VEHICLE MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20150210225A1
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Lavelle, Patrick M., TRANCHINA, JAMES R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,944,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/0241 for telephones
• 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 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• 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 21/41422 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A mounting system includes a cradle disposed in a headrest in a vehicle, and a primary adapter. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned to receive the primary adapter. The primary adapter includes first to fourth lips forming a recess in the primary adapter. The recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive a first computing device or a secondary adapter. The first computing device, or a bezel of the secondary adapter, is substantially flush with an outer surface of the headrest upon mounting the first computing device or the secondary adapter to the primary adapter.

Claims

1. A mounting system, comprising:

a cradle coupled to a seat in a vehicle, shaped and dimensioned to receive a primary adapter;

the primary adapter comprising a plurality of primary lips extending outward from an inner surface of the primary adapter and forming a primary recess in the primary adapter; and

a secondary adapter comprising a plurality of secondary lips extending outward from an inner surface of the secondary adapter and forming a secondary recess in the secondary adapter,

wherein the primary recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive one of a first computing device and the secondary adapter,

wherein the secondary recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive a second computing device having a smaller size than the first computing device,

wherein the cradle, the primary adapter, the secondary adapter, the first computing device, and the second computing device are separable from each other.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the secondary adapter does not comprise a through hole.

3. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the cradle is disposed in a headrest of the seat, and the first computing device or a bezel of the secondary adapter is substantially flush with an outer surface of the headrest upon mounting the first computing device or the secondary adapter to the primary adapter.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, further comprising:

a recess formed in the cradle, wherein the recess formed in the cradle is defined by a distance between a front surface of the cradle and a portion of the headrest furthest from the front surface of the cradle, and the recess formed in the primary adapter is disposed within the recess formed in the cradle upon mounting the primary adapter to the cradle.

5. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the second computing device is substantially flush with the bezel of the secondary adapter upon mounting the second computing device to the secondary adapter.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a notch disposed on at least one of the plurality of primary lips near the inner surface of the primary adapter, wherein the notch is shaped and dimensioned to receive one of a corresponding edge of the secondary adapter and a corresponding edge of the first computing device.

7. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the secondary recess is disposed within the primary recess upon mounting the secondary adapter to the primary adapter.

8. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the cradle is electrically coupled to at least one of a power source of the vehicle and an audio/video system of the vehicle.

9. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a tablet computer and the second computing device is a smartphone.

10. A mounting system, comprising:

a cradle coupled to a seat in a vehicle, shaped and dimensioned to receive one of a first primary adapter and a second primary adapter;

the first primary adapter comprising a plurality of first primary lips extending outward from an inner surface of the first primary adapter and forming a first primary recess in the first primary adapter; and

the second primary adapter comprising a plurality of second primary lips extending outward from an inner surface of the second primary adapter and forming a second primary recess in the second primary adapter,

wherein the first primary recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive a first computing device having a first size, and the second primary recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive a second computing device having a second size different from the first size,

wherein the cradle, the first primary adapter, the second primary adapter, the first computing device, and the second computing device are separable from each other.

11. The mounting system of claim 10, further comprising:

a secondary adapter comprising a plurality of secondary lips extending outward from an inner surface of the secondary adapter and forming a secondary recess in the secondary adapter,

wherein the first primary recess of the first primary adapter is shaped and dimensioned to receive one of the first computing device and the secondary adapter,

wherein the secondary recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive a third computing device having a third size smaller than the first size,

wherein the cradle, the first primary adapter, the second primary adapter, the secondary adapter, the first computing device, the second computing device, and the third computing device are separable from each other.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, wherein the inner surface of the secondary adapter does not comprise a through hole.

13. A mounting system, comprising:

a cradle disposed in a headrest in a vehicle and having a primary adapter shaped and dimensioned to receive a tablet computer, wherein

a bezel of the primary adapter is substantially flush with an outer surface of the headrest,

upon mounting the tablet computer to the primary adapter, a front surface of the tablet computer is substantially flush with the bezel of the primary adapter,

the primary adapter comprises a plurality of lips extending outward from an inner surface of the primary adapter and forming a primary recess in the primary adapter, and a notch disposed on at least one of the plurality of lips, and

the tablet computer is secured to the primary adapter via insertion into the notch through a front portion of the primary adapter.

14. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein

the cradle is shaped and dimensioned to receive the tablet computer or a secondary adapter shaped and dimensioned to receive a smartphone.

15. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein

upon mounting the secondary adapter to the primary adapter, a bezel of the secondary adapter is substantially flush with the bezel of the primary adapter, and

upon mounting the smartphone to the secondary adapter, a front surface of the smartphone is substantially flush with the bezel of the secondary adapter.

16. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the secondary adapter does not comprise a through hole.

17. The mounting system of claim 14, wherein the cradle, the secondary adapter, the tablet computer, and the smartphone are separable from each other.