Headrest having an integrated video screen

• US 7,040,697 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timely Inventions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Timely Inventions, LLC
• Inventors: Murphy, Robert, Barrese, Frank, Espina, Roel C., Haack, Ernesto R., Molo, Jon A., Tuccinardi, Eugene M., Zoetemelk, Theo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US10/395,870
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/188.04, 297/188.07, 297/185, 411/510, 312/242, 312/245
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/803 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD

Abstract

A seat back video display assembly adapted to be positioned in the back of a vehicle seat having an outer skin cover. In one aspect, the assembly may comprise a receptacle member having sidewalls and a back wall so as to define an opening wherein the receptacle member is adapted to be positioned in the back of the vehicle seat. In addition, the assembly may further comprise a carrier member having sidewalls and a back wall so as to define an opening, wherein the carrier member includes at least one fastener that extends from the back wall of the carrier member and engages with the back wall of the receptacle member to secure the carrier member into the receptacle member. Moreover, the assembly may still further comprise a video display unit that is sized so as to be positioned secured within the opening in the carrier member, wherein the video display unit provides video signals.

Claims

1. A seat back video display assembly adapted to be positioned in a back of a vehicle seat having an outer skin, the assembly comprising:

a receptacle member having sidewalls and a back wall so as to define an opening wherein the receptacle member is adapted to be positioned in the back of the vehicle seat wherein the opening is facing away from the back of the vehicle seat when the receptacle member is positioned within the back of the vehicle seat and wherein the receptacle member includes at least one securing opening formed in the back wall of the receptacle member;

a carrier member having sidewalls and a back wall so as to define an opening, wherein the carrier member includes at least one fastener that is coupled to the back wall that extends from the back wall of the carrier member and engages with the at least one securing opening in the back wall of the receptacle member to secure the carrier member into the receptacle member and wherein the opening in the carrier member is facing away from the back of the vehicle seat when the carrier member is positioned within the receptacle member; and

a video display unit that is sized so as to be positioned secured within the opening in the carrier member and substantially conceal the at least one fastener, wherein the video display unit provides video signals wherein the video display unit is pre-assembled into the carrier member so that the combined video display unit and the carrier member can be simultaneously secured within the receptacle member by positioning the carrier member in the receptacle member such that the back wall of the carrier member is flush with the back wall of the receptacle member and the at least one fastener of the carrier member is pushed through the at least one securing opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle member includes a plurality of openings positioned within the back wall that receive the fasteners of the carrier member.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of fasteners that include a central member that extends outward from back wall of the carrier member and a plurality of flexible engagement members attached to the central member, wherein the flexible engagement members are deformable so as to allow insertion of the central member into the openings in the back wall of the receptacle member, and wherein the flexible engagement members are biased outward so as to inhibit removal of the central member from the openings in the back wall of the receptacle member.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the video display unit defines a plane and is pivotally attached to the carrier member such that the plane of the video display unit can be adjusted by a user about a pivot axis.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the video display unit is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein at least a first and second fasteners are positioned through the carrier into the display unit so as to secure the video display unit to the carrier member prior to installation of the carrier into the receptacle member, and wherein the at least first and second fasteners engage with the video display unit so as to define a pivot axis.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle member includes an outer lip and a plurality of outer skin capture members that engage with the outer skin of the seat back following installation such that the outer skin is extended over the outer lip of the receptacle member and secured to the outer skin capture members.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein openings are positioned in the sidewalls of the receptacle member and the plurality of capture members are positioned within the openings, and wherein the plurality of capture members define a pointed surface that engages with the outer skin and inhibits removal of the outer skin from the opening defined by the receptacle member.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a screen cover that is dimensioned to cover the video display unit in a first configuration following installation into the seat back, and wherein the cover is selectively disengagable so as to allow visual access to the video display unit.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cover includes an impact attenuating material.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cover includes a generally rigid layer to provide physical protection of the video display unit.

12. A vehicle seat assembly having a seat back display, the assembly comprising:

a vehicle seat adapted to receive an occupant during travel of a vehicle, the vehicle seat defining a seat back with an outer contour and an outer skin;

a receptacle member having sidewalls and a back wall so as to define an opening, wherein the receptacle member is mounted in the seat back of the vehicle seat such that the sidewalls are located at or below the outer contour of the seat back and wherein the receptacle member includes at least one opening in the side walls and at least one outer skin capture member having a pointed surface positioned within the at least one opening such that the at least one outer skin capture member captures the outer skin of the seat back to inhibit removal of the outer skin from the at least one opening; and

a video display unit mounted within the receptacle member, wherein the video display unit is generally planar with an outer plane that is at or below the outer contour of the vehicle seat.

13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a carrier member having sidewalls and a back wall so as to define an opening, wherein the carrier member includes at least one fastener that extends from the back wall of the carrier member and engages with the back wall of the receptacle member to secure the carrier member into the receptacle member, and wherein the video display unit is positioned within the carrier unit.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the receptacle member includes a plurality of openings positioned within the back wall that receive the fasteners of the carrier member.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of fasteners that include a central member that extends outward from back wall of the carrier member and a plurality of flexible engagement members attached to the central member, wherein the flexible engagement members are deformable so as to allow insertion of the central member into the openings in the back wall of the receptacle member, and wherein the flexible engagement members are biased outward so as to inhibit removal of the central member from the openings in the back wall of the receptacle member.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the video display unit is pivotally attached to the carrier member such that the outer plane of the video display unit can be adjusted by a user about a pivot axis.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the video display unit is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein at least a first and second fasteners are positioned through the carrier into the display unit so as to secure the video display unit to the carrier member prior to installation of the carrier into the receptacle member, and wherein the at least first and second fasteners engage with the video display unit so as to define a pivot axis.

19. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a screen cover that is dimensioned to cover the video display unit in a first configuration following installation into the seat back, and wherein the cover is selectively disengagable so as to allow visual access to the video display unit.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the screen cover comprises at least a portion of the outer skin that is attached to the seat back adjacent a bottom side of the video display unit and a fastener assembly attached to the portion of outer skin and the seat back adjacent a top side of the video display unit such that the portion of outer skin can hide the video display unit from view.

21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the screen cover includes an impact attenuating material selected from the group consisting of foam, padding, and an air cushion.

22. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the screen cover includes a generally rigid layer to provide physical protection of the video display unit.

23. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the outer skin is selected from the group consisting of fabric, leather, upholstery, and vinyl.

24. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the vehicle seat includes a head rest and the receptacle member is positioned within the head rest.