Abstract:
An apparatus is used for providing programming. The apparatus comprises a display device having a clip for attaching the display device to another object and a main body for receiving the programming which is displayed on the display device. The main body either has a surface so that the main body sits on the object or a further object, or the main body has a hook for attaching the main body to one of the object or the further object. The apparatus further comprises a speaker unit which has a hinge portion. The speaker unit also have a hook for attaching the speaker unit to one of said further object, said another object and an additional object.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing programming, and which is particularly useful in an area having limited spaces in which the apparatus may be located.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In hospitalization, a patient is in bed most of the day. Watching television is an enjoyable pastime while lying in bed. Normally, the television receiver (hereinafter called TV) is placed on a bedside table or a movable over bed table. Unless the patient is in a private room, the patient desirably uses earphones because leakage of the TV sound may annoy others in the same room. Recently combination units of a TV and a video recording and reproducing apparatus such as a videocassette recorder (hereinafter called VCR), a digital disc driving device and the like have become popular. The combination unit is almost the same size as a TV only unit. With a combination unit, the patient can enjoy not only TV broadcasting but also video from the video reproducing apparatus. In addition, video and audio from the Internet can be reproduced on a TV.  
           [0003]    However, there is a problem with the use of a combination unit or a TV because the furniture on which the combination unit sits occupies space.  
           [0004]    Also, there is a problem because operation buttons for power supply, channel selection and the like are better to be near the patient to operate the buttons with the patient lying in bed. However, for the patient to watch TV, it is better for the screen to be slightly away from the patient. A remote controller might resolve this problem, but a place to keep the remote may be required. Also, the patient&#39;s ear may ache when using the earphone for a long time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An apparatus is used for providing programming. The apparatus includes a display device for displaying programming. The display device has a clip for attaching the display device to an object. The apparatus also includes a main body for receiving the programming which is displayed on the display device. The main body either has a surface so that the main body sits on the object or a further object, or the main body has a hook for attaching the main body to one of the object or the further object. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for providing programming in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a display device of the apparatus for providing programming.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the main body of the apparatus for providing programming.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3B is a back perspective view of the main body of the apparatus for providing programming according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a directional speaker unit of the apparatus for providing programming.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view depicting the display device of the apparatus for providing programming placed onto a bedside rail of a bed.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view depicting the main body of the apparatus for providing programming placed onto a bedside rail of a bed.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view depicting the directional speaker of the apparatus for providing programming placed on a bedside rail of a bed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter demonstrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same components.  
         [0015]    First, a description will be given regarding the structure of an apparatus for providing programming in a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Programming includes TV programs, movie, picture, data from the Internet, and so on.  
         [0016]    In FIGS. 1 through 7, a display device  1 , a main body  2 , and a directional speaker unit  3  are placed onto a bedside rail  5  of a bed  4 . A screen  11  such as a liquid crystal display screen (hereinafter called LCD screen) displays video such as from TV broadcasting and from a videocassette recorder. The display device  1  is attached onto the bedside rail  5  of the bed  4  using a clip portion  12 , and a movable joint portion  13  couples the LCD screen  11  to the clip portion  12  so that the LCD screen  11  can turn toward the patient&#39;s desired direction. The display device  1  is equipped with speakers  14 , and operation buttons  21  are provided in the main body  2  and in the directional speaker unit  3  to operate the TV and the VCR. A hook portion  22  is provided in the main body  2  for attaching the main body  2  to another object. The directional speaker unit  3  also has a hook portion  30  for attaching the directional speaker unit  3  onto desired portions. Videocassette insertion portion  23  is provided in the main body  2  for inserting a videocassette and a recess  24  is provided for housing the hook portion  22 . A card type storage medium insertion portion  25  houses a card type storage medium (not illustrated in the drawing) such as a memory card. The main body  2  has various kinds of terminals  26  to connect with outside sources of data. Thus, terminals  26  may connect with the Internet, for example, for downloading image and sound data. Alternatively, using a cable such as a coaxial cable, an optical cable, an electric power line, etc., the main body  2  receives information data from communication channel through terminals  26 . A hinge  31  provided in the directional speaker unit  3  enables to fold the speaker unit  3  at the hinge  31 .  
         [0017]    Next, a placing method of the apparatus for providing programming is described. In hospitalization, a patient may be bedridden. In order to use the apparatus for providing programming in this situation, the display device  1  and the main body  2  are attached onto the bedside rail  5  of the bed  4  as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    The display device  1  has the clip portion  12 , and the display device  1  can attach to the bedside rail  5  as shown in FIG. 5. The clip portion  12  is immovable by attaching it onto the bedside rail  5 , but the LCD display  11  is arbitrarily movable relative to the clip portion  12  at the joint portion  13 . So the patient can adjust the LCD display  11  to facilitate watching while lying in bed. The main body  2  has the hook portion  22  which can be housed into the recess  24  of the main body  2  when the hook portion  22  is not used. As FIG. 3B shows, the hook portion  22  is L-shaped and can rise to attach the main body  2  to the bedside rail  5 . Because the operation buttons  21  are provided on the main body  2 , the main body  2  is placed at hand. The directional speaker unit  3  has the hook portion  30  in the rear as well as the main body  2  to attach the speaker unit  3  to the bedside rail  5 . The speaker unit  3  is also equipped with the hinge  31  to fold the speaker unit  3 . An identification number of the speaker unit  3  may become visible by folding the speaker unit  3  at the hinge portion  31 . This is useful because the apparatus is intended for use in places such hospitals and there is thus a high probability of the apparatus being rented.  
         [0019]    The directional speaker unit  3  forms sound on a focused specified direction, and does not leak much sound to other directions. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3B, the speaker unit  3  is attached to the bedside rail  5  using the hook portion  30 . The display device  1 , the main body  2 , and the directional speaker unit  3  are connected with electrical cables to input and/or output electrical signals. Connection between the main body  2  and the speaker unit  3  may also be by wireless communication.  
         [0020]    Next, performance of the apparatus for providing programming apparatus for providing programming is described in accordance with this exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the television receiver is set up. The patient operates the apparatus for providing programming using the operation buttons  21  on the main body  2 . The operation buttons  21  control, for example, power, channel, volume, eject, video playback, fast forwarding, rewinding, stop, and so on. The patient turns on the power and selects a channel using the operation buttons  21 .  
         [0021]    Sound from the directional speaker unit  3  is focused on the patient, and does not leak much sound to undesired directions. As a result, troubling of other people in the same room is reduced. An earphone can be used to hear the sound by connecting to the main body  2 , instead of the directional speaker unit  3 .  
         [0022]    In order to enjoy video, the patient presses a tape eject button of the operation buttons  21  to open the cassette cover of the videocassette insertion portion  23  of the main body  2 . The patient inserts a desired videocassette into the video insertion portion  23  and presses a playback button after closing the cassette cover to enjoy the video. The patient can operate fast-forward, rewind, stop etc. in addition to the playback operation. The operation buttons  21  mentioned above are also provided on the directional speaker unit  3 , so the patient may use the buttons on the speaker unit  3 .  
         [0023]    A memory card may be inserted into the card type storage medium insertion portion  25  to read data from the memory card, and an external device, such as a game device to play games, can be connected to terminals  26 .  
         [0024]    Additionally, the display device  1 , the main body  2 , and the directional speaker unit  3  may be placed in other places mentioned above. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the clip portion  12  has a substantially planar surface. So the display device  1  can stand by itself by placing the planar surface of the clip portion  12  on a horizontal surface, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the display device  1  can sit on furniture such as a desk without being hooked. Also, the main body  2  can sit on the furniture without being hooked. The directional speaker unit  3  may be placed somewhere under a pillow, or by folding it at the hinge  31  to stand up by itself on the furniture even though it is a thin model speaker.  
         [0025]    In addition, the apparatus for providing programming can be used not only when the patient is in the hospital bed, but also when being in a bed at home. In that case, a speaker  14 , which is provided in the display device  1 , may be used, so connection between the directional speaker unit  3  and the main body  2  is not necessary since there is reduced concern about sound leakage.  
         [0026]    Usage of the apparatus for providing programming is not limited only in a bed, but also anywhere if there is an object to attach to, even when there is not enough space for placement of a conventional TV. Also, it can be placed on furniture such as a desk when there is no object to attach to.  
         [0027]    In addition to the LCD display device of the television receiver with VCR, the clip portion  12  may be provided to the LCD device for a game machine, a personal computer, and the like.  
         [0028]    As described above, the apparatus for providing programming is comprised of the display device  1 , the main body  2  having operation buttons  21  for operating the television receiver and videocassette recorder, and videocassette insertion portion  23 . The display device  1  is separated from the main body  2 , whereby the display  1  may be placed away from the patient while the main body  2  which is providing operation buttons is near to the patient, so it is easy to watch and operate them. And it is easy to find a suitable place because the display device  1  can be installed anywhere if there is a place where the clip portion  12  can attach to. The main body  2  also can be placed anywhere the hook portion  22  can attach to. This is effective in utilizing space and location.  
         [0029]    In other words, the display device  1  having the clip  12  which is movable against the LCD screen  11  and fixed by attaching onto a desired portion, and the main body  2  having L-shaped hook portion  22  for fixing by attaching a desired portion, are placed on the bedside rail  5  or other places without requiring much space.  
         [0030]    Further, the display device  1  can be placed even when there is nowhere to attach to because it can stand by itself on a desk or something with the LCD screen  11  almost perpendicular to the clip portion  12 .  
         [0031]    In addition, using the directional speaker unit  3 , sound leakage to others in the same room is prevented because the sound from the speaker focuses on the patient.  
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the invention is described using a VCR as an example. However, the built-in recording and playback device is not limited to a VCR. For example, a Digital Disk device (or other type of physical medium) can be used. In addition, the display screen device is not limited to a LCD. Flat type display device, such as a plasma display panel, FED element, and an electro luminescent display device, may be used. Further, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the operation buttons are located on the main body. However, it is understood that the operation buttons may be located in another location (for example on a remote control).