Coffee Table with a Built-in Display

Abstract

Disclosed is a coffee table with a built-in display. The purpose of the present device is to provide an aesthetically pleasing coffee table while providing a display for an artwork. The device includes a tabletop and a plurality of legs attached thereto. The tabletop has an upper surface with a recessed portion that is adapted to store an artwork, such as a painting therein. The recessed portion has a ledge that is adapted to support a cover thereon. The ledge is elevated above the recessed surface so that the cover and the recessed surface are separated by a space. The cover is preferably composed of a transparent material so as to allow a user to view the artwork stored within the recessed portion. The cover is removably secured to the tabletop so that a user can remove the cover and replace the artwork as desired.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A coffee table, comprising:
 a tabletop having a lower surface and an upper surface having a recessed portion;   said recessed portion having a first inner perimeter and a second inner perimeter;   a ledge between said first inner perimeter and said second inner perimeter;   a removable cover having a perimeter;   wherein said ledge is adapted to support said cover;   a plurality of legs attached to said lower surface.   
     
     
         2 . The coffee table of  claim 1 , wherein said second inner perimeter is less than said first inner perimeter. 
     
     
         3 . The coffee table of  claim 2 , wherein said cover comprises an upper surface that is coextensive with a lower surface;
 said lower surface of said cover directly contacting said ledge;   said upper surface of said cover substantially contiguous with said upper surface of said tabletop.   
     
     
         4 . The coffee table of  claim 1 , wherein said recessed portion comprises a planar recessed surface that is adapted to hold a painting thereon;
 wherein said ledge is adapted to provide a separation between said cover and said recessed surface.   
     
     
         5 . The coffee table of  claim 4 , wherein said first inner perimeter is an inner perimeter of said upper surface of said tabletop and said second inner perimeter is a perimeter of said recessed surface. 
     
     
         6 . The coffee table of  claim 4 , wherein said recessed surface does not extend below said lower surface of said tabletop. 
     
     
         7 . The coffee table of  claim 1 , wherein said perimeter of said cover is substantially equal to said first inner perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The coffee table of  claim 4 , wherein a perimeter of said painting is substantially equal to or less than said second inner perimeter.