Vehicle entertainment system

• US 20060047426A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Vitito, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/215,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• 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 11/0211 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 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0061 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/05 specially adapted for discs not contained within cartridges
• 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 dash mounted vehicle entertainment system includes a video system having a video monitor and a docking station secured to the dash of a vehicle. The video system is mounted upon the docking station. The docking station includes a lateral pivotal coupling permitting rotation of the video system between a first position facing a driver of the vehicle and a second position facing a passenger of the vehicle. The system also includes a mechanism for instructing the video system as to the orientation of the video system.

Claims

1. A dash mounted vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a video system including a video monitor;

a docking station secured to the dash of a vehicle, wherein the video system is mounted upon the docking station, the docking station include a lateral pivotal coupling permitting rotation of the video system between a first position facing a driver of the vehicle and a second position facing a passenger of the vehicle;

means for instructing the video system as to the orientation of the video system.

2. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for instructing include means for limiting the video system to only display navigation based information when the video system is facing the driver.

3. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for instructing includes a switch within the docking station.

4. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 3, wherein the means for instructing includes means for limiting the video system to only display navigation based information when the video system is facing the driver.

5. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 4, wherein the means for limiting the video system includes a microprocessor controlling operation of the video system.

6. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for instructing includes means for limiting the video system to only display navigation based information when the video system is facing the driver.

7. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a base and a cradle shaped and dimensioned for supporting the video system.

8. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system is selectively mounted upon the docking station.

9. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a release mechanism for controlling rotation of the video system.

10. The dash mounted vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a tilting pivotal coupling permitting adjustment of the video system viewing angle.

11. A vehicle including a dash mounted vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a dash;

a video system including a video monitor;

a docking station secured to the dash of the vehicle, wherein the video system is mounted upon the docking station, the docking station includes a lateral pivotal coupling permitting rotation of the video system between a first position facing a driver of the vehicle and a second position facing a passenger of the vehicle;

means for instructing the video system as to the orientation of the video system.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the means for instructing includes means for limiting the video system to only display navigation based information when the video system is facing the driver.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the means for instructing includes a switch within the docking station.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the means for instructing includes means for limiting the video system to only display navigation based information when the video system is facing the driver.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the means for limiting the video system includes a microprocessor controlling operation of the video system.

16. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the means for instructing includes means for limiting the video system to only display navigation based information when the video system is facing the driver.

17. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the docking station includes a base and a cradle shaped and dimensioned for supporting the video system.

18. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the video system is selectively mounted upon the docking station.

19. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the docking station includes a release mechanism for controlling rotation of the video system.

20. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the docking station includes a tilting pivotal coupling permitting adjustment of the video system viewing angle.