Multimedia and gaming oriented furniture structures

Abstract

Multimedia furniture includes structure for a multimedia console that allows insertion of the console through a front panel of the multimedia furniture, e.g., via a slot or cutout, advantageously keeping the console apparent through the front panel. For better integration of multimedia peripherals and storage components into the multimedia furniture, the invention also includes structure for retaining multimedia storage components, such as gaming DVDs and their cases and/or structure for retaining gaming peripherals, such as wired or wireless gaming controllers. For instance, in one non-limiting embodiment, a furniture stand for a display device is provided having a main surface for supporting a display device. In a front panel, the furniture stand includes a cutout or slot in a front panel for receiving a multimedia console. In another non-limiting embodiment, tower furniture is provided including a cutout or slot in the tower portion for receiving and supporting a multimedia console.

1 . A multimedia furniture item tailored to a multimedia console environment for rendering multimedia, including:
 an opening of the multimedia furniture item for receiving a multimedia console through the opening, the opening having a contour substantially shaped like a contour of the multimedia console, wherein the opening is larger than the multimedia console to accommodate receiving the multimedia console through the opening, and whereby a user's view to the multimedia console is unobstructed through the opening when the multimedia console is received through the opening.   
   
   
       2 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is positioned on a front section of the multimedia furniture item. 
   
   
       3 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 2 , wherein the front section is a front panel of the multimedia furniture item. 
   
   
       4 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 2 , wherein the front section is at least one hinged door of the multimedia furniture item. 
   
   
       5 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 2 , wherein the multimedia furniture item is a stand for a display device. 
   
   
       6 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia furniture item further includes means for retaining a plurality of peripherals associated with the multimedia console. 
   
   
       7 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 6 , wherein the multimedia furniture item includes means for hanging the plurality of peripherals. 
   
   
       8 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of peripherals includes a plurality of controllers for providing input to the multimedia console. 
   
   
       9 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia furniture item includes means for retaining a plurality of multimedia storage means, wherein the multimedia console is capable of rendering audio or video from the multimedia storage means. 
   
   
       10 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 2 , wherein the multimedia furniture item is a tower for retaining a plurality of game cases for holding games associated with the multimedia console. 
   
   
       11 . A multimedia gaming tower for retaining a plurality of multimedia games associated with a multimedia console platform, comprising:
 a base;   a tower section extending upwards from the base, the tower section including a plurality of retention means for retaining multimedia games on at least one side of the tower section, and   the tower section including an opening through which a multimedia console is inserted so that the multimedia console is supported substantially inside the tower section.   
   
   
       12 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 11 , wherein the tower section is a cylindrical tower section. 
   
   
       13 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 11 , wherein the opening is a slot through the tower section. 
   
   
       14 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 11 , wherein the opening is formed by at least one cutout from the tower section. 
   
   
       15 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 11 , further comprising support means for supporting a plurality of peripherals associated with the multimedia console against gravity. 
   
   
       16 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 15 , wherein the support means includes support means for supporting a plurality of controllers for providing input to the multimedia console. 
   
   
       17 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 15 , wherein the support means includes support means for supporting at least one of a headset associated with the multimedia console or a camera associated with the multimedia console. 
   
   
       18 . A furniture stand for supporting a display device that displays the output of a multimedia console housed by the furniture stand, comprising:
 a top surface capable of supporting a display device;   at least one outwardly facing front section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing front section includes an opening through which a multimedia console is received, and whereby the open physical space of the opening enables unobstructed view through the opening.   
   
   
       19 . The furniture stand of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one outwardly facing front section includes a front panel or a hinged door. 
   
   
       20 . The furniture stand of  claim 18 , further including a plurality of retention means for retaining multimedia storage. 
   
   
       21 . The furniture stand of  claim 18 , wherein the opening is formed by at least one cutout from the outwardly facing front section. 
   
   
       22 . The furniture stand of  claim 18 , further including a plurality of retention means for retaining a plurality of peripherals including a plurality of controllers for providing input to the multimedia console.