Cell phone system for enabling and disabling a vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for enabling and disabling a vehicle with a cell phone capable of transmitting and receiving communication signals, the vehicle being for transporting at least a vehicle operator, the vehicle having an enabled mode for permitting starting or motion of the vehicle and a disabled mode for preventing starting or motion of the vehicle, the system comprising:
- a receiving receptacle secured within the vehicle and configured for receiving the cell phone therewithin and such that transmission of communication signals from the cell phone are prevented whenever the cell phone is received within the receiving receptacle; and
a vehicle enabling mechanism operably coupled to the receiving receptacle and including a signal wire for communication with an engine of the vehicle, the vehicle enabling mechanism being configured such that placement of the cell phone within the receiving receptacle activates the enabled mode of the vehicle, and such that removal of the cell phone from within the receiving receptacle activates the disabled mode of the vehicle,wherein the receiving receptacle is a stand-alone retro-fit structure configured to secure to the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cell phone system (10) for enabling and disabling a vehicle (12) includes a cell phone (20) and a receiving receptacle (22) secured within the vehicle (12) that is configured so that the cell phone (20) cannot transmit signals whenever the cell phone (20) is secured within the receiving receptacle (22). A vehicle enabling mechanism (44) is secured within the receiving receptacle (22) and is also secured in communication with an engine (50) of the vehicle (12) so that placement of the cell phone (20) within the receiving receptacle (22) activates the vehicle enabling mechanism (44) to put the vehicle (12) in an enabled mode, and so that removal of the cell phone (20) from the receiving receptacle (22) deactivates the vehicle enabling mechanism (44) to put the vehicle (12) in a disabled mode.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for enabling and disabling a vehicle with a cell phone capable of transmitting and receiving communication signals, the vehicle being for transporting at least a vehicle operator, the vehicle having an enabled mode for permitting starting or motion of the vehicle and a disabled mode for preventing starting or motion of the vehicle, the system comprising:
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a receiving receptacle secured within the vehicle and configured for receiving the cell phone therewithin and such that transmission of communication signals from the cell phone are prevented whenever the cell phone is received within the receiving receptacle; and a vehicle enabling mechanism operably coupled to the receiving receptacle and including a signal wire for communication with an engine of the vehicle, the vehicle enabling mechanism being configured such that placement of the cell phone within the receiving receptacle activates the enabled mode of the vehicle, and such that removal of the cell phone from within the receiving receptacle activates the disabled mode of the vehicle, wherein the receiving receptacle is a stand-alone retro-fit structure configured to secure to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing a system for enabling and disabling a vehicle with a cell phone capable of transmitting and receiving communication signals, the vehicle being for transporting at least a vehicle operator, the vehicle having an enabled mode for permitting starting or motion of the vehicle and a disabled mode for preventing starting or motion of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a receiving receptacle configured for installation within the vehicle; and providing a vehicle enabling mechanism configured to operably couple to the receiving receptacle and including a signal wire to communicate with an engine of the vehicle, wherein the receiving receptacle is a stand-alone retro-fit structure configured to secure to the vehicle and such that placement of the cell phone within the receiving receptacle prohibits transmission of communication signals from the cell phone, and wherein the receiving receptacle and vehicle enabling mechanism are configured such that, after installation in the vehicle, placement of the cell phone within the receiving receptacle sets the vehicle in the enabled mode and removal of the cell phone from within the receiving receptacle sets the vehicle in the disabled mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of prohibiting operation of a cell phone by a vehicle operator while the vehicle is in an enabled mode permitting starting or motion of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a stand-alone retro-fit receiving receptacle configured to secure to the vehicle and such that placement of the cell phone within the receiving receptacle prohibits transmission of communication signals from the cell phone; coupling a vehicle enabling mechanism to the receiving receptacle; and electrically coupling the vehicle enabling mechanism to the vehicle via at least one signal wire such that the vehicle enabling mechanism is in communication with an engine of the vehicle, wherein the receiving receptacle and vehicle enabling mechanism are configured such that, after installing to the vehicle, placement of the cell phone within the receiving receptacle sets the vehicle in the enabled mode and removal of the cell phone from within the receiving receptacle sets the vehicle in a disabled mode preventing starting or motion of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification