Display device mountable in a vehicle

• US 20050200696A1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Audiovox Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Audiovox Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Schedivy, George C.
• Application Number:
  US10/796,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0035 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A video display device capable of being mounted in an interior portion of a vehicle using at least one strap. The at least one strap is capable of fitting around a visor in the vehicle for mounting the video display device to the visor. The video display device can display an entertainment program and navigation information.

Claims

1. A video display device, comprising:

a body portion;

a screen positioned on the body portion; and

at least one strap connected to the body portion for mounting the video display device in an interior portion of a vehicle.

2. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap is capable of fitting around a visor in the vehicle for mounting the video display device to the visor.

3. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap is capable of fitting around a portion of a seat in the vehicle for mounting the video display device to the seat.

4. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap passes through an interior portion of the video display device.

5. The video display device as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one strap passes through the interior portion of the video display device via at least one hole formed in a wall of the video display device.

6. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap is secured to a wall of the video display device.

7. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap passes through a groove positioned between a front wall and a back wall of the video display device.

8. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap passes through a groove positioned on a wall of the video display device.

9. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap is a closed elastic loop.

10. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap includes two free ends capable of being fastened together to form a closed loop.

11. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one strap is adjustable.

12. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the video display device is one of a liquid crystal display device, an organic electro-luminescent display device, a cathode-ray tube device and a gas plasma device.

13. The video display device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a navigation system, wherein the video display device displays navigation information from the navigation system on the screen.

14. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the video display device is coupled to a navigation system and displays navigation information from the navigation system on the screen.

15. The video display device as recited in claim 1, wherein the video display device is coupled to a media player for displaying a video program from the media player.

16. The video display device as recited in claim 15, wherein the video display device displays the video program only when the vehicle is stationary.

17. The video display device as recited in claim 15, wherein the video display device displays the video program only when a parking brake of the vehicle is engaged.

18. The video display device as recited in claim 15, further comprising a device port, wherein the media player is coupled to the video display device through the device port.

19. The video display device as recited in claim 15, wherein the media player is one of a portable media player or a media player mounted in the vehicle.

20. The video display device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a device port, wherein a navigation device is coupled to the video display device through the device port.

21. The video display device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting the video display device to a wiring harness of the vehicle.

22. The video display device as recited in claim 21, wherein the video display device is coupled to at least one of a vehicle navigation system, a vehicle media player, a vehicle power supply and a parking brake indicator signal via the connector and the wiring harness.

23. A video display device, comprising:

a screen, wherein;

the video display device is capable displaying vehicle navigation information and a video entertainment program on the screen; and

the video display device is capable of being mounted to a visor in a vehicle.

24. The video display device as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

at least one strap connected to the video display device, wherein the at least one strap is capable of fitting around the visor.

25. The video display device as recited in claim 23, wherein the video display device is one of a liquid crystal display device, an organic electro-luminescent display device, a cathode-ray tube device and a gas plasma device.

26. The video display device as recited in claim 23, wherein the video display device displays the video entertainment program only when the vehicle is stationary.

27. The video display device as recited in claim 23, wherein the video display device displays the video entertainment program only when a parking brake of the vehicle is engaged.

28. The video display device as recited in claim 23, wherein the video display device receives at least one of the vehicle navigation information and the video entertainment program from at least one external device electrically connected to the video display device.

29. The video display device as recited in claim 23, wherein the video display device is houseable in a support structure including at least one strap connected to the support structure and the at least one strap is capable of fitting around the visor.

30. The video display device as recited in claim 29, wherein the support structure further includes a membrane for holding the video display device in the support structure.

31. The video display device as recited in claim 30, wherein the membrane includes a hole through which a screen of the video display device is viewed.

32. A structure for supporting a video display device, comprising:

a body portion;

at least one strap connected to the body portion for mounting the structure in an interior portion of a vehicle; and

a membrane connected to the body portion for holding the video display device in the structure.

33. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one strap is capable of fitting around a visor in the vehicle for mounting the structure to the visor.

34. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one strap is capable of fitting around a portion of a seat in the vehicle for mounting the structure to the seat.

35. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one strap passes through an interior portion of the body portion.

36. The structure as recited in claim 35, wherein the at least one strap passes through the interior portion of the body portion via at least one hole formed in the body portion.

37. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one strap is secured to a side of the body portion.

38. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one strap is a closed elastic loop.

39. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one strap includes two free ends capable of being fastened together to form a closed loop.

40. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein a length of the at least one strap is adjustable.

41. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane surrounds a substantial portion of the display device.

42. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane includes a flap capable of being opened to provide an opening through which the video display device is placed in the structure.

43. The structure as recited in claim 42, wherein the flap is capable of being fastened to and unfastened from the body portion.

44. The structure as recited in claim 42, wherein the flap wraps around part of the body portion.

45. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane includes at least one hole through which a control button of the display device is accessed.

46. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane includes at least one hole through which a port of the display device is accessed.

47. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane includes a hole through which a screen of the video display device is viewed.

48. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane includes a hole for exposing a speaker of the video display device.

49. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane includes a hole for exposing at least one of an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver of the video display device.

50. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane is bendable.

51. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the membrane is transparent.

52. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the video display device is one of a liquid crystal display device, an organic electro-luminescent display device, a cathode-ray tube device and a gas plasma device.

53. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the video display device is coupled to a navigation system and displays navigation information from the navigation system on the screen.

54. The structure as recited in claim 32, wherein the video display device is coupled to a media player for displaying a video program from the media player.

55. The structure as recited in claim 54, wherein the video display device displays the video program only when a parking brake of the vehicle is engaged.