Vehicular transponder intermediary device and system

• US 7,712,644 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ellen L. Jakubicek, Karen L. Rafalowitz
• Original Assignee: Ellen L. Jakubicek, Karen L. Rafalowitz
• Inventors: Jakubicek, Ellen L., Rafalowitz, Karen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse; Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAGGENSPACK, ADAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/331,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 224/482, 224/929, 224/666, 224/901, 224/585, 224/277, 224/240, 224/668, 224/930, 224/679, 224/483, 206/39.5, 206/815, 248/314, 248/222.12, 248/224.7, 405/91, 405/93, 405/97
• US Class Current: 224/482
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/901 Carrier component having adherent surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A transponder intermediary device enables a user to selectively retain a toll transponder device in toll-paying position upon a vehicle. The transponder intermediary device comprises a transponder-receiving slot and a vehicular interface. The transponder-receiving slot comprises a superior slot end, an inferior slot end, laterally-opposed slot ends, an anterior slot portion, a posterior slot portion, an inner slot surface, and a relaxed equilibrium position. The inner slot surface is sized and shaped to snugly and removably receive transponder housing. The vehicular interface comprises certain attachment structure for attaching the transponder intermediary device in toll-paying position upon the vehicle. As the transponder housing is received in the transponder-receiving slot, the housing snap-clicks into place, thus aurally alerting the user as to when the housing is securely held by the transponder intermediary device.

Claims

1. A transponder system, said transponder system comprising, in combination:

a transponder device, the transponder device comprising a housing, the housing comprising opposed superior and inferior housing ends, and opposed anterior and posterior housing faces, the anterior housing face comprising a raised transponder-locating portion; and

a transponder intermediary device made from a high memory material and comprising an inferior wall, an anterior wall having superior and inferior portions, a posterior wall, and two laterally opposed sidewalls, a windshield interface, a manually graspable finger-pull portion located on the anterior wall, the anterior wall spanning the entire width between the sidewalls, and a locator-receiving aperture located on the inferior portion of the anterior wall and allowing a user to push on the transponder device through the locator-receiving aperture, the inferior wall, anterior wall, and posterior wall together with the sidewalls defining between them a transponder-receiving slot for receiving the transponder, the sidewalls each including a slot-expansion notch formed therein, the slot-expansion notches in combination with the high memory material composition of the sidewalls and anterior wall allowing a user to manually displace the superior portion of the anterior wall away from the posterior wall by grasping and pulling the finger-pull portion, enabling the user to manually unlock the transponder-locating portion from the locator-receiving aperture, thus enabling the user to remove the housing from the transponder-receiving slot, the high memory material automatically returning the superior portion of the anterior wall to its original position when it is released by the user,

the windshield interface comprising windshield-attachment means for attaching the transponder intermediary devices in a toll-paying position to an inner windshield surface,

the transponder-receiving slot being sized and shaped to snugly and removably receive the housing, the transponder-locating portion being removably receivable in the locator-receiving aperture for selectively locking the housing in the transponder-receiving slots.

2. The transponder intermediary system of claim 1, wherein because the anterior wall is made of a high memory material, it will audibly snap into a locking position as the transponder-locating portion is received within the transponder-locating aperture.

3. The transponder system of claim 1 further comprising spacing means, the spacing means extending intermediate the posterior wall and the windshield interface for enabling the user to manually receive the posterior housing surface at the superior housing end when the housing is removed from the transponder-receiving slot.

4. The transponder system of claim 1 further comprising a pair of ridges formed upon the posterior wall which are laterally spaced from one another, the ridges for cooperatively wedging the anterior and posterior housing faces intermediate the anterior and posterior walls as the transponder device is placed within the transponder-receiving slot.

5. The transponder system of claim 1 wherein the transponder-locating portion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the anterior wall for providing a smooth outer assembly surface, the smooth outer assembly surface for enhancing the visual appeal of the transponder system.