Monitor device

• US 6,711,003 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakasuna, Seiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/879,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/726, 361/732, 361/756, 248/476, 248/479, 248/480, 248/485, 248/487, 248/919-921, 248/276, 248/287, 248/179.1, 296/24.1, 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 340/425.5, 340/428, 340/315.4, 340/990, 340/405, 340/459, 340/525, 340/466, 340/462, 340/815.58, 348/837, 348/839, 348/840-843, 348/836, 312/7.2, 312/236, 312/298, 292/95, 292/121-126, 292/224, 224/311, 224/309, 224/312, 284/919-924, 180/167
• US Class Current: 361/679.06
• 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 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

In a monitor device wherein a display member is pivotably supported in a ceiling portion of a vehicle, there is a risk that the display member may slide down due to vibrations during vehicular running or due to its own weight. In the monitor device of the invention, a stowing recess 11 is formed in a receptacle member 10, and a display member 2 and a support member 5 are disposed within the stowing recess 11. A retaining member 12 for restricting a distal end 2a of the display member 2 is formed at an opening edge of the stowing recess 11. When the display member 2 is stowed, it moves in the Y1 direction and its pivotal movement in a downward direction is prevented by the retaining member 12. When the display member 2 is to be moved in an opening direction, it is moved in the Y2 direction and is thereby disengaged from the retaining member 12; thereafter the display member 2 is rotated downward.

Claims

1. A monitor device including a support member mounted on a ceiling surface and a display member, said display member being supported near a proximal end by said support member so as to be pivotally movable between a stowed position along said ceiling surface and a downwardly pivoted position, comprising:

a restricting member for preventing said display member from moving pivotally to the downward position when the display member is located in the stowed position; and

wherein a distal end of the display member engages with said restricting member when the support member is moved in the direction of said ceiling surface after the display member is moved to the stowed position, so as to prevent the display member from pivotally moving toward the downward position.

2. A monitor device according to claim 1, further including a drive means for pivotally moving the display member and a moving means for moving said support member.

3. A monitor device according to claim 2, wherein said drive means operates so as to pivot said display member toward said ceiling surface before said support member and the display member located in said stowed position move in said direction.

4. A monitor device according to claim 1, wherein in a downwardly pivoted position the display member can further move pivotally about a substantially vertical axis so as to permit the direction of a display screen to be changed to the right and left.

5. A monitor device comprising;

a receptacle member fixed to a ceiling surface and having a stowing recess that is open generally downward;

a support member for movably supporting a display member disposed within said stowing recess, said display member being supported by said support member so as to be pivotable between a stowed position along said ceiling surface and a downwardly pivoted position;

a restricting means for preventing said display member from pivotally moving toward the downward position when the support member is located in the stowed position; and

wherein the display member engages with said restricting member when the display member is pivoted to the stowed position and the support member is moved along said ceiling surface, so as to prevent the display member from pivotally moving toward the downward position.

6. A monitor device according to claim 5, wherein when said display member has pivotally moved to said stowed position, it is received within said stowing recess, and said restricting means is disposed within the stowing recess.

7. A monitor device according to claim 5, further including a drive means for pivotally moving said display member and a moving means for moving said support member.

8. A monitor device according to claim 7, wherein said drive means operates so as to pivot said display member toward said ceiling surface before said support member and the display member located in said stowed position move in the direction along the ceiling surface.

9. A monitor device according to claim 5, wherein a base member is fixed to said ceiling surface, said receptacle member is fixed to the underside of said base member, a circuit board for control is installed within said base member, and said support member disposed within the receptacle member and said circuit board are connected together through a flexible wiring member.

10. A monitor device according to claim 5, wherein in a downwardly pivoted position the display member can further move pivotally about a substantially vertical axis so as to permit the direction of a display screen to be changed to the right and left.

11. A monitor device comprising:

a receptacle member fixed to a ceiling surface in the interior of a vehicle and having a stowing recess that is open generally downward;

a support member for supporting a display member disposed within said stowing recess and movable between forward and rearward directions of the vehicle;

said display member being supported by said support member so as to be pivotable between a stowed position along said ceiling surface and a downwardly pivoted position;

a restricting means for preventing said display member from pivotally moving toward the downward position when said support member is located in the stowed position; and

wherein the display member disengages from said restricting means and can move pivotally to said downward position when the support member is moved in a forward direction of the vehicle.

12. A monitor device according to claim 11, wherein when said display member has pivotally moved to said stowed position, it is received within said stowing recess, and said restricting means is disposed within the stowing recess.

13. A monitor device according to claim 11, further including a drive means for pivotally moving said display member and a moving means for moving said support member.

14. A monitor device according to claim 13, wherein said drive means operates so as to pivot said display member toward said ceiling surface before said support member and the display member located in said stowed position move in the rearward direction of the vehicle.

15. A monitor device according to claim 11, wherein a base member is fixed to said ceiling surface, said receptacle member is fixed to the underside of said base member, a circuit board for control is installed within said base member, and said support member disposed within said receptacle member and said circuit board are connected together through a flexible wiring member.

16. A monitor device according to claim 11, wherein in a downward position the display member can further move pivotally about a substantially vertical axis so as to permit the direction of a display screen to be changed to the right and left.

17. A monitor device including a support member mounted on a ceiling surface and a display member, said display member being supported by said support member so as to be pivotally movable between a stowed position along said ceiling surface and a downwardly pivoted position, comprising:

a restricting member for preventing said display member from moving pivotally to the downward position when the display member is located in the stowed position;

wherein the display member engages with said restricting member when the support member is moved in the direction of said ceiling surface after the display member is moved in the direction of said ceiling surface after the display member is moved to the stowed position, so as to prevent the display member from pivotally moving toward the downward position; and

wherein in a downwardly pivoted position the display member can further move pivotally about a substantially vertical axis so as to permit the direction of a display screen to be changed to the right and left.

18. A monitor device according to claim 17, further including a drive means for pivotally moving the display member and a moving means for moving said support member.

19. A monitor device according to claim 18, wherein said drive means operates so as to pivot said display member toward said ceiling surface before said support member and the display member located in said stowed position move in said direction.