Hinge assembly for car-mounted video display unit

• US 6,256,837 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: USA Spec
• Original Assignee: USA Spec
• Inventors: Lan, Peter J. T., Tsui, Chia I
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/478,034
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 163/67, 163/66, 163/31, 163/34, 163/71, 163/74, 163/86, 248/917, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 348/837, 353/13
• US Class Current: 16/334
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0087 around two axes
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular

Abstract

A hinge assembly for mounting a video display with a screen to the interior of an automobile is disclosed. The hinge assembly comprises an open shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a first axis, a rotate shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a second axis, transversal to the first axis, a click plate attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the click plate causing the rotate shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the video display, a stopper attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the stopper causing the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle. Another embodiment of the hinge assembly comprises an open shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a first axis, the open shaft having a recess, a rotate shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a second axis, transversal to the first axis, the rotate shaft being in contact with the open shaft at their recesses, the rotate shaft having at least one recess, wherein the recess on the open shaft allows the rotate shaft to rotate, the recesses on the rotate shaft allow the open shaft to rotate, the non-recess portion of the open shaft prevents the rotate shaft to rotate and the non-recess portion of the rotate shaft prevents the open shaft to rotate.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly for mounting a screen of a video display to the interior of an automobile, comprising:

a body, adapted to couple the screen to the interior of the automobile;

an open shaft, with the generally middle portion of the open shaft coupled to the body and two ends of the open shaft adapted to be coupled to the interior of the automobile, said open shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a first axis;

a rotate shaft, with one end adapted to be coupled to the screen and a body portion of the rotate shaft coupled to the body, said rotate shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a second axis, transversal to the first axis;

at least one click plate attached to one end of the rotate shaft and the body, the click plate causing the rotate shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen about the second axis, the click plate comprising a first circular plate with a predetermined number of extrusions and a second circular plate with a predetermined holes, one of the first and the second plate being rigidly attached to the body;

at least one stopper attached to one end of the rotate shaft, the stopper adapted to cause the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one dish spring, coupled to the rotate shaft, the dish spring adapted to secure the plurality of stops by forcing the first circular plate against the second circular plate to ensure engagement between the extrusions and the holes.

3. A hinge assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second click plate attached to at least one end of the open shaft, the click plate adapted to cause the open shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen about the first axis.

4. A hinge assembly according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second stopper attached to at least one end of the open shaft, the stopper adapted to cause the open shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

5. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second click plate attached to at least one end of the open shaft, the click plate adapted to cause the open shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen about the first axis.

6. A hinge assembly according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second stopper attached to at least one end of the open shaft, the stopper adapted to cause the open shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

7. A hinge assembly for mounting a screen of a video display to the interior of an automobile, comprising:

a body, adapted to couple the screen to the interior of the automobile;

an open shaft, with the generally middle portion of the open shaft coupled to the body and two ends of the open shaft adapted to be coupled to the interior of the automobile, said open shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a first axis, the open shaft having a recess at the generally middle portion;

a rotate shaft, with one end adapted to be coupled to the screen and a body portion of the rotate shaft coupled to the body, said rotate shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a second axis, transversal to the first axis, the rotate shaft having at least one recess, the rotate shaft being in contact with the open shaft at their recesses;

wherein the recess on the open shaft allows the rotate shaft to rotate, the recesses on the rotate shaft allow the open shaft to rotate, the non-recess portion of the open shaft prevents the rotate shaft to rotate and the non-recess portion of the rotate shaft prevents the open shaft to rotate.

8. A hinge assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

a click plate attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the click plate causing the rotate shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen about the second axis, the click plate comprising a first circular plate with a predetermined number of extrusions and a second plate with a predetermined holes, one of the first plate and the second plate being rigidly attached to the body.

9. A hinge assembly according to claim 8, further comprising:

a stopper attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the stopper causing the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

10. A hinge assembly according to claim 8, further comprising:

a click plate attached to at least one end of the open shaft, the click plate causing the open shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen about the first axis, the click plate comprising a first circular plate with a predetermined number of extrusions and a second plate with a predetermined holes, one of the first plate and the second plate being rigidly attached to the body.

11. A hinge assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a stopper attached to at least one end of the open shaft, the stopper causing the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

12. A hinge assembly for mounting a screen of a video display to the interior of an automobile, comprising:

a body, adapted to couple the screen to the interior of the automobile;

an open shaft, with the generally middle portion of the open shaft coupled to the body and two ends of the open shaft adapted to be coupled to the interior of the automobile, said open shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a first axis;

a rotate shaft, with one end adapted to be coupled to the screen and a body portion of the rotate shaft coupled to the body, said rotate shaft adapted to pivot the screen about a second axis, transversal to the first axis;

at least one click plate attached to one end of the open shaft and the body, the click plate causing the open shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen around the first axis, the click plate comprising a first circular plate with a predetermined number of extrusions and a second circular plate with a predetermined holes, one of the first plate and the second plate being rigidly attached to the body;

at least one stopper attached to one end of the open shaft, the stopper adapted to cause the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

13. A hinge assembly according to claim 12, further comprising:

at least one dish spring, coupled to the open shaft, the dish spring adapted to secure the plurality of stops by forcing the first circular plate and the second circular plate against toward each other to ensure engagement between the extrusions and the holes.

14. A hinge assembly according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second click plate attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the click plate adapted to cause the rotate shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen around the second axis.

15. A hinge assembly according to claim 14, further comprising:

a second stopper attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the stopper adapted to cause the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.

16. A hinge assembly according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second click plate attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the click plate adapted to cause the rotate shaft to pivot with a plurality of stops to maintain stability of the screen around the second axis.

17. A hinge assembly according to claim 16, further comprising:

a second stopper attached to at least one end of the rotate shaft, the stopper adapted to cause the rotate shaft to stop rotation at a predetermined angle.