Vehicle entertainment table unit and cradle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017324924-A1
Application number	US-201715661587-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 4, 2006
Publication date	Nov 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle entertainment system includes a tablet unit and a cradle. The tablet unit includes a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface, a first electrical connection, a first mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is configured to receive media data from a wireless network and the touch screen input device is configured to receive input from a user. The cradle is disposed in a headrest in a vehicle and includes a second electrical connection and a second mounting mechanism. The tablet unit is electrically connected to the cradle via the first and second electrical connections, and is physically coupled to the cradle via the first and second mounting mechanisms upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:
a tablet unit comprising a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface, a first electrical connection, a first mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive media data from a wireless network and the touch screen input device is configured to receive input from a user; and a cradle disposed in a vehicle headrest and comprising a second electrical connection and a second mounting mechanism, wherein the tablet unit is electrically connected to the cradle via the first and second electrical connections, and is physically coupled to the cradle via the first and second mounting mechanisms upon mounting the tablet unit into the cradle, wherein the second mounting mechanism comprises a latch member and a release button, and the latch member is actuated by the release button to permit removal of the tablet unit from the cradle, wherein the latch member is coupled to the first mounting mechanism and the first electrical connection is electrically coupled to the second electrical connection upon mounting the tablet unit into the cradle, wherein the front surface of the tablet unit is substantially flush with the outer surface of the vehicle headrest upon mounting the tablet unit into the cradle.

2 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connection and the first mounting mechanism are disposed on a rear surface of the tablet unit, and the second electrical connection is disposed on the rear surface of the cradle.

3 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first mounting mechanism and the first electrical connection are disposed near a same edge of the tablet unit, the second mounting mechanism and the second electrical connection are disposed near a same lip of the cradle, and the latch member is disposed at a top portion of the cradle that is opposite to the lip, wherein, upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle, the first and second mounting mechanisms are physically coupled to each other, the first and second electrical connections are electrically coupled to each other, and the latch member engages the tablet unit at the top portion of the cradle that is opposite to the lip.

4 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein the cradle further comprises a base portion configured to be secured to an internal headrest support structure of the vehicle headrest, a receiving portion configured to receive the tablet unit, and a hinge mechanism connecting the receiving portion to the base portion and enabling the receiving portion to pivot with respect to the base portion about at least two axes.

5 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 4 ,
wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a ball-like mechanism disposed near a center of the cradle between the base portion and the receiving portion, and wherein the receiving portion is disposed within a recess of the base portion.

6 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 1 ,
wherein the cradle further comprises a plurality of lips extending outward from a rear surface of the cradle, wherein a depth of the cradle is defined by a distance between the rear surface and a portion of the lips furthest from the rear surface, and the depth is between about 0.25 inches and about 0.6 inches, wherein a thickness of the tablet unit is about equal to the depth of the cradle.

7 . A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:
a tablet unit comprising a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface, a first mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive media data from a wireless network and the touch screen input device is configured to receive input from a user; and a cradle disposed in a vehicle headrest and comprising a second mounting mechanism, wherein the tablet unit is physically coupled to the cradle via the first and second mounting mechanisms upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle, wherein the first mounting mechanism is coupled to the second mounting mechanism upon mounting the tablet unit into the cradle, wherein the front surface of the tablet unit is substantially flush with an outer surface of the vehicle headrest upon mounting the tablet unit into the cradle.

8 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 7 ,
wherein the cradle further comprises a plurality of lips extending outward from a rear surface of the cradle, wherein a depth of the cradle is defined by a distance between the rear surface and a portion of the lips furthest from the rear surface, and the depth is between about 0.25 inches and about 0.6 inches.

9 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the tablet unit is about equal to the depth of the cradle.

10 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 7 ,
wherein the first mounting mechanism comprises a tab disposed on a first edge of the tablet unit and a coupling member disposed on a second edge of the tablet unit, wherein the second mounting mechanism comprises a recess disposed on a first lip of the cradle and a latch member disposed on a second lip of the cradle, wherein the first and second edges oppose each other, and the first and second lips oppose each other and extend outward from a rear surface of the cradle, wherein, upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle, the tab is inserted into the recess and the coupling member engages the latch member.

11 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10 ,
wherein the tablet unit further comprises a first electrical connection, and the cradle further comprises a second electrical connection, wherein the tablet unit is electrically connected to the cradle via the first and second electrical connections electrically coupling to each other upon mounting the tablet unit into the cradle.

12 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 11 , wherein the first electrical connection is disposed on the first edge of the tablet unit, and the second electrical connection is disposed on the first lip of the cradle.

13 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 7 , wherein the cradle further comprises a base portion configured to be secured to an internal headrest support structure of the vehicle headrest, a receiving portion configured to receive the tablet unit, and a hinge mechanism connecting the receiving portion to the base portion and enabling the receiving portion to pivot with respect to the base portion about at least two axes.

14 . The vehicle entertainment system of claim 13 ,
wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a ball-like mechanism disposed near a center of the cradle between the base portion and the receiving portion, and wherein the receiving portion is disposed within a recess of the base portion.

15 . A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:
a cradle disposed in a vehicle headrest and configured to receive a tablet unit, wherein the cradle comprises: a rear surface; a plurality of lips extending outward from the rear surface, wherein a depth of the cradle is defined by a distance between the rear surface and a portion of the lips furthest from the rear surface; a first electrical connection; and a first mounting mechanism, wherein a tablet unit comprising a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface of the tablet unit, a second electrical connection, a second mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver configured to receive media data from a wireless network, is electrically connected to the cradle via the

Assignees

• Voxx Int Corp

Inventors

• Tranchina James R
• Lavelle Patrick M
• Ford Raymond

Classifications

• H04W88/04

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04N21/2368

  Multiplexing of audio and video streams · CPC title

• B60R2011/0047

  using hidden fastening means · CPC title

• H04B1/082

  to be used in vehicles (H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02) · CPC title

• H04N1/00347

  with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus (circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32) · CPC title