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 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 whereby the multimedia console is supported substantially inside the tower section.   
   
   
       2 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , wherein the tower section is a cylindrical tower section. 
   
   
       3 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , wherein the tower section is a substantially rectangular tower section. 
   
   
       4 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a slot through the tower section. 
   
   
       5 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed by at least one cutout from the tower section. 
   
   
       6 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of supports adapted to attach to a plurality of peripherals associated with the multimedia console.   
   
   
       7 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of supports are customized to support a plurality of gaming controllers for providing input to the multimedia console. 
   
   
       8 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of supports include a support at least one of a headset associated with the multimedia console or a camera associated with the multimedia console. 
   
   
       9 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side includes at least one interior side. 
   
   
       10 . The multimedia gaming tower of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side includes at least one exterior side. 
   
   
       11 . A multimedia tower furniture item, including:
 a base;   a tower section extending substantially upwards from the base, the tower section including a cutout or slot adapted to receive and support a multimedia gaming console.   
   
   
       12 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the cutout or slot is adapted to receive the multimedia gaming console from a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the tower section. 
   
   
       13 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the cutout or slot passes through the tower section such that a viewer of the cutout or slot sees through the cutout or slot from a front side of the tower section. 
   
   
       14 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the tower section includes a substantially rectangular cutout. 
   
   
       15 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the tower section includes a substantially vertically oriented rectangular cutout. 
   
   
       16 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the tower section includes a first cutout in a front of the tower section and a second cutout in a rear of the tower section adapted to receive a multimedia console through the first and second cutouts. 
   
   
       17 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second cutouts are adapted to support the multimedia console at a position at or near a bottom of the first and second cutouts. 
   
   
       18 . The multimedia tower furniture item of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second cutouts are adapted to support a support piece which in turn supports the multimedia console. 
   
   
       19 . A multimedia tower, including:
 a base;   a tower section extending substantially upwards from the base, the tower section an opening of the multimedia furniture item for receiving a multimedia console through the opening, the opening having a contour customized to be 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;   peripheral attachment structure adapted to receive and attach to a plurality of peripherals associated with the multimedia console including at least one of hooks or brackets; and   multimedia storage including a plurality of individual receptacles for storing a corresponding plurality of multimedia storage cartridges.   
   
   
       20 . The multimedia furniture item of  claim 19 , wherein the multimedia storage includes a plurality of slots for storing the corresponding plurality of multimedia storage cartridges.