Patent Application
20170253190
n/a
The present invention is in the field of mobile entertainment partition systems and methods of manufacturing for luxury executive vehicles.
Many present day in-vehicle entertainment systems include an in-dash mounted radio frequency (RF) receiver, CD/DVD player, and a universal serial bus (USB) port for the system to download program source data from a thumb drive or similar memory device. A vehicle passenger may use a portable electronic device (PED) such as a smart phone, tablet, or media player (e.g. an I-POD®) to access program source data previously stored on the PED. Entertainment systems for automobiles are well known. As such, many advances have been made in the development of entertainment systems that make the otherwise tedious task of riding in an automobile almost bearable. In addition to the development of overhead systems pioneered by the present inventor, a variety of systems and techniques for integrating entertainment systems within an automobile has been developed.
For example, headrest entertainment systems have been developed and allow multiple individuals to view a variety of different video sources within the same vehicle. However, some automobiles are not suited for the utilization of headrest entertainment systems and, therefore, are unable to take advantage of this advancement in technology. Similarly, only larger vehicles can take advantage of the overhead systems commonly found in automobiles. None of these systems is suitable for luxury travel.
In many taxi cabs, there is a partition between the driver and the back seat passengers. While for taxi cabs drivers this partition exists for safety reasons, in high end luxury vehicles, this partition can act as a sound barrier between the driver and the back seat passengers. When one is having confidential conversations and wants to keep the driver from overhearing them, a partition can be quite useful.
Combining the benefits of an entertainment system with a partition to create an entertainment partition system makes sense in a luxury vehicle. For instance, with an entertainment partition system, there is now no need for a headrest entertainment system. A partition can come equipped with monitors for surveillance, TV watching, video games, and other activities. An entertainment partition system is definitely a value add for luxury vehicles, which are already outfitted with features that rival that of first class accommodations on airplanes. In many luxury vehicles, the partition is one component of the entire in-vehicle entertainment system. Such systems come with an in-dash mounted radio frequency (RF) receiver, CD/DVD player, and a universal serial bus (USB) port for the system to download program source data from a thumb drive or similar memory device. A vehicle passenger may use a portable electronic device (PED) such as a smart phone, tablet, or media player (e.g. an I-POD®) to access program source data previously stored on the PED.
While a partition is clearly an improvement to the features of an already impressive luxury vehicle, it should not impact the comfort of back seat passengers. In many luxury vehicles, such as the Cadillac Escalade, the air conditioner console that controls the temperature for back seat passengers is located behind the middle of the driver and passenger seats. If a partition descends from the roof of the vehicle at a 90 degree angle, it will block the air conditioner console from the back seat passengers. In addition, if the partition comes straight down from to the top of the bottom of a vehicle, this will limit the legroom of the back seat passengers. If a partition originates as either a single panel from one side of the vehicle or as split panels from both sides of the vehicle, and moves straight across towards the console, this will also limit the legroom of the back seat passengers. Back seat passengers with limited legroom do not connote the idea of luxury.
With this in mind, an alternative that does not limit the legroom of back seat passengers, making travel more comfortable, is needed. The present invention attempts to add to the choices consumers have by providing a solution to this problem.
Although various improvements are known to the art, all, or almost all of them suffer from one or more than one disadvantage. Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved entertainment partition system and method of installation in luxury vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,183 issued to Jansky et al., discloses a concealed mobile communications system.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,251 issued to Sitzler et al., discloses a seat back storage system for a vehicle entertainment system.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,291 issued to Vitito discloses a vehicle entertainment system incorporated within the armrest/console of a vehicle with a swivel monitor mounting structure.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/225,674 disclosed by Imamura et al., discloses an in-vehicle monitor support structure.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/874,684 disclosed by Revelino et al., discloses a flat screen television bracket for a vehicle.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/571,223 disclosed by Handa discloses a panel driven apparatus.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/652,566 disclosed by Kelly discloses an in-vehicle entertainment system for providing program source data to a portable electronic device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,261 issued to McCormack, discloses a safety partition for motor vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,856 issued to McKenzie, discloses a mountable and demountable partition structure for motor vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,033,389 issued to Setina, discloses a partition providing increased legroom.
These publications and all other referenced patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is an incorporated reference here, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein the definition of the term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
The relevant art references that relate to entertainment systems all suffer from one or more disadvantage that make them different than the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,183 is meant for retrieving stolen vehicles, not as a partition. U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,251 is designed for a seat back, not the large screen that a luxury vehicle's entertainment system can accommodate. U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,291 is an entertainment system in an armrest, which can be incorporated into many standard vehicles. The present invention can accommodate a large screen so that all the back seat passengers can view it with ease. U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,291 has a small screen attached to the armrest, which would be difficult for some back seat passengers to view. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/225,674 discloses an entertainment system with a small screen like the one found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,291. Again, the small size of screen could potentially be sufficient in a standard size car, but certainly not a larger luxury vehicle that can fit more passengers. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/874,684 is a bracket than can support a large screen, but the present invention allows the screen to be hidden from view of the back seat passengers. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/874,684 does not have this capability; it can only be raised and lowered. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/571,223 is not meant to be mounted in a vehicle, so it is unlike the present invention in that respect. One of the components of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/652,566 is a portable electronic device, which is outside the scope of the present invention. The present invention is hardly portable; it comprises primarily of a structure that can accommodate a large screen.
There are many vehicle partition patents and patent applications that exist in the art, but all have some disadvantage over the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,261 is a vehicle partition that offers additional storage space to back seat passengers, but the partition does offer additional legroom. U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,856 is a removable partition whose main purpose is to serve as a thermal barrier between the front seat and the cargo storage area in the back of carbo vans. Obviously, back seat passenger legroom is not a concern. While one of the stated functions of U.S. Pat. No. 9,033,389 is to provide additional legroom, this partition is fixed; it cannot be deployed and withdrawn automatically. In fact, none of partition patents listed in the relevant art references can be deployed and withdrawn, with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,856, which must be manually removed.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, it is the object of this invention to provide an entertainment partition system in a vehicle without completely customizing a mobile movie theater. The entertainment partition system can be used for watching movies, video surveillance, conference calling and other applications. There are limitations to the degree of modification that a vehicle can accommodate, which is why the size of the vehicle is of significance. Ideally, one would not want modifications to be obvious from the outside of the vehicle. For the present invention, the average observer most likely will not notice modifications in the length and width of the vehicle. However, the vehicle's height is modified to accommodate the present invention.
It is further an object of the invention that the invention not block back seat passengers from accessing the air conditioner console once the invention has been deployed.
It is further an object of the invention that the bottom portion of the invention angle away from the back seat passenger at a non-90 degree angle to afford the back seat passenger more legroom and a more comfortable ride.
It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not to be viewed as being restrictive of the present invention, as claimed. Further advantages of this invention will be apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and in the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not for purposes of limiting the same.
A first embodiment of the invention is a partition 1 adapted for insertion into a vehicle. The partition 1 may be made of various materials comprising metal, polymer, and wood to achieve a strong, light weight, and sturdy support for a monitor in a vehicle. The dimensions are given with respect to accommodate two 25-30 inch TV monitors 9 in a Cadillac Escalade®.
The foregoing description is, at present, considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present discovery. However, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the present discovery. Therefore, the foregoing description is intended to cover all such changes and modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present discovery, including all equivalent aspects. Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only one embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.
