Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR SECURING AN ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE TO A
VEHICLE SEAT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to securing entertainment
devices to the
headrest of a vehicle seat, and more particularly, relating to a mounting
assembly
for securing an entertainment device to headrest post guides.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Portable entertainment devices including computer tablets, e-book
readers, and
smart phones are becoming increasingly popular and are now routinely carried
to
provide entertainment while traveling. In addition to portable entertainment
devices, vehicle integrated entertainment devices are likewise becoming
increasingly popular.
[003] Conventionally, vehicle integrated entertainment devices also
referred to as rear
seat entertainment systems are mounted inside the back of a vehicle headrest.
This requires expensive replacement headrests that are specifically
manufactured
for mounting a monitor within the headrest or requires the modification of the
headrest so that a monitor may be fitted within the headrest. Because of this,
there has been an increasing desire to mount, attach, or otherwise secure rear
seat
entertainment systems to the headrest posts of the vehicle seat to avoid
having to
purchase expensive replacement headrests or having to modify an existing
headrest.
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[004] In an attempt to fulfill this desire, numerous devices have been
employed that
attached rear seat entertainment systems to headrest posts. While these
devices
heretofore meet their respective objectives and requirements, they have many
drawbacks. The drawbacks include interfering with the operation of the
headrest
and an unattractive appearance. A further drawback is found in the non-
standardized spacing between headrest posts, vehicle seat thickness, and
headrest
post placement between various vehicles across the same and different vehicle
manufactures.
[005] In addition to overcoming these drawbacks, there is an additional
desire to be able
to removably mount or secure a portable entertainment device to a vehicle seat
for
hands free operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] Embodiments of the present invention address one or more of these needs
by
providing a single mounting assembly that is adjustable and easily configured
to
permit use across vehicle platforms.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention also address one or more of
these needs by
providing a mounting assembly that is low profile to blend into and not
detract
from the vehicle interior.
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[008] Embodiments of the present invention also address one or more of
these needs by
providing a mounting assembly that attaches to the headrest post guides and in
no
way interferes with the operation of the headrest or makes contact with the
headrest posts.
[009] Embodiments of the present invention also address one or more of these
needs by
providing a mounting assembly that includes a frame or other suitable support
for
removably receiving and retaining therein a portable entertainment device.
[010] Embodiments of the present invention also address one or more of these
needs by
providing a mounting assembly that includes a monitor.
[011] Embodiments of the present invention also address one or more of these
needs by
providing a mounting assembly that has an integrated console for housing an
entertainment system.
[012] To achieve these and other advantages, in one aspect a mounting
assembly for
securing an entertainment device to a vehicle seat having a pair of spaced
headrest
post guides extending through a top surface of the vehicle seat is provided.
The
mounting assembly includes a first bracket member having a first end and a
second end opposite the first end. The first end and the second end each
configured to attach to a respective headrest post guide with the first
bracket
member extending between the headrest post guides. A second bracket member
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is configured to support an entertainment device and is slidingly attached to
the
first bracket member and is selectively securable between forward and aft
locations relative to the first bracket member to position the entertainment
device
rearwardly of the vehicle seat.
[013] The first end and the second end of the first bracket member may be
configured to
receive and clamp the respective headrest post guide at a position between the
top
of the vehicle seat and a top flange of the headrest post guide. The first
bracket
member may be extensible between extended and retracted positions to
accommodate the space between the headrest post guides. The first end and the
second end of the first bracket member may include a post guide clamp
comprising a fixed jaw member and a movable jaw member constrained for
sliding movement relative to the fixed jaw member and a pair of fasteners
securing the fixed jaw member with the movable jaw member.
[014] To achieve these and other advantages, in another aspect a mounting
assembly for
securing an entertainment device to a vehicle seat having a pair of spaced
headrest
post guides extending through a top surface of the vehicle seat is provided.
The
mounting assembly includes a first bracket member having first and second
telescopically engaged wing members that are movable relatively to one another
between extended and retracted positions to adjust to the space between the
headrest post guides. The first wing member and the second wing member each
configured to attach to a respective headrest post guide with the first
bracket
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member extending between the headrest post guides. A second bracket member
is configured to support an entertainment device and is slidingly attached to
the
first bracket member and selectively securable between forward and aft
locations
relative to the first bracket member to position the entertainment device
rearwardly of the vehicle seat.
[015] The first wing member and the second wing member may be further
configured to
attach to the respective headrest post guide at a position between the top of
the
vehicle seat and a top flange of the headrest post guide and without
contacting a
headrest post inserted through the headrest post guide. The first wing member
may have a downwardly open track and the second wing member may have an
upwardly raised platform that is slidingly received within the track so as to
provide the telescopic engagement between the first wing member and the second
wing member. The first wing member have parallel first and second slots, the
second wing member may have parallel third and fourth slots that are
cooperatively aligned with the first and second slots, respectively, and the
second
bracket member may have a fifth slot that is cooperatively aligned with the
first,
second, third, and fourth slots. A first fastener may extending through the
first,
third, and fifth slot and a second fastener extending through the second,
fourth,
and fifth slot.
[016] The first and second fasteners are threaded fasteners when loosened
simultaneously permit the telescopic adjustment between the first wing member
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and the second wing member and the forward and aft adjustment of the second
bracket, and when tightened simultaneously secure the telescopic position
between the first wing member and the second wing member and the forward and
aft position of the second bracket.
[017] To achieve these and other advantages, in another aspect a mounting
assembly for
securing an entertainment device to a vehicle seat is provided. The mounting
assembly includes first and second headrest post guides disposed within the
vehicle seat at a spaced distance between one another and having a top flange
exteriorly of a top surface of the vehicle seat. A first bracket member has a
first
end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the bracket
member
is removably secured to the first headrest post guide between its top flange
and
the top of the vehicle seat. The second end of the bracket member is removably
secured to the second headrest post guide between its top flange and the top
of the
vehicle seat. And the first bracket member extends between the first headrest
post
guide and the second headrest post guide. A second bracket member is
configured to support an entertainment device and is slidingly attached to the
first
bracket member and is selectively secured to the first bracket member between
forward and aft locations relative to the first bracket member positioning the
entertainment device rearwardly of the vehicle seat.
[018] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the
invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be
better
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understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
[019] For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages
and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the
accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of
the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[020] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the a bracket assembly for securing
an
entertainment device to a vehicle seat constructed in accordance with the
principles of an embodiment of the present invention and shown in use with a
conventional vehicle seat;
[021] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[022] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket assembly of
FIG. 1;
[023] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first bracket member of the
bracket assembly
of FIG.1;
[024] Figure 5 is a top plan view of the first bracket member;
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[025] Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the first bracket member;
[026] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the first bracket member taken
along line 7-7
in FIG. 6;
[027] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a bracket assembly for securing an
entertainment
device to a vehicle seat constructed in accordance with the principles of an
alternative embodiment of the present invention and shown in use with a
conventional vehicle seat;
[028] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket assembly of
FIG. 8;
[029] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a bracket assembly for securing an
entertainment device to a vehicle seat constructed in accordance with the
principles of an alternative embodiment of the present invention and shown in
use
with a conventional vehicle seat; and
[030] Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket assembly of
FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[031] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 through 7, there is representatively
illustrated a
mounting assembly 10 in accordance with a first embodiment embodying
principles of the present invention. Mounting assembly 10 illustrates the
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principles of the present invention in its simplest form and is illustrated in
connection with a conventional vehicle seat 12 having a headrest 14. Headrest
14
includes headrest posts 16 and 18 that downwardly depend from the bottom of
the
headrest and which are telescopically received by headrest post guides 20 and
22,
respectively. Each headrest post guide 20 and 22 extends downwardly into the
vehicle seat 12 through a top thereof and include a top flange 24 that
disposed on
the top and tubular portion 26 (only one is visible) that extends into the
seat.
[032] Mounting assembly 10 is configured to attach to the headrest post
guides 20 and
22 at a position between the top of the vehicle seat and the top flange or cap
24
without contacting either of the headrest posts 16 and 18 that extend into the
headrest post guides.
[033] Mounting assembly 10 broadly includes a first bracket member 28 and a
second
bracket member 30. With the mounting assembly 10 attached to the vehicle seat
12, the first bracket member 28 is oriented in a transvers direction and
extends
between the headrest post guides 20 and 22 and the second bracket member 30 is
oriented in a general direction that is perpendicular to the vehicle seat
(e.g. in a
general front-to-rear direction).
[034] The first bracket member 28 is attached at opposite ends thereof to
the headrest
post guides 20 and 22, and is extensible and retractable in length to
accommodate
different spacing between headrest post guides. Similarly, the second bracket
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member 30 is slidingly connected to the first bracket member 28 for movement
or
adjustment along the forward-aft direction relative to the bracket wing to
accommodate different vehicle seat depths or thickness.
[035] The first bracket member 28 includes left and right wing members 32
and 34 that
are telescopically engaged with one another for movement relative to one
another
between extended and retracted positions to adjust the length of the bracket
wing
in accommodating the space between headrest post guides 16, 18. Wing members
32 and 34 each include slides 36 and 38, respectively, which provide the
telescopic engagement between the wing members. Slides 36 and 38 are
telescopically engaged through a guided overlap configuration wherein slide 36
overlaps slide 38. More specifically, in an embodiment, slide 36 includes a
downwardly open track 40 and slide 38 includes an upwardly raised platform 42
that is slidingly received within track 40, thereby providing the telescopic
engagement between wing members 32 and 34.
[036] Slide 36 includes a pair of spaced through slots 44 and 46, and
similarly, slide 38
includes a pair of spaced through slots 48 and 50 that are in cooperative
alignment, respectively, when the slides are telescopically engaged. Slides 36
and
38, and thus wing members 32 and 34, are held together and secured to the
carrier
bracket 24 by fasteners 52 and 54 extending through slot 44 of the carrier
bracket,
further fastener 52 extends through cooperative slots 44 and 48, and further
fastener 54 extends through cooperative slots 46 and 48.
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[037] Wing members 32 and 34 each further include post guide clamps 56 and
58,
respectively, which operate to encircle and clamp against the exterior of the
headrest pot guides 20, 24 thereby attaching the bracket 10 to the vehicle
seat 12.
Each clamp 56 and 58 are of a similar construction, and accordingly, the
clamps
will be described in a manner that utilizes the same element numbers for the
similar elements. Clamp 56, 58 includes a fixed jaw member 60 that is secured
to
slide 36, 38 and a movable jaw member 62 that is constrained for sliding
movement relative to the fixed jaw member. Jaw member 62 is constrained to
sliding movement by a tongue-in-grove connection between jaw member 60 and
slide 36, 38 that includes a groove 64 formed in an end of the slide 36, 38
and a
corresponding tongue 66 extending from a cooperating edge of the jaw member.
Jaw members 60 and 62 include confronting semi-circular cutouts or recesses 66
and 68, respectively, that define a space 70 into which is received the
headrest
post guide 20, 22. Jaw member 62 is secured to jaw member 60 by threaded
fasteners 72 which also serve to clamp the jaw members about the headrest post
guides 20, 22 by drawing in jaw member 62 towards jaw member 60 when
tightened.
[038] The second bracket member 30 is generally elongated and includes
opposite ends
74 and 76, and a system mount 78 at end 76. End 76 or system mount 78 is
configured to have attached thereto various components of a rear seat
entertainment system or a frame or other suitable structure for removable
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receiving and retaining a portable entertainment device to be supported and
positioned behind the headrest 14 of the vehicle seat 12. A monitor 80 is
representatively illustrated as an exemplary component that can be attached to
system mount 78. It is important to note that system mount 78 may be
configured
in countless ways to permit attaching or mounting a component thereto for
support.
[039] The second bracket member 30 further includes an elongated slot 82
extending
between ends 74 and 76 through which threaded fasteners 52, 54 are passed and
secured to slidingly connect the second bracket member to the first bracket
member 28 to permit the above described relative movement between the first
and
second bracket members for adjusting the carrier bracket position to
accommodate vehicle seat thickness. Fasteners 52, 54 are tightened to retain
the
relative positions between the first and second bracket members 28 and 30, and
also the relative positions between the first and second wing members 32 and
34.
[040] In use, bracket assembly 10 is secured to the vehicle seat 12 by
first removing or
lifting the headrest 14 from the vehicle seat by lifting upwardly upon the
headrest
to withdraw headrest posts 16, 18 from headrest post guides 20, 22. It may be
possible to install the bracket assembly 10 without completely removing the
headrest 14 from the seat 12 depending on the particular seat and headrest
construction. Threaded fasteners 52, 54 are loosened to enable relative,
sliding
between the first bracket member 28 and second bracket member 30, and to
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enable telescoping of wing members 32, 34 while retaining the bracket assembly
together. Jaw member 62 of each clamp 56, 58 is detached and placed to the
side.
With jaw members 62 removed, jaw members 60 are slipped between headrest
post guide gaps 24 and the top of vehicle seat 12 to position and engage
headrest
post guides 20, 22 with jaw members 60. Wing members 32, 34 are freely
moveable to extend or retract to the spacing between the headrest post guides
20,
22. Additionally, the second bracket member 30 is freely slidable relative to
the
first bracket member 28 to position the system mount 78 rearwardly of the
vehicle
seat back.
[041] At this time, one may tighten fasteners 52, 54 to secure the relative
position of the
first bracket member 28 and wing members 32, 34 and the second bracket
member 30. Once fasteners 52, 54 are tightened, jaw member 62 may be secured
to jaw member 60 of each clamp 56, 58 to clamp against headrest post guides
20,
22 by threaded fasteners 72 so that the bracket assembly 10 is secured the
vehicle
seat 12 via the headrest post guides. Alternatively, one may first attach jaw
members 62 as described above, and then tighten fasteners 52, 54.
[042] With this configuration, clamps 56, 58, and thus the bracket assembly
10 are
securely attached to the vehicle seat 12 via the conventional headrest post
guides
20, 22 without engagement with the headrest posts 16, 18. Further, once
fasteners
52, 54 are secured, the second bracket member 30 is prevented from moving
laterally left and right between the headrest post guides 20, 22 and from
moving
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longitudinally forward and rearward. In addition, upward movement of the
bracket assembly 10 is prevented by the headrest post guide caps 24 because
the
clamps 56, 58 have been secured to the headrest post guides 20, 22 at a
vertical
position between the top of the vehicle seat 12 and the headrest post guide
caps.
[043] Alternative embodiments are possible. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9
there is
representatively illustrated a mounting assembly 10a in accordance with an
alternative embodiment embodying principles of the present invention. The same
reference numbers refer to similar elements discussed above. Mounting assembly
10a is essentially the same as mounting assembly 10 described above with the
exception of having a system mount 80 that is different from system mount 78.
Particularly, system mount 80 is configured for the attachment of monitor 82
and
console 84 to the second bracket member 30. System mount 80 exemplifies the
numerous configurations that are possible to meet desired or required needs.
[044] As illustrated, in this exemplary configuration, system mount 80
includes an L-
shaped housing 86 to which the monitor 82 is rotatably attachable (shown
exploded from the system mount) and the console 84 is fixedly attachable
(shown
exploded from the system mount). Housing 86 may be configured as various
shapes and designs according to particular requirements and is not limited in
scope to the L-shaped structure that is illustrated here.
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[045] Electronics comprising an entertainment device, representatively
indicated by
reference number 88, may be positioned within housing 86. Additionally,
various
control buttons or a user interface 100 to an entertainment device may be
provided on housing 86, such as, for example, across a front face of the
housing
as illustrated. Console 84 would typically include additional electronics or
components forming an entertainment device.
[046] Now with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 there is representatively
illustrated a
mounting assembly 10b in accordance with an alternative embodiment
embodying principles of the present invention. The same reference numbers
refer
to similar elements discussed above. Mounting assembly 10b, like mounting
assembly 10a, is essentially the same as mounting assembly 10 described above
with the exception of having a system mount 110 that is different from system
mount 78 or 80. Particularly, system mount 110 is configured for the
attachment
of monitor 112 and the second bracket member 30 and includes an integrated,
unitary console or housing 114. Again, system mount 110 exemplifies the
numerous configurations that are possible to meet desired or required needs.
It is
contemplated that the integral housing 114 would contain or house the
electronics
and various components of a vehicle integrated rear seat entertainment system.
Thus housing 114 would be configured to securely contain the electronics and
the
components of the rear seat entertainment system. Housing 114 would also be
configured with various connection ports to facilitate connectivity between
the
rear seat entertainment system and other electronic devices. Housing 114 would
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also be configured to support a desired user interface of the rear seat
entertainment system.
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