Device for safe use of a portable cellular telephone while driving

• US 6,138,041 A
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CCM Cellular Connection of Miami Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CCM Cellular Connection of Miami Incorporated
• Inventors: Yahia, Karim Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/159,807
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/573, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/346, 455/347, 455/572, 455/345, 455/348, 455/350, 455/351, 379/446, 379/445, 379/433, 379/428
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0054 using cigarette lighter
• 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

A cordless apparatus for permitting the hands-free use of a cellular telephone while driving a vehicle. The device comprises a main body including a speaker, a microphone, a supporting member and a securing means for securing the telephone to the main body. The main body comprises a head and a base, wherein the telephone cradle is substantially centrally located within the main body, between the head and the base. The telephone cradle has a top receiving end and a bottom receiving end, comprising a charging unit located substantially adjacent to the bottom receiving end of the telephone cradle. The speaker is positioned on the head of the main body substantially adjacent to the top end of the telephone cradle, and the microphone is located on the base of the main body, substantially adjacent to the receiving end of the telephone cradle. The supporting member comprises a first end affixed to the main body and a second end comprising a cigarette lighter adapter. The adapter is for plugging into a cigarette lighter of the vehicle for a connection of a power supply to the main body. The securing means for securing the telephone to the telephone cradle includes a set of opposite extruding arms positioned on the main body substantially adjacent to the top receiving end of the telephone cradle and a seat for receiving the telephone positioned on the main body substantially adjacent to the receiving end of the telephone cradle. In an alternative embodiment, the speaker is positioned on the back of the main body and in all embodiments, an extension member may be included.

Claims

1. A cordless apparatus for use in a vehicle and for permitting hands-free use of a cellular telephone by a user while the user is driving the vehicle, comprising:

(a) a main body free of visible cords and cables external to said main body, said main body comprising

(i) a speaker for communicating sound to the user when power from a power supply of the vehicle is supplied to said speaker,

(ii) a telephone cradle for positioning the cellular telephone thereon,

(iii) a charging unit for charging a battery connected to the cellular telephone positioned on said telephone cradle when power from the vehicle power supply is supplied to said charging unit, and

(iv) a microphone into which a user speaks for communicating sound from the user when power from a power supply of the vehicle is supplied to said speaker,

wherein said speaker, charging unit and microphone are integrated components of said main body which do not use any visible cords or cables external to said main body; and

(b) a supporting member for supporting both said main body and the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is positioned on said telephone cradle, said supporting member comprising

(i) a first end adjustable connected to said main body for customizing the position of said main body, and

(ii) a second end comprising a lighter adapter for plugging into a lighter socket of the vehicle for connecting said integrated components of said main body to the vehicle power supply to provide power to said integrated components to power said speaker and said microphone of said main body and to charge the battery of the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone connected to the battery is positioned on said telephone cradle,

whereby, when the cellular telephone connected to the battery is positioned on said telephone cradle and said lighter adapter is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle (1) said supporting member supports both said main body and the cellular telephone, (2) the vehicle power supply provides power to said charging unit of said main body for charging the battery and to said speaker and said microphone of said main body for powering said speaker and said microphone, respectively, and (3) said adjustable connection between said first end and said main body permits adjustment of said main body to a customized position selected by the user, so that the user can operate the cellular telephone without hands at a customized position while driving the vehicle.

2. The cordless apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main body further includes securing means for securing a cellular telephone to said telephone cradle of said main body.

3. The cordless apparatus of claim 2, wherein said microphone is located at said base of said main body, substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle, and said securing means includes a set of opposite extruding arms positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said top receiving end of said telephone cradle and a seat for receiving a cellular telephone positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said receiving end of said telephone cradle.

4. The cordless apparatus of claim 2, wherein said securing means for securing the cellular telephone to said telephone cradle of said main body comprises a pair of opposite extruding arms affixed to said main body and a seat for receiving a cellular telephone.

5. The cordless apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cordless apparatus further includes an extension member having one end removably attached to said second end of said supporting member and an opposite end comprising a lighter adapter for plugging into the lighter socket of the vehicle for connecting said integrated components of said main body to the vehicle power supply to supply power to said integrated components to power said speaker and said microphone and to charge the battery connected to the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone connected to the battery is inserted on said telephone cradle of said main body.

6. The cordless apparatus of claim 5, wherein said cordless apparatus further includes a safety mechanism for prohibiting a cellular telephone battery from over-charging when the cellular telephone connected to the cellular telephone battery is located on said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle.

7. The cordless apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a head and a base.

8. The cordless apparatus of claim 7, wherein said telephone cradle is substantially centrally located within said main body, between said head and said base, said telephone cradle having a top receiving end and a bottom receiving end.

9. The cordless apparatus of claim 8, wherein said speaker is positioned on said head of said main body substantially adjacent to said top end of said telephone cradle.

10. The cordless apparatus of claim 8, wherein said charging unit is located substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle.

11. The cordless apparatus of claim 8, wherein said microphone is located at said base of said main body, substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle.

12. The cordless apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a front and a back, wherein said front includes a fronthead and a frontbase and said back includes a backhead and a backbase.

13. The cordless apparatus of claim 12, wherein said telephone cradle is substantially centrally located within said main body, between said fronthead and said frontbase, said telephone cradle having a top receiving end and a bottom receiving end.

14. The cordless apparatus of claim 13, wherein said speaker is positioned on said back of said main body.

15. The cordless apparatus of claim 13, wherein said charging unit is located substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle.

16. The cordless apparatus of claim 13, wherein said microphone is located on said frontbase of said main body, substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle.

17. The cordless apparatus of claim 16, wherein said main body comprises a front, a fronthead, a frontbase and a back, a backhead and backbase,

said telephone cradle is substantially centrally located within said main body between said fronthead and said frontbase, said telephone cradle having a top receiving end and a bottom receiving end,

said speaker is positioned on said back of said main body,

said charging unit located substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle,

said microphone is located on said frontbase of said main body, substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle,

said adjustable securing means includes a set of opposite extruding side panels positioned to said main body substantially adjacent to said top receiving end of said telephone cradle and a seat for receiving the cellular telephone positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said receiving end of said telephone cradle.

18. The cordless apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cordless apparatus further includes a safety mechanism for prohibiting a cellular telephone battery from over-charging when the cellular telephone connected to the cellular telephone battery is located on said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle.

19. A cordless apparatus for use in a vehicle and for permitting hands-free use of a cellular telephone by a user while the user is driving the vehicle, comprising:

a main body free of external cords and cables comprising

a head and a base;

a telephone cradle located within said main body between said head and said base, said telephone cradle having a top receiving end and a bottom receiving end,

a charging unit located substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle to charge a battery connected to the cellular telephone positioned on said telephone cradle,

a speaker positioned on said head of said main body substantially adjacent to said top end of said telephone cradle, and

a microphone located on said base of said main body, substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle,

wherein said speaker, charging unit, and microphone are individual components integrated into said main body which do not require use of any visible cords or cables external to said main body;

a supporting member comprising a first end affixed to said main body and a second end comprising a lighter adapter for plugging into a lighter socket of the vehicle for connecting a power supply to said integrated components of said main body;

securing means for securing the cellular telephone to said telephone cradle when the cellular telephone is positioned on said telephone cradle, wherein said securing means includes a set of opposite extruding arms positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said top receiving end of said telephone cradle and a seat positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said receiving end of said telephone cradle for receiving the cellular telephone; and

an extension member having a first end in the form of a lighter socket for removably attaching to said second end of said supporting member and an opposite end comprising a lighter adapter for plugging into the lighter socket of the vehicle for connecting a power supply to said integrated components of said main body,

whereby, when the cellular telephone to the battery is placed onto said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter of said extension member is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle and said lighter adapter of said second end of said supporting member is inserted into said lighter socket of said extension member, said supporting member and said extension member act in combination to (i) support both said main body and the cellular telephone positioned on said telephone cradle of said main body and (ii) connect power to said integrated components for powering said speaker and said microphone and charging the battery connected to the cellular telephone, so that a cellular telephone located on said telephone cradle can be used by a user while driving the vehicle without use of hands and without use of visible cords and cables external to said main body.

20. The cordless apparatus of claim 19, wherein said supporting member is an adjustable supporting member and said first end is adjustably affixed to said main body for customizing the position of said main body,

whereby, when the cellular telephone is inserted into said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter of said opposite end of said extension member is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle, said adjustable supporting member permits adjustment of said main body to a customized position selected by a user, so that the cellular telephone located on said main body can be used at a customized position selected by the user while driving the vehicle without use of hands or visible cords or cables external to said main body.

21. The cordless apparatus of claim 19, wherein said removably attached end of said extension member is adjustably affixed to said second end of said supporting member for customizing the position of said main body by the user of said cordless apparatus,

whereby, when said lighter adapter of said opposite end of said extension member is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle, said adjustable extension member permits adjustment of said main body to a customized position selected by the user, so that the cellular telephone located on said main body can be used by the user at a customized position selected by the user while driving the vehicle without use of hands and without use of any visible cords or cables external to said main body.

22. The cordless apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first end of said supporting member is adjustably affixed to said main body and said removably attached end of said extension member is adjustably affixed to said second end of said supporting member for customizing the position of said main body by the user of said cordless apparatus, whereby, when the cellular telephone is inserted into said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter of said opposite end of said extension member is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle, said adjustable connection between said first end of said supporting member and said body, and said adjustable extension member permits adjustment of said main body to a customized position selected by the user, so that the cellular telephone located on said main body can be supported and can be used at a customized position selected by the user while driving without use of hands or any visible cords or cables external to said main body.

23. The cordless apparatus of claim 19, wherein said cordless apparatus further includes a safety mechanism for prohibiting a cellular telephone battery from over-charging when the cellular telephone connected to the cellular telephone battery is located on said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle.

24. A cordless apparatus for permitting hands-free use of a cellular telephone by user while the user is driving a vehicle, comprising:

a main body having no visible cords and cables external to said main body comprising

a front, a fronthead, a frontbase, a back, a backhead and backbase,

a telephone cradle substantially centrally located within said main body, between said fronthead and said frontbase, said telephone cradle having a top receiving end and a bottom receiving end,

a charging unit, wherein said charging unit is located substantially adjacent to said bottom receiving end of said telephone cradle;

a speaker positioned on said back of said main body substantially adjacent to said backhead,

a microphone located at said frontbase of said main body, substantially adjacent to said receiving end of said telephone cradle,

wherein said speaker, charging unit, and microphone are individual components which are integrated into said main body without use of any visible cords or wires external to said main body;

a supporting member comprising a first end affixed to said main body and a second end comprising a lighter adapter for plugging into a lighter socket of the vehicle for connecting a power supply to said integrated components of said main body;

securing means for securing the cellular telephone to said telephone cradle, wherein said securing means includes a set of opposite extruding side panels positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said top receiving end of said telephone cradle and a seat positioned on said main body substantially adjacent to said receiving end of said telephone cradle for receiving the cellular telephone; and

an extension member having one end removably attached to said second end of said supporting member and an opposite end comprising a lighter adapter, said lighter adapter for plugging into a lighter socket of the vehicle for a connecting a power supply to said integrated components of said main body.

25. The cordless apparatus of claim 24, wherein said cordless apparatus further includes a safety mechanism for prohibiting a cellular telephone battery from over-charging when the cellular telephone connected to the cellular telephone battery is located on said telephone cradle of said main body and said lighter adapter is plugged into the lighter socket of the vehicle.