Method and apparatus for mounting overhead display unit
A method and apparatus enables a user to easily mount an overhead display unit on a pair of mounting rails formed on the ceiling of a vehicle. The display screen can be rotated and retracted into a receptacle formed between the mounting rails so that the elongated side of the display unit is stored therein in parallel with the mounting rails. The longer side of the display unit is stored in the receptacle in parallel with the pair of mounting rails. One embodiment uses a turntable for rotatably mounting the display screen where the display screen is attached to the turntable substantially apart from a center of the turntable. Another embodiment has a rotary disk at the back of a display screen to turn the display screen after the display is pulled out from the receptacle.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit on a pair of mounting rails formed on the ceiling of a vehicle where the display unit can be rotated and retracted into a receptacle formed between the mounting rails so that the elongated side of the display unit is in parallel with the mounting rails.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs audio and video technologies advance, demands for mounting audio and video devices on a vehicle become higher and higher for enjoyment of music, moves, games, etc., in the vehicle. Normally, such an audio and video device (entertainment device) comprises a display unit or monitor, a speaker, and a playback device such as a CD player or a DVD player. This invention is directed to a method and structure for mounting the entertainment device, especially a display unit thereof, on the vehicle.
One of methods for mounting such a display unit is a technique of mounting an overhead display unit on the ceiling of a vehicle. In this method, a display unit is stored in a receptacle formed on a casing when not in use while the display unit is pivotally turned downwardly to a deployed viewing position to allow a user (passenger) to watch the display screen.
An example of such a display unit is shown in a perspective view of
The overhead display unit (monitor) has the advantage in that it can effectively use a space in a ceiling area of the vehicle. When in use, the display screen is rotated downwardly, and not in use, the display screen is retracted to be flat on the ceiling. However, an overhead display unit in the conventional technology has a drawback in that the process of the installation on the ceiling is relatively complex and requires special tools and technique.
Recently, a mounting system has been proposed which allows a user to easily mount various devices on the vehicle. In this system, a pair of mounting rails are provided to a structural portion of a vehicle, such as on a ceiling, to which devices and components can be mounted thereon. An example of such a mounting rail system is disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,260. The basic configuration of such a rail mounting system 10 is illustrated in the perspective view of
In the mounting system 10 of
The mounting rails 115 function to attach desired component 117 such as a display unit in a manner that recesses or indented portions (not shown) formed on the component 117 hold the mounting rails 115. Electrical power and signals can be supplied to the component 117 through cables hidden in the mounting rails 115. Any components can be attached freely at a desired position to the mounting rails 115 as long as the component has suitable mounting parts (recesses) that can fit with the mounting rails 115. A shape and size of the mounting rails 115 and a width between the two mounting rails 115 are generally standardized to allow manufacturers to produce standardized components that can be easily mounted on the standardized mounting system 10.
Since this standardized mounting system allows to easily mount a component with a sufficient strength while achieving an aesthetic effect, there is a demand to mount a display unit on this type of mounting system. However, as the distance between the two the mounting rails 115 is generally fixed to a relatively small amount, there is a problem in that a large display unit cannot be mounted on this system. Namely, because a display screen has to be received within a space between the two mounting rails 115, the horizontal length of the display is limited by the distance between the two mounting rails. Thus, a large display unit having the conventional structure of
Therefore, there is a need of a new mounting method and structure which is capable of mounting a large display unit on the standard mounting rail system. There is a need of a new mounting method and apparatus for mounting a display unit whose horizontal length is larger than the distance between the two mounting rails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for installing a display unit on the mounting rail system where a horizontal length of the display screen is larger than the distance between the mounting rails.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for mounting a display unit on the mounting rail system where a base of the display screen is able to rotate so that the vertical length of the display screen can be fit in the distance between the two mounting rails when not in use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for mounting a display unit on the mounting rail system where a base of the display screen is able to rotate so that the horizontal length of the display screen larger than the distance between the mounting rails can be deployed when in use.
The mounting method and apparatus enables a user to easily mount an overhead display unit on a pair of mounting rails formed on the ceiling of a vehicle. The display screen can be rotated and retracted into a receptacle formed between the mounting rails so that the elongated side of the display unit is stored therein in parallel with the mounting rails. As a result, the display unit having a horizontal size larger than the distance between the two mounting rails can be mounted on the standard mounting system on the ceiling of the vehicle.
One aspect of the present invention is a method for mounting an overhead display unit on a ceiling of a vehicle. The method is comprised of the steps of; attaching a pair of mounting rails in parallel on a ceiling of a vehicle in a front and back direction of the vehicle; mounting the display unit on the mounting rails by clamping the mounting rails by indented portions formed on the display unit; rotating a display screen of the display unit so that a horizontal direction of the display screen is in parallel with the mounting rails when storing the display screen within a space between the pair of mounting rails; and pivoting one end of the display screen downwardly and rotating the display screen so that the horizontal direction of the display screen is in perpendicular to the direction of the pair of mounting rails when viewing the display screen. A size and a shape of the mounting rails and a distance between the pair of mounting rails are standardized in industry.
The step of rotating the display screen includes a step of rotating a turntable mounting the display screen in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle so that the display screen faces a user in the vehicle. The display screen is attached to the turntable through a hinge portion at an outer area of the turntable substantially apart from a center of the turntable. The turntable is attached in parallel with the ceiling of the vehicle to a receptacle formed on the display unit.
The step of pivoting one end of the display screen includes a step of pivoting the display screen about the hinge portion downwardly at about 90 degrees so that the display screen is opened relative to a receptacle on the display unit.
In another embodiment, the step of rotating the display screen includes a step of rotating the display screen through a rotary disk formed on an extension portion at the back of the display screen so that a longer side of the display screen is in a right and left direction of the vehicle when facing a user in the vehicle. The display screen is attached to the extension portion through the rotary disk so that the display screen is rotatable relative to the extension portion. This embodiment further comprises the step of adjusting a height of the display screen by retracting the extension portion upwardly.
The step of pivoting the display screen includes a step of pivoting the display screen about a hinge portion downwardly at about 90 degrees so that the display screen is opened relative to a receptacle on the display unit, wherein the hinge portion is formed at an end of the extension portion and connected to the display unit at a front side thereof. The display screen is rotatably attached to the extension portion at about a center thereof so that the display unit rotates in perpendicular to the ceiling of the vehicle after pivoting downwardly.
Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit on the ceiling of the vehicle for implementing the various steps defined in the mounting method of the present invention noted above. The mounting apparatus allows a user to easily attach the display unit on the pair of standardized mounting rails on the ceiling of the vehicle.
According to the present invention, the mounting method and apparatus allows the display unit having a large screen to be mounted on a narrow area in the vehicle. Especially, the display unit having a horizontal size larger than the distance between the two mounting rails can be mounted on the standard mounting system on the ceiling of the vehicle. The base of the display screen of the display unit on the mounting system is able to rotate so that the vertical length of the display screen can be fit in the distance between the two mounting rails when not in use by orienting the horizontal direction of the display screen in parallel with the mounting rails. By the rotation of the screen base, the display screen having the horizontal length larger than the distance between the mounting rails can be deployed to the viewing position when in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The display unit (overhead monitor) mounting apparatus and method in the present invention aims to mount a display unit having a large display screen to an area that is limited in space. The display screen has a horizontal length substantially larger than the vertical length. Further, the present invention aims to provide the display unit mounting method and apparatus suited for the display unit on a standardized mounting system using a pair of mounting rails attached to the ceiling of a vehicle.
A display unit in general has a horizontal length that is larger than a vertical length. Especially, it is a recent trend that a display unit has a much wider horizontal display range than a vertical display range to achieve a panoramic view or a screen image similar to the movie theater. Because of the standardized width between the mounting rails 115 shown in
Although not shown, signal cables and power lines running in the mounting rails 115 are connected to the display unit 141. The mounting rails 115 are attached to the ceiling of the vehicle in the manner described with reference to
In the embodiment of
The horizontal side of the display screen 153 is in the rail direction, i.e., in parallel with the mounting rails 115. The turn table 133 has the spindle 131 at the center thereof that acts as a rotation center. The turn table 133 and the spindle 131 are located substantially at the center of the display unit 141. The spindle 131 allows the turn table 133 to rotate so that the display screen 153 can change direction to face the user. The display screen 153 (screen frame 151) can pivot at the hinge portion 135 so that the display screen 153 can be deployed from the receptacle 145 for viewing the same or retracted in the receptacle 145 for storing the same.
The display unit 241 is mounted on the pair of mounting rails 115 in a manner that indented portions 242 of the display unit clamp the mounting rails 115. The display unit 241 is comprised of a receptacle 245, a rotary disk 271, an extension portion 273, a knob 244, a hinge portion 279 (
Referring now to
A user will pull the display screen 253 downward as indicated by an arrow 211. The knob 244 is provided at the side of the receptacle 245 to allow the user to place his finger and easily pull out the display screen 253. One end of the extension portion 273 is pivotally connected to the housing of the display unit 241. Thus, the display screen of the display unit 241 is rotated downwardly.
The display screen 253 now faces the user, however, the horizontal direction of the screen is in the vertical direction. As noted above, as most of the display screens, the display unit 241 is so designed to have a wider horizontal range than a vertical range. Thus, the user turns the display screen 253 in the direction shown by an arrow 212. In this case, the display screen is rotated in the clockwise direction by 90 degrees. It is also possible to rotate the display screen in the counterclockwise direction by 270 degrees for the same purpose. This rotation is made possible by the rotary disk 271 rotatably connected to the extension portion 273.
The final deployment situation is shown in the perspective view of
As shown in
The extension portion 273 can take any form as long as it can serve its purpose of extending and contracting to change its length, i.e., the vertical position of the display screen 253. In the preferred embodiment shown in
As has been described above, according to the present invention, the mounting method and apparatus allows the display unit having a large screen to be mounted on a narrow area. Especially, the display unit having a horizontal size larger than the distance between the two mounting rails can be mounted on the standard mounting system on the ceiling of the vehicle. The base of the display screen of the display unit on the mounting system is able to rotate so that the vertical length of the display screen can be fit in the distance between the two mounting rails when not in use by orienting the horizontal direction of the display screen in parallel with the mounting rails. By the rotation of the screen base, the display screen having the horizontal length larger than the distance between the mounting rails can be deployed to the viewing position when in use.
Although the present invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A method for mounting an overhead display unit on a ceiling of a vehicle, comprising the following steps of:
- attaching a pair of mounting rails in parallel on a ceiling of a vehicle in a front and back direction of the vehicle;
- mounting the display unit on the mounting rails by clamping the mounting rails by indented portions formed on the display unit;
- rotating a display screen of the display unit so that a horizontal direction of the display screen is in parallel with the mounting rails when storing the display screen within a space between the pair of mounting rails; and
- pivoting one end of the display screen downwardly and rotating the display screen so that the horizontal direction of the display screen is in perpendicular to the direction of the pair of mounting rails when viewing the display screen.
2. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of rotating the display screen includes a step of rotating a turntable mounting the display screen in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle so that the display screen faces a user in the vehicle.
3. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said display screen is attached to the turntable through a hinge portion at an outer area of the turntable substantially apart from a center of the turntable.
4. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said turntable is attached in parallel with the ceiling of the vehicle to a receptacle formed on the display unit.
5. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said step of pivoting one end of the display screen includes a step of pivoting the display screen about the hinge portion downwardly at about 90 degrees so that the display screen is opened relative to a receptacle on the display unit.
6. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of rotating the display screen includes a step of rotating the display screen through a rotary disk formed on an extension portion so that a longer side of the display screen is in a right and left direction of the vehicle when facing a user in the vehicle.
7. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 6, wherein said display screen is attached to the extension portion through the rotary disk so that the display screen is rotatable relative to the extension portion.
8. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of pivoting the display screen includes a step of pivoting the display screen about a hinge portion downwardly at about 90 degrees so that the display screen is opened relative to a receptacle on the display unit, wherein the hinge portion is formed at an end of the extension portion and connected to the display unit at a front side thereof.
9. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 8, wherein said display screen is rotatably attached to the extension portion at about a center thereof so that the display unit rotates in perpendicular to the ceiling of the vehicle after pivoting downwardly.
10. A method for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of adjusting a height of the display screen by retracting the extension portion upwardly.
11. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit on a ceiling of a vehicle, comprising:
- a pair of mounting rails attached in parallel to a ceiling of a vehicle in a front and back direction of the vehicle;
- indented portions formed on the display unit for attaching the display unit to the mounting rails by clamping the mounting rails;
- a rotating member for rotating a display screen of the display unit so that a horizontal direction of the display screen is in parallel with the mounting rails when storing the display screen within a space between the pair of mounting rails; and
- a pivoting member for pivoting one end of the display screen downwardly and for rotating the display screen so that the horizontal direction of the display screen is in perpendicular to the direction of the pair of mounting rails when viewing the display screen.
12. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 11, wherein said rotating member for rotating the display screen includes a turntable mounting the display screen to rotate in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle so that the display screen faces a user in the vehicle.
13. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said display screen is attached to the turntable through a hinge portion at an outer area of the turntable substantially apart from a center of the turntable.
14. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said turntable is attached to a receptacle formed on the display unit in parallel with the ceiling of the vehicle.
15. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said pivoting member for pivoting one end of the display screen includes a pivoting unit for pivoting the display screen about the hinge portion downwardly at about 90 degrees so that the display screen is opened relative to a receptacle on the display unit.
16. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 11, wherein said rotating member for rotating the display screen includes a rotary disk formed on an extension portion to rotate the display screen so that a longer side of the display screen is in a right and left direction of the vehicle when facing a user in the vehicle.
17. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 16, wherein said display screen is attached to the extension portion through the rotary disk so that the display screen is rotatable relative to the extension portion.
18. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 11, wherein said pivoting member for pivoting the display screen includes a hinge portion for pivoting the display screen downwardly at about 90 degrees so that the display screen is opened relative to a receptacle on the display unit, wherein the hinge portion is formed at an end of the extension portion and connected to the display unit at a front side thereof.
19. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 18, wherein said display screen is rotatably attached to the extension portion at about a center thereof so that the display unit rotates in perpendicular to the ceiling of the vehicle after pivoting downwardly.
20. An apparatus for mounting an overhead display unit as defined in claim 16, wherein the extension portion is so configured that a length thereof is adjustable for adjusting a height of the display screen by retracting the extension portion upwardly.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 15, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2007
Inventor: Akitoshi Kitazawa (Torrance, CA)
Application Number: 11/203,798
International Classification: A47H 1/10 (20060101);