US4843782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Behind-the-ceiling mounting for television receiver
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-10
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Granted: 1989-07-04
•
Expires: 2008-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Provision for mounting a television receiving set behind the ceiling of a room, such as a bedroom, for viewing by a person reclining or sitting with head back, is made by a support portion of a protective housing positioned or adapted to be positioned behind a viewing opening in the ceiling of the room and sloping upwardly from such opening. The viewing opening is normally closed by a ceiling panel hinged as a door along its forward end, but can be opened for viewing of or projection by the television receiver by remote-controlled mechanism operative to raise and lower the panel door on its hinging axis, which is preferably free. The mechanism is arranged to pull a flexible draw line for raising the panel door and to slacken such line so the panel can return to closed position by the force of gravity. So as to seat properly in closed position, the panel door is a sheet of pliable material having sufficient rigidity to be shape retaining, preferably a one-quarter inch thick, medium density fibreboard, it and the viewing opening and door-seating structure that is peripheral marginally of the panel door preferably being of rectangular configuration and the upper surface of the ceiling panel door being reinforced peripherally inwardly of the seating margins and, depending upon shape and size of the panel door, also longitudinally intermediate the width of such door by mutually independent lengths of rigid material, such as structural steel angles which do not intersect. For easy removal through the viewing opening when the mechanism is mounted on top of the housing and the panel door removed, such housing is provided with an opening at least commensurate in size with the mechanism and the mechanism is mounted on a base plate that is removably secured across the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith I. Gustaveson
- 👤 Elsie E. Gustaveson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:23
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
Behind-the-ceiling mounting for a television receiver, comprising a support for a television receiver, said support being mounted above the ceiling of a room and sloping upwardly from a margin of a viewing opening provided in said ceiling; a ceiling panel door hinged along a margin of a viewing opening that is opposite the first-named margin for being raised from a position closing said opening to an open, television viewing or projecting position and for being lowered from said open position back to the position closing the viewing opening; panel door seating means disposed marginally and peripherally of said viewing opening for receiving said panel door in its closed position; mechanism for raising and lowering said panel door; a flexible line having one end connected to said panel door and the other end connected to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a remotely controlled, reversible motor, means driven by the motor for alternately pulling and slackening said flexible line so as to raise said panel door to its open position and so as to permit it to fall back to its position closing said viewing opening, respectively, and limit switches controlling supply of power to said motor so as to stop operation of the motor at the termination of the opening and closing movements, respectively; said ceiling panel door being sheet pliable material having sufficient rigidity to substantially retain its shape during raising and lowering of said door; and mutually independent lengths of rigid reinforcing material secured to the upper surface of said panel door inwardly thereof from but adjacent to said seating means marginally and peripherally of said viewing opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
Behind-the-ceiling mounting for a television receiver, comprising a support for a television receiver, said support being mounted above the ceiling of a room and sloping upwardly from a margin of a viewing opening provided in said ceiling; a ceiling panel door hinged along a margin of a viewing opening that is opposite the first-named margin for being raised from a position closing said opening to an open, television viewing or projecting position and for being lowered from said open position back to the position closing the viewing opening; panel door seating means disposed marginally and peripherally of said viewing opening for receiving said panel door in its closed position; mechanism for raising and lowering said panel door; a flexible line having one end connected to said panel door and the other end connected to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a remotely controlled, reversible motor, means driven by the motor for alternately pulling and slackening said flexible line so as to raise said panel door to its open position and so as to permit it to fall back to its position closing said viewing opening, respectively, and limit switches controlling supply of power to said motor so as to stop operation of the motor at the termination of the opening and closing movements, respectively; said ceiling panel door being sheet pliable material having sufficient rigidity to substantially retain its shape during raising and lowering of said door; and mutually independent lengths of rigid reinforcing material secured to the upper surface of said panel door inwardly thereof from but adjacent to said seating means marginally and peripherally of said viewing opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the lengths of reinforcing material do not intersect.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the lengths of reinforcing material include at least one length extending from front to back of the panel door intermediate the width of said panel door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 3, wherein the viewing opening, the seating means, and the panel door are of rectangular configuration and the one length extending from front to back of the panel door is midway of the width of said panel door.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of pliable material is medium density fibreboard substantially one-quarter of an inch in thickness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 5, wherein the lengths of reinforcing material are rigid structural angles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the door is freely hinged so as to be removable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 7, wherein the support is in the bottom wall of a protective housing having an apertured top wall, the mechanism being mounted on a base plate which is removably secured to the inside face of said top wall below the aperture therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
275 words
A behind-the-ceiling television receiver mounting for installation in ceiling structure, comprising a housing having an open base adpated to fit over a corresponding viewing opening in the ceiling of a room, a bottom wall sloping upwardly and backwardly from a margin of said base for receiving and supporting a television receiver, and additional walls sloping backwardly and upwardly from said open base and arranged to enclose a television receiver on said bottom wall; a ceiling panel in said base adapted to be fitted over said viewing opening of the ceiling and hinged to open and close as a door along a margin of said panel that is opposite said margin of the base; mechanism for raising and lowering said panel door; a flexible line having one end connected to said mechanism and the other end attached to said panel door, said mechanism comprising a remotely controlled, reversible motor, means driven by the motor for alternately pulling and slackening said flexible line so as to raise said panel door to its open position and so as to permit it to fall back to a position in said base closing said viewing opening, respectively, and limit switches controlling supply of power to said motor so as to stop operation of the motor at the termination of the opening and closing movements, respectively; said panel door being sheet pliable material having sufficient rigidity to substantially retain its shape during raising and lowering of said door; and mutually independent lengths of rigid reinforcing material secured to the upper surface of said panel door inwardly from but adjacent to peripheral seating margins of said door peripherally of said viewing opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
275 words
A behind-the-ceiling television receiver mounting for installation in ceiling structure, comprising a housing having an open base adpated to fit over a corresponding viewing opening in the ceiling of a room, a bottom wall sloping upwardly and backwardly from a margin of said base for receiving and supporting a television receiver, and additional walls sloping backwardly and upwardly from said open base and arranged to enclose a television receiver on said bottom wall; a ceiling panel in said base adapted to be fitted over said viewing opening of the ceiling and hinged to open and close as a door along a margin of said panel that is opposite said margin of the base; mechanism for raising and lowering said panel door; a flexible line having one end connected to said mechanism and the other end attached to said panel door, said mechanism comprising a remotely controlled, reversible motor, means driven by the motor for alternately pulling and slackening said flexible line so as to raise said panel door to its open position and so as to permit it to fall back to a position in said base closing said viewing opening, respectively, and limit switches controlling supply of power to said motor so as to stop operation of the motor at the termination of the opening and closing movements, respectively; said panel door being sheet pliable material having sufficient rigidity to substantially retain its shape during raising and lowering of said door; and mutually independent lengths of rigid reinforcing material secured to the upper surface of said panel door inwardly from but adjacent to peripheral seating margins of said door peripherally of said viewing opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 9, wherein the lengths of reinforcing material do not intersect.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 9, wherein the lengths of reinforcing material include at least one length extending from front to back of the panel door intermediate the width of said panel door.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 11, wherein the viewing opening and the panel door are of rectangular configuration and the one length extending from front to back of the panel door is midway of the width of said panel door.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 9, wherein the sheet of pliable material is medium density fibreboard substantially one-quarter of an inch in thickness.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the lengths of reinforcing material are rigid structural angels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 9, wherein the door is freely hinged so as to be removable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
Mounting for a television receiver according to claim 15, wherein the housing has an apertured top wall, the mechanism being mounted on a base plate which is removably secured to the inside face of said top wall below the aperture therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-03 | 1993-01-02 | 1993-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-03 | 1997-01-02 | 1997-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-03 | 2001-01-02 | 2001-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |