Automotive-ceiling-mounted monitor

• US 6,292,236 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VOXX Electronics Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rosen Products LLC
• Inventors: Rosen, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/409,307
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 312/7.2, 312/236, 312/298, 348/836, 348/837, 295/37.8, 361/681, 361/726, 345/905, 455/395, 224/311, 248/923
• US Class Current: 348/837
• 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 2011/0087 around two axes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0282 for the use of several passengers, e.g. simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• 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 9/30 using solid-state colour display devices

Abstract

A ceiling-mounted automotive display unit mounted in the ceiling of an automobile above the front passenger seat. The unit includes a screen with a viewing surface, the screen being mounted for movement between a stowed position wherein the screen is generally parallel to the plane of the ceiling and facing downward to reveal the viewing surface to a reclined front seat passenger, and a deployed position wherein the screen projects downward from the ceiling and faces rearward to reveal the viewing surface to a rear seat passenger.

Claims

1. In an automobile having a ceiling and front and rear passenger seats an overhead display unit comprising:

a ceiling mount mounted above the front passenger seat of the automobile, the ceiling mount defining a housing with a cavity having a shape and size;

` and

a screen with a viewing surface, the screen being mounted on the ceiling mount for pivotal movement between a stowed position wherein the screen fits within the cavity and the viewing surface faces downwardly from the ceiling for viewing by a reclined front seat passenger with the viewing surface defining a plane generally parallel to the ceiling, and a deployed position wherein the viewing surface faces rearwardly for viewing by a rear seat passenger; and

wherein the housing includes a surface cover configured to selectively cover the viewing surface of the screen when the screen is in the stowed position.

2. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the display unit further comprises a video control module mounted separately from the screen and supported by the ceiling mount, the control module being operatively connected to the screen to direct operation of the screen.

3. The display unit of claim 2, wherein the control module is mounted on the housing in a laterally spaced relationship to the screen.

4. An overhead automotive display system comprising:

a front passenger seat with a reclinable seat back;

an automobile ceiling with a recess formed therein, the recess being located over the seat back of the front passenger seat; and

a viewing screen operatively mounted on the ceiling for receipt within the recess, the viewing screen having a viewing surface which faces downwardly toward the front passenger seat such that the viewing surface is viewable by a front seat passenger seated in the front passenger seat with the seat back reclined;

wherein the screen is operatively pivotally mounted to the ceiling, the screen being pivotal about a first axis between a stowed position wherein the viewing surface faces downwardly from the ceiling for viewing by a reclined front seat passenger, and a deployed position wherein the viewing surface faces rearwardly for viewing by both a reclined front seat passenger and a rear seat passenger; and

wherein the housing includes a flexible viewing surface cover configured for selected deployment from a rolled orientation to an extended orientation wherein the viewing surface cover covers the viewing surface of the screen.

5. In an automobile having a generally planar ceiling, a front passenger seat with a reclinable seat back and a back passenger seat, a ceiling-mounted display unit comprising:

a generally planar mounting frame structure joined with the ceiling in a location centered over the front passenger seat, the mounting frame structure being joined generally co-planarly with the ceiling;

and a generally planar screen structure having a thickness of less than 1.5 inches, the screen structure including a viewing surface, and being pivotally mounted on the mounting frame structure for reversibly swaying about a first axis between a stowed position wherein the screen structure lies in a plane generally paralleling the plane of the mounting frame structure such that the viewing surface is viewable by a passenger seated in the front passenger seat with the seat back reclined, and a deployed position wherein the screen structure occupies a more upright plane which lies at an angle relative to the plane of the mounting frame structure such that the viewing surface is viewable by a passenger scated in the rear passenger seat; and

wherein the mounting frame structure defines a housing with a cavity having a shape and size, and wherein the screen is sized to fit within the cavity when the screen is in the stowed position; and

wherein the housing includes a viewing surface cover configured for selected extension over the cavity to cover the viewing surface of the screen.