Headrest and seat video imaging apparatus

Abstract

A video imaging apparatus for receiving, recording, and displaying images from a vehicle in which the video camera connects to a lateral upper portion of a seat in the vehicle. A member communicates light representative of an image to an image receiver. A mount selectively orients the angular view of the image receiver. A method of providing vehicles with after-market imaging apparatus and installation thereof is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A video and audio imaging apparatus and vehicle seat for positioning in a vehicle for receiving video images and audio, comprising: 
 a vehicle seat having an elongate member extending from a lateral upper portion thereof;    a panoramic mirror mounted in a distal end portions and which distal end portion communicates light theretrough to the mirror;    an image receiving lens at an opposing end of the member for receiving images communicated by the mirror; and    a recorder for recording signals representative of the images received by the lens.    
     
     
         2 . The video imaging apparatus and vehicle seat as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the member is selectively extendable from a channel in the seat.  
     
     
         3 . The video imaging apparatus and vehicle seat as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the member is a tube.  
     
     
         4 . An aircraft pilot seat and video imaging apparatus, comprising: 
 an aircraft pilot seat with a housing mounted adjacent thereto and defining a cavity therein lateral and upward of the seat and centrally disposed relative to a central axis of the aircraft;    an imaging apparatus fixedly secured within the housing for imaging in one or more directions from said seat such that said imaging apparatus is unobstructed by use of said seat as a seat;    said camera imaging apparatus including one or more lenses and adapted to create one or more electrical signal representative of the images received by said one or more lens; and    a signal transmitting pathway for transmitting said one or more electrical signal; and    a signal receiving device communicating with the signal transmitting pathway.    
     
     
         5 . The aircraft pilot seat and video imaging apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the signal receiving device is signal recorder.  
     
     
         6 . A camera imaging apparatus for retrofit use with seats of delivery vehicles, comprising: 
 a sleeve for being slidably received on a back of a seat in a delivery vehicle;    a support at an upper lateral portion of the sleeve;    am imaging apparatus fixedly attached to said support for disposing said imaging apparatus substantially centrally relative to a central axis of said delivery vehicle receiving said sleeve, for imaging in one or more directions from said seat such that said camera imaging apparatus is unobstructed by use of said seat as a seat;    said imaging apparatus including one or more lenses and adapted to create one or more electrical signal representative of the images received by said one or more lens;    a signal transmitting pathway for transmitting said one or more electrical signal; and    a signal receiver for communicating with said signal transmitting pathway.    
     
     
         7 . The camera imaging apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said signal receiver comprises a recorder for recording said electrical signal.  
     
     
         8 . A method of providing a vehicle with an imaging device, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) opening an upper portion of a cover of a seat;    (b) attaching a support to a frame member of the seat such that the support has a distal end extending laterally of the seat towards a central axis portion of the vehicle;    (c) attaching an image receiving apparatus to the support;    (d) securing a signal recorder to the seat; and    (e) connecting a signal transmitting pathway to the image receiving device and the signal recorder, whereby seats of vehicles are equipped after-market with image recording devices for recording images of operation of the vehicle.    
     
     
         9 . An vehicle seat and video imaging apparatus, comprising: 
 an seat with a seatback and a support arm extending laterally therefrom;    a mount connected to the support arm, said mount adapted for selective angular orientation relative to the support arm;    a video imaging apparatus fixedly secured to the mount for imaging in one or more directions by selective positioning of said mount with the video imaging apparatus disposed laterally of the seat and substantially centrally relative to a central axis of the vehicle;    said camera imaging apparatus including one or more lenses and adapted to create one or more electrical signal representative of the images received by said one or more lens; and    a signal transmitting pathway for transmitting said one or more electrical signal; and    a signal receiving device communicating with the signal transmitting pathway.    
     
     
         10 . The vehicle seat and video imaging apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said mount comprises a rotator for rotating the angle of view of the video imaging device relative to the support.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle seat and video imaging apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said mount comprises a pivoter to change the pivot angle of the view of the video imaging apparatus relative to the support.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle seat imaging apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said mount comprises: 
 a rotator for rotating the angle of view of the video imaging device relative to the support;    a pivoter to change the pivot angle of the view of the video imaging apparatus relative to the support; and    a controller for selectively positioning the rotator and the pivoter.