Furniture unit

Abstract

A furniture unit including a plurality of frame members having at least one access opening in one of the plurality of frame members. The unit may be a furniture display unit having an access opening to accommodate an electrical cord of a light for a shelf, wherein the light is arranged between a shelf top and shelf bottom of the shelf. The electrical cord may pass through an access opening in the shelf, and through to the access opening in the unit. The access opening can be filled with a resilient type material conforming around the electric cord after the electrical cord has passed through the access opening or be covered by a panel, adhesive tape or other mechanism to obscure the view through the opening. The resilient type material may be a gasket, sponge-like material or deformable material.

1 . A unit comprising a plurality of frame members which are configured to form a skeleton of the unit and at least one access opening in at least one of the plurality of frame members.  
   
   
       2 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shelf having at least one shelf access opening aligning with the at least one access opening.  
   
   
       3 . The unit of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one shelf includes: 
 a shelf frame having rails and the least one shelf access opening extends through a portion of the shelf frame rails,    at least a shelf top attachable to the rails which is substantially translucent or transparent; and    an electrical device coupled to the at least the shelf frame and having a cord arranged to pass through the at least one shelf access opening and the at least one access opening.    
   
   
       4 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient material affixed substantially along a length of the at least one access opening.  
   
   
       5 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the unit is a furniture unit comprising one of at least a curio and furniture display unit.  
   
   
       6 . The unit of  claim 5  wherein the at least one access opening is positioned in a rear frame member of the plurality of frame members of the furniture unit.  
   
   
       7 . The unit of  claim 5 , wherein the furniture unit includes one of: 
 the at least one access opening extends upward toward an upper portion of the furniture unit, such that at least one hole associated with and in open communication with the at least one access opening is arranged at a top portion of the at least one access opening;    the at least one access opening extends toward a lower portion of the furniture unit, such that at least one hole associated with and in open communication with the at least one access opening is arranged at a bottom portion of the at least one access opening; and    the at least one access opening extends between the upper portion and the bottom portion of the furniture unit, such that at least one hole associated with and in open communication with the at least one access opening is arranged along a length of the at least one access opening.    
   
   
       8 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism blocking at least a portion of the at least one access opening.  
   
   
       9 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is one of a gasket, a sponge material and a deformable material.  
   
   
       10 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one hole or aperture in open communication with the at least one access opening.  
   
   
       11 . The unit of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hole is larger in diameter than a width of the at least one access opening.  
   
   
       12 . The unit of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hole is larger in diameter than a plug head of an electrical element, such that the plug head is capable of passing therethrough.  
   
   
       13 . The unit  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hole is positioned in at least one end of the at least one access opening.  
   
   
       14 . The unit of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hole is one of capped and blocked with one of a plug and a cap that conforms to the at least one hole.  
   
   
       15 . The unit of  claim 14 , wherein the plug and the cap are made of a resilient material to conform at least partially to the at least one hole.  
   
   
       16 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one access opening is positioned, so as to not interfere with a placement or adjustability of one or more shelves.  
   
   
       17 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one access opening is one of a slot, groove, hole and channel configured to allow a power cord to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       18 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one element extends to a harness in communication with a central controller for operation of an electrical device.  
   
   
       19 . A shelf structure comprising: 
 a shelf frame having rails;    at least one electrical device arranged with the shelf frame; and    at least one access opening in the shelf frame structured and adapted to allow an electrical cord of the at least one electrical device to pass therethrough.    
   
   
       20 . The shelf of  claim 19 , further comprising at least a shelf top and a shelf bottom attachable to the rails, at least one of the shelf top and the shelf bottom are made of one of a translucent or transparent material.  
   
   
       21 . The shelf of  claim 20 , wherein the rails include a top ledge and a bottom ledge configured to seat the top shelf and the bottom shelf, respectively  
   
   
       22 . The shelf of  claim 20 , wherein the translucent or transparent material is one of glass, acrylic plastic glass, frosted glass and stained glass.  
   
   
       23 . The shelf of  claim 19 , wherein the shelf frame forms an interior hollow section which accommodates the at least one electrical device.  
   
   
       24 . The shelf of  claim 19 , further comprising a fixing device so as to attach the at least one electrical device to at least one rail of the rails.  
   
   
       25 . The shelf of  claim 19 , wherein the rails include at least one rail notch, so as to accommodate the at least one electrical device.  
   
   
       26 . The shelf of  claim 19 , wherein the rails include ledges to accommodate an upper shelf and a lower shelf.  
   
   
       27 . The shelf of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one electrical device is positioned between the top shelf and a bottom shelf.  
   
   
       28 . The shelf of  claim 19 , in combination with a furniture unit comprising a frame member with an opening having an obscuring structure thereon or therein, the opening being in substantial alignment with the access opening such that an element of the electrical device is capable of passing through the access opening and the opening to an exterior portion of the furniture unit.  
   
   
       29 . A unit comprising: 
 at least one lighted shelf having an opening in a rail member for a cord to extend therethrough; and    a frame having at least one access opening,    wherein the opening of the at least one lighted shelf is aligned with the access opening of the frame such that the cord can pass through the opening and the access opening to an exterior of the frame.