Wall-Mounted Media Appliance Hiding Set-Top Box
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional form factors of media players, such as set-top boxes and audio systems, are designed for placement on shelves or in entertainment cabinets, which are no longer necessary with the rise of wall-mounted flat-screen televisions, leading to challenges in finding a suitable location for these devices.
Innovation Solution
A media appliance with a housing designed to be mounted within a wall, featuring a panel with vents and mounting holes for secure installation, providing set-top box functionality and connectivity options like power over coax, allowing for a flush-mount solution that integrates media players behind wall-mounted TVs, eliminating visible devices and cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional media players are designed as standalone rectangular units for cabinet placement, then they provide adequate functionality and ease of installation, but they become difficult to place and aesthetically problematic with wall-mounted televisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the media player with the television set into an integrated unit. The media player is housed within the television's casing, sharing the same physical space and mounting structure. This merging allows the media player to adapt to wall-mounted television placements while maintaining simple installation through the television's existing mounting holes and bracket system.
2Shape
If media players are integrated into wall-mounted solutions, then aesthetic appearance is improved by hiding devices and cables, but device complexity and integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The media player is nested within the television's housing structure. The television casing serves as the outer container, while the media player occupies the internal space. This nesting arrangement achieves aesthetic integration by completely concealing the media player behind the television, eliminating visible devices and cables, while the modular design keeps integration complexity manageable through standardized mounting interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A media appliance and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall. A panel forms a front portion of the housing and the panel includes vents and the panel may be mounted substantially flush with the wall. A media player, which includes a set-top box, is disposed within the housing. A pair of ports, disposed within openings defined by the housing, are configured to receive respective connectors. The pair of ports are coupled to the media player and one port is configured for providing a connection to a television and the other port is configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television, as well as power for the media player.