Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-10
2001-05-08
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S311200, C224S549000, C224S553000, C379S454000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227505
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to mounting systems for mounting accessories to a vehicle and particularly to one which is adjustable between multiple fixed positions.
Modern vehicles include a variety of convenience features, many of which are electronic and need to be mounted to a vehicle. Such accessories may include radar detectors, cellular telephones or other communication devices. It is desirable in mounting such accessories to have them conveniently located and, in some instances, easily stored out of the way when not in use. A cellular telephone is a typical example of one such accessory and a variety of different telephone mounting systems for cellular telephones are now available. Typically, a cellular telephone will include a cradle for removably receiving a telephone handset, which cradle can be mounted to a vehicle in a variety of manners. In one system, the telephone cradle is mounted to a platform which, in turn, is pivotally and extendably mounted on an arm system for movement from a stored position within a vehicle armrest storage compartment to an extended, conveniently located use position. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/713,140, filed on Sep. 12, 1996, entitled VEHICLE TELEPHONE MOUNTING SYSTEM discloses one such system. The telephone cradle disclosed therein is fixedly mounted to the extendable arm for a particular type of telephone. In order to accommodate a variety of different telephones and to allow their compact storage within the storage compartment of a vehicle armrest when not in use, currently is necessary to provide different cradles or special adapters to allow different phones to be used with the universal telephone storage arm such as disclosed in the above-identified patent application.
Thus, there exists a need for an accessory mount which can accommodate a variety of different devices, such as telephone cradles, to allow their mounting and/or compact storage within a vehicle armrest and subsequent extension for use.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The system of the present invention accommodates this need by providing an accessory mount which includes a platform with a slide having a mounting shoe mounted thereon. The slide is mounted to the platform for movement between at least first and second spaced-apart positions allowing a telephone cradle coupled to said shoe to be moved to different longitudinal positions with respect to the mounting platform, thus, accommodating different mounting systems. The mounting shoe coupled to the slide may take on a variety of forms for receiving different devices including various telephone mounting cradles which are provided with a particular manufacturer's cellular telephone. Although the system is especially adapted for use in connection with cellular telephones, its use can be extended to other accessories which require an adjustable mount.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the platform includes a guide for the slide which is spring-loaded and which slides within the guide and includes interlocking tabs and slots for positively locking the slide in at least two spaced-apart positions, thereby longitudinally moving the mounting shoe between such positions. In a preferred embodiment of the invention also, in order to provide a finished appearance to the mounting system, the slide includes a forward section which extends through an aperture formed in the platform and slides along an upper surface thereof with the body of the slide extending through the aperture into the guide such that the aperture remains enclosed by the main body or forward extension for all positions of the slide, thereby enclosing the platform.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Van Order Kim L.
Watjer Sheldon J.
Foley & Lardner
King Anita M.
Prince Corporation
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