Seat mountable video system

• US 20050098593A1
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Schedivy, George C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/275
• 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 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A video system includes a display, and a media source operatively coupled to the display, wherein the display and the media source are mounted to a vehicle seat, and at least the display is capable of being fixed to different positions using a mounting mechanism. The mounting mechanism may include at least one of a bracket, a post and a wedge.

Claims

1. A video system comprising:

a display; and

a media source operatively coupled to the display, wherein the display and the media source are mounted to an assembly capable of selective insertion into and removal from an interior section of a seat of a vehicle.

2. The video system of claim 1, wherein the interior section includes at least one track for allowing the assembly to slide into and out of the interior section.

3. The video system of claim 2, wherein the at least one track is mounted to an internal support structure of the seat.

4. The video system of claim 2, wherein:

the assembly includes at least one rail, at least one wheel, or a combination of the at least one rail and the at least one wheel; and

the at least one rail and the at least one wheel fit into a groove on the at least one track for allowing the assembly to slide on the at least one track.

5. The video system of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a housing and the display and the media source are attached to the housing.

6. The video system according to claim 5, wherein at least the display is attached to the housing via a mounting bracket.

7. The video system of claim 6, wherein:

the mounting bracket includes at least one knob holding the display in place; and

a tilt angle of the display about the z-axis is changed by loosening the at least one knob to release the display for rotation to a desired tilt angle and tightening the at least one knob to secure the display at the desired tilt angle.

8. The video system of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket includes a plurality of moveable arms capable of being fixed in a plurality of positions along at least one of the x-axis, y-axis and the z-axis for changing positions of the display.

9. The video system of claim 5, wherein the housing is one of permanently anchored to the assembly and capable of selective coupling to and decoupling from the assembly.

10. The video system of claim 5, wherein the media source is one of permanently attached to the housing and capable of selective coupling to and decoupling from the housing.

11. The video system of claim 5, wherein the display is one of permanently attached to the housing and capable of selective coupling to and decoupling from the housing.

12. The video system of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a power inverter mounted thereto and the power inverter is connected to a power supply of the vehicle.

13. The video system of claim 12, wherein the power inverter is connected to the power supply of the vehicle via a power cable running through the interior section of the seat.

14. The video system of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes at least one of an audio/video port, a headphone port, a power port, an infrared port and a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals positioned thereon.

15. The video system of claim 1, wherein a first end of the assembly remains attached to the seat when the assembly is removed from the interior section.

16. The video system of claim 15, wherein a second end of the assembly attaches to a further seat when the assembly is removed from the interior section so that the assembly, including the display and the media source mounted thereto, is supported between the seat and the further seat.

17. The video system of claim 16, wherein the assembly attaches to the further seat via a locking mechanism including at least one of a snap-fit mechanism, a magnetic fastener and a hinged cover.

18. The video system of claim 1, wherein the media source is one of a slot-type device, a clamshell-type device and a drawer-type device.

19. The video system of claim 1, wherein the media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, and a device capable of playing at least one of computerized video files and computerized audio files.

20. A video system, comprising:

a display; and

a media source operatively coupled to the display, wherein the display and the media source are supported by a housing attached to at least one rigid member coupled to at least one headrest support member of a seat in a vehicle.

21. The video system of claim 20, wherein the at least one rigid member is coupled to the at least one headrest support member using a bracket.

22. The video system of claim 21, wherein the bracket includes a ring and a locking mechanism.

23. The video system of claim 20, wherein the at least one rigid member is attached to the housing via a moveable joint.

24. The video system of claim 20, wherein the at least one rigid member is capable of being fixed in a plurality of positions along at least one of the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis.

25. The video system of claim 24, wherein the at least one rigid member is fixed using a locking nut.

26. The video system of claim 20, further comprising a wedge positioned between the seat and the housing.

27. The video system of claim 26, wherein one end of the wedge is mounted to the housing and another end of the wedge is butted against the seat.

28. The video system of claim 26, wherein the wedge is capable of being fixed in a plurality of positions along the y-axis for changing a tilt angle of the display about the z-axis.

29. The video system of claim 20, wherein the housing is formed from one of an unbendable material and a bendable material.

30. The video system of claim 20, wherein the housing includes at least one opening for providing access to the media source.

31. The video system of claim 20, wherein the housing includes at least one opening for allowing a view of the display.

32. The video system of claim 20, wherein the display is permanently anchored to the housing or capable of being selectively positioned in and removed from the housing.

33. The video system of claim 20, wherein the media source is permanently anchored to the housing or capable of being selectively positioned in and removed from the housing.

34. The video system of claim 20, further comprising at least one of an audio/video port, a headphone port, a power port, an infrared port and a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals positioned on at least one of the display, the media source and the housing.

35. The video system of claim 20, wherein the media source is one of a slot-type device, a clamshell-type device and a drawer-type device.

36. The video system of claim 20, wherein the media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, and a device capable of playing at least one of computerized video files and computerized audio files.

37. A video system comprising:

a display; and

a media source operatively coupled to the display, wherein the display and the media source are mounted to a vehicle seat, and at least the display is capable of being fixed to different positions using a mounting mechanism.

38. The video system of claim 37, wherein the different positions include at least one of a plurality of points along the x-axis, a plurality of points along the y-axis, a plurality of points along the z-axis, and a plurality of tilt angles about the z-axis.

39. The video system of claim 37, further comprising an intermediate structure attached to the vehicle seat between the vehicle seat and the mounting mechanism, and wherein the mounting mechanism includes a mounting bracket attached to the intermediate structure and to the display.

40. The video system of claim 39, wherein:

the mounting bracket includes at least one knob holding the display in place; and

a tilt angle of the display about the z-axis is changed by loosening the at least one knob to release the display for rotation to a desired tilt angle and tightening the at least one knob to secure the display at the desired tilt angle.

41. The video system of claim 39, wherein the mounting bracket includes a plurality of moveable arms capable of being fixed in a plurality of positions along at least one of the x-axis, y-axis and the z-axis for changing positions of the display.

42. The video system of claim 37, wherein the mounting mechanism includes at least one mounting post positioned between the vehicle seat and the display.

43. The video system of claim 42, further comprising a housing for supporting the display, wherein one end of the at least one mounting post is attached to the housing and another end of the at least one mounting post is attached to a headrest post of the vehicle seat.

44. The video system of claim 43, wherein the one end of the at least one mounting post is attached to the housing via a moveable joint.

45. The video system of claim 43, wherein the at least one mounting post is capable of being fixed in a plurality of positions along at least one of the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis.

46. The video system of claim 45, wherein the at least one mounting post is fixed using a locking nut.

47. The video system of claim 37, wherein the mounting mechanism is a wedge positioned between the vehicle seat and the display.

48. The video system of claim 47, further comprising a housing for supporting the display, wherein one end of the wedge is mounted to the housing and another end of the wedge is butted against the vehicle seat.

49. The video system of claim 47, wherein the wedge is capable of being fixed in a plurality of positions along the y-axis for changing a tilt angle of the display about the z-axis.