Entertainment system for use in a vehicle

• US 20060128303A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Schedivy, George C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position

Abstract

An entertainment system for a vehicle comprises a console section mounted on a surface in the vehicle, a media source layer including a media source mounted on the console section, and a screen section mounted on the media source layer, wherein the screen section includes a display and is capable of being mounted on the console section when the media source layer is removed from the console section.

Claims

1. An entertainment system for a vehicle, comprising:

a console section mounted on a surface in the vehicle;

a media source layer including a media source mounted on the console section; and

a screen section mounted on the media source layer, wherein the screen section includes a display and is capable of being mounted on the console section when the media source layer is removed from the console section.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the surface is an overhead surface of the vehicle.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source includes at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a VCP, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver and tuner for playing media received via wireless techniques, an MPEG player, a portable personal computer, a digital video recorder, or a device for playing media supplied from a mass storage device.

4. The entertainment system of claim 3, wherein the wireless techniques include at least one of 802.11, Bluetooth, cellular transmission and satellite transmission.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the console section includes an electrical connector for mating with an electrical connector on the media source layer for electrically connecting the media source layer to the console section.

6. The entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the media source layer receives power from a power supply of the vehicle via the electrical connectors.

7. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source layer includes an electrical connector for mating with an electrical connector on the screen section for electrically connecting the media source layer to the screen section and the display.

8. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising an additional media source layer mounted on the media source layer between the media source layer and the screen section, whereby the screen section is mounted on the additional media source layer.

9. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source layer is capable of being mounted on the console section such that a front panel of the media source layer faces the same direction as a front, a side or a rear of the vehicle.

10. The entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a media source positioned remote from the media source layer and the console and screen sections and electrically connected to the display.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10, further comprising a selector for selecting whether a program from the media source of the media source layer or from the remote media source is supplied to the display.

12. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the remote media source is electrically connected to the display via a wiring harness.

13. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the remote media source is electrically connected to the display via wireless transmission and reception.

14. An entertainment system for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a display mounted to the housing;

a first media source positioned remote from the housing and electrically connected to the display; and

at least one cavity in the housing for receiving a media source layer, wherein the media source layer includes a second media source and is electrically connected to the display through the housing.

15. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the first and second media sources each include at least one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a VCP, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver and tuner for playing media received via wireless techniques, an MPEG player, a portable personal computer, a digital video recorder, or a device for playing media supplied from a mass storage device.

16. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the housing includes an electrical connector for mating with an electrical connector on the media source layer and for electrically connecting the media source layer to the display.

17. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the media source layer is secured in the housing with a hook member.

18. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the media source layer is secured in the housing with a latch mechanism.

19. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the media source layer is secured in the housing by press fitting a portion of media source layer into a portion of the housing.

20. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the media source layer is secured in the housing with Velcro.

21. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the media source layer is secured in the housing with snaps.

22. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the housing is mounted to a surface in the vehicle and the at least one cavity is positioned between the display and a part of the housing contacting the surface.

23. The entertainment system of claim 14, further comprising at least one other cavity in the housing for receiving another media source layer.

24. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the at least one other cavity is stacked on the at least one cavity.

25. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the at least one other cavity is positioned on a side of the at least one cavity.

26. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the at least one cavity is accessed from a front of the housing.

27. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the at least one cavity is accessed from a side of the housing.

28. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the at least one cavity is accessed from a back of the housing.

29. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the at least one cavity is accessed from both a front and a side of the housing.

30. An entertainment system for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing mounted to a surface in the vehicle;

a display mounted to the housing; and

at least one cavity in the housing for receiving a media source layer, wherein;

the media source layer includes a media source and is electrically connected to the display; and

the at least one cavity is positioned between the display and a part of the housing contacting the surface.