U.S. patent application number 09/795504 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for support device for mobile telephones.
Invention is credited to Richter, Herbert.
Application Number | 20020117593 09/795504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25165684 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020117593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richter, Herbert |
August 29, 2002 |
Support device for mobile telephones
Abstract
In a support device for supporting mobile telephones, including
a base with a support plate disposed on the base and having a top
surface with a recess receiving a permanent magnet, at least one of
the base and the support plate consists at least partially of a
transparent material and light emitting elements are disposed
within the base or the support plate for emitting light through the
transparent material when a call is received, or a call is placed,
by a telephone disposed on the support device.
Inventors: |
Richter, Herbert;
(Engelbrand, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLAUS J. BACH & ASSOCIATES
PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
4407 TWIN OAKS LANE
MURRYSVILLE
PA
15668
US
|
Family ID: |
25165684 |
Appl. No.: |
09/795504 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/309.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/724 20210101;
H04M 1/22 20130101; B60R 2011/007 20130101; B60R 11/0241 20130101;
H04M 1/04 20130101; F16M 13/022 20130101; H04B 1/3888 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/309.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A support device for supporting mobile telephones, comprising: a
base, a support plate disposed on said base and having a top
surface with at least one recess formed therein, a permanent magnet
tightly received in said at least one recess, at least one of said
base and said support plate consisting at least partially of a
transparent material, and light emitting elements disposed within
one of said base and said support plate for emitting light through
said transparent material when a phone call is received by a
telephone disposed on said support device.
2. A support device according to claim 1, wherein said support
plate includes at one side thereof a web-like side wall of
transparent plastic material and said light emitting elements are
disposed in said side wall.
3. A support device according to claim 1, wherein said light
emitting elements are light emitting diodes (LED).
4. A support device according to claim 3, wherein several diodes
are arranged in a side-by-side relationship.
5. A support device according to claim 3, wherein said light
emitting diodes are mounted by connecting wires on a circuit board
supported in said support plate, said connecting wires extending
essentially normal from said circuit board.
6. A support device according to claim 3, wherein said light
emitting diodes are mounted by connecting wires on a circuit board
supported in said support plate, said connecting wires extending
from said circuit board essentially in the plane of said circuit
board.
7. A support device according to claim 1, wherein said support
device includes a sound emitting element providing a sound signal
when a call is received by a telephone disposed on said support
device.
8. A support device according to claim 1, wherein signal means are
provided and activated to generate at least one of a light and a
sound signal when a call is received by a telephone disposed on
said support device.
9. A support device according to claim 8, wherein said signal means
are activated when a call is placed by the telephone.
10. A support device according to claim 1, wherein a slide
resistant pad is disposed on said support plate.
11. A support device according to claim 2, wherein a web-like side
wall is also provided at one end of said support plate adjacent the
side wall extending along one side of the support plate so as to
form a corner area.
12. A support device according to claim 11, wherein the web-like
side wall at one end of the support plate includes an interruption
for accommodating a cable connector of a telephone disposed on said
support plate.
13. A support device according to claim 1, wherein said support
device includes means for mounting said support device on a support
structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a support device for mobile
telephones, which support device includes a support plate with a
permanent magnet enclosed therein for holding the mobile telephone
on the support device.
[0002] Such a support device is known for example from Applicant's
U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,790. The support device described therein is
very suitable for supporting cellular telephones and has found good
acceptance in the market place. The reason herefor is that it is
very easy and convenient to place a mobile telephone onto this
support device or to remove the telephone therefrom.
[0003] In the meantime also support devices for mobile telephones
with clamping side walls on opposite sides have become known
wherein light emitting diodes are provided in the side walls. The
light emitting diodes are connected to an electronic circuit, which
energizes the light emitting diodes when a call is received. In
this way, an incoming call received by the telephone disposed on
the support device is signaled also optically by the support
device.
[0004] Furthermore, support devices for mobile telephones have
become known which have the shape of a hand or a foot and which
also include light emitting diodes (LEDs).
[0005] All the LEDs-including support devices for telephones
however have the disadvantage that the LEDs are disposed in
openings of the support device and project therefrom or are at
least exposed so as to make them visible. As a result, the LEDs are
relatively unprotected and therefore easily subject to damage.
[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to
provide a support device for telephones with signaling elements
which are so arranged that they are protected from ambient
influences and from being damaged but that they are still able to
provide an optical signal indicating an incoming call in such a way
that the optical signal is easily noticeable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In a support device for supporting mobile telephones,
including a base with a support plate disposed thereon and having a
top surface with a recess receiving a permanent magnet, at least
one of the base and the support plate consist at least partially of
a transparent material and light emitting elements are disposed
within the base or the support plate for emitting light through the
transparent material when a call is received or a call is placed by
a telephone disposed on the support device.
[0008] Since the support device consists at least partially of a
transparent material the light emitting elements may be disposed
within the support device, that is, they can be completely
surrounded by the walls of the support device thereby protecting
the light emitting elements from being damaged by external
influences. The light emitting elements may advantageously be
completely encapsulated so that they are not even subjected to dust
and dirt.
[0009] It is particularly advantageous if the support plate is
provided with a web portion which extends essentially normal to the
telephone support surface of the support plate and which consists
at least partially of a transparent material and within which the
light emitting elements are disposed. In this way, the lighting up
of the light emitting elements is particularly well noticeable so
that an incoming call generates a high degree of attention. Also,
the arrangement is visually attractive in that the light emitting
elements are normally hidden from view that is they are invisible
and are only noticeable when lit to indicate an incoming call.
[0010] It is particularly advantageous if the light emitting
elements or light emitting diodes (LED). LEDs are, on one hand,
relatively inexpensive and, on the other hand, they are relatively
insensitive to shocks so that the support device is highly
reliable. It is also quite advantageous if several LEDs are
arranged in side-by-side relationship whereby the lighting of the
support devices is intensified so that an incoming call is more
clearly signaled. Instead of being arranged in side-by-side
relationship the LEDs may of course also be arranged in other
configurations. They may be arranged for example in a circular, a
triangular or a star-shaped pattern.
[0011] An embodiment of the invention wherein the LEDs are arranged
on a circuit board from which the connecting wires for the LEDs
extend about at a right angle has been found to be particularly
advantageous for use with a telephone holder provided with an
upstanding web into which the connecting wires with the LEDs
extend. The circuit board may then simply be supported within the
support plate whereas the LEDs are disposed in the upstanding web.
However, the wires may also extend from the circuit board in the
same plane, that is the wires with the LEDs may extend parallel to
the circuit board. In this way, the LEDs can be arranged in a
simple manner closely adjacent one of the ends of the support
device support plate.
[0012] In another specific embodiment of the invention, the support
plate is provided with a slide-resistant surface layer. With the
slide resistant layer, the support of the object on the support
device is improved in an advantageous manner. The magnet in the
support plate pulls the object into firm engagement with the
surface layer. And the larger the force is with which the object is
pulled toward the support plate, the higher are the friction forces
between the support plate and the object so that the object is
immovably held on the support plate.
[0013] Preferably, the slide resistant surface layer consists of an
elastic material whereby the engagement between the support plate
and the object disposed thereon is still further improved. With the
magnetic forces acting on the object, the object is pulled somewhat
into the resilient surface layer, thereby forming in the resilient
surface layer a recess in which the object is received. As a
result, an edge is formed around the object which prevents
displacement of the object on the support plate. A fine-pore foam
rubber foam pad has been found to form a particularly good
resilient surface layer.
[0014] The placement of the object on the support surface can be
facilitated by the provision on the support plate of two webs
extending along adjoining side edges of the support plate. The two
side edges form an angle into which the object to be supported by
the support device can be placed. With the angled side walls
provided thereby the object such as a mobile telephone can be
properly placed onto the support device without observing the
device. This is particularly advantageous if the device is
installed in an automobile. The driver can then place the object or
the telephone properly onto the support device without taking his
eyes from the road.
[0015] It is also possible to provide side walls at two opposite
edges of the support plate. It is advantageous if at least one of
these side walls is slideably supported such that the distance
between the two side walls is adjustable. However, since the
engagement force for holding the object on the support plate is
generated by the magnets, the side walls do not need to provide a
clamping force. The side walls can be arranged at such a distance
from each other that the object can be placed therebetween with
sufficient clearance. The slideable side wall can be held in a
given position by grooved engagement structures or by screws.
[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the web extending
along one end of the support plate includes an interruption. The
interruption forms an opening which makes it possible to place onto
the support device objects which are provided with a connecting
cable, for example with a power supply cord or an antenna cable as
used in connection with a mobile telephone.
[0017] It is advantageous if the support device includes a mounting
element by way of which it can be mounted on a support structure.
The mounting element may be for example a hinge-type mounting
bracket as it is known from German GM 29 707 123.8 or from U.S.
Pat. No. 5,740,995. The mounting element includes angled locking
fingers, which extend into correspondingly formed openings in the
bottom wall of the base of the support device. The support device
can then be easily connected to the mounting element.
[0018] The mounting element may further be a structure as it is
known for example from D 391 266, which includes essentially the
same connecting structure. It may further comprise a support arm as
it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,910. Furthermore, the mounting
element could be a self-adhesive foil disposed at the bottom wall
of the base of the support device.
[0019] Further features and advantages of the device according to
the invention will become apparent from the following description
thereof on the basis of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a top view of the support device according to the
invention having lighting elements at one side of the device,
[0021] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the support
device,
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side view of the support device,
[0023] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the support
device as shown in FIG. 1,
[0024] FIG. 5 is a top view showing lighting elements arranged at
the upper end of the support device, and FIG. 6 is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view of the device as shown in FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] As apparent from the figures, a support device according to
the invention includes a base 1 on which a support plate 2 is
disposed. The support plate 2 includes at least one recess in which
a cylindrical permanent magnet is disposed. In the arrangement as
shown in the figures two adjacent recesses with permanent magnets 3
and 3' are provided. The upper surface of the permanent magnets 3,
3' is disposed in the same plane as the top surface of the support
plate 2. A resilient fine-pored rubber foam pad 4 is disposed on
top of the support plate 2 and the magnets 3, 3' so as to provide a
slide-resistant support surface 4. As shown, the slide resistant
rubber foam pad completely covers the support plate 2 and provides
a resiliently cushioned support area for a telephone. However, the
rubber foam pad 4 may have cut-outs in the area of the magnets and
the magnets may extend slightly beyond the top surface of the
support plate and into the cut-outs so that they can come into
direct contact with the mobile telephone disposed on the rubber
foam pad when the pad is somewhat compressed by the telephone
placed thereon. In this way, the telephone can be directly and more
firmly held by the magnets 3, 3'.
[0026] The base 1 as well as the support plate 2 are oblong in
shape. A web-like side wall 5 extends at a longitudinal edge of the
oblong support plate in a plane normal to the support plate
surface. The web-like side wall 5 extends around one corner to join
a web-like end wall 6 provided with an interruption 7.
[0027] The base 1 as well as the support plate 2 and also the
web-like side and end walls 5 and 6 consist of a transparent
plastic material. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) 8 are disposed
within the longitudinal side wall 5. The LEDs 8 have connecting
wires 8' with which they are directly connected to a circuit board
9, which includes an electric power source and an electronic
control circuit for energizing the LEDs when a phone call is
received or also when a phone call is placed. The connecting wires
extend essentially at a right angle to the board 9. The circuit
board 9 is mounted on the support plate 2. As shown particularly in
FIGS. 5 and 6, the circuit board 9 may also be arranged at a
longitudinal end of the base 1. In this case, the support wires 8'
for the LEDs 8 extend in the plane of the circuit board 9 so that
the LEDs are disposed at an end that is at the tip of the base 1 or
the support plate 2.
[0028] The circuit board may also include a sound emitting element
providing a sound signal when a call is received by a telephone
disposed on the support device.
[0029] The base 1 includes a bottom wall 10 with a flat center area
11 for supporting the support device. Openings 12 are provided in
the flat center area 11 for mounting the support device on various
support structures by way of a mounting arrangement as disclosed in
the inventors U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,995.
[0030] Alternatively, a self-adhesive layer may be provided on the
flat area 11 for directly mounting the support device on a support
surface.
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