Abstract:
The present invention relates to a reinforced slide chassis structure of an audio/video system, more particularly, to a reinforced slide chassis structure of an audio/video system for a motor vehicle, capable of preventing deteriorations in the slide chassis by reducing a total weight of the slide chassis yet reinforcing a deformation-sensitive portion of the slide chassis.

Description:
[0001]     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Korean Application No. 10-2003-0063542, filed on Sep. 15, 2003, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a reinforced slide chassis structure of an audio/video system, more particularly, to a reinforced slide chassis structure of an audio/video system for a vehicle, mounted with a reinforcing bracket formed in a direction of a long hole of the slide chassis.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     As more luxurious cars become popular among people, a variety of luxurious in-vehicle options are being introduced. Among the options are communication devices that provide drivers to access every kind of information, such as continually updated traffic information, road information, and map to a destination. One of typical examples is an audio/video system (hereinafter it is referred to as an ‘AV system’) for a vehicle mounted with a device for watching TV or an automatic navigation system.  
         [0006]     In general, a front panel of such AV system forms a monitor, and a cassette player or compact disk player of a car audio is housed in the front panel. Therefore, when a driver wants to watch the monitor or change a cassette tape in the cassette player, the monitor is tilted at a designated angle.  
         [0007]     An AV system comprising this type of monitor tilting apparatus was disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-0006075 and Korean Utility Model Publication No. 2000-0011042.  
         [0008]     An AV system with an existing monitor tilting apparatus is depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . More specifically,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a related art AV system with a monitor tilting apparatus,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the monitor in  FIG. 1 , in which the monitor is being tilted,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a low-surface chassis of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0009]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the AV system having an existing monitor tilting apparatus includes a main body  10  that is built in a cartridge of the body of a car. On a front surface of the main body  10  is a monitor  15 , which is tiltable.  
         [0010]     On the low-surface chassis  20  disposed at a lower end of the main body  10  is a slide chassis  30 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 , through which the monitor  15  can move back and forth. At this time, a lower end of the monitor  15  is connected to a monitor mounting part  38  of the slide chassis  30 .  
         [0011]     Meanwhile, a long hole  35  is formed on the slide chassis  30  back and forth, enabling a motor part  50  and a back-and-forth motion member  60  to be mounted on the low-surface chassis  20 . A support bar  21  is placed on the low-surface chassis around the hole  35  formed on the slide chassis  30 , and a main printed circuit board  11  is mounted on the support bar  21 , being inside out. As shown in  FIG. 4 , on the support bar  21  is the motor part  50  including a motor  53  and a worm  55 . The main printed circuit board  11  has a plurality of control means for the motor part  50 . The worm  55  of the motor part  50  is engaged (or meshed) with a wormwheel  61 , and the wormwheel  61  is engaged with a wheel  63 . Shafts of the wheel  63  and the wormwheel  61  are mounted on the low-surface chassis  20 . The wheel  63  is again engaged with a rack gear part  37  of the slide chassis  30 .  
         [0012]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , there is a plurality of guide shafts  21  fixed on the right and left sides of the low-surface chassis, and guide rollers  23  are positioned centering around the guide shafts  21 . Also, long holes  31  are formed on the slide chassis  30  centering around the guide rollers  23  in such a manner that when the slide chassis  30  moves, the long holes  31  move back and forth with respect to the guide rollers  23 . In short, the guide rollers  23 , as their name implies, play as a guide for the slide chassis  30 .  
         [0013]     However, the AV system with the above monitor tilting apparatus poses a problem.  
         [0014]     For instance, the long hole  31  of the slide chassis  30  is easily deformed or twisted in spite of using a 1.2 mm-thick material to prevent vibration and deformation of the slide chassis  30 .  
         [0015]     This deformation of the long hole  31  of the slide chassis  30  is in fact common for all existing AV systems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a reinforced slide chassis structure of an audio/video system for a vehicle to prevent deteriorations in the slide chassis by reinforcing a deformation-sensitive part of the slide chassis while maintaining a thickness of the entire slide chassis, whereby a weak long hole area can be reinforced and the weight of the whole of the slide chassis can be reduced.  
         [0017]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced slide chassis structure of an audio/video system for a vehicle, which is easy to guide and assemble.  
         [0018]     To achieve the above object, there is provided a reinforced slide chassis structure of an AV system for a motor vehicle with a tiltable monitor disposed at a front surface of a main chassis, the reinforced slide chassis structure including: a low-surface chassis disposed at a lower end of the main chassis; and a slide chassis mounted on the low-surface chassis, moving a lower side of the monitor back and forth, wherein at least one reinforcing bracket is mounted on the slide chassis.  
         [0019]     Also, the reinforcing bracket is formed along with a long hole formed on the slide chassis.  
         [0020]     According to the above structure, the thickness of the entire slide chassis can be maintained, and only the relatively weak long hole area is reinforced..  
         [0021]     In this manner, it is possible to reduce the weight of the entire slide chassis, while preventing deteriorations in the slide chassis by reinforcing a deformation-sensitive portion out of the slide chassis.  
         [0022]     Besides, drilling an assembly hole into the reinforcing bracket, a driver can change diverse parts more easily ad conveniently, simply by inserting a tool to the assembly hole to loosen or fasten a blot of a guide shaft. Since the reinforcing bracket needs not to be separated from the slide chassis, the convenience and assembability are improved. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a related art AV system with a monitor tilting apparatus;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the monitor in  FIG. 1 , in which the monitor is being tilted;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a low-surface chassis of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a driving assembly in an AV system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged side view of a motor part and a back-and-forth motion member in  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along with line C-C in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a driving assembly in an AV system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 7  is an enlarged side view of a motor part and a back-and-forth motion member in  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along with line C-C in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0034]     As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the driving assembly for a vehicle AV system having a tiltable monitor disposed at a front surface of a main body of the AV system includes a low-surface chassis  200  positioned at a lower end of the main chassis  100 , and a slide chassis  300  mounted on the low-surface chassis  200 , for moving a lower side of the monitor (not shown) back and forth.  
         [0035]     As mentioned before, the monitor (not shown) is disposed at the front surface of the main body  100 , and a main printed circuit board  110  is housed in the main body  100 .  
         [0036]     One thing to be aware of in  FIG. 6  is that to show inside of the main body  100 , the front surface  100   a  of the main body  110  is upside down in the drawing.  
         [0037]     The main printed circuit board  100  has diverse parts for controlling a motor part  500 , and a cable  130  connected to a connector  150 .  
         [0038]     Also, a plurality of guide shafts  210  are fixed in the right and left sides of the low-surface chassis  200 .  
         [0039]     As  FIG. 8  illustrates, a fastening hole (not shown) to which a bolt  270  is inserted is formed on a top end of the respective guide shafts  210 , and guide rollers  230  for guiding the slide chassis  300  are installed, centering around the guide shafts  210 .  
         [0040]     On the slide chassis  300  is a long hole  310  to which guide rollers  230  are inserted, enabling the slide chassis  300  to move back and forth.  
         [0041]     As such, guide rollers  230  of the guide shafts  210  fasted onto the low-surface chassis  200  are inserted to the long hole  310  of the slide chassis  300 , and thus, the guide shafts  210  are protruded to the long hole  310 . A washer  250  is mounted on the respective guide shafts  210 , to inhibit the guide roller  230  from derailing, and then the bolt  270  is inserted to the fastening hole of the guide shaft  210 .  
         [0042]     Both ends of the slide chassis  300  are monitor mounting parts  380  on which the lower end of the monitor is placed.  
         [0043]     A long hole  350  is formed on a central portion of the slide chassis  300  in such a manner that the motor part  500  and the back-and-forth motion member  600  can be mounted on the low-surface chassis  200 .  
         [0044]     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the motor part  500  includes a motor  530 , a printed circuit board  400  attached to one end of the motor  530 , and a worm  550  attached to the other end of the motor  530 , transferring power from the motor  530  to the back-and-forth motion member  600 .  
         [0045]     Specifically, the printed circuit board  400  is fastened on the low-surface chassis  200 , and the motor  530  is attached to the printed circuit board  400 . One side of the printed circuit board  400  is a connecter  510 .  
         [0046]     The worm  500  is attached to a motor shaft  530   a,  and it rotates as the motor  530  starts driving.  
         [0047]     In the meantime, there is a bracket  410  attached to the motor  530 , to support the low surface of the motor  530  and the motor shaft  530   a.  Thanks to this bracket  410 , the motor  530  is more firmly fastened on the printed circuit board  400 .  
         [0048]     The back-and-forth motion member  600  includes a wormwheel  610 , which is engaged with a worm  550 , and a wheel  630 , one end thereof being engaged with the wormwheel  610  and the other end being engaged with the slide chassis  300 .  
         [0049]     More specifically speaking, the wormwheel  610  constitutes a head  613  and a body  615 , each having gear teeth. And, a shaft at the center of the wormwheel  610  is mounted on the low-surface chassis  200 .  
         [0050]     Similar to the wormwheel  610 , the wheel also constitutes a head  633  and a body  635 , each having gear teeth. And, a shaft at the center of the wheel  630  is mounted on the low-surface chassis  200 .  
         [0051]     The head  633  of the wheel is engaged with the body  615  of the wormwheel  610 .  
         [0052]     The body  635  of the wheel is engaged with a rack gear part  370  that is formed on the slide chassis  300  in a direction of the slide chassis&#39; motion.  
         [0053]     Preferably, a “⊂”-shaped reinforcing bracket  390  is formed along the long hole  310  formed on the slide chassis  300 . This reinforcing bracket  390  is fastened onto the slide chassis by means of a plurality of fastening means  390   a,  e.g. bolts.  
         [0054]     Also, an assembly hole  391  can be drilled into the reinforcing bracket  390 , particularly where the guide shafts  210  are mounted.  
         [0055]     An operation of the embodiment having the above structure is now discussed below.  
         [0056]     As for tilting the monitor, a vehicle driver presses a switch to drive the motor part  500 . Then the wormwheel  610  of the motor  530  starts rotating, and the wormwheel  610  being perpendicularly meshed (or engaged) with the wheel  630  starts rotating. Since this wormwheel  610  is engaged with the wheel  630 , the wheel  630  also starts rotating. At this time, because the wheel  630  has a larger diameter than that of the wormwheel  610 , it plays as a reduction gear, reducing the speed.  
         [0057]     To be short, as the wheel  630  rotates, the rack gear part  370  of the slide chassis  300  being engaged with the wheel  630  makes a straight-line motion to the front, and thus, the slide chassis  300  moves forward.  
         [0058]     On the other hand, if the driver presses the switch one more time, the motor shaft  530  rotates in a reverse direction, and the wormwheel  610  also rotates in a reverse direction of the above. As a result, the wormwheel  610  and the wheel  630  rotate in a reverse direction of the above, and the rack gear part  370  of the slide chassis  300  moves backward.  
         [0059]     At this time, the guide roller  230  of the guide shaft  210  fastened onto the low-surface chassis  200  acts as a guide for guiding the back-and-forth motion of the slide chassis  300 .  
         [0060]     With an application of the reinforcing bracket  390  to the slide chassis  300  moving along the long hole, the relatively weak long hole area out of the slide chassis  300  can be strengthened.  
         [0061]     That is to say, without changing the thickness, i.e. approximately 0.8 mm, of the entire slide chassis  300 , it is possible to reinforce the relatively weak long hole area  310 .  
         [0062]     In this manner, deteriorations in the slide chassis  300  can be prevented by reducing a total weight of the slide chassis  300  yet reinforcing the deformation-sensitive portion.  
         [0063]     Moreover, if the assembly hole  391  is drilled into a position where the guide shaft  210  of the reinforcing bracket  390  is supposed to be attached, the driver can easily change the washer  250 , the guide shafts  210  and the guide rollers  230  and so forth, by inserting a tool to the assembly hole  391  to loose or fasten a bolt. Overall, drivers can easily change parts with new ones, not necessarily separating the reinforcing bracket  390  from the slide chassis  300 .  
         [0064]     In conclusion, the reinforced slide chassis structure of an AV system for the vehicle has the following advantages.  
         [0065]     First, since the reinforcing bracket is installed along the long hole of the slide chassis, the relatively weak long hole area can be strengthened, while the thickness of the entire slide chassis being maintained.  
         [0066]     Therefore, deteriorations in the slide chassis can be prevented by reducing a total weight of the slide chassis yet reinforcing the deformation-sensitive portion.  
         [0067]     Second, drilling the assembly hole into where the guide shaft of the reinforcing bracket is supposed to be attached, the driver can easily change the washer, the guide shafts and the guide rollers and so forth, simply by inserting a tool to the assembly hole to loose or fasten a bolt. Overall, drivers can easily change diverse parts with new ones, not necessarily separating the reinforcing bracket from the slide chassis, and as a result, the convenience and assembability of the invention can be improved.  
         [0068]     While the invention has been described in conjunction with various embodiments, they are illustrative only. Accordingly, many alternative, modifications and variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art in light of the foregoing detailed description. The foregoing description is intended to embrace all such alternatives and variations falling with the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.