Vehicle display monitor system

• US 6,412,848 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VOXX Electronics Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rosen Products LLC
• Inventors: Kucera, Curtis C., Johnson, James W., Ceccanese, Anthony B., Napora, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/626,210
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 224/311, 224/548, 224/553, 224/929, 348/837, 340/436, 340/903, 340/937
• US Class Current: 296/37.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/771 on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/771 on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10

Abstract

A ceiling-mountable display monitor system for the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The display monitor system includes a display monitor coupled to a housing assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the housing assembly is selectively adjustable for mounting in different vehicles having different ceiling configurations. In another exemplary embodiment, an upper portion of the housing assembly is mountable above the vehicle headliner, while a lower portion of the housing assembly is mountable below the headliner. Optionally, the upper and lower portions of the housing assembly clamp onto the headliner. The upper and/or the lower portions may be adjustable for mounting in different vehicles.

Claims

1. A display monitor system for mounting to the ceilings of vehicles having different ceiling configurations, the system comprising:

a display monitor;

a base assembly coupled to the display monitor and configured to support the display monitor adjacent the vehicle ceiling; and

one or more mounts connected to the base assembly and adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling;

where at least one of the mounts is movably adjustable, relative to the base assembly, to accommodate different ceiling configurations; and

where the vertical length of the mount is adjustable.

2. A display monitor system for mounting to the ceilings of vehicles having different ceiling configurations, the system comprising:

a display monitor;

a base assembly coupled to the display monitor and configured to support the display monitor adjacent the vehicle ceiling; and

one or more mounts connected to the base assembly and adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling;

where at least one of the mounts is movably adjustable, relative to the base assembly, to accommodate different ceiling configurations; and

where the base assembly includes a plurality of connecting regions adapted to connect to the one or more mounts, and where the at least one mount is movably adjustable by disconnecting the at least one mount from one of the plural connecting regions and reconnecting the at least one mount to a different one of the plural connecting regions.

3. A display monitor system for mounting to the ceilings of vehicles having different ceiling configurations, the system comprising:

a display monitor;

a base assembly coupled to the display monitor and configured to support the display monitor adjacent the vehicle ceiling; and

one or more mounts connected to the base assembly and adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling;

where at least one of the mounts is movably adjustable, relative to the base assembly, to accommodate different ceiling configurations; and

where the one or more mounts are adapted to adhesively attach to the vehicle ceiling.

4. The system of claim 3, where the at least one mount is horizontally adjustable relative to the base assembly.

5. The system of claim 3, where the at least one mount includes a plurality of mounts, and where each of the plural mounts is movably adjustable independent of the other mounts.

6. The system of claim 3, where the at least one mount is selectively removable from the base assembly.

7. A display monitor system for mounting to the ceilings of vehicles having different ceiling configurations, the system comprising:

a display monitor;

a base assembly coupled to the display monitor and configured to support the display monitor adjacent the vehicle ceiling; and

one or more mounts connected to the base assembly and adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling;

where at least one of the mounts is movably adjustable, relative to the base assembly, to accommodate different ceiling configurations; and

where the vehicle includes a headliner extending beneath at least a portion of the vehicle ceiling, and where the base assembly includes an upper section positionable above the headliner.

8. The system of claim 7, where the base assembly includes a lower section positionable below the headliner.

9. The system of claim 8, where the upper section of the base assembly is configured to be at least partially supported by the headliner.

10. The system of claim 8, where the upper section and the lower section are configured to grip the headliner.

11. A display monitor system mountable to the ceiling of a vehicle, where the vehicle includes a headliner spaced beneath the ceiling, the system comprising:

a display monitor; and

a housing assembly mountable to the vehicle ceiling and coupled to the display monitor to support the display monitor beneath the vehicle ceiling;

where the housing assembly has a depth, and where the housing assembly is adjustable to change its depth so that a selected portion of the housing assembly aligns with the headliner when the housing assembly is mounted to the vehicle ceiling; and

where the housing assembly includes at least one mount adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling, and where the vertical length of the mount is adjustable.

12. A display monitor system mountable to the ceiling of a vehicle, where the vehicle includes a headliner spaced beneath the ceiling, the system comprising:

a display monitor; and

a housing assembly mountable to the vehicle ceiling and coupled to the display monitor to support the display monitor beneath the vehicle ceiling;

where the housing assembly has a depth, and where the housing assembly is adjustable to change its depth so that a selected portion of the housing assembly aligns with the headliner when the housing assembly is mounted to the vehicle ceiling; and

where the housing assembly includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and where the upper portion extends above the headliner and the lower portion extends below the headliner when the housing assembly is mounted to the vehicle ceiling.

13. The system of claim 12, where the upper portion is at least partially supported by the headliner when the housing assembly is mounted to the vehicle ceiling.

14. The system of claim 12, where the upper portion and the lower portion clamp onto the headliner.

15. The system of claim 12, where the upper portion has a depth, and where the upper portion is adjustable to change its depth to correspond to the space between the vehicle ceiling and the headliner.

16. A display monitor system mountable to the ceiling of a vehicle, where the vehicle includes a headliner spaced beneath the ceiling, the system comprising:

a display monitor; and

a housing assembly mountable to the vehicle ceiling and coupled to the display monitor to support the display monitor beneath the vehicle ceiling;

where the housing assembly has a depth, and where the housing assembly is adjustable to change its depth so that a selected portion of the housing assembly aligns with the headliner when the housing assembly is mounted to the vehicle ceiling; and

where the housing assembly is adhesively mounted to the vehicle ceiling.

17. A display monitor system mountable to the ceiling of a vehicle, where the vehicle includes a headliner spaced beneath the ceiling, the system comprising:

a frame member configured to at least partially fit between the headliner and the vehicle ceiling to be supported by the headliner;

at least one selectively adjustable mount connected to the frame member and adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling; and

a display monitor coupled to the frame member; and

where the at least one mount is adapted to adhesively attach to the vehicle ceiling.

18. The system of claim 17, where the at least one mount is vertically adjustable relative to the frame member.

19. A display monitor system mountable to the ceiling of a vehicle, where the vehicle includes a headliner spaced beneath the ceiling, the system comprising:

a frame member configured to at least partially fit between the headliner and the vehicle ceiling to be supported by the headliner;

at least one selectively adjustable mount connected to the frame member and adapted to attach to the vehicle ceiling; and

a display monitor coupled to the frame member; and

where the at least one mount has a vertical length, and where the vertical length of the mount is adjustable.

20. The system of claim 19, where the at least one mount is horizontally adjustable relative to the frame member.