Granted Patent B2

US 7,201,420 · App. 10/995,844 · Granted Apr 10, 2007

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A display unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

a screen;

a guide member defining an arced track, said screen being movable with respect to said arced track between a retracted position, wherein said screen rests at a first angle with respect to vertical, and an extended position, wherein said screen extends upward and rests at a second angle with respect to vertical; and

a motor operatively connected to said guide member, said motor actuatable to move said screen with respect to said arced track between said retracted and extended positions.

2. The display unit of claim 1 , wherein said guide member further comprises a bracket slidable along said arced track, said screen being attached to said bracket to move between said retracted and extended positions.

3. The display unit of claim 1 , further comprising a door covering a top face of said screen in both said retracted and extended positions.

4. The display unit of claim 3 , further comprising:

at least one side wall extending substantially perpendicularly away from said door and defining a slot; and

wherein said screen includes a pin which travels along said slot as said screen moves between said retracted and extended positions, thereby allowing said door to cover said top face of said screen throughout movement of said screen between said retracted and extended positions.

5. A display unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

a screen;

a guide member defining an arced track, said screen being movable with respect to said arced track between a retracted position, wherein said screen rests at a first angle with respect to vertical, and an extended position, wherein said screen extends upward and rests at a second angle with respect to vertical; and

a spring operatively connected to said guide member, said screen being releasable upon actuation to move said screen with respect to said arced track between said retracted and extended positions.

6. A display unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

a screen; and

a guide member defining an arced track, said screen being movable with respect to said arced track between a retracted position, wherein said screen rests at a first angle with respect to vertical, and an extended position, wherein said screen extends upward and rests at a second angle with respect to vertical;

wherein said screen is substantially parallel with adjacent vehicle interior structure when said screen rests at said first angle in said retracted position.

7. The display unit of claim 6 , wherein said vehicle interior structure is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle console and an instrument panel.

8. A motor vehicle comprising:

vehicle interior structure at least partially defining a cavity and an opening;

a door pivotally attached to said vehicle interior structure at said opening; and

a screen containable within said cavity such that said screen substantially parallels at least a portion of said vehicle interior structure, said screen being at least partially visible through said opening when the door is in a closed position.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:

a storage bin disposed within said cavity and accessible through said opening.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:

a guide member defining a track, said guide member being disposed within said cavity, said screen being movable with respect to said track between a retracted position wherein said screen is contained within said cavity, and an extended position wherein at least a portion of said screen extends through said opening outside of said cavity.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein said screen is disposed at a first angle in said retracted position; and wherein said track is arced, thereby allowing said screen to be disposed at a second angle different than said first angle when said screen is moved to said extended position.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said guide member further comprises a bracket slidable along said track, said screen being attached to said bracket to move between said retracted and extended positions.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein said bracket defines an adjustment slot; and

wherein said screen includes a pin which travels along said adjustment slot to move said screen from said second angle to a third angle at said extended position.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said screen is movable from said second angle to a third angle at said extended position.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:

a motor operatively connected to said guide member, said motor actuatable to move said screen along said track between said retracted and extended positions.

16. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:

a spring operatively connected to said guide member, said screen being releasable upon actuation to move said screen with respect to said track between said retracted and extended positions.

17. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein said door covers a top face of said screen in both said retracted and extended positions.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising:

at least one side wall extending substantially perpendicularly away from said door toward said vehicle interior structure and defining a slot; and

wherein said screen includes a pin which travels along said slot as said screen moves between said retracted and extended positions, thereby allowing said door to cover said top face of said screen throughout movement of said screen between said retracted and extended positions.

19. A method of installing a display screen on vehicles comprising:

a) maintaining an inventory of vehicles having substantially identical vehicle interior structures each at least partially defining a cavity and an opening;

b) maintaining an inventory of substantially identical guide members, each of said guide members defining an arced path and being attachable with respect to said vehicle interior structures;

c) maintaining an inventory of a first type of display screen;

d) maintaining an inventory of a second type of display screen;

e) installing one of said first type of display screens on a first of said vehicles having a first vehicle interior structure by:

attaching a first of said guide members to said first vehicle interior structure; and

attaching one of said first type of display screens to said first vehicle interior structure and with respect to said guide member such that said one of said first type of display screens is movable with respect to the arced path of said guide member between a retracted position in which said display screen is disposed substantially within said cavity of said first vehicle interior structure and is substantially parallel to said first vehicle interior structure, and an extended position in which said display screen extends through said opening outside of said cavity; and

f) installing one of said second type of display screen on a second of said vehicles having a second vehicle interior structure by:

attaching one of said second type of display screens with respect to said second vehicle interior structure such that said one of said second type of display screens remains fixed in a position substantially the same as said retracted position of said one of said first type of display screens; and

attaching a storage bin to said second vehicle interior structure within said cavity thereof, said storage bin being accessible through said opening of said second vehicle interior structure.

Assignments (13)