Mobile system for content display device of road vehicle

Abstract

A mobile system for a content display device of a road vehicle has a ball joint (8) provided with a fixed coupling (9) configured to be connected to an instrument panel mounted in a passenger compartment of the road vehicle and a movable coupling (10) rotationally coupled to the fixed coupling (9) and configured to be connected to a screen (3) of the content display device; the ball joint (8) is configured to have a center of rotation (C) that coincides with the center of gravity (B) of the assembly defined by the screen (3) and the movable coupling (10).

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102023000019116 filed on September 18, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a mobile system for a content display device of a road vehicle. Background Art

[0004] In particular, the present invention relates to a content display device for a road vehicle, comprising a support unit configured to be connected to an instrument panel installed in a passenger compartment of the road vehicle; a screen for displaying content; and a moving system connecting the support unit and the screen to each other.

[0005] Generally, the mobile system is configured to allow a driver and / or occupant of a road vehicle to orient the screen relative to the support unit and correctly display its content.

[0006] Known content display devices of the above-mentioned type are relatively complex and expensive, since the mobile system usually comprises at least one electrically driven device for orienting the screen relative to the supporting unit. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile system for a content display device for a road vehicle which does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks and which is easy and cheap to manufacture.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile system for a content display device for a road vehicle according to the accompanying claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a content display device of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic side view of a device;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a detail of the device;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 a schematic side view with some details partially cut away;

[0014] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the equipment;

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 an exploded perspective view of the details of

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 Exploded perspective view of a variation of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] refer to Figure 1-5 , reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a content display device adapted to be installed in a passenger compartment (not shown) of a road vehicle (not shown).

[0018] The device 1 includes a support unit 2 configured to be connected to a dashboard (not shown) installed in a passenger compartment (not shown) of a road vehicle (not shown); a screen 3 for displaying content; and a movement system 4 connecting the support unit 2 and the screen 3 to each other.

[0019] The support unit 2 comprises a substantially planar fastening plate 5 configured to be fixed to an instrument panel (not shown) of a passenger compartment (not shown) of a road vehicle (not shown) and a tubular handle 6 having a longitudinal axis 7 and protruding from the plate 5 inside the passenger compartment (not shown).

[0020] The movement system 4 comprises a ball joint 8 , which comprises a fixed coupling part 9 which can be releasably connected to the support unit 2 , and a movable coupling part 10 which is coupled in a rotational manner to the part 9 and is connected to the screen 3 .

[0021] The joint 8 is configured to have a rotation center C that coincides with the center of gravity B of the assembly defined by the screen 3 and the movable coupling portion 10 .

[0022] The fixed coupling 9 comprises a support column 11 of tubular shape, made of metal material, suitable for being fitted on the handle 6 coaxially with the axis 7 and being releasably coupled to the handle 6 itself, in particular by a bayonet coupling.

[0023] The column 11 is provided at one free end with a cup-shaped spherical coupling element 12 which is provided with a central hole 13 which is substantially coaxial with the axis 7 .

[0024] The movable coupling portion 10 includes a cup-shaped spherical coupling element 14 which is made of a metal material and has a central hole 15 .

[0025] The element 14 is coupled in rotation to the element 12 through the intervention of an intermediate cup-shaped spherical element 16 made of plastic material, fixed inside the element 12 and having a central hole 17 substantially coaxial with the axis 7 .

[0026] according to Figure 6 As shown, element 16 has circular-shaped teeth 18 which protrude from the inner surface of element 16 and which engage in a sliding manner in a circular-shaped groove 19 formed on the outer surface of element 14 to allow element 14 to rotate relative to the assembly defined by elements 12 and 16 around a rotation axis 20 parallel to the screen 3.

[0027] The movable coupling part 10 further comprises a cup-shaped spherical coupling element 21 which is made of plastic material and has a central hole 22 .

[0028] The element 21 has two grooves 23 formed on its outer surface, on opposite sides of a hole 22 transverse to the teeth 18 and the grooves 19 , and which are engaged in a sliding manner by corresponding teeth 24 formed on the inner surface of the element 14 .

[0029] Teeth 24 project from the inner surface of element 14, are formed on opposite sides of hole 15 transverse to teeth 18 and slot 19 and are slidably coupled to slot 23 to allow element 14 and element 21 to rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis 25 transverse to axis 20 and parallel to screen 3.

[0030] The element 21 is limited axially by a free planar surface 26 having an annular shape and carrying a handle 27 having a substantially rectangular shape, which is fixed to the surface 26 by the intervention of a coupling flange 28 and allows the driver and / or occupant of a road vehicle (not shown) to orient the screen 3 about the axes 20 and / or 25.

[0031] The movable coupling portion 10 further comprises two closing elements 29 , 30 which are mounted on opposite sides of the elements 12 , 14 , 16 and 21 and are connected to each other by a plurality of fastening screws (not shown).

[0032] The element 29 has a spherical annular shape, extends around the element 12 and has two appendages 31 opposite each other, projecting radially towards the outside of the element 29 and provided with respective threaded holes 32 configured to receive and retain fastening screws (not shown).

[0033] The element 30 comprises a substantially planar plate 33 connected in a sliding manner to the handle 27 by means of a fastening screw (not shown) which engages through the handle 27 itself.

[0034] The assembly defined by elements 14 and 21 and handle 27 is pressed against the assembly defined by elements 12 and 16 by a plurality of springs 34 which intervene between plate 33 and element 21 and each exert a respective thrust selectively controlled by an adjustment screw 35 mounted through plate 33 itself.

[0035] Regarding the above content, it should be appropriately explained that:

[0036] The screen 3 is fixed to the handle 27 on the side opposite to the coupling element 21; and

[0037] The rotation center C and the center of gravity B are set inside the screen 3 and outside the ball joint 8 .

[0038] The content display device 1 has a number of advantages mainly due to the following aspects:

[0039] The screen 3 is oriented manually and thus in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner by means of the handle 27; and

[0040] The elements 16 and 21 of plastic material ensure a relatively reduced friction between the elements 12 , 14 , 16 and 21 .

[0041] The content display device 1 has a further advantage in that the centre of rotation C of the ball joint 8 coincides with the centre of gravity B of the assembly defined by the screen 3 and the movable coupling part 10, so that the forces generated on the content display device 1 during normal operation of a road vehicle (not shown) extending through both the centre of gravity B and the centre C have a moment arm equal to zero, thereby generating zero rotational torque.

[0042] As a result, the position of the centre of rotation C of the ball joint 8 and the action of the spring 34 on the elements 12, 14, 16 and 21 prevent accidental movement of the screen 3 about the axis 20 and / or 25 and allow the screen 3 to be moved only with the intervention of the driver and / or occupants of the road vehicle (not shown).

[0043] In summary, the content display device 1 has the following additional advantages:

[0044] The coupling between the handle 6 and the column 11 allows the content display device 1 to be mounted on the dashboard (not shown) after the assembly of the dashboard itself has been completed, thus maintaining the structural and visual integrity of the content display device 1 itself; and

[0045] The spherical shape of the cup-shaped coupling elements 12, 14, 21 allows the use of cables (not shown) to ensure the correct functioning of the screen 3 housed within the content display device 1, thus not impairing the visual effect.

[0046] Figure 7 The variant shown differs from that shown in the previous figures only in that:

[0047] The intermediate element 16 is eliminated;

[0048] The coupling element 14 is made of a plastic material and the coupling element 21 is made of a metal material; and

[0049] Teeth 18 are formed on the inner surface of the coupling element 12 .

[0050] According to a variant that is not shown, the handle 27 has a shape different from that shown in the previous figures.

Claims

1. A mobile system for a content display device of a road vehicle, the mobile system comprising a ball joint (8), the ball joint (8) comprising a fixed coupling portion (9) configured to be connected to an instrument panel installed in a passenger compartment of the road vehicle and a movable coupling portion (10) coupled to the fixed coupling portion (9) in a rotational manner and configured to be connected to a screen (3) of the content display device, the ball joint (8) being configured to have a rotation center (C) that coincides with a center of gravity (B) of an assembly defined by the screen (3) and the movable coupling portion (10).

2. The mobile system according to claim 1, wherein: The fixed coupling portion (9) and the movable coupling portion (10) are configured to allow the screen (3) to rotate about a first rotation axis (20) and a second rotation axis (25) which are transverse to each other and parallel to the screen (3).

3. The mobile system according to claim 2, wherein: The fixed coupling part (9) includes a first coupling element (12) having a spherical shape, and the movable coupling part (10) includes a second coupling element (14) having a spherical shape coupled with the first coupling element (12) to rotate around the first rotation axis (20), and a third coupling element (21), wherein the second coupling element (14) has a spherical shape coupled with the first coupling element (12) to rotate around the first rotation axis (20), and the third coupling element (21) has a spherical shape coupled with the second coupling element (14) in a rotational manner to rotate around the second rotation axis (25), and the screen (3) is carried by the third coupling element (21).

4. The mobile system according to claim 3, wherein: The ball joint (8) further includes at least one first tooth (18) having a circular shape formed on one of the first coupling element (12) and the second coupling element (14), and at least one first groove (19) having a circular shape formed on the other of the first coupling element (12) and the second coupling element (14) and slidably engaged by the first tooth (18).

5. The mobile system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The ball joint (8) further includes at least one second tooth (24) having a circular shape formed on one of the second coupling element (14) and the third coupling element (21) and at least one second groove (23) having a circular shape formed on the other of the second coupling element (14) and the third coupling element (21) and slidably engaged by the second tooth (24).

6. The mobile system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: The first coupling element (12) and the third coupling element (21) are made of metal material, and the second coupling element (14) is made of plastic material.

7. The mobile system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: The first coupling element (12) and the second coupling element (14) are made of metal material, and the third coupling element (21) is made of plastic material, the movable coupling part (10) further comprises an intermediate element (16) which is installed between the first coupling element (12) and the second coupling element (14) and is made of plastic material.

8. A mobile system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The ball joint (8) further comprises an elastic pushing device (34) for clamping the fixed coupling part (9) and the movable coupling part (10) together.

9. The mobile system according to claim 8, wherein: The ball joint (8) further comprises an adjusting device (35) for adjusting the thrust applied by the elastic pushing device (34) for clamping the fixed coupling part (9) and the movable coupling part (10) together.

10. A mobile system according to claim 8 or 9 when dependent on any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein: The movable coupling portion (10) further comprises two closing elements (29, 30) which are mounted on opposite sides of the first coupling element (12), the second coupling element (14) and the third coupling element (21) and are connected to each other.

11. The mobile system according to claim 10, wherein: The first closing element (29) has a spherical shape and extends around the first coupling element (12), and the elastic urging device (34) is installed between the third coupling element (21) and the second closing element (30).

12. A mobile system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The fixed coupling portion (9) is configured to be releasably coupled to a support unit (2) comprising a fixed base (5) mounted on the dashboard of the road vehicle and a tubular handle (6) protruding from the fixed base (5), and the fixed coupling portion (9) also includes a support column (11) configured to be releasably coupled to the tubular handle (6) of the support unit (2), in particular by a bayonet coupling portion.

13. A mobile system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The movable coupling portion (10) further comprises a handle (27) configured to allow a driver and / or passenger of the road vehicle to orient the movable coupling portion (10) relative to the fixed coupling portion (9).

14. A mobile system according to any preceding claim, wherein: The rotation center (C) and the center of gravity (B) are arranged inside the screen (3) and outside the ball joint (8).

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