Garage door opening transmitter compartment

• US 4,595,228 A
• Filed: 04/30/1984
• Issued: 06/17/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince Corporation Windcrest Drive Holland Michigan 49423
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, Zooey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Carol L.
• Application Number:
  US06/605,583
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.5, 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 224/311, 224/312, 200/61.62, 200/61.7, 200/61.81, 200/61.82, 312/319, 312/320, 312/328, 312/351, 455/345, 455/346, 455/99
• 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 2011/0077 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like

Abstract

A housing defines a compartment with an opening for receiving a garage door opening transmitter with an actuator switch. A door is pivotally coupled to the housing for covering the opening and includes an actuator for engaging the actuator switch on the garage door opening transmitter when the door is closed and depressed inwardly toward the interior of the compartment.

Claims

1. A combination of a remote control transmitter and a compartment therefor comprising:

a remote control transmitter having an actuator switch;

a housing defining a compartment with an opening for receiving said transmitter;

a door movably mounted on said housing to at least three positions including an open position in which said transmitter can be inserted and removed from said compartment, a normal closed position for covering said opening and a third position located inwardly of said normal closed position; and

actuator means coupled to said door and positioned for engaging and actuating said actuator switch of said transmitter when said door is closed and depressed to said third position inwardly toward said compartment;

said actuator means, door and transmitter being interrelated so that when said transmitter is located in said compartment and said door is in normal closed position said actuator switch is not actuated and when said door is depressed to said third position said actuator switch is actuated.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises projection means of adjustable height to accommodate different transmitters.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said projection means comprises a plurality of selectable projection elements having different heights and each including means for removably coupling said element to said door.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including means for retaining said transmitter in said compartment in predetermined relationship with respect to said actuator means coupled to said door.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said retainer means comprises a retainer panel removably coupled to said housing, said panel including an aperture for access to the actuator switch of said transmitter.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including latch means for selectively holding said door in a closed position.

7. A combination of a remote control transmitter and a compartment therefor comprising:

a remote control transmitter having an actuator switch;

a housing defining a compartment with an opening for receiving a said transmitter, said housing including means for securing said housing to the roof of a vehicle;

a door pivotally coupled to said housing for covering said opening;

said door movable to at least three positions including an open position in which said transmitter can be inserted and removed from said compartment, a normal closed position for covering said opening and a third position located inwardly of said normal closed position;

latch means extending between said door and said housing for releasably holding said door in a closed position and permitting said door to pivot upwardly to said third position located slightly beyond the closed position; and

actuator means coupled to said door and positioned for engaging and actuating said actuator switch of said transmitter when said door is closed and depressed to said third position upwardly toward said compartment;

said actuator means, door and transmitter being interrelated so that when said transmitter is located in said compartment and said door is in normal closed position said actuator switch is not actuated and when said door is depressed to said third position said actuator switch is actuated.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 and further including means for retaining said transmitter in said compartment in predetermined relationship with respect to said actuator means coupled to said door.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said actuator means comprises projection means of adjustable height to accommodate different transmitters.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said projection means comprises a plurality of selectable projection elements having different heights and each including means for removably coupling said element to said door.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said retainer means comprises a retainer panel removably coupled to said housing, said panel including an aperture for access to the actuator switch of said transmitter.

12. A combination remote control transmitter and a transmitter mounting and actuating system for a vehicle comprising:

means for holding said transmitter in a fixed position in a vehicle;

panel means movable to at least three positions with respect to said transmitter while it is being held by said holding means;

said positions including a position in which said transmitter can be inserted and removed from said holding means, a normal closed position for covering said transmitter, and a third position located toward said transmitter from said closed position; and

actuator means coupled to said panel means and positioned for engaging and actuating said actuator switch of said transmitter held by said holding means for actuating the transmitter when said panel is pressed to said third position;

said actuator means, panel and transmitter being interrelated so that when said transmitter is being held by said holder means and said panel is in the normal closed position said actuator switch is not actuated and when said panel is pressed to said third position said actuator switch is actuated.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said holding means includes a housing defining a compartment with an opening for receiving said transmitter.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said panel means comprises a door movably mounted to selectively close said opening of said compartment.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said holding means further includes retainer means for securing said transmitter within said compartment in a predetermined relationship with respect to said actuator means.