Vehicular transponder intermediary device and system

• US 20070158378A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ellen Jakubicek, Karen Rafalowitz
• Original Assignee: Ellen Jakubicek, Karen Rafalowitz
• Inventors: Jakubicek, Ellen, Rafalowitz, Karen
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/482
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/901 Carrier component having adherent surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A transponder intermediary device enables a user to selectively retain a toll transponder device in toll-paying position upon a vehicle. The transponder intermediary device comprises a transponder-receiving slot and a vehicular interface. The transponder-receiving slot comprises a superior slot end, an inferior slot end, laterally-opposed slot ends, an anterior slot portion, a posterior slot portion, an inner slot surface, and a relaxed equilibrium position. The inner slot surface is sized and shaped to snugly and removably receive transponder housing. The vehicular interface comprises certain attachment structure for attaching the transponder intermediary device in toll-paying position upon the vehicle. As the transponder housing is received in the transponder-receiving slot, the housing snap-clicks into place, thus aurally alerting the user as to when the housing is securely held by the transponder intermediary device.

Claims

1. A transponder intermediary system, the transponder intermediary system for enabling a user to share a single toll transponder device with at least two vehicles, the toll transponder device comprising a transponder housing, the transponder housing comprising a superior transponder end, an inferior transponder end, an anterior transponder face, and a posterior transponder face, the transponder intermediary system comprising at least two transponder intermediary devices, each transponder intermediary device comprising a transponder-receiving slot and a windshield interface;

each windshield interface comprising windshield-attachment means, the windshield-attachment means fixedly attaching the transponder intermediary devices in toll-paying position to at least two inner windshield surfaces, each transponder-receiving slot comprising a superior slot end, an inferior slot end, laterally-opposed slot ends, an anterior slot portion, a posterior slot portion, an inner slot surface, and a relaxed equilibrium position, the inner slot surfaces each being sized and shaped to snugly and removably receive the transponder housing.

2. The transponder intermediary system of claim 1 wherein the anterior transponder face comprises a raised transponder-locating portion, the transponder-receiving slots each comprising a locator-receiving aperture, the transponder-locating portion being removably receivable in the locator-receiving apertures for selectively locking the transponder housing in the transponder-receiving slots to form alternative first and second windshield-affixed, transponder-holder assemblies.

3. The transponder intermediary system of claim 2 comprising aural-stimulating means, the aural-stimulating means for alerting the user when the transponder housing is selectively locked in the transponder-receiving slots.

4. The transponder intermediary system of claim 3 wherein the aural-stimulating means are effected by the cooperative snap-clicking action of the locator-receiving apertures removably receiving the transponder-locating portion.

5. The transponder intermediary system of claim 4 comprising manually-operable, transponder-unlocking means, the transponder-unlocking means for enabling the user to manually unlock the transponder-locating portion from the locator-receiving aperture thus enabling the user to remove the transponder housing from the transponder-receiving slot.

6. The transponder intermediary system of claim 5 wherein the transponder-unlocking means are defined by a finger-pull portion, a transponder-push aperture, slot-expansion notches, and high memory material, the slot-expansion notches being formed at the laterally-opposed slot ends, the transponder-receiving slot being formed from the high memory material, the finger-pull portion, the transponder-push aperture, the slot-expansion notches, and the high memory material being cooperatively associated with one another for enabling the user to manually displace the anterior slot portion away from the posterior slot portion at the superior slot end and enabling the user to manually push the transponder housing at the inferior transponder end via the transponder-push aperture, the superior transponder end being manually graspable as the transponder housing is displaced toward the superior slot end, the transponder housing being removable via the manually graspable superior transponder end, the high memory material for returning the anterior slot portion to the relaxed equilibrium position after the transponder housing is removed from the transponder-receiving slot.

7. The transponder intermediary system of claim 6 comprising spacing means, the spacing means extending intermediate the transponder-receiving slots and the windshield interfaces for enabling the user to manually receive the posterior transponder surface at the superior transponder end when the transponder housing is removed from the transponder-receiving slots.

8. The transponder intermediary system of claim 7 comprising transponder-wedging means, the transponder-wedging means for cooperatively wedging the anterior and posterior transponder faces intermediate the anterior and posterior slot portions as the inner slot surfaces snugly and removably receive the transponder housing.

9. The transponder intermediary system of claim 8 wherein the transponder-wedging means are defined by a pair of laterally-opposed ridges formed upon each posterior slot portion, the laterally-opposed ridges being laterally spaced from one another to cooperatively receive laterally-opposed posterior transponder surface structure.

10. A transponder intermediary device, the transponder intermediary device for enabling a user to selectively retain a transponder device in transponder position upon a transponder carrier, the transponder device comprising a transponder housing, the transponder housing comprising a superior transponder end, an inferior transponder end, an anterior transponder face, and a posterior transponder face, the transponder intermediary device comprising a transponder-receiving slot and a carrier interface, the carrier interface comprising attachment means, the attachment means for attaching the transponder intermediary device in transponder position upon the transponder carrier, the transponder-receiving slot comprising a superior slot end, an inferior slot end, laterally-opposed slot ends, an anterior slot portion, a posterior slot portion, an inner slot surface, an outer slot surface, and a relaxed equilibrium position, the inner slot surface each being sized and shaped to snugly and removably receive the transponder housing.

11. The transponder intermediary device of claim 10 comprising a transponder-locating portion, the transponder-receiving slot comprising a locator-receiving aperture, the transponder-locating portion being removably receivable in the locator-receiving aperture for selectively locking the transponder housing in the transponder-receiving slot to form a transponder-holder assembly.

12. The transponder intermediary device of claim 11 wherein the transponder-locating portion is substantially flush with the outer slot surface for providing a smooth outer assembly surface, the smooth outer assembly surface enhancing the visual appeal of the transponder-holder assembly.

13. The transponder intermediary device of claim 11 comprising aural-stimulating means, the aural-stimulating means for aurally alerting the user when the transponder housing is selectively locked in the transponder-receiving slot.

14. The transponder intermediary device of claim 13 wherein the aural-stimulating means are effected by cooperative snap-clicking action of the locator-receiving aperture removably receiving the transponder-locating portion.

15. The transponder intermediary device of claim 11 comprising transponder-wedging means, the transponder-wedging means for cooperatively wedging select transponder faces intermediate select slot portions as the inner slot surface snugly and removably receives the transponder housing.

16. The transponder intermediary device of claim 15 wherein the transponder-wedging means are defined by a pair of laterally-opposed ridges formed upon the posterior slot portion, the laterally-opposed ridges being spaced from one another to cooperatively receive laterally-opposed posterior transponder surface structure.

17. The transponder intermediary device of claim 11 comprising manually-operable transponder-unlocking means, the transponder-unlocking means for enabling the user to manually unlock the transponder-locating portion from the locator-receiving aperture thus enabling the user to remove the transponder housing from the transponder-receiving slot.

18. The transponder intermediary device of claim 17 wherein the transponder-unlocking means are defined by a finger-pull portion, a transponder-push aperture, slot-expansion notches, and high memory material, the slot-expansion notches being formed at the laterally-opposed slot ends, the transponder-receiving slot comprising high memory material, the finger-pull portion, the transponder-push aperture, the slot-expansion notches, and the high memory material being cooperatively associated with one another for enabling the user to manually displace the anterior slot portion away from the posterior slot portion at the superior slot end and enabling the user to manually push the transponder housing at the inferior transponder end via the transponder-push aperture, the superior transponder end being manually graspable as the transponder housing is displaced toward the superior slot end, the transponder housing being removable via the manually graspable superior transponder end, the high memory material for returning the anterior slot portion to the relaxed equilibrium position after the transponder housing is removed from the transponder-receiving slot.

19. The transponder intermediary device of claim 11 comprising spacing means, the spacing means extending intermediate the transponder-receiving slot and the carrier interface for enabling the user to manually receive the posterior transponder surface at the superior transponder end when the transponder housing is removed from the transponder-receiving slot.

20. A transponder holding device, the transponder holding device for receiving and selectively locking a transponder device in cooperative assemblage therewith, the transponder device comprising a transponder-locating structure, the transponder holding device comprising a locator-receiving structure, the transponder-locating structure being cooperable with the locator-receiving structure for selectively locking the transponder device in assembled relation with the transponder holding device.

21. The transponder holding device of claim 20 comprising sense-stimulating means, the sense-stimulating means for alerting the user when the transponder device is selectively locked in assembled relation with the transponder holding device.

22. The transponder holding device of claim 21 wherein the sense-stimulating means is effected by aurally-stimulating, snap-clicking action of the locator-receiving structure selectively locking the transponder-locating structure.

23. The transponder holding device of claim 20 comprising transponder-wedging means, the transponder-wedging means for cooperatively wedging select transponder faces intermediate select slot portions as the inner slot surface snugly and removably receives the transponder housing.

24. The transponder holding device of claim 20 comprising manually-operable transponder-unlocking means, the transponder-unlocking means for enabling the user to manually unlock the transponder-locating structure from the locator-receiving structure thus enabling the user to remove the transponder device from the transponder holding device.

25. The transponder holding device of claim 24 wherein the transponder device comprises a transponder housing, the transponder housing comprising a superior transponder end, an inferior transponder end, an anterior transponder face, and a posterior transponder face, the transponder holding device comprising a transponder-receiving slot, the transponder-receiving slot comprising a superior slot end, an inferior slot end, laterally-opposed slot ends, an anterior slot portion, a posterior slot portion, an inner slot surface, and a relaxed equilibrium position, the inner slot surface each being sized and shaped to receive the transponder housing for selectively locked engagement therewith.

26. The transponder holding device of claim 25 wherein the transponder-unlocking means are defined by select slot-expansion portions, transponder-push means, and certain high memory material, the slot-expansion portions, the transponder-push means, and the high memory material being cooperatively associated with one another for enabling the user to manually displace opposing select slot portions away from one another for allowing transponder housing displacement, the transponder-push means for enabling the user to manually push the transponder housing at the inferior transponder end, the superior transponder end being manually graspable as the transponder housing is displaced toward the superior slot end, the transponder housing being removable via the manually graspable superior transponder end, the high memory material for returning the select slot expansion portions to the relaxed equilibrium position after the transponder housing is removed from the transponder-receiving slot.

27. The transponder holding device of claim 26 comprising a carrier interface, the carrier interface comprising carrier-attaching means, the carrier-attaching means for attaching the transponder holding device in transponder position upon a transponder carrier.

28. The transponder holding device of claim 27 comprising spacing means, the spacing means extending intermediate the carrier interface and the locator-receiving structure for enabling a user to manually grasp the transponder device as the transponder device is removed from the transponder holding device.

29. The transponder holding device of claim 20 comprising a spacer box, a carrier interface, and adhesive mounting strips, the spacer box extending intermediate the carrier interface and the locator-receiving structure to space the transponder device from the carrier interface, the adhesive mounting strips being affixed to the carrier interface for permanently mounting the transponder holding device in transponder position upon an inner windshield surface, the spacer box for enabling a user to manually grasp the transponder device as the transponder device is removed from the transponder holding device.

30. The transponder holding device of claim 29 comprising sense-stimulating means, the sense-stimulating means for alerting the user when the transponder device is selectively locked in assembled relation with the transponder holding device, the sense-stimulating means being effected by aurally-stimulating, snap-clicking action of the locator-receiving structure selectively locking the transponder-locating structure.