Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CABINET WITH ACCESSORY IN TOP PANEL AND
WITH TOP PANEL LIFT MECHANISM
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application
No. 60/828,474, filed October 6, 2006 and United States Nonprovisional
Application
No. 11/868,586, filed October 8, 2007, which are herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention is directed to a furniture cabinet and, more
particularly, to a furniture
cabinet having an accessory mounted upon the inner surface of the top panel
and a lift
mechanism associated with the top panel.
Description of Related Art
[0002] United States Patent No. 4,706,333 to Lauderbach is directed to a
cabinet with a top
panel utilizing gas springs as weight counterbalances for a top panel
pivotable about a
horizontal axis.
[0003] United States Patent No. 2,268,104 to Bentley discloses a TV receiver
provided
within a cabinet. The receiver includes a viewing screen which is mounted upon
members of
a lifting linkage such that, in a fully upright position, the viewing screen
is clearly visible.
However, the viewing screen is separate from the top panel and occupies a
portion of the
housing which could otherwise be used for storage.
[0004] With the advent of large flat panel television (hereinafter "TV")
screens, a need has
arisen to more efficiently utilize the limited space in many dwellings to
accommodate large
flat panel TV screens, but, at the same time, minimize the space required for
viewing such flat
panel TV screens.
[0005] A design is needed for housing an accessory such as a flat panel TV
screen in a way
that is not only unobtrusive, but in a way that, furthermore, permits a viewer
easy access to
viewing the flat panel TV screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention is directed to a cabinet comprised of a body defining an
opening with
a cavity therein. There is a top panel over the opening, wherein the top panel
has an inner
surface and an outer surface and, wherein the top panel is pivotal from a
closed position
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covering the opening to an open position uncovering the opening. The inner
surface of the
top panel is adapted to receive a generally flat accessory such as a flat
screen TV, wherein, in
the top panel closed position, the accessory is hidden and, in the top panel
open position, the
accessory is in full view. A lifting mechanism is connected between the top
panel and the
body and is biased in the top panel open position such that the external force
required to lift
the top panel to the open position is substantially less than the force that
would be required
without such mechanism.
[0007] In another embodiment, the lifting mechanism for the top panel of the
cabinet is a
power unit operated by an electric motor. The power unit may be remotely
controlled by a
user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Figs. IA and 1B illustrate a piece of furniture with a top panel in the
closed position
and the open position, respectively, wherein an accessory is mounted to the
inner surface of
the top panel;
[0009] Fig. 2 is a perspective line drawing of the cabinet illustrated in Fig.
lA;
[00101 Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are a perspective view, side view and front view,
respectively,
of the cabinet with the top panel in a partially open position;
100111 Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C are a perspective view, side view and front view,
respectively,
of the cabinet with the top panel in a fully open position;
[0012] Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C are a front view, side view and top view,
respectively, of a
cabinet in Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C;
[0013] Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C are an exploded perspective view, top view and side
view,
respec;tively, of a bracket assembly utilized for a resisting mechanism in
accordance with the
subject invention;
[0014] Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C are an exploded perspective view, top view and side
view,
respectively, of another embodiment of the lift mechanism in accordance with
the subject
invention;
[0015] Figs. 8A, 8B and 8C are an exploded perspective view, top view and side
view,
respectively, of a third bracket assembly utilized for a resisting mechanism
in accordance with
the subject invention;
[0016] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a lift
mechanism utilized
for a cabinet;
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[00171 Figs. 10A, l OB, lOC, and l OD are a perspective view, side view, front
view and top
view respectively of another embodiment of a lift mechanism powered by a power
unit
operated by an electric motor;
[0018] Figs. I 1 A and I 1 B illustrate another embodiment of a piece of
furniture with a top
panel in the closed position and the open position, respectively, wherein an
accessory is
mounted to the inner surface of the top panel;
[0019] Figs. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12 D are a perspective view, side view, front
view and top
view, respectively, of another embodiment of a cabinet with the top surface
serving as the top
surface of a desk; and
[0020] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a table, whereby a portion of the
table is a top panel
to which an attachment may be secured.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Figs. IA, 1B and 2 illustrate a cabinet 10 comprised of a body 12
having side panels
15A-15D defining a top opening 17 with a cavity 20 therein. A top panel 22, as
illustrated in
Fig. I.A, covers the opening 17. The top panel 22 has an inner surface 27. The
top panel 22 is
pivotal from a closed position, illustrated in Fig. 1A, covering the opening
17 to an open
position, illustrated in Fig. 1B, uncovering the opening. 17. The inner
surface 27 of the top
panel 22 is adapted to receive a generally flat accessory 30 such as a flat
screen TV, such that,
in the closed position, the accessory 30 is hidden and, in the open position,
illustrated in Fig.
IB, the accessory 30 is in full view.
[0022] It should be appreciated that Figs. 1 A, 1 B and 2 do not illustrate
the lifting
mechanism, but that hereinafter, such a lifting mechanism will be described
with respect to
other figures.
[0023] While Figs. IA, 1B and 2 illustrate the cabinet as a particular type of
furniture, it
should be appreciated that the cabinet described herein is not limited to any
type of furniture,
but m_ay be utilized with any cabinet having a top panel that pivots upwardly
to an open
position, thereby exposing the inner surface of the top panel such that the
top panel may be
adapted to receive an accessory for viewing.
[0024] Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate a cabinet upper portion I l with the top
panel 22 in an
interrnediate position between the closed position illustrated in Fig. lA and
the open position
illustrated in Fig. 1B. However, Figs. 3A-3C illustrate elements of the
lifting mechanism 35
and are key to the subject invention.
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[0025] The top panel 22 may be secured to a side 15D through the use of one or
more
hinges 37 between the top panel 22 and the side 15D. As illustrated in Fig.
3A, the hinge 37
may be a piano hinge. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3A-3C, the top
panel 22 covers
the entire opening 17. In certain embodiments, the top panel 22 may have a
width less than
the opening 17. Furthermore, although a hinge 37 has been described, it should
be understood
that the hinge 37 may be substituted with an arcuate slide bracket or another
mechanical
mechanism capable of moving the top panel 22 in a similar arcuate path as that
provided by
the hinge 37. In the event an arcuate slide mechanism is utilized, then the
brackets associated
with such a mechanism may be mounted to sides 15A, 15C.
[0026] Although the accessory 30 (Fig. 3B) is not illustrated on the inner
surface 27 of the
top pane122, in Figs. 3A-3C and in many subsequent figures, it should be
appreciated that the
cabinet 10, in accordance with the subject invention, is designed such that
the inner surface 27
is adapted to receive and support such an accessory 30. As previously
mentioned, the
accessory 30 may be a flat screen TV and, furthermore, such a flat screen TV
may be an LCD
screen or a plasma screen. Additionally, it is entirely possible that the
accessory may be
something other than a flat screen TV, such as a mirror.
[0027] Directing attention to the lifting mechanism 35 illustrated in Fig. 3B,
a first gas
spring 40 is pivotally secured at a first end 42 to side 15D and, at a second
end 43, is pivotally
secured to the inner surface 27 of the top panel 22. In general, the gas
spring 40 is formed of
a cylinder 44 containing a gas filling under pressure with a piston rod 46
therein that slides
withiri the cylinder 44 to further compress or to permit expansion of the gas,
thereby
providing relative motion between the cylinder 44 and the piston rod 46.
[0028] Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate the top panel 22 in the open position
and, for
illustrative purposes, the accessory 30 has been included in Figs. 4A and 4C.
[0029] A second gas spring 50 is pivotally mounted at the first end 52 (Fig.
4C) and also
pivotally mounted at the second end 53 to the inner surface 27 of the top
panel 22 to provide
additional lift to the top panel 22. The second gas spring 50 is fonned of a
cylinder 54 with a
pistori rod 56 therein.
[0030] Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate further the cabinet upper portion 11 in
Figs. 3A-3C
and the top panel 22 in the open position and, for illustrative purposes, the
accessory 30 has
been included.
[0031] From inspection of Figs. 2, 3B and 4B, it should be appreciated that
the force
required to lift the top panel 22 will be at a maximum when the top panel 22
is in the closed
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position as illustrated in Fig. 2 and will be at a minimum as the top panel 22
approaches the
upright position illustrated in Fig. 4B. However, the force exerted by the gas
springs 40, 50
tends to be uniform throughout the travel of the rod 46, 56 within the
cylinder 44, 54 of the
gas spring 40, 50. As a result, to prevent the top panel 22 from opening too
quickly, a
resisting member 60 (Figs. 3C and 4C) is introduced in conjunction with one of
the gas
springs, such as the second gas spring 50. The second end 53 of the gas spring
50 is pivotally
attached in series to the resisting member 60.
[0032] Figs. 5A-5C illustrate another manner in which the hinge 37, the gas
springs 40, 50
and the resisting member 60 are secured to the cabinet 10. Here, the resisting
member 60 is a
hydraulic dampener intended only to dampen the speed with which the gas
springs 40, 50
open the top panel 22 and, in this instance, is mounted in parallel with the
gas springs 40, 50.
[0033] Returning to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 4A-4C and directing
attention to
Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C, the resisting member 60 is a compression spring 62 having
a stop rod 64
positioned therein, such that compression of the spring 62 is limited by the
stop rod 64. In
particular, the stop rod 64 bottoms out between the bracket 78 and the lock
nut 68. The
resisting member 60, in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4C, works in series
with the second
gas spring 50. Returning to Figs. 6A-6C, the cylinder 62 is mounted within a
bracket 66 and
secured therein by locking nuts 68, 70 which are secured against the bracket
66 through
locking screws 74, 76. A mounting plate 72 covers the bracket 66 and secures
it against the
inner surface 27. The second end 53 (Fig. 4C) of the gas spring 50 is secured
to the bracket
78, such that the force produced by the rod 56 of the gas spring 50 is
resisted by the resisting
member 60 to slow down the advancement of the rod 56 of the gas spring 50. In
particular,
the gas springs 40, 50 are preloaded when the top panel 22 is in the closed
position such that
opening the top panel 22 is assisted by the gas springs 40, 50. As a result,
the resisting
member 60 is designed to resist as the top panel 22 pivots upwardly and
requires less lifting
force. Compression of the spring loaded rod 64 acts to oppose advancement of
the gas spring
rod 56. As a result, even though the gas springs 40, 50 still exert a
significant force to
position the top panel 22 in the upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 4A,
the resisting
mechanism 60 provides a counterforce which not only slows the advancement of
the gas
springs 40, 50, but furthermore, provides a smooth stop to the upward motion
of the top panel
22. The mounting plate 72 secures the spring 62 within the bracket 66.
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[0034] Figs. 7A-7C illustrate the embodiment of the resisting mechanism 60 in
Figs. 3A-
3C, whereby the compression spring 62 and stop rod 64 are positioned in a
channel 80
directly within the inner surface 27 of the top panel 22. It should be noted
that the
arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6A-6C is surface mounted to the inner surface
22 while the
arrangement illustrated in Figs. 7A-7C is recessed within the inner surface
22. Directing
attention to Figs. 7A-7C, the bracket 78 to which the second end 53 (Fig. 4C)
of the gas
spring 50 is mounted, is also mounted within the channel 80 and secured
thereto by a
mounting plate 82 which itself is mounted to the inner surface 27 of the top
panel 22.
[0035] Figs. 8A-8C illustrate a resisting mechanism 60 having a compression
spring 62
with a stop rod 64 therein, but furthermore, having an adjusting mechanism 86
comprised of a
rack 88 and pinion 90 to maneuver a stop 92 into different positions along the
bracket 94 into
which the cylinder 62 is positioned. The adjusting device 86 in conjunction
with locking nuts
96, 98 which are locked in position by locking screws 100, 102 are used to
position the spring
62 and stop rod 64, in any position within the bracket 94, but furthermore,
may preload the
spring 62 by compressing the spring 62, more or less, depending upon the
position of the
locking nuts 96, 98. Once again, the sliding bracket 78 (Figs. 8A and 4C) is
mounted to the
second end 53 of the gas spring 50 to resist the force of the gas spring 50
when the top panel
22 is approaching the upright position, illustrated in Fig. 4A.
[0036] It should be appreciated that what has so far been described in Figs.
6A-6C, 7A-7C
and 8.A-8C, is the use of a pair of gas springs 40, 50 to assist in lifting
the top panel 22
connected in series with a resisting member 60 mounted in series with the gas
spring 50 to
counter the force of the gas springs 40, 50 when the top panel 22 is
approaching the upright
position, illustrated in Fig. 4A.
[0037] Fig. 9 expands upon the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5A-5C, whereby
secured to
the inner surface 27 of the top panel 22 are two gas springs 40, 50 and,
furthermore, a
hydraulic shock absorber 120 operating as the resisting member 60 in parallel
with the gas
spring; 50 to act as a dampener over the entire range of motion from the
closed position,
illustrated in Fig. lA, to the open position, illustrated in Fig. 9. Unlike
the previous
embodiments in Figs. 6A-6C, 7A-7C and 8A-8C, the resisting member 60 disclosed
within
Fig. 9 is not a spring/rod combination, but is a hydraulic dampener.
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[0038] Briefly returning to Figs. 3A-3C, the gas spring 40 and the gas spring
50 may be
identical. However, the inventor has learned that the center of gravity for
different
accessories 30 may not correspond with the center of the top panel 22 and, for
that reason,
under certain circumstances, it may be preferred for one gas spring, for
example spring 40, to
be larger than the other gas spring, for example spring 50, to provide for a
uniform lifting of
the top pane122 even though the center of gravity of the accessory 30 is off-
center.
[0039] Preferably, the location and size of the gas springs 40, 50 should be
such that the top
panel 22 will rest in the closed position. However, with a small upward force
on the outer
edge of the top panel 22, an individual should be able to easily lift the top
panel 22 with the
assistance of the gas springs 40, 50.
[0040] As a result, it should be appreciated that the size and location of the
gas spring is a
function of the weight of the top panel 22 along with the weight and placement
of the
accessory 30 on the inner surface 27 of the top panel 22.
[00411 The cabinet 10 discussed herein is designed to accommodate an accessory
30 and,
for that reason, will include mounting brackets 130 (Fig. 4C) secured to both
the inner surface
27 of the top panel 22 and the back surface (not shown) of the accessory 30.
Such mounting
brackets 130 are known to those skilled in the art and, for that reason,
additional details will
be not be provided herein.
[0042] Although not illustrated, it is possible to utilize a locking latch to
secure the top
panel 22 in the closed position. With this locking feature, the gas springs
40, 50 may be sized
and positioned such that when the locking latch is released, the top panel 22
moves upwardly
without the need to manually lift the top panel 22 to get the top pane122
started in the upward
direction.
[0043] What has been discussed so far is a cabinet 10 having a top panel 22
which is at
least partially lifted by a lifting mechanism 35 comprised of gas springs 40,
50. Figures l0A-
lOD illustrate a cabinet 10 having a lifting mechanism 35 comprised of a power
unit 140, such
as an electric linear actuator used to move a supporting rod 145, pivotally
connected to the top
pane122 up and down to position the top panel 22 in the upright position
illustrated in Figures
l0A-lOD and to position the top panel 22 in a closed position. The supporting
rod 145 has a
first end 147 pivotally connected to a bracket 150 secured to the top panel
22, while the
second end 149 has a threaded interior which is engaged by a threaded rod 155
driven by the
power unit 140, such that rotation of the threaded rod 155 translates the
supporting rod 145
back and forth to lift and lower the top panel 22. It should be appreciated
that the
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embodiment illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment. A number of other
lifting
mechanisms utilizing an electric motor are known to those skilled in the art
and may be
applied to the present arrangement.
[0044] As illustrated in Figure IOC, a transformer 160 may be utilized to step
down 120
volt line voltage to 12 volts utilized by the power unit 140. However, it
should be appreciated
that depending upon the requirements of the power unit 140, such a transformer
160 may not
necessary.
[0045] Additionally, the power unit 140 may be actuated by a remote control
unit (not
shown) transmitting a signal to a receiver 170 which is in communication with
the power unit
140. In this fashion, it is entirely possible for a user to open and close the
top panel 22
without the need to manually lift or close the top panel 22.
[0046] Directing attention to Figures l0A and IOB, it should be appreciated
that the lifting
mechanism 35, in accordance with this embodiment, requires additional space
within the
cabinet 10 and in the event the cabinet 10 includes a shelf 175, it is likely
a slot 177 would be
needed through the shelf 175 to accommodate the lifting mechanism 35. It
should
furthermore be appreciated that the illustration in Figures l0A-l OD, with
respect to a cabinet
10, is only a portion of such a cabinet and the extension 179 of the rear side
15D is actually
still part of the cabinet 10 and the remaining walls 15A, 15B and 15C would
most likely also
be extended to match the extension 179.
[0047] Figs. I IA and 11B illustrate a cabinet 200 of another variety having a
top panel 222
with an opening 217, wherein the top panel 222 is pivotal from a closed
position covering the
opening 217 as illustrated in Fig. 1 lA to an open position, wherein the
accessory 230 is in full
view. The lifting mechanism described in association with previous embodiments
applies to
this design as well, even though for illustrative purposes, a standard wire
arrangement is
showri.
[0048] Figs. 12A-12D, illustrate a furniture piece 300 having a top panel 322
with an
opening 317, wherein the top panel 322 is pivotal from a closed position
covering the opening
317 as illustrated in Fig. 12A to an open position, wherein the accessory 330
is in full view.
The lifting mechanism described in association with previous embodiments
applies to this
desigri as well.
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[0049] Finally, Fig. 13 illustrates a furniture piece 400 having a top panel
422 with an
opening 417, wherein the top panel 422 is pivotal from a closed position
covering the opening
417 (not shown) to an open position, wherein the accessory 430 is in full
view, as illustrated
in Fig. 13. The lifting mechanism described in association with previous
embodiments
applies to this design as well.
[0050] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail, it will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and
alternatives to those
details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the
disclosure. The presently
preferred embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative only and
not limiting as
to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the
appended claims and
any and all equivalents thereof.
