Method and apparatus for mounting rear seat entertainment device

• US 7,201,443 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bartle, Alden, Cilluffo, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US10/971,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.04, 297/188.01, 297/188.06, 297/188.2, 297/463.1, 297/463.2, 297/165, 297/163, 297/217.3, 248/917, 224/275
• US Class Current: 297/188.06
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A method and apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device easily and quickly on a seat of a vehicle without affecting the height adjustment of a headrest. The method includes the steps of preparing a bracket having an attachment portion for attachment with the seat and a mounting wall for attachment with a rear seat entertainment device, shifting a headrest upwardly to expose a headrest support tube and a flange of the support tube, placing the attachment portion of the bracket between the flange and a top surface of the seat in such a way that an opening of the attachment portion surrounds the support tube, attaching the rear seat entertainment device to the mounting wall of the bracket, and fixedly attaching a lower part of the rear seat entertainment device to the back of the seat.

Claims

1. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device on a front or middle seat of a vehicle, comprising the following steps of:

preparing a bracket having an attachment portion for attachment with the seat and a mounting wall for attachment with a rear seat entertainment device;

shifting a headrest upwardly or removing the headrest from the seat to expose a headrest support tube and a flange of the headrest support tube, where the headrest has a support rod at a bottom thereof which is slidably inserted in the headrest support tube;

placing the attachment portion of the bracket between the flange and a top surface of the seat while pressing down the top surface by the bracket so that an opening of the attachment portion surrounds the headrest support tube without contacting the support rod of the headrest; and

attaching the rear seat entertainment device to the mounting wall of the bracket and fixedly attaching a lower part of the rear seat entertainment device to the back of the seat;

wherein the headrest support tube is embedded in the seat where the flange is integrally formed with the headrest support tube at a top portion thereof, and the flange is positioned on the top surface of the seat, thereby clamping the attachment portion of the bracket directly between a bottom surface of the flange and the top surface of the seat by elasticity of the top surface of the seat.

2. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the rear seat entertainment device to the mounting wall of the bracket is conducted before conducting the step of placing the attachment portion of the bracket to top surface of the seat.

3. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the rear seat entertainment device to the mounting wall of the bracket is conducted after conducting the step of placing the attachment portion of the bracket to top surface of the seat.

4. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of attaching the rear seat entertainment device to the back of the seat includes a step of connecting the rear seat entertainment device and an inside frame of the seat through an attachment member.

5. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion has a J-shaped hook that forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

6. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion has a clip member that opens and closes, where the clip member forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

7. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion has an attachment hole that forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

8. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is configured by a hinge which is a member separate from the bracket, wherein the hinge has a U-shape in plan view and a step shape in side view and is inserted in a slit of the bracket, and wherein the U-shape of the hinge forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

9. A method of mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is configured by a hinge which is a member separate from the bracket, wherein the hinge has a U-shape that has an attachment hole and is attached to the bracket through a fastener, and wherein the U-shape of the hinge forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

10. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device on a front or middle seat of a vehicle, comprising:

a bracket having an attachment portion for attachment with the seat and a mounting wall for attachment with a rear seat entertainment device;

a headrest which is shifted upwardly or removing the headrest from the seat to expose a headrest support tube and a flange of the headrest support tube, where the headrest has a support rod at a bottom thereof which is slidably inserted in the headrest support tube; and

means for placing the attachment portion of the bracket between the flange and a top surface of the seat while pressing down the top surface by the bracket so that an opening of the attachment portion surrounds the headrest support tube without contacting the support rod of the headrest; and

wherein the rear seat entertainment device is attached to the mounting wall of the bracket and a lower part of the rear seat entertainment device is fixedly attached to the back of the seat; and

wherein the headrest support tube is embedded in the seat where the flange is integrally formed with the headrest support tube at a top portion thereof, and the flange is positioned on the top surface of the seat, thereby elastically clamping the attachment portion of the bracket directly between a bottom surface of the flange and the top surface of the seat by elasticity of the top surface of the seat.

11. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the rear seat entertainment device is attached to the mounting wall of the bracket before placing the attachment portion of the bracket to top surface of the seat.

12. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the rear seat entertainment device is attached to the mounting wall of the bracket after placing the attachment portion of the bracket to top surface of the seat.

13. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for connecting the rear seat entertainment device and an inside frame of the seat through an attachment member.

14. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment portion has a J-shaped hook that forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

15. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment portion has a clip member that opens and closes, where the clip member forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

16. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment portion has an attachment hole that forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

17. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment portion is configured by a hinge, wherein the hinge has a U-shape in plan view and a step shape in side view and is inserted in a slit of the bracket, and wherein the U-shape of the hinge forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.

18. An apparatus for mounting a rear seat entertainment device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment portion is configured by a hinge, wherein the hinge has a U-shape that has an attachment hole and is attached to the bracket through a fastener, and wherein the U-shape of the hinge forms the opening that surrounds the headrest support tube when the attachment portion is attached to the seat between the flange and the top surface of the seat.