Modular wall-furniture-hybrid storage system with multimedia provisions

Abstract

The Wall-Furniture Hybrid (WFH) storage system with multimedia applications is provided as a new and unique modularly expandable and contractible wall-furniture integrated display and storage system. It has a new reduced structural bulk, thus optimizes environmental space utilization for efficient end-user benefits. It has a low-cost to high-value ratio beneficial to the end-user. It is intended for homes and institutional room comers and walls. The building block of this invented product system consists of a basic module which is expandable by combining one or several of them to form a free standing column, furniture unit, or display panels. The basic module is reproducible in high quantities using faux pas stone and hardwood plastic material, or resin-impregnated cardboard material, and a form-pressed tooling process, or a thermal vacuum forming tooling process. This WFH system can be produced with only a minimal of parts to significantly reduce the labor required for assembly.

1 . A modular wall-furniture-hybrid storage system for storage, display, and entertainment, comprising:
 a. three rectangular front panels;   b. three triangular shelves;   c. two translucent panels;   d. one V-shaped backdrop; and   e. means for stacking rectangular front panels vertically or placing them horizontally; and   f. means for connecting triangular shelves to said panels and existing environment.   
   
   
       2 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein two of said rectangular front panels include an opening. 
   
   
       3 . The rectangular front panel as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the opening further comprising:
 a. a peripheral flange surrounding the parameter of said opening inwardly without perforation; and   b. a molding having been molded to the surface of said panel and surrounding the edge of said opening.   
   
   
       4 . The rectangular front panel as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a peripheral flange surrounding the parameter of said panel inwardly with perforation to allow for transmission of sound; and   b. a Velcro Strip-mate having been attached to the back side of said panel at either of the four comers close to the flange for latching.   
   
   
       5 . The triangular shelf as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a flat notch where two isogonal sides of said triangular shelf meet;   b. a peripheral flange surrounding the edge of said triangular shelf upwardly;   c. a cable routing raceway opening at the notched end of said triangular shelf, and   d. a Velcro Strip-mate having been attached to the left-hand side of the flange surrounding the base of the triangular shelf.   
   
   
       6 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the translucent panel can be attached to the opening of the front rectangular panel as claimed in  claim 2  by means such as adhesive or metal clips. 
   
   
       7 . The translucent panel as claimed in  claim 6  is made of acrylic sheet with transparency between about 10% and 30%. 
   
   
       8 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the V-shaped backdrop is made from any heavy duty construction paper by folding sideway at its center and is painted over with color graduations from black to yellow to modulate the glare generated by the environment. 
   
   
       9 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rectangular front panels and triangular shelves are made of:
 a. ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) plastic which is UV-resistant and commercially available in the marketplace and can be treated biennially by plastic rejuvenator products (e.g., Armorall) for surface restoration; or   b. double-thick egg-carton material in lieu of plastic.   
   
   
       10 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rectangular front panel is being laminated with coating materials such as faux pas stone or hardwood prior to the thermal vacuum forming process. 
   
   
       11 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the triangular shelves can be fastened to the existing wall by means such as the fasteners for weight support. 
   
   
       12 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rectangular front panels are hinged to the triangular shelves by means such as the hinge pins. 
   
   
       13 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rectangular front panels can swing open outward or latched to the supporting triangular shelf by means such as Velcro strips in a closed position. 
   
   
       14 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more triangular shelves, used alone, can be fastened to the existing wall by means such as the fasteners to form display or storage shelves. 
   
   
       15 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each triangular shelf can be hinged to another triangular shelf by means such as the plastic hinges to form a square one or a double layer shelf. 
   
   
       16 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more rectangular front panels, used alone, can be attached to each other with means such as bolts and nuts on the peripheral flange to form a display wall of different sizes and shapes. 
   
   
       17 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more rectangular front panels, used alone, can be assembled together by means such as bolts and nuts to form a table, a counter top, a decorative window frame, an organizer box, or a table tray. 
   
   
       18 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more pairs of the rectangular front panel and triangular shelf are expandable vertically and placed in a back-to-back relationship to form a free-standing column for housing newer plasma display panel (PDP) or liquid crystal display (LCD) flat panels as well as earlier cathode ray (CRT) type TV sets. 
   
   
       19 . The storage system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more pairs of the rectangular front panel and triangular shelf are expandable horizontally and placed in a side-by-side relationship to form a free-standing stand for display at the foyer entrance.