Display cabinet with faux front concealing panel

Abstract

A cabinet has a base, a top spaced above the base, a pair of opposing cabinet sides extending between the base and the top, and a cabinet space defined between the cabinet sides, the base, and the top. A display space that houses a display device is defined in the cabinet space. A faux front concealing panel is slidably connected with the cabinet and adapted to conceal and reveal the display. The panel has an outward face that presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books. A transport mechanism is connected between the panel and the cabinet, facilitates sliding the panel, and may hold the panel in a preselected position. Lighting may illuminate the storage space and may include a switch operatively connected with the panel, so the lighting is off when the panel is open.

1 . A display cabinet that is adapted to house a video display device, the display cabinet having a front and an opposing back and having a concealing panel that is adapted to selectively conceal the display device, the cabinet comprising: 
 a base;    a top spaced above the base, the top being generally aligned with the base;    a pair of opposing cabinet sides extending upward from the base to the top, the cabinet sides supporting the top;    a display space defined between the pair of opposing cabinet sides, the display space extending partially from the base toward the top;    a storage space defined between the pair of opposing cabinet sides, the storage space extending from the top to the display space;    a concealing panel extending between the opposing sides, the concealing panel having a height that extends partially between the base and the top, the panel being slidable between a closed position in which the display space is concealed behind the panel and an open position in which the display space is revealed, the storage space being at least partially concealed by the panel in the open position and being revealed by the panel in the closed position;    a panel transport mechanism that is connected between the panel and the cabinet, that is adapted to facilitate sliding the panel between the closed and the open positions, and that is adapted to hold the panel in a preselected position.    
     
     
         2 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 1  wherein the concealing panel slides vertically between the base and the top and wherein the panel transport mechanism includes a counterbalance to the concealing panel.  
     
     
         3 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 1  further comprising a lighting mechanism that is adapted to illuminate the storage space, the lighting mechanism including a lamp and a switch with the lamp being operatively connected with the switch and the switch being operatively connected with a source of electrical power, the switch further being operatively connected with the concealing panel and being adapted so the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is located in the opened position.  
     
     
         4 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 3  wherein the display cabinet defines a slide path along which the concealing panel slides between the closed and the opened positions, wherein the switch is positioned along the slide path, and wherein the concealing panel engages the switch when the concealing panel is in the opened position, whereby the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is located in the opened position.  
     
     
         5 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 3  wherein the concealing panel has a front face that faces way from the display cabinet back and wherein the front face presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books.  
     
     
         6 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 5  wherein a distance is defined from the base to the top and wherein the display space is no greater than half the distance.  
     
     
         7 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 1  wherein the concealing panel has a front face that faces way from the display cabinet back and wherein the front face presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books.  
     
     
         8 . A display cabinet that is adapted to house a video display device, the display cabinet having a front and an opposing back, having a left side and an opposing right side, and having a concealing panel that is adapted to selectively conceal the display device, the cabinet comprising: 
 a base;    a top spaced above the base, the top being generally aligned with the base;    a pair of opposing cabinet sides extending upward from the base to the top, the cabinet sides supporting the top;    a display space defined between the pair of opposing cabinet sides, the display space extending partially from the base toward the top;    a storage space defined between the pair of opposing cabinet sides, the storage space extending from the top to the display space;    a concealing panel extending between the opposing sides and extending partially between the base and the top, the panel being slidable between a closed position in which the display space is concealed behind the panel and an open position in which the display space is revealed, the storage space being at least partially concealed by the panel in the open position and revealed by the panel in the closed position;    a transport mechanism that is connected between the concealing panel and the cabinet, the transport mechanism including a counterbalance whereby the transport is adapted to facilitate sliding the concealing panel between the closed and the open positions, and that is adapted to hold the concealing panel in a preselected position.    
     
     
         9 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 8  further comprising a lighting mechanism that is adapted to illuminate the storage space, the lighting mechanism including a lamp and a switch with the lamp being operatively connected with the switch and the switch being operatively connected with a source of electrical power, the switch further being operatively connected with the concealing panel and being adapted so the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is located in the opened position.  
     
     
         10 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 9  wherein the display cabinet defines a slide path along which the concealing panel slides between the closed and the opened positions, wherein the switch is positioned along the slide path, and wherein the concealing panel engages the switch when the concealing panel is in the opened position, whereby the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is located in the opened position.  
     
     
         11 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 9  wherein the concealing panel has a front face that faces way from the display cabinet back and wherein the front face presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books.  
     
     
         12 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 11  wherein the display space extends between the base and the top and extends no more than half way from the base to the top.  
     
     
         13 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 8  wherein the concealing panel has a front face that faces way from the display cabinet back and wherein the front face presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books.  
     
     
         14 . A display cabinet that is adapted to house a video display device, the display cabinet having a front and an opposing back and having a concealing panel that is adapted to selectively conceal the display device, the cabinet comprising: 
 a base;    a top spaced above the base, the top being generally aligned with the base;    a pair of opposing cabinet sides extending upward from the base to the top, the cabinet sides supporting the top;    a display space defined between the pair of opposing cabinet sides, the display space extending partially between the base and the top;    a storage space defined between the pair of opposing cabinet sides, the storage space extending between the display space and at least one of the base and the top;    a concealing panel extending between the opposing sides and that has a height extending partially between the base and the top, the panel being slidable between a closed position in which the display space is concealed behind the panel and an open position in which the display space is revealed, the storage space being at least partially concealed by the panel in the open position and being revealed by the panel in the closed position, the concealing panel further having a front face that faces way from the display cabinet back and that presents a visual impression of a bookcase with various books;    a panel transport mechanism that is connected between the panel and the cabinet, that is adapted to facilitate sliding the panel between the closed and the open positions, and that is adapted to hold the panel in a preselected position.    
     
     
         15 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 14  wherein the concealing panel slides vertically between the base and the top and wherein the panel transport mechanism includes a counterbalance to the concealing panel.  
     
     
         16 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 14  further comprising a lighting mechanism that is adapted to illuminate the storage space, the lighting mechanism including a lamp and a switch with the lamp being operatively connected with the switch and the switch being operatively connected with a source of electrical power, the switch further being operatively connected with the concealing panel and being adapted so the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is located in the opened position.  
     
     
         17 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 16  wherein the display cabinet defines a slide path along which the concealing panel slides between the closed and the opened positions, wherein the switch is positioned along the slide path, and wherein the concealing panel engages the switch when the concealing panel is in the opened position, whereby the lamp is not illuminated when the concealing panel is located in the opened position.  
     
     
         19 . The display cabinet defined in  claim 16  wherein a distance is defined from the base to the top and wherein the display space is no greater than half the distance.