Overhead mountable sliding video display assembly and method

• US 7,903,180 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Boundy, Timothy M., Pirrami, Eugene O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tung
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLDER, ANNER N
• Application Number:
  US11/131,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060262189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 348/837, 296 377- 378, 108/69
• 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 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position

Abstract

A mountable sliding video display assembly is provided for a vehicle in which the longitudinal position of the video display screen unit can be adjusted in the vehicle. The video display screen unit may be mounted behind the last row of occupants in a vehicle. An occupant may slide the video display screen unit to and fro in front of him/her to a comfortable viewing distance. A method for pivoting the video display screen unit is also provided so that the video display screen unit, in addition to longitudinal movement, can be rotated from a stowed position to a display position.

Claims

1. A mountable sliding video display assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a video display screen unit movable between a rear-most position and a forward-most position, the rear-most position and the forward-most position being spaced by a longitudinal distance L;

a pair of tracks, including a first track and a second track, relatively longitudinally movable with respect to each other;

said second track being adapted for mounting said pair of tracks to the vehicle;

said first track having said video display screen unit mounted thereto;

ball bearings between said pair of tracks to accommodate longitudinal movement of said first track and said second track with respect to each other;

a carrier plate between said ball bearings and said first track, the carrier plate having a raised portion approximately in the center of the carrier plate;

wherein the carrier plate includes openings approximately in the periphery of the carrier plate, the ball bearings being fitted in the openings;

wiring connected to said video display screen unit, the wiring being flat;

a passage between the first track and the raised portion of the carrier plate such that the wiring fits in the passage;

wherein the wiring moves in the passage when the pair of said tracks moves relatively with respect to each other;

wherein said video display screen unit is pivotally mounted to said first track to allow the video display screen unit to rotate between the rear-most position and a rearward stowed position;

wherein the wiring forms a substantially U-shaped loop configured to allow the video display screen unit to move between the forward-most position, the rear-most position and the rearward stowed position; and

wherein the U-shaped loop has a length that is at least half the longitudinal distance L between the rear-most position and the forward-most position of the video display screen unit.

2. The mountable sliding video display assembly of claim 1, further comprising an end bracket, wherein said video display screen unit is pivotally mounted to said first track through said end bracket.

3. The mountable sliding video display assembly of claim 2, further comprising a retainer bracket, wherein said retainer bracket is between said video display screen unit and said end bracket to accommodate pivoting of said video display screen unit.

4. The mountable sliding video display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle and wherein said second track is mounted to an overhead compartment or roof of said vehicle.

5. The mountable sliding video display assembly of claim 1, further comprising the vehicle and a mounting bracket, wherein said second track is mounted to an overhead compartment or roof of said vehicle through said mounting bracket;

and

wherein said mounting bracket has at least one tab extending into a straddling configuration with said second track.

7. The mountable sliding video display assembly of claim 1, wherein the raised portion of the carrier plate is substantially uniform along a longitudinal length of the carrier plate.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a sunroof;

an overhead sliding video display screen unit mountable with respect to said sunroof;

a pair of tracks relatively longitudinally movable with respect to each other;

one of said pair of tracks being mounted to said vehicle adjacent said sunroof;

the other of said pair of tracks being pivotally mounted to said video display screen unit and movable with respect to said sunroof;

wherein said pair of tracks are sufficiently slideable such that said video display screen unit may be positioned below said sunroof;

ball bearings between said pair of tracks to accommodate longitudinal movement of said pair of tracks with respect to each other;

wiring connected to said video display screen unit, said wiring being flat;

a carrier plate operatively connected to the other of said pair of tracks, said carrier plate having a raised portion approximately in the center of the carrier plate;

wherein the carrier plate includes openings approximately in the periphery of the carrier plate, the ball bearings being fitted in the openings;

a passage between the first track and the raised portion of the carrier plate such that the wiring fits in the passage;

wherein the wiring moves in the passage when said pair of said tracks moves relatively with respect to each other;

wherein the video display screen unit is movable between a forward-most position, a rear-most position and a rearward stowed position;

wherein the wiring forms a substantially U-shaped loop configured to allow the video display screen unit to move between the forward-most position, the rear-most position and the rearward stowed position; and

wherein the U-shaped loop has a length that is at least half the longitudinal distance L between the rear-most position and the forward-most position of the video display screen unit.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the raised portion of the carrier plate is substantially uniform along a longitudinal length of the carrier plate.