Electronic toll collection tag holder for a motorcycle

• US 6,957,755 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin J. Tuminski, Robert H. Mahoney
• Original Assignee: Kevin J. Tuminski, Robert H. Mahoney
• Inventors: Tuminski, Kevin J., Mahoney, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US10/090,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 224/277, 224/413, 224/420, 224/433, 224/435, 224/440, 224/448, 224/459, 224/929, 406/43, 340/693.6, 340/904
• US Class Current: 224/413
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

An ETC tag holder for motorcycles is provided. A securing case comprises a back panel with a bottom surface extending outwardly at a substantially right angle. A receptacle wall extending upwardly from the outer edges of the bottom surface, and along its length, connect with the back panel to form a hollow receptacle for removably receiving an ETC tag. The case is mounted onto a motorcycle by an engaging portion that securedly engages the back panel and a clamping portion for clamping onto a cylindrical part of a motorcycle.

Claims

1. An ETC tag holder comprising:

an open-top, hollow body of sufficient size to accommodate an ETC tag therein, the hollow body further comprising;

a vertically planar back panel with an upper and lower end;

a bottom surface extending outwardly from the panel at a substantially right angle;

a receptacle wall extending upwardly from an outer edge of the bottom surface along its length, the receptacle wall not extending above the height of the back panel;

a plurality of mounting apertures in the back panel extending from front to back.

2. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 further comprising means for securing the ETC tag.

3. The ETC tag holder of claim 2 wherein the means for securing the tag further comprises a number of tag securing apertures in the back panel at its left and right sides extending through the panel from front to back.

4. The ETC tag holder of claim 3 wherein the means for securing a tag in the holder further comprises an elastic band extending from the securing aperture in the left side of the panel to the securing aperture in the right side of the panel.

5. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface further comprises drainage apertures.

6. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the hollow body is made of plastic.

7. The ETC tag holder of claim 6 wherein the plastic is lucite.

8. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 further comprising a slot-shaped cavity in the back panel top extending downwardly from the upper end to the lower end through at least a portion of the panel.

9. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the mounting apertures are disposed along the lower end.

10. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the mounting apertures are disposed along the upper end.

11. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the mounting apertures are disposed along a side of the panel.

12. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting further comprises an engaging portion and a clamping portion, wherein the engaging portion is constructed and arranged to securely engage a bolting element passing through at least one of the mounting apertures, the bolting element bolting the panel to the engaging portion, and the clamping portion constructed and arranged to clamp onto a cylindrical motorcycle part.

13. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacle wall further comprises at least one finger slot.

14. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 further comprising a lid constructed and arranged to cover the hollow receptacle chamber.

15. The ETC tag bolder of claim 14 further comprising fastening means for holding the lid in a closed position over the hollow receptacle chamber.

16. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 further comprising a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a second bottom surface, and a second panel interconnected with a backside of the back panel to form a document holder on the backside of the back panel.

17. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 further comprising:

a finger slot in an outer wall of the hollow body.

18. The ETC tag holder of claim 17 further comprising a document holder.

19. The ETC tag holder of claim 1 further comprising:

a lid constructed and arranged to cover the open-top of the hollow body.

20. The ETC tag holder of claim 19 further comprising a document holder.