U.S. patent application number 12/939162 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for monitor-mounting system for a land vehicle headrest.
Invention is credited to Curtis C. Kucera.
Application Number | 20120125959 12/939162 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46063376 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kucera; Curtis C. |
May 24, 2012 |
MONITOR-MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR A LAND VEHICLE HEADREST
Abstract
A monitor-mounting system for a headrest of a land vehicle
includes a bushing subsystem constructed to be coupled to the
headrest; and a monitor-mounting plate constructed to be coupled to
the bushing subsystem. The monitor-mounting region extends
outwardly of the headrest and is constructed for fixedly receiving
a monitor. The headrest is constructed with dual posts and dual
post guides, and the bushing system is constructed with dual
bushings, each being constructed to couple to a corresponding one
of the dual post guides, or to a corresponding one of the
posts.
Inventors: |
Kucera; Curtis C.;
(Temecula, CA) |
Family ID: |
46063376 |
Appl. No.: |
12/939162 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61257780 |
Nov 3, 2009 |
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61257777 |
Nov 3, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/879 20180201;
B60R 2011/0017 20130101; B60R 11/0235 20130101; B60R 11/0229
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/275 |
International
Class: |
B60R 7/00 20060101
B60R007/00 |
Claims
1. A monitor-mounting system for a headrest of a land vehicle,
comprising: a bushing subsystem constructed to be coupled to the
headrest; and a monitor-mounting plate constructed to be coupled to
the bushing subsystem, and including monitor-mounting region that
extends outwardly of the headrest and is constructed for fixedly
receiving a monitor.
2. The monitor-mounting system of claim 1, wherein the headrest is
constructed with dual posts and dual post guides, and wherein the
bushing system is constructed with dual bushings, each being
constructed to couple to a corresponding one of the dual post
guides.
3. The monitor-mounting system of claim 1, wherein the headrest is
constructed with dual posts and dual post guides, and wherein the
bushing system is constructed with dual bushings, each being
constructed to couple to a corresponding one of the dual posts.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/257,780, filed Nov. 3, 2009 and entitled
"Monitor Mount for an Automobile Headrest" and U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/257,777, filed Nov. 3, 2009 and
entitled "Monitor Mount for an Automobile Headrest", which are both
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all
purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to monitor mounting systems for land
vehicle headrests and, more particularly, to monitor mounting
systems constructed to be coupled to OEM headrest post guides and
headrest posts.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Land vehicle entertainment systems have been popular for
many years and, in recent years there has been a growing demand for
monitor systems that can be mounted inside the back of a vehicle
headrest. Conventional systems involve modifying the headrest so
that a monitor, typically one with a DVD player built into the
housing of the monitor, can be fitted into a recess formed in the
back of the headrest. These systems require substantial changes to
the headrest so that the monitor can be fitted into it, or they
require complete substitution of the original headrest with one
that contains a monitor in a back region of the substitute
headrest. In conventional systems, the monitor is constructed to
pivot so that it reveals a slot for insertion of a DVD. Examples of
such conventional systems can be seen on the Internet at
www.qualitymobilevideo.com/headrest-monitors.aspx.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the
invention after it has been coupled to the post guides of a vehicle
headrest.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,
that also shows how the invention looks with the vehicle posts and
post guides in position in a vehicle seat and vehicle headrest.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a back view of a vehicle seat and headrest after
the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 has been coupled to
the headrest post guides.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a front view of the bushing system of the
embodiment in FIG. 1, with a locking member shown in position to be
slid into a channel of the bushing system.
[0010] FIGS. 7-10 are isometric views of the back of a vehicle seat
after the embodiment in FIG. 1 has been coupled to the headrest
post guides, and after a monitor has been coupled to the
monitor-mounting region of the monitor-mounting plate.
[0011] FIG. 11 is an exploded, isometric view of a monitor after it
has been coupled to the monitor-mounting region of the
monitor-mounting plate (headrest posts not depicted), that
illustrates a back cover system for the monitor.
[0012] FIGS. 12 and 13 are bottom views of the monitor and
monitor-mounting system shown in FIG. 11.
[0013] FIG. 14 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 15 is top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, and
another embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 16 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the
invention that is constructed to be coupled to a headrest post (not
depicted).
[0016] FIG. 17 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
16.
[0017] FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
16.
[0018] FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the bushing system component of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] As will be described below with reference to the drawings,
the invention includes a monitor-mounting system that can be used
to attach a monitor to a land vehicle headrest without having to
change the component of that headrest that is designed to provide a
body for resting the passenger's or driver's head against. As used
herein, a vehicle headrest includes a body at a top region of the
headrest, with dual posts that extend downwardly from the body
through post guides that are positioned in a vehicle seat. These
components of a headrest are not part of the invention, but are
shown, for example, in FIGS. 2-3 and 7-8.
[0020] Preliminary to discussing further details of the invention,
it should be understood that the monitor-mounting system can be
used with any suitable monitor, such as a suitable LCD monitor,
with integrated DVD player. Such LCD monitors, with suitable wiring
for connecting to a vehicle power system can be obtained from Rosen
Entertainment Systems of Corona, Calif. A version of the invention
may be obtained from Rosen Entertainment Systems and it is marketed
under the trademark AV7700.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of the invention is
shown after the bushing subsystem has been coupled around the
outside of the post guides of a conventional vehicle headrest. The
vehicle headrest is constructed with dual posts and dual post
guides like the single post and guide shown in FIG. 1. The bushing
system is constructed with dual bushings, or bushing halves, like
those shown and described in connection with FIG. 5 below, with
each being constructed to couple to a corresponding one of the dual
post guides.
[0022] FIGS. 4-6 show details of the monitor-mounting system, which
includes a bushing subsystem (shown best in FIG. 5 as the two
bushing halves that are shown in an exploded view away from a
fragmentary section of a conventional headrest post that is
positioned through a conventional post guide. The bushing subsystem
is constructed to be coupled to the headrest. In this embodiment,
that coupling occurs by bringing the two bushing halves together
around each post guide, one of which is depicted in FIG. 5, and
under the cap of the post guide which is shown as the topmost
region of that post guide.
[0023] Still referring to FIG. 5, a monitor-mounting plate (shown
exploded from the conventional headrest post and post guide) is
constructed to be coupled to the bushing subsystem, and it includes
dual forks and a monitor-mounting region (the region shown at the
far rights that includes a flat, horizontal section and an upright
section with holes formed therein for receiving suitable fasteners
that attach a monitor (undepicted) to that upright region. As shown
in FIGS. 1 and 4-5, the monitor-mounting plate extends outwardly of
the headrest and is constructed for fixedly receiving a monitor via
the monitor-mounting region.
[0024] A locking piece (also referred to as a locking metal piece)
is also shown in FIGS. 4-6, and it is used to lock the
monitor-mounting plate in position after the forks have been moved
into the channels formed in the bushing halves. By placing the
monitor-mounting plate in those channels, the bushing halves are
held together. By placing the shown locking metal piece through the
channel of the bushing halves shown best in FIG. 6, the
monitor-mounting plate is secured and capable of holding a monitor
in a desired position for viewing by vehicle back seat passengers
(undepicted).
[0025] Concerning materials for the inventions, any suitable
material may be used, including metal and composite materials.
[0026] FIGS. 7-10 show illustrations of the monitor-mounting system
of the invention after being coupled to a conventional vehicle
headrest and after the monitor-mounting region of the
monitor-mounting plate has been fastened to a monitor.
[0027] FIGS. 11-13 show additional illustrations of a monitor after
it has been attached to the invention, but without showing the
conventional headrest posts and post guides.
[0028] FIGS. 14-15 show two more embodiments of the invention, with
FIG. 14 showing another exploded view of one of them. That view
shows dual bushing halves with interior surfaces that have been
formed to match the outer surface of a conventional headrest post
guide. Those bushing halves have bodies that are formed with an
oval shape. Referring to FIG. 15, the oval-shaped embodiment is
shown with another embodiment that is square shaped. In each of the
embodiments shown in FIG. 15, the locking metal piece is shown
partially extending into the corresponding channels of the bushing
halves to illustrate that they slide into place.
[0029] FIGS. 16-19 show an embodiment of the invention that is also
designed for use with the conventional headrest described above,
only that this embodiment includes a bushing subsystem that is
constructed with dual bushings, or bushing halves, each being
constructed to couple to a corresponding one of the dual posts. As
shown in FIG. 18, this embodiment also includes a bushing
subsystem, shown to the right of a monitor-mounting plate. That
plate includes a U-shaped end that can be moved into the channels
of the bushing halves. A locking piece can be slid into a
corresponding channel after the monitor-mounting plate is slid into
position through the channels of the bushing halves. The embodiment
shown in FIGS. 16-19 can be constructed with bushing halves that
have any desired size, such as 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 12.7 mm, and 14
mm. It is intended that the monitor-mounting plate remain the same
size for all versions of this embodiment. This embodiment attaches
to the conventional headrest post, as opposed to the post guide, as
the other embodiments discussed above do.
[0030] Although the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to the foregoing operational principles and
preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that various changes in form and detail may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present
invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *
References