US2604536A - Television cabinet having viewing tube housing rotatable about horizontal axis - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1952 J. K. Ross TELEVISION CABINET HAVING VIEWING TUBE HOUSING ROTATABLE ABOUT HORIZONTAL AXIS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 27, 1946 fig. 2

' IN1/amos. 4 Jaseph Rose ArraR/vex July 22, 1952 J. K. Rose TELEVISION CABINET HAVING VIEWING TUBE HOUSING ROTATABLE ABOUT HORIZONTAL AXIS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DSC. 27, 1946 INVENTOR. Joseph K. ,Qase

July 22, 1952 J. K. RosE 2,604,536

TELEVISION CABINET HAVING VIEW G TUBE HOUSING ROT ATABLE ABOUT HORIZON AXIS Filed Dec. 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENWR. 75 72 Joseph k @ase 3% L 7,5/4 2 Arramvsr July 22, 1952 J. K. ROSE TELEVISION CABINET HAVING VIEWING ABOUT 0 2,604,536 Ho NG Joseph K. Rose BY MM Arnon/EY.

Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENToFFICE TELEVISION CABINET HAVING VIEWING TUBE HOUSING ROTATABLE ABOUT HORIZONTAL AXIS Joseph K. Rose, Chicago,V Ill.

Application December 27, 1946, Serial No. 718,850

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a television receiver or other viewing apparatus, such asa projector having a self-contained screen, and particularly to means to adjust the angularity of the viewing screen in accordance with the conditions surrounding theA reception of the televised images and to means for shielding the viewing screen from extraneous light. Y

lImages displayed on a viewing screenyas in a television receiver, can be viewed most perfectly when the eyes of the observer are near a line perpendicular to thecenter of the plane of the viewing surface of the image exhibiting member.

`Within a certain distance from this line viewing is considered satisfactory. This satisfactory Viewing space in front of the image exhibiting member is contained within the confines of a truncated gure whose cross sectional area is approximately the same shape as the viewing screen, that is, rectangular with rounded corners. These sections become increasingly larger as the distance from the screen increases. The longitudinal axis of this truncated figure is the above mentioned perpendicular to the center of the image exhibiting member. Television receivers heretofore known have had fixed viewing screens, incapable of adjustment except by the process of moving the entire cabinet housing the receiver.

It is anobject of this invention to provide means for adjusting the angularity of the viewing screen by rotating the screen, within predetermined limits, in one or more directions. It is another object of this invention to mount the imagefexhibiting member rigidly with a supporting shelf and an apertured front panel so that the assembly is movable as a unit relative to the cabinet. Itis another object of this invention to provide light shields for the viewing screen that may be adjusted in accordance with the position of the viewing screen as well asthe extraneous light conditions, Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the followingl description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a television receiver with the viewing screen pulled forward for viewing by seated viewers andthe top section down to provide maximum top light shielding; 'l i Figure 2 is a fragmentary .perspective view showing the viewing screen pushed back a few degrees for viewing by standing viewers and the movable portion of the cabinet top raisedrangu- ITIS- 7.5)

2 larly to increase the vertical angleA of without eliminating the top light shielding;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing the movable shelf and panel mounting;

Figure liis a fragmentary cross sectional view, showing the means of supporting theshelf for` sliding movement; s

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of a modication showing al lifting jack structure for.

moving the shelf;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of another em- Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective View.

showing the viewing screen assembly of Figure 10 -in its forward position; v

Figure 12 is a perspectiverview of another embodiment in which the viewing screen and related mechanism are mountedl on `an 'fangularly movable shelf and panel assembly that is pivoted at the bottom of the front panel; Y j

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective View of the embodiment of Figure 12 with the .viewing screen moved forwardly;

Figure 14 is a cross sectional viewl through thel embodiment of Figures 12 and v 13 showingrthe Figure 12 position in solid lines andthe Figure 13 position in dotted lines; Y y

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective View of a television receiver in which the viewing screen is rotatable to vary the lateral angle `of the screen; y Y

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the Viewing screen-rotated slightly from the position shown in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a rear perspective'view. of the in-' tatable platform; and

Figure 18 is a detail perspective view Vofthe terior of the television receiver Vshowing the'ro-z means for holding the platform in any lateralv position. l v In the drawings, the reference numeral Zindicates a television receiver cabinet having a front 3, a top 4, side walls 5 and 6, a back 1 and a base vision,

f the. the image ex-l V3 8. A shelf 9 secured inside the cabinet has the television chassis IU mounted thereon, as shown .in Figure 3. Control knobs II are mounted on the front of the cabinet to operate the receiver. A movable assembly I2 comprising a panel I3 and a shelf I4 is pivotedY to the front of the cabinet just above the control knobs II. The

panel I3 is provided adjacent its top with a` handle I5 by means of which the assembly may be moved angularly between a nearly vertical position and a position approximately thirty degrees from the vertical. Sufficient friction is provided, by means hereinafter described, to hold the assembly in any position of angular adjustment within its range of movement.

An upright member I5 is positioned adjacent The uprights'are each side of the shelf I4. secured to the shelf 9 in any suitable manner.. The members I6 are each provided with a recess I8, as shown in Figure 4. The recess extends fromadjacentthe top of the member I8 to a point. just'above the shelf I4 when the shelf is in its lowermostposition, and is curved slightly as shown in Fig-ure 3. A block I9 is secured to thelshelf- I4 adjacent eachvrecess 'I8. Each block I9? has a recess'. 28 extending linwardly from the side adjacent the slot I8. Preferably' a cup shaped member 2l issecured inthe recess. A coiledVv spring 22v is positioned in therrnemloerv 2| and exerts outward pressure on a` rod 23 which' The panel I3 is provided with an aperture 25A which is in registration with the front end 23 of avcathode-ray picture tube 21'which is movable with the assembly I2. The front end 26-of the cathode-fray picture tube is vgenerally circular in cross sectional areal but the aperture blocks out part of ltheed'ges so that the visible area appears to be substantially rectangular with rounded corners; This` portion visible through the apertu'r'e 25' 'constitutes the image exhibiting member or'viewing screen. Y

The-top section' 28, positioned over the panel I3, is hinged at its rear-edgeto the top 4. The underside o f'the 4top section 28 is curved, as indicated at 29, so that itsinner surface is anT arc coinciding with the path of travel of the top edge-of-the'panel I3- when the top section is in its: down-position. Accordingly, no gap exists between the panel I3 and the top section 2-8' when the top section is down regardlessof the angular adjustment of the image-exhibiting member.

In the positions of the image exhibiting member shown in Figures 1 to 3 the panel I3 andthe image exhibiting member 26. slope rearwardly and upwardlyfrom the front of the cabinet just above the controlvknobs l I. vIn this position` the inset portion of the sidejwall '5 'and the center Y bellows 3I and 32'attached to its bottom surface adjacent its opposite lateral edges. When the top section is raised angularly the bellows 3| and 32 extend the side light shielding so as to prevent any extraneous light from passing between the 4top of the cabinet and the underside of thetop section 28. In the down position of the top section the side light shields collapse into recesses 3l' yand 32 in the top of the side wall 5' and the center wall I1. If desired, the recesses may be positioned in the top section adjacent its lateraledges instead of in the walls 5 and I1.

Instead of. Vthe bellows"v -3I shields may be formed of' a plurality of small interengaged sections or may beein the form of solid opaque sections. Y

The hinging of the topfsection makes it possible tov reducexthe height ofthe cabinet that would otherwise be required. The Yhinged atop section provides an angle of visionrsufciently high' to enable standing viewers to observe the screen with a relatively low cabinet. Withv a fixed'top section the top would obscure the view of standing viewers unless it were positioned a greater distance above the image exhibiting member.

A modied'structure is shown in Figure 5 in which positive control means-isprovided for mo-ving the assembly I2 aboutpits pivot. The control means isla lifting jack comprising a shaft 34 rotatably secured-to a base 35 mounted on the shelf 9'. The shaft is threaded, as indicated at 33, and a sleeve 31 is'engaged with the threaded portion to movesubstantially vertically as the shaft is rotated.. A pin 33; secured to the'v upper end of the sleeve extends into a recessf39 in the edge of the shelf I4" so' as to move the unitA I 2f about its pivot 'as the' pin/movessubstantially vertically. The shaft 34'Y is rotated by means of ar gear 43 secured theretoY which'is engaged by' a worm gear; 4l; mounted on a. shaft' 42 which extends' through: 'the sidewall' 5d ofthe' cabinet. Av wheel or knob (not shown)' is fixed to the shaft' 42 outside ith'e' cabinet sofitfcanibe rotated.. 'Itobvicus that the-jack mechanism will maintain the unit I2 inv any angular position to which-it is moved. Whenthelifting jackis used theupright members -I'Iin and` their related structure'maybe omitted. v Y

In. V the form of the inventionshownin Fig,- ures 6 te 9, inclusive, aemovable. :assemblyJ-l',v comprising a shelf lill,v afrontY panel 45,landa top section 46, is pivotedto, apair' of oppositely disposed upri'ghts 41, as indicated at 48,.'Figure 8. Thepicture tube 49. andlthe'chassis 58 are botlisecured in fixed relationship to the assembly and rotate about' the pivot therewith. The .shelf 44 is provided with upwardly extending'li'anges 5I at its lateral edges. YRods V52 each having a head 53v embedded in lone of the-flanges 5I- extend` through the flanges and through aperturesv541in theuprights 41. The head 53 ris preferably hex#A and 32, theV side' Ably'x43;.relativefto the rods 562.

freely in the apertures 54. A spring washer-55 agonaLLbut may be any non-circular shape, in orderLt'oprevent rotation of the movable assem- TheA rodsA turn is mounted'on each rod 52 anda castellated nut 56 isscrewed tightly against 4the washer land held in place by means of a cotter pin 51.

As shown in Figure 8, the pivot 48 is positioned just above the shelf 44 at a point between the center and the back ofthe shelf. 'Many ofv the parts on-the frontportion of the chassis base. 5 0 are. radio frequency vcoils which are relatively light inweight. The 'heavierA-parts such as power transformer and iron core chokes are mounted on the rear portion of the chassis base. If desired, lead weights may also be added to the rear portion of the chassis base in order to balancer the movable assembly at a point close enough to the rear of the cabinet to obtain the desired angular adjustments in the space available. y

'aligned pivotal movement of thel assembly will not disturb the balance because the moment arms on both sides of the pivot will change proportionately as the assembly is moved about the pivot and. both sideswill remain substantially balanced. TheV friction of the spring washers 55 is sufficient to hold the assembly in any angular position .to which it has been adjusted. The force required to vmove the assembly 43 about the pivot '48 is that required to .overcome the friction in the assembly plus vor minus whatever slight deviation may exist from perfect balance. It is obvious that the deviation from perfect balance must not exceed the friction.

In order to permit movement of the assembly 43'about the pivot 48, the top section 46 is beveled at its rear-top surface, as indicated at` 58 vand the forwardly extending edge of the adjacent portion of the cabinet top 59 is complementarily beveled, as indicated at 60. The top edge of the front wall 6I just below the assembly 43 is beveled on the inside, as indicated at 62, so that an apron 63, attached to the front of the shelf 44, may extend into the cabinet when the assembly 43 is in its down position. When the assembly is moved upwardly the apron closes the space between the bottom of the assembly and the top of the front wall 6|' just below the assembly. Instead ofthe solid apron 63 a collapsible bellows may be substituted. When a bellows structure is used the front wall 6| will preferably be provided with a recess into which the bellows may be collapsed.

In the embodiment hereinabove described, the -top section 46 always projects forwardly of the front panel 45, as indicated at 64, to serve as a top light shield for the image exhibiting member 65. The overhanging portion 64 of the top also serves as a convenient means for moving the assembly 43 about its pivot. When the assembly` is in its down position the inset sides 66 furnish side light shielding.

In Figures 10 and 11 a movable assembly 61 is mounted in a cabinet 68 by means of conventional drawer, slides and rollers. The ,assembly comprises a front panel 69, side panels 10 and a shelf` (not shown). The chassis andv picture tube are mounted` to move with the assembly. lThe front panel is provided with a handle 'H to facilitate sliding of the assembly. When the assembly is in its inner position, as Shown in Figure 10,- the inset side walls 12 and the overhanging top sec-1 tion 12 serve aslight shieldsfor the imageexhibiting ,member 13. When no light shielding is required, as in a darkened room, the assembly is,

pulled out to provide full usable angle of vision;

In the construction of Figures 12 to 14 the television chassis is'divided-into two parts, a portion 14 being mounted in the base 15 ofthe cabinet.16 andv another portionv 11 being mounted on ,a shelf 18.17-The shelf 18, the front panel .19, side walls Rilland thememberl., Vwhich constitutes a partbfnthefront ofthe cabinet` and is rigidly, connected vto the shelf and the frontpaneL. constitute an' assembly which ispivotedA to the light shielding. WhenV it is'desired to lower the.

angle* of vision the Iassembly is grasped at the top-rail 86 andthen .pulledforwardly'to the position shown-inFigure'lB. Abellows '81 is secured to a flange 88 extending. rearwardlyand down-I wardly from the top edge of the front panel 19.- The other edge of the bellows is securedv to a cross piece 89 secured in the cabinet. The bellows closes the gap between the top and upper sides of the assembly and the cabinet when the assembly is in one of its forward positions. If desired, the bellows maybe replaced by a solid apronxsecured to the :top edge o'f the panel YI9 and to the rear of the side walls 88.

- The' assembly is easily .tilted to any position as` the weight is offset by any suitable counterbalancing system. '.In Figure 14 an' uprightSU secured tothe baser15 extends upwardly past the shelf 18. A bar 9| is secured to the edge of the shelfri18 and extends downwardly therefrom.` A spring v92 has one end secured to the top of the upright 90 and the other end to the bottom of the bar 9| so as to constantly urge the assembly upward into its forward position. The force of the spring is not quite equal to the weight. of the assembly so that a slight additional force is required to move the assembly. However, the pull of the spring is sufficiently close to the weight of the assembly so that it will, together with the friction in the hinge, hold the assembly in any adjusted position. The pull of the spring is greatest when the assembly is in the position ofV Figure 12 as the spring is extended the greatest amount. In the position of Figure 13 the spring pull is less, but less upward force is required as the center of gravity of the mass shifts towards the pivot. There is also a balancing force on the other side of the pivot as part of the assembly rotates beyond the pivot.

The positioning of the picture tube at an upward angle, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 12 to 14, instead of in a substantially horizontal position permits the use of a cabinet of greatly reduced depth.

In the embodiment of Figures 15 to 18, inclusive, means is provided for adjusting the image of about twenty degrees.

inanges insana. |04.' ."rherfrontlos of the cab-Y vent facce'ssvto` the .cabinet between thefront'panel 99,."and' the; adjacent portions of the front |05:V

when therfimage exhibiting; assembly93 is in' la: laterallyrotated' position; as indicated inA Figure 16;A Theflangesr|03 andld are slightly.rounded, asindicated at |08 and |09. to provide clearance whenthe assembly 93 isrotated from the straightV forward positionv of Figurer 15 to the. laterally rotated position of Figure 16..r f

. A' rod H0' extends from..the.r`ear edgef'ofthe platform95 and Amay be used as a handleto rotate the assembly-93r laterally Withintarange A rounded, reinforced back- I at-the: rearr1edgeof'the cabinet H2. is provided with. a horizontallyextending slotI |3 through:l which the rod. I extends. AY wing.. nut

' I Muis threaded on the endof. the-'rod H0 and can be tightened againstithe` back to" positivelyhold the assembly 93 in any laterally adjustedl position. It will be obvious -that' the `shelf Figure 17, uponV which the assembly 93 is pivoted, may beconstructed in accordance with the disclosure ofthe :embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 toV 9, inclusive, so thatvthe assembly 93fmay be: adjustedrvertically as well aslaterally.

Although theillustrations in thisv vapplication are of the direct'viewing typev of' televisionreceiver. and. the: accompanying description is; for the-most part, Writtenzfor this type-.oi` receiver,

theprinciples involved, vof changeof locationVV or angle of. image exhibiting assembly'resulting in. correspondinggrcha-nge of. location or anglerof imageviewing screenfalsoA apply to the' projec` tion; reecting. and 'other' types oftfelevisionv re#- ceivers. In v the projectionv receiver-'thiszmovable 8" assembly: would zfgenerallwcontain. .thetireflcting mirror.:- andfthe fronti viewing` screen; Whi1e. ...in. thefreectingltypelit wouldxconta'in the. :re'cting' mir1j01" Y, 4

While. Il have f described. a few preferred I eme bodim'entsv of :my invention considerable.: detail, itwillbei understood that the description is intended? toA be illustrative, ratherA th'ani restrictiva?. as. many detailsof structure-"m'aybe. modiiedorl'changed without departing' fromtlthe. spiriti or." scope ofi niyi` invention. Accordingly; I do'v noi-,desire to be' restrictedi to the exact de` tails-described, exceptA as'lin'iite'd by thefappendjed. clairn..y

Iclaiinz"y Y Inl a .television receiverpacabinet havngf a recessI in. thetupperv portion'of' its frontiwall,A an assemblypivoted in'saidre'cessed portion'to move. about ai single.: horizontal axisv betweenr al position Vwithin the normalconfines of'saidl cabinetand a position forwardly of said cabinet, said: assembly including!j an'ap'ertured. front. panel and". an'. imageiiexhibiting member.rv viewable throughY saidaperturedfront panel' in alllpositions'l Within :the range of.` movementyof: said assembly..

JOSEPH K; ROSE;

REFERENCES orrEiDi The following references are offrecord inthe iil'e of'tlnsV patent:

UNITEDSTAFES PATENTS- I K Y Datei."

Number Name 1,801,208 Rasmussen' .Apr; 14, 1931 1,988g522V y Stanley.' J an. 22, ..1935 2,109,431 McDonald Feb.: 22,1938 Number Name@ Date.V

2,260,721 Linsell .Octl 28,1941 2,285,509 Goshaw JuneV 9,'.1942 2,304,921'. Hopkins Deo."115;.1942 2,350,889 '2 Harman.l sJune 6,.:19445 2,413,922' t Jensen: et al .Jan. 7, 1947i 2,446,214. Cramer;v ..Aug.:13,.. 1948 Y FoREiGN PATENTS' Number Y, Countryg. L Y y, Datei 100,949'. Australia:- May 20,` 1937 Y

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