Telephone mounting system for a vehicle

• US 5,524,050 A
• Filed: 05/28/1993
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grimes, Robert W. III, Hendon, Daniel J., Boerema, Edward T., Ruggles, Gregory T., Anderson, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/069,181
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 379/441, 379/466, 379/449, 379/450, 379/455, 379/426, 379/454, 296/37.15, 296/37.8, 224/42.42, 224/275, 297/194
• US Class Current: 379/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use

Abstract

A telephone mounting system includes a carriage which is mounted within the top or cover of a vehicle storage console or armrest and pivots from a stored position in which its decorative surface is substantially flush with the upper surface of the console or armrest to a use position in which the opposite side of the carriage is presented and holds a cellular telephone handset. Access for use of the telephone, therefore, is provided without opening the cover of the console or armrest and the cover can be moved independently of the telephone mount.

Claims

1. A telephone mount for a vehicle accessory such as a console, said mount comprising:

a support member including a top having a recess formed therein;

a carriage having first and second sides; and

means for pivotally coupling said carriage to said top for movement of said carriage between a stored position within said recess with said first side substantially parallel to and flush with the surface of said top and a second position pivoted to an extended position from said recess substantially reversing the orientation of said carriage with respect to said support member for exposing said second side, said carriage including means on said second side for releasably holding a telephone handset.

2. The telephone mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said support member comprises one of a console or armrest.

3. The telephone mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said support member includes a storage bin and wherein said top is a cover pivotally mounted to said storage bin and further including latch means extending between said carriage and said cover for holding said carriage in said stored position for all positions of said cover.

5. The telephone mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said carriage to said top includes a pivot rod fixedly mounted to one of said top and carriage and cam means mounted to the other of said top and carriage and engaging said pivot rod for controlling the pivotal movement of said carriage.

6. The telephone mount as defined in claim 5 and further including latch means extending between said top and said carriage for holding said carriage in said stored position.

7. The telephone mount as defined in claim 6 and further including bias means extending between said pivot rod and said carriage for urging said carriage to a partially extended position when said latch is released.

4. A telephone mount for a vehicle accessory such as a console, said mount comprising:

a support member including a top, wherein said support member comprises one of a console or armrest;

a carriage having first and second sides;

means for pivotally coupling said carriage to said top for movement of said carriage between a stored position with said first side substantially parallel with the surface of said top and a second position pivoted to an extended position exposing said second side, said carriage including means on said second side for releasably holding a telephone handset, wherein said support member includes a storage bin and wherein said top is a cover pivotally mounted to said storage bin; and

latch means extending between said carriage and said cover for holding said carriage in said stored position for all positions of said cover, and wherein said top includes a recess formed therein and wherein said carriage is positioned within said recess with said first side substantially flush with said top when in said stored position.

8. A telephone mount for a vehicle accessory such as a console, said mount comprising:

a support member including a top;

a carriage having first and second sides;

means for pivotally coupling said carriage to said top for movement of said carriage between a stored position with said first side substantially parallel with the surface of said top and a second position pivoted to an extended position exposing said second side, said carriage including means on said second side for releasably holding a telephone handset, wherein said means for pivotally mounting said carriage to said top includes a pivot rod fixedly mounted to said top and cam means mounted to said carriage and engaging said pivot rod for controlling the pivotal movement of said carriage wherein said pivot rod is generally U-shaped with a central leg engaging said cam means mounted to said carriage;

latch means extending between said top and said carriage for holding said carriage in said stored position, and

bias means extending between said pivot rod and said carriage for urging said carriage to a partially extended position when said latch is released.

9. The telephone mount as defined in claim 8 and further including detent means for engaging said central leg of said pivot rod for limiting the pivotal motion of said pivot rod and for releasably holding said carriage in said use position.

10. The telephone mount as defined in claim 9 wherein said support member is one of a vehicle console and armrest.

11. The telephone mount as defined in claim to wherein said support member includes a storage bin and wherein said top defines a cover for said storage bin.

12. The telephone mount as defined in claim 11 wherein said cover includes a recess shaped to receive said carriage when in said storage position.

13. The telephone mount as defined in claim 12 wherein said pivot rod is mounted to said cover in angled relationship to move said carriage toward one side of said cover when said carriage is extended to said use position.

14. A telephone mount for a vehicle, said mount comprising:

a support member including a top having a recess formed therein;

a carriage having first and second sides, wherein said first side of said carriage has a finished surface which is exposed when said carriage is in a first position and wherein said second side of said carriage includes a telephone handset cradle; and

means for coupling said carriage to said top for movement of said carriage between said first position with said first side substantially parallel to and flush with the surface of said top and a second position extended from said top in angled relationship to the longitudinal axis of said top to expose said second side.

15. The telephone mount as defined in claim 14 wherein said support member comprises one of a console or armrest.

16. The telephone mount as defined in claim 15 wherein said support member includes a storage bin and wherein said top is a cover pivotally mounted to said storage bin and further including latch means extending between said carriage and said cover for holding said carriage in said stored position for all positions of said cover.

17. The telephone mount as defined in claim 16 wherein said top includes a recess formed therein and wherein said carriage is positioned within said recess with said first side substantially flush with said top when in said stored position.

18. A telephone mount for a vehicle, said mount comprising:

a support member comprising one of a console or armrest and including a top;

a carriage having first and second sides, wherein said first side of said carriage has a finished surface which is exposed when said carriage is in a first position and wherein said second side of said carriage includes a telephone handset cradle;

means for coupling said carriage to said top for movement of said carriage between said first position with said first side substantially parallel with the surface of said top and a second position extended to expose said second side wherein said means for coupling said carriage to said top includes a pivot rod fixedly mounted to one of said top and carriage and cam means mounted to the other of said top and carriage and engaging said pivot rod for controlling the pivotal movement of said carriage, wherein said support member includes a storage bin and wherein said top is a cover pivotally mounted to said storage bin; and

latch means extending between said carriage and said cover for holding said carriage in said stored position for all positions of said cover, wherein said top includes a recess formed therein and wherein said carriage is positioned within said recess with said first side substantially flush with said top when in said stored position.

19. The telephone mount as defined in claim 18 and further including bias means extending between said pivot rod and said carriage for urging said carriage to a partially extended position when said latch is released.

20. The telephone mount as defined in claim 19 wherein said pivot rod is secured to said top and is generally U-shaped with a central leg engaging said cam means mounted to said carriage.

21. The telephone mount as defined in claim 20 and further including detent means for engaging said central leg of said pivot rod for limiting the pivotal motion of said pivot rod and for releasably holding said carriage in said use position.

22. The telephone mount as defined in claim 21 wherein said support member is one of a vehicle console and armrest.

23. The telephone mount as defined in claim 22 wherein said support member includes a storage bin and wherein said top defines a cover for said storage bin.

24. The telephone mount as defined in claim 23 wherein said cover includes a recess shaped to receive said carriage when in said storage position.

25. The telephone mount as defined in claim 24 wherein said pivot rod is mounted to said cover in angled relationship to move said carriage toward one side of said cover when said carriage is extended to said use position.