FR2812603A1 - Road car information video screen mounting system having upper support mechanism supporting arm video screen attached and having two plane pivot mechanisms. - Google Patents

Abstract

The video screen mounting unit has an upper support mechanism with an arm (16) pivoting around a first axis (18). The video screen is mounted on the first axis and can pivot around a second axis (15) with a second arm (13).

Description

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The present invention relates to a device for mounting a video screen, in particular for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to such a device comprising pivoting mounting means for supporting said screen from upper support means. .

More and more vehicles are equipped with screens intended to distract or inform passengers. This is now quite common in the case of airliners, and is starting to appear in land motor vehicles.

It is thus known to mount an individual video screen in the back of a seat, for the use of the passenger installed in the seat located immediately behind that on which the screen is mounted. This solution has the double disadvantage of multiplying the number of screens required and of imposing a relatively small limit on the dimensions of the screens.

It has also been proposed, in the case of land motor vehicles, to articulate a larger screen at the top of the vehicle by its upper edge, intended for rear passengers. The screen is brought into the storage position, embedded in the roof, by rotation towards the rear.

This latter configuration has the drawback that the screen, in the position of use, can be a nuisance for the front passengers. It also partially obscures the driver's central rear view. Finally, this configuration does not allow the use of the screen as a computer screen, the rear passengers being too far away to be able to read small characters.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for mounting a video screen, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising pivoting mounting means for supporting said screen from upper support means, characterized in that it includes an arm mounted at a first end thereof on said

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 upper support means, pivoting around a first axis, and receiving said video screen at its second end so as to pivot around a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis.

Such an arrangement allows the video screen to adopt a plurality of positions, both longitudinal (substantially perpendicular to its plane) and vertical. It can therefore be adapted with regard to the distance to the user to the type of use that one wishes to make of it, while adjusting its height so that it brings only minimal discomfort to the driver of the vehicle.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said arm is arranged to pivot from a substantially horizontal position where its first end is directed towards a user location and its second end is directed opposite this location, at least to a substantially vertical position.

More particularly, said video screen can be arranged to pivot at said second end of the arm, when the latter is in its substantially horizontal position, from a substantially horizontal storage position where it is adjacent to said arm, at least to a substantially vertical.

 Also in a particular embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises sliding means for moving said video screen substantially parallel to said first and second pivot axes.

This arrangement makes it possible to bring the screen in front of a particular user from among several people seated side by side, in particular when it is used as a computer screen.

More particularly, said sliding means may comprise a tube with an axis substantially parallel to said first and second pivot axes, said tube being pivotally mounted about its axis on said upper support means and having a longitudinal slot into which said first end penetrates. of the arm, and a holding member integral with said first end of the arm, designed to be retained and slide in said tube.

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 In the case of use of the device on a land motor vehicle, said upper support means can form a roof cross member.

It will be noted that this cross member may include other accessories such as storage boxes or curtain rollers.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which - FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, applied more particularly to use in the rear seats of a land motor vehicle, in the closed position of non-use of the screen; - Figure 2 is a sectional view of this device in the same closed position; - Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in the open position of use, fully deployed; and - Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 3 of the device in intermediate open use positions.

FIG. 1 shows a roof crossmember 1 arranged transversely to the roof of a motor vehicle, between two front canopies 2 and rear 3.

This cross member essentially comprises three distinct longitudinal zones, namely a front zone 4 and a rear zone 5 each receiving a retractor for a curtain for masking the respective canopy, and an intermediate zone 6. This intermediate zone 6 is itself even divided transversely into two lateral storage boxes 7 and a video unit 8.

FIG. 1 shows the handles 9 and 10 for operating the front and rear curtains respectively, and the handle 11 for unlocking the video assembly.

Referring now to Figure 1, we see a device according to the invention in the locked position of non-use, embedded longitudinally between the front and rear reels, and transversely between the storage boxes.

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 The device is locked here by means of a pawl 12 actuated by the handle 11 against the action of elastic means not shown. In its locked position, the pawl 12 engages under the device 8, and more particularly under the screen which will be described below, to keep it in its recessed position in FIG. 1.

In this position, the video screen 13 has its back 14 which faces downwards, in continuity with the surfaces of the covers of the boxes 7. The screen is substantially horizontal, with the display part at the bottom of the image oriented towards the users, that is to say towards the rear of the vehicle (arrow AR in FIG. 1), and the display part from the top of the image oriented opposite, that is to say - say towards the front of the vehicle (front arrow of figure 1).

This part of the screen corresponding to the display at the top of the image is articulated by a hinge 15 of axis transverse to the vehicle at one end of a support arm 16. Thus, the screen 13 can pivot relative to to the arm 16 around a generally horizontal axis.

The other end of the arm 16 carries an elongate holding member 17 engaged in a split tube 18, also of transverse axis to the vehicle, itself mounted to pivot on two bearings (not shown) integral with the structure of the vehicle. The connecting part between the arm 16 and the holding member 17 passes through the slot 19 of the tube 18, the diameter of the holding member being greater than the width of the slot 19.

Thus, the mounting of the arm 16 on the split tube 18 allows the arm to pivot relative to the structure of the vehicle and a transverse sliding of this arm, and therefore of the screen, parallel to the axis of the tube 18.

In the position of Figure 1, the screen 13 is folded against the arm 16, itself folded against the roof 20 of the vehicle.

When the pawl 12 is unlocked, the device 8 can be unfolded until the configuration of FIG. 3, passing through the intermediate positions of FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIG. 4, only the screen 13 is unfolded, the arm 16 remaining in its recessed horizontal position. This position is that of use

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 of the prior art and therefore has its drawbacks, in particular with regard to the visibility of the driver. It may however be preferred when the vehicle is stationary.

The position in FIG. 5 is that which can be adopted when all of the rear passengers wish to watch a film or a television program. The arm 16 is pivoted in an intermediate position so that the screen comes to be positioned substantially between the head restraints of the front seats. The relative narrowness of the arm 16 causes only minimal discomfort for the driver.

By rotating the arm 16 a little more, the latter emerges laterally from the boxes 7 and can thus slide transversely. It can therefore be brought in front of a particular passenger who can use it as a cinema or individual television screen, or as a video game screen. The driver's field of vision is then almost completely clear.

Finally, in the position of FIG. 3, the screen is arranged substantially in the extension of the arm 16, at a short distance from a particular user, in particular for use as a computer screen. This use can be done in combination with a keyboard which may or may not be integrated into the device.

Of course, the different positions described above can succeed one another continuously, braking and possibly locking devices being provided at the level of the different articulations. Alternatively, one can provide indexing means, for example ball and spring, to maintain the device in a number of predetermined positions.

One could also provide other possibilities of articulation, for example an additional axis of rotation or a ball at the junction of the screen and the arm.

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Claims (6)

CLAIMS 1 - Device for mounting a video screen (13), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising pivoting mounting means for supporting said screen from upper support means (1), characterized in that it comprises a arm (16) mounted at one of its ends on said upper support means, pivoting around a first axis (18), and receiving said video screen (13) at its second end so as to pivot around a second axis (15) substantially parallel to said first axis. 2 - mounting device according to claim 1, wherein said arm (16) is arranged to pivot from a substantially horizontal position where its first end is directed towards a user location and its second end is directed opposite this location, at least up to a substantially vertical position. 3 - mounting device according to claim 2, wherein said video screen (13) is arranged to pivot at said second end of the arm (16), when the latter is in its substantially horizontal position, from a substantially horizontal storage position where it is adjacent to said arm, at least up to a substantially vertical position.  4 - mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising sliding means (18, 19) for moving said video screen (13) substantially parallel to said first (18) and second (15) pivot axes. 5 - mounting device according to claim 4, wherein said sliding means comprise a tube (18) with an axis substantially parallel to said first and second pivot axes, said tube being pivotally mounted about its axis on said upper support means and comprising a longitudinal slot (19) into which said first end of the arm penetrates, and a holding member (17) integral with said first <Desc / Clms Page number 7>  end of the arm, arranged to be retained and slide in said tube. 6 - mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said upper support means (1) form a cross member of the roof of a land motor vehicle.