EP1706997A1 - Appareil support d'un systeme audio/video comprenant une unite d'affichage video a ecran plat - Google Patents

Appareil support d'un systeme audio/video comprenant une unite d'affichage video a ecran plat

Info

Publication number
EP1706997A1
EP1706997A1 EP04802387A EP04802387A EP1706997A1 EP 1706997 A1 EP1706997 A1 EP 1706997A1 EP 04802387 A EP04802387 A EP 04802387A EP 04802387 A EP04802387 A EP 04802387A EP 1706997 A1 EP1706997 A1 EP 1706997A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
display unit
platform
base
housing
video
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04802387A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1706997A4 (fr
Inventor
Basil Norman Freeman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1706997A1 publication Critical patent/EP1706997A1/fr
Publication of EP1706997A4 publication Critical patent/EP1706997A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K5/00—Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
    • H05K5/0017—Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus with operator interface units
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/64—Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers
    • H04N5/642—Disposition of sound reproducers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to apparatus for supporting an audio/video system which includes a thin screen video display unit and related audio/video components such as tuners and other user controls, loudspeakers, and electrical and electronic circuitry 15 and subsystems.
  • audio/video system which includes a thin screen video display unit and related audio/video components such as tuners and other user controls, loudspeakers, and electrical and electronic circuitry 15 and subsystems.
  • These televisions are typically mounted on table tops, walls or purpose-built television cabinets. When so mounted, they often are no longer portable or otherwise easily movable from one room in a house or apartment to allow !0 viewing in another room of the house or an apartment. Further, in a variety of home environments, such televisions can have an unwanted dominant presence within a given room at times when it is desired to use the room for other purposes.
  • the present invention addresses the foregoing limitations by providing apparatus that .5 enables an audio/video system which includes a thin screen video display unit to be supported in a manner which allows deployment and retraction of the display unit from a housing forming part of the apparatus, and which concurrently provides self-contained support for related audio/video components such as those noted above. More particularly, in a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided 10 apparatus for supporting an audio/video system, the system including a thin screen video display unit, video components operatively coupled to the display unit for generating video signals displayable by the unit, and audio components for generating audio signals.
  • the apparatus includes an elevator mechanism for the display unit and an exterior housing.
  • the exterior housing comprises a front panel, a rear panel, and opposed side panels extending between the front and rear panels and upwardly from a base of the housing to a top
  • the housing including a narrow, elongated opening sized to permit upward and downward movement of the display unit through the opening.
  • the video and audio components are fixedly mounted to the housing.
  • the rear panel, side panels and top are formed as a single unit which is removably connectable with the base. This facilitates ease of access to the interior of the housing when servicing or repair is
  • the elevator mechanism extends upwardly within the exterior housing and comprises an elevator platform adapted to carry the display unit and means for moving the platform between a lower position where the display unit when carried by the platform is retracted into the mechanism and an upper position where the display unit when carried by the platform is deployed above both the elevator mechanism and the exterior housing.
  • the apparatus includes a swivel mounting for supporting the display unit and permitting rotational movement thereof with respect to the platform when the platform is in its upper position. Apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be readily configured in a ) slim, compact manner allowing for optimal television viewing whilst maintaining an attractive appearance and remaining portable or easily movable from one location to another.
  • Movement around the home or an office can be done safe in the knowledge that sensitive electronic components are housed in a protected position inside the apparatus. Further, the apparatus can be easily set-up to require no external peripheral devices 5 such as a DVD player or amplifiers or speakers. This feature can prove to be advantageous for those who do not wish to be bothered with the laborious task of purchasing and setting-up external peripheral devices. Typically, a user would only have to connect to a mains electrical outlet to view DVD's and to desired external media sources (e.g. a cable connection).
  • desired external media sources e.g. a cable connection
  • the present invention possesses various benefits and advantages over known retractable thin screen and Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions.
  • the invention can be mass produced at a lower cost since it only requires that the thin screen video display unit can be extended and retracted.
  • Other known thin screen retractable television enclosures require that all of the main components be retracted. This requirement necessitates the use of relatively heavy-duty lifting mechanisms such as chain drive or rack and pinion type mechanisms. Because less weight is carried, the present invention can use a simple drive belt mechanism which is faster, quieter and more economical to manufacture.
  • a practical example of the flexibility possessed by the present invention resides in its ability to adapt to the daily schedule of many users.
  • the apparatus can be used in the daytime for audio purposes using an optically readable disk player or AM/FM components.
  • the thin screen video display unit would be held within the housing in a retracted position.
  • the apparatus can then blend unobtrusively with the decor of a room.
  • the thin screen video display unit can be raised for television viewing.
  • the base of the apparatus can be provided with wheels to enable the apparatus to be wheeled into alternate locations within a home or office.
  • a further practical example of the flexibility possessed by the present invention is utilization in locations with limited space.
  • the apparatus can be unobtrusive and can compliment the decor of small rooms when the thin screen video display unit is in a retracted position.
  • FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention with a thin screen video display unit deployed from the apparatus.
  • HG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is the a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when the thin screen video display unit is in a retracted position hidden from view.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 7 is a partially exploded rear perspective view showing the base, front panel, and an elevator mechanism forming part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view showing the base, front panel, and elevator i mechanism as depicted in FIG.7, but when in their assembled positions. As well, FIG. 8 illustrates the side and rear panels and the top of the exterior housing shown in FIG. 1 exploded away from the base and front panel of the housing.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken in a vertical plane bisecting the view shown in FIG. 1, and which shows the relative positioning of various internal components of the ) apparatus.
  • FIG 10 is a top cross-sectional view, partially cut-away, taken in a horizontal plane through the upper part of the view shown in FIG. 9, and which shows the positioning of rollers and electromagnetic locking pins associated with the elevator mechanism.
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a motor, shaft and drive belt
  • FIGS. 1-6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Apparatus for supporting an audio/video system constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in an assembled condition in FIGS. 1-6.
  • the apparatus includes an exterior housing generally designated 10, such housing including a front panel 12, a rear ) panel 14, and opposed side panels 16, 18 extending between the front and rear panels. All of such panels extend upwardly from a base 20 of the housing to a top 22 of the housing.
  • front panel 12 is connected to base 20 by means of L-shaped brackets 50 which are secured to both panel 12 and base 20 (e.g. with screws).
  • Rear panel 14, side panels 16, 18 and top 22 are formed as a single unit which is releasably connectable
  • front panel 12 e.g. with screws.
  • the panels, base 20 and top 22 should all be formed from sturdy material, preferably laminated wood or a suitable polymeric material.
  • Side panels 16, 18 each include a handle recess 24 to facilitate movement and lifting of the apparatus. Movement is further facilitated by wheeled castors 26 mounted on the underside of base 20 (see FIG. 6).
  • Top 22 includes a centrally disposed, narrow, elongated opening 30 which is sized to permit upward and downward movement of a thin screen video display unit 90 (which includes a display screen 92) through the opening.
  • display unit 90 is shown in a position deployed above housing 10. In FIG.4, display unit 90 has been retracted into housing 10 and accordingly is not visible.
  • display unit 90 is supported by a swivel mounting as described below and which permits rotational movement of the unit on a vertical axis for convenient viewing of screen 92.
  • the present invention is suitable for various types of thin screen displays (e.g. liquid crystal diode, plasma, and organic light-emitting diode screens) of various sizes.
  • Display unit 90 is being described herein only to the extent that it is relevant to the operation of the invention.
  • display unit 90 is carried atop the lower cylindrical portion 160 of a swivel mounting.
  • the bottom of portion 160 rests atop an elevator platform 150 and is retained in the position shown by a retaining ring 162 which is secured to the platform by bolts or other suitable means (not shown).
  • ring 162 permits rotational movement of cylindrical portion 160 but prevents upward movement.
  • the swivel mounting also includes a bracing arm 161 which extends upwardly from male portion 160 along the back of display unit 90.
  • Elevator platform 150 forms part of an elevator mechanism generally designated 100.
  • Elevator mechanism 100 includes a supporting framework 102 having lower flanges 104 to secure the framework to base 20 of housing 10 (e.g. with screws).
  • the framework may be formed from injection molded glass-fibre polymeric material, sheet metal or other suitable material.
  • elevator mechanism 100 includes a pair of drive belts 120 and a pair of associated drive motors 130 on opposite sides of framework 102. Each belt 120 extends around associated upper and lower rotatably mounted shafts 122, 124.
  • Each shaft 124 is connected to an associated one of motors 130 as a drive shaft and includes a spindle portion 126 to directly engage its associated belt 120.
  • the distal end of each shaft 124 is supported by a respective housing 129 fixed to framework 102 where the shaft is permitted to rotate, preferably on bearings (not shown) forming part of the housing.
  • belts 120 and the spindle portion of each shaft 124 are toothed to better ensure that there is no slippage of the belts on the shafts.
  • opposed ends of shafts 122 are also carried in housings 129 fixed to framework 102.
  • Shafts 122, 124 may be constructed of a steel alloy or other suitable material. As seen in FIGS.
  • platform 150 is secured by screws 133 to belts 120.
  • the platform is shown in an upper position where display unit 90 is deployed above both elevator mechanism 100 and housing 10.
  • motors 130 By operating motors 130 in unison such that belt 120 on the left side of FIG. 9 rotates clockwise and belt 120 on the right side of FIG. 9 concurrently rotates anticlockwise at the same rate, platform 150 may be moved from the position shown to a lower position where display unit 90 is fully retracted into elevator mechanism 100 (and, necessarily, housing 10).
  • motors 130 are controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) programmed to ensure that desired movements up or down are in unison. To better facilitate the smooth raising and lowering of platform 150, and as shown in FIG.
  • the platform includes wheels 170 rotationally mounted at inset positions in the platform, but extending outwardly therefrom to run within guide rails 172, 173 that extend vertically along inside wall surfaces of framework 102.
  • Platform 150 further includes pin recesses 180 sized to be engaged by locking pins 182.
  • Each locking pin 182 is carried by a pin housing 184 and is spring loaded. Vertically, the relative position of the locking pin housings is best indicated in FIGS. 6-8. In the absence of control (e.g. a total loss of power to the apparatus), pins 182 spring from their housings to the positions shown in FIG. 10.
  • the pins preferably engage platform 150 in the manner shown if the platform is in its upper position, but only so long as there is no command to lower the platform.
  • elevating mechanism 100 can be advantageously less robust and therefore less costly than mechanisms which are required to carry the significant weight of audio and video components other than a display unit.
  • audio and video components are generally illustrated merely in a representative manner. With any given audio/video system, it will be understood that such components include receivers, amplifiers, speakers, power supplies, controllers, signal processing circuitry, connectors, wiring, cabling and so forth can all be a matter of routine design choice. Accordingly, in addition to display unit 90, and only by way of example, the audio and video components supported by the apparatus shown in the drawings include:
  • a control panel 400 for receiving input commands such as tuning or channel switching commands, volume control commands, switching commands to raise or lower platform 150, and a power switch to turn AC power received on power cord 402 on or off (such commands may be provided manually and/or with remote commands such as with infra red remote control, RF control,
  • Control panel 400 is carried in a box 411 mounted to front panel 12.
  • a player 410 also carried in box 411, for optically readable disks such as CDs and/or DVDs;
  • left and right speaker assemblies 420, 422 mounted to front panel 12 behind grills 424, 426, a center speaker 428 mounted to front panel 12 behind a grill
  • a sub-woofer speaker 432 mounted to front panel 12 behind a grill 434 (such grills may be made from a polyester fabric or molded polymeric material suitable for the propagation of sound); (d) a panel 440 mounted to rear panel 14, such panel including a plurality of connectors for the input and output of digital and analog data including, for

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil support d'un système audio/vidéo comprenant une unité d'affichage vidéo à écran plat, des composants vidéo couplés de manière fonctionnelle à l'unité d'affichage aux fins de génération de signaux vidéo pouvant être affichés par l'unité et des composants audio permettant de générer des signaux audio, l'appareil comprenant un mécanisme élévateur destiné à l'unité d'affichage et un boîtier externe. Celui-ci comprend une ouverture supérieure dimensionnée de manière à permettre à l'unité d'affichage d'être déplacée vers le haut et vers le bas à travers l'ouverture. Les composants vidéo et audio sont montés de manière fixe dans le boîtier. Le mécanisme élévateur s'étend vers le haut dans le boîtier et comprend une plate-forme élévatrice conçue pour transporter l'unité d'affichage entre une position inférieure dans laquelle ladite unité, quand elle est transportée par la plate-forme, est rétractée dans le mécanisme et une position supérieure dans laquelle l'unité d'affichage, quand elle est transportée par la plate-forme, est déployée au-dessus du mécanisme élévateur et du boîtier externe. Dans des modes de réalisation préférés, l'appareil comprend un montage d'émerillon permettant de supporter l'unité d'affichage et permettant à celle-ci d'effectuer un mouvement rotatif par rapport à la plate-forme quand celle-ci se trouve dans la position supérieure.
EP04802387A 2004-01-23 2004-12-29 Appareil support d'un systeme audio/video comprenant une unite d'affichage video a ecran plat Withdrawn EP1706997A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US53821604P 2004-01-23 2004-01-23
PCT/CA2004/002212 WO2005071954A1 (fr) 2004-01-23 2004-12-29 Appareil support d'un systeme audio/video comprenant une unite d'affichage video a ecran plat

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1706997A1 true EP1706997A1 (fr) 2006-10-04
EP1706997A4 EP1706997A4 (fr) 2008-10-01

Family

ID=34807166

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04802387A Withdrawn EP1706997A4 (fr) 2004-01-23 2004-12-29 Appareil support d'un systeme audio/video comprenant une unite d'affichage video a ecran plat

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20090140615A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1706997A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2007535227A (fr)
CN (1) CN100433815C (fr)
WO (1) WO2005071954A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4625404B2 (ja) * 2005-11-28 2011-02-02 パナソニック株式会社 映像切替装置および切替対象切替装置
JP4282739B1 (ja) * 2008-04-15 2009-06-24 株式会社東芝 表示装置
ES2528252T3 (es) * 2008-05-22 2015-02-05 Albiral Display Solutions, S.L. Dispositivo de pantalla retráctil con inclinación para mesas
JP2011095686A (ja) * 2009-11-02 2011-05-12 Gaia Promotion Inc ディスプレイ台
US20130119000A1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2013-05-16 Marty Joel Carty Portable stand apparatus for an electronic display
EP3716614B1 (fr) * 2019-03-26 2022-02-09 Bang & Olufsen A/S Installation multimédia

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6149253A (en) * 1998-04-27 2000-11-21 Talasani; Raghuram Reddy Video display positioning system
US20020101139A1 (en) * 2001-01-30 2002-08-01 Lee Tsai Ming Elevating device for planer displayer
US20020139626A1 (en) * 2001-04-02 2002-10-03 Rudd Brandon K. Display case
US6494150B1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-12-17 Precision Lifts Of Deerfield Beach, Incorporated Elevating apparatus for visual displays
US6733094B1 (en) * 2002-11-13 2004-05-11 Chun-Chung Chang Lifting device for LCD
WO2004075684A2 (fr) * 2003-02-25 2004-09-10 Wieslaw Bober Casier secondaire modulaire pour meuble a element mobile
US20040221775A1 (en) * 2003-05-05 2004-11-11 Marek Okninski Lifting device for visual

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US4151804A (en) * 1977-10-31 1979-05-01 Eberhard Kunze Elevating apparatus particularly adapted for television receiver support-tables and the like
US4735467A (en) * 1986-05-23 1988-04-05 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Stow away flat screen mechanism
US5129611A (en) * 1991-03-25 1992-07-14 Inverness Industries, Inc. Cart with lowerable top wall
US5580146A (en) * 1992-11-20 1996-12-03 Projectavision, Inc. Rear screen video display system
KR960000682B1 (ko) * 1993-10-15 1996-01-11 대우전자주식회사 도어 개폐장치
WO1998057319A1 (fr) * 1997-06-10 1998-12-17 Beaird, Chyle, E. Systeme de pilotage d'ordinateur a acces multiple
US6007036A (en) * 1997-09-23 1999-12-28 Rosen Products Llc Stowable support apparatus
US6466278B1 (en) * 2000-01-06 2002-10-15 Icebox, Llc Appliances
EP1292126A4 (fr) * 2000-04-28 2005-08-03 Sahashi Nozomu Camera montee sur pied
KR100370217B1 (ko) * 2000-08-25 2003-01-29 삼성전자 주식회사 프로젝션 텔레비젼의 ｃｒｔ 결합장치
US6831829B2 (en) * 2002-10-11 2004-12-14 Sharut Furniture Furniture with vertically movable flat panel display screen

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6149253A (en) * 1998-04-27 2000-11-21 Talasani; Raghuram Reddy Video display positioning system
US20020101139A1 (en) * 2001-01-30 2002-08-01 Lee Tsai Ming Elevating device for planer displayer
US6494150B1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-12-17 Precision Lifts Of Deerfield Beach, Incorporated Elevating apparatus for visual displays
US20020139626A1 (en) * 2001-04-02 2002-10-03 Rudd Brandon K. Display case
US6733094B1 (en) * 2002-11-13 2004-05-11 Chun-Chung Chang Lifting device for LCD
WO2004075684A2 (fr) * 2003-02-25 2004-09-10 Wieslaw Bober Casier secondaire modulaire pour meuble a element mobile
US20040221775A1 (en) * 2003-05-05 2004-11-11 Marek Okninski Lifting device for visual

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2005071954A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005071954A1 (fr) 2005-08-04
CN100433815C (zh) 2008-11-12
CN1906928A (zh) 2007-01-31
US20090140615A1 (en) 2009-06-04
JP2007535227A (ja) 2007-11-29
EP1706997A4 (fr) 2008-10-01

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