Armrest mounted video display screen

• US 6,746,065 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VIS Racing Sports Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VIS Racing Sports Incorporated
• Inventors: Chan, Tak
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/170,927
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.1, 296/37.8, 296/37-4-, 296/37.1, 296/153, 248/917, 312/7.2
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0282 for the use of several passengers, e.g. simultaneously

Abstract

A video display screen is mounted in a recess or cut-out of an armrest within a vehicle. The armrest pivots up and locks in an upright position so that the display screen can be viewed by rear seat passengers, and pivots down so that the display screen can be viewed by the driver or the front seat passenger. The armrest includes a telescoping section so that the display screen can be raised or lowered as desired by the rear seat passengers. The video screen can be switched between being operatively connected to either an entertainment device such as a VCR or DVD player, or to a navigational device The display is pivotally mounted within the armrest both so that it can be tilted for optimal viewing, and so that it can be rotated 180 degrees into a screen-down position when the screen is not being used, the backside of the screen visually blending with the rest of the armrest so that the screen is protected against both theft and incidental damage when not in use.

Claims

1. A video display system for use in vehicles, comprising:

a container for holding objects;

a hinged lid mounted to the container for covering an opening of the container;

a video display screen rotatably mounted within the lid such that the display screen can be rotated about an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane of the lid, the display screen being rotatable from a viewing position to a non-viewing position, the display screen being hidden from view when the lid is in a closed position and the display screen is rotated to its non-viewing position;

a lock for holding the lid in an open position; and

an extension for extending the display screen and a portion of the lid farther away from the container, such that the display screen may be raised and lowered for ease of viewing when the lid is in its open position.

2. The video display system of claim 1 wherein said lid is positioned adjacent and to the inside of a driver of the vehicle such that the driver can view the display screen when the lid is in its closed position and a passenger seated rearward of the driver can view the display screen when the lid is in its open position.

3. The video display system of claim 1 further comprising:

a control for rotating information displayed on the display screen such that a top-to-bottom orientation of the displayed information can be selected to be along either a longitudinal axis or a transverse axis of said lid.

4. The video display system of claim 3 wherein said control allows navigational information to be displayed in a transverse orientation for viewing by a person in a front seal of the vehicle, and for allowing video entertainment information to be displayed in a longitudinal orientation for viewing by a person in the back seat of the vehicle.

5. The video display system of claim 1 further comprising a video playback device (or reading an audiovisual work from a recorded medium and for sending video signals to the display screen.

6. The video display system of claim 1 further comprising a navigational computer for sending navigational information to the display screen.

7. The video display system of claim 1 wherein said extension is a telescoping extension.

8. The video display system of claim 1 wherein said display screen has a backside that visually blends with the lid such that when the display screen is rotated to its non-viewing position and the lid is closed the presence of the display screen is made more difficult to detect by potential thieves.

9. The video display system of claim 1 further comprising a security lock for preventing rotation of the display from its non-viewing position without a security key.

10. The video display system of claim 9 wherein said security lock comprises a key lock for locking the lid in its closed position.

11. The video display system of claim 10 wherein said key lock both locks and unlocks said lid, and prevents and allows rotation of the display from its non-viewing position to its viewing position.

12. The video display system of claim 9 wherein said security lock comprises a key lock for locking and unlocking said lid, and a manually operated release operable from an underside of the lid for allowing rotation of the display screen.

13. A display system for use in vehicles comprising:

a video display including a display screen mounted to a top surface of an armrest in a fixed relation thereto, the armrest capable of being positioned in either a substantially horizontal position or a raised position and capable of being locked in said raised position such that the display can be viewed when the armrest is in the raised position; and

a source of video signals operably connected to said display screen.

14. The display system of claim 13 wherein said armrest is an armrest for a driver of the vehicle and the armrest is positioned such that the display screen can he viewed by the driver when the armrest is in its substantially horizontal position, and the display screen can be viewed by a passenger in a rear scat of the vehicle when the armrest is in its raised position.

15. The display system of claim 13 further comprising video display controls mounted to said video display.

16. The display system of claim 13 further comprising video display controls mounted on said armrest.

17. The display system of claim 13 further comprising:

a remote control transmitter for transmitting control signals; and

a remote control receiver mounted to the video display for receiving said control signals and for controlling said video display ill response to said control signals.

18. A video display system comprising:

an armrest having a top surface; and

a video display screen having a viewing face and a backside, the display screen rotatably mounted to said top surface of said armrest such that when the armrest is in a substantially down position the video screen can be rotated a half turn about a substantially horizontal axis from a first and face-up position in which the viewing face is exposed, to a second and face-down position in which the viewing fate is not exposed when the armrest is in a down position thereby providing protection against damage to the viewing face and against theft when the display screen is not in use.

19. The video display system of claim 18 further comprising:

an audiovisual playback device for sending video information to the display screen.

20. Tho video display system of claim 18 further comprising:

a navigation device for sending navigation information to the display screen.

21. The video display system of claim 18 further comprising:

an audiovisual playback device for sending video information to the display screen and a navigation device for sending navigation information to the display screen.

22. A video display system including a video display screen mounted to the top surface of an armrest, the armrest being rotatable from a down position in which the video screen may be viewed by a person seated in a seat to which the armrest is associated, or a raised position in which the video screen may be viewed by a person disposed behind the seat to which the armrest is associated.

23. The video display system of claim 22 further comprising means for protecting the display screen when the display screen is not in use.

24. The video display system of claim 22 further comprising:

an extendible height adjustment for raising or lowering the display screen when the armrest is in its raised position.

25. The video display system of claim 23 wherein said means for protecting the display screen comprises a rotatable display screen mount for mounting the video screen within the armrest and alloying tile display screen to rotate about an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane of the arrest by at least approximately one half revolution, such that the display screen can rotate from a viewing position to a non-viewing and protected position without the display screen being substantially spatially displaced.

26. The video display system of claim 25 wherein said means for protecting the video screen further comprises a backside of said video screen, said backside being finished to have an appearance similar to a finish on said armrest, thereby making the existence of the video screen within a vehicle less apparent to observers when the video screen is rotated to its non-viewing position.

27. The video display system of claim 25 wherein said rotatable screen mount further includes a slip ring for supplying electrical power to said video screen.

28. The video display system of claim 24 wherein said means for protecting the screen comprises a display cover slidably mounted to said armrest.

29. The video display system of claim 23 wherein said armrest is also a cover to a lockable container, and wherein said means for protecting the video screen comprises a video screen cover, the video screen cover lockingly engaging at least one of the video screen and the cover.

30. The video display system of claim 29 further comprising:

a security lock for locking said cover to said container; and

a release operable from an underside of said cover to release said video screen cover.

31. A motorized vehicle equipped with a display, comprising a video display system according to claim 22 and a motorized vehicle, the video display system being mounted within said motorized vehicle such that the display can be viewed by either a front seat occupant or a rear seat occupant of the vehicle.

32. A video display screen mounted to a top surface of a container lid, the container lid being hinged at one end and suitable for mounting within a vehicle such that the video screen may be viewed by a first person disposed in a first location when the container lid is in a down position, and may be viewed by a second person disposed in a end location when the container lid is in a raised position rotated approximately 90 degrees upwardly from the down position.

33. A video screen rotatably mounted onto a top surface of a container cover or lid within a vehicle so as to rotate about the longitudinal or transverse axis of the vehicle without the screen being substantially spatially displaced by said rotation and lock in a selected rotational position such that the screen is provided a measure of protection against damage and theft when not in use.

34. A container for use within a vehicle, the container comprising:

a container body;

a lid for covering at least a portion of tie container body, the lid comprising;

a lid body, the lid body having an aperture therein; and

a video display disposed within said aperture and rotatably mounted to the lid body.

35. A vehicle display system comprising:

an audiovisual playback device;

a navigational computer;

a display screen;

a switch for selecting either the playback device or the navigational computer to he operatively connected to the display screen;

switching circuitry (or allowing information displayed on the display screen to be rotated approximately plus 90 degrees, 0 degrees, and approximately minus 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle; and

at least one pivotal member to allow the display to be positioned and oriented to he viewed by either a person in a more forward seat or a person in a more rearward seat.

36. A video display and mount for use in an automobile comprising:

an after-market armrest compatible with a stock armrest mount within a vehicle; and

a video display mounted to said after-market armrest;

wherein said after-market armrest is adapted to be pivotally mounted such that when said after-market armrest is installed it can be pivoted so that the video display can be viewed by either a front seat occupant or a rear seat occupant.

37. An after-market container comprising:

a container body, the container body suitable for mounting within a vehicle as a replacement for a stock container;

a container cover attached to said container body; and

a video display screen mounted within an aperture within said cover and rotatable at least approximately one-half turn about an axis that is substantially parallel to a top surface of said cover.