Vehicular video system

• US 20040160096A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Boudinot, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position

Abstract

An entertainment system for a vehicle has a display configured such that it may be pivoted with respect to a seat. The display may be configured to be pivoted in either a forward direction or a direction opposite the forward direction. The display may be configured to face both the forward direction of travel and a different direction. The display may also be configured to be pivoted in a direction by generating a first torque, and pivoted father in that direction by generating a second torque of greater force than the first torque. This may be accomplished by using a damper and a spring. The system may include a braking mechanism, may include a frame where the display is visible through a first side and protected by a second side, and may be pivotable along more than one axis.

Claims

1. An entertainment system for a vehicle having a forward direction of travel, comprising:

a display configured to display images to a passenger in the vehicle, the display configured to be mounted to a seat of the vehicle;

wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted with respect to the seat.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a damper member.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member and configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member and configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a damper member.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the display may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel by generating a first torque and may be pivoted father in the forward direction of travel by generating a second torque of greater force than the first torque.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein applying the first torque allows the display to be slightly pivoted and applying the second torque allows the display to be pivoted 90 degrees.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first torque is generated against action of a damper member and the second torque is generated against action of a spring member.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first torque is about an amount of force equal to acceleration forces produced by a rear collision.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second torque is at least four times as great as the first torque.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first torque is generated against action of a damper member, the second torque is generated against action of a spring member, and the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured such that it may be rotated from a first position in which the display faces the forward direction of travel and a second position in which the display faces opposite the forward direction of travel.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to pivot along a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a braking mechanism configured to maintain the display in a set position with respect to at least one pivot axis.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a multipart frame configured to receive the display.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the display is visible through the first side and protected by the second side.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to pivot around an axis extending in the transverse direction of a seat of the vehicle in an upper region of a seatback of the seat.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a damper member.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the display may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel by generating a first torque, may be pivoted father in the forward direction of travel by generating a second torque of greater force than the first torque and the may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel.

28. An entertainment system for a vehicle having a forward direction of travel, comprising:

a display configured to display images to a passenger in the vehicle, the display configured to be mounted to the vehicle;

wherein the display is configured such that it may be rotated from a first position in which the display faces the forward direction of travel and a second position in which the display faces opposite the forward direction of travel.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the display is configured to pivot along a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising a braking mechanism configured to maintain the display in a set position with respect to at least one axis.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a spring member.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the display is configured such that it may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel against action of a damper member.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the display may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel by generating a first torque, may be pivoted father in the forward direction of travel by generating a second torque of greater force than the first torque and the may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel.

36. The system of claim 28, further comprising a braking mechanism configured to maintain the display in a set position with respect to at least one pivot axis.

37. The system of claim 28, further comprising a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the display is visible through the first side and protected by the second side.

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the display comprises a flat screen.

39. The system of claim 28, further comprising an adapter configured to mount the display to a vehicle seat.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the adapter is configured to mount the display to an upper part of a seatback of the seat.

41. An entertainment system for a vehicle having a forward direction of travel, comprising:

a display configured to display images to a passenger in the vehicle, the display configured to be mounted to the vehicle;

wherein the display may be pivoted in the forward direction of travel by generating a first torque and pivoted father in the forward direction of travel by generating a second torque of greater force than the first torque.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the display may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the display may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel by a third torque and wherein the third torque is less than the first torque.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the display may be pivoted opposite to the forward direction of travel by a third torque and wherein the second torque requires at least eight times as much force as the third torque.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the display is configured such that it may be rotated from a first position in which the display faces the forward direction of travel and a second position in which the display faces opposite the forward direction of travel.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the first torque is generated against action of a damper member and the second torque is generated against action of a spring member.

47. The system of claim 41, further comprising a braking mechanism configured to maintain the display in a set position with respect to at least one pivot axis.

48. The system of claim 41, further comprising an adapter configured to mount the display to a vehicle seat.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the adapter is configured to mount the display to an upper part of a seatback of the seat.

50. The system of claim 41, further comprising a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the display is visible through the first side and protected by the second side.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the display is configured to pivot along a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.