Coupling assembly

• US 9,045,096 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Westerink, Rik, Procter, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US13/108,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20110278885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.04, 297/188.05, 297/188.06, 297/188.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• 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 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00152 Seat back fixtures for removable monitors, e.g. tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00153 Monitors mounted on or in the seat other than the seat back
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Described are portable electronics device coupling assemblies including a cradle configured to electronically couple and releasably engage a portable electronics device, and an adaptor configured to electronically couple and releasably engage the cradle to a passenger seat. Other examples may include a passenger seat having an electronics port configured to electronically couple to the portable electronics device, and a receptacle coupled to the electronics port and configured to releasably engage the portable electronics device. As examples, the portable electronics device may be a tablet computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a handheld video game system, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop computer, a DVD player, data or audio-video media, or a multi-media enabled device.

Claims

1. A portable electronics device coupling assembly for use by a user to releasably couple a portable electronics device to a passenger seat, the passenger seat having a port coupled with an on-board entertainment system, the on-board entertainment system comprising internet access, the portable electronics device coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a cradle configured to receive and secure the portable electronics device within the cradle, the cradle further including a portable electronics device interface with a connector configured to electronically couple and releasably engage the received portable electronics device, the cradle releasably engaging with the portable electronics device during normal user operation; and

(b) an adaptor coupled with the portable electronics device interface of the cradle, the adaptor configured to be insertable within the port of the passenger seat to electronically couple and releasably engage the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat, the adaptor releasably engaging the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat during normal user operation; and

wherein the portable electronics device interface is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system through the electrical coupling of the adaptor to the passenger seat such that the portable electronics device may access the internet through the on-board entertainment system;

wherein the adaptor is configured to be inserted within the port of the passenger seat along an insertion axis, wherein the cradle includes an aperture positioned about the insertion axis of the adaptor, wherein the adaptor couples with the cradle at the aperture, and wherein the cradle is rotatably coupled to the adaptor such that the user may rotate the cradle relative to the adaptor about the insertion axis of the adaptor so as to rotate a coupled portable electronics device about the insertion axis of the adaptor between portrait and landscape orientations.

2. The portable electronics device coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises at least one arm and wherein the connector of the portable electronics device interface is mounted on the at least one arm and configured to electronically engage a receptacle on the portable electronics device.

3. The portable electronics device coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the portable electronics device is a tablet computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a handheld video game system, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop computer, a portable DVD player, or a portable data or audio-video media, or a multi-media enabled device.

4. The portable device coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture is positioned on the cradle so that the aperture is centered relative to the received portable electronics device.

5. The portable device coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the portable electronics device interface is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system such that the portable electronics device may receive data from the on-board entertainment system for display to a portable electronics device display.

6. A portable electronics device coupling assembly for use by a user to releasably couple a portable electronics device to a passenger seat, the passenger seat having a port coupled with an on-board entertainment system, the on-board entertainment system comprising internet access, the portable electronics device coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a cradle configured to receive and secure a portable electronics device within the cradle, the cradle further including a portable electronics device interface with a connector configured to electronically couple and releasably engage the received portable electronics device, the cradle releasable engaging with the portable electronics device during normal user operation; and

(b) an adaptor coupled with the portable electronics device interface of the cradle, the adaptor configured to be insertable within the port of the passenger seat to electronically couple and releasably engage the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat, the adaptor releasably engaging the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat during normal user operation; and

wherein the portable electronics device interface is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system through the electrical coupling of the adaptor to the passenger seat such that the portable electronics device may access the internet through the on-board entertainment system;

wherein the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly is configured to be inserted into the port of the passenger seat along an insertion axis, and wherein the adaptor rotatably couples to the port of the passenger seat such that the user may rotate the adaptor relative to the port so as to rotate a coupled portable electronics device about the insertion axis of the adaptor to rotate the coupled portable electronics device between portrait and landscape orientations.

7. A portable electronics device coupling assembly for use by a user to releasably couple a portable electronics device to a passenger seat, the passenger seat having a port coupled with an on-board entertainment system, the portable electronics device coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a cradle configured to receive and secure the portable electronics device within the cradle, the cradle further including a portable electronics device interface with a connector configured to electronically couple and releasably engage the received portable electronics device, the cradle releasably engaging with the portable electronics device during normal user operation; and

(b) an adaptor coupled with the portable electronics device interface of the cradle, the adaptor configured to be insertable within the port of the passenger seat to electronically couple and releasably engage the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat, the adaptor releasably engaging the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat during normal user operation; and

wherein the portable electronics device interface is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system through the electrical coupling of the adaptor to the passenger seat such that the portable electronics device may receive content from the on-board entertainment system for display to a portable electronics device display;

wherein the adaptor is configured to be inserted within the port of the passenger seat along an insertion axis, wherein the cradle includes an aperture positioned about the insertion axis of the adaptor, wherein the adaptor couples with the cradle at the aperture, and wherein the cradle is rotatably coupled to the adaptor such that the user may rotate the cradle relative to the adaptor about the insertion axis of the adaptor so as to rotate a coupled portable electronics device about the insertion axis of the adaptor between portrait and landscape orientations.

8. A portable electronics device coupling assembly for use by a user to releasably couple a portable electronics device to a passenger seat, the passenger seat having a port coupled with an on-board entertainment system, the portable electronics device coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a cradle configured to receive and secure the portable electronics device within the cradle, the cradle further including a portable electronics device interface with a connector configured to electronically couple and releasably engage the received portable electronics device, the cradle releasably engaging with the portable electronics device during normal user operation; and

(b) an adaptor coupled with the portable electronics device interface of the cradle, the adaptor configured to be insertable within the port of the passenger seat to electronically couple and releasably engage the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat, the adaptor releasably engaging the portable electronics device interface of the cradle with the passenger seat during normal user operation; and

wherein the portable electronics device interface is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system through the electrical coupling of the adaptor to the passenger seat such that the portable electronics device may receive content from the on-board entertainment system for display to a portable electronics device display;

wherein the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly is configured to be inserted into the port of the passenger seat along an insertion axis, and wherein the adaptor rotatably couples to the port of the passenger seat such that the user may rotate the adaptor relative to the port so as to rotate a coupled portable electronics device about the insertion axis of the adaptor to rotate the coupled portable electronics device between portrait and landscape orientations.