Modular Sofa Integrated with Entertainment Center

Background:

Traditionally, to create a home theater, one usually buys a sofa, TV, a DVD player, a Blu-Ray player, a TV box, a receiver, a DVR, an internet streaming device, speakers and a gaming console. This traditional system calls for upwards 7+ machines in order to create a home theater system; this calls for multiple trips to buy the machines, multiple remotes, and a cluttered home theater system. All these machines are cumbersome and consume room-space; a table must be bought to hold all the equipment.

To start a movie, or play a game, the user has to walk to the entertainment center to enter the disk and turn everything on; many times, this center is more than 15 feet away.

Furthermore, because of the multiple remotes that come with all equipment, remotes frequently are lost, run out of batteries, and do not work. As a result, the user has to spend time finding the correct remote or changing the remote’s batteries. Moreover, multiple remotes causes clutter in the room. And because every remote is programmed differently, the user must spend time learning how to use each one.

Detailed Description:

The modular sofa will contain all equipment within the sofa; of course, the user decides what equipment he/she wants to have. The base model will only have internet streaming, a Blu-Ray player, and an AV receiver for sound. However, the receiver will have multiple extra HDMI ports through which the user can connect other equipment such as a cable/Dish box, a gaming device, or a computer. All of this supplemental equipment will be inside the sofa so as to reduce clutter outside. The sofa can accept equipment from any company and will appeal to people who agree with the status-quo method of creating a home theater setup; there will be modules built-in to the sofa.

Since the sofa is modular (and therefore customizable), the user can choose to add/subtract equipment into the sofa beyond what is included in the base model. This equipment will fit into one of eight “modules.” As a result, the user may include equipment of his choice (of any design and of any company). Because of this, each of the modules of the sofa will mold themselves to the shape of the device inserted into them; there will be four pieces of plastic that will clasp around the equipment inserted into them. If a module is not being used, the user can cover the module with an included piece of leather (or cloth) covered plastic. Therefore, there will be no dead space around the module and the aesthetics will remain intact.

The same concept is true for the remote. In the base model, all the equipment will be run utilizing one detachable universal touch screen remote in the armrest; it will come integrated with the sofa and will control all equipment in the sofa and the TV/projector. But the user can choose to change this remote to his/her liking. If the user does not want to use the in-built remote, he/she can also choose to use iOS/Android apps to control the Modular Sofa and all equipment that the sofa contains.

Because of this technology, the user will not have to get up to start a movie, or put a disk into the gaming console. I.e., if the user would like to watch a movie, all he/she has to do is insert the disk into Blu-Ray module in the sofa.

Moreover, the sofa internet streaming device will come with Android OS; as a result of this device, the user can stream content to his/her TV. There will be an in built hard disk to download material to; this hard disk will be inside the internet streaming device.

The user can decide whether he/she wants the modular sofa connected wirelessly to a television or a projector. The sofa has an in-built Wi-Fi/Bluetooth box so that the user decides if he/she wants to connect the sofa to the TV/projector through WI-FI or Bluetooth.

This is also true for a speaker system. The base model of the sofa will come with in-built speakers but the user can decide to install a wireless sound system; if the user decides to do this, he/she can connect the speakers to the in-built AV receiver with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The base model of the sofa will come in a variety of materials. It will be made out of wood/steel/plastic that is covered with leather, cloth, or other materials as asked for by user. The user chooses what material he/she wants the sofa to have. The user can also choose the color of the sofa. The sofa will come with extra pieces of leather (or cloth) covered plastic so that if the user makes changes, he/she can cover any changes/remove equipment.

The sofa can also be converted into a reclining sofa; however, if the user chooses to have a reclining sofa, he/she will have limited space inside the sofa for equipment.

This concept of “customization by user” will reduce costs by not requiring the sofa to be customized by the company selling the product. Of course, in addition to the base model discussed above, the user can also chose to buy a pre-made advanced model with equipment such as a gaming console or DVR in addition to the Blu-Ray player, internet streaming device, AV receiver, and Wi-Fi box that is included with the base model.

 

 

Detailed Description of Drawings:

Note: these drawings are representational of a single two seat modular sofa. The sofa can be customized to have one seat, two seats, three seats, four seats, etc. It can also be customized to have more modules, more (or less) cup holders, etc. The drawings solely serve the purpose of demonstrating the concept of the Modular Sofa.

FIG. 10

is a top view of the Modular Sofa. It shows the seats, the equipment modular inserts, and the universal remote that will be integrated into the sofa.

FIG. 11, 27, 29, and 46

are the in-built speakers that come with the base model of the sofa. FIG. 29 is the base model subwoofer. The user can choose to remove these speakers or change them; plastic plates covered with leather (or cloth) are included for aesthetics if the user chooses to remove them. Each of the inserts (where the speaker goes) will mold itself to the shape of the device inserted into them. The user can also choose to disable these speakers if he/she chooses to use external wireless speakers in conjunction with the sofa. Optionally, the user can choose to install speakers on the head-rests.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 14

are the two seats on the sofa. Again, since the sofa is modular and customizable, it can have more than just two seats. This is just a conceptual drawing,

FIG. 16

is the universal remote that will control all the equipment in the sofa. This includes (but is not limited to) the Blu-Ray Player, an internet streaming device, a TV-Box, an AV Receiver, and a projector/TV. The sofa’s base model will come equipped with a universal touch-screen remote; but as with any other part of the sofa, the user can customize the remote to any design/company he/she would like. The frame surrounding the remote changes molds itself to the shape of the remote of any company/design; hence, there would be no dead space around the remote and the aesthetics will remain intact. If the user does not choose to use this universal remote, he/she can choose to use a piece of leather (or cloth)covered plastic to cover the remote holder; this will preserve aesthetics.

FIG. 39 and FIG. 40

are two more modules. These modules are larger than modules shown in FIG. 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 or in FIG. 33, 34, and 35. In the base model this module is covered with a piece of leather (or cloth) covered plastic. However, the user may choose to put equipment in this module. As with all other modules, each will mold themselves to the shape of the device inserted into them. If a module is not being used, the user can cover the module with a plastic covering. Therefore, there will be no dead space around the module and the aesthetics will remain intact.

FIG. 41

is a door that can be opened to take care of all equipment inside the sofa. In the base model, it is a leathered (or clothed) piece of plastic. The user can open this door to remove, change, and insert equipment into necessary modules.

FIG. 42

is a power strip to connect all equipment inside the sofa to. This power strip is included in the base model; this powers strip has a surge protector to protect against power outages. However, the user can choose to insert a different power strip or insert an extra power strip. On the outside of the sofa, the power strip has a power adapter that connects to an outlet in the wall for power.

FIG. 44

is the WI-FI/Bluetooth adapter that comes in-built with the base model of the sofa. The user will connect one output HDMI cable from the AV Receiver (to which all other equipment is connected). This device will then wirelessly connect to an output (either a TV or projector). However, if the user does not want to wirelessly sync the sofa to the TV/projector, he/she can also choose to connect them by wire. If the user chooses to have a sound system, a similar concept will be used to synchronize all speakers.