HEADREST-MOUNTED ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20080252118A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chung Lung Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Chung Lung
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a mobile entertainment system includes a housing configured to be attached to the mounting plate of a headrest. The housing can include a base wall and a plurality of sidewalls configured to define a cavity within the headrest when the housing is coupled to the headrest. The housing can further include a first hinge element. In some embodiments, the system includes a screen structure that includes a metal frame. The screen structure can further include a second hinge element secured to the metal frame and coupled with the first hinge element so as to be able to pivotally attach the screen structure to the headrest. The screen structure can be configured to rotate relative to the housing independent of movement of the headrest. In some embodiments, the system further includes a headrest, which can include a mounting plate. The mounting plate can be coupled with at least one post. In some embodiments, the at least one post is configured to be slideably received within a seatback of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile entertainment system comprising:

a headrest configured to be installed in a vehicle such that a front surface thereof substantially faces a direction of forward travel of the vehicle and a back surface thereof substantially faces a direction of rearward travel of the vehicle;

a housing mounted to the headrest, the housing including a base wall recessed relative to the back surface of the headrest, the housing further including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall that cooperate with the base wall to define a cavity within the headrest, the housing including a first hinge portion;

a screen assembly including a metallic frame, the screen assembly further including a second hinge portion secured to the metallic frame so as to distribute impulsive forces thereto in the event of a collision of the vehicle, the second hinge portion cooperating with the first hinge portion of the housing to permit the screen assembly to rotate between a stowed orientation in which at least a portion of the screen structure is received within the cavity defined by the housing and a deployed orientation in which the screen assembly is angled with respect to the base wall of the housing.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the screen assembly is configured to rotate independent of movement of the headrest.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the second hinge portion is metallic.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second hinge portions are coupled via a metallic fastener.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second hinge portion is capable of rotating relative to the metallic frame.

6. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the second hinge portion comprises a first metallic piece pivotally attached to a second metallic piece.

7. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the screen assembly is received within the cavity defined by the housing when the screen assembly is in the stowed orientation.

8. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the screen assembly includes a viewing screen, the screen assembly being configured to rotate about an axis substantially within or substantially parallel to a plane defined by the viewing screen.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the axis is above the viewing screen.

10. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the axis is below the viewing screen.

11. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein a lower edge of the screen assembly is outside of the cavity when the screen assembly is in the deployed orientation.

12. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the screen assembly is outside of the cavity when the screen assembly is in the deployed orientation

13. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a third hinge portion and the screen assembly further includes a fourth hinge portion coupled with the third hinge portion.

14. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein the first sidewall defines the first hinge portion and the second sidewall defines the third hinge portion.

15. The entertainment system of claim 13, wherein the fourth hinge portion is secured to the metallic frame so as to distribute impulsive forces thereto in the event of a collision of the vehicle.

16. A mobile entertainment system comprising:

a headrest comprising a mounting plate coupled with at least one post, the at least one post configured to be slideably received within a seatback of a vehicle;

a housing attached to the mounting plate, the housing including a base wall and a plurality of sidewalls defining a cavity within the headrest, the housing further including a first hinge element; and

a screen structure including a metal frame, the screen structure further including a second hinge element secured to the metal frame and coupled with the first hinge element so as to pivotally attach the screen structure to the headrest, wherein the screen structure is configured to rotate relative to the housing independent of movement of the headrest.

17. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the second hinge element is coupled with the metallic frame in substantially fixed engagement

18. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein the screen structure can rotate relative to the housing about an axis that is within or is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the viewing screen.

19. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein the mounting plate of the headrest is coupled with two posts.

20. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein the screen structure further includes a viewing screen mounted to the metallic frame.

21. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the screen assembly further includes a media reader mounted to the metallic frame, the media reader being between the metallic frame and the viewing screen.

22. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the screen assembly further includes a media reader mounted to the metallic frame.

23. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the second hinge element is self-tensioning.

24. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the first hinge element defines a channel and the second hinge element defines a metallic plate secured within the channel.

25. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein the second hinge element comprises a first portion pivotally coupled with a second portion, the first portion being mounted to the metallic frame.