AUDIO/VIDEO ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, IN PARTICULAR A MULTIMEDIA CAR RADIO, WITH A REMOVABLE FRONT PANEL

• US 20130175905A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parrot Automotive
• Original Assignee: Parrot SA
• Inventors: Sanlaville, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 8,936,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/084 with removable front panel

Abstract

The apparatus comprises: a case (100), in particular a case that can be integrated into a motor vehicle dashboard; a front panel element (200), removably mounted on the case; and means for the reversible assembly and fixation of the front panel element to the case. Such means include: at a first end of the front panel element and of the case, a dismountable magnetic hinge comprising a first pair of magnetic elements (124, 224), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual attraction; and at an opposed, second end of the front panel element and of the case, means for locking the front panel element to the case, comprising a lock (212) and a second pair of magnetic elements (126, 226), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual repulsion.

Claims

1. An audio/video electronic apparatus, in particular a multimedia car radio, including:

a case (100), in particular a case that can be integrated into a motor vehicle dashboard;

a front panel element (200), removably mounted on the case; and

means for the reversible assembly and fixation of the front panel element to the case, including;

at a first end of the front panel element and of the case, a dismountable magnetic hinge comprising a first pair of magnetic elements (124, 224), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual attraction; and

at an opposed, second end of the front panel element and of the case, means for locking the front panel element to the case,

characterized in that the means for locking the front panel element to the case comprise;

a lock (212); and

a second pair of magnetic elements (126, 226), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual repulsion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front panel element is mobile relative to the case between:

a closed position, where the front panel element is held integral with the case by locking of the lock;

a half-open position, where the front panel element is disconnected from the case on the lock side, after the latter has be unlocked, but remains coupled to the case on the magnetic hinge side, the magnetic elements of the first pair being placed side by side and the magnetic elements of the second pair being remote from each other; and

a position of removal of the front panel element, where the latter is fully disconnected and uncoupled from the case, both on the lock side and on the magnetic hinge side.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the force of attraction of the magnetic elements of the first pair, the force of repulsion of the magnetic elements of the second pair, as well as the mass and arrangement of the front panel element are chosen so that the half open position is a stable static position in the absence of external stress.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock (212) is a mechanical lock (214, 216, 218).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for locking the front panel element to the case are devoid of an elastic component stressing the front panel element so as to move it away from the case.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front panel element is an element extending vertically with respect to the case of the apparatus, and wherein said first end is a lower end and said second end is an upper end.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front panel element is an element extending over a fraction of the front surface of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the case accommodates a first electronic unit (112),

the front panel element accommodates a second electronic unit connected to at least one command and control component (210) visible on the front panel element, and

the apparatus further comprises an electric connector including cooperating components (108, 208) on the case and on the front panel element, to couple said first and second electronic units to each other, so that the apparatus is made functional only when the front panel element is mounted on the case.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising, at the level of said first and/or second pair of magnetic elements, means (120, 220;

122;

222) for reciprocal guidance of the front panel element relative to the case.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for reciprocal guidance comprise a boss (220;

222) formed on the front panel element and that can be fitted into a mating hollow shape (120;

122) formed in the case, or vice versa.