Vehicle cellular phone presentation device

• US 5,836,496 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Levin, David Hastings, Grasso, Jonathan Paul, Tseng, Licheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US08/870,464
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 224/539, 224/543, 224/544, 224/545, 224/548, 224/549, 224/552, 224/553, 224/555, 224/556, 224/557, 224/570, 224/929, 224/275, 224/282, 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.15, 379/454, 379/455, 379/426, 379/446, 379/441, 248/229.22, 248/231.41
• US Class Current: 224/553
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A phone presentation device for holding and displaying a portable telephone handset within an automotive vehicle has a housing, an adjustable cradle attached to an inner surface of the housing, and a pivoting mount member for pivotally mounting the housing to a trim piece in the vehicle for movement between a stowed position hidden from view within a depression in the trim piece and a deployed position in which the handset is presented for use. The adjustable cradle has an elongate base member with a handset receiving section, a fixed grip mounted on a first end of the base member, an adjustable grip mounted on a second end of the base member for movement between a first position biasing the handset longitudinally toward the fixed grip and a second position in which the handset may be released from the fixed grip, and a pair of springs for biasing the adjustable grip between the first and second positions. The fixed grip is attached on the first end of the base member toward a free end of the housing movable out of the depression concealing the phone handset. The adjustable grip is mounted on the second end of the base member toward a mount end of the housing for movement between the first position and second positions to provide firm retention of the handset when the presentation device is pivoted from the stowed position to the deployed position.

Claims

1. A phone presentation device for holding and displaying a portable telephone handset within an automotive vehicle, the presentation device comprising:

a housing;

an adjustable cradle attached to an inner surface of the housing and having;

an elongate base member with a handset receiving section;

a fixed grip mounted on a first end of the base member;

an adjustable grip mounted on a second end of the base member for movement between a first position biasing the handset longitudinally toward the fixed grip and a second position in which the handset may be released from the fixed grip; and

bias means for biasing the adjustable grip between the first and second positions;

means for mounting the housing to a trim piece in the vehicle for movement between a stowed position in which the cradle and handset is hidden from view within the trim piece and a deployed position in which the handset is presented for use; and

wherein the means for mounting comprises a generally U-shaped pivot member attached within the housing and having a pair of connectors adapted to be attached to the trim piece.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the pivot member has a pair of rails extending from a cross-member and a pair of legs angled away from a plane formed by the rails and the cross-member so as to fit the contour of an inner surface of the housing.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the bias means comprises at least one spring member attached between the adjustable grip and the base member.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fixed grip is integrally molded with the base member.

5. A phone presentation device for holding and alternately displaying and stowing a portable telephone handset within a trim piece in an automotive vehicle, the presentation device comprising:

a housing having a pivot end adapted to be attached to the trim piece for pivotal movement there around and a free end capable of movement away from the trim piece;

pivot means adapted to be attached between the pivot end and the trim piece for pivoting the housing between a stowed position in which both the free end and the pivot end of the housing are substantially flush with a surface of the trim piece, and a deployed position in which the free end is rotated away from the trim piece with the housing in a substantially non-planar relationship with the trim piece so that the handset is presented for use; and

an adjustable cradle attached to an inner surface of the housing and having;

an elongate base member with a handset receiving section for receiving the handset therein;

a fixed grip attached on a first end of the base member toward the free end of the housing

an adjustable grip mounted on a second end of the base member toward the pivot end of the housing for movement between a first position biasing the handset longitudinally toward the fixed grip to provide retention of the handset when the presentation device is pivoted from the stowed position to the deployed position, and a second position in which the handset may be released from the fixed grip; and

at least one bias member mounted between the base member and the adjustable grip to bias the adjustable grip between the first and second positions.

6. A phone presentation device for a portable telephone handset stowable within a console in an automotive vehicle, the console having an upper surface with a depression therein for receiving the handset, the presentation device comprising:

a housing having a pivot end for pivotal movement within the depression and a free end capable of movement out of the depression;

pivot means adapted to be attached between the pivot end and the trim piece for pivoting the housing between a stowed position in which both the free end and the pivot end of the housing are substantially flush with a surface of the trim piece, and a deployed position in which the free end is rotated away from the trim piece so that the housing is in a substantially non-planar relationship with the trim piece so that the handset is presented for use; and

an adjustable cradle attached to an inner surface of the housing and having;

an elongate base member with a handset receiving section for receiving the handset therein;

a fixed grip attached on a first end of the base member toward the free end of the housing having at least one finger member for retaining a first end of the handset;

an adjustable grip, longitudinally slidable with respect to the base member, mounted on a second end of the base member toward the pivot end of the housing, the adjustable grip having a pair of prongs gripping a second end of the handset for movement between a first position biasing the handset longitudinally toward the fixed grip to provide retention of the handset when the presentation device is pivoted from the stowed position to the deployed position, and a second position in which the handset may be released from the fixed grip; and

pair of springs mounted between the base member and the adjustable grip to bias the adjustable grip between the first and second positions.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the pair of springs are coil springs mounted between a stop surface on the adjustable grip and a spring seat on the base member to provide a longitudinal force to the adjustable grip.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein a pair of spring guide members are connected to the base member and run axially through the pair of springs.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the guide members have an enlarged section abutting a push tab extending from the adjustable grip and an axle member passing through an opening in the push tab.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein the springs and the guide members are mounted beneath the prongs of the adjustable grip to more directly impart a longitudinal force thereto.