Flat-panel display assembly mountable in a vehicle

• US 6,199,810 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Video Taiwan Company Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Video Taiwan Company Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Maruta, Keiji, Wu, Sheng Hsien
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORRISON, NASCHICA SANDERS
• Application Number:
  US09/170,592
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 248/291.1, 248/919, 248/292.13, 248/917, 248/922, 248/923, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 162/70
• US Class Current: 248/291.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• 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 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting

Abstract

A display assembly consists of a display and a mount for positioning the display in a vehicle including front and back seats and a top panel. The mount includes a first shell attached to the ceiling of the vehicle and a second shell connected with the flat panel display. The first and second shells are hinged, thus allowing the second shell to move between a first position where the display is in the first shell and a second position where the screen of the display can be watched by any passenger on a back seat.

Claims

1. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatable connected with the second shell, and a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and another position for releasing the edge, said retaining device further including a device for moving the catch between the catching and releasing positions wherein the catch-moving device is a button connected with the catch and attached to the first shell so that the button moves the catch while sliding on the first shell and wherein the first shell includes an aperture therein for receiving the button, said catch-moving device including at least one snap projecting from the button for engagement with the edge of the aperture thus avoiding disengagement of the button from the first shell.

2. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatable connected with the second shell, and a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and another position for releasing the edge, said retaining device further including a device for moving the catch between the catching and releasing positions wherein the catch-moving device is a button connected with the catch and attached to the first shell so that the button moves the catch while sliding on the first shell and wherein the first shell includes an aperture therein for receiving the button, said catch-moving device including a wall formed on the first shell near the aperture and at least one elastic element compressed between the button and the plate.

3. The display assembly according to claim 2 wherein the at least one elastic element is a spring.

4. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatably connected with the second shell, and a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and another position for releasing the edge, wherein the catch includes a slide and a hook projecting from the slide, and the slide can slide on the first shell between the catching position and the releasing position.

5. The display assembly according to claim 4 wherein the hook is engaged with the edge in the catching position and disengaged from the edge in the releasing position.

6. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatable connected with the second shell, and a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and another position for releasing the edge, said retaining device further including a device for moving the catch between the catching and releasing positions wherein the catch-moving device is a button connected with the catch and attached to the first shell so that the button moves the catch while sliding on the first shell and wherein the catch includes a protrusion from the edge and the button includes a protrusion-receiving aperture therein so that the protrusion is inserted in the protrusion-receiving aperture thus connecting the catch with the button.

7. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, and a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatably connected with the second shell and wherein the second portion of the hinge can be rotated relative to the first portion of the hinge by a sufficient torque and can be retained in position when no sufficient torque is exerted thereon.

8. The display assembly according to claim 7 wherein the first shell includes a top and a periphery projecting from the top, the periphery including an opening defined therein for allowing the movement of the second shell from the first position to the second position.

9. The display assembly according to claim 8 including a door connected with the periphery for closing the opening.

10. The display assembly according to claim 9 including a spring connected between the periphery and the door for biasing the door to close the opening.

11. The display assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first shell is attached to the vehicle, and the second shell is connected with the display, thus allowing the display to move between a first position in the first shell and a second position where a passenger sitting on a back seat of the vehicle can watch a screen of the display.

12. The display assembly according to claim 7, wherein the display is in the form of a flat panel display.

13. The display assembly of claim 7 wherein the first shell is secured to the ceiling of the vehicle and the second shell is pivoted from the second position to the first position in a forward direction.

14. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, and a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatable connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatably connected with the second shell and further including a retaining device for retaining the second portion of the hinge in a position corresponding to the second position of the second shell.

15. The display assembly according to claim 14 wherein the second retaining device includes a holder secured to the first shell and a rib formed on the second portion of the hinge and the holder an be engaged with the rib.

16. The display assembly according to claim 15 wherein the holder includes an arm secured to the first shell and a finger projecting from the arm and including a recess for receiving the rib.

17. The display assembly according to claim 15 wherein the holder includes two fingers between which the second portion of the hinge is located.

18. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatably connected with the second shell, a device for retaining the second shell in the first position, and a device for pushing the second shell from the first position when the first shell is released from the retaining device wherein the pushing device includes at least one elastic element which is a spring-biased block compressed between the first and second shells in the first position of the second shell.

19. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle, the display assembly comprising a display, a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle, a hinge connected between the first and second shells wherein the hinge includes a first portion rotatably connected with the first shell and a second portion rotatably connected with the second shell, a device for retaining the second shell in the first position, and a device for pushing the second shell from the first position when the first shell is released from the retaining device wherein the pushing device includes at least one elastic element which includes a spring attached to the first shell and a block attached to the spring and the block is in contact with the second shell in the second position.

20. The display assembly according to claim 19 wherein the elastic element includes a stem projecting from the first shell through the spring and a stem-receiving aperture in the block thus ensuring smooth movement of the block.

21. The display assembly according to claim 20 wherein the elastic element includes a device for retraining the block on the stem.

22. The display assembly according to claim 21 wherein the block-retaining device includes an annular groove defined in the stem and a C-ring received in the annular groove for stopping the block.

23. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle having an interior including a back seat, the display assembly comprising a display having a screen;

a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle wherein the first shell is attached to the vehicle and the second shell is connected with the display thus allowing the display to be movable between a first position in the first shell and a second position where a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle can watch the screen of the display; and

a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position and wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and a position for releasing the edge, said retaining device further including a device for moving the catch between the catching and releasing positions which comprises a button connected with the catch and attached to the first shell so that said button moves the catch while sliding on the first shell, said first shell further including an aperture for receiving the button and said catch-moving device includes at least one snap projecting from the button for engagement with the edge of the aperture thus avoiding disengagement of the button from the first shell.

24. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle having an interior including a back seat, the display assembly comprising a display having a screen;

a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle wherein the first shell is attached to the vehicle and the second shell is connected with the display thus allowing the display to be movable between a first position in the first shell and a second position where a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle can watch the screen of the display; and

a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position and wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and a position for releasing the edge, said retaining device further including a device for moving the catch between the catching and releasing positions which comprises a button connected with the catch and attached to the first shell so that said button moves the catch while sliding on the first shell, said first shell further including an aperture for receiving the button, and said catch-moving device further including a wall formed on the first shell near the aperture and at least one elastic element compressed between the button and the wall.

25. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle having an interior including a back seat, the display assembly comprising a display having a screen;

a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle wherein the first shell is attached to the vehicle and the second shell is connected with the display thus allowing the display to be movable between a first position in the first shell and a second position where a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle can watch the screen of the display; and

a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position and wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and a position for releasing the edge, and wherein the catch includes a slide and a hook projecting from the slide so that the slide can slide on the first shell between the catching position and the releasing position.

26. A display assembly mountable in a vehicle having an interior including a back seat, the display assembly comprising a display having a screen;

a mount including first and second shells for securing the display to the interior of the vehicle wherein the first shell is attached to the vehicle and the second shell is connected with the display thus allowing the display to be movable between a first position in the first shell and a second position where a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle can watch the screen of the display; and

a device for retaining the second shell in the first position wherein the retaining device includes a catch attached to the first shell and an edge formed on the second shell and the catch can be engaged with the edge in the first position and wherein the catch can be moved between a position for catching the edge and a position for releasing the edge, said retaining device further including a device for moving the catch between the catching and releasing positions which comprises a button connected with the catch and attached to the first shell so that said button moves the catch while sliding on the first shell, and wherein the catch includes a protrusion from the edge and the button includes a protrusion-receiving aperture therein so that the protrusion is inserted in the protrusion-receiving aperture thus connecting the catch with the button.