Seat mountable entertainment system

• US 20040227372A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Schedivy, George C., Lavelle, Patrick M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,899,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• 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 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

An entertainment system comprises a media source, and a housing for supporting the media source, wherein the housing is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle, and the media source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the housing.

Claims

1. An entertainment system, comprising:

a media source; and

a housing for supporting the media source, wherein

the housing is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle,

the media source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the housing, and

the media source is electrically coupled to the housing using a pin array.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, an MP3 player, and a digital video recorder.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted in one of a headrest and a main body of the seat.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cavity for receiving the media source.

6. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

7. The entertainment system of claim 6, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

8. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source includes a port for connecting to an external device.

9. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the media source, wherein the display is one of handheld, mounted to the housing and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the housing.

10. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein the display is pivotally mounted to the housing.

11. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein the location in the vehicle away from the housing includes one of a wall of the vehicle, another seat in the vehicle and a different part of the same seat where the housing is mounted.

12. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein the display is operatively coupled to the media source via at least one of a direct connection, a connection through the housing and a wireless connection.

15. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein power is provided to the media source from a power source coupled to the housing.

16. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein video data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one display.

17. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein audio data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

18. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a door pivotally attached to the housing with a hinge.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein the hinge is positioned at a top, bottom or side portion of the door.

20. The entertainment system of claim 18, further comprising a display mounted on the door.

21. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the seat of the vehicle includes an opening in line with a slot in the media source for receiving a data media to be inserted in the slot.

22. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a cover for covering the housing.

23. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source includes a storage device capable of storing at least one of a plurality of audio files and a plurality of video files.

13-14. -14. (canceled).

24-33. -33. (canceled).

34. An entertainment system, comprising:

a media source;

a housing for supporting the media source, wherein the housing is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle, and the media source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the housing; and

a door pivotally attached to the housing with a hinge.

35. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, an MP3 player, and a digital video recorder.

36. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

37. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the housing is mounted in one of a headrest and a main body of the seat.

38. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the housing includes a cavity for receiving the media source.

39. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the media source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

40. The entertainment system of claim 39, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

41. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the media source includes a port for connecting to an external device.

42. The entertainment system of claim 34, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the media source, wherein the display is one of handheld, mounted to the housing and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the housing.

43. The entertainment system of claim 42, wherein the display is pivotally mounted to the housing.

44. The entertainment system of claim 42, wherein the location in the vehicle away from the housing includes one of a wall of the vehicle, another seat in the vehicle and a different part of the same seat where the housing is mounted.

45. The entertainment system of claim 42, wherein the display is operatively coupled to the media source via at least one of a direct connection, a connection through the housing and a wireless connection.

46. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the media source is electrically coupled to the housing.

47. The entertainment system of claim 46, wherein the media source is electrically coupled to the housing using a pin array.

48. The entertainment system of claim 46, wherein power is provided to the media source from a power source coupled to the housing.

49. The entertainment system of claim 46, wherein video data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one display.

50. The entertainment system of claim 46, wherein audio data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

51. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the hinge is positioned at a top, bottom or side portion of the door.

52. The entertainment system of claim 34, further comprising a display mounted on the door.

53. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the seat of the vehicle includes an opening in line with a slot in the media source for receiving a data media to be inserted in the slot.

54. The entertainment system of claim 34, further comprising a cover for covering the housing.

55. The entertainment system of claim 34, wherein the media source includes a storage device capable of storing at least one of a plurality of audio files and a plurality of video files.

56. An entertainment system, comprising:

a media source; and

a housing for supporting the media source, wherein

the housing is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle,

the media source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the housing, and

the seat of the vehicle includes an opening in line with a slot in the media source for receiving a data media to be inserted in the slot.

57. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, an MP3 player, and a digital video recorder.

58. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

59. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the housing is mounted in one of a headrest and a main body of the seat.

60. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the housing includes a cavity for receiving the media source.

61. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the media source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

62. The entertainment system of claim 61, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

63. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the media source includes a port for connecting to an external device.

64. The entertainment system of claim 56, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the media source, wherein the display is one of handheld, mounted to the housing and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the housing.

65. The entertainment system of claim 64, wherein the display is pivotally mounted to the housing.

66. The entertainment system of claim 64, wherein the location in the vehicle away from the housing includes one of a wall of the vehicle, another seat in the vehicle and a different part of the same seat where the housing is mounted.

67. The entertainment system of claim 64, wherein the display is operatively coupled to the media source via at least one of a direct connection, a connection through the housing and a wireless connection.

68. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the media source is electrically coupled to the housing.

69. The entertainment system of claim 68, wherein the media source is electrically coupled to the housing using a pin array.

70. The entertainment system of claim 68, wherein power is provided to the media source from a power source coupled to the housing.

71. The entertainment system of claim 68, wherein video data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one display.

72. The entertainment system of claim 68, wherein audio data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

73. The entertainment system of claim 56, further comprising a door pivotally attached to the housing with a hinge.

74. The entertainment system of claim 73, wherein the hinge is positioned at a top, bottom or side portion of the door.

75. The entertainment system of claim 73, further comprising a display mounted on the door.

76. The entertainment system of claim 56, further comprising a cover for covering the housing.

77. The entertainment system of claim 56, wherein the media source includes a storage device capable of storing at least one of a plurality of audio files and a plurality of video files.