Vehicle sun visor telephone

• US 4,870,676 A
• Filed: 10/17/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joe Lewo
• Original Assignee: Joe Lewo
• Inventors: Lewo, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/258,181
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/110, 379/428
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0035 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A vehicle cellular telephone is mounted on the side of a vehicle sun visor which is in clear view of a driver when the visor is in the downward shading position. The telephone has a memory for storing selected telephone numbers in accordance with numbers pre-assigned by a user and a dual system of controls for placing outside telephone calls. The dual controls for placing outside calls comprise a first linear array arranged across the lower edge portion of the telephone for "speed dialing" outgoing calls corresponding to the numbers stored by the user in the memory and a second square array of controls for the regular placement of outgoing calls. To "speed dial" an outgoing call, the pre-assigned number which corresponds to the telephone number of the outgoing call stored in the memory is entered into the linear array. To place an outgoing call in the regular manner the telephone number of the outgoing call is entered into the second array. There is also provided a linear array of operating controls above the first linear array and an alphanumeric display for displaying messages and the telephone numbers of outgoing calls.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having a headliner positioned above the driver of the vehicle and a sun visor in front of the driver which is selectively adjustable to a shading position wherein the visor is in a substantially vertical position away from the headliner and to a non-shading position wherein the sun visor is in a substantially horizontal position adjacent to the headliner, a mobile telephone mounted on the side of the visor which confronts the driver when the sun visor is in said shading position, said telephone having a memory for selectively storing telephone numbers in accordance with numbers pre-assigned by a user and a dual system of operating controls for dialing outgoing telephone calls, said dual system of controls comprising a first lateral linear array of controls for "speed dialing" an outgoing call by entering the pre-assigned number which corresponds to the telephone number of the outgoing call stored in the memory into the linear array and a second array for the regular dialing of an outgoing call by entering the telephone number of the call in the second array.

2. The vehicle telephone recited in claim 1 wherein the lateral linear array of controls for the "one touch" speed dialing of outgoing telephone calls is positioned at the lowermost edge portion of the telephone.

3. The vehicle telephone recited in claim 1 further comprising a second lateral linear array of operating controls above and in parallel relationship to said first linear array.

4. The vehicle telephone recited in claim 1 wherein said second array of controls is a square array of alphanumeric captioned controls above said first linear array for regularly placing outgoing telephone calls.

5. The vehicle telephone recited in claim 1 further comprising a lateral alphanumeric display above said first linear array for displaying operating messages and the numbers of outgoing telephone calls.

6. In a motor vehicle having a headliner positioned above the driver of the vehicle and a sun visor in front of the driver which is selectively adjustable to a shading position wherein the visor is in a substantially vertical position away from the headliner and to a non-shading position wherein the sun visor is in a substantially horizontal position adjacent to the headliner, a mobile telephone mounted on the side of the visor which confronts the driver when the sun visor is in said shading position, said telephone having a memory for selectively storing telephone numbers in accordance with numbers pre-assigned by a user;

a dual system of operating controls for dialing outgoing telephone calls, said dual system of controls comprising a first lateral linear array of controls for "speed dialing" an outgoing call by entering the pre-assigned number which corresponds to the telephone number of the outgoing call stored in the memory into the linear array and a second array for the regular dialing of an outgoing call by entering the telephone number of the call in the second array; and

a lateral linear array of operating controls above and in parallel relationship to said first linear array.

7. In a motor vehicle having a headliner positioned above the driver of the vehicle and a sun visor in front of the driver which is selectively adjustable to a shading position wherein the visor is in a substantially vertical position away from the headliner and to a non-shading position wherein the sun visor is in a substantially horizontal position adjacent to the headliner, a mobile telephone mounted on the side of the visor which confronts the driver when the sun visor is in said shading position, said telephone having a memory for selectively storing telephone numbers in accordance with numbers pre-assigned by a user;

a dual system of operating controls for dialing outgoing telephone calls, said dual system of controls comprising a first lateral linear array of controls for "speed dialing" an outgoing call by entering the pre-assigned number which corresponds to the telephone number of the outgoing call stored in the memory into the linear array and a second array for the regular dialing of an outgoing call by entering the telephone number of the call in the second array;

a lateral linear array of operating controls above and in parallel relationship to said first linear array; and

an alphanumeric display for displaying messages and the telephone numbers of outgoing calls.