Media player system for a vehicle

• US 6,278,676 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yanfeng Luxembourg Automotive Interior Systems Leasing S.a.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Prince Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Bellora, Val A., Anderson, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASTRO, ANGEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/222,261
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 369/75.1, 360/98.07, 360/99.08, 360/137, 248/689, 248/690, 248/346.03, 248/346.05, 248/354.5, 248/503, 296/153, 296/72, 296/37.8, 361/679, 361/725-728, 361/732, 220/545, 220/285, 297/188, 297/18, 297/19, 297/411.21
• US Class Current: 720/654
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis

Abstract

A media player system for a vehicle is disclosed which includes a base fixed to the vehicle and a media player releasably attached to the base for removal of the media player for use separate from the vehicle. The media player includes one or more striker pins and a terminal. A connector is provided on the mounting base for mating with the terminal to establish a power connection and connection for video and audio signals from the player. The mounting base further includes raised stanchions providing guide slots having an open end for reception of the striker pins of the media player to guide the player to a latched position and facilitate mating of the media player terminal with the connector in the mounting base. One or more latch members are provided to close the open ends of the guide slots and entrap the striker pins therein to retain the player on the base. A release handle is provided and is actuatable in a single motion to move the latch members to release positions withdrawn from the guide slots to release the striker pins and thereby release the player from the base.

Claims

1. A mounting system for releasably mounting a media player in a vehicle, the media player having an attachment device and a terminal, said mounting system comprising:

a base adapted to be located within the vehicle;

a connector on said base complementary to the terminal of the media player for establishing a connection when mated with the terminal;

a coupling device mounted to said base for engagement with the attachment device of the media player to releasably mount the media player to said base;

a guide for aligning the media player with said base to facilitate mating of the terminal with said connector as the media player is moved to a latched position wherein said attachment device comprises a recess in said case and a striker pin fixed to said case and extending across said recess and wherein said coupling device includes a latch member engagable with said striker pin; and

wherein said guide includes a raised stanchion having a guide slot with an open end to receive said striker pin of said media player and said latch member is movable to a latch position closing said open end of said guide slot to trap said striker pin within said guide slot whereby said player is retained to said base.

2. The mounting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide defines a direction of movement of the media player to said latched position in which said coupling device engages with the attachment device of the media player to mount the media player to said base and said connector mates with the terminal both upon the single action of moving the media player to said latched position.

3. The mounting system as defined in claim 2 wherein said coupling device includes a release handle actuatable with a single motion to release said coupling device whereby the media player is removable from said base.

4. The mounting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said base has an upstanding wall forming a recess for receiving the media player.

5. The mounting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said base forms a housing having a compartment with an open end to receive the media player and a cover for closing said open end of said compartment to conceal the media player.

6. A media player system for a vehicle comprising:

a media player having a case, an attachment device fixed to said case and a terminal fixed to said case;

a base adapted to be fixed in the vehicle;

a connector on said base complementary to said terminal for establishing a connection when mated with said terminal;

a coupling device mounted to said base for engagement with said attachment device to releasably mount said media player to said base; and

a guide for aligning said media player with said base to facilitate engagement of said attachment device of the media player with said coupling device and to facilitate mating of said terminal with said connector as said media player is moved to a latched position upon said base, wherein said guide includes a raised stanchion having a guide slot with an open end to receive said striker pin of said media player and said latch member is movable to a latch position closing said open end of said guide slot to trap said striker pin within said guide slot whereby said media player is retained to said base.

7. The media player system as defined in claim 6 wherein said guide defines a direction of movement of said media player to said latched position in which said coupling device engages with said attachment device of said media player to mount said media player to said base and said connector mates with said terminal both upon the single action of moving said media player to said latched position.

8. The media player as defined in claim 7 wherein said coupling device includes a release handle actuatable with a single motion to release to said coupling device whereby said media player is removable from said base.

9. The media player as defined in claim 6 wherein said base has an upstanding wall forming a recess for receiving said media player.

10. The media player as defined in claim 6 wherein said base forms a housing having a compartment with an open end to receive said media player and a cover for closing said open end of said compartment to conceal said media player.

11. The media player as defined in claim 6 wherein said guide includes a raised stanchion engagable with said media player to guide said media player to said latched position.

12. The media player as defined in claim 6 and wherein said attachment device comprises a recess in said case and a striker pin fixed to said case and extending across said recess and wherein said coupling device includes a latch member engagable with said striker pin.

13. A media player system for a vehicle comprising:

a media player having a case, an attachment device fixed to said case and a terminal fixed to said case;

a base adapted to be fixed in the vehicle;

a connector on said base complementary to said terminal for establishing a connection when mated with said terminal;

a coupling device mounted to said base for engagement with said attachment device to releasably mount said media player to said base;

a guide for aligning said media player with said base to facilitate engagement of said attachment device of the media player with said coupling device and to facilitate mating of said terminal with said connector as said media player is moved to a latched position upon said base;

said attachment device comprises a pair of recesses in said case and a pair of striker pins fixed to said case with one of said striker pins extending across each of said recesses;

said guide includes a pair of raised stanchions each having a guide slot with an open end to receive said striker pins thereto to guide the motion of said player to said latched position; and

said coupling device includes at least two latch members, each said latch member being moveable to a latch position closing said open end of said guide slots to trap said striker pins within said guide slots whereby said media player is retained to said base.

14. The media player system as defined in claim 13 wherein said stanchions form raised housings having an upper wall and a pair of end walls, said upper wall and said end walls of each stanchion having an opening therein to form said guide slots.

15. The media player system as defined in claim 13 wherein said stanchions are projecting flanges having a slot formed therein.

16. The media player system as defined in claim 13 further comprising at least two latch members closing the open end of each of said guide slots to entrap said striker pins therein.

17. The media player system as defined in claim 16 wherein one of said latch members entrapping each of said striker pins engages said striker pins to prevent rattling of said media player.

18. The media player system as defined in claim 17 wherein one of said guide slots has a contoured closed end to position one of said striker pins.

19. The media player system as defined in claim 18 wherein said contoured closed end is V-shaped.

20. The media player system as defined in claim 14 wherein said coupling device includes a slide plate movably mounted to said base and operatively associated with said latch members to move said latch members to release positions clear of said guide slots to free said striker pins and release said media player.

21. The media player system as defined in claim 19 wherein said latch member is integrally formed with said slide plate.

22. The media player system as defined in claim 13 wherein said coupling device includes a release handle carried by said base and operably coupled to said latch members and actuatable with a single motion to release said coupling device whereby said media player is removable from said base.

23. The media player system as defined in claim 13 wherein one of said at least two latch members has an engagement surface which is inclined to engage said striker pin when in said latch position and another of said at least two latch members has an engagement surface which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said guide slot in said latch position.

24. A media player system for a vehicle comprising;

a console adapted to be fixed within the vehicle, said console having a compartment with an open end;

a media player having a case, an attachment device fixed to said case and a terminal fixed to said case, said case being sized to be at least partially received in said compartment;

a connector in said compartment complementary to said terminal for establishing a connection when mated with said terminal;

a coupling device mounted to said console in said compartment for engagement with said attachment device to releasably mount said media player to said console; and

a guide in said compartment for aligning said media player with said console to facilitate engagement of said attachment device of the media player with said coupling device and to facilitate mating of said terminal with said connector as said media player is moved to a latched position;

wherein said guide includes a raised stanchion having a guide slot with an open end to receive said striker pin of said media player and said latch member is movable to a latch position closing said open end of said guide slot to trap said striker pin within said guide slot whereby said media player is retained to said console.

25. The media player system as defined in claim 24 wherein said guide defines a direction of movement of said player to said latched position at least partially in said compartment in which said coupling device engages with said attachment device of said media player to mount said media player to said console and said connector mates with said terminal both upon the single action of said media player to said latched position.

26. The media player system as defined in claim 25 wherein said coupling device includes a release handle carried by said console and actuatable with a single motion to release said coupling device whereby said media player is removable from said console.

27. The media player system as defined in claim 24 wherein said compartment is sized to entirely receive said entire media player and said console further includes a cover for closing said compartment to conceal said media player therein.

28. The media player system as defined in claim 24 wherein said guide includes a raised stanchion engagable with said media player to guide said player.

29. The media player system as defined in claim 24 wherein said attachment device comprises a recess in said case and a striker pin fixed to said case and extending across said recess and wherein said coupling device includes a latch member engagable with said striker pin.

30. A media player system for a vehicle comprising;

a console adapted to be fixed in the vehicle, said console having a compartment with an open end;

a media player having a case, an attachment device fixed to said case and a terminal fixed to said case, said case being sized to be at least partially received in said compartment;

a connector in said compartment complementary to said terminal for establishing a connection when mated with said terminal;

a coupling device mounted to said console in said compartment for engagement with said attachment device to releasably mount said media player to said console;

a guide in said compartment for aligning said media player with said console to facilitate engagement of said attachment device of the media player with said coupling device and to facilitate mating of said terminal with said connector as said media player is moved to a latched position; and

said attachment device comprises a pair of recesses in said case and a pair of striker pins fixed to said case with one of said striker pins extending across each of said recesses;

said guide includes a pair of raised stanchions each having a guide slot with an open end to receive said striker pins therein to guide the motion of said media player to said latched position; and

said coupling device includes at least two latch members, each said latch member being movable to a latch position closing said open end of said guide slots to trap said striker pins within said guide slots whereby said media player is retained to said console.

31. The media player system as defined in claim 30 wherein said coupling device includes a release handle carried by said console and operably coupled to said latch members and actuatable with single motion to release said coupling device whereby said media player is removable from said console.

32. The media player system as defined in claim 31 wherein said release handle is located adjacent said open end of said compartment.

33. The media player system as defined in claim 30 wherein one of said at least two latch members has an engagement surface which is inclined to engage said striker pin when in said latch position and another of said at least two latch members has an engagement surface which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said guide slot in said latch position.

34. A media player system for a vehicle comprising:

a base adapted to be fixed in the vehicle;

a media player having a case with at least one wall, first and second recess in said one wall, first and second striker pins mounted to said case and extending across said first and second recesses respectively, and a terminal fixed to said at least one wall;

a connector on said base complementary to said terminal for establishing a connection when mated with said terminal;

first and second raised stanchions mounted to said base, said first raised stanchion including a first guide slot and second raised stanchion including a second guide slot, each of said first and second guide slots having an open end for reception of said first and second striker pins therein, respectively, to align said case with said base and to facilitate mating of said terminal with said connector as said media player is moved in a single direction onto said base to a latched position in which said first and second stanchions are received in said first and second recesses of said case respectively;

first and second primary latch members movable to latch positions closing said open ends of said first and second guide slots to entrap said first and second striker pins therein to retain said media player on said base; and

a release handle operatively associated with said first and second primary latch members and actuatable in a single motion to move said first and second primary latch members to release positions withdrawn from said guide slots to release said striker pins from said slots and thereby release said media player from said base.

35. The media player system as defined in claim 34 further comprising first and second secondary latch members movable to latch positions closing said open ends of said first and second guide slots to entrap said first and second striker pins therein to retain said media player on said base, said secondary latch members having an engagement surface which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said guide slots when said secondary latch members are in said latch position and wherein said first and second primary latch members engage said striker pins to resist rattling of said case when retained on said base.

36. The media player system as defined in claim 34 further comprising at least one slide plate coupling said release handle with said first and second primary latch members, said slide plate being movable to move said first and second primary latch members to said release positions.

37. The media player system as defined in claim 36 wherein said first and second primary latch members are integrally formed with said at least one slide plate.

38. The media player system as defined in claim 36 further comprising a counter weight to resist movement of said at least one slide plate by inertia forces acting on said at least one slide plate during a vehicle collision.

39. The media player system as defined in claim 34 wherein said first and second primary latch members are rotatably mounted to said base for rotation about a pivot axis between latch and release positions.

40. The media player system as defined in claim 39 wherein said first and second primary latch members each have a center of gravity approximately at said pivot axis to resist rotation of said first and second primary latch members by inertia forces acting on said first and second primary latch members during a vehicle collision.

41. The media player system as defined in claim 34 wherein said base is a console having a compartment with an open end for at least partially receiving said player therein.

42. The media player system as defined in claim 41 further comprising a cover for closing said open end of said compartment to conceal said media player therein.

43. The media player system as defined in claim 41 further comprising a movable door within said compartment to cover said connector.