Remote transmitter and housing

• US 4,241,870 A
• Filed: 10/23/1978
• Issued: 12/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcus, Konrad H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carroll, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/953,911
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 296/24 R, 325/312, 325/111, 325/117
• US Class Current: 296/37.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A housing mounted between the visors in the headliner of a vehicle includes an access pocket for removably receiving and supplying operating power to a remote transmitter used for opening garage doors. The housing includes an opening into which the garage door transmitter fits and which includes a self-closing door once the transmitter is removed. A portable transmitter case is provided and is battery powered for providing a portable transmitter housing separate and apart from the housing mounted to the vehicle such that the transmitter can be used with different vehicles if desired. In one embodiment of the invention the housing includes an integral map light.

Claims

1. A housing adapted to be mounted in a vehicle headliner for removably securing a garage door opening radio frequency transmitter to the vehicle in an operator accessible location comprising:

housing means including an access opening and guide and support means positioned in said housing in relation to said access opening for releasably supporting an electronic transmitter such that the vehicle user can easily insert or remove a radio transmitter therein, said housing means including means for attaching said housing to the headliner of a vehicle to position a radio frequency transmitter including a self-contained antenna in a position to operate remotely controlled devices, said housing further including means for supplying electrical power to the transmitter from the vehicle'"'"'s power source.

2. A housing adapted to be mounted in a vehicle headliner for removably securing a garage door opening radio frequency transmitter to the vehicle in an operator accessible location comprising:

housing means including a pocket for removably receiving a transmitter and further including a transmitter shaped to fit within said pocket such that the vehicle user can easily insert or remove a transmitter therein, said housing means including means for attaching said housing to the headliner of a vehicle to position a radio frequency transmitter including a self-contained antenna in a position to operate remotely controlled devices, said housing further including means for supplying electrical power to the transmitter from the vehicle'"'"'s power source and wherein said housing includes an access opening communicating with said pocket and self-closing door covering said access opening when said transmitter is not within said housing.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said transmitter includes a control panel and said control panel is operator accessible when said transmitter is inserted into said pocket.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing includes bias means for urging said transmitter outwardly from said housing and wherein said transmitter includes movable latch means and said housing includes a stop cooperating with said latch means for releasably holding said transmitter within said housing.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said housing further includes map light means for selectively directing illumination toward the driver or passenger side of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further including a portable housing for removably receiving said transmitter, said portable housing including a self-contained power source for supplying operating power to said transmitter.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for supplying operating power to said transmitter comprises a first electrical connector mounted to said housing, a second electrical connector mounted on said transmitter when said transmitter is positioned within said pocket and means for coupling said first electrical connector to the vehicle power source.

8. For use in a vehicle, a radio frequency transmitter storage and power supply system for actuating a remote device comprising:

a housing including an access opening and guide and support means positioned in said housing in relation to said access opening for releasably supporting a portable radio frequency transmitter, said housing including means for supplying electrical power to said transmitter from the vehicle power source, said housing shaped to be mounted to the headliner of a vehicle;

a portable radio frequency transmitter insertable by the vehicle user into said housing for receiving power therefrom; and

means for mounting said housing to a vehicle such that the radio frequency transmitter is in a position to operate remotely controlled devices.

9. For use in a vehicle, a radio frequency transmitter storage and power supply system for actuating a remote device comprising:

a housing for removably supporting a portable radio frequency transmitter, said housing including means for supplying electrical power to said transmitter from the vehicle power source, said housing shaped to be mounted to the headliner of a vehicle;

a portable radio frequency transmitter insertable by the vehicle user into said housing for receiving power therefrom; and

means for mounting said housing to a vehicle such that the radio frequency transmitter is in a position to operate remotely controlled devices and wherein said housing includes a pocket for receiving said transmitter, an opening communicating with said pocket, and a self-closing door closing said opening when said transmitter is removed from said pocket.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing includes bias means urging said transmitter from said pocket through said opening and a stop, and wherein said transmitter includes releasable latch means cooperating with said stop to releasably hold said transmitter within said pocket.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for supplying operating power to said transmitter comprises a first electrical connector mounted to said housing, a second electrical connector mounted on said transmitter when said transmitter is positioned within said pocket and means for coupling said first electrical connector to the vehicle power source.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 and further including a portable housing for removably receiving said radio frequency transmitter, said portable housing including a self-contained power source for supplying operating power to said transmitter.

13. A housing adapted to be mounted to the headliner of a vehicle for receiving a remote control transmitter comprising:

housing means having an aperture and guide and support means positioned in said housing in relation to said aperture for permitting the vehicle user to readily insert or remove an electronic transmitter therein, said housing means including means for attaching said housing to the headliner of a vehicle between the visors, said housing further including means for supplying electrical power to a transmitter unit.

14. The housing as defined in claim 13 wherein said housing includes recess means for releasably holding the end posts of the visors.

15. The housing as defined in claim 14 and further including a pair of spaced map lights and means for individually actuating said lights to selectively direct illumination therefrom toward the passenger or driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

16. A housing assembly for use in storing a garage door opening transmitter for a vehicle comprising:

housing means including means for mounting said housing to the headliner of a vehicle between the visors thereof, said housing including a recess defined by an access opening and guide and support means for releasably supporting a transmitter assembly which can be readily inserted or removed by the vehicle user, and means for supplying power to said housing for application to said transmitter means.

17. A housing assembly for removably storing a remote control transmitter in a vehicle, said housing comprising:

housing means including a pocket defined by an access opening and guide and support means for releasably receiving an electronic transmitting unit, said housing means including means for mounting said housing to the headliner of a vehicle between the visors of a vehicle adjacent the windshield area of the vehicle; and

transmitter means having a self-contained antenna and adapted to fit within said pocket for operating devices which can be remotely controlled by said transmitter means.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said housing and transmitter further include means for supplying operating power to said transmitter from the vehicle power source.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said housing further includes recess means for receiving end posts of the visors.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said housing further includes map light means for selectively directing illumination toward the driver or passenger side of the vehicle.