Display unit

Details Display unit Display unit

1999-03-17

2001-01-30

Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)

Television

Video display

Cabinet or chassis

C224S311000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06181387

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to display units, and more particularly, to a display unit configured for use in presenting a viewing surface to occupants of an automobile such as a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), or a passenger van.
BACKGROUND ART
Automotive manufacturers have long sought to make passengers as comfortable as possible during travel, focusing both on physical comfort and on the passenger's entertainment. For example, vehicle sound systems have become standard accessories in most cars and trucks. In recent years, efforts have involved attempts to bring video technology into the passenger compartment, either in the form of a television, a computer, or a video game display.
Unfortunately, display units have heretofore been impractical as automotive accessories due to problems in mounting conventional display units within a vehicle. One problem relates to the size of most display units, it being difficult to find space for a standard-size monitor in most vehicles. Another problem arises from difficulties in placing the display unit in a position where it may be viewed by a passenger, but will not obstruct the driver's view of the road. Still another problem involves the stowability of the display unit, and its corresponding effect on passenger safety.
Known display units also have been unable to meet consumer expectations due to difficulties in providing acceptable picture quality in a package of suitable size. However, with advancements in flat-panel display technology, picture quality of smaller display units has improved dramatically. Additionally, it has become possible to separate some of the electronic circuitry from the flat-panel display, further reducing the thickness of these displays. The present invention takes advantage of these improvements by providing a stowable display unit which is suited for mounting in an interior region of an automobile without compromising picture quality.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a display unit which includes a housing configured for mounting in an interior region of an automobile. The housing has a track which extends from a cavity in the housing and a corresponding carriage which rides along the track. A screen, or display, with a viewing surface is pivotally mounted on the carriage to provide for deployment of the display first by translation of the display along the track between a first position wherein the display is at least partially contained within the cavity in a generally horizontal orientation and an intermediate position with the display still in the generally horizontal orientation, and second by pivot of the display about a first axis from the intermediate position to a deployed position wherein the viewing surface is presented for viewing by an occupant of the automobile.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood after a consideration of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows.


REFERENCES:
patent: D. 285684 (1986-09-01), Akita et al.
patent: D. 293579 (1988-01-01), Davis
patent: D. 294495 (1988-03-01), Nissley
patent: D. 299491 (1989-01-01), Masuda
patent: D. 337103 (1993-07-01), Harper
patent: D. 356081 (1995-03-01), Naito et al.
patent: D. 366067 (1996-01-01), Mowrey
patent: D. 395458 (1998-06-01), Smith et al.
patent: 3397160 (1968-08-01), Landry
patent: 4195431 (1980-04-01), Neufeld
patent: 4383626 (1983-05-01), Weinblatt
patent: 4438458 (1984-03-01), Munscher
patent: 4504910 (1985-03-01), Araki et al.
patent: 4516157 (1985-05-01), Campbell
patent: 4620808 (1986-11-01), Kurtin et al.
patent: 4630821 (1986-12-01), Greenwald
patent: 4633323 (1986-12-01), Haberkern et al.
patent: 4635110 (1987-01-01), Weinblatt
patent: 4647980 (1987-03-01), Steventon et al.
patent: 4665430 (1987-05-01), Hiroyasu
patent: 4708312 (1987-11-01), Rohr
patent: 4735467 (1988-04-01), Wolters
patent: 4742478 (1988-05-01), Nigro, Jr. et al.
patent: 4749364 (1988-06-01), Arney et al.
patent: 4787040 (1988-11-01), Ames et al.
patent: 4814896 (1989-03-01), Heitzman et al.
patent: 4824159 (1989-04-01), Fluharty et al.
patent: 4836486 (1989-06-01), Vossoughi et al.
patent: 4843477 (1989-06-01), Mizutani et al.
patent: 4866515 (1989-09-01), Tagawa et al.
patent: 4867498 (1989-09-01), Delphia et al.
patent: 4870676 (1989-09-01), Lewo
patent: 4883242 (1989-11-01), Becker et al.
patent: 4910591 (1990-03-01), Petrossian et al.
patent: 4915461 (1990-04-01), Kingsborough et al.
patent: 4947296 (1990-08-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 4982996 (1991-01-01), Vottero-Fin et al.
patent: 4983951 (1991-01-01), Igarashi et al.
patent: 4988140 (1991-01-01), Van Order
patent: 4995680 (1991-02-01), Miruri
patent: 5009384 (1991-04-01), Gerke et al.
patent: 5021922 (1991-06-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5027200 (1991-06-01), Petrossian et al.
patent: 5034996 (1991-07-01), Carey et al.
patent: 5061996 (1991-10-01), Schiffman
patent: 5076524 (1991-12-01), Reh et al.
patent: 5096271 (1992-03-01), Portman
patent: 5096287 (1992-03-01), Kakinami et al.
patent: 5111289 (1992-05-01), Lucas et al.
patent: 5121200 (1992-06-01), Choi
patent: 5144290 (1992-09-01), Honda et al.
patent: 5145128 (1992-09-01), Umeda
patent: 5148282 (1992-09-01), Sedighzadeh
patent: 5161028 (1992-11-01), Kawata et al.
patent: 5173686 (1992-12-01), Fujihara
patent: 5177616 (1993-01-01), Riday
patent: 5179447 (1993-01-01), Lain
patent: 5195709 (1993-03-01), Yasushi
patent: 5222690 (1993-06-01), Jeffords
patent: 5233426 (1993-08-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5239700 (1993-08-01), Guenther et al.
patent: 5243417 (1993-09-01), Pollard
patent: 5281985 (1994-01-01), Chan
patent: 5287191 (1994-02-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5289321 (1994-02-01), Secor
patent: 5305970 (1994-04-01), Porter et al.
patent: 5311302 (1994-05-01), Berry et al.
patent: 5333416 (1994-08-01), Harris et al.
patent: 5335076 (1994-08-01), Reh et al.
patent: 5338081 (1994-08-01), Young et al.
patent: 5359349 (1994-10-01), Jambor et al.
patent: 5362144 (1994-11-01), Shioya et al.
patent: 5467106 (1995-11-01), Salomon
patent: 5469298 (1995-11-01), Suman et al.
patent: 5547248 (1996-08-01), Marechal
patent: 5574443 (1996-11-01), Hsieh
patent: 5583735 (1996-12-01), Pease et al.
patent: 5743487 (1998-04-01), Rice
patent: 5775762 (1998-07-01), Vitito
patent: 5822023 (1998-10-01), Suman et al.
patent: 5927784 (1999-07-01), Vitito
patent: 5946055 (1999-08-01), Rosen
patent: 3820510 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 41 18 711 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 131 988 (1985-01-01), None
patent: 365 290 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 2 544 675 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 60-51088 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 60-51087 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 60-203526 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 61-77542 (1986-04-01), None
patent: 61-282139 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 62-231847 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 63-219440 (1988-09-01), None
patent: 1-300775 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 2-7082 (1990-01-01), None
patent: 2-31577 (1990-02-01), None
patent: 2-149083 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 3-10476 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 4-63739 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 4-185547 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 4-368245 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 5-24486 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 5-50883 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 5-131879 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 5-185878 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 6-144009 (1994-05-01), None
LCD Video System Product Specification Sheet, a company named Korea Electronics Co. Ltd. contends that it showed this sheet of paper to some people at the Nov. 5-8, 1996 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“TV for Cars”, Soviero,Popular Science, pp. 88-89, Dec. 1990.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Display unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Display unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Display unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520722