Telephonic communications – Terminal accessory or auxiliary equipment – Telephone receiver support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-11-20
Chiang, Jack (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Terminal accessory or auxiliary equipment
Telephone receiver support
C379S454000, C379S455000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320962
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a telephone cradle, more particularly this invention relates to a vehicle mounted telephone cradle for a cellular telephone adapted to grasp an object such as a beverage container including a cup, can or bottle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since the early 1980s the cellular telephone industry has seen very dramatic growth. Competitive market prices have made it affordable for larger and larger segments of the American population to own a cellular telephone of one type or another. At the commencement of this expansive growth in the cellular telephone industry the most popular type of cellular phone came with its own platform for mounting the phone in the passenger compartment of the phone owner's vehicle. While this innovation in telephonic technology allowed many people to remain in touch with their business or families, the limitation of vehicle mounting still made it impractical for most individuals to own a cellular phone. With further advances in technology the cellular phone soon became transportable in a storage bag allowing free movement outside the vehicle. From the storage bag the phone progressed to a totally independent unit, with the battery and communication equipment compacted into a single hand unit about the size of a standard household handset. The most recent innovations have reduced the hand unit size so as to be able to fit in a person's pocket, briefcase or handbag while retaining all the advantages of their larger ancestors.
This size advantage for the smaller independent units turns into a disadvantage for use in the owner's vehicle, the same place the whole cellular revolution started. As the cellular telephone market moved toward independent hand units and away from being simply car phones, there was less need for phone owners to fit the passenger compartments of their vehicles with a phone mounting platform. This trend has resulted in many modern styles of cellular phones which are not designed for vehicle mounting. The obvious consequence of this development becomes apparent when a phone owner needs to answer or place a call while operating their vehicle. Since there is no longer any phone platform, the phone owner must reach for a phone unit that may have shifted or otherwise moved, during vehicle movement, to an inconvenient location for the phone owner to reach while operating the vehicle. Thus, a need has developed for a phone platform capable of securely holding a wide variety of today's platformless cellular telephones while the phone owner operates his vehicle.
One prior art attempt at a solution to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,381 issued Apr. 19, 1994 to Wang et al. This patent describes a telephone cradle with two walls extending outward from a base for clamping and holding a cellular telephone on the base. Each wall has a cushion for holding the telephone firmly. The walls are spring loaded and in communication with a ratchet which must be released and finger pressure applied to retract the walls.
A telephone cradle is typically mounted within a vehicle at a location within reach of a vehicle occupant such as the vehicle driver. Thus, the location of a telephone cradle is also well suited for temporarily securing other objects such as a beverage container including a cup, can or bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problem of supplying a universal cradle capable of receiving, holding and releasing portable cellular telephones or beverage containers of various sizes, and providing such a cradle that does not require manual manipulation to grip or release the telephone. A touch of a switch energizes a motor to cause clamping members to open or close to grip or release the phone.
A cradle has a base supporting a first and a second opposing clamping members, each member having a concave clamping surface and an essentially planar clamping surface. The clamping members being pivotally attached to the base such that the clamping surfaces are changed relative to the base. An energy source and actuator button control the slidable motion of at least one of the clamping members to modify the spacing between the members.
An adaptor designed to receive a clamping member of a telephone cradle has a concave surface adapted to engage a beverage container.
The cradle has a base supporting first and second concave clamping members each having a clamping surface facing each other extending outwardly from the base. A motor mounted in the base and activated by a switch slides one or both of the clamping members to move the clamping surfaces toward or away from each other to grip or release a phone placed on the base between the clamping members.
In one embodiment, a single reversing switch is used to open and close the clamping members, changing the plurality of the electrical power supply. In another embodiment two switches are used. One switch, located on the side of the base is used to open or move the clamping members apart. The second switch is preferably located on the base between the clamping members so that when the phone is placed on the base it activates the switch to move the clamping members toward each other to hold the phone.
In a preferred embodiment, an additional pressure sensitive switch or proximity switch is located adjacent one of the clamping surfaces to disconnect the power supply when the clamping members have been moved toward each other and are gripping the phone. A second proximity or limit switch is also preferred to disconnect the power supply when the clamping members are moved apart to their maximum open position.
The power supply can be connected to the vehicle battery or electrical system or it can be from a self-contained battery in the base. A cigarette lighter connection can optionally be used to obtain power from the vehicle electrical system.
In a preferred embodiment, the motor rotates a pinion through a gear reducer and output shaft. The pinion rotates a screw drive through a ring gear, and one of the clamping members is moved by the screw through a nut fixed to the clamping member. In an embodiment where both clamping members are moved toward and away from each other, a rack and pinion drive is used between the members so that a first rack attached to the clamping member moved by the screw drive will rotate a pinion to engage a second rack attached to the other clamping member to move it.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4582289 (1986-04-01), Gibson et al.
patent: 4981277 (1991-01-01), Elwell
patent: 5457745 (1995-10-01), Wang
patent: 5697593 (1997-12-01), Bieck
patent: 5782448 (1998-07-01), Withun et al.
patent: 6035036 (2000-03-01), Eisenbraun et al.
patent: 6076793 (2000-06-01), Yamamoto
patent: 6092775 (2000-07-01), Gallant
Chiang Jack
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
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