Headrest mountable video system

• US 7,954,894 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Schedivy, George C., Shalam, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham; Tania
• Application Number:
  US11/072,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/217.1
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0225 self supporting head liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/025 Pillars; Roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories

Abstract

A media system for a seat in a vehicle comprises a display electrically coupled to a media player, wherein the display and the media player are housed together in a first housing, and a second housing disposed substantially in the seat and adapted to secure the first housing including the display and the media player therein, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing.

Claims

1. A media system for a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

a display electrically coupled to a media player, wherein the display is housed in a first housing, wherein the first housing includes front, rear, top, bottom, left and right sides, wherein the front side includes a display screen thereon and is joined to the rear side by the top, bottom, left and right sides extending substantially perpendicular from the front side to the rear side so that the rear side opposes and is substantially parallel to the front side; and

a second housing disposed substantially in the seat and adapted to secure the first housing including the display therein,

wherein the first housing is pivotable with respect to the second housing, and the first housing includes a fastener having a portion positioned on the rear side of the first housing and a moveable bar, the movable bar positioned in the first housing between the front and rear sides, the moveable bar being moveable into and out of a hole formed in the second housing,

wherein the moveable bar is moveable in opposing directions substantially perpendicular to the left and right sides of the first housing between a first position protruding from one of the left and right sides into the hole formed in the second housing and a second position out of the hole and within the first housing, the fastener, including the portion positioned on the rear side of the first housing and the moveable bar, being hidden from view when the first housing is in a closed position and the display is in a viewing position.

2. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing and further comprises a connector for connecting the first housing to a power source when the first housing is detached from the second housing.

3. The media system of claim 2, wherein the connector includes contacts for connecting a battery pack to the first housing.

4. The media system of claim 2, wherein the connector includes a port for connecting an AC/DC adapter to the first housing.

5. The media system of claim 2, wherein the connector is positioned in a battery housing located in the first housing.

6. The media system of claim 1, wherein the second housing is secured to the seat using at least one of a screw, a catch, an adhesive, a bolt, molding and a latch.

7. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing a quick release mechanism.

8. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing a latch mechanism.

9. The media system of claim 8, wherein the latch mechanism functions as a hinge for pivoting the first housing against the second housing.

10. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing a flexible coupling mechanism including concave and convex portions.

11. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing at least one of Velcro and a snap.

12. The media system of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a speaker.

13. The media system of claim 1, wherein the display displays video data received from the media player.

14. The media system of claim 1, wherein the display is one of a liquid crystal display, a gas plasma display, an electro-luminescent display, and a light emitting diode display.

15. The media system of claim 1, wherein the media player is one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver and tuner, an MP3 player, a digital video recorder, a device for playing media supplied from a mass storage device, and a device programmed for playing media stored on a hard drive.

16. The media system of claim 1, wherein the second housing is mounted in one of a headrest and a main body of the seat.

17. A media system for a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

a display electrically coupled to a media player, wherein the display is housed in a first housing, wherein the first housing includes front, rear, top, bottom, left and right sides, wherein the front side includes a display screen thereon and is joined to the rear side by the top, bottom, left and right sides extending substantially perpendicular from the front side to the rear side so that the rear side opposes and is substantially parallel to the front side; and

a second housing disposed substantially in the seat and adapted to secure the first housing including the display therein,

wherein the first housing is pivotally attached to the second housing a tilt mechanism, wherein the first housing is capable of pivoting in an angle range of about 0°

to about 90°

with respect to the second housing and the first housing includes a fastener having a portion positioned on the rear side of the first housing and a moveable bar, the movable bar positioned in the first housing between the front and rear sides, the moveable bar being moveable into and out of a hole formed in the second housing,

wherein the moveable bar is moveable in opposing directions substantially perpendicular to the left and right sides of the first housing between a first position protruding from one of the left and right sides into the hole formed in the second housing and a second position out of the hole and within the first housing, the fastener, including the portion positioned on the rear side of the first housing and the movable bar, being hidden from view when the first housing is in a closed position and the display is in a viewing position.

18. The media system of claim 17, wherein the tilt mechanism includes a hinge configured for pivoting the first housing against the second housing.

19. The media system of claim 17, wherein the moveable bar prevents the first housing from pivoting beyond a predetermined angle.

20. The media system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined angle is an angle in the range of about 15°

to about 45°

.

21. The media system of claim 19, wherein the moveable bar is moved out of the hole formed in the second housing to allow the first housing to pivot beyond the predetermined angle.

22. The media system of claim 17, wherein the second housing is secured to the seat using at least one of a screw, a catch, an adhesive, a bolt, molding and a latch.

23. The media system of claim 17, wherein the first housing includes a speaker.

24. The media system of claim 17, wherein the display displays video data received from the media player.

25. The media system of claim 17, wherein the display is one of a liquid crystal display, a gas plasma display, an electro-luminescent display, and a light emitting diode display.

26. The media system of claim 17, wherein the media player is one of a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver and tuner, an MP3 player, a digital video recorder, a device for playing media supplied from a mass storage device, and a device programmed for playing media stored on a hard drive.

27. A method of removing a media system from a seat of a vehicle, comprising:

pivoting a first housing against a second housing for exposing a portion of the second housing, wherein the first housing is pivotally attached to the second housing and the second housing is attached to the seat, wherein the first housing includes front, rear, top, bottom, left and right sides, wherein the front side includes a display screen thereon and is joined to the rear side by the top, bottom, left and right sides extending substantially perpendicular from the front side to the rear side so that the rear side opposes and is substantially parallel to the front side;

releasing a locking device for enabling pivoting of the first housing beyond a predetermined angle, wherein the locking device comprises a fastener having a portion positioned on the rear side of the first housing and a moveable bar, the movable bar positioned in the first housing between the front and rear sides, the moveable bar being moveable into and out of a hole formed in the second housing,

wherein the moveable bar is moveable in opposing directions substantially perpendicular to the left and right sides of the first housing between a first position protruding from one of the left and right sides into the hole formed in the second housing and a second position out of the hole and within the first housing, the fastener, including the portion positioned on the rear side of the first housing and the movable bar, being hidden from view when the first housing is in a closed position and the display is in a viewing position;

removing a fixing device from the exposed portion of the second housing, wherein the fixing device attaches the second housing to the seat; and

detaching the second housing, including the first housing pivotally attached thereto, from the seat.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first housing includes a display electrically coupled to a media player.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the second housing is disposed substantially in the seat.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising unplugging the media system from at least one of a power source and a data source.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the fixing device includes at least one of a screw, a catch, molding, a latch and a bolt.