Inductively powered mobile entertainment system

• US 8,203,657 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Vitito, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D
• Assistant Examiner(s): AHMAD, CHARISSA L
• Application Number:
  US12/216,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/837, 297/217.3, 320/108
• US Class Current: 348/837
• 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: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space

Abstract

A mobile entertainment system includes a video system designed for reducing energy consumption. The video system includes a battery permitting proximity charging of the video system. A supporting structure supports the video system within a vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile entertainment system, comprising:

a video system designed for reducing energy consumption, the video system including a battery permitting proximity charging of the video system; and

a supporting structure supporting the video system within a vehicle, wherein;

a secondary coil is electrically linked to the battery of the video system for inductive coupling with a primary coil coupled to a power supply circuit of the vehicle,

a coupling member electrically links the secondary coil of the video system with the primary coil,

the coupling member is composed of an arm through which an electrical wire extends for linking a distal end of the arm to the secondary coil of the video system, and

the distal end of the arm is magnetically charged for attraction to a magnetically charged shroud mounted within the vehicle and linked to the primary coil, wherein the arm is a selectively telescoping arm through which the electrical wire extends, is positioned in a headrest of a vehicle seat, and is distinct from a support post of the headrest.

2. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the power consumption of the video system is less than approximately 2 Amps.

3. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein the power consumption of the video system is less than approximately 0.5 Amps.

4. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system includes a housing in which a monitor is mounted for viewing by those utilizing the mobile entertainment system, and media content for display upon the monitor is wirelessly transmitted to the video system via a media storage unit mounted within the vehicle.

5. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system is provided with touch screen functionality.

6. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the primary coil is mounted in the seat back of the vehicle in proximity to the secondary coil.

7. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 6, wherein the video system is mounted within a headrest of the vehicle.

8. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system includes a housing in which a monitor is mounted for viewing by those utilizing the mobile entertainment system, and the monitor is an organic LED.

9. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure allows for selective supporting of the video system within the vehicle.

10. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 9, wherein the supporting structure is composed of a drawer integrally formed with the vehicle.

11. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 10, wherein the drawer is integrally formed within a headrest of the vehicle.

12. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 10, wherein the drawer includes a transparent front wall.

13. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 10, wherein the drawer includes a base support and a drawer member, and movement of the drawer member relative to the base support is controlled by a servomotor that selectively moves the drawer member between its closed position and its open position.

14. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a slipcover shaped and dimensioned to fit over a headrest.

15. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 14, wherein the slipcover is composed of a fabric base structure shaped and dimensioned to fit over the headrest, and includes a zipper allowing for expansion and closure to allow the fabric base structure to fit over the headrest.

16. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a recessed support structure into which the video system is snap fit.

17. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 16, wherein the recessed support structure includes a base support that is fit within a recess formed in a headrest, and a false front wall is supported within the recessed support structure for movement from a recessed position adjacent a closed base wall of the recessed support structure and an exposed position covering an open top of the recessed support structure.

18. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the arm is adjacent the support post of the headrest.

19. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the arm is held in a recess in the headrest by a latch positioned in the headrest.

20. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 19, wherein the latch is releasable to allow the arm to protrude from a bottom surface of the headrest.

21. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the shroud is positioned on a top surface of a seat opposing a bottom surface of the headrest.

22. The mobile entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the shroud includes an opening that is large enough to allow the arm to be inserted through the opening of the shroud.