Furniture system enclosing entertainment electronics in range of widths

Abstract

An entertainment center includes a base that expands horizontally to accommodate different width home theater displays; and, a light bridge that rests on top of one or more cabinets placed on either side of the base. The side cabinets provide a vertical column of open space for accommodating wiring among the entertainment system components and ventilation for heat generated by those components. The base includes casters to facilitate moving the base in and out from between the side cabinets. Sliding portions of the base extend horizontally yet continue to transfer all load weight onto the casters. The front woodwork of the base presents a pleasing seamless appearance as a consequence of overlapping trim pieces.

1 . A cabinet for supporting a plurality of provided consumer electronic assemblies on shelving, wherein the cabinet comprises: 
 a first side that is horizontally adjacent to a space;    a second side displaced from the first side; and    shelving located between the first and second sides;    wherein the second side has a depth greater than a depth of the first side for accommodating cabling from the assemblies to a provided home theater display placed in the space.    
   
   
       2 . A furniture system comprising: 
 a first cabinet that includes: 
 a first side that is horizontally adjacent to a space;  
 a second side displaced from the first side; and  
 shelving located between the first and second sides;  
 wherein the second side has a depth greater than a depth of the first side for accommodating cabling from one or more of a plurality of provided consumer electronic assemblies to a provided home theater display placed in the space; and  
   a second cabinet that includes: 
 a third side adjacent to the space; and  
 a fourth side displaced from the third side;  
 wherein the fourth side has a depth greater than a depth of the third side.  
   
   
   
       3 . The furniture system of  claim 2  further comprising a panel extending between the cabinets to cover at least a portion of the space.  
   
   
       4 . The furniture system of  claim 3  wherein the panel is supported to slide in relation to at least the first cabinet when a width of the space is changed.  
   
   
       5 . The furniture system of  claim 2  further comprising a bridge extending between the cabinets to cover at least a portion of the space.  
   
   
       6 . The furniture system of  claim 5  wherein the bridge is supported to slide in relation to at least the first cabinet when a width of the space is changed.  
   
   
       7 . The furniture system of  claim 2  further comprising means, separate from the first cabinet and from the second cabinet, for supporting the provided home theater display in the space.  
   
   
       8 . The furniture system of  claim 7  wherein the means for supporting further comprises: 
 first means in supportive contact with at least a first portion of the provided display; and    second means, coupled to the first means, in supportive contact with at least a second portion of the provided display.    
   
   
       9 . The furniture system of  claim 8  wherein the first means and the second means are coupled at a width of a set of widths between the first means and the second means to accommodate a width of the provided display.  
   
   
       10 . The furniture system of  claim 7  wherein the means for supporting further comprises a plurality of casters, each caster able to rotate about a respective vertical axis, the casters for transportation of the means for supporting across a provided surface.  
   
   
       11 . The furniture system of  claim 7  wherein the means for supporting further comprises a handle for manually urging transportation of the means for supporting across a provided surface.  
   
   
       12 . The furniture system of  claim 7  wherein the means for supporting further comprises a hand hold for manually urging transportation of the means for supporting across a provided surface.  
   
   
       13 . A base for supporting any one of a variety of provided home theater displays of various widths, the base comprising: 
 a first portion; and    a second portion, the second portion mechanically coupled to the first portion at a position of a set of positions so that the base has a width of a set of widths, each portion for supportive contact with the provided home theater display.    
   
   
       14 . The base of  claim 13  further comprising a third portion mechanically coupled to each of the first portion and the second portion to support each of the first portion and the second portion.  
   
   
       15 . The base of  claim 14  wherein the third portion comprises a plurality of wheels for moving the base across a provided surface.  
   
   
       16 . The base of  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of wheels for moving the base across a provided surface.  
   
   
       17 . The base of  claim 13  wherein each portion comprises a respective front surface that blocks view to a space beneath the respective portion.  
   
   
       18 . A method for installing a provided home theater display in a furniture system, the method comprising: 
 adjusting a horizontal width of a base of the system for supporting the provided home theater display;    placing the provided display on the base; and    placing the base and provided display between a first cabinet of the system and a second cabinet of the system.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising placing the first cabinet in spaced apart relation from the second cabinet prior to placing the base and provided display between the cabinets.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein placing the base and provided display between the cabinets comprises rolling the base and provided display into a position between the cabinets.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising routing signal cables between the provided display and at least one of the first cabinet and the second cabinet before placing the base and provided display between the cabinets.  
   
   
       22 . A furniture system comprising: 
 a first cabinet;    a second cabinet; and    one or more members between the first cabinet and the second cabinet;    wherein at least one of the first cabinet and the second cabinet defines a space for which, in a first configuration of the system, the one or more members reside outside of the space, and in a second configuration of the system, at least one of the one or more members resides at least partially within the space.    
   
   
       23 . The furniture system of  claim 22  wherein the first cabinet and the second cabinet each define the space.  
   
   
       24 . The furniture system of  claim 22  wherein the first cabinet includes: 
 a first side;    a second side displaced from the first side; and    shelving located between the first and second sides;    wherein the second side has a depth greater than a depth of the first side for accommodating the at least one of the one or more members at least partially within the space.