Seatback entertainment display system

• US 8,625,034 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Douglas C., Price, James B., Schultz, Steven G., Stokes, Theodore J., Michalak, Eric B., Prosniewski, Joseph F., Greene, Alan G., Thimm, David P., Lee, Joon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARLOW, ADAM G
• Application Number:
  US12/158,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20090316057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,577 Days
• Field of Search: 348836-843, 349/58, 248/682, 248/371, 248/157, 248/295.11, 248/917, 248/919, 248/923, 297/188.05, 297/217.1, 297/217.3, 297/217.6, 297/410, 297/391, 297/188.04, 297/188.01, 297/188.21, 297/185, 224/275, 224/282
• US Class Current: 348/837
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests

Abstract

A seatback entertainment display system for a vehicle is provided having a support member extending from a seatback frame, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the support member, and a display device coupled to the adjustment mechanism. The support member may be a cantilever type beam or frame extending upwardly from the seatback at a position behind and adjacent to a headrest. The support member may also be a pair of rods arranged to fixedly receive the display device and movably receive the headrest. The adjustment device may include any one or more of a forward-rearward tilting mechanism, a side to side pivoting mechanism and an up-down translation mechanism. The seatback entertainment display system is adaptable to optimize a viewing angle for a rear seat occupant of the vehicle, throughout a normal adjustment range of the seat.

Claims

1. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat bottom frame coupled to a seatback frame, the seatback frame supporting a seatback;

at least one support member extending substantially upwardly from the seatback frame, wherein a first end of the support member extends substantially downwardly into the seatback wherein the support member is rigidly coupled to the seatback frame within the seatback;

a display device having a body portion coupled to a second end of the support member in a generally fixed position, and a screen portion pivotally coupled to the body portion along a top edge of the screen portion for movement to any one of a plurality of viewing positions; and

a headrest movably coupled to one of the body portion and the support member for positioning of the headrest within a predetermined adjustment range relative to the seatback and the body portion of the display device.

2. A seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat bottom frame coupled to a seatback frame, the seatback frame having a pair of apertures;

a display device having a body portion, the body portion having a first pair of rod segments extending down from the body portion and configured to be received and secured within the apertures of the seatback frame, the body portion having a second pair of rod segments fixed in place relative to the body portion, the second pair of rod segments having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends longitudinally forward, wherein the second portion extends upwardly for being received by apertures of a headrest, wherein the apertures of the headrest are not aligned with the pair of apertures of the seatback frame;

wherein the headrest is vertically adjustable relative to the display device and the seatback frame by being movable along at least a portion of the second pair of rod segments.

3. The seat of claim 2 wherein the headrest is movably positioned forward of, and adjacent to, the body portion of the display device.

4. The seat of claim 2 further comprising a display screen having a top edge pivotally connected to the body portion of the display device.