Device for holding a portable telephone

• US 5,947,359 A
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshie, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US09/099,607
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 224/539, 224/545, 224/548, 224/552, 224/553, 224/554, 224/567, 224/570, 224/571, 224/929, 224/558, 224/555, 379/426, 379/446, 379/454, 379/455, 248/222.11, 248/222.12, 248/316.1, 248/316.2, 248/316.3, 248/316.4
• US Class Current: 224/570
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A device for holding a portable telephone including a body element suitable for being attached to a desired position in a vehicle compartment, a holder element pivotally hinged to an end of the body element and having a longitudinal telephone holding surface on which a portable telephone is placed, a pair of holding elements attached to the holder element and urged to mutually spaced positions by a first spring exhibiting a first resilient force, so as to be moved toward a position pinching the portable telephone, and a pair of slidable members attached to the body element and urged toward a mutually approached position by a second spring exhibiting a second resilient force stronger than the first resilient force of the first spring, the pair of holding elements and the pair of slidable elements being engaged by engaging projections formed in the holding elements and having inclined side faces acting as an actuator to actuate either the movement of only the holding elements or both of the holding and slidable elements in response to a change in the size of the portable telephone placed on the holder element.

Claims

1. A device for holding a portable telephone, adapted to be attached to a desired position in a vehicle passenger compartment, comprising:

a body element having a longitudinal upper surface, and an opposite longitudinal rear face suitable for being attached to the desired position of the vehicle compartment;

a holder element having a longitudinal holding surface extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving a portable telephone thereon, said holder element being pivotally attached to said upper surface of said body element to be allowed to move up and down;

a pair of holding members arranged substantially in a face-to-face relation to one another and assembled in a portion of said holder element to be slidable toward one another in a predetermined direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said holder element for holding the portable telephone therebetween, said pair of holding members being constantly urged apart from one another by a first spring means exhibiting a first resilient force to define a space through which the portable telephone is allowed to be placed on said holding surface of said holder element;

an engaging projection means provided to be integral with each of said pair of holding members and projecting substantially downward from said holding members, each said engaging projection means defining an engaging face portion thereof;

a pair of slidable members arranged in said upper surface of said body element to be slidable in a direction parallel with said predetermined direction, each of said slidable members being provided with an engaging portion to be in a slidable engagement with said engaging face portions of said engaging projection means provided for said pair of holding members, said slidable members being urged toward one another by a second spring means exhibiting a second resilient force larger than the first resilient force of said spring means; and

an actuating means for first actuating an initial movement of said pair of holding members toward one another against said first resilient force of said first spring means until said holding members are prevented from moving toward one another upon engagement with the telephone, in response to placing the portable telephone onto said holder element while pressing said holder element toward said body element, said actuating means, dependant on the size of the telephone, further actuating a first movement of said pair of slidable members against the second resilient force of said second spring means in a direction reverse to the direction of the initial movement of a said pair of holding members, in response to a further pressing of said holder element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises each of said face portions defining an inclined side face, each said inclined side face being inclined downwardly and inwardly in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said holder element.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a latching means arranged between said holder element and said body element for forming a latching condition between both of said elements when the portable telephone is held on said holder element.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder element is provided with a recess formed therein to receive an electric connector attached to an electric cable.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of slidable members comprise a pair of open ended hollow members placed on a mount arranged in said longitudinal upper surface, and a fixing plate means for slidably holding the slidable members on said mount, each of said pair of open ended hollow members being provided with wings suitable for being slidably held between said mount of said body element and said fixing plate means.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder element is provided with soft pads attached to said longitudinal holding surface thereof, and wherein said pair of holding members are provided with soft pads attached thereto.