Apparatus, System, and Method for Preventing Distracted Driving

• US 20160014263A1
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bryce Carrico, Erik Cowans, Kurt Cantwell
• Original Assignee: Bryce Carrico, Erik Cowans, Kurt Cantwell
• Inventors: Carrico, Bryce, Cantwell, Kurt, Cowans, Erik
• Application Number:
  US14/330,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A system for controlling access to a handheld device by a vehicle operator while the vehicle is in operation; the system comprises: a handheld device; and an apparatus for mechanically controlling access by a vehicle operator to the handheld device while the vehicle is being operated by the vehicle operator, the apparatus comprising: a housing, said housing comprising a releasable lid, said lid hingedly connected to said housing; means for selectively locking said lid in a closed position relative to said housing; a means for operably connecting said apparatus to a vehicle ignition system; means for electronically connecting said handheld device to the interior of said housing; means for electronically connecting said apparatus to a power source; and means for electronically monitoring and recording certain preselected data related to the use and function of said apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mechanically controlling access by a vehicle operator to a handheld device while the vehicle is being operated by the vehicle operator, the apparatus comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a releasable lid;

a means for selectively closing said lid relative to said housing;

a means for operably connecting said apparatus to a vehicle ignition system;

a means for electronically connecting said handheld device to said housing; and

a means for electronically monitoring and recording data related to said apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for electronically connecting said apparatus to a power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid of the housing is at least partially transparent and wherein the transparent portion of the lid comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and silicone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus does not comprise a means of wirelessly disrupting an electronic signal communicated to or from the handheld device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for releasably, movably, and mechanically connecting said housing to the interior of said vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing of the apparatus is generally constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, thermoplastic, thermoset, composite, and stainless steel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a manual override switch operably connected between the device and the ignition and the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a USB connection between the apparatus and the handheld device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second power source, wherein the second power source is selected from the group consisting of a lead acid battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a lithium ion battery, and a solar cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively closing said lid relative to said housing comprises a lock, said lock selected from the group consisting of a key lock, a combination lock, an electronic combination lock, a voice activated lock, and a biometric lock.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for operably connecting said apparatus to a vehicle ignition system comprises electrical wires.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for electronically connecting said apparatus to a power source comprises electrical cables.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for electronically monitoring and recording certain preselected data related to the use and function of said apparatus comprises a computerized data collection system selected from the group consisting of a CPU, a flash drive, and an Internet based cloud system.

14. A system for controlling access to a handheld device by a vehicle operator while the vehicle is in operation;

the system comprises;

a handheld device; and

an apparatus for mechanically controlling access by a vehicle operator to the handheld device while the vehicle is being operated by the vehicle operator, the apparatus comprising;

a housing, said housing comprising a releasable lid, said lid hingedly connected to said housing;

means for selectively locking said lid in a closed position relative to said housing;

a means for operably connecting said apparatus to a vehicle ignition system;

means for electronically connecting said handheld device to the interior of said housing;

means for electronically connecting said apparatus to a power source; and

means for electronically monitoring and recording certain preselected data related to the use and function of said apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lid of the housing is at least partially transparent.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, herein the transparent portion of the lid comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and silicone.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for releasably, movably, and mechanically connecting said housing to the interior of said vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus does not comprise a means of wirelessly disrupting an electronic signal communicated to or from the handheld device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the housing of the apparatus is generally constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, thermoplastic, thermoset, composite, and stainless steel.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises a manual override switch operably connected between the device and the ignition and the vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises a USB connection between the apparatus and the handheld device.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second power source.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second power source is selected power source is selected from the group consisting of a lead acid battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a lithium ion battery, and a solar cell.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for selectively closing said lid relative to said housing comprises a lock, said lock selected from the group consisting of a key lock, a combination lock, an electronic combination lock, a voice activated lock, and a biometric lock.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for operably connecting said apparatus to a vehicle ignition system comprises electrical wires.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for electronically connecting said handheld device to the interior of said housing comprises a USB connection.

27. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for electronically connecting said apparatus to a power source comprises electrical cables.

28. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for electronically monitoring and recording certain preselected data related to the use and function of said apparatus comprises a computerized data collection system selected from the group consisting of a CPU, a flash drive, and an Internet based cloud system.

29. A method of mechanically controlling access by a vehicle operator to a handheld device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus for mechanically controlling access by a vehicle operator to a handheld device while the vehicle is being operated by the vehicle operator, the apparatus comprising;

a housing, said housing comprising a releasable lid, said lid hingedly connected to said housing;

means for selectively locking said lid in a closed position relative to said housing;

a means for operably connecting said apparatus to a vehicle ignition system;

means for electronically connecting said handheld device to the interior of said housing;

means for electronically connecting said apparatus to a power source;

means for electronically monitoring and recording certain preselected data related to the use and function of said apparatus;

programming said apparatus to activate upon starting the vehicle, check for predetermined desired operating conditions, record a fault if said predetermined operating conditions are not present, and deny operation of the vehicle until the conditions are met or an override is engaged.