Abstract:
An automobile theater system including a display screen adapted for use with a single automobile. A movable canopy provides a viewing chamber extending between the screen and the automobile. The theater system may be fixed in a stationary position or supported on a mobile platform.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a theater system and, more particularly, to a system adapted for use with an automobile. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]    [0002]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in partial schematic, of the automobile theater system of the present invention as seen from the front and left;  
         [0003]    [0003]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the automobile theater system of FIG. 1;  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of automobile theater systems of the present invention as seen from the top, front and right;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the automobile theater system of the present invention; and  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of anther embodiment of the automobile theater system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the automobile theater system  10  of the present invention is illustrated for use in connection with a motor vehicle, including an automobile  12 . It should be noted that the system  10 , as described below, may be positioned in any facility conventionally accessible to an automobile  12 , including, but not limited to surface parking lots and parking garages.  
         [0008]    If the automobile theater system  10  is provided in a conventional parking facility, it may be envisioned that the parking facility may be used for parking of automobiles  12  during daylight hours and utilized for displaying of audio-visual works at night.  
         [0009]    The theater system  10  includes a display screen  14  supported by a support structure  16 . The support structure  16  may comprise a conventional stand or, alternatively, may comprise a wall, such as that found in a parking garage. A projector  18  is provided in proximity to the support structure  16  for displaying a desired audio-visual work, such as a movie or video, on the screen  14 .  
         [0010]    A hood or canopy  20  is provided in proximity to the screen  14  and is preferably supported by the stand  16 . The canopy  20  includes opaque walls  21  which may be extended or retracted in order to provide a viewing chamber  22  for passengers within the automobile  12 . The viewing chamber  22  as provided by the canopy  20  provides for privacy to the viewers of the audio-visual work and eliminates undesired distractions. The canopy  20  is operably connected to a linear actuator  24 , preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. As may be readily appreciated, extension of the actuator  24  results in telescoping movement of the canopy  20  away from the support structure  16  and towards the automobile  12 . A fringe element  26  is supported by the canopy  20  and may contact the automobile  12  to provide a substantially light impermeable seal therebetween.  
         [0011]    A controller  28  controls the operation of the projector  18  and the actuator  24  (FIG. 1). A positioning sensor  30  is provided for detecting a position of the automobile  12 . More particularly, the positioning sensor  30  is positioned within a locating notch  31  within supporting pavement  32  for detecting a proper location of a front wheel  33  of the automobile  12 . When the wheel  33  is properly positioned as detected by the positioning sensor  30 , it transmits a signal to the controller  28 . As such, the controller  28  determines that the automobile  12  is in position for viewing an audio-visual work at the screen  14 .  
         [0012]    A control stand  34  may be provided adjacent the driver&#39;s side door  35  of the automobile  12 . The control stand  34  may include a selection entry pad  36  for entry of information regarding a desired audio-visual work and a speaker  37  (FIG. 2) where audio may be transmitted to the occupants of the automobile  12 . It may also be appreciated that audio may be transmitted from the projector  18  in a wireless fashion to the radio (not shown) of the automobile  12 .  
         [0013]    Turning now to FIG. 3, a plurality of automobile theater systems  10  are illustrated in operation. The systems  10  may be utilized with conventional parking spaces in parallel disposition.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIG. 4, a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated as including a plurality of automobile theater systems  10  disposed on a mobile platform  38 . The mobile platform  38  is preferably supported by a trailer  40  including a plurality of wheels  42  such that the platform  38  may be moved to various locations. For example, the platform  38  may be provided in one location for a first duration of time and then moved to a remote second location for a second duration of time. It is envisioned that additional mobile trailers (not shown) may be provided for restroom and concession facilities in connection with the trailer  40 .  
         [0015]    Turning now to FIG. 5, a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated as including a plurality of automobile theater systems  10  utilized at a retrofitted conventional drive-in movie theater. More particularly, the individual parking spaces may each be provided with a single automobile theater system  10  for individual viewing.  
         [0016]    It should be appreciated that the controller  28  supplies audio-visual works to each individual automobile theater system  10  on demand. In other words, when a plurality of automobile theater systems  10  are utilized in a single location, each automobile may be supplied with a different audio-visual work beginning at any time selected by the viewer. The occupants of the automobile  12  have the freedom to select one of a plurality of audio-visual works for viewing on the screen  14  and for determining when the audio-visual work should begin playing. Provisions may be provided in the control stand  34  for controlling display of the audio-visual work, for example, stopping or pausing playback.