Apparatus for retracting a television to a stored position and extending the television to a viewing position

• US 6,416,027 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James K. Hart
• Original Assignee: James K. Hart
• Inventors: Hart, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brann, Deborah M.
• Application Number:
  US09/795,554
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 348/317, 348/320, 348/324, 348/298.1, 348/284.1, 348/286.1, 296/37.7, 491/97, 491/99, 492/00
• US Class Current: 248/324
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/065 rotationally

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a flat bed television on a door mounted on a ceiling, or a cabinet which is mounted to a ceiling. The door and television are selectively pivoted between a retracted storage position and an extended television viewing position. Drive nut assemblies threadingly engage and are adapted to travel along drive screws which are rotatably driven by selectively reversible motors. Cables extend over guide wheels rotatably supported on the drive nut assemblies and extend and are connected to the door. As the drive nut assemblies are caused to travel along the drive screws, the cable lengths extending to the door are selectively lengthened and shortened for thereby selectively pivotally extending and retracting the door and television between the respective viewing and storage positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively retracting a television to a stored position and extending the television to a viewing position comprising:

a door mounted for pivoting between a retracted storage position and an extended viewing position;

a television being carried on said door;

a drive nut threadingly engaging a drive screw;

said drive screw being selectively rotatable for thereby causing said drive nut to travel along said drive screw; and

,

a cable cooperating with said door and said drive nut for selectively pivoting said door and television between said retracted storage position and said extended viewing position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cable extends over said drive nut for selectively pulling and releasing said cable as said nut travels along said drive screw for thereby pivoting said door between said retracted storage position and said extended viewing position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cable guide wheel attached to said drive nut, said cable extending over said guide wheel for selectively pulling and releasing said cable as said drive nut and guide wheel travel along said drive screw for thereby pivoting said door between said retracted storage position and said extended viewing position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor coupled to said drive screw for selectively rotatably driving said drive screw.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said door is pivotally mounted for selectively retracting said television into a ceiling and extending said television generally downwardly and out of said ceiling.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said door is pivotally mounted for selectively retracting said television into a cabinet and extending said television generally downwardly and out of said cabinet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said television is a flat bed television and said door and flat bed television are placed in a generally horizontal position when retracted and placed in a generally vertical position when extended for viewing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cable is attached at one end to said door and at its other end is attached near a door pivotal connection, and extends over said drive nut, and wherein the cable length between said drive nut and said cable and door connection is decreased as said door is pivoted to its retracted position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cable is attached at one end to said door and at its other end is attached near a door pivotal connection and extends over a cable guide wheel attached to said drive nut, and wherein the cable length between said cable guide wheel and said cable and door connection, is decreased as said door is pivoted to its retracted position.

10. An apparatus for selectively retracting a television to a stored position and extending the television to a viewing position comprising:

a door having a left side, a right side and an upper side, said door mounted along said upper side for pivoting between a retracted storage position and an extended viewing position;

a television being carried on said door;

a left drive nut threadingly engaging a left drive screw and a right drive nut threadingly engaging a right drive screw;

said left and right drive screws being selectively rotatable for thereby causing said respective drive nuts to travel along said drive screws; and

,

a left cable attached to said door generally near said door left side and a right cable attached to said door generally near said door right side, said left cable cooperating with said left drive nut and said right cable cooperating with said right drive nut for selectively pivoting said door and television between a retracted storage position and an extended viewing position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said left cable extends over said left drive nut and said right cable extends over said right drive nut for selectively pulling and releasing said cable as said left and right drive nuts travel along said respective left and right drive screws for thereby pivoting said door between said retracted storage position and said extended viewing position.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a left cable guide wheel attached to said left drive nut, said left cable extending over said left guide wheel for selectively pulling and releasing said cable as said left guide wheel and drive nut travel along said left drive screw;

and, a right cable guide wheel attached to said right drive nut, said right cable extending over said right guide wheel for selectively pulling and releasing said right cable as said right guide wheel and right drive nut travel along said right drive screw, thereby pivoting said door and television between said retracted storage position and said extended viewing position.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a first electric motor coupled to said left drive screw for selectively rotatably driving said left drive screw, and a second electric motor coupled to said right drive screw for selectively rotatably driving said right drive screw.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a coupling shaft extending between and coupling and synchronizing said first and second electric motors to one another.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said door is pivotally mounted for selectively retracting said television into a ceiling and extending said television generally downwardly and out of said ceiling.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said door is pivotally mounted for selectively retracting said television into a cabinet and extending said television generally downwardly and out of said cabinet.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said television is a flat bed television and said door and flat bed television are placed in a generally horizontal position when retracted and placed in a generally vertical position when extended for viewing.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said left and right cables are attached at their other ends near a door pivotal connection and extend over respective left and right drive nuts, and wherein the cable lengths between said drive nuts and said cable and door connections are decreased as said door is pivoted to its retracted position.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said left and right cables are attached at their other ends near a door pivotal connection, said left cable extending over a left cable guide wheel attached to said left drive nut and said right cable extending over a right cable guide wheel attached to said right drive nut, and wherein the cable lengths between said respective left and right cable guide wheels and said cable and door connections are decreased as said door is pivoted to its retracted position.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said drive screws are provided with Acme threads.