Furniture including a slidable display stand for concealing a television

Abstract

Furniture, namely a footboard for a bed, including a means for concealing a display stand and an object affixed thereto, such as a television. The footboard includes a stationary frame and a slidable frame that is affixed to the display stand and vertically slides with respect to the stationary frame. The footboard conceals the display stand when in a descended position. When a user lifts the display stand to an ascended position, the display stand and the television are substantially exposed for viewing. Controlled sliding with the appropriate tension is provided by use of a counterbalance system in combination with a sliding track system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of furniture comprising:
 a substantially hollow cavity that defines a housing; and   a slidable frame disposed within the housing for facilitating (i) concealing an object associated with the slidable frame within the housing and (ii) exposing the object outside the housing;   wherein the slidable frame vertically slides with respect to a stationary frame between a descended position and an ascended position;   wherein when the slidable frame is in the descended position, the object is substantially concealed within the housing; and   wherein when the slidable frame is in the ascended position, the object is substantially exposed outside the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture of  claim 1  wherein the object is a television. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture of  claim 1  wherein the slidable frame vertically slides between the descended position and the ascended position upon physical manipulation by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture of  claim 3  wherein the slidable frame comprises a handle for facilitating the physical manipulation by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture of  claim 1  further comprising at least one sliding track system that is affixed to the slidable frame and the stationary frame to facilitate the slidable frame sliding between the descended position and the ascended position. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture of  claim 5  wherein the sliding track system is selected from the group consisting of a telescoping slide system and non-telescoping slide system. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture of  claim 5  wherein the sliding track system is selected from the group consisting of a telescoping ball bearing slide system and a linear motion slide system. 
     
     
         8 . The furniture of  claim 1  further comprising a counterbalance system that facilitates controlled sliding of the slidable frame between the descended position and the ascended position. 
     
     
         9 . The furniture of  claim 8  wherein the counterbalance system comprises at least one weight, at least one cable, and at least one pulley. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture of  claim 9  wherein:
 the weight counterbalances the weight of the slidable frame; 
 the pulley is affixed to the stationary frame; and 
 the cable is affixed to the weight and the slidable frame. 
 
     
     
         11 . The furniture of  claim 9  wherein the counterbalance system comprises a spiral balance torsion spring system. 
     
     
         12 . The furniture of  claim 11  wherein the spiral balance torsion spring system comprises at least one tube and at least one spiral rod. 
     
     
         13 . The furniture of  claim 12  wherein:
 the tube is affixed to either the stationary frame or the slidable frame; and 
 the rod is affixed to the other of the stationary frame or the slidable frame. 
 
     
     
         14 . The furniture of  claim 9  wherein the counterbalance system is a block and tackle counterbalance system. 
     
     
         15 . The furniture of  claim 14  wherein the block and tackle counterbalance system comprises at least one hook, at least one cable, and at least one traveling block. 
     
     
         16 . The furniture of  claim 15  wherein:
 the hook is affixed to either the stationary frame or the slidable frame; 
 the traveling block is affixed to the other of the stationary frame or the slidable frame; and 
 the cable is affixed to the hook and the traveling block. 
 
     
     
         17 . The furniture of  claim 9  wherein the counterbalance system is a constant force coil spring system. 
     
     
         18 . The furniture of  claim 17  wherein the constant force coil spring system comprises at least one coil and at least one tape. 
     
     
         19 . The furniture of  claim 18  wherein:
 the coil is affixed to either the stationary frame or the slidable frame; and 
 the tape is affixed to the other of the stationary frame or the slidable frame. 
 
     
     
         20 . The furniture of  claim 1  further comprising a lid that is configured for removably closing a top of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The furniture of  claim 1  further comprising a display stand that is integrated with or affixed to the slidable frame, the display stand being configured for attachment to the object to facilitate movement of the object. 
     
     
         22 . The furniture of  claim 1  wherein the stationary frame is formed by inner walls of the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The furniture of  claim 1  wherein the furniture is a bed. 
     
     
         24 . The furniture of  claim 1  wherein the furniture is a footboard for a bed. 
     
     
         25 . The footboard of  claim 1  wherein the furniture is a stand-alone console that is configured for attachment to a bed with brackets. 
     
     
         26 . A footboard comprising:
 a substantially hollow cavity that defines a housing;   a slidable frame disposed within the housing that is configured to mechanically and vertically slide with respect to a stationary frame;   a display stand that is integrated with or affixed to the slidable frame and is configured to vertically slide between a descended position and an ascended position; and   a counterbalance system that facilitates controlled sliding of the display stand between the ascended position and the descended position;   wherein when the display stand is in the descended position, the display stand is substantially concealed within the housing; and   wherein when the display stand is in the ascended position, the display stand is substantially exposed.   
     
     
         27 . The furniture of  claim 26  wherein the counterbalance system is selected from the group consisting of a counterbalancing weight and pulley system, a spiral balance torsion spring system, a block and tackle system, and a constant force coil spring system. 
     
     
         28 . A footboard for a bed comprising:
 a substantially hollow cavity that defines a housing;   a slidable frame disposed within the housing that is configured to vertically slide with respect to a stationary frame; and   a display stand that is affixed to the slidable frame and vertically slides between a descended position in the housing and an ascended position that is ascended above the housing;   wherein when the display stand is in the descended position, the display stand is substantially concealed within the housing; and   wherein when the display stand is in the ascended position, the display stand is substantially exposed.