Display Unit

• US 20040212746A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX Electronics Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rosen Entertainment Systems LP
• Inventors: Rosen, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/837
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0087 around two axes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• 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 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/30 using solid-state colour display devices

Abstract

A display unit is provided, the display unit including a housing configured for mounting in an interior region of a vehicle, and a screen mounted on the housing for movement between a stowed position wherein the screen is at least partially contained within the housing and a deployed position wherein the screen projects from the housing to reveal a viewing surface of the screen. The display unit further includes a lock mechanism adapted to selectively retain the screen in the stowed position. Upon release of the lock mechanism, however, the screen is free to be pivoted away from the stowed position, and in one embodiment, is automatically pivoted at least partially away from the stowed position.

Claims

1. In an automobile having a passenger seating area and a generally planar ceiling, an above-seat-level, ceiling-mounted display unit comprising:

a generally planar mounting frame structure joined with the ceiling in a location overhead and generally forward of the passenger seating area in the automobile, the mounting frame structure being joined generally co-planarly with the ceiling and having a proximal portion closer to the passenger seating area and distal portion more remote from the passenger seating area;

a generally planar screen structure hinged to the mounting frame structure adjacent the distal portion thereof for reversibly swaying in an upright plane, extending both through the mounting frame structure and the passenger seating area, between a stowed position wherein the screen structure lies in a plane generally paralleling the plane of the mounting frame structure and a deployed position wherein the screen structure occupies a generally upright plane which lies at an angle relative to the plane of the mounting-frame structure with a disposition overhead-viewable by any passenger seated in the passenger seating area; and

wherein the display unit has a thickness of less than 1.5 inches.

2. An overhead automotive display unit, the display unit comprising:

an automotive-ceiling-mounted housing defining a cavity of a shape and size; and

a screen sized to fit at least partially within the cavity, the screen having a viewing surface and being mounted on the housing for pivotal movement about a first axis extending generally parallel to an edge of the screen between a stowed position wherein the screen is at least partially contained within the cavity of the housing, and a deployed position wherein the screen pivotally projects from the cavity of the housing to present the viewing surface to an automobile occupant, wherein the display unit has a thickness of less than 1.5 inches.

3. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the screen is rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis.

4. The display unit of claim 3, wherein the first axis extends along the edge.

5. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the screen is sized to be of the size and shape of the cavity.

6. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the display unit has a thickness of between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately 1.5 inches.

7. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the vehicle includes a ceiling and the display unit is mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle.

8. The display unit of claim 7, wherein the display unit is embedded in the ceiling of the vehicle.

9. The display unit of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a perimeter structure with a flange configured for placement against the ceiling to define a cavity opening, the screen being mounted on the housing such that the viewing surface lies generally flush with the flange when the screen is in the stowed position.

10. The display unit of claim 7, wherein the viewing surface defines a plane generally parallel to the ceiling when the screen is in the stowed position.

11. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the display unit further comprises a control module mounted separately from the screen, the control module being operatively connected to the screen to direct operation of the screen.

12. The display unit of claim 11, wherein the control module is mounted within the housing.

13. The display unit of claim 11, wherein the control module is mounted on the housing in a laterally spaced relationship to the screen.

14. The display unit of claim 13, wherein the control module and the screen extend in the same plane when the screen is in the stowed position.

15. The automotive display unit of claim 2, wherein the screen includes a hinge pivotally coupling the screen with the housing, the screen being pivotal about the hinge between the stowed position and the deployed position under a first torque to provide for deployment of the screen, and being pivotal between the deployed position and a break-away position under a higher second torque to provide for emergency collapse of the screen.

16. The display unit of claim 15, wherein the screen is adapted to pivot forwardly in the vehicle from the stowed position to the deployed position, and further adapted to pivot forwardly in the vehicle from the deployed position to the break-away position.

17. The display unit of claim 15, wherein the deployed position is generally between the stowed and the break-away positions.

18. The display unit of claim 15, wherein the vehicle includes a ceiling and the viewing surface defines a plane extending generally parallel to the ceiling when the screen is in the stowed position.

19. The display unit of claim 15, wherein the vehicle includes a ceiling and the viewing surface defines a plane extending generally parallel to the ceiling when the screen is in the breakaway position.

20. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the screen is completely received within the cavity when the screen is in the stowed position.

21. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the viewing surface is oriented to face the cavity when the screen is in the stowed position.

22. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the viewing surface is oriented to face out of the cavity when the screen is in the stowed position.

23. The display unit of claim 2, further comprising a hinge pivotally coupling the screen to the housing, wherein the hinge includes a stop that retains the screen in the deployed position until urged away from the deployed position.

24. The display unit of claim 2, further includes a locking mechanism adapted to retain the screen in the stowed position.

25. The display unit of claim 24, wherein release of the lock mechanism frees the screen to pivot away from the stowed position, and further wherein the screen is adapted to automatically pivot at least partially away from the stowed position when the lock mechanism is released.

26. The display unit of claim 24, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a catch on the housing positioned to selectively engage a detent in the screen to maintain the screen in the stowed position.

27. The display unit of claim 26, wherein the screen further includes an edge extending generally transverse to the viewing surface, and the catch is on the edge.

28. The display unit of claim 26, wherein the screen further includes an edge extending generally transverse to the viewing surface, and the detent extends inwardly into the screen from the edge.