Vehicular entertainment system

• US 5,842,715 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Jones
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/769,756
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 280/727, 297/163, 297/217.3, 297/217.4
• US Class Current: 280/727
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable

Abstract

A vehicular entertainment system including a pivotable mounting assembly with a rectangular configuration having a rear face with a bottom face, a top face, and a pair of side faces integrally coupled thereto and extending outwardly therefrom thereby forming an interior space with a front opening. The mounting assembly includes a pair of top couples situated on the top face adjacent opposite side faces and a pair of side couples each situated at a central extent of a corresponding side face. Further provided is a strap assembly including a piece of material situated on the front face of a front seat. A pair of top straps are each coupled at a first end thereof to an associated top couple of the mounting assembly and further coupled at a second end thereof to a top edge of the piece of material adjacent opposite side edges thereof. Associated therewith is a pair of side straps each coupled at a first end thereof to an associated side couple of the mounting assembly and further coupled at a second end thereof to an associated side edge of the piece of material wherein the side straps wrap about opposite side faces of the front seat. As such, the mounting assembly may be selectively secured to a rear face of the front seat with the front opening thereof facing a rear seat portion. Lastly, an entertainment unit is included for providing entertainment to a person residing in the rear seat portion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A new and improved vehicular entertainment system comprising, in combination:

a vehicle with a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, each front seat portion including at least one front seat with an intermediate portion having a front face, a rear face, and a pair of side edges therebetween, the at least one front seat further including a head rest with a post means coupled thereto for allowing a height of the head rest to be adjusted;

a mounting assembly with a rectangular configuration having a rear face with a bottom face, a top face, and a pair of side faces integrally coupled thereto and extending outwardly therefrom thereby forming an interior space with a front opening, the mounting assembly having a pair of vertically oriented slots formed in the side faces adjacent the top face and the front opening thereof, a pair of top closed loop couples situated on the top face adjacent opposite side faces, and a pair of side closed loop couples each situated at a central extent of a corresponding side face;

a strap assembly including a rectangular piece of cloth situated on the front face of the intermediate portion of the front seat, a pair of top straps each coupled at a first end thereof to an associated top closed loop couple of the mounting assembly and further coupled at a second end thereof to a top edge of the piece of cloth adjacent opposite side edges thereof wherein the top straps are situated on opposite sides of the post means of the seat, a pair of side straps each coupled at a first end thereof to an associated side closed loop couple of the mounting assembly and further coupled at a second end thereof to an associated side edge of the piece of cloth wherein the side straps wrap about opposite side faces of the intermediate portion of the front seat, whereby the mounting assembly may be selectively secured to the rear face of the front seat with the front opening thereof facing the rear seat portion;

an entertainment unit for providing entertainment to a person residing in the rear seat portion of the vehicle, the entertainment unit having a rectilinear configuration with a front face, a bottom face, a top face, and a pair of side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space, the entertainment unit pivotally coupled at a central extent of the side faces thereof to the side faces of the mounting assembly slightly below the vertically oriented slots wherein the entertainment unit resides substantially within the interior space of the mounting assembly, the entertainment unit further having a pair of angled grooves on an opposite side face thereof, the grooves each extending from a point adjacent the rear face and top face of the entertainment unit to central extent of the corresponding side face; and

an entertainment unit positioning assembly including a pair of pins each having an outboard extent with a size larger than a width of the slots of the mounting assembly and a gripping means;

an intermediate extent integrally coupled to the outboard extent and adapted to be slidably situated within an associated groove of the mounting assembly, each intermediate extent having a concentric detent formed therein for accepting a washer which is adapted to preclude the removal of the pin from the associated groove; and

an inboard extent integrally coupled to the intermediate extent for slidably engaging with an associated groove of the entertainment unit, whereby upon the pins being moved upwardly within the slots, the entertainment unit pivots forward and further upon the pins being moved downwardly within the slots, the entertainment unit is pivoted rearward such that the front face thereof is positioned vertically;

said entertainment unit further including a display situated on the front face thereof, a compact disc receiving means formed of a tray which is angularly selectively situated within the interior space of the entertainment unit, and a compartment formed in the front face of the entertainment unit adjacent the display, the compartment having an associated lid for allowing selective access to the compartment, the entertainment unit also including a plurality of peripheral control mechanisms removably situated within the compartment for controlling the entertainment unit.

2. A vehicular entertainment system for use with a front seat of a vehicle having an intermediate portion with a front face, a rear face, and a pair of side edges therebetween, the vehicular entertainment system comprising:

a mounting assembly with a rectangular configuration having a rear face with a bottom face, a top face, and a pair of side faces integrally coupled thereto and extending outwardly therefrom thereby forming an interior space with a front opening, the mounting assembly having a pair of top couples situated on the top face adjacent opposite side faces and a pair of side couples each situated at a central extent of a corresponding side face;

a strap assembly including a piece of material situated on the front face of the intermediate portion of the front seat, a pair of top straps each coupled at a first end thereof to an associated top couple of the mounting assembly and further coupled at a second end thereof to a top edge of the piece of material adjacent opposite side edges thereof, a pair of side straps each coupled at a first end thereof to an associated side couple of the mounting assembly and further coupled at a second end thereof to an associated side edge of the piece of material wherein the side straps wrap about opposite side faces of the intermediate portion of the front seat, whereby the mounting assembly may be selectively secured to the rear face of the front seat with the front opening thereof facing the rear seat portion; and

an entertainment unit for providing entertainment to a person residing in the rear seat portion of the vehicle, the entertainment unit having a rectilinear configuration with a front face, a bottom face, a top face, and pair of side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space, the entertainment unit pivotally coupled at a central extent of the side faces thereof to the side faces of the mounting assembly.

3. A vehicular entertainment system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the mounting assembly further includes a pair of vertically oriented slots formed in the side faces adjacent the top face and the front opening thereof, the entertainment unit further having a pair of angled grooves on opposite side face thereof, wherein further included is an entertainment unit positioning assembly having a pair of pins each with an outboard extent including gripping means;

an intermediate extent integrally coupled to the outboard extent and adapted to be slidably situated within an associated groove of the mounting assembly, each intermediate extent having a concentric detent formed therein for accepting a washer which is adapted to preclude the removal of the pin from the associated groove; and

an inboard extent integrally coupled to the intermediate extent for slidably engaging with an associated groove of the entertainment unit, whereby upon the pins being moved upwardly within the slots, the entertainment unit pivots forward and further upon the pins being moved downwardly within the slots, the entertainment unit is pivoted rearward such that the front face thereof is positioned vertically.

4. A vehicular entertainment system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the entertainment unit further includes a display situated on the front face thereof.

5. A vehicular entertainment system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the entertainment unit further includes a compact disc receiving means formed of a tray which is angularly selectively situated within the interior space of the entertainment unit.

6. A vehicular entertainment system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the entertainment unit further includes a compartment formed in the front face of the entertainment unit adjacent the display, the compartment having an associated lid for allowing selective access to the compartment.

7. A vehicular entertainment system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the entertainment unit further includes a plurality of peripheral control mechanisms removably situated within the compartment for controlling the entertainment unit.

8. A vehicular entertainment system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the material is cloth.

9. A vehicular entertainment system for use with a front seat of a vehicle having an intermediate portion having a front face, a rear face, and a pair of side edges therebetween, the vehicular entertainment system comprising:

a mounting assembly selectively secured to the rear face of the front seat with the front opening thereof facing the rear seat portion, the mounting assembly having a pair of vertically oriented slots formed in side faces thereof;

an entertainment unit for providing entertainment to a person residing in the rear seat portion of the vehicle, the entertainment unit having a rectilinear configuration with a front face, a bottom face, a top face, and pair of side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space, the entertainment unit pivotally coupled at a central extent of the side faces thereof to the side faces of the mounting assembly, the entertainment unit further having a pair of angled grooves on an opposite side face thereof; and

a pair of pins each slidably situated within an associated groove of the mounting assembly for slidably engaging with an associated groove of the entertainment unit, whereby upon the pins being moved upwardly within the slots, the entertainment unit pivots forward and further upon the pins being moved downwardly within the slots, the entertainment unit is pivoted rearward such that the front face thereof is positioned vertically.