Abstract:
The present invention is about a car multimedia device and an iPod support bracket. The said car multimedia device includes a main body, an extendable iPod docking installed in the said main body and a detachable iPod support bracket which can buckle into the slot of the said docking. Insert slots are provided on the slot of the said iPod docking and the said iPod support bracket so that the iPod plug can extend and connect to the iPod player. The said iPod support bracket includes a supporting board. The said supporting board involves an iPod notch on the lower surface of the said supporting board. An insert slot is on the bottom of the said notch for inserting the iPod plug. On the upper surface of the said supporting board, two stoppers extend upward along both left &amp; right sides of the said iPod notch to surround the iPod player. The present invention uses an extendable iPod docking to hold the iPod and a detachable iPod support bracket to provide firm support for the iPod. Therefore, the car multimedia device in the present invention features easy operation, attractive appearance, high stability and adaptability.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention involves a multimedia player, precisely, a car multimedia device with iPod docking and an iPod support bracket. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the global sale of various iPod musical players, a large number of multimedia devices, for example various audio systems start to introduce iPod player-supporting interfaces.  FIG. 1  shows a current player-supporting multimedia device. As shown in  FIG. 1 , multimedia device  1  has an input terminal  2  to receive external audio/video signals for playing. To play the audio/video contents in iPod  5 , a specific external iPod slot  6  needs to be purchased additionally. The specific external iPod slot  6  connects a signal output line  4  and an input terminal  2  on the multimedia player  1  through an output terminal  3  at the end then transfer the audio/video contents stored in iPod  6  to multimedia device  1  for playing. Besides, the specific external iPod slot  6  also needs power supply such as a USB interface  7  to supply power to slot  6 . 
         [0003]    While used as a car multimedia device, apparently the current solution of connecting the iPod player by a specific external slot has many limitations. First of all, the placing and mounting of the external slot is an issue that needs to be addressed, as a car would produce strong bumping during its starting. Secondly, iPod player can only insert into the slot via the interface at the bottom. This mounting method obviously can not stand the bumping of the car and easily cause the damage at the interface. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention aims at the technical solution in addressing the above-mentioned limitation of current technology, presenting a car multimedia device which can be firmly inserted into the iPod player and easy to be operated, also, the iPod can be mounted in the iPod docking through a specially-designed iPod support bracket. 
         [0005]    The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the technical issue is: presenting an iPod support bracket including a supporting board. The said supporting board involves an iPod notch on the lower surface of the said supporting board. There is an insert slot on the bottom of the said notch for inserting the iPod plug. On the upper surface of the said supporting board, two stoppers extend upward along both left &amp; right sides of the said iPod notch to surround the iPod player. 
         [0006]    In the side iPod support bracket, there is a back wall on the upper surface of the supporting board for connecting the two stoppers. The upper end of the back wall forms a hanging arm for installing the said iPod support bracket. The external of the said hanging arm extends downward and forms at least two heaves. 
         [0007]    In the said iPod support bracket, at least two hooks extend from the front wall of the iPod notch. 
         [0008]    In the said iPod support bracket, there is a buckle set at the back of the iPod notch on the lower surface of the said supporting board. 
         [0009]    Another technical solution adopted in the present invention to solve the technical problem is: presenting a car multimedia device, including a main body, an extendable iPod docking which is mounted on the main body and a detachable iPod docking which can buckle into the slot on the said docking. Insert slots are provided on the slot of the said iPod docking and the said iPod support bracket so that the iPod plug can extend and connect with the iPod player. 
         [0010]    In the said car multimedia device, the said iPod support bracket includes a supporting board which locates on the upper edge of the said slot. The said supporting board has an iPod notch on its lower surface which runs through the said supporting board. The said notch has an insert slot on its bottom for the said iPod plug to extend. On the upper surface of the said supporting board, two stoppers extend upward along both left &amp; right sides of the said iPod notch to surround the iPod player. 
         [0011]    In the said car multimedia device, there is a back wall on the upper surface of the supporting board for connecting the two stoppers. The upper end of the back wall forms a hanging arm for installing the said iPod support bracket. The external of the said hanging arm extends downward and forms at least two heaves. 
         [0012]    In the said car multimedia device, at least two hooks extend from the front wall of the said iPod notch. 
         [0013]    In the said car multimedia device, the said iPod docking includes a sliding bush which is mounted within the main body, an upper cover and a lower cover which is held in the said sliding cover and can move relatively to the said sliding bush. The front of the upper surface of the said upper cover forms the said slot. 
         [0014]    In the said car multimedia device, there is a buckle set on the back of the iPod notch of the said supporting board&#39;s lower surface and an elastic buckle is mounted on the back of the said slot of the said upper cover&#39;s lower surface. The front hook on the said elastic buckle runs through the said slot&#39;s back wall to buckle into the said buckle set. 
         [0015]    In the car multimedia device, the back of the said upper cover&#39;s upper surface forms an annular sliding bush. The said annular sliding bush has the first and second stopping points defining respectively the retracting and extending positions of the iPod docking, a navigating rod—one of its ends can rotate and is installed on the said sliding bush, the other end moves along the said annular sliding bush. 
         [0016]    In the said car multimedia device, there is a toothed guide on the said upper cover&#39;s upper surface. It meshes with the belt gear on the said sliding bush. There is a pulling spring buckled in the center of the said navigating rod. The other end of the said pulling spring connects with the back of the sliding bush. 
         [0017]    The present invention is to improve the current car multimedia device, equipped with an iPod docking which can open (extend) and close (retract) on the main body in order to insert the iPod. It uses a detachable iPod support bracket buckle to provide firm support for the iPod docking. Also, in the car multimedia device of the present invention, different-sized iPod support brackets can be installed in the iPod docking in order to fit the various models and sizes of iPod that users may use. Therefore, the car multimedia device in the present invention features easy operation, attractive appearance, high stability and adaptability. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is the sketch map of the multimedia device&#39;s inserting into the iPod player in the current technology; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is the front view of the car multimedia device&#39;s extended status in the iPod docking in The present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is the side view of the car multimedia device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is the A-A cutaway view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is the planform of the car multimedia device in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is the structural sketch map of the iPod support bracket used by the car multimedia device in the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is the structural sketch map from another angle of the iPod support bracket in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is the structural explosion view of the iPod docking in the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is the enlarged view of the portion B in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is the enlarged view of the portion C in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is the enlarged view of the portion D in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is the planform of the retracting status of the car multimedia device in the iPod docking in The present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is the E-E cutaway view in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is the enlarged view of the portion F in  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Below is the further introduction of the present invention, combined with figures and carrying-out example: 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the car multimedia device in an example of the present invention includes main body  20 , extendable iPod docking  40  which is mounted in the main body  20  and a detachable iPod support bracket  30  which buckles into docking  40 . An iPod player  10  inserts into support bracket  30  and connects the car multimedia device through a specific iPod interface. AS details shown in  FIG. 1 , iPod docking  40  is installed in the center of the main body. It drives docking  40  to extend and retract via an extending/retracting mechanism. Detailed structure will be introduced later. Besides, main body  20  can also be equipped with various other components in the current technology, such as FM, volume adjustment, playing control and so on. 
         [0034]    Combined with  FIG. 8 , following content introduces the detailed structure of iPod docking  40  used by the car multimedia device in the present invention. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , iPod docking  40  is mainly composed of an upper cover  41 , lower cover  42 , a sliding bush  43  and a panel  44 . The upper cover  41  has a top board  416  and two side walls  417   a  and  417   b  which extend downward from both sides of the top board. The bottom external sides of the two side walls  417   a  and  417   b  form steps  410   a  and  410   b.  The lower cover  42  has a bottom board  423  and two side walls  422   a  and  422   b  which extend upward from both sides of the bottom board  423 . The thickness of the lower cover  42 &#39;s two side walls  422   a  and  422   b  corresponding to the steps  410   a  and  410   b  that are formed from the bottom of the upper cover  41 &#39;s two side walls. After the closing-up of upper cover  41  and lower cover  42 , slide them into sliding bush  43  (Refer to  FIG. 13 ), the sliding bush  43 &#39;s two internal side walls form heaves  437   a  and  437   b.  Heave  437   a/   437   b  embeds into the gap between steps  410   a/   410   b  of upper cover  41 &#39;s side wall bottom and the upper part of lower cover  40 &#39;s side walls  422   a/   422   b  (Refer to  FIG. 14 ), making upper cover  41  and lower cover  42  slide back and forth within sliding bush  43  after their closing up. Also as shown in  FIG. 8 , panel  44  is installed at the front of the closed upper cover  41  and lower cover  42 . Panel  44  includes a decoration ring  441  and a lens  442 , joined by LCD  443  located on the bottom board  42 , backlight source  444  and display control circuit board  445 , providing the display of various information of the car multimedia device. 
         [0036]    As details shown in  FIG. 8 , the front of the upper cover  41 &#39;s top board  461  forms a sinking slot  411 . Insert slot  413  locates in the center of slot  411 &#39;s bottom, for iPod plug  46  of plug-in circuit board  45  to run through in order to connect the interface on the bottom of the iPod player  10  (Refer to  FIG. 4 ). Plug-in circuit board  45  is mounted on the many poles of lower cover  45 . The external edge of slot  411  forms joint steps  419 . The front side wall of the slot opens two slot  414   a  and  414   b  for the installation of the iPod support bracket  30 . Detailed introduction will be given later. Besides, the back of upper cover  41 &#39;s top board  416  has a toothed guide  412 . Guide  412  meshes with gear  50  of pole  436  mounted on sliding push  43 &#39;s surface (Refer to  FIG. 5 ). Also, annular runner  415  forms on the upper cover  41 &#39;s top board. The first and second stopping points locate on the front and back of the annular runner  415 . There is position deflection on the horizontal direction between the first stopping point  415   a  and the second stopping point  415   b.    
         [0037]    Refer to  FIG. 8  again, sliding bush  43  is used to make upper cover  41  and lower cover  42  to slide within the sliding bush after their closing up. There are mounting sections  432   a,    432   b  on the upper and lower surfaces of the sliding bush&#39;s front to mount the sliding bush  43  within main body  20  by screws. Corresponding to guide  412  of upper cover  41 , there is a guide cover on sliding bush  43 . Guide  412  moves within runner  4311  which is enclosed by guide cover  431 . Also, there is a gap  4312  on the back of guide cover  431  in order to let guide  412  in it to come out to mesh with gear  50  (Refer to  FIG. 5 ). At the center of sliding bush  43 &#39;s upper surface, immediately next to guide cover  431 , forms a sinking space  438 . Pole  435  extends from sinking space  438 . There is also a bridgeware  433  above the back of this sinking space. A navigating rod  48  is mounted on pole  435  via the end axis hole  483  and can rotate around the pole  435 . The other end of navigating rod  48  extends from the lower part of the bridgeware  433 . The navigating head  481 , the other end of navigating rod  48  which is extended downward, is placed in annular runner  415  of the upper cover&#39;s upper surface and can move along this annular runner. A spring hook  482  locates at about the center of the navigating rod  48 . One end of the pulling spring  49  is hooked on the hook  482 . The other end of pulling spring  49  is hooked on spring hook  434  of bridgeware  433 . 
         [0038]    Combined with  FIGS. 5 &amp; 12 , a detailed introduction will be given in fellow on the opening (extending) &amp; closing (retracting) movements of the iPod docking used in the car media device of the present invention. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows the planform of iPod docking in extending status. In this status, within sliding bush  43 , closed upper cover  41  and lower cover  42  (not shown in the figure) move relatively to sliding bush  43  and extend from main body  20 . At this time, the slot on upper cover  41  comes out. After mounting iPod support bracket  30 , the iPod player can now be inserted. Details as shown in  FIG. 5 , during upper cover  41 &#39;s coming out from main body  20 , navigating head  481  of navigating rod  48  moves along the trough at the right side of annular runner  415  on upper cover  41  up to second stopping point  415   b  at the back of annular runner  415  and stops there, keeping the iPod docking in its extending status. At this time, the pulling spring is in its initial status, gear  50  rotates clockwise with guide  412 &#39;s forward movement, causing spring  51  mounted in gear  50  to deform. 
         [0040]    When a user does not need to use the iPod player and wants to turn the iPod docking off, all he/she needs to do is to slightly push the front of the iPod docking inward, letting navigating head  481  of navigating rod  48  to get away from the restriction of second stopping point  415   b.  Thus, since spring  51  deforms when opening the iPod docking, the elasticity of restoring spring  51  will bring gear  50  to rotate counterclockwise, then drive the meshed guide  412  to move backward, causing upper cover  41  and lower cover  42  which are closed up in sliding bush  43  to slide backward and retract into main body  20 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . During the iPod docking&#39;s retracting into the main body from its extending position, navigating head  581  of navigating rod  58  moves along the left trough of annular runner  415  from the second stopping point to the first stopping point at the front of annular runner  415  and stops there, keeping the iPod docking in its closing status. At this time, spring  49  is in its stretching status, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0041]    When a user needs to use the iPod player and wants to open the iPod docking, he/she only needs to slightly push the front of the iPod docking inward, letting navigating head  481  of navigating rod  48  to get away from the restriction of first stopping point  415   a.  Thus, the elasticity of restoring pulling spring  49  will bring navigating head  481  of navigating rod  48  to move along the left trough of annular runner  415  from first stopping point  415   a  to second stopping point  415   b,  gradually open the iPod docking and keep the opening status when the navigating head of the navigating rod stops at second stopping point  415   b.  During this process, guide  412  moves forward to drive gear  50  to rotate clockwise, causing spring  51  to rotate. 
         [0042]    Combined with the figures, an introduction will be given in below about the extendable iPod docking used by the car multimedia device in an example of the present invention. Obviously, the car multimedia device in the present invention can also use other extending mechanism in current technology to realize the opening and closing of the iPod docking. 
         [0043]    Since the car multimedia device must have good durability for various bumping situations occurred during driving, that is, a reliable connection between the iPod player and the car multimedia device must be maintained. The present invention has a specially designed detachable iPod support bracket to support the iPod player. When a user needs to insert the iPod player into the car multimedia device, he/she may first mount an iPod support bracket whose model and size matches the iPod player on the extended slot of the car multimedia device in order to provide reliable support. When a user doesn&#39;t need to use the iPod player and wants to turn it off, he/she can take the iPod support bracket off directly. Combined with  FIGS. 6&amp;7 , a detailed instruction of the iPod support bracket&#39;s structure will be given below. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 , iPod support bracket  30  includes a supporting board  31 . From the upper surface of supporting board  31 , stopper  33   a,    33   b  and back wall  34  extend so that to surround the iPod player. iPod notch  32  locates on the lower surface of supporting board  31  which runs through supporting board  31 . Insert slot  38  locates on the bottom of iPod notch  32  so that the iPod plug can run through and connect with the iPod player (Refer to  FIG. 4 ). Details as shown in  FIG. 6 , iPod notch  32  provides a notch corresponding the profile of the iPod player. The two stoppers  33   a  and  33   b  are arranged in symmetry along iPod notch  32 , having the similar profile of the iPod player to surround a notch corresponding to the thickness and breadth of the iPod player. Back wall  34  connects the two stoppers  33   a  and  33   b.  The upper part of back wall  34  extends horizontally, forming hanging arm  35 . The external of hanging arm  35  extends downward, forming two heaves  39   a  and  39   b.  Besides, the front wall of iPod notch  32  connects the two hooks  36   a  and  36   b.  Hook set  37  locates at the back of iPod notch  32  on the lower surface of supporting board  31 . 
         [0045]    Please refer to  FIG. 4  &amp;  FIG. 9-11  for the installation of iPod support bracket  30 . When inserting iPod support bracket  30  into slot  411  which is formed on upper cover  41 , first buckle hook  36  ( 36   a  &amp;  36   b ) which is at the front of iPod support bracket  30  into the corresponding slot  414  ( 414   a  &amp;  414   b ) which is on the front side wall of slot  411 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, buckle heave  39  ( 39   a  &amp;  39   b ) on iPod support bracket  30 &#39;s hanging arm into slot  21  which is formed at the upper part of main body  20 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . During buckling down iPod support bracket  30 , hook  473  of elastic buckle  47  which is mounted on the lower surface of upper cover  41  runs through the gap on back wall  418  of slot  411  and buckles into buckle set  37  of iPod support bracket  30 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Finally, supporting board  31  positions itself on step  419  which is formed by the external of slot  411 . Detailed structure of elastic buckle  47  is shown in  FIG. 8 , including a faxed flat-board section  471  and a V section  472  which is extended from one side of the fixed section  471 . The end of V section  472  forms a hook  473 . The elastic buckle is mounted on the lower surface of upper cover  41  through fixed section  471 , the elastic deformation generated by V section  472  makes hook  473  either buckle into the buckle set  37  on iPod support bracket  30  or release from it. 
         [0046]    Thanks to the above special design, the iPod support bracket used in the present invention may firmly buckle into the iPod docking. iPod specified plug  46  runs through iPod Insert slot  413  within slot  411  on upper cover  41  and iPod Insert slot  38  within iPod notch  32  on the iPod support bracket to connect the interface of iPod player  10 . Also, it is very easy to disassemble the iPod support bracket  30 , first, pulling out heaves  39   a  and  39   b  on the hanging arm, at this time, the elastic buckle will get away from iPod support bracket  30 &#39;s buckle set  37 , then pulling the hooks  36   a  and  36   b  at the front of iPod support bracket  30  from the corresponding slots  414   a  and  414   b,  the entire iPod support bracket  30  will be removed from slot  411  of upper cover  41 . 
         [0047]    Combined with an example, above is the introduction of the car multimedia device presented in the present invention and the iPod support bracket it uses. The above description is only a good example of this invention, but not a limitation. All modifications, equivalent alternatives and improvements, as long as in accordance with the concept and principle of this invention, should be included in the