Personal audio/video entertainment system

• US 6,234,446 B1
• Filed: 01/16/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John W. Patterson
• Original Assignee: John W. Patterson
• Inventors: Patterson, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US09/008,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 248/694, 361/680, 361/681, 348/53, 348/838, 381/385, 381/71.6, 381/388, 381/4, 381/301, 379/430, 434/55, 351/158, 351/153, 351/50, 224/201, 224/930, 224/674
• US Class Current: 248/694
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• 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: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow

Abstract

A personal audio/visual device comprising a pair of normally spaced modules having lower contoured surfaces shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer. The two modules are coupled together at a back end thereof by a telescoping or folding structure adapted to allow horizontal adjustment between the modules. Integrated within each module are recessed audio speakers positionable adjacent the ears. In a preferred embodiment, the audio/visual device includes two pairs of submodules, each pair being coupled together by a hinge for pivoting movement within the same plane or scissoring movement in parallel planes. In an unfolded position, the lower submodules of the pairs rests on the shoulders of a wearer while the upper submodules touches the sides of a person'"'"'s head and against the ears. In a folded position, the submodules are pivoted together and the telescoping or folding structure collapsed to minimize the space necessary to store the device.

Claims

1. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustably spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules;

video output means;

an upper submodule;

a lower submodule hingedly attached to said upper submodule adjacent a back end thereof for scissor-like pivoting movement in a plane parallel to said upper submodule; and

means for fixing said upper submodule and said lower submodule at a desired angle relative to one another in an operative, unfolded position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said lower submodule includes an outer surface that is coplanar with an inner surface of said upper submodule.

3. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustably spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules;

video output means; and

means for extending said first and second modules forwardly.

4. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustably spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules; and

video output means,

wherein the audio output means includes an elongate cavity disposed on inner surfaces of each of said first and second modules and an earphone recessed within each cavity.

5. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustably spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules;

video output means wherein the means for adjustably spacing the first module from the second module includes;

an elongate handle having an axial bore defined therethrough;

a first horizontal adjustment member having one end slidably received in said axial bore and another end linked to the first module; and

a second horizontal adjustment member having one end slidably received in said axial bore and another end linked to said second module, said first and second modules being adjustably spaced by varying the amount of the first and second horizontal adjustment members received in the axial bore of the elongate handle.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first and second modules each comprise:

an upper submodule;

a lower submodule hingedly attached to said upper submodule adjacent a back end thereof for coplanar rotating movement relative to said upper submodule; and

means for adjustably disposing said upper submodule and said lower submodule at a desired angle relative to one another in an operative, unfolded position.

7. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustable spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules; and

video output means,

wherein the first and second modules include coplanar surfaces defined on a front end thereof so that the device can rest upright on a flat surface while in a closed, folded position.

8. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustably spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules; and

video output means, and

retaining means passing from the first module to the second module for retaining the device in a closed, folded position.

9. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

a second module having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by the shoulders of a wearer;

means for adjustably spacing said first module from said second module;

audio output means defined in said first and second modules; and

video output means, and

means for substantially supporting said device to an upper portion of a seat backrest.

10. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module comprising a first pair of submodules hingedly attached adjacent a back end thereof for pivoting movement in the same plane relative to one another from a closed position to an open position, one submodule of which having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by a shoulder of a wearer;

a second module comprising a second pair of submodules hingedly attached adjacent a back end thereof for pivoting movement in the same plane relative to one another from a first closed position to a second open position, one submodule of which having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by a shoulder of a wearer;

means coupled between the back end of the first module and the second module for adjustably spacing the first module from the second module;

the first and second submodule pairs each including an upper submodule having an audio output means defined on an inner surface and positionable adjacent a wearer'"'"'s ears when the submodule pairs are pivoted to the second open position, wherein the audio output means includes an elongate cavity disposed on inner surfaces of each of said first and second modules and an earphone recessed within each cavity; and

video output means coupled to one of said modules via a flexible stem.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the means for adjustably spacing the first module from the second module includes:

an elongate handle having an axial bore defined therethrough;

a first horizontal adjustment member having one end slidably received in said axial bore and another end linked to the first module;

a second horizontal adjustment member having one end slidably received in said axial bore and another end linked to said second module, said first and second modules being adjustably spaced by varying the amount of the first and second horizontal adjustment members received in the axial bore of the elongate handle.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the first and second modules include coplanar surfaces defined on a front end thereof so that the device can rest upright on a flat surface.

13. A personal audio/visual device comprising:

a first module comprising a first pair of submodules hingedly attached adjacent a back end thereof for pivoting movement in parallel to one another from a closed position to an open position, one submodule of which having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by a shoulder of a wearer;

a second module comprising a second pair of submodules hingedly attached adjacent a back end thereof for pivoting movement in parallel planes relative to one another from a first closed position to a second open position, one submodule of which having a lower contoured surface shaped to contact and be supported by a shoulder of a wearer;

means coupled between the back end of the first module and the second module for adjustably spacing the first module from the second module;

the first and second submodule pairs each including an upper submodule having an audio output means defined on an inner surface and positionable adjacent a wearer'"'"'s ears when the submodule pairs are pivoted to the second open position; and

video output means coupled to one of said modules via a flexible stem.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said lower submodule includes an outer surface that is coplanar with an inner surface of said upper submodule.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the audio output means includes an elongate cavity disposed on inner surfaces of each of said first and second modules and an earphone recessed within each cavity.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for adjustably spacing the first module from the second module includes:

an elongate handle having an axial bore defined therethrough;

a first horizontal adjustment member having one end slidably received in said axial bore and another end linked to the first module;

a second horizontal adjustment member having one end slidably received in said axial bore and another end linked to said second module, said first and second modules being adjustably spaced by varying the amount of the first and second horizontal adjustment members received in the axial bore of the elongate handle.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and second modules include coplanar surfaces defined on a front end thereof so that the device can rest upright on a flat surface while in a closed, folded position.

18. The device of claim 13, further including retaining means passing from the first module to the second module for retaining the device in a closed, folded position.

19. The device of claim 13, further including means for substantially supporting said device to an upper portion of a seat backrest.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for adjustably spacing includes a contoured pliable inner surface adapted to contact and support rear of a user'"'"'s neck when worn.

21. The device of claim 13, further including means within said means for adjustably spacing for electrically coupling said first module with said second module.