Automobile entertainment system

• US 7,909,396 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Vitito, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US10/920,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,407 Days
• Field of Search: 439 23- 26, 439/924.1, 297/217.3, 297/217.4, 297/217.6, 297/188.04, 297/188.05, 297/188.06, 297/188.2, 725/75, 725/77, 348/837, 296/37.16
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• 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 11/0211 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 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests

Abstract

An automobile entertainment system includes a video system mounted within an automobile headrest. The headrest includes a headrest body and a first downwardly extending headrest extension arm having a passage therethrough. The video system includes a multi-wire cable extending therefrom and the multi-wire cable passes through the first extension arm, wherein the multi-wire cable includes a connection assembly at a distal end thereof. The connection assembly is coupled to distal ends of wires making up the multi-wire cable and the distal ends of the wires are staggered facilitating passage of the multi-wire cable through the headrest extension arm.

Claims

1. An automobile entertainment system, comprising:

a video system including a video monitor mounted within an automobile headrest, the headrest including a headrest body and a first downwardly extending headrest extension arm including a passage therethrough;

a multi-wire cable extending directly from the video monitor, wherein the multi-wire cable includes a low-profile snap connection assembly at a distal end thereof, the connection assembly is coupled to distal ends of wires making up the multi-wire cable and includes snap connectors at the distal ends of respective wires, and the distal ends of the wires are staggered facilitating passage of the entire multi-wire cable, including the low-profile snap connection assembly, from the video system, fully through the headrest extension arm, and to a power source within an automobile;

wherein by staggering the snap connectors connected at the distal ends of respective wires passage of the multi-wire cable fully through the headrest extension arm is facilitated by positioning the snap connectors at different lengths along the snap connection assembly so as to provide a lower profile assembly and permit the passage of additional wires through the headrest extension arms.

2. The entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system includes a monitor and a video source.

3. The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein the video source is a DVD player.

4. The entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-wire cable includes a power supply wire and an audio wire.

5. The entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system includes only a single multi-wire cable.

6. The entertainment system according to claim 1, further including a central control module to which the multi-wire cable is coupled.

7. The entertainment system according to claim 6, wherein a main automobile power source is coupled to the central control module supplying power to the video system via the multi-wire cable.