Automotive-ceiling-mounted monitor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In an automobile having a ceiling and front and rear passenger seats an overhead display unit comprising:
- a ceiling mount mounted above the front passenger seat of the automobile, the ceiling mount defining a housing with a cavity having a shape and size;
` and a screen with a viewing surface, the screen being mounted on the ceiling mount for pivotal movement between a stowed position wherein the screen fits within the cavity and the viewing surface faces downwardly from the ceiling for viewing by a reclined front seat passenger with the viewing surface defining a plane generally parallel to the ceiling, and a deployed position wherein the viewing surface faces rearwardly for viewing by a rear seat passenger; and
wherein the housing includes a surface cover configured to selectively cover the viewing surface of the screen when the screen is in the stowed position.
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Abstract
A ceiling-mounted automotive display unit mounted in the ceiling of an automobile above the front passenger seat. The unit includes a screen with a viewing surface, the screen being mounted for movement between a stowed position wherein the screen is generally parallel to the plane of the ceiling and facing downward to reveal the viewing surface to a reclined front seat passenger, and a deployed position wherein the screen projects downward from the ceiling and faces rearward to reveal the viewing surface to a rear seat passenger.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. In an automobile having a ceiling and front and rear passenger seats an overhead display unit comprising:
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a ceiling mount mounted above the front passenger seat of the automobile, the ceiling mount defining a housing with a cavity having a shape and size;
` anda screen with a viewing surface, the screen being mounted on the ceiling mount for pivotal movement between a stowed position wherein the screen fits within the cavity and the viewing surface faces downwardly from the ceiling for viewing by a reclined front seat passenger with the viewing surface defining a plane generally parallel to the ceiling, and a deployed position wherein the viewing surface faces rearwardly for viewing by a rear seat passenger; and
wherein the housing includes a surface cover configured to selectively cover the viewing surface of the screen when the screen is in the stowed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An overhead automotive display system comprising:
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a front passenger seat with a reclinable seat back;
an automobile ceiling with a recess formed therein, the recess being located over the seat back of the front passenger seat; and
a viewing screen operatively mounted on the ceiling for receipt within the recess, the viewing screen having a viewing surface which faces downwardly toward the front passenger seat such that the viewing surface is viewable by a front seat passenger seated in the front passenger seat with the seat back reclined;
wherein the screen is operatively pivotally mounted to the ceiling, the screen being pivotal about a first axis between a stowed position wherein the viewing surface faces downwardly from the ceiling for viewing by a reclined front seat passenger, and a deployed position wherein the viewing surface faces rearwardly for viewing by both a reclined front seat passenger and a rear seat passenger; and
wherein the housing includes a flexible viewing surface cover configured for selected deployment from a rolled orientation to an extended orientation wherein the viewing surface cover covers the viewing surface of the screen.
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5. In an automobile having a generally planar ceiling, a front passenger seat with a reclinable seat back and a back passenger seat, a ceiling-mounted display unit comprising:
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a generally planar mounting frame structure joined with the ceiling in a location centered over the front passenger seat, the mounting frame structure being joined generally co-planarly with the ceiling;
and a generally planar screen structure having a thickness of less than 1.5 inches, the screen structure including a viewing surface, and being pivotally mounted on the mounting frame structure for reversibly swaying about a first axis between a stowed position wherein the screen structure lies in a plane generally paralleling the plane of the mounting frame structure such that the viewing surface is viewable by a passenger seated in the front passenger seat with the seat back reclined, and a deployed position wherein the screen structure occupies a more upright plane which lies at an angle relative to the plane of the mounting frame structure such that the viewing surface is viewable by a passenger scated in the rear passenger seat; and
wherein the mounting frame structure defines a housing with a cavity having a shape and size, and wherein the screen is sized to fit within the cavity when the screen is in the stowed position; and
wherein the housing includes a viewing surface cover configured for selected extension over the cavity to cover the viewing surface of the screen.
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Specification