Adapter for portable telephone usable as mobile telephone in vehicle

• US 20010010719A1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daizo Funaya, Hidekatsu Kobayashi, Hiroaki Sakashita, Hiroshi Kubo, Masashi Tomura, Yoshifumi Tsukamoto
• Original Assignee: Daizo Funaya, Hidekatsu Kobayashi, Hiroaki Sakashita, Hiroshi Kubo, Masashi Tomura, Yoshifumi Tsukamoto
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Hidekatsu, Kubo, Hiroshi, Sakashita, Hiroaki, Tomura, Masashi, Tsukamoto, Yoshifumi, Funaya, Daizo
• Granted Patent: US 6,859,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/428.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

An adapter in which a portable telephone having a socket including terminals connected to electric terminals therein is receivable includes an adapter body having a concave portion in which the portable telephone is receivable, a connector provided in the adapter body so as to be exposed to the concave portion, the connector having terminals connected to predetermined electric units including at least an antenna, the connector being connectable the socket of the portable telephone, and a clamping mechanism for clamping the portable telephone received in the concave portion of the adapter body in a state where the connector is connected to the socket of the portable telephone so that the terminals of the connector are in contact with the terminals of the socket of the portable telephone

Claims

1. An adapter in which a portable telephones having a first connecting unit including terminals connected to electric terminals therein is receivable, said adapter comprising:

an adapter body having a concave portion in which said portable telephone is receivable;

a second connecting unit provided in said adapter body so as to be exposed to the concave portion, said second connecting unit having terminals connected to predetermined electric units including at least an antenna, said second connecting unit being connectable to said first connecting unit of said portable telephone; and

a clamping mechanism for clamping said portable telephone received in the concave portion of said adapter body in a state where said second connecting unit is connected to said first connecting unit of said portable telephone so that the terminals of said second connecting unit are in contact with the terminals of said first connecting unit of said portable telephone.

2. The adapter as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said portable telephone has a battery and a charging terminal connected to said battery, said adapter further comprising:

a power supply terminal connected to a power supply unit, said power supply terminal being in contact with the charging terminal of said portable telephone received in the concave portion of said adapter body so that said battery of said portable telephone is charged by said power supply unit.

3. The adapter as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the concave portion of said adapter body has a shape so as to fit on said portable telephone, said adapter body having a guide mechanism for guiding said portable telephone to a position at which said portable telephone is received in the concave portion of said adapter body.

4. The adapter as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein said guide mechanism has at least one guide rib engaged with grooves formed on said portable telephone.

5. The adapter as claimed in

claim 2

, wherein said battery is mounted in a battery pack attached to a back of said portable telephone, and wherein the concave portion of said adapter has a supporting surface for supporting a predetermined surface of said battery pack, so that the predetermined surface of said battery pack slides on said supporting surface and said portable telephone reaches a position at which said portable telephone is received in the concave portion.

6. The adapter as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said clamping mechanism has clamping units provided in sides of said adapter body, each of said clamping units having a claw to be engaged with a clamping concave portion formed on a corresponding side of said portable telephone and a lock-and-unlock mechanism for engaging the claw with the clamping concave portion of said portable telephone when said portable telephone is received in a set position in the concave portion of said adapter body and for disconnecting the claw from the clamping concave portion of said portable telephone when said portable telephone is removed from said adapter body.

7. The adapter as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein said lock-and-unlock mechanism has an pushing portion operable by a user, the claw being disconnected from the clamping concave portion of said portable telephone when the user operates the pushing portion to remove the portable telephone from said adapter.

8. A functional module attachable to a portable telephone having a first connecting unit including terminals connected to electric circuits of said portable telephone, said functional module comprising:

a body including a predetermined electric circuit corresponding to a function of said functional module;

a second connecting unit provided in said body, said second connecting unit having terminals connected to said predetermined electric circuit in said body, said second connecting unit being connectable to said first connecting unit of said portable telephone; and

a clamping mechanism for clamping said portable telephone to which said functional module is attached in a state where said second connecting unit is connected to said first connecting unit of said portable telephone so that the terminals of said second connecting unit are in contact with the terminals of said first connecting unit of said portable telephone.