Toll pass holder

• US 5,960,572 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Devito
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Devito
• Inventors: DeVito, Joseph A
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Brian K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US08/967,997
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 40/591, 40/593, 40/597, 40/611, 40/757, 40/765, 40/643, 40/649, 248/205.5, 248/206.2, 248/206.3, 248/314, 248/316.2, 248/231.81, 248/363
• US Class Current: 40/593
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1852 for fastening magnetically or by suction or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A toll pass holder (10) comprising a housing (12) having an open top compartment (14) with a large open from window (16), so as to receive an electronic toll pass (18) inserted therein. A structure (20) is for temporarily retaining the housing (12) to an interior surface (22) of a windshield (24) in a motor vehicle (26). The large open front window (16) in the housing (12) faces the interior surface (22) of the windshield (24), so that the electronic toll pass (18) can operate therefrom.

Claims

1. A toll pass holder for selectively securing a toll pass to a windshield comprising:

a) a housing having an open top compartment with a large open front window, so as to receive an electronic toll pass inserted therein; and

b) means for temporarily retaining said housing to an interior surface of the windshield in a motor vehicle, such that said large open front window in said housing faces the interior surface of the windshield, so that the electronic toll pass can operate therefrom; and

further including;

c) means for keeping the electronic toll pass in a secured manner within said open top compartment with a top portion of the electronic toll pass extending outwardly so that it can be inserted and removed therefrom, said keeping means including;

i) a pair of leaf springs; and

ii) means for holding each said leaf spring within said open top compartment in said housing at one side thereof, wherein said holding means includes said open top compartment in said housing having upper and lower slots at each side thereof, so that said upper and lower slots will engage with upper and lower ends of said leaf springs.

2. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said temporarily retaining means includes a pair of suction cups, each said suction cup extends outwardly from a front surface and adjacent a corner at a bottom end of said housing below said large open front window.

3. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 2, further including means for angularly adjusting both of said suction cups on said housing, so that when said suction cups are temporarily retained to the interior surface of the windshield, said housing can swing down to a generally horizontal position, to allow the electronic toll pass to be inserted and removed from said open top compartment, and said housing can swing up to a generally vertical position parallel to the windshield, to allow the electronic toll pass to operate therefrom.

4. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 3, wherein each said suction cup includes:

a) a base portion;

b) a shaft portion extending from said base portion; and

c) a cup portion formed on an end of said shaft portion opposite from said base portion, wherein said cup portion when pressed against the interior surface of the windshield will temporarily stick thereto.

5. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 4, wherein said angularly adjusting means includes:

a) said housing having a recessed area at each said corner at said bottom end of said housing at said front surface below said large open front window, so that each said base portion of said suction cups can fit into each said recessed area; and

b) means for pivoting said base portions of said suction cups within said recessed areas in said housing.

6. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 5, wherein said pivoting means includes:

a) said housing having a longitudinal bore extending between said recessed areas at said bottom end;

b) said first base portion of said first suction cup having a transverse cylindrical hole therethrough;

c) said second base portion of said second suction cup having a transverse threaded cylindrical aperture therethrough; and

d) a bolt having an elongated shank with a threaded distal end, wherein said elongated shank is inserted through said transverse cylindrical hole in said first base portion, through said longitudinal bore in said housing, with said threaded distal end threaded into said transverse threaded cylindrical aperture in said second base portion, so that said bolt can be tightened and loosened to change resistance of movement between said suction cups and said housing.

7. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 1, further including:

a) a pressure clip; and

b) a fastener to mount said pressure clip in a rotatable manner to a rear surface of said housing behind said open top compartment with said large open front window, wherein said pressure clip can receive various additional items.

8. A toll pass holder as recited in claim 6, further including:

a) a pressure clip; and

b) a fastener to mount said pressure clip in a rotatable manner to a rear surface of said housing behind said open top compartment with said large open front window, wherein said pressure clip can receive various additional items.