Universal device with means of holding a portable electronic device and communicating therewith

• US 20060058070A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ta Shuo Chang
• Original Assignee: Ta Shuo Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Ta Shuo
• Application Number:
  US10/952,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

Provided is a universal device comprising a main body including a plurality of connecting sections including an upper plate and a lower plate in which devices including a built-in speaker, a transceiver unit such as a piece of GPS equipment or a wireless transceiver, a swivel coupling assembly adapted to couple to a hands-free device, a cradle for holding a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone, a PDA, a Smart Phone having the features of cellular phone and PDA, and a Palmtop, and a communication unit are releasably coupled to the upper or the lower plate or formed thereon. The invention permits a user to selectively couple the portable electronic device and/or the hands-free device to the universal device for communicating therewith.

Claims

1. A universal device comprising:

a main body comprising a plurality of connecting sections including an upper plate and a lower plate;

a cradle releasably coupled to both the upper plate and a portable electronic device held thereon;

a signal processing module extended from a rear end of the upper plate; and

a communication unit releasably coupled to the signal processing module and being adapted to electrically coupled to the portable electronic device.

2. The universal device of claim 1, wherein the upper plate comprises a plurality of first slots and at least one first tab.

3. The universal device of claim 2, wherein the cradle is a substantially rectangular member and comprises two side flanges, a space defined by the flanges for holding the portable electronic device thereon, a plurality of second tabs insertable into the first slots, and at least one second slot adapted to receive the first tab.

4. The universal device of claim 1, further comprising a sound amplification unit formed on the lower plate and a power switch formed on one side of the upper plate, wherein the sound amplification unit is adapted to enable for amplifying sound from a radio or a car stereo by turning on the power switch.

5. The universal device of claim 1, further comprising a joint formed at a front end of the main body, the joint comprising a swivel shaft and two gears at opposite sides of the swivel shaft, and a transceiver unit comprising a bifurcation extended from one side thereof and two annular toothed members recessed into branches of the bifurcation, and wherein the gears are adapted to fit into the toothed members to be in gear connection therewith such that the transceiver unit is capable of turning on a pivot crossing centers of the gears and the toothed members or turning on the swivel shaft in an angle adjustment operation.

6. The universal device of claim 5, wherein the transceiver unit is a piece of GPS equipment.

7. The universal device of claim 5, wherein the transceiver unit is a wireless transceiver.

8. The universal device of claim 1, further comprising a swivel coupling assembly formed on the lower plate, the coupling assembly being adapted to hold a hands-free device thereon.

9. The universal device of claim 8, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a disk-shaped seat fixedly formed on the lower plate, a plurality of apertures provided in the seat, an upper connecting member rotatably secured to the seat, a lower disk-shaped mount fitted onto the seat, a cavity formed on the connecting member for holding the hands-free device thereon, a through hole on a side of the connecting member, and a spring depressible detent projected from the through hole, and wherein a lower end of the detent is adapted to move from one aperture to another aperture by pressing and turning the connecting member with respect to the seat.

10. The universal device of claim 2, wherein the cradle is engaged with the main body by means of a magnetic means.

11. The universal device of claim 2, wherein the cradle is engaged with the main body by means of an elastically and snugly fitting means.

12. The universal device of claim 1, wherein the signal processing module comprises an upward extension having an aperture on its inner side, and the communication unit is substantially shaped to conform to the signal processing module and comprises a plug protruded from one side.

13. The universal device of claim 1, wherein the signal processing module further comprises two upward extensions at two sides, respectively and each of them having a vertical guiding recess on its inner side, an inserted socket disposed on its top surface, and an elastic locking member provided at a its rear portion.

14. The universal device of claim 1, wherein the locking member further comprises a L-shaped member having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion wherein a locking groove is provided between the vertical and horizontal portions and an outer end of the horizontal portion is served as a locking released button.

15. The universal device of claim 13, wherein the communication unit further comprises a plug protruded from its underside with respective to the socket, a projection socket at its front portion for connection to a portable electronic device, a guiding rib at either side thereof with respect to the guiding recess, and a locking tab extending from a rear underside thereof having a locking hook at its lower end.