Disc signal display system for use with plural seats

• US 5,529,265 A
• Filed: 06/21/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Bunkichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARQUIS, LISSI MOJICA
• Application Number:
  US08/263,068
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/122 R, 248/917, 248/919, 248/923, 248/664, 248/665, 358/254, 297/188.01, 297/188.21, 297/232
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/723 with display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00151 Permanently mounted seat back monitors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

A video signal display system is provided at a back of each of a number of seats arranged in rows and columns. A recess is formed in the rear portion of the back of each seat and spherical-shaped support units for pivotally supporting a picture display unit of the display system are provided on the bottom of the recess and at a mid portion of the back surface of the picture display unit for assembling the picture display unit in the recess. The spherical-shaped supporting units are rotated for varying the position of the screen of the picture display unit built in the rear portion of the back of the seat to an easy-to-view position.

Claims

1. A video signal display system for use with a plurality of seats, comprising:

a plurality of picture display modules each having a display screen and each being arranged within a recess formed on a back surface of one of a plurality of the seats so that the display screen may be viewed from the rear side of said seat; and

means for pivotally supporting said picture display module with respect to said seat, said supporting means having a spherical-shaped support and a rotation supporting fulcrum member in which said support is fitted;

wherein one of the spherical-shaped support and the rotation supporting fulcrum member is secured to a surface defining said recess and the other is secured to back surface of the picture display module.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back surface of the seats is tiltable in the fore-and-aft direction.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotally supporting means also comprises a resilient supporting member secured to one of the surface defining the recess and the back surface of the picture display module, said resilient supporting member being secured to the same surface as said spherical-shaped fulcrum member and being resiliently engaged with the outer peripheral surface of said fulcrum member.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spherical-shaped support is secured to the surface defining said recess and said rotation supporting fulcrum member is secured to the back surface of display module.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface defining said recess comprises a bottom surface of said recess.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other of the spherical-shaped support and the rotation supporting fulcrum member is secured to a mid portion of the back surface of the picture display module.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotally supporting means supports said display module while said display module is pivoted in a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, or a combination of both a vertical and horizontal direction.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a controller for said picture display module is provided in an arm part of a rearward seat.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate for securing one of the spherical-shaped support and the rotation supporting fulcrum member to the surface defining said recess.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover for being inserted within said recess and around said display module.

12. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said resilient supporting member comprises a pair of resilient arms for engaging opposite sides of the rotation supporting fulcrum member.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display module comprises a liquid crystal monitor unit.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spherical-shaped support and said rotation supporting fulcrum member are pivotal relative to each other about two orthogonal axes and said display module is pivotal relative to the back surface of the seat about said two orthogonal axes.

4. A video signal display system for use with a plurality of seats, comprising:

a plurality of picture display modules each having a display screen and each being arranged within a recess formed on a back surface of one of a plurality of the seats so that the display screen may be viewed from the rear side of said seat; and

means for pivotally supporting said picture display module with respect to said seat, said supporting means having a spherical-shaped support and a rotation supporting fulcrum member in which said support is fitted;

one of the spherical-shaped support and the rotation supporting fulcrum member being secured to the bottom surface of said recess and the other being secured to a mid portion on the back surface of the picture display module;

wherein said pivotally supporting means also comprises a resilient supporting member secured to one of the bottom surface of the recess and the mid portion on the back surface of the picture display module, said resilient supporting member being secured to the same surface as said spherical-shaped fulcrum member and being resiliently engaged with the outer peripheral surface of said fulcrum member and wherein a controller for said picture display module is provided in an arm part of a rearward seat.