Electronic component furniture construction and methods and apparatus therefor

Abstract

According to the present invention, there is provided a furniture construction and method as well as apparatus therefor, wherein electronic components are supported on a support assembly. A pivotal support mechanism may mount the support assembly to the furniture construction housing to move pivotally between an angularly inclined position and a generally horizontal position disposed substantially within the housing. A slide mechanism may enable the support assembly to move slidably in its generally horizontal position to its substantially unobstructed accessible position disposed substantially outside of the housing.

1 . A furniture construction for housing at least one electronic component, comprising: 
 a housing defining an interior that is at least partially enclosed;    means defining an angled opening in an upper portion of the housing adapted to permit viewing the electronic component in its normal operating position;    means defining a vertical opening communicating with the angled opening and disposed below it;    a support assembly for supporting the at least one electronic component in a first position that is generally horizontal and disposed at least partially through the angled opening and the vertical opening, and in a second position that is at a downwardly inclined angle opposite the angled opening at least partially within the interior of said housing adapted to permit the operation of the component through the angled opening;    a pivot support mechanism to enable the support assembly to be moved directly from its second position into a horizontal position disposed at least partially through the vertical opening; and    a slide mechanism for enabling the support assembly to be moved horizontally through the angled opening and the vertical opening into its first position.    
   
   
       2 . The furniture construction according to  claim 1 , further comprising a glass door covering the angled opening.  
   
   
       3 . The furniture construction according to  claim 1 , further comprising a downwardly swinging door covering the vertical opening.  
   
   
       4 . The furniture construction according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage compartment.  
   
   
       5 . The furniture construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is a wire basket.  
   
   
       6 . The furniture construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivot support mechanism includes a pair of rocker arm assemblies mounted on opposite sides of the support assembly to secure the support assembly in the interior of the housing in a pivotable manner.  
   
   
       7 . The furniture construction according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the rocker arm assemblies includes a rocker arm having an intermediate depending tang that is pivotably attached to an inner wall of the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The furniture construction according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the rocker arm assemblies includes a front stop to facilitate maintaining the support assembly in its generally horizontal position.  
   
   
       9 . The furniture construction according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the rocker arm assemblies includes a back stop to limit the angle of the support assembly in its downwardly inclined position.  
   
   
       10 . The furniture construction according to  claim 6 , wherein the slide mechanism includes a pair of slide assemblies connected between the rocker arm assemblies and the support assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The furniture construction according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the slide assemblies includes an inner slide attached to the support assembly and an outer slide attached to one of the rocker arm assemblies.  
   
   
       12 . A support assembly for use with a support structure for supporting at least one electronic component, comprising: 
 a moveable support for supporting the at least one electronic component;    a pivot support mechanism to secure the moveable support to the support structure in a pivotable manner; and    a slide mechanism to allow rectilinear horizontal movement of the moveable support,    wherein the moveable support may be rotated from a first position that is generally horizontal and disposed at least partially through the support structure and a second position that is at a downwardly inclined angle at least partially within the interior of the support structure allowing the operation of the component.    
   
   
       13 . The support assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the moveable support is a drawer.  
   
   
       14 . The support assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the moveable support is a wire basket.  
   
   
       15 . The support assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the pivot support mechanism includes a pair of rocker arm assemblies mounted on opposite sides of the moveable support to secure the support assembly to the support structure.  
   
   
       16 . The support assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the rocker arm assemblies includes a rocker arm having an intermediate depending tang that is pivotably attached to the support structure.  
   
   
       17 . The support assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the rocker arm assemblies includes a front stop to facilitate maintaining the moveable support in its generally horizontal position.  
   
   
       18 . The support assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the rocker arm assemblies includes a back stop to limit the angle of the moveable support in its downwardly inclined position.  
   
   
       19 . The support assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the slide mechanism includes a pair of slide assemblies connected between the rocker arm assemblies and the moveable support.  
   
   
       20 . The support assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the slide assemblies includes an inner slide attached to the moveable support and an outer slide attached to one of the rocker arm assemblies.  
   
   
       21 . A method of making a furniture construction for supporting at least one electronic component, comprising: 
 constructing a housing defining an interior, an inclined opening, and a vertical opening; and    mounting at least one support assembly within the interior of the housing to move pivotally between an angularly inclined position and a generally horizontal position disposed substantially within the housing, the support assembly being structured to support the at least one electronic component; and    enabling the support assembly to move slidably in the generally horizontal position through the inclined opening and the vertical opening to a substantially unobstructed accessible position disposed substantially outside of the housing.    
   
   
       22 . The method of making a furniture construction according to  claim 21 , further comprising mounting a glass door to cover the inclined opening.  
   
   
       23 . The method of making a furniture construction according to  claim 21 , further comprising mounting a downwardly swinging door to cover the vertical opening.  
   
   
       24 . The method of making a furniture construction according to  claim 21 , further comprising constructing at least one storage compartment within the housing.