Entertainment system mountable in a vehicle and methods for mounting and displaying same

Abstract

A media system for a vehicle comprises a housing mounted to an overhead portion of the vehicle, and a media unit that is capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit in the receiving portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a housing; and   a media unit capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein:   the housing comprises a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit therein;   the receiving portion pivots between a closed position and an open position where the receiving portion is at an angle with respect to the housing;   the media unit comprises a display configured to display media content, wherein the display is disposed on a front surface of the media unit;   the receiving portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a rear side,   wherein a first end of the first side is connected to a first end of the rear side, and a second end of the first side comprises a first inward fold extending from the second end of the first side and folded in a first direction toward a center of the receiving portion,   wherein a first end of the second side is connected to a second end of the rear side, and a second end of the second side comprises a second inward fold extending from the second end of the second side and folded in a second direction toward the center of the receiving portion; and   the media unit comprises a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein the first and second side surfaces extend between the front surface of the media unit and a rear surface of the media unit that opposes the front surface,   wherein the receiving portion is configured to secure the media unit via the first and second inward folds respectively engaging the first and second side surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The media system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the media unit comprises a first electrical connector positioned therein; and   the receiving portion comprises a second electrical connector mounted thereto, and the second electrical connector mates with the first electrical connector.   
     
     
         3 . The media system of  claim 2 , wherein the second electrical connector protrudes from a surface of the receiving portion and is inserted through a hole in the media unit to mate with the first electrical connector when the media unit is received by the receiving portion. 
     
     
         4 . The media system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first electrical connector is a first pin connector disposed in an opening of the media unit, and the first electrical connector is fixed to a portion of a circuit board of the media unit; and   the second electrical connector is a second pin connector configured to mate with the first pin connector upon positioning the media unit in the receiving portion.   
     
     
         5 . The media system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion pivots with respect to the housing via a hinge disposed at a bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The media system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a U-shaped hinge and is pivotably coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The media system of  claim 6 , wherein the receiving portion surrounds the media unit on at least two sides of the media unit. 
     
     
         8 . The media system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is mounted in a vehicle headrest. 
     
     
         9 . A media system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a housing; and   a media unit capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein:   the housing comprises a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit therein;   the receiving portion pivots between a closed position and an open position where the receiving portion is at an angle with respect to the housing;   the media unit comprises a display configured to display media content, wherein the display is disposed on a front surface of the media unit;   the receiving portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a rear side,   wherein a first end of the first side of the receiving portion is connected to a first end of the rear side, and a second end of the first side of the receiving portion comprises a first inward fold extending from the second end of the first side of the receiving portion and folded in a first direction toward a center of the receiving portion,   wherein a first end of the second side of the receiving portion is connected to a second end of the rear side, and a second end of the second side of the receiving portion comprises a second inward fold extending from the second end of the second side of the receiving portion and folded in a second direction toward the center of the receiving portion; and   the media unit comprises a first side and a second side,   wherein the receiving portion is configured to secure the media unit via the first and second inward folds respectively engaging the first and second sides of the media unit.   
     
     
         10 . The media system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the media unit comprises a first electrical connector positioned therein; and   the receiving portion comprises a second electrical connector mounted thereto, and the second electrical connector mates with the first electrical connector.   
     
     
         11 . The media system of  claim 10 , wherein the second electrical connector protrudes from a surface of the receiving portion and is inserted through a hole in the media unit to mate with the first electrical connector when the media unit is received by the receiving portion. 
     
     
         12 . The media system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first electrical connector is a first pin connector disposed in an opening of the media unit, and the first electrical connector is fixed to a portion of a circuit hoard of the media unit; and   the second electrical connector is a second pin connector configured to mate with the first pin connector upon positioning the media unit in the receiving portion.   
     
     
         13 . The media system of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving portion pivots with respect to the housing via a hinge disposed at a bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The media system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a U-shaped hinge and is pivotally coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The media system of  claim 14 , wherein the receiving portion surrounds the media unit on at least two sides of the media unit. 
     
     
         16 . A media system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a housing secured to a vehicle headrest; and   a media unit capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein:   the housing comprises a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit therein;   the receiving portion pivots with respect to the housing via a hinge disposed at a bottom portion of the housing;   the receiving portion pivots between a closed position and an open position where the receiving portion is at an angle with respect to the housing;   the media unit comprises a display configured to display media content, wherein the display is disposed on a front surface of the media unit; and   the receiving portion is configured to secure the media unit via the media unit sliding into the receiving portion in a direction extending from a top of the receiving portion toward a bottom of the receiving portion when the receiving portion is in the open position.   
     
     
         17 . The media system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the media unit comprises a first electrical connector positioned therein; and   the receiving portion comprises a second electrical connector mounted thereto, and the second electrical connector mates with the first electrical connector.   
     
     
         18 . The media system of  claim 17 , wherein the second electrical connector protrudes from a surface of the receiving portion and is inserted through a hole in the media unit to mate with the first electrical connector when the media unit is received by the receiving portion. 
     
     
         19 . The media system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first electrical connector is a first pin connector disposed in an opening of the media unit, and the first electrical connector is fixed to a portion of a circuit board of the media unit; and   the second electrical connector is a second pin connector configured to mate with the first pin connector upon positioning the media unit in the receiving portion.   
     
     
         20 . The media system of  claim 16 , wherein the receiving portion surrounds the media unit on at least two sides of the media unit.