GB2186450A - Television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A television has a holder 1 whose interior forms a tray to accommodate a remote-control unit, the holder 1 being pivotably mounted on a support plate 2 via a pivot pin 3 and co-operable recess 4. The support plate 2 is bolted against the interior surface 5 of the television receiver front panel 6. The television receiver has a catch arranged to fasten the holder 1 in the illustrated position. When this catch is released, a spring at the pivot pin 3 and recess 4 urges the holder to rotate towards a position in which it lies in the aperture of panel 6 with the tray accessible. As holder 1 rotates in this fashion, a toothed wheel 8 which is rotatably mounted on holder 1 engages with a toothed track 9 on sidewall 10 of plate 2 to provide a frictional damping effect. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Television receiver The present invention relates to a television receiver.

According to the present invention, a television receiver has a compartment for the storage of a remote-control unit such that the unit is hidden from view during storage.

The present invention provides a television receiver having a holderfora remote-controi unit, the holder being moveable between a position for receiving a remote-control unit and a position for concealed storage of a remote-control unit.

Preferably the holder is rotatable between these two positions.

Preferably there is biasing means to urge the holder from one of these positionstowards the other ofthese positions. In one advantageousform,this biasing means comprises spring means to urge the holder from the "concealed storage" position towards the "unit-receiving" position, and means to apply a restraining force in opposite direction to the force of the spring means, thereby to provide smooth movement of the holder. The restraining means may comprise interengageable parts on the holder and on the receiver which frictionally interact; for example the holder may have a toothed rotatable memberto engage with a toothed track on the television receiver.

The present invention is applicable to any form of electrical equipment for consumer entertainment which uses a remote-control unit, and is not restricted to television receivers; thus, for example, the present invention may be used in videotape recorders, videodisc players, compact disc players and audio equipment.

In orderthatthe invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, byway of example only, reference being made to the accompanying sole Figure which shows partofa television receiver embodying the present invention.

The Figure is an exploded-perspective view of a television remote-control unit holder when in the storage position. The arrangement consists of a holder 1 whose interior forms a tray to accommodate a television remote-control unit, the holder 1 being pivotably mounted on a support plate 2via a pivot pin 3 and co-operable recess 4. The support plate 2 is bolted against the interior surfaceS ofthe television receiver front panel 6, only part of which is shown. In the illustrated view a surface 7, formed on one side of holder 1, lies substantially flush with front panel 6 and overlies substantially the entire aperture in that panel. The television receiver has a catch (not shown) arranged to fasten the holder 1 in the illustrated position.

When this catch is released, a spring (not shown) which is located at (or adjacent) the pivot pin 3 and recess 4 urges the holder to rotate towards a position in which it lies in the aperture of panel 6 with the tray accessible. As holder 1 rotates in this fashion, a toothed wheel 8which is rotatably mounted on holder 1 engages with a toothed track 9 on sidewall 10 of plate 2. Frictional effects (due to the wheel's rotational mounting and/orthe engagement between wheel 8 and track 9) counter,to a certain degree, the rotational torque of the spring and certainly inhibit any sudden accelerations or decelerations. Thus this arrangement provides smooth movement of holder 1 between positions.

This effect may be enhanced by the provision of one or more grooves in plate 2 to interengagewith co-operable downward projections on the lower surface of holder 1, thereby increasing the friction effect and further assisting in the guiding ofthe holder between positions.

The sides of holder 1 are shaped such as to minimise and/or eliminatethe amount of gap between the boundary of aperture in front panel 6 and the holder when the latter is positioned with the tray accessible. Thus one side has an angled end portion 11 for abutment against the aperture edge.

To return holder 1 to its closed position (i.e. to that position as illustrated), the user applies a pressure to surface 7 to rotate holder 1 about pin 3 against the action of the spring until the catch is activated such that surface 7 is again substantiallyflush with panel 6. This can readily be achieved whether or not a remote-control unit is located within holder 1.

The illustrated arrangement enables a single design oftelevision receivercabinetto be used for models with the remote-control unit holder and for models without the latter. Thus the basic cabinet has an aperture in the front panel appropriate for use with the holder 1 and plate 2. When the cabinet is to be used in a model incorporating the holder 1,then plate 2 can be readily bolted onto the interiorsurface 5 of panel 6, thereafter holder 1 being mounted onto plate 2. When the cabinet is to be used in a model not incorporating holder 1 then a plain cover is bolted onto the interior surfaceS to close off the aperture in panel 6.

1. Atelevision receiver having a holder for a remote-control unit, the holder being moveable between a position for receiving a remote-control unitand a position forconcealed storage of a remote-control unit.

2. Atelevision receiver according to Claim 1, wherein the holder is rotatable between these two positions.

3. A television receiver according to Ciaim 1 or Claim 2, comprising biasingmeanstourgethe holder from one of these positions towards the other of these positions.

4. Atelevision receiver according to Claim 3, wherein the biasing means comprises spring means to urgethe holder from the "concealed storage" position towards the "unit-receiving" position, and means to apply a restraining force in opposite direction to the force of the spring means, therebyto provide smooth movement of the holder.

5. Atelevision receiver according to Claim 4, wherein the restraining means comprises interengageable parts on the holder and on the receiver which frictionally interact.

6. Atelevision receiveraccordingto anyoneof

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Television receiver The present invention relates to a television receiver. According to the present invention, a television receiver has a compartment for the storage of a remote-control unit such that the unit is hidden from view during storage. The present invention provides a television receiver having a holderfora remote-controi unit, the holder being moveable between a position for receiving a remote-control unit and a position for concealed storage of a remote-control unit. Preferably the holder is rotatable between these two positions. Preferably there is biasing means to urge the holder from one of these positionstowards the other ofthese positions. In one advantageousform,this biasing means comprises spring means to urge the holder from the "concealed storage" position towards the "unit-receiving" position, and means to apply a restraining force in opposite direction to the force of the spring means, thereby to provide smooth movement of the holder. The restraining means may comprise interengageable parts on the holder and on the receiver which frictionally interact; for example the holder may have a toothed rotatable memberto engage with a toothed track on the television receiver. The present invention is applicable to any form of electrical equipment for consumer entertainment which uses a remote-control unit, and is not restricted to television receivers; thus, for example, the present invention may be used in videotape recorders, videodisc players, compact disc players and audio equipment. In orderthatthe invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, byway of example only, reference being made to the accompanying sole Figure which shows partofa television receiver embodying the present invention. The Figure is an exploded-perspective view of a television remote-control unit holder when in the storage position. The arrangement consists of a holder 1 whose interior forms a tray to accommodate a television remote-control unit, the holder 1 being pivotably mounted on a support plate 2via a pivot pin 3 and co-operable recess 4. The support plate 2 is bolted against the interior surfaceS ofthe television receiver front panel 6, only part of which is shown. In the illustrated view a surface 7, formed on one side of holder 1, lies substantially flush with front panel 6 and overlies substantially the entire aperture in that panel. The television receiver has a catch (not shown) arranged to fasten the holder 1 in the illustrated position. When this catch is released, a spring (not shown) which is located at (or adjacent) the pivot pin 3 and recess 4 urges the holder to rotate towards a position in which it lies in the aperture of panel 6 with the tray accessible. As holder 1 rotates in this fashion, a toothed wheel 8which is rotatably mounted on holder 1 engages with a toothed track 9 on sidewall 10 of plate 2. Frictional effects (due to the wheel's rotational mounting and/orthe engagement between wheel 8 and track 9) counter,to a certain degree, the rotational torque of the spring and certainly inhibit any sudden accelerations or decelerations. Thus this arrangement provides smooth movement of holder 1 between positions. This effect may be enhanced by the provision of one or more grooves in plate 2 to interengagewith co-operable downward projections on the lower surface of holder 1, thereby increasing the friction effect and further assisting in the guiding ofthe holder between positions. The sides of holder 1 are shaped such as to minimise and/or eliminatethe amount of gap between the boundary of aperture in front panel 6 and the holder when the latter is positioned with the tray accessible. Thus one side has an angled end portion 11 for abutment against the aperture edge. To return holder 1 to its closed position (i.e. to that position as illustrated), the user applies a pressure to surface 7 to rotate holder 1 about pin 3 against the action of the spring until the catch is activated such that surface 7 is again substantiallyflush with panel 6. This can readily be achieved whether or not a remote-control unit is located within holder 1. The illustrated arrangement enables a single design oftelevision receivercabinetto be used for models with the remote-control unit holder and for models without the latter. Thus the basic cabinet has an aperture in the front panel appropriate for use with the holder 1 and plate 2. When the cabinet is to be used in a model incorporating the holder 1,then plate 2 can be readily bolted onto the interiorsurface 5 of panel 6, thereafter holder 1 being mounted onto plate 2. When the cabinet is to be used in a model not incorporating holder 1 then a plain cover is bolted onto the interior surfaceS to close off the aperture in panel 6. CLAIMS

1. Atelevision receiver having a holder for a remote-control unit, the holder being moveable between a position for receiving a remote-control unitand a position forconcealed storage of a remote-control unit.

2. Atelevision receiver according to Claim 1, wherein the holder is rotatable between these two positions.

3. A television receiver according to Ciaim 1 or Claim 2, comprising biasingmeanstourgethe holder from one of these positions towards the other of these positions.

4. Atelevision receiver according to Claim 3, wherein the biasing means comprises spring means to urgethe holder from the "concealed storage" position towards the "unit-receiving" position, and means to apply a restraining force in opposite direction to the force of the spring means, therebyto provide smooth movement of the holder.

5. Atelevision receiver according to Claim 4, wherein the restraining means comprises interengageable parts on the holder and on the receiver which frictionally interact.

6. Atelevision receiveraccordingto anyoneof the preceding ciaims, wherein the holder has a toothed rotatable memberto engage with a toothed track on the television receiver.

7. Atelevision receiver substantially as herninbefore described with referencetoand as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.