Airline seat back computer for providing travel information

• US 5,640,297 A
• Filed: 10/23/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ducarmel Labaze
• Original Assignee: Ducarmel Labaze
• Inventors: Labaze, Ducarmel
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/546,696
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 264/708.1, 264/449, 348/113, 348/117, 340/990, 340/995, 340/971, 160/23.1, 160/26, 160/31, 160/33, 160/271, 160/272, 160/273.1, 160/127, 361/680-686
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor

Abstract

An informative entertainment system for travelers including a computer enclosure installable into a rear face of a passenger seat. An interactive computer system is situated within the computer enclosure and comprises a liquid crystal display screen positioned on a front face thereof. Software is installed in the computer system and adapted to coincidently display information pertinent to regions, cities, and other areas of concern along a specific route of travel as the traveler is in the proximity thereof. The software is further adapted to allow interaction with the traveler. Also included is a shutter enclosure positioned in the proximity of the computer enclosure with flexible shutter disposed therein. The shutter has a first orientation for precluding access to the computer system and a second orientation for allowing access to the computer system.

Claims

1. A new and improved inboard computer system for travelers disposed on a rear face of a seat for informing and entertaining a traveler in a transportation medium such as a plane, train, or bus comprising, in combination:

a computer enclosure comprising a rear wall with a corresponding length and a corresponding width, the rear wall further having an outwardly extending periphery including a top wall, bottom wall, and a pair of opposed side walls defining an interior space with an open front face, each of the opposed sidewalls having an inwardly facing channel disposed along an outer edge thereof;

a shutter enclosure coupled to the periphery of the computer enclosure and comprising of a planar front wall and an arcuate rear wall with a length similar to that of the rear wall of the computer enclosure, the shutter enclosure further comprising a periphery including a top wall, bottom wall, and a pair of opposed side walls coupled between the front and rear wall of the shutter enclosure thereby defining a closed interior space, the shutter enclosure further having a slit formed along the length thereof adjacent the channels of the computer enclosure;

an elongated rod coupled between the opposed side walls of the shutter enclosure and centrally disposed therebetween;

a hollow sleeve disposed about the elongated rod and capable of rotating thereon, the sleeve significantly larger than the rod as to define a space therein;

a flexible shutter wrappedly disposed about the sleeve and coupled thereto lengthwise along an end thereof;

the shutter further disposed through the slit and slidably situated between the channels;

a helical spring positioned within space of the sleeve and comprising a first end connected to the rod and a second end connected to the sleeve, the spring having an unbiased orientation which the shutter is entirely wrapped about the sleeve and a biased orientation which the shutter is entirely disposed about the front face of the computer enclosure;

a coupling mechanism allowing the shutter to remain disposed about the open front face of the computer enclosure;

a stopping means coupled to the shutter for precluding the shutter from sliding entirely within the shutter enclosure;

an interactive computer system situated within the computer enclosure and comprising a liquid crystal display screen positioned on a front face thereof, the computer system further including a keyboard and a tracking ball for allowing the traveler to interact with the system;

an actuator switch disposed on the front face of the computer system having an engaged orientation for activating the computer system and a disengaged orientation for the deactivation thereof; and

software adapted to coincidently display information pertinent to regions, cities, and other areas of concern along a specific route of travel as the traveler is in the proximity thereof, the software further adapted to allow interaction with traveler;

whereby the traveler may disengage the coupling means effecting the shutter to entirely wrap about the sleeve and activate the computer system thereby providing interactive entertainment and information pertinent to a significant region, city, or attraction in the proximity of the traveler, the computer may further be deactivated and the shutter may be slid over the open face after use.