Patent Abstract:
A stand for a television set which has a rectangular pattern of wheels there under and an overhanging rearward portion. The stand has a top surface with a recess for a television and the top is generally T-shaped so a portion underlies the overhanging rearward portion.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to furniture components in general and in particular to a television set supporting stand and accessory storage device and to the combination of such a stand and a television set. 
     It is sometimes the case that a television set as obtained from the manufacturer, and this is particularly true of modern large-screen television sets, will rest upon the usual support surface to position the viewing surface of the television screen at a lower position than many people desire. That is, the furniture space of the viewing room may contain furniture pieces which tend to obscure the screen when the viewer is comfortably seated, and the seating arrangements may be such themselves as makes the viewing angle uncomfortable or annoying to some persons. 
     Accordingly, it is a primary concern of this invention to provide a novel television set/television set stand which renders the television set more pleasing and ornamental than would otherwise be the case. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a television set and stand combination as set forth above in which the stand cooperates to locate the set and prevent unwanted and possibly dangerous movement thereof. In this regard, the upper surface of the stand is of T-shape so as to provide a locating recess for the wheel-supported set while at the same time the normally overhanging rearward portion of the cathode ray tube is accommodated and protected by the stand from engaging a wall or similar objects 
     In another aspect, this invention concerns a television set stand which functions also as a storage space particularly for electronic components, such as a VCR, which may be used in conjunction with the television set. For this purpose, the stand is provided with doors giving access to the storage space, and the storage space itself may be provided with internal lighting so as to provide a maximum of usability. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a television set and the stand assembly of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of the stand as taken along the plane of section line 2--2 in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the stand taken generally along the plane of section line 3--3 in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the stand. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring at this time more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character 10 indicates in general a television set of large screen size, the viewing surface 12 of the screen being surrounded by an appropriate frame work 14 and there being provided the usual network or grille 16 there below, as is usual, and the whole being disposed above the base plate 18. The base plate is provided with a sloped surface 20 and a vertical surface 22, as shown, and forms the demarcation visually between the television set proper and the stand according to this invention. 
     The stand is indicated generally by the reference character 24 and will be seen to include, as seen in FIG. 2 in particular, the front wall 26, the opposite side walls 28 and 30, the inset opposite side walls 32 and 34, the intermediate rear walls 36 and 38, and the rear wall 40. 
     As is shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the top wall 42 of the stand is downwardly recessed with respect to the upper edges of the various walls and is secured peripherally thereto by any conventional technique. The top wall 42 is of T-shaped configuration having a length between the side walls 28 and 30 which is greater than the length between the inset opposite side walls 32 and 34 so as to provide a location recess for the wheels associated with the television set 10. Two of these wheels are illustrated in FIG. 3 and are identified therein by the reference characters 44 and 46. Normally, there will be four of these television set wheels disposed at the corners of the base of the television set. Correspondingly, these wheels are located adjacent the corners 48, 50, 52 and 54 identified in FIG. 2. 
     Consequently, the television set when nested into the top portion of the stand, on the top wall 42, will be positively located by the recess mentioned so that the various wheels 44 and 46 constrain the television set against gross motion relative to the stand by virtue of the proximity of the wheels 44 and 46 to the front wall 26, side walls 28 and 30 and intermediate rear walls 36 and 38 in the respective corners as aforesaid. 
     As is shown perhaps most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stand is also provided with a bottom wall 56, of identical shape to the top wall 42, and cooperating therewith to provide a storage compartment in the stand. The interior of this compartment may be provided with switchable lighting means and the compartment may conveniently house, for example, a VCR and/or stereo components, etc. The front of the compartment is preferably provided with hinged doors 58 and 60 with access handles 62 and 64. 
     As is shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom of the stand assembly is provided with the first transverse support member 66 which marginally overlies the bottom wall 56 and the adjacent bottoms of the front wall 26 and side walls 28 and 30; the second transverse support member 68 which underlies a marginally portion of the bottom wall 56 and the bottoms of the rear wall 40 and the inset 32 and 34 side walls, substantially as is shown. In addition, the first and second cross member 70 and 72 are provided between the support members 66 and 68 to provide a rigidifying support structure for the bottom wall 56. 
     In considering this invention, the above disclosure is intended to be illustrative only and the scope and coverage of the invention should be construed and determined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0