Patent Abstract:
An entertainment system includes a housing adapted for being mounted within a seat of a vehicle and a media unit housed within the housing and pivotably coupled to the housing. The housing includes at least one of a groove formed within a sidewall of the housing adapted to engage a movable latch of the media unit, a first flexible member provided on a sidewall of the housing to engage a portion of the media unit for snapping the media unit into place within the housing, or a second flexible member disposed in a face of the housing to provide a spring force on the media unit in a direction away from the housing.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/734,329 filed Nov. 7, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. This application is also a CIP of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/072,171, filed Mar. 4, 2005, which is a CIP of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/438,724, filed on May 15, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     1. TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an entertainment system, and more particularly to an entertainment system capable of being mounted in a seat (e.g. headrest) of a vehicle.  
       2. DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0003]     As society becomes more mobile and therefore spends a greater amount of time traveling and away from home, demand rises for electronic appliances and devices outside the home environment. For example, video screens have been mounted in the headrests of vehicles, facilitating video entertainment on the road. These video screens are connected to video players located, for example, in the glove box of the vehicle. However, the video player and video screen cannot be removed from the vehicle. Thus, videos may only be viewed with such systems when occupying the vehicle. In addition, there is also a risk of theft of the video screen and video player and corresponding damage to the vehicle when the vehicle is unattended. Further, a video screen and player that is not removable is difficult to replace or service.  
         [0004]     Therefore, a need exists for a video system which is easily removable from a headrest.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an entertainment system for a seat of a vehicle is provided. The entertainment system includes a housing adapted for being mounted within a seat of a vehicle and a media unit housed within the housing and pivotably coupled to the housing. The housing includes a groove formed within a sidewall of the housing adapted to engage a movable latch of the media unit.  
         [0006]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an entertainment system mounted in a headrest of a seat of a vehicle is provided. The entertainment system includes a media unit housing mounted within the headrest. The housing having a first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall and fourth sidewall and a face. The first and second sidewalls being connected to each other via the third and fourth sidewalls, and the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls each being substantially perpendicular to the face, and wherein the housing includes a pair of first flexible members provided on the second sidewall of the housing. In addition, the entertainment system includes a media unit housed within the housing and pivotably coupled to the housing, wherein the first flexible members snap over a pair of tabs located on a surface of the media unit to hold the media unit in place within the housing.  
         [0007]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a support structure for supporting an entertainment system within a seat of a vehicle is provided. The support structure includes a housing adapted for being mounted within the seat of a vehicle and for pivotably housing a media unit therein. Moreover, the housing includes first biased members disposed within a face of the housing to provide a force on the media unit in a direction away from the housing.  
         [0008]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connection assembly for electrically connecting a media unit housed within a seat of a vehicle to wire leads running through the seat of the vehicle is provided. The electrical connection assembly includes an electrical connector having first and second opposing pin connectors, a first mating pin connector positioned in the seat of the vehicle, and a second mating pin connector positioned in the media unit. The first opposing pin connector connects to the first mating pin connector and the second opposing pin connector connects to the second mating pin connector.  
         [0009]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an entertainment system for a seat of a vehicle is provided. The entertainment system includes a housing adapted for being mounted within a seat of a vehicle and a media unit housed within the housing and pivotably coupled to the housing. The housing includes at least one of a groove formed within a sidewall of the housing adapted to engage a movable latch of the media unit, a first flexible member provided on a sidewall of the housing to engage a portion of the media unit for snapping the media unit into place within the housing, or a second flexible member disposed in a face of the housing to provide a spring force on the media unit in a direction away from the housing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  shows a front view of an entertainment system including a media unit coupled to a housing mounted in a headrest, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIGS. 1B and 1D  show top views of the entertainment system of  FIG. 1A  with the media unit pivoted outward with respect to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 1C and 1E  show front views of the entertainment system of  FIG. 1A  with the media unit pivoted outward with respect to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 1F-1H  show sides views of the entertainment system of  FIG. 1A  with the media unit pivoted outward with respect to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show front views of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  shows a front view of the entertainment system with the media unit pivoted outward with respect to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  shows a rear view of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2E  shows a top view of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2F  shows a bottom view of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2G  shows a side view of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2H  shows a side view of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, with the media unit pivoted outward with respect to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  shows a close-up view of a tab engaged with a slot for restricting pivoting of the media unit with respect to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3B  shows a close-up view of the tab of  FIG. 3A  in the extended position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3C  shows a close-up view of the tab of  FIG. 3A  in the retracted position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  shows a front view of a headrest including a wired connection, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  shows a close-up view of the wired connection shown in  FIG. 4A , according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  shows a front view of the entertainment system including the media unit coupled to the housing, with a trim portion removed from the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5B  shows a front view of the trim portion referred to in the description of  FIG. 5A , according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5C  shows a close-up front view of a hinge portion coupling the media unit to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5D  shows a close-up side view of a hinge portion coupling the media unit to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5E  shows a close-up front view of recesses for receiving fixing devices for fixing the hinge portion of  FIGS. 5C-5D  to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5F  shows a close-up front view of another hinge portion coupling the media unit to the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 5G  shows a side view of the housing including a recess for receiving the hinge portion of  FIG. 5F , according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 6A  shows a front view of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6B  shows a rear view of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 6C  shows a bottom view of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6D  shows a close-up front view of part of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 6E  shows a close-up rear view of part of the trim portion, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIGS. 7A-7B  show an electrical connector running from the media unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 7C  shows a connector positioned in the media unit for receiving the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 7D , according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 7D  shows an electrical connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0042]      FIGS. 7E-7F  show a cover for holding the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 7D  in place on the media unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0043]     Disclosed is an entertainment system capable of being mounted in a seat of a vehicle. For example, the entertainment system includes a housing mounted in a headrest of a seat of a vehicle, such as, for example, an automobile, minivan or sport utility vehicle (SUV). The housing may also be mounted in a body of a vehicle seat. The entertainment system further includes a media unit that is pivotably coupled to the housing.  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1H  and  2 A- 2 H, a headrest  10  includes an entertainment system  100  mounted therein. The entertainment system  100  includes a housing  110  and a media unit  120 , which is coupled to the housing  110 . Moreover, the media unit  120  includes a display  130  having a screen for displaying video. The screen is preferably an LCD type display, but may be another type of display, such as, for example, an organic LED or electro-luminescent display.  
         [0045]     In one embodiment, an LCD simultaneously displays different content in right and left viewing directions by directionally controlling the viewing angle of the LCD. In other words, one passenger can see a program from a first media source from a right side of the display, while another can see a program from a second media source from the left side of the display. The simultaneous display of different content on the display (e.g., display  130 ), is accomplished by superimposing a parallax barrier on a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD to enable light from a backlight to separate into right and left directions.  
         [0046]     In the present exemplary embodiment, video is supplied from a media source, for example, a DVD player  140  provided behind the display  130 . The media source may also be, for example, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, a wireless receiver, an MP3 player, a digital video recorder (DVR), a device for playing media supplied from a portable storage device (e.g., a portable hard drive, memory cards, flash memory sticks, key drives, thumb drives) and/or a device for playing media supplied from a portable media player, such as for example, an audio or video ipod®. The media unit  120  may include a memory device, for example, a DVR, which receives and stores video programming, and hardware for playing such programming. Alternatively, the display  130  can be electrically connected to an auxiliary media source through auxiliary port  142 .  
         [0047]     In another alternative, the display  130  is electrically connected to a media source, for example, another DVD player in another headrest, via a wired connection running from the media unit  120 . Referring to  FIGS. 2B, 2D ,  2 F and  7 A- 7 D, the wired connection running from the media unit  120  preferably includes a two-headed electrical connector  150 , including, for example, pin connectors  151  and  152 . The pin connector  151  connects to a mating pin connector  153  positioned in the headrest  10  (see  FIGS. 4A-4B ), which is, in turn, connected to wire leads running through the headrest support rods  15  to connect to a wire harness or a distribution box (not shown). By unplugging the pin connectors  151 ,  153  from each other, a user is able to remove the media unit  120  from the headrest  10  without cutting or pulling apart the wires. The pin connector  152  connects to a mating pin connector  154  positioned in the media unit  120 .  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7F , the electrical connector  150  is positioned at a rear portion of the media unit  120 , with pin connector  152  connected to pin connector  154 . Connector  150  is held in place by cover  155 , which includes a hole  156  for receiving a fixing device, such as, for example, a screw  157 , and tabs  158  for fitting into slots  159  on the media unit  120 . Referring to  FIGS. 2D, 5E  and  6 A- 6 C, the housing  110  includes opening  169  through which wires (e.g., connector  150 ) can be fed.  
         [0049]     The wired connection preferably carries, for example, power, ground, and audio/video inputs and outputs. For example, video from DVD player  140  may be supplied via the wired connection, including electrical connector  150  and connectors  151 - 154 , to a display located in another headrest of the vehicle. The wired connection may also carry control signals for a wireless FM modulator for supplying wireless audio to a vehicle sound system or to wireless headphones.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 2A ,  2 B and  5 A, the front face of the media unit  120  includes a plurality of control buttons, for example, a power button  141 , a screen mode button  143  for controlling aspect ratio, play and stop buttons  145  for controlling play of a video program and a source button  147  for controlling the source of a program (e.g., DVD or auxiliary input). Depending on the selected sources for each media unit, multiple displays in multiple headrests may simultaneously play the same or different programs. The media unit  120  also includes an infrared transmitter and receiver  146  for transmitting, for example, wireless audio signals to wireless headphones, and for receiving remote control signals. A headphone jack  148  is also positioned on the front face of the media unit  120 .  
         [0051]     The media unit  120  includes slits  168  formed in the body thereof, creating openings to facilitate ventilation and the passage of sound from, for example, a speaker (not shown) provided in the body of the media unit  120 .  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIGS. 2C, 2D ,  6 A,  6 B and  6 D, the housing  110  includes a plurality of recesses  160  for receiving fixing devices, such as screws  161  for mounting the housing  110  to a rigid portion of the headrest  10  (see  FIG. 4A ). Referring to  FIGS. 2C, 2E  and  6 A- 6 B; the housing  110  also includes a plurality of flexible members  162 , which flex upward by pressure from tabs  163  (see  FIG. 1D ) when the media unit  120  is pivoted into the housing  110 . Once the tabs  163  pass the flexible members  162 , the flexible members flex back downward to hold the media unit  120  in place. When the media unit  120  is pivoted out of the housing (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1B-1C ), the members  162  flex back upward similar to when the media unit  120  is pivoted into the housing  110  to allow the media unit  120  to freely rotate. The above-mentioned engagement between the flexible members  162  and the tabs  163  allows for the media unit  120  to be readily snapped into and/or removed from the housing  110  of the entertainment system without the use of any fasteners, such as, for example, screws, bolts, nails, tools, or the like. Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow for the media unit  120  to be installed and/or removed with very little effort, which in turn saves on installation time and avoids having to return the whole headrest but rather only the media unit  120  itself, if the media unit  120  needs to be repaired.  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  2 A,  2 B,  2 E and  5 A, the media unit  120  includes a tab  167  that can be gripped by a user to pull the media unit  120  out from a secured position in the housing  110 . The tab  167  is positioned at a top center portion of the front face of the media unit  120 .  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIGS. 1C, 1E ,  2 C,  2 D,  6 A,  6 B and  6 D, the housing  110  includes flexible members  172  provided within for example, a front face of the housing, which flex toward the vehicle seat when the media unit  120  is pivoted into the housing  110  and held in place by the flexible members  162 . When the media unit  120  is pivoted out of the housing (see e.g.,  FIGS. 1B-1C ), the members  172  flex away from the seat to provide a spring force on the media unit  120  to facilitate rotation of the media unit  120  away from the housing  110 .  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIGS. 5A, 5B ,  6 A and  6 E, the housing  110  includes a trim portion  175 , which is removed from and coupled to the housing by manipulating snap-fit mechanisms. For example, the trim portion  175  includes tabs  176  and  177 , which snap-fit into recesses  178  and  179 , respectively. The trim portion  175  and the media unit  120  may be provided in different colors to fit with various interior color schemes of a vehicle.  
         [0056]     Referring to  FIG. 5A , when the trim portion  175  is removed, a user/installer is able to access a part of the housing  110  to which a hinge portion  180  is coupled. As shown in  FIGS. 5C-5E , the hinge portion  180  includes a plate  181 , through which fixing devices, such as, for example, screws  182 , are driven into recesses  183  formed in the housing  110 . Referring to  FIGS. 5F-5G , a second hinge portion  184 , formed on a side of the media unit  120  opposite to the side on which the hinge portion  180  is formed, fits into a recess  185  formed in the housing  110 . As a result, the media unit  120  is coupled to the housing  110  via hinge portions  180  and  184 .  
         [0057]     As shown in  FIGS. 1B-1H ,  2 C and  2 H, the media unit  120  can be pivoted outward with respect to the housing  110  to adjust a viewing angle of the display  130  and to provide access to a media source  140  to insert or remove a media storage medium, such as, for example, a DVD. The media storage medium insertion point  149  and control buttons  144  for the media source  140 , such as, for example, an “eject” button, can be located on a top side of the media unit  120 .  
         [0058]     The hinge arrangement permits rotation of the media unit with respect to the housing in the range of approximately 0° to approximately 135°. Alternative hinges known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be used and the angle range of rotation may be varied to be greater or smaller depending on design preferences.  
         [0059]     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3C  (see also  FIGS. 1D, 1E ,  2 D,  2 H and  7 A- 7 C), the media unit  120  includes a tab  190  on a back side thereof that can be extended to engage a curved slot/groove  191  formed in a sidewall of the housing  110 . The groove  191  follows the rotation of the media unit  120  with respect to the housing  110  and, as shown in  FIGS. 2G-2H , engagement of the tab  190  with the groove  191  restricts an angle of rotation of media unit  120  in a range of approximately 0° to approximately 45°.  
         [0060]     As shown in  FIGS. 3B-3C , the tab  190  can be extended or retracted by sliding a handle  192  attached to the tab  190  in opposite lateral directions. When the tab  190  is in the retracted position as shown in  FIG. 3C , the tab  190  is not engaged with the groove  191 . As a result, the media unit  120  can be pivoted to angles greater than about 45°, to, for example, about 90° and about 135° with respect to the housing  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 1C-1E  and  1 G. As shown in  FIG. 1E , pivoting the media unit  120  to greater angles with respect to the housing  110  permits access to fixing devices  161  for coupling the housing  110  to the headrest  10 , and to electrical connectors  151  and  153  to facilitate removal of the housing and/or media unit from the seat.  
         [0061]     In an embodiment, the media unit  120  can be operated when the media unit  120  is not positioned in the housing  110 . The media unit  120  may receive power by connecting to a specialized battery or battery pack, household batteries and/or an AC/DC adapter. The connection between the battery pack and the media unit  120  may be provided through any appropriate electrical contracts, for example, contacts for connecting to Lithium or NiCad batteries. The media unit  120  can connect to an AC/DC adapter via an AC/DC adapter port. Alternatively, a battery housing in the media unit  120  can be used to receive household batteries or compact battery packs.  
         [0062]     Having described the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is further noted that it is readily apparent to those of reasonable skill in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1