Vehicle entertainment system

• US 8,780,282 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Vitito, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAINTER, BRANON C
• Application Number:
  US12/103,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,282 Days
• Field of Search: 348/837, 348/836, 348/838, 348/839
• 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: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• 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 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/645 Mounting of picture tube on chassis or in housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/655 Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube

Abstract

A vehicle entertainment system including a video system having a video monitor and a cradle secured within a vehicle. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned for selectively receiving and securely holding the video system. The cradle includes a docking port with a faceplate that is substantially flush with an upper end of a seat back of an automobile.

Claims

1. A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a video system including a housing, a video monitor disposed on a front surface of the housing, and a mounting portion disposed on a rear surface of the housing, wherein the mounting portion is configured to pivot into a recess disposed on the rear surface of the housing while the video system is not engaged with a cradle, and pivot out of the recess while the video system is engaged with the cradle; and

the cradle disposed on an upper end of a seat back within a vehicle, wherein the cradle includes a first opening having a side configured to brace against a first support post of a headrest of the seat and a second opening having a side configured to brace against a second support post of the headrest, and upon mounting the video system to the cradle via the mounting portion, the housing is spaced apart from the seat back towards a rear of the vehicle and the video system is electrically connected to an electrical connector in the cradle.

2. The vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the video system includes a video source, and the video source is a DVD player or hard drive.

3. The vehicle entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the cradle includes an engaging portion engaging with the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion includes electrical connectors shaped and dimensioned for engagement with electrical connectors formed on the engaging portion.

4. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the video system is disposed in an area between the seat and a passenger viewing the video system when the video system is mounted to the cradle.

5. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the cradle includes an engaging portion engaging with the mounting portion, the engaging portion includes a first electrical connector, the mounting portion includes a second electrical connector, and the video system is structurally supported by and electrically connected to the cradle upon mounting.

6. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the cradle includes an engaging portion engaging with the mounting portion, and upon engaging with the mounting portion, the video monitor is positioned spaced apart from the cradle, and is closer than any portion of the cradle to a viewer facing the video monitor.

7. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector in the cradle is connected to an electrical system of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion comprises an electrical connector disposed on a first surface and configured to electrically connect to the electrical connector in the cradle, and a latch disposed on a second surface, adjacent to the first surface, and configured to engage a first latch member disposed on the upper end of the seat back and a second latch member disposed on the rear surface of the housing.

9. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising a cover member configured to attach to the cradle and cover the electrical connector in the cradle while the video system is not engaged with the cradle.

10. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the cradle is disposed between a first headrest post of a headrest and a second headrest post of the headrest.

11. A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a video system including a video monitor disposed on a front surface of the video system, and a mounting portion extending downward from a bottom surface of the video system; and

a cradle comprising a first leg configured to rest against an upper end of a seat in a vehicle and a second leg configured to rest against a rear surface of the seat, wherein the first leg comprises a first opening configured to brace against a first support post of a headrest of the seat and a second opening configured to brace against a second support post of the headrest, and the second leg comprises a docking port configured to engage the mounting portion.

12. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 11, wherein the video system is disposed in an area between the back of the seat and a passenger viewing the video system when the mounting portion and the docking port are engaged.

13. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 11, wherein the docking port includes a first electrical connector, the mounting portion includes a second electrical connector, and the video system is structurally supported by and electrically connected to the docking port upon mounting.

14. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 13, further comprising a cover member configured to attach to the docking port and cover the first electrical connector while the video system is not engaged with the docking port.

15. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 11, wherein the mounting portion and the docking port each comprise a plurality of holes, and the mounting portion is configured to attach to the clocking port via a plurality of screws extending through the holes of the mounting portion and into the holes of the docking port.