ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM MOUNTABLE IN A VEHICLE AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING AND DISPLAYING SAME

• US 20130300950A1
• Filed: 07/18/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: SHALAM, DAVID M., CALTABIANO, JOSEPH C., SCHEDIVY, GEORGE C., TRANCHINA, JAMES R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/837
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/645 Mounting of picture tube on chassis or in housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/655 Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube

Abstract

A media system for a vehicle comprises a housing mounted to an overhead portion of the vehicle, and a media unit that is capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit in the receiving portion.

Claims

1. A media system for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing; and

a media unit capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein;

the housing comprises a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit therein;

the receiving portion pivots between a closed position and open positions where the receiving portion is at an angle with respect to the housing;

the media unit comprises a wireless receiver capable of receiving media content wirelessly;

the media unit comprises a memory device configured to store the media content; and

the media unit comprises a display configured to display the media content.

2. The media system of claim 1, wherein:

the media unit comprises a first electrical connector positioned therein; and

the receiving portion comprises a second electrical connector mounted thereto, and the second electrical connector mates with the first electrical connector.

3. The media system of claim 2, wherein the second electrical connector protrudes from a surface of the receiving portion and is inserted through a hole in the media unit to mate with the first electrical connector when the media unit is received by the receiving portion.

4. The media system of claim 2, wherein:

the first electrical connector is a first pin connector disposed in an opening of the media unit, and the first electrical connector is fixed to a portion of a circuit board of the media unit; and

the second electrical connector is a second pin connector configured to mate with the first pin connector upon positioning the media unit in the receiving portion.

5. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals from the media system.

6. The media system of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion comprises a U-shaped hinge and is pivotably coupled to the housing.

7. The media system of claim 6, wherein the receiving portion surrounds the media unit on at least two sides of the media unit.

8. The media system of claim 7, wherein:

the receiving portion comprises a plurality of inward folds and an opening; and

the media unit comprises a plurality of grooves and a flexible member,

wherein the receiving portion is configured to secure the media unit via the inward folds engaging the grooves, and the flexible member fitting into the opening.

9. The media system of claim 1, wherein:

the media unit comprises a tab coupled to a handle; and

the housing comprises a groove shaped and dimensioned to receive the tab,

wherein the tab is extended and retracted by sliding the handle in opposite directions, an angle of rotation of the media unit with respect to the housing is limited to a range of about 0 degrees to about 45 degrees when the tab is engaged with the groove, and the angle of rotation of the media unit with respect to the housing is greater than about 45 degrees when the tab is not engaged with the groove.

10. The media system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted to a ceiling of the vehicle.

11. The media system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted in a headrest of the vehicle.

12. The media system of claim 1, wherein the media unit is coupled to a remote media source located separate from the media system, and the display is configured to display media content from the remote media source.