Seat mountable entertainment system

• US 7,354,091 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James R., Schedivy, George C., Lavelle, Patrick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyjak; Lori L.
• Application Number:
  US10/969,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.1, 297/217.3, 297/188.04, 297/188.05, 297/188.06, 296/37.1, 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 296/37.15, 296/37.16, 296/37.6, 348/836, 348/837, 348/839
• US Class Current: 296/37.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• 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 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0049 for non integrated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

An entertainment system comprises a media source, and a housing for supporting the media source, wherein the housing is coupled to an inner portion of a seat of a vehicle, and the media source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the housing.

Claims

1. A housing adapted to secure a removable media source to a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

a means for securing the housing to an internal support structure of the seat; and

a means for mounting the removable media source in the housing, wherein the removable media source is mounted in and electrically coupled to the housing, and is separate from a display mounted to the housing, and wherein video data is transferred from the removable media source to an electrical connector formed in the housing for distribution to the display mounted to the housing.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the means for securing the housing comprises at least one of a screw, a catch and an adhesive.

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a quick release mechanism.

4. The housing of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a flexible coupling mechanism including concave and convex portions.

5. The housing of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a loop and hook fastener.

6. The housing of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a snap.

7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the removable media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver, an MP3 player, a digital video recorder, and a device for playing media supplied from a mass storage device.

8. The housing of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted in one of a headrest and a main body of the seat.

9. The housing of claim 1, further comprising another display operatively coupled to the removable media source, wherein the other display is one of handheld and mounted at a location in the vehicle away from the housing.

10. The housing of claim 9, wherein the other display is operatively coupled to the removable media source via at least one of a direct connection, a connection through the housing and a wireless connection.

11. The housing of claim 1, wherein power is provided to the removable media source from a power source coupled to the housing.

12. The housing of claim 1, wherein audio data is transferred from the removable media source to the housing for distribution to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one headphone set.

13. The housing of claim 1, wherein the media source wirelessly transmits at least one of audio and video data to a receiving device capable of downloading and storing at least one of the audio and video data.

14. An entertainment system for a vehicle comprising:

a media source; and

a housing for supporting the media source, wherein at least a portion of the housing is mounted in a vehicle seat, the media source is capable of being selectively mounted in and removed from the housing, and the media source mounted in the housing transmits audio and video data via wireless transmission to a receiver located within the vehicle.

15. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is coupled to a display device.

16. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the audio and video data includes at least two media programs transmitted in a broadcast stream.

17. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein selection of one of the at least two media programs is made from a menu displayed on the display device.

18. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the media source is capable of downloading and storing audio and video data.

19. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is coupled to a receiving device including one of a cellular telephone, a personal computer, an MP3 player, a personal digital assistant, a digital video recorder, and a mass storage device.

20. The entertainment system of claim 19, wherein the media source and the receiving device are each capable of downloading and storing at least one of the audio and video data.

21. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the audio and video data includes at least two media programs transmitted to the receiving device in a broadcast stream.

22. The entertainment system of claim 21, wherein selection of one of the at least two media programs is made from a menu displayed on the receiving device.

23. The entertainment system of claim 19, wherein at least one of audio and video data is capable of being transmitted to the media source from the receiving device.

24. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the media source and the receiving device are each capable of downloading and storing at least one of the audio and video data.

25. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the audio and video data received by the media source from the receiving device is transmitted to a display device from the media source.

26. A housing adapted to secure a removable media source to a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

a means for securing the housing to the seat; and

a means for mounting the removable media source in the housing, wherein the removable media source is mounted in and electrically coupled to the housing and video data is transferred from the removable media source to an electrical connector formed in the housing for distribution to a display mounted away from the housing.

27. The housing of claim 26, wherein the means for securing the housing comprises at least one of a screw, a catch and an adhesive for engaging an internal support structure of the seat.

28. The housing of claim 26, wherein the means for securing the housing comprises at least one of an adhesive, a rivet or a loop and hook fastener for engaging a portion of upholstery of the seat.

29. The housing of claim 26, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a quick release mechanism.

30. The housing of claim 26, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a flexible coupling mechanism including concave and convex portions.

31. The housing of claim 26, wherein the means for mounting the removable media source comprises a loop and hook fastener.

32. The housing of claim 26, wherein the removable media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver, an MP3 player, a digital video recorder, and a device for playing media supplied from a mass storage device.

33. The housing of claim 26, wherein the housing is mounted in one of a headrest and a main body of the seat.

34. An entertainment system comprising:

a media source including a data media receiving portion;

a housing for supporting the media source, wherein at least a portion of the housing is mounted in a vehicle seat, and the media source is capable of being selectively connected to and disconnected from the housing; and

a display device mounted to the housing, wherein the media source including the data media receiving portion is positioned behind the display device.