Abstract:
A folding entertainment cabinet can be assembled and is connectable without tools. Hinged end walls, allowing for foldability, interconnect with rigid front and back walls. A rigid floor and a top removably connect to the unfolded frame structure for a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure. The rigidity of the cabinet supports a television and an interior vertical support wall adds additional support, while providing the means to add shelves for storage or additional entertainment components. Doors and windows may also be added, as needed, for functionality or aesthetics.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to folding knock-down cabinets in which the side panels are hinged to a rigid back wall and particularly to a folding television cabinet which requires no tools or hardware to set up; the folding cabinet comprises a planar back wall, a framed planar front wall with openings, a first folding end wall and a second folding end wall which are hinged together at the sides thereof to the front and back walls of the cabinet, the first and second folding end walls each comprising at least two panels being hinged together vertically to allow the first and second end walls to fold to collapse into the interior of the cabinet when the interior support wall is removed, a floor panel rigidly secured to the front and back walls by elongated ridge in groove connections, a decorative top cover panel pegged and clamped to front, back and side walls, a removable vertically oriented interior support wall, and at least one horizontally oriented removable shelf. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    It is known in prior art to provide articles of furniture with foldable walls and major components which may be reduced to a compact, knock-down condition for storage and shipment. The walls and shelves are hingedly connected together so that they may be quickly assembled and also disassembled and returned to the compact condition for further storage or shipment. Examples of foldable ready-to-use entertainment stand devices may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,039,419 and 6,722,750. These however do not provide secured folding side walls. Each movable wall is connected on one side only and therefor is more apt to become damaged. The prior patents lack a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure foldable and connectable without tools. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,758, issued Feb. 1, 2005 to Yeh et al, is for a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) modular cabinet. The DIY cabinet has a foldable frame, a top panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel and multiple pop-it fasteners. The panels are attached to the foldable frame with the pop-it fasteners. Each pop-it fastener is composed of a countersunk tube and a stud. The countersunk tubes are pressed into head holes in panels, and the studs are screwed into and extend from base holes in the foldable frame and align with corresponding head holes in the panels. The studs extending from the base holes are pressed respectively into the countersunk tube in the head holes. Thereby, the panels are conveniently mounted on the foldable frame without using any tools. Moreover, the foldable frame can be folded to reduce the size of the disassembled DIY cabinet. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,419, issued Mar. 21, 2000 to Brown et al., describes a preassembled, foldable entertainment stand for a computer printer and the like having a folded and erect configuration wherein a vertical back panel pivotally carries a plurality of vertical shelf panels. The shelf panels fold upwardly to a generally vertically position disposed near the front surface of the back panel while a top shelf panel folds upwardly to overlay the rear surface of the back panel. A pair of side panels are pivotally carried by the back panel. Panel hinges with displaced pivots secure the top panel and the side panels to the back panel so that the top panel lies flush against the back panel and the side panels fold generally flat over the shelf panels when the stand is folded for a compact folded configuration. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,787, issued Sep. 27, 2005 to McBrayer, III et al, provides a folding wardrobe with an integral hinge assembly. The foldable sheet metal wardrobe has a front wall, a rear wall, a foldable right side wall, a foldable left side wall, a top member, and a bottom member defining an inner wardrobe space when the wardrobe is in an open position. A left and a right unitary front side panel, each of the unitary front side panels has a first section of a closed loop hinge assembly integrally formed in the sheet metal of the front side panel. The first integral hinge section has an offset stiffener member. A left and right unitary rear side panel, each of the unitary rear side panels has a second, complimentary closed loop hinge assembly section integrally formed in the sheet metal of the rear side panels. The second integral hinge section also has an offset stiffener member. Each of the front side and the rear side panels are connected along the first and second sections by a single continuous steel hinge pin to join the sections into single foldable left and right hinged side walls. The wardrobe hinges are stronger and more secure from exposure to unauthorized entry. 
         [0011]    U.S. Patent Application #20050067927, published Mar. 31, 2005 by Ho et al, discloses a collapsible closet which includes a front frame, a rear frame and two foldable lateral plank assemblies through which the front frame is connected with the rear frame. Each of the foldable plank assemblies includes two planks pivotally connected with each other. One of the planks of each of the foldable lateral plank assemblies is pivotally connected with the front frame. The other of the planks of each of the foldable lateral plank assemblies is pivotally connected with the rear frame. 
         [0012]    U.S. Patent Application #20080084149, published Apr. 10, 2008 by Ho, claims a collapsible cabinet which includes a body, two doors, a cover and a bottom member. The body includes two inner panels, two inner posts, two outer panels and two outer posts. All panels and posts of the body are hinged to each other. Each door is hinged detachably to one of the outer posts of the body. The cover is mounted detachably on the body. The bottom member is mounted detachably in the body. Because each door is hinged detachably to one of the outer posts of the body, the collapsible cabinet can be assembled and detached easily without using tools. Labor cost and assembling time of the collapsible cabinet can also be reduced. When the collapsible cabinet is detached, the collapsible cabinet can be transporting and storing easily and cost therefor can be reduced. 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent Application #20050174019, published Aug. 11, 2005 by Chi-Sheng, describes a foldable storage structure, wherein all panels of the foldable storage structure of the invention are connected to the front and the rear panels by means of pivot connection, and the respective panels are provided with engaging structures (engaging blocks, engaging seats) so that the panels can be engaged and positioned with respect to each other, such that the foldable storage structure can be folded into a convenient shape for transportation, and can save space when not in use. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 700,237, issued May 20, 1902 to Randall, shows a combined folding wardrobe and dresser with a top and bottom folding sections which may be knocked down to draw the front and back closer together for an overall reduced size for ease of transportation. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 889,741, issued Jun. 2, 1908 to Additon, claims a folding safe having a cabinet which includes a pair of folding side portions hingedly attached to a rear portion and a front portion which allows the safe to be reduced to a smaller size. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 933,210, issued Sep. 7, 1909 to Ullom, describes a folding wardrobe, cupboard or the like which has folding side panels which allow the device to be compactly stored or transported. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,342,269, issued Jun. 1, 1920 to Stewart, discloses a portable knock-down wardrobe having a folding top and bottom which allow the unit to be compactly stored when not in use. A removable interior horizontally-oriented shelf provides stability and prevents collapse of the unit when inserted with the interior of the wardrobe. 
         [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,389, issued Apr. 26, 1960 to Krey, indicates a foldable cabinet which is movable between an operating configuration and a collapsed storage configuration, said cabinet comprising a base, two side walls, a back wall and a front wall wherein the side walls are foldable and the front and back walls are movable between an operating position in which they are spaced apart by the side walls, and a storage position in which said front and back walls are closely spaced together. 
         [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,704, issued Apr. 5, 1994 to Thorby, puts forth a collapsible locker box movable between an open, use, configuration and a collapsed storage configuration. The locker is particularly suited for use on motor vehicles. The locker box comprises a base, two side walls, two end walls and a lid. The end walls are foldable such that the two side walls are able to approach one another when the locker box is not in use. 
         [0020]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,464, issued Dec. 27, 1966 to Lew, concerns a knockdown wardrobe or the like with folding side walls which allow the cabinet to be collapsed into a compact configuration. 
         [0021]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,854, issued Sep. 9, 1997 to Letch, illustrates a collapsible showcase for retail/trade show use which has a rear panel, top panel, front panel, floor panel and two pairs of side panels. These panels are hinged in such a manner as to allow the top panel to fold back and hang parallel to the rear panel, the floor panel to fold up parallel to the front panel, the pairs of side panels to fold inward, drawing the front panel and rear panel together to achieve a collapsed configuration. A means for support for at least one shelf is attached inside the showcase and is rotated 90.degree. out of the way in the collapsed configuration. An access to the interior is provided through the rear of the showcase. The top panel can be secured in position in the assembled configuration. 
         [0022]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,981, issued Nov. 3, 1987 to Stewart, is for a collapsible storage cabinet having a set-up, operating position and a collapsed, storage position. The cabinet includes a pair of side portions, a rear portion formed by a pair of hinged rear panels, a front portion including two hinged doors, and a top portion. Each side portion includes a vertical front leg and a vertical rear leg with a side panel extending therebetween. The rear panels forming the rear portion are hingedly attached to the rear legs such that the rear panels are perpendicular to the side portions when the cabinet is in the operating position and are parallel to the side portions when the cabinet is in the storage position. Each door is reversibly hingedly attached to a front leg such that the doors may be pivoted inwardly when the cabinet is in the storage position, and pivoted outwardly when the cabinet is in the operating position. Each of the doors has a vertical groove therein into which is received an edge of the corresponding front leg when the door is in a fully opened position. When the cabinet is collapsed, the doors, rear panels and side panels define storage cavities therebetween for storably receiving removable panels positionable in the cabinet. At least one shelf is provided which has touch-release latches thereon which eliminate the need for external hardware on the doors. The storage cavity includes latch receiving recesses therein for receiving the latches when the corresponding shelf is placed in the storage cavity. 
         [0023]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,526, issued Dec. 4, 1990 to Wiygul, Jr., provides a portable self-storing folding table device comprising a removable table top and a hinged frame assembly. The frame assembly has recesses or a detent-and-recess arrangement for neatly securing the table top for storage in a vertical position in which the table top is held when the frame assembly is folded. The removable top, held in place with horizontal stops may be reversible, with a different pattern or material on each major side, or may have a routed perimeter to nest in the top of the frame assembly for a more secure fit. 
         [0024]    What is needed is a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure foldable and connectable without tools. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    An object of the present invention is to provided an entertainment cabinet having hinged end walls interconnecting rigid front and back walls and a floor connected along its entire length to the front and back walls by upwardly extending ridges along the length of both the front and back walls adjacent to the bottoms for insertion in mating longitudinal grooves in the bottom adjacent to each longitudinal edge of the floor for a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure foldable and connectable without tools. 
         [0026]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a means to access the storage area of the cabinet and provide shelving. 
         [0027]    In brief, a folding entertainment cabinet can be assembled and is connectable without tools. Hinged end walls, allowing for foldability, interconnect with rigid front and back walls. A rigid floor and a top removably connect to the unfolded frame structure for a completely rigid assembled cabinet structure. The rigidity of the cabinet supports a television and an interior vertical support wall adds additional support, while providing the means to add shelves for storage or additional entertainment components. Doors and windows may also be added, as needed, for functionality or aesthetics. 
         [0028]    The present invention provides a rigid structural connection of the primary horizontal bottom shelf and top with the folding vertical structure for strengthening the overall structure sufficiently for supported heavy electronic equipment, such as a TV. 
         [0029]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides structural differences producing structural integrity not found in the prior art related to folding cabinets assembled without tools. 
         [0030]    Another advantage of the present invention is that doors, windows and shelves can be added as needed for functionality or aesthetics. 
         [0031]    One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides a greater level of portability for moving and storage than non-foldable cabinets. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls folded in for storage and transport; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls partially folded out; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls fully opened to form flat end walls and showing the cabinet floor and vertical cabinet wall aligned for insertion into the cabinet; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view taken through  4 - 4  of  FIG. 5  showing grooves on the bottom of the cabinet floor aligned to be inserted onto the upwardly extending ridges of the front wall frame and the back wall; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls fully opened to form flat end walls and the cabinet floor and vertical cabinet wall installed in the cabinet with two horizontal cabinet shelves aligned for insertion into the cabinet; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the front wall frame, the back wall, and the two foldable end walls of the folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention with the end walls fully opened to form flat end walls and the cabinet floor, the vertical cabinet wall, and two horizontal cabinet shelves installed in the cabinet with the cabinet top aligned for installation on top of the cabinet; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a low wide embodiment having three interior compartments side by side with two interior vertical walls separating them, the cabinet top supporting a large flat screen TV; 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a tall narrow embodiment having two interior compartments side by side and a horizontal interior space above the two side by side compartments, the cabinet top supporting a large flat screen TV; 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a medium height medium width embodiment having two interior compartments side by side with one interior vertical wall separating them, the cabinet top supporting a large flat screen TV. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    In  FIGS. 1-9 , a folding entertainment cabinet  10  can be assembled into a foldable rigid cabinet structure  20  without tools. 
         [0043]    In  FIGS. 1-6 , a rigid back wall  23  comprises a rigid vertical planar wall has an upwardly extending ridge  14  ( FIG. 4 ) along the length of the back wall of the interior surface adjacent to a bottom edge of the back wall  23 . In addition, a pair of wall clamp components  17  is spaced apart adjacent to a top edge of the back wall  23 , and at least two upwardly protruding pegs  19  are spaced apart on the top edge. 
         [0044]    In  FIGS. 1-6 , a rigid front wall frame  21  has at least one opening  25  therein for accessing the interior of the assembled cabinet  10 . The front wall frame  21  further comprises an upwardly extending ridge  14  ( FIG. 4 ) along the length of the front wall frame  21  along the interior surface adjacent to a bottom edge of the front wall frame  21 . At least one pair of clamps  17  is spaced apart on adjacent to a top edge opposite the back wall clamps, and at least two upwardly protruding pegs  19  spaced apart on the top edge of the front wall frame  21 . 
         [0045]    In  FIGS. 1-6 , a pair of folding end walls  22  and  24 , each comprising a vertical pair of panels hinged  18  together vertically, interconnects the front wall frame  21  and the back wall  23  Each of the end walls  22  and  24  is connected to the front wall  21  by a hinge  18  and also connected to the back wall  23  by a hinge  18 . Each of the end walls  22  and  24  folds flat with the front wall  21 , and the back wall  23  collapses against the end walls  22  and  24  into a first storage position ( FIG. 1 ). In the open position ( FIGS. 3 , and  5 - 9 ), each of the end walls  22  and  24  open out to form a vertical planar panel orthogonally connected to both the front wall frame  21  and the back wall  23  which are spaced apart in parallel alignment and interconnected by the end walls  22  and  24 . The pair of folding end walls  22  and  24  each has at least one upwardly protruding peg  19  along the top edge. 
         [0046]    In  FIGS. 3-6 , a rigid cabinet floor  26  comprises a rigid planar structure having a pair of bottom grooves  15  along the length of the rigid cabinet floor  26 , one adjacent to the front wall frame  21 , and a second adjacent to the back wall  23 . The bottom or floor grooves  15  receive the mating upwardly protruding vertical ridges  14  therein from both the front wall frame  21  and the back wall  23 . The bottom grooves  15  inserted into the length of the upwardly extending ridges  14  create a rigid connection between the rigid cabinet floor  26  and the rigid front wall frame  21  and the rigid back wall  23 . 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 6 , a rigid cabinet top  29  comprises a rigid planar structure having bottom holes  12  spaced around the rigid cabinet top  29  adjacent to the edges to receive the mating pegs  19  from the top edges of the back wall  23 , front wall frame  21 , and end walls  22  and  24 . It further comprises at least a pair of top clamp components  13  on the bottom surface of the cabinet top  29  adjacent to a front edge and adjacent to a back edge to mate with the wall clamp components  17 , thus establishing a rigid connection between the cabinet top  29 , front wall frame  21 , back wall  23 , and end walls  22  and  24  and forming a rigid frame cabinet structure  20  in conjunction with the cabinet floor  26 . 
         [0048]    In  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 , the cabinet  10  further comprises at least one vertical cabinet wall  28  extending between the front wall frame  21  and the back wall  23 . The vertical cabinet wall  28  comprises at least two downwardly protruding pegs  19  spaced apart along the bottom edge to be inserted in mating spaced openings  12  in a top surface of the cabinet floor  26 , and likewise, at least two upwardly protruding pegs  19  spaced apart along the top edge to be inserted in mating spaced openings  12  in a bottom surface of the cabinet top  29 . When properly inserted, additional structural support and rigidity of the rigid frame cabinet is provided, and at least two vertically separated internal compartments are created in the folding entertainment cabinet  10 . 
         [0049]    In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the vertical cabinet wall  28  further comprises a series of spaced pairs of horizontally aligned holes  16  forming a vertical array of spaced paired horizontal holes  16 . Each of the end walls  22  and  24  also has a mating vertical array of paired spaced horizontal holes  16 . Horizontal cabinet shelves  27  may be inserted on one or both sides of the vertical cabinet wall  28  by removably inserting a pair of shelf supports (or pegs)  19 A in any of the mating pairs of horizontal holes  16  in the vertical cabinet wall  28  and the end walls  22  and  24  and by resting the horizontal cabinet shelf or shelves  27  thereupon. The vertical array of paired spaced horizontal holes  16  accommodates a variety of vertical positions for the horizontal shelves  27  within the entertainment cabinet  10 . 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 7 , a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet  10  of the present invention has a low wide frame structure  20  having three interior compartments  25  side by side with two interior vertical walls  28  separating them and accessed by two doors  30  with windows  31  on the two sides and having a center drawer  33  with an open shelf  27  above the drawer in the center compartment, and the cabinet top  29  supporting a large flat screen TV  50 . 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 8 , a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet  10  of the present invention has a tall narrow cabinet structure  20  having two interior compartments side by side and a horizontal interior space on top which may have a flip down door  34  or a drawer, and the cabinet top  29  supporting a large flat screen TV  50 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a completely assembled folding entertainment cabinet of the present invention showing a medium height medium width embodiment having two interior compartments  25  each covered by a door  30  with a window  31 , side by side with one interior vertical wall separating them, and the cabinet top  29  supporting a large flat screen TV  50 . 
         [0053]    Many other cabinet shapes are possible using the components of the present invention, including cabinets used for other purposes. 
         [0054]    It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.