Abstract:
The invention relates to a back column for controlling and guiding the cabling of an entertainment center. The back column has a panel having two wings and a face board attached to the two wings. Each wing extends the panel first in an angular direction towards the entertainment center then extends the panel parallel to the entertainment center. The back column has cutouts through which cabling may pass. Other features are disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to television cabinet stands, and more particularly to a wire dress protector for a television cabinet stand. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Conventional digital television (DTV) stands typically have a boxed shaped construction comprising four walls, perpendicularly adjacent to one another. Where the stand also serves as a cabinet, the cabinet has doors that are locked to the cabinet by magnets. The doors to the cabinet are then opened by pushing in on the door to unlock the magnet lock and then pivoting the doors out and away from the cabinet. 
     Within television cabinets, the owners of televisions store a variety of auxiliary electronic equipment that supports the features of the television. For example, a video cassette recorder (VCRs) permits the owner to play prerecorded shows on their television from the VCRs. To couple the VCR to the television, wires or cables are run from the VCR to the television. In addition, power cords, cable TV cords, and the like are run to and from the television. This multitude of wiring forms an uncontrolled “dress” of wires that pose a danger to a small child, for example, should the small child get close to the wires, or to the auxiliary electronic equipment, for example, should current unexpectedly pass from the wires to the equipment. Moreover, should the television stand be pushed too close to the room wall, the unprotected wires of the wire dress may be crimped or even crushed so as to interfere with the performance of the television unit. 
     Thus, in a television cabinet stand, there is a need for a back column for the wires and bumpers to maintain the stand a distance away from the wall. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a back column for controlling and guiding the cabling of an entertainment center. The back column has a panel having two wings and a face board attached to the two wings. Each wing extends the panel first in an angular direction towards the entertainment center then extends the panel parallel to the entertainment center. The back column has cutouts through which cabling may pass. Other features are disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an entertainment center showing a digital television removed from a cabinet stand; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view with the doors partially removed to reveal the access cutouts in the face board of the back column; and 
     FIG. 5 is a rear assembly view of the entertainment center. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For purposes of explanation, specific embodiments are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by one skilled in the art, from reading this disclosure, that the invention may be practiced without these details. Moreover, well-known elements, devices, process steps and the like are not set forth in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 4 to illustrate the embodiments of the invention. FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention. Entertainment center  10  comprises television  12  being supported by cabinet stand  14 . Television  12  may be a digital television. The support includes a place on which to locate television  12  and a place in which to locate auxiliary service devices that enhance the features of television  12 . Such devices may include video cassette recorders and sound enhancing devices. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of entertainment center  10  showing television  12  removed from cabinet stand  14 . FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention. Cabinet stand  14  comprises, in part, first side panel  16 , second side panel  18 , top board  20 , and bottom board  22 . Top board  20  preferably is shaped to the bottom footprint (or profile) of television  12 . Top board  20  and bottom board  22  are coupled between first side panel  16  and second side panel  18  to form an opening in the rear of cabinet stand  14 . Top board  20  further has trapezoid flange  24  with first hole  26  and second hole  28  that permit wires to be passed through flange  22  of top board  20 . Since top board  20  preferably is shaped to the bottom profile of television  12 , trapezoid flange  24  importantly serves to extend top board  20  away from the bottom profile of television  12  to ensure that first hole  26  and second hole  28  are clear of interference from the bottom profile of television  12 . 
     To control the dress of the wires that run between the auxiliary service devices, television  12 , and external auxiliary service such as a power source or signal wire as well as to keep the wires from touching a wall of the room, back column  30  may be provided. To preferably form fit with the profile displayed by the opening in the rear of cabinet stand  14 , back column  30  may have panel  32  from which wings  34  extend. Each wing  34  has angled extension  36  that extends panel  32  at the obtuse angle of the trapezoid flange  24  and has parallel extension  38  that extends panel  32  to first side panel  16  and second side panel  18 . Preferably, back column  30  extends to the height of first side panel  16  and second side panel  18 . To run power to the auxiliary service devices within cabinet stand  14 , back column  30  may have material removed to define rectangular cutout  40 . To control the wire dress from interfering with the auxiliary service devices within cabinet stand  14 , face board  100  is attached to angled extensions  36  by members  102  as shown, to form hollow column  104 . Access cutouts are provided in face board  100  to provide access to hollow column  104  from within cabinet stand  14  as disucssed in connection with FIG.  4 . 
     To further keep the wires from touching a wall of the room as well as prevent crimping or crushing the wires of entertainment center  10 , bumpers  50  may be provided. Preferably made of a soft material, bumper  50  may be a conic shape having the crown of the cone removed to form flat surface  52 . Preferably, flat surface  52  is located at a distance of one inch from the surface of panel  32 . This distance permits bumpers  50  to engage the wall of the room without crimping or crushing the wires of entertainment center  10 . To fasten each bumper  50  to back column  30 , bumper  50  is formed with recess  54  having through hole  56  into which screw  58  is inserted and tightened into the material of back column  30 . To attach back column  30  to cabinet stand  14 , a plurality of screws  60  may be tightened through back column  30  and into first side panel  16  and second side panel  18 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front view with the doors partially removed to reveal access cutouts  106  in face board  100  of back column  30 . Access cutouts  106  are provided in face board  100  to provide access to hollow column  104  from within cabinet stand  14  so as to permit the user to run wires within hollow column  104  from within cabinet stand  14 . Preferably there are two access cutouts  106 . 
     FIG. 5 is a rear assembly view of entertainment center  10 . Shown in phantom is VCR  60 . Power cord  62  and signal wire  64  are threaded through rectangular cutout of  40  of back column  30  to engage VCR  60 . From VCR  60 , power is supplied to digital television by running power cord  66  from VCR  60  to television  12  through second hole  28 . Also from VCR  60 , signal is supplied to digital television by running signal wire  68  from VCR  60  to television  12  through second hole  28 . 
     While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to the various Figures, it should be understood that the Figures and detailed description, and the identification of certain preferred and alternate materials, are for illustration only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention or excluding still other alternatives. Many changes and modifications may be made to the invention, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the matter and scope of the invention.