Automobile entertainment system

• US 20060148577A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• 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:
  US11/272,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/46
• 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 2011/0017 Head-rests
• 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

An automobile entertainment system includes a video system having a video monitor and a video source, and a cradle secured within an automobile. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned for selectively receiving and securely holding the video system.

Claims

1. 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.

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

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

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

5. The entertainment system of claim 4, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

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

7. 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.

8. The entertainment system of claim 7, wherein the display is pivotally mounted to the housing.

9. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source is electrically coupled to the housing.

10. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein power is provided to the media source from a power source coupled to the housing.

11. The entertainment system of claim 9, 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.

12. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a display mounted on the door.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

17. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a cavity for receiving the media source.

18. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the media source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

19. The entertainment system of claim 18, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

20. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the media source includes a port for connecting to an external device.

21. The entertainment system of claim 15, 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.

22. The entertainment system of claim 21, wherein the display is pivotally mounted to the housing.

23. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the media source is electrically coupled to the housing.

24. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein power is provided to the media source from a power source coupled to the housing.

25. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein video data is transferred from the media source to the housing for distribution to at least one display.

26. The entertainment system of claim 23, 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.

27. The entertainment system of claim 15, further comprising a door pivotally attached to the housing with a hinge.

28. The entertainment system of claim 27, further comprising a display mounted on the door.

29. The entertainment system of claim 15, 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.

30. An entertainment system, comprising:

a video source; and

a cradle for supporting the video source, wherein the cradle is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle, the video source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the cradle, and the video source is electrically coupled to the cradle using an electrical connection.

31. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the video source includes at least one of a DVD player, satellite radio, television, GPS guidance system, wireless internet access, digital video recorder, digital video reception, video conferencing, cellular digital, cellular digital with a camera and a device capable of playing at least one of computerized video files and computerized audio files.

32. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

33. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the cradle is mounted in a headrest .

34. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the cradle includes a cavity for receiving the video source.

35. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the video source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

36. The entertainment system of claim 35, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

37. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the video source includes a connector for connecting to an external device.

38. The entertainment system of claim 30, further comprising a monitor operatively coupled to the video source, wherein the monitor is one of handheld, mounted to the cradle and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the cradle.

39. The entertainment system of claim 38, wherein the monitor is pivotally mounted to the housing.

40. The entertainment system of claim 38, wherein the location in the vehicle away from the cradle includes one of a wall of the vehicle and another seat in the vehicle.

41. The entertainment system of claim 38, wherein the monitor is operatively coupled to the video source via at least one of a direct connection and a connection through the cradle.

42. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein power is provided to the video source from a power source coupled to the cradle.

43. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein video data is transferred from the video source to the cradle for distribution to at least one monitor.

44. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein audio data is transferred from the video source to the cradle for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

45. The entertainment system of claim 30, further comprising a monitor pivotally attached to the cradle with a hinge.

46. The entertainment system of claim 45, further comprising a display mounted on the monitor.

47. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the seat of the vehicle includes an opening in line with a slot in the video source for receiving a data media to be inserted in the slot.

48. The entertainment system of claim 30, wherein the video source includes a storage device capable of storing at least one of a plurality of audio files and a plurality of video files.

49. An entertainment system, comprising:

a video source;

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

a monitor pivotally attached to the cradle with a hinge.

50. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the video source includes at least one of a DVD player, satellite radio, television, GPS guidance system, wireless internet access, digital video recorder, digital video reception, video conferencing, cellular digital, cellular digital with a camera and a device capable of playing at least one of computerized video files and computerized audio files.

51. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

52. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the cradle is mounted in a headrest.

53. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the cradle includes a cavity for receiving the video source.

54. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the video source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

55. The entertainment system of claim 54, wherein the video signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

56. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the video source includes a connector for connecting to an external device.

57. The entertainment system of claim 49, further comprising a monitor operatively coupled to the video source, wherein the monitor is one of handheld, mounted to the cradle and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the cradle.

58. The entertainment system of claim 57, wherein the monitor is pivotally mounted to the cradle.

59. The entertainment system of claim 57, wherein the location in the vehicle away from the cradle includes one of a wall of the vehicle and another seat in the vehicle.

60. The entertainment system of claim 57, wherein the monitor is operatively coupled to the video source via at least one of a direct connection and connection through the housing.

61. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the video source is electrically coupled to the cradle.

62. The entertainment system of claim 61, wherein the video source is electrically coupled to the cradle using an electrical connector.

63. The entertainment system of claim 61, wherein power is provided to the video source from a power source coupled to the cradle.

64. The entertainment system of claim 61, wherein audio data is transferred from the video source to the cradle for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

65. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the hinge is positioned at a top or bottom of the monitor.

66. The entertainment system of claim 49, further comprising a display mounted on the monitor.

67. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the seat of the vehicle includes an opening in line with a slot in the video source for receiving a data media to be inserted in the slot.

68. The entertainment system of claim 49, wherein the video source includes a storage device capable of storing at least one of a plurality of audio files and a plurality of video files.

69. An entertainment system, comprising:

a video source; and

a cradle for supporting the video source, wherein the cradle is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle, the video source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the cradle, and the seat of the vehicle includes an opening in line with a slot in the video source for receiving a data media to be inserted in the slot.

70. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the video source includes at least one of a DVD player, satellite radio, television, GPS guidance system, wireless internet access, digital video recorder, digital video reception, video conferencing, cellular digital, cellular digital with a camera and a device capable of playing at least one of computerized video files and computerized audio files.

71. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the inner portion of the vehicle seat includes an internal support structure of the seat.

72. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the cradle is mounted in a headrest.

73. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the cradle includes a cavity for receiving the video source.

74. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the video source includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals.

75. The entertainment system of claim 74, wherein the wireless signals include at least one of audio signals and video signals.

76. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the video source includes a connector for connecting to an external device.

77. The entertainment system of claim 69, further comprising a monitor operatively coupled to the video source, wherein the monitor is one of handheld, mounted to the cradle and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the cradle.

78. The entertainment system of claim 77, wherein the monitor is pivotally mounted to the cradle.

79. The entertainment system of claim 77, wherein the location in the vehicle away from the cradle includes one of a wall of the vehicle and another seat in the vehicle.

80. The entertainment system of claim 77, wherein the monitor is operatively coupled to the video source via at least one of a direct connection and a connection through the cradle.

81. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the video source is electrically coupled to the cradle.

82. The entertainment system of claim 81, wherein the video source is electrically coupled to the cradle using an electrical connection.

83. The entertainment system of claim 81, wherein power is provided to the video source from a power source coupled to the cradle.

84. The entertainment system of claim 81, wherein video data is transferred from the video source to the cradle for distribution to at least one display.

85. The entertainment system of claim 81, wherein audio data is transferred from the video source to the housing for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

86. The entertainment system of claim 69, further comprising a monitor pivotally attached to the cradle with a hinge.

87. The entertainment system of claim 86, wherein the hinge is positioned at a top or bottom of the monitor.

88. The entertainment system of claim 86, further comprising a display mounted on the monitor.

89. The entertainment system of claim 69, wherein the video source includes a storage device capable of storing at least one of a plurality of audio files and a plurality of video files.