencing, although other types of electrical devices can be mounted on support  36 . Wires  86   c  and  d  provide power to two electrical devices  88   c  and  d  located on lower shelf  34 . Electrical devices  88   c  and  d  may be CD players, DVD players, VCRs, a combination of these devices, or any other type of electronic device. Wire  86   e  is connected to electronic device  88   e , which may be a plasma screen television mounted to the front face of main wall  62 , or some other type of media display device.  
     [0030] The location of all of the wires  86   a - e  may be varied as necessary depending upon the particular implementation of media wall  20 . For example, it may be possible to position a DVD player on top of upper shelf  40 , instead of lower shelf  34 . Wire  86   c  would therefore extend from an outlet  82  to the back of the device on shelf  40 . Each wire  86   a - e  includes a first end that is inserted into one of outlets  82  and a second end which is coupled to the particular electronic device. For DVD players, CD players, and other electrical devices, wires  86  may be permanently attached to, and a part of, the particular electronic device which is being supported on media wall  20 .  
     [0031] A phone cable  90  is supported in horizontal wire management channel  78  and extends from the telephone jack  70  in connection panel  66   a  to the telephone jack  70  in connection panel  66   b . Phone cable  90  is also operatively coupled to a phone plug  92 , which is insertable into a standard phone jack in a wall or other device. When phone plug  92  is so inserted, a phone connection can be inserted into either or both of the telephone jacks  70  in connection panels  66   a  and  b  to thereby connect to a phone line. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a laptop computer may be desirably placed on a cart  94 . If the laptop includes a modem, it may be desirable to connect the laptop to a working phone line. This can be accomplished by inserting one end of a phone cable into the laptop and the other end into telephone jack  70  in connection panel. Provided telephone plug  92  is inserted into a conventional phone jack in a wall or other structure, the laptop will then have access to a phone line.  
     [0032] A data or network cable  96   a  is coupled between the data jack  74  in connection panel  66   a  and a data plug  98   a . A second data or network cable  96   b  is coupled between the data jack  74  in connection panel  66   b  and a second data plug  98   b.  When data plugs  98   a  and  b  are inserted into a conventional data outlet, such as would typically be found in a structural wall of the office or residence in which media wall  20  is present, data can be transmitted to each of the respective data jacks  74 . In this manner, a computer or other electronic device which requires a network connection can be plugged into one of data jacks  74 . Because each data jack  74  is separately wired, two different electronic devices can access a data or network connection simultaneously, such as when one device is hooked up to the data jack  74  in connection panel  66   a  and another device is hooked up to the data jack  74  in connection panel  66   b.    
     [0033] A pair of video cables  100   a  and  b  are connected respectively at one end to video jacks  72  in each connection panel  66   a  and  b.  The other end of video cables  100  are connected to video switching device  88   a.  Video switching device  88   a  may be a 2-in, 1-out VGA Auto Switcher with Loop Output, such as is sold by Altinex, Inc. of Brea, Calif., under the model number DA1916SX. Other types of video switching equipment may be substituted. Video switcher  88   a  includes two video inputs  102  and one output  104 . Video switcher  88   a  automatically detects which of the two inputs  102  are currently transmitting and connects that incoming signal to the output  104 . If signals are being received on both inputs  102 , switcher  88   a  selects a default input to connect to output  104 . Output  104  is coupled by a user to a video device, such as a plasma screen television or other device which utilizes a video connection. If media wall  20  only includes a single video jack  72 , then a video switcher  88   a  is unnecessary and can be omitted from media wall  20 .  
     [0034] While cables  86 ,  90 ,  96 , and  100  are illustrated in FIG. 4 as being separate cables, they can be physically bundled together into a single cord. In FIG. 3, a pair of cables  106  are illustrated and should be understood to include a bundling of cables  86 ,  90 ,  96 , and  100 . Such bundling helps simplify the process for wiring the electronic devices supported on media wall  20 . Horizontal and vertical wire management channels  78  and  80  help further simplify the wiring process and may, in one embodiment, be wire management channels as sold by Dek Cable Accessories, Inc. of St. Charles, Ill., under model no. 046-4030SBP. Other types of channels may also be used within the scope of the present invention to support the cabling.  
     [0035] In addition to the foregoing cables, video cables  108   a - c  are depicted in FIG. 3 for specific electronic devices. Cable  108   a  provides a video connection between an electronic device  88   b,  such as a video camera, and the plasma screen or other media display device  88   e.  Cables  108   b  and  c  provide video connections between the television  88   e  and each of two different electronic devices  88   c  and  88   d  on shelf  34 . If additional electronic devices that utilize video signals are supported on media wall  20 , additional cables would be necessary, as would be understood by one skilled in the art.  
     [0036] An aperture  110  is defined in main wall  62  at the back of lower shelf  34  (FIG. 3). Aperture  110  is, in the preferred embodiment, as long as shelf  34  and substantially as high as the vertical separation between lower shelf  34  and upper shelf  40 . While other dimensions of aperture  110  can be used within the present invention, these dimensions are preferred in order to allow complete access to the back panels of electronic instruments positioned on shelf  34 . Such complete access is preferred over smaller apertures which may not align properly with the cables coming out of the back panel of electronic devices, and which make wiring such devices more difficult due to their limited dimensions. A pivotable panel  112  is mounted adjacent the back end of shelf  34  along a horizontal axis. Pivotable panel  112  pivots between a generally upright, vertical position, and a lowered position which may be horizontal or angled. Pivotable panel  112  at least partially covers aperture  110  when it is pivoted into its upright position. Preferably a gap  114  still remains after pivotable panel  112  is pivoted to its upright position in order to provide clearance for cables extending from devices on shelf  34  to the back of main wall  62 . While not necessary, gap  114  is preferably disposed adjacent a top of panel  112  as the top area is less visually accessible to passersby passing in front of media wall  20 . Pivotable panel  112  thus allows easy access to be gained to the rear of shelf  34  while it is pivoted to a lowered position, and also provides aesthetically pleasing concealment of substantially all of aperture  110  while it is in its upright position.  
     [0037] The mounting of one or more plasma screen televisions, or other display media, on media wall  20  is accomplished through the use of a conventional plasma screen television mount. These mounts are commercially available and are secured to a desired location on front face  24  of media wall  20  by way of screws or other fasteners. Media wall  20  may or may not include apertures  28  for allowing the cables attached to the plasma screen television to be passed through main wall  62  to back face  32 . If no such apertures  28  are included, then they can be drilled manually by the installer of the plasma screen television of other media display device. Leaving apertures  28  out of media wall  28  allows the user of the media wall to select any location for installing the plasma screen television on front face  24  of main wall  62  without being limited to the more aesthetically pleasing locations in which the television will conceal apertures  28 . Further, different models of television may have their cables located at different positions on the television, thus making it difficult to ensure that apertures  28  are aligned with the television cables. For this additional reason, it may be desirable to omit apertures  28  from media wall  20  and allow the user to select the location for these and drill them where desired.  
     [0038] Video camera support  36  may also be included as part of media wall  20 . As noted, video camera support  36  can be used to support a video camera for teleconferencing, as well as supporting other devices. Video camera support  36  includes a flat shelf  116  that projects forwardly from front face  24  (FIGS.  5 - 7 ). Shelf  116  is supported on a main panel  118  by way of a pair of brackets  120 . Main panel  118  includes a central aperture  122  defined generally at the height of shelf  116  and centered in main panel  118 . Aperture  122  provides an opening for cords and cables which may be attached to a video camera or other electronic device supported on shelf  116 . These cords or cables are preferably inserted through aperture  122  and run vertically along a back face  124  of main panel  118  until they reach the top of support  36 . The cords are concealed from view by a pair of sidewalls  126  extending rearwardly a short distance from back face  124  of main panel  118 . A hook  128  extends rearwardly from main panel  118  at the top of support  36  for a first distance, and then drops downwardly for a short distance. Hook  128  hooks over a top edge  130  of main wall  62  (FIG. 3) and supports video camera support  36  on main wall  62 . A space for the wires or cords used with the video camera on support  36  is provided underneath hook  128 . In order to conceal these wires from view, they are preferably inserted through aperture  122 , run up the back face  124  of main panel  118 , passed underneath hook  128  and over the top edge  130  of main wall  62 , and then are either inserted into vertical wire management channel  80  or plugged into one of the outlets  82  disposed along the back side of main wall  62 .  
     [0039] Hook  128  holds video camera support  36  on main wall  62  by gravity and therefore can be moved horizontally along the entire top edge  130  of main wall  62 . A user of media wall  20  therefore has the freedom to easily adjust support  36  to any desired horizontal location on main wall  20 . In order to avoid marring or otherwise damaging front face  24  of main wall  62 , video camera support  36  preferable includes a plurality of pegs  132  that have a felt tipped surface  134 , or other type of non-abrasive surface. Surfaces  134  contact front face  24  of main wall  62  when support  36  is used and therefore should not only be of a non-abrasive material, but should include sufficient surface area to avoid causing any indentation into front face  24  due to the weight of support  36  and the items supported thereon.  
     [0040] In addition to being horizontally adjustable, video camera support  36  may be altered from that depicted in the attached drawings to be vertically adjustable. While any type of vertical adjustability mechanisms are contemplated within the scope of the present invention, one such mechanism might include defining a plurality of holes in main panel  118  into which brackets  120  can be selectively inserted. Brackets  120  could then be removed and inserted into whichever of the plurality of holes was located at the desired height. Shelf  116  would then be supported on the brackets at the desired heights. If such a vertical height adjustment mechanism were used, it might be desirable to include a plurality of apertures  122  at different heights to accommodate wires at different heights. It also might be aesthetically desirable to include means for concealing such wires from being seen through apertures positioned above the aperture being used, such as by providing a channel along the side of main panel for threading the wires, or other means.  
     [0041] Another possible manner of implementing a limited form of vertical adjustability for support  36  is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Video camera support  36 ′ depicted in these figures is adapted to have its height adjusted during its installation or during the installation of media wall  20 . Once adjusted, the height can thereafter not be lengthened, but only shortened. This limited form of vertical adjustability is accomplished by way of a series of horizontal score lines  136  defined on the back of main panel  118 ′. These score lines allow an installer or other person to easily cut main panel  118 ′ along a selected score line corresponding to the desired height of support  36 ′. The cutting of the score line is accomplished by first removing a detachable mount  138 . Detachable mount  138  includes hook  128 ′ and a pair of sidewalls  140 . After detachable mount  138  has been removed, access to any of score lines  136  is obtained and the cutting can take place. After the cutting has been completed, detachable mount  138  is re-attached to support  36 ′ by way of nuts and bolts or other fasteners inserted through the two lowermost holes in a set of holes  142  defined in sidewalls  140 . These fasteners also fit through two holes defined at the top of non-detachable sidewalls  126 ′ to thereby secure detachable mount  138  to the rest of support  36 ′. Thereafter, support  36 ′ is hung via hook  128 ′ over the top edge  130  of main wall  62 . If the height of support  36 ′ is later desired to be reduced even further, the above-described process can be repeated. It will be understood the manners of adjusting the height of support  36  and  36 ′ are intended herein to only be illustrative, and that the present invention encompasses other types of vertical adjustability for support  36 .  
     [0042] A number of variations can be made to the media wall  20  as described above without departing from the invention. As depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, the height of media wall  20  can be varied as desired, although media wall  20  preferably has a height of at least five feet, although lesser heights can be used. The width of media wall  20  can also be varied as desired. More than one television can also be supported on a media wall  20 ′, as depicted in FIG. 9, as well as more than one video camera support  34 . In some instances, it may be desirable to support up to four or more televisions on the media wall. Further modifications to media wall  20  include using shapes other than rectangular or square for main wall  62 ; positioning shelves  34  and  40  at different locations; removing one or both of shelves  34  and  40 ; reshaping shelves  34  and  40 ; removing, reshaping, or rearranging drawers  38 ; and repositioning the location of connection panels  66 . This list of possible modifications is only intended to be illustrative, and many further variations of media wall  20  are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0043] To install and use media wall  20 , it is first brought to a desired location in a building, home, or other structure. Stationary support  44  is then secured to the floor and the wall via mounting plates  54  and top support  52 . In some instances, it may not be necessary to include top support  52 , depending on the weight and size of the particular media wall being used, as well as the sturdiness of the floor to which mounting plates  54  are secured. In such instances, whatever connections that are needed to firmly secure media wall  20  are made, and it is to be understood that the use of supports other than support  44  is contemplated within the invention. Support  44  may be installed while main wall  62  is attached, or it may be installed separately from main wall  62 . If done separately, main wall  62  is then attached to support  44  by connecting frame  46  and support  44  together via one or more hinges.  
     [0044] After support  44  and main wall  62  have been firmly secured, main wall  62  is pivoted away from any adjacent structural wall, to the extent it hasn&#39;t already been so pivoted during the installation process. This pivoting allows access to the rear face  32  of main wall  62 . One or more electronic devices may then be placed on shelves  34  and  40 . If no apertures  28  are provided in main wall  62 , these can be drilled at the desired location or locations on main wall  62  in order to accommodate wires from the plasma screen television, or other display device. The television or televisions can then be mounted using a conventional mount to the front face  24  of main wall  62 . A video camera may further be placed on video camera support  34 . After all the desired electronic devices are positioned on media wall  20 , their respective power cords can be plugged into one or more of the power outlets  82  positioned on the back of main wall  62 . The video output  104  of video switcher  88   a  is then connected by an appropriate cable to the plasma screen television in order to allow the television to display any video signals being transmitted through video jacks  72 . If DVD players or VCRs are positioned on shelves  34  or  40 , these can also be connected via appropriate cables to allow the television to display these signals. These connections are easily accomplished by a person standing behind media wall  20  because the entire back panel of these devices is easily accessible via the pivoting of panel  112 . A video cable may further be installed between the video camera and the television to allow the television to display what the camera is viewing. Such a connection is preferably made by running the cable behind support  34 , over the top edge  130  of main wall  62 , and down through aperture  28  into the back of the television in order to ensure that the cable connection is not visible. After all desired cable connections have been made, the power, phone, and network plugs  82 ,  92 , and  98  are inserted into corresponding jacks in an adjacent structural wall. Preferably, although not necessarily, media wall  20  is chosen to be installed in a location where at least one adjacent power outlet is available, as well as a phone jack and one or more network jacks. If such outlets and jacks are not located near enough to media wall  20  such that they will be concealed from view when main wall  62  is pivoted to a closed position, then it may be necessary to run extension cords or wires to insert plugs  82 ,  92 , and  98  into the appropriate outlets or jacks. Such extensions are, of course, not aesthetically desirable.  
     [0045] After installation of the wires and cables is complete, main wall  62  is pivoted to a closed position (i.e. it is pivoted up against a structural wall). The pivoting of main wall  62  is facilitated by one or more wheels (not shown) positioned on the bottom of main wall  62  on a side opposite pivot axis  42 . Such wheels can be made from any suitable material and can take a wide variety of designs. Preferably such wheels include a sufficient amount of surface area such that they do not leave a permanent or undue mark on the floor after main wall  62  has been pivoted, even after repeated pivotings. After main wall  62  has been closed, media wall  20  is ready for use. In addition to the normal operation of all the electronic devices supported on media wall  20 , further electronic devices may be connected to media wall  20 . As is shown in FIG. 4, a cart  94  is positioned adjacent media wall  20 . Cart  94  may be used by a person giving a presentation to people in the room in which media wall  20  is located. If the person has a computer, such as a laptop, positioned on the cart, this computer can be connected to one of connection panels  66  on media wall  20 . Such connections can include power, network, phone, or video connections. By using the video connection, it is possible for the user of the computer to transmit images on his or her computer to the television mounted on front face  24 . Because connection panels  66  are preferably included on both sidewalls  64 , the person giving the presentation has the freedom of working on either side of media wall  20 . Alternatively, two individuals can simultaneously access connections panels  66   a  and  b  to further enhance the presentation options.  
     [0046] While the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments depicted in the drawings and discussed in the above specification, along with several alternative embodiments, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these particular embodiments, but includes any and all such modifications that are within the spirit and the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.