1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable multimedia display apparatus and particularly to a foldable multimedia display device mountable onto the dashboard of a car that has a display screen foldable horizontally to be housed in a box and extendable from the box to be turned upright for viewing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A multimedia display device installed in a car has gradually become a popular feature in new cars in recent years. However unless the multimedia display device is equipped on the new car and an original feature built in the car plant, most of the existing cars do not have such a feature. Hence most existing car owners, due to use requirements such as for navigation or provide entertainment for passengers, generally take the approach of installing an external display device 11 (as shown in
In view of the aforesaid disadvantage, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a foldable multimedia display apparatus that is mounted onto the car dashboard and foldable. When the display screen is not in use, it may be folded horizontally and housed in a box. When in use, it may be extended from the box and turned upright.
In order to achieve the foregoing object, the invention mainly includes a box which has an opening on the front side. The top of the box has one or more speaker port to broadcast sound. The bottom of the box has a fastening means. Inside the box, there are two sliding tracks on two inner sides to allow a base dock of a display screen to slide forwards and rearwards. The front side of the base dock has an axle mechanism to allow the display screen to turn upwards or downwards. By means of the construction set forth above, the display screen may be folded horizontally and housed in the box, and extended outside the box and turned upright for viewing.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The fastening means 3 aims to mount the box 2 onto the dashboard 12. It may be an anchor seat coupling with the box 2 and fastened to the dashboard by screwing. Or a simpler approach may be adopted, such as a double-sided adhesive tape may be used as the fastening means 3 to bond and mount the bottom of the box 2 onto the dashboard 12.
According to the invention, at least one of the sliding tracks 22 in the box 2 has a first gear rack 23 located on one side thereof to engage with a reducing speed buffer gear (or damper) 42 to buffer the forward and rearward sliding speed of the base dock 4.
Between the front side of the box 2 and the rear side of the base dock 4, there is at least one spiral elastic reed A to provide a driving force to move the base dock 4 outside the box 2.
The axle mechanism 41 includes at least one elastic element 411 which provides an elastic force to provide a driving force to turn the display screen 40 upright.
For the axle mechanism 41 to fold the display screen downwards and horizontal or turn upright, it includes at least one elastic element 411, a guiding plate 412, at least one guiding flute 413 and one push plate 414. The elastic element 411 has one end connecting to one end of the guiding plate 412. The guiding plate 412 has other end connecting to the push plate 414. The guiding plate 412 has two sides attaching respectively a second gear rack 4121 to engage with a gear 4123 of a damper 4122 to buffer the speed while the display screen 40 is turning. The push plate 414 has a guiding member 4141 on each of two sides on the upper portion to wedge in the guiding flute 413 to provide a turning path and positioning locations for a upper and a lower anchor spot (referring to
The box 2 further has a recording media reading device 27 to read broadcasting information. The recording media reading device 27 may be an optical disk reader or a flash memory card reader.
To fold the display screen 40 from the use and upright condition (referring to
Refer to
In summary, the invention may be mounted onto the car dashboard as an additional feature not provided in the original car. When the display screen is not in use, it may be folded horizontally and housed in the box. When in use, the display screen may be extended outside the box and turned upright for viewing. A recording media reading device may be included in the box to read broadcasting information and expand the function. A navigation device may also be included in the box to increase the convenience of car driving. Thus the invention offers a great improvement and added value over the conventional techniques.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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093113253 | May 2004 | TW | national |