Pop-up display

• US 7,510,241 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hanlon, Sam, Nathan, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US11/425,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.1, 297/217.3, 297/463.1, 297/188.01, 297/188.04, 297/188.05, 297/188.21, 248/284.1, 248/286.1, 345/87, 345/905
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A pop-up display suitable for use in a seat back of an occupant seat, such as but not limited to those employed within vehicles to carry vehicle occupants. The display being configured to pop-up from the seat back in response to mechanical and/or electrical stimulation. The mechanical actuation optionally being localized relative to the display such that the occupant may be required to be in reach of the display in order to impart the mechanical stimulation. The electrical actuation optionally being imparted with electrical signals communicated thereto by a switch or vehicle controller such that the display may be ejected without being in reach of the same.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat having an pop-up electronic display, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat back having a cavity at an upper portion;

a display ejection mechanism configured to automatically eject the display from a loaded position within the cavity through the topside of the seat back to an unloaded position so as to facilitate viewing of the display;

a locking mechanism having locked and unlocked states, the locked state corresponding with restraining the ejection mechanism from automatically ejecting the display from the seat back and the unlocked state corresponding with allowing the ejection mechanism to automatically eject the display from the seat back;

a combination electrical and mechanical lock actuating mechanism configured for unlocking the locking mechanism in response to electrical and mechanical stimulants, the unlocking corresponding with transitioning the lock actuation mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state;

wherein the lock actuating mechanism includes a push-button lever configured to facilitate unlocking the locking mechanism with a mechanical stimulant; and

wherein the push-button lever is connected to a cam arrangement configured to retract a key of the locking mechanism from a key-hole in the ejection mechanism so as to permit the ejection mechanism to eject the display.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the push-button lever is located at the topside of the seat back when the display is loaded within the cavity.

3. The seat of claim 1 wherein the cam arrangement includes a cam configured to engage teeth on the key in such a manner that mechanical actuation of the cam causes the cam to retract the key from the key-hole.

4. The seat of claim 3 wherein the locking mechanism includes a second key for cooperating with a second key-hole in the ejection mechanism and wherein the cam arrangement includes a second cam such that both cams are configured to simultaneously retract both keys from the corresponding key-holes.

5. The seat of claim 1 wherein the ejection mechanism includes a spring to bias the display from the loaded to unloaded position such that unlocking of the locking mechanism allows the spring to eject the display from the seat back.

6. A vehicle seat having an pop-up electronic display, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat back having a cavity at an upper portion;

a display ejection mechanism configured to automatically eject the display from a loaded position within the cavity through the topside of the seat back to an unloaded position so as to facilitate viewing of the display;

a locking mechanism having locked and unlocked states, the locked state corresponding with restraining the ejection mechanism from automatically ejecting the display from the seat back and the unlocked state corresponding with allowing the ejection mechanism to automatically eject the display from the seat back;

a combination electrical and mechanical lock actuating mechanism configured for unlocking the locking mechanism in response to electrical and mechanical stimulants, the unlocking corresponding with transitioning the lock actuation mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state;

wherein the lock actuating mechanism includes a push-button lever configured to facilitate unlocking the locking mechanism with a mechanical stimulant; and

wherein the locking mechanism includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) element configured to facilitate unlocking the locking mechanism in response to an electrical stimulant;

wherein the SMA element is configured to retract a key of the locking mechanism from a key-hole in the ejection mechanism so as to permit the ejection mechanism to eject the display; and

wherein the locking mechanism includes a cam arrangement having a cam configured to engage teeth on the key in such a manner that mechanical actuation of the cam causes the cam to retract the key from the key-hole, and thereby permit unlocking of the locking mechanism in response to a mechanical stimulant.

7. The seat of claim 6 wherein a spring is operable with the cam and SMA element to facilitate locking the key and resetting the cam and SMA element such that the cam is reset after mechanical stimulation and the SMA element is reset without having to wait for the cooling thereof.

8. The seat of claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism includes a second key for cooperating with a second key-hole in the ejection mechanism and wherein the SMA element is configured to simultaneously retract both keys from the corresponding key-holes.

9. The seat of claim 8 wherein an end of the keys are connected to the SMA element in a wish-bone configuration such that actuation of the SMA element in a single direction simultaneously retracts both keys.

10. A vehicle seat having an pop-up electronic display, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat back having a cavity at an upper portion thereof with a topside opening;

a display ejection mechanism configured to automatically eject the display from a loaded position within the cavity through the topside of the seat back to an unloaded position so as to facilitate viewing of the display;

a locking mechanism having locked and unlocked states, the locked state corresponding with restraining the ejection mechanism from automatically ejecting the display from the seat back and the unlocked state corresponding with allowing the ejection mechanism to automatically eject the display from the seat back;

a combination electrical and mechanical lock actuating mechanism configured for unlocking the locking mechanism in response to electrical and mechanical stimulants, the unlocking corresponding with transitioning the lock actuation mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state; and

wherein the ejection mechanism includes a rotary dampening element to dampen ejection of the display from the seat back.

11. The seat of claim 10 wherein the rotary dampening element is configured to engage teeth on a track of the ejection mechanism used to facilitate egress of the display such that rotary dampening member rotates with movement of the track to dampen ejection of the display.

12. A vehicle seat having an pop-up electronic display, the vehicle seat comprising:

a display ejection mechanism configured to automatically eject the display from a loaded position to an unloaded position;

a locking mechanism having locked and unlocked states, the locked state corresponding with restraining the ejection mechanism from automatically ejecting the display and the unlocked state corresponding with allowing the ejection mechanism to automatically eject the display;

a lock actuating mechanism configured for unlocking the locking mechanism, the unlocking corresponding with transitioning the locking mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state;

wherein the lock actuating mechanism includes a mechanical, non-electrically driven portion that uses force applied to a push-button lever attached to the seat to transition the locking mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state;

wherein the lock actuating mechanism includes a non-motorized, electrically driven portion that uses electrical current applied to a shape memory alloy (SMA) element to transition the locking mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state; and

wherein the push-button lever applies force to a moveable arm used to transition the locking mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state, and wherein the SMA element is configured to apply force to the moveable arm in a manner that is independent of the push-button lever and sufficient to transition the locking mechanism from the locked to the unlocked state in the absence of the force provided by the push-button.

13. The seat of claim 12 wherein the display ejection mechanism includes a rotary dampening element to dampen ejection of the display.

14. A key to key-hole lock wherein the key is retracted from the key-hole to unlock the lock, the lock comprising

a cam configured to engage teeth on the key in such a manner that actuation of the cam cause the key to retract from the key-hole, the cam being mechanically actuated through a push button lever so as to facilitate unlocking the lock in response to a mechanical stimulant;

a shape memory alloy (SMA) element configured to contract with electrical heating, the SMA element being connected to the key such that heating of the SMA element retracts the key from the key-hole in response to an electrical stimulant.

15. The lock of claim 14 further comprising a spring operable with the cam and the SMA element to facilitate resetting the key in the key-hole such that the cam is reset after mechanical stimulation and the SMA element is reset without having wait for the cooling thereof.