Supports – Brackets – Article holding means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-10-23
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Article holding means
C248S206500, C248S683000, C220S628000, C206S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305656
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally related to magnetic coupling devices. More specifically, the invention is directed to a variety of holding devices that magnetically couple with a magnetic base, where each holding device can quickly couple with the magnetic base for securing the holding device to a nonferrous surface, such as a dashboard, as well as quickly uncouple from the magnetic base in order to access to the holding device or to change to a different holding device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
We live in an age where our car is far more than a mode of transportation. For many, our cars are a second office. Longer commutes mean that we need ready access to our coffee cups, notepad and paper, sunglasses, hand-held computers (e.g. a PALM PILOT) and the like. Although many automobile manufacturers have provided space for more items, many new vehicles, and most older vehicles, still lack an appropriate space to hold necessary articles.
We also live in an age where we need access to certain devices, such as a cellular phone, while we are driving. However, it has been recognized that driving while the driver is holding a cellular phone to the driver's ear has, in certain cases, met with disaster. Some states and some local municipalities have mandated “hands free” cellular phone usage when driving a motorized vehicle. Although installed car phones are still obtainable, they are much less practical in that they do not provide portability. Additionally, the installed car phones are more expensive than portable cellular (or digital) phones. More often, the user carries the cellular phone with him or her wherever he or she goes, including in and out of a motorized vehicle.
Magnetic couplers, or holders, have been known to secure items such as a medallion to metal plates on car dashboards. However, most cars today contain dashboards and various interior components that are made from man-made materials (e.g. plastics). As such, traditional magnetic couplers do not work, as they will not magnetically bond to a non-ferrous surface.
Moreover, the coupled devices, including cellular phones, have not been known to be sufficiently secured to a magnetic base (and ultimately the surface to which the holding device is to be secured) or that the coupling was too strong to readily uncouple the magnetic coupler in order to access or change the coupled device.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved magnetic coupler that can hold a variety of ferrous and nonferrous articles to a non-ferrous structure, such as a car dashboard. Another object of the present invention is to provide a variety of embodiments of magnetic coupling devices that can accommodate a variety of nonferrous useful articles, typically used in a car, to secure the nonferrous useful article to a car dashboard. Another object is to have both a quick and secure coupling and a quick and easy uncoupling features such that the holding devices may be readily accessed when desired, or easily changed to another holding device, yet, remain securely coupled to the magnetic base until the uncoupling of the holding device from the magnetic base is desired by the user. Another object is to provide hands free use of a portable cellular phone when the owner/user of the cellular phone is driving.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a magnetic coupler that comprises a magnetic base and a holding device or an object to be held to the magnetic base. The magnetic base includes an industrial strength magnet where at least the upper portion of the magnet is encased in a low durometer nonferrous shell. The shell includes an external surface of a size and shape to engage a corresponding surface of the holding device. The magnet includes a lower portion that is fixedly attached to a desired surface. The holding device is of a size and shape to hold at least one personal object. The holding device includes an external surface having a ferrous disk or plate that is of a size and shape to quickly magnetically couple and quickly uncouple the holding device's external surface via the ferrous disk with/from the magnetic base's shell external surface.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the shell's low durometer external surface is textured to provide a soft, high friction surface. This soft, high friction surface makes superior contact directly with a ferrous disk that is attached directly to an object to be stationarily held to the magnetic base, as opposed to a holding device. The surface area of the ferrous disk should not be less than {fraction (1/10)}th the surface area of the object's surface to be magnetically coupled with the magnetic base. In preferred form, the ratio of the ferrous disk surface area to the overall surface area of the object's surface to magnetically couple with the magnetic base is approximately 4-6:1. This alternative works best when the object to be held has a low profile and is not relatively heavy. Examples of such low profile devices include: hand-held computers, cellular phones, calculators, eyeglass holders, remote control devices (such as for a television or garage door), and MP3 digital recorders. Here, to optimize a strong magnetic coupling and easy uncoupling, the ferrous disk may have a thickness in the range of 30/1000-50/1000 of an inch.
If the holding device has a high profile or is relatively heavy, a support collar assembly that is fixedly attached to an external surface of the holding device supports the ferrous disk. The support collar assembly allows quick coupling and quick uncoupling of the holding device relative to the magnetic base without risk of the ferrous disk being dislodged from the holding device. The support collar assembly is fixedly attached to and external of an external surface of the holding device. The support collar assembly includes at least one side wall that is fixedly attached to the external surface of the holding device and a lip fixedly attached to the side wall and the lip projects inwardly of the side wall. The lip projects inwardly of the side will to form a ledge in which the ferrous disk is seated. The lip and the side wall below the lip define an opening that is of a size and shape corresponding to the shape of the upper portion of the magnetic base. The ferrous disk is of a size and shape to be received within the support collar assembly seated atop the lip/ledge and confined by the side wall and the external portion of the holding device.
In preferred form, the support collar assembly is cylindrical with an annular ledge acting as the lip. This shape corresponds to a substantially frusto-conical-shaped magnetic base. According to another aspect of the invention, the holding device includes a cylindrical side wall, which is also fixedly attached to and external of the external surface of the holding device. The cylindrical side wall is adhered to the side wall of the support collar, with the ferrous disk encased there between, the lip, and the external surface of the holding device.
There are many holding devices claimed in the present invention. A first holding device is a beverage cup holder is a cup having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a planar bottom wall that together define an opening of a size and shape to receive a beverage container. The support collar assembly, described above, is fixedly attached to the external side of the planar bottom wall. The side wall of the beverage cup holder may include upper portions that are outwardly flared. Additionally, at least one longitudinal rib may extend inwardly of the side wall into the opening of the cup. The combination of the flared upper side wall and the at least one longitudinal rib provides maximum flexibility in which the beverage cup holder can accommodate a large variety of beverage containers—from conventional paper coffee cups to aluminum cans. Moreover, the cup side wall may include a plurality of longitudinally-oriented, spaced-apart grooves on the cup's outer surface. The grooves provide heat
Dash-It USA Inc.
King Anita
Petrich Kathleen T.
LandOfFree
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