Combined rear view mirror and telephone

• US 6,625,426 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: Mossad Abbas, Ronald Baratono
• Inventors: Baratono, Ronald, Abbas, Mossad
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Chong
• Application Number:
  US09/735,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/344, 455/345, 455/351, 379/433.1, 379/446, 379/447, 379/454, 379/455
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• 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 mobile telephone or cellular phone unit and a rear view mirror housing of an automobile are combined to provide an improved phone apparatus that enables a hands-free use by a driver while operating the vehicle, the improved phone apparatus includes a rear view mirror housing, the housing including a rearview mirror, and phone for sending and receiving phone calls, and is removably connected thereto. A telephone key pad is cooperatively connected to the phone for dialing the phone. An attachment bracket attaches the mirror housing to the vehicle. The phone is removably attached to the rear view mirror housing. The housing has the electronic circuitry incorporated therewith to which a phone is connectable.

Claims

1. A combined rear view mirror and telephone apparatus for a vehicle to enable a hands-free operation of a portable cell phone by a driver of the vehicle, comprising

a rear view mirror housing, said housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and a peripheral side wall, the housing walls forming an interior chamber, said housing further including:

a socket extending into the housing interior, said socket opening on said side wall and sized to receive an end portion of the phone inserted therewithin,

a rear view mirror on said front wall,

electronic means for operating said phone when disposed within the housing, said electronic means including;

(1) means for overriding the electrical circuitry of said phone and rendering the phone in electrical communication therewith; and

(2) a key pad, the key pad being actuatable to operate a phone disposed within the socket; and

attachment means for attaching the mirror housing to the vehicle.

2. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the side wall has a plurality of openings provided in a linear array, and further wherein,

the key pad comprises a plurality of individual push buttons each associated with the electronic means, each side button being associated with and projecting through an associated opening in the side wall.

3. The combined rear view mirror and telephone apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises:

a circuit board disposed in the housing and defining, at least in part, the electronic means; and

a plug assembly extending from the circuit board, said plug assembly being connectable to said portable cell phone to render the phone operable by the electronic means.

4. The combined rear view mirror and telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising

electrical power means in electrical communication with said cellular phone for providing electrical power to operate said cellular phone, said electrical power means comprising the battery of the vehicle, and

an electrical wire, said wire connecting the vehicle battery to the electronic means.

5. A combined rear view mirror and telephone apparatus for a vehicle to enable a hands-free operation of a portable cellular phone by the driver of the vehicle, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing for mounting a rear view mirror, said housing having a peripheral sidewall, and an interior chamber, said housing including

first means for removably receiving said cellular phone, said first means including a socket which opens on said sidewall and is sized to receive and connect to an end portion of said cellular phone inserted therewithin,

second means for operating said cellular phone when disposed in said socket, and

third means for operably connecting said second means in electrical circuit relation with said phone when disposed in said socket.

6. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 5 wherein said socket includes a pair of spaced-apart slide tracks, and an interior end wall spaced from the socket opening, said slide tracks being adapted to slidingly receive and guide said cellular phone to said end wall, and said end wall defining a stop for limiting inward insertion of the cellular phone.

7. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 6 and further comprising electrical power means in electrical communication with said cellular phone for providing electrical power to operate said cellular phone.

8. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 7 wherein said electrical power means comprises a battery, said battery being separate and apart from the battery of the vehicle and attached to said housing.

9. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 6 wherein said second means comprises a key pad, the key pad being adapted to actuate said phone when disposed within said socket.

10. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 9 wherein said second means comprises a key pad, the key pad being adapted to actuate said phone when disposed within said socket.

11. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 10 wherein said second means comprises:

an electronic circuit board disposed in said interior chamber,

an electrical connector disposed in said socket, said connector being connectible to said cellular phone when the end portion of the phone is within said socket, and

a conductive element extending between said circuit board and said electrical connector, said conductive element placing said connector and said circuit board in electrical relation with the phone whereby to override the circuitry within the phone and render the phone operable by said key pads when the phone is inserted within said socket.

12. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 9 wherein:

said vehicle includes a windshield, and

said housing includes a front wall for receiving said rear view mirror, a rear wall facing said windshield, and an array of openings, and

said key pad comprises a plurality of individual push buttons to actuate said cellular phone, each push button being movably disposed within a corresponding opening and operably associated with said second means.

13. The combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly of claim 12 wherein said electrical power means comprises the battery of the vehicle, and the conductive element is an electrical wire connecting the vehicle battery to the second means.

14. A combined rear view mirror and telephone assembly for a vehicle that enables hands-free use by a driver while operating the vehicle, the combination comprising:

a portable phone for sending and receiving calls, said phone having an end portion, first electrical circuitry for operating the phone, an electrical connector in electrical circuit relation with said electrical circuitry, and a key pad in electrical circuit relation with said electrical circuitry for dialing the phone when sending calls, and

a rear view mirror housing, the housing including an exterior surface for mounting a rearview mirror, an interior chamber, a receptacle, said receptacle opening on said surface and extending into said chamber, said opening and said receptacle being sized to receive the end portion of said phone and removably mount the phone to said housing, and second electronic circuitry in said chamber, said second electrical circuitry being electrically connectible to the electrical connector of said phone when the phone is disposed in said receptacle, a second key pad in electrical circuit relation with said second electrical circuitry, said second key pad and said second electrical circuitry for overriding the first electrical circuitry associated with the phone and dialing the phone for sending calls when said phone is disposed within said receptacle.