Detachable vehicle monitor

A monitor-housing assembly designed to removably mount a video monitor to facilitate disengaging of the monitor from the vehicle backrest for storage or use in a different location thereby minimizing theft and maximizing monitor utility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to video monitors for vehicles such as automobiles and the like and relates more particularly to a system for removably mounting a video monitor in a fixed base secured in a rear side of a headrest of the vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Prior Art

More frequently vehicles are being designed to accommodate video monitors, such as TFT LCD screens and the like designed to enable passengers to watch television programs, prerecorded tapes or DVDs, or to play video games, or even to access the Internet during a trip. Currently, such video monitors come in different sizes, 5″, 5.6″, 7″, etc., and they may be mounted in the sun visor, the dash or on the ceiling, in a console between the seats of a mini-van, but most commonly are supported behind or in the rear of the headrest of the front seats to entertain or educate passengers seated in the rear seats.

Moreover, such video monitors are often fixed in position in the vehicle, and generally difficult or impossible to remove. Thus, they commonly remain with the vehicle when the driver and passengers leave the vehicle, making them attractive targets for theft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a vehicle monitor which is easy to install in, and remove from, a vehicle for viewing by passengers in the rear seats of the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vehicle monitor of the type described which can be temporarily mounted in the headrests on the front seats of a vehicle.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a video monitor-housing assembly which is positionable in the vehicle headrest, providing an interconnection between the monitor and the housing to facilitate quick disconnection of circuitry between the two and easy reconnection of the circuitry.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a monitor-housing assembly designed to removably mount a video monitor to facilitate disengaging of the monitor from the vehicle backrest for storage or use in a different location thereby minimizing theft and maximizing monitor utility.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a monitor-housing assembly for a video monitor to be used in a vehicle which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and highly versatile in use.

Other and further objects of this invention will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with particular reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in combination wit the accompanying drawings.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The foregoing descriptions and drawing should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. As noted, the invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the preferred embodiments or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in general, and particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional headrest of a vehicle seat is shown in dotted lines at20. The nature of the vehicle seat itself or the headrest is not part of the instant inventive concepts. For all intents and purposes, however, substantially every front vehicle seat currently marketed carries a headrest. This invention takes advantage of this relatively universal headrest construction to provide a unique detachable vehicle monitor system.

A detachable vehicle monitor assembly according to this invention is designated generally by the reference numeral30inFIG. 1and is shown as including a video monitor32. As noted above, video monitors can be used for a variety of purposes. The video input can be fed from a separate DVD or tape player secured under the seat or elsewhere, and can even be received from a computer or the like. Similarly, the power source for the monitor is not a part of the instant inventive concepts and could be a battery of any sort, including the vehicle battery.

According to the preferred embodiment of the instant inventive concepts, the video monitor32cooperates with a housing34so that the video monitor32may removably be fitted in the housing34. When the video monitor32is secured in the housing34, the video monitor32is interconnected with a female electrical I/O port36of the housing. The video monitor32also cooperates with a biased release mechanism38which assists in releasing the video monitor32from the housing34upon actuation of a release button40.

When the monitor32and housing are engaged, video signals from input42are transferred through port36to the monitor32. Similarly, power from leads44,46is transferred to the monitor32.

For the interconnection of the monitor32and housing34, reference is generally made toFIGS. 2 through 7which illustrate the preferred interconnections between the monitor32and housing34as is generally shown inFIG. 2and is specifically shown in further detail inFIG. 4. A side32aof the video monitor32includes two recesses48a,48b. As shown in enlarged detail inFIG. 4, with reference to recess48a, for example, the recess48ais engaged by complementary shaped projection50aprojecting inwardly from interior sidewall52of housing34. The sidewall52extends downwardly from upper peripheral edge34aof the housing34.

Initially, the recesses48a,48bin sidewall32aof the monitor32are engaged by the sliding of sidewall32aof the monitor32into the interior of the housing in the direction of interior wall52with the monitor being inclined at an angle. After the recesses in sidewall32aare engaged by the projections in sidewall52(represented by projection50ainFIG. 4) then sidewall32bis moved into the interior34bof the housing so as to align sidewall32bwith sidewall34cof the housing.

Extending from the upper peripheral surface34din the encircled area34einFIG. 2is a release switch40. Release switch40may take the form of a push-type release button54shown inFIG. 5or slide release button assembly56as shown inFIGS. 6aand6b. However, these are but exemplary embodiments and the release switch may take many different forms known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

In the embodiment shown atFIG. 5, a push button56projects above wall34dof the housing34. The button56is biased by spring58into the position shown inFIG. 5. A cooperating pin60, extending perpendicular to push button56, includes projecting portion60awhich extends beyond interior wall34cof the housing as retained by flange60b. Pin60is biased into the position shown inFIG. 5by spring62.

An angled surface60cof pin60engages and cooperates with an angled surface56aat an opposite end from button56. Upon depression of button56, in a direction along its longitudinal axis, inclined surface56aengages inclined surface60cto force projecting portion60aof pin60against the bias force of the spring62to a position located within the interior of the sidewall of the housing. In this position, side32bmay be moved adjacent to side34cof the housing so that a corresponding recess (not shown) in sidewall32bof the monitor32is aligned with pin60. Upon release of button56, projecting portion60awill be forced out of the sidewall of the housing and into the corresponding recess of the monitor32and sidewall32b. The cooperation of the projecting portion60aand the sidewall of the monitor32will lock the monitor in place in the interior34bof the housing34.

An alternate arrangement of securing the monitor in the housing is shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B. In this embodiment, slide switch70is movable in opening72in the direction of arrow74. Extending downwardly from the switch70is member76which cooperates with a slide member78, biased by spring80to project outwardly from interior sidewall34cof the housing.

As shown in plan view ofFIG. 6B, the member76engages the sidewalls of a groove82of the slide member78. Upon sliding of the switch70in opening72, member76will engage the sidewalls of the recess82and force the slide member78rearwardly against the bias of the spring and into the interior of the sidewall of the housing. The monitor32may then be lowered into the interior34bof the housing. Upon movement of the switch70in an opposite direction the member76will be withdrawn from the groove82and by the bias force of spring80projecting member78awill extend into a corresponding recess (not shown) in the sidewall32bof the monitor.

When the monitor is fit into the interior opening34bof the housing, male terminal I/O port84projecting from the rear surface32cof the monitor32as shown inFIG. 7, will extend into and connect with port36on the interior of the housing.

Simultaneously, release mechanism38having a bar86biased by spring88as shown inFIG. 3, will extend into an opening90in the rear surface32cof the monitor. Rear surface32cwill force the bar86downwardly against the bias force of the spring88.

When the monitor is to be removed from the housing, by actuation of either of switch assemblies54or56, the release of engagement of the sidewall32bof the monitor will release the bias force of spring88so as to cause bar86to push the monitor32out of the interior34bof the housing. This will slightly elevate or project the monitor out of the housing and facilitate grabbing of end32bof the monitor. Continued inclination of the monitor will cause release the engagement of recesses48a,48bwith projections50a,50bin sidewall52of the housing.

The use and operation of the detachable vehicle monitor assembly of this invention will now be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. The video monitor can be readily removed from the monitor assembly for storage or use in another location. The housing of the monitor assembly itself is retained permanently in the headrest.

It will now be seen that this application discloses a detachable vehicle monitor assembly for a video monitor to be used in a vehicle which satisfies all of the foregoing objects, and others, providing many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance. The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the preferred embodiments or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.