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[0001] This invention relates in general to a multi-media entertainment system and more particularly to a weatherproof retractable multi-media entertainment center.
[0002] Multi-media entertainment plays a major part of the socializing done in one's home and therefore the components used to entertain also play an important part. Most households around the world have a variety of entertainment devices from televisions, VCRs, DVD players to stereo systems, radios and the like. Since the initial development of these entertainment devices, there have been numerous improvements not only on the devices themselves but also on the individual components that are incorporated into the device itself. In some instances new combinations of these components have been invented to address the ever-increasing need for advanced entertainment systems.
[0003] Prior art multi-media entertainment systems and components have been devised to address some of the needs addressed above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,760 issued on Jun. 14, 1994 to Gray relates to a retractable speaker assembly for an automobile, which includes a housing containing at least one loudspeaker, a first actuator for selectively moving the housing between a retracted position and an extended position, and a second actuator for rotating the housing sideways so that the speaker can be directed toward the left or right side of the automobile interior.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,912 issued on Jul. 10, 1990 Leonovich, Jr. and relates to a portable food and beverage cooler with an integral audio receiver, preferably and AM/FM radio receiver. The audio receiver includes a plurality of components including the receiver unit, one or more speakers, a power source battery, receptacle for earphones, jack separately mounted in compartments provided in one or more of the walls, with components in the wiring means connecting the audio insulation layer. Protective screens and waterproof sealing means are provided for keeping sand and moisture out of the speakers to improve quality of sound. Insulation of cooler also insulate components from sand, heat and moisture.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,386 issued on Aug. 14, 1990 to Hill and relates to a waterproof ground audio speaker apparatus has a speaker housing having a cylindrical sidewall, one open end and a closed end. A rigid domed supporting cover extends over the opening of the speaker housing and a filter membrane cover covers the open end of the speaker housing to protect the inside of the speaker enclosure.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,179 issued on Feb. 5, 2002 to Wiegers et al. and relates to a combined marine entertainment system and depth sounder that more efficiently utilizes limited marine instrument panel space, that is more convenient and simple to operate, and that shares certain components.
[0007] The prior art devices described above address a variety of improvements but do not overcome the challenges of operating all of these systems and components outdoors under extreme weather conditions, simultaneously, and having them be retractable. Thus a multi-media entertainment system that can operate in the outdoors through a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, includes a wide variety of entertainment devices including but not limited to televisions, stereo systems, DVD players, VCRs, radios and the like, and is retractable is desirable.
[0008] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved multi-media entertainment center that is both retractable into a cabinet and is weatherproof so that it can operate in a wide variety of weather conditions.
[0009] In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a weatherproof retractable multimedia entertainment center that includes a housing having a retracted position and an activated position, a weatherproof entertainment system, and a retracting means mounted within the housing. The weatherproof entertainment system may also be mounted within the housing so that the retracting means can move the weatherproof entertainment system from the retracted position within the housing to the activated position outside the housing when the weatherproof retractable. multimedia entertainment center is activated.
[0010] Conveniently, the housing may be a cabinet having a movable top portion that encloses the weatherproof entertainment system in the retracted position and moves with the weatherproof entertainment system when the multi-media entertainment center is activated. The housing may also include a platform on which the weatherproof entertainment system may rest.
[0011] Preferably, the weatherproof entertainment system may include devices such as a television, VCR, DVD player, AM/FM radio, CD player, speaker system, remote satellite/cable signal receiver, telephone, bar, refrigerator, lighting, and towel warmer, all able to withstand a large range of temperatures and reside in the outdoors. The retracting means may be a lifting mechanism activated electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or the like.
[0012] Advantages of the present invention include a self-contained entertainment center that can reside outside and withstand a wide range of weather temperature and conditions while containing a television, VCR, DVD player, AM/FM radio, CD player, speaker system, remote satellite/cable signal receiver, telephone, bar, refrigerator, lighting, and towel warmer. Furthermore, the self-contained entertainment center may be retractable so that the system can move from a retracted position to an activated position.
[0013] A detailed description of the preferred embodiments are provided herein below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:
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[0024] In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
[0025] Referring to the FIGS.
[0026] The weatherproof entertainment system
[0027] The housing
[0028] Referring to
[0029] The weatherproof entertainment system
[0030] Generally, the weatherproof entertainment system
[0031] The retracting means
[0032] The retracting means
[0033] Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.