Vehicle entertainment system and method of mounting vehicle entertainment unit

• US 9,987,999 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James R., Lavelle, Patrick M., Ford, Raymond, Morales, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, HEATHER RAE
• Application Number:
  US14/986,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0047 using hidden fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 : Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 : Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 : Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only

Abstract

A vehicle entertainment system includes a cradle disposed in a headrest of a vehicle and having a slot, and a vehicle entertainment unit including a display and a locking mechanism. Upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the locking mechanism is inserted into the slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle. Upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, a space aligned with the locking mechanism is disposed between a first side of the cradle and a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit. The space is shaped and dimensioned to receive a removal tool that contacts the locking mechanism through the space to disengage the locking mechanism from the slot.

Claims

1. A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a cradle disposed in a headrest of a vehicle, wherein the cradle comprises a first slot disposed near a first side of the cradle and a second slot disposed near a second side of the cradle, wherein the first and second sides of the cradle oppose each other;

a vehicle entertainment unit comprising a display, a first locking mechanism disposed near a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit, and a second locking mechanism disposed near a second side of the vehicle entertainment unit, wherein the first and second sides of the vehicle entertainment unit oppose each other,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the first side of the cradle and the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the second side of the cradle,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first locking mechanism is inserted into the first slot and the second locking mechanism is inserted into the second slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein, upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, a first space aligned with the first locking mechanism is disposed between the first side of the cradle and the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit and a second space aligned with the second locking mechanism is disposed between the second side of the cradle and the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit; and

a first removal tool shaped and dimensioned to be inserted into the first and second spaces to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms from the first and second slots,

wherein the vehicle entertainment unit is unlocked from the cradle upon inserting the first removal tool into the first space to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot and upon inserting the removal tool into the second space to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot.

2. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1,

wherein each of the first and second slots comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width,

wherein the first and second locking mechanisms each comprise a protruding member that is inserted into the first portion of the corresponding slot upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle and that is inserted into the second portion of the corresponding slot upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle.

3. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second spaces are exposed on a front side of the vehicle entertainment unit and the cradle.

4. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second removal tool shaped and dimensioned to be inserted into the first and second spaces to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms from the first and second slots,

wherein the vehicle entertainment unit is unlocked from the cradle upon inserting one of the first and second removal tools into the first space to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot and upon inserting the other one of the first and second removal tools into the second space to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot at substantially a same time.

5. A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a cradle disposed in a headrest of a vehicle and comprising a first slot; and

a vehicle entertainment unit comprising a display and a first locking mechanism,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first locking mechanism is inserted into the first slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein, upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, a first space aligned with the first locking mechanism is disposed between a first side of the cradle and a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit,

wherein the first space is shaped and dimensioned to receive a removal tool that contacts the first locking mechanism through the first space to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot.

6. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the first space is exposed on a front side of the vehicle entertainment unit and the cradle.

7. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 5,

wherein the first slot comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width,

wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a protruding member that is inserted into the first portion of the first slot upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle and that is inserted into the second portion of the first slot upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle.

8. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 5,

wherein the cradle further comprises a second slot and the vehicle entertainment unit further comprises a second locking mechanism,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the second locking mechanism is inserted into the second slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein, upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, a second space aligned with the second locking mechanism is disposed between a second side of the cradle and a second side of the vehicle entertainment unit,

wherein the second space is shaped and dimensioned to receive the removal tool that contacts the second locking mechanism through the second space to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot.

9. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the first and second spaces are exposed on a front side of the vehicle entertainment unit and the cradle.

10. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 5,

wherein the cradle further comprises a second slot and the vehicle entertainment unit further comprises a second locking mechanism,

wherein each of the first and second slots comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width,

wherein the first and second locking mechanisms each comprise a protruding member that is inserted into the first portion of the corresponding slot upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle and that is inserted into the second portion of the corresponding slot upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle.

11. A method of mounting a vehicle entertainment unit in a cradle, comprising:

placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein the cradle is disposed in a headrest of a vehicle, and the cradle comprises a first slot disposed near a first side of the cradle and a second slot disposed near a second side of the cradle, wherein the first and second sides of the cradle oppose each other,

wherein the vehicle entertainment unit comprises a display, a first locking mechanism disposed near a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit, and a second locking mechanism disposed near a second side of the vehicle entertainment unit, wherein the first and second sides of the vehicle entertainment unit oppose each other,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the first side of the cradle, the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the second side of the cradle, the first locking mechanism is inserted into the first slot, and the second locking mechanism is inserted into the second slot; and

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a first direction within the cradle to fixedly lock the first locking mechanism within the first slot and the second locking mechanism within the second slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein each of the first and second slots comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first locking mechanism is inserted into the first portion of the first slot, and the second locking mechanism is inserted into the first portion of the second slot,

wherein, upon sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in the first direction within the cradle, the first locking mechanism is moved from the first portion of the first slot into the second portion of the first slot and the second locking mechanism is moved from the first portion of the second slot into the second portion of the second slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inserting a removal tool into a first space aligned with the first locking mechanism and disposed between the first side of the cradle and the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit to move the first locking mechanism from the second portion of the first slot to the first portion of the first slot to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot;

inserting the removal tool into a second space aligned with the second locking mechanism and disposed between the second side of the cradle and the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit to move the second locking mechanism from the second portion of the second slot to the first portion of the second slot to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot; and

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction to remove the vehicle entertainment unit from the cradle upon disengaging the first locking mechanism from the first slot and the second locking mechanism from the second slot.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inserting a first removal tool into a first space aligned with the first locking mechanism and disposed between the first side of the cradle and the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit to move the first locking mechanism from the second portion of the first slot to the first portion of the first slot to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot;

inserting a second removal tool into a second space aligned with the second locking mechanism and disposed between the second side of the cradle and the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit to move the second locking mechanism from the second portion of the second slot to the first portion of the second slot to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot,

wherein the first and second removal tools are inserted into the first and second spaces to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms from the first and second slots at substantially a same time; and

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction to remove the vehicle entertainment unit from the cradle upon disengaging the first locking mechanism from the first slot and the second locking mechanism from the second slot.

14. A method of mounting a vehicle entertainment unit in a cradle, comprising:

placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein the cradle is disposed in a headrest of a vehicle, and the cradle comprises a first slot disposed near a first side of the cradle and a second slot disposed near a second side of the cradle, wherein the first and second sides of the cradle oppose each other,

wherein the vehicle entertainment unit comprises a display, a first locking mechanism disposed near a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit, and a second locking mechanism disposed near a second side of the vehicle entertainment unit, wherein the first and second sides of the vehicle entertainment unit oppose each other,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the first side of the cradle, the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the second side of the cradle, the first locking mechanism is inserted into the first slot, and the second locking mechanism is inserted into the second slot;

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a first direction within the cradle to fixedly lock the first locking mechanism within the first slot and the second locking mechanism within the second slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle;

inserting a removal tool into a first space aligned with the first locking mechanism and disposed between the first side of the cradle and the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot;

inserting the removal tool into a second space aligned with the second locking mechanism and disposed between the second side of the cradle and the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot; and

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction to remove the vehicle entertainment unit from the cradle upon disengaging the first locking mechanism from the first slot and the second locking mechanism from the second slot.

15. A method of mounting a vehicle entertainment unit in a cradle, comprising:

placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle,

wherein the cradle is disposed in a headrest of a vehicle, and the cradle comprises a first slot disposed near a first side of the cradle and a second slot disposed near a second side of the cradle, wherein the first and second sides of the cradle oppose each other,

wherein the vehicle entertainment unit comprises a display, a first locking mechanism disposed near a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit, and a second locking mechanism disposed near a second side of the vehicle entertainment unit, wherein the first and second sides of the vehicle entertainment unit oppose each other,

wherein, upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the first side of the cradle, the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit is adjacent to the second side of the cradle, the first locking mechanism is inserted into the first slot, and the second locking mechanism is inserted into the second slot;

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a first direction within the cradle to fixedly lock the first locking mechanism within the first slot and the second locking mechanism within the second slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle;

inserting a first removal tool into a first space aligned with the first locking mechanism and disposed between the first side of the cradle and the first side of the vehicle entertainment unit to disengage the first locking mechanism from the first slot;

inserting a second removal tool into a second space aligned with the second locking mechanism and disposed between the second side of the cradle and the second side of the vehicle entertainment unit to disengage the second locking mechanism from the second slot,

wherein the first and second removal tools are inserted into the first and second spaces to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms from the first and second slots at substantially a same time; and

sliding the vehicle entertainment unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction to remove the vehicle entertainment unit from the cradle upon disengaging the first locking mechanism from the first slot and the second locking mechanism from the second slot.