Abstract:
A storage system incorporates a toll transponder mounted to the inside of a vehicle windshield. A transponder case surrounds the toll transponder whereby the transponder supports the case on the vehicle windshield. The case includes a hook and loop attachment for mounting functional items to the case such as a pocket, an eyeglasses case or a holder for other items.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to toll transponder cases.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Automatic toll collection using toll transponders mounted to a vehicle is becoming increasingly popular in the states of the United States that collect tolls for highway usage. The toll transponder or detector is mounted within the vehicle, typically on an inside surface of the windshield. Typically, the toll transponder or detector is removably attached to the windshield by strips of hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO brand strips. Alternatively, suction cups or other attachments devices can be used. When hook and loop fasteners are used, two strips are secured to the inside surface of the windshield by adhesive and two engageable strips are attached by adhesive to the toll transponder. The strips are designed to be releasably engageable such as one pair of strips having loops and the opposite pair of strips having hooks.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,925 describes a case for enclosing a toll transponder. The advantages of providing a case to cover a toll transponder are set forth in this patent. The case allows the vehicle owner to retain the original appearance of the vehicle to cover an otherwise unsightly functional device on the windshield. The case can be made of a soft material to provide protection and cushioning when they transponder is removed from the vehicle, and provides a pleasing aesthetic appearance. The case can be decorated with imprints and designs to match the interior and/or exterior appearance of the vehicle. Logos, advertisements, emblems, decorations are like can be provided on the case. U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,925 is herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0004]     The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable if a toll transponder case provided additional functions. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable if a toll transponder case included an attachment function for holding useful items that would otherwise be loosely stored within a typical vehicle. The present inventor has recognized the desirability of providing a storage option for a toll transponder case for holding items which may be needed by the driver without requiring the driver to cast his eyes downward, and off the road, to find such items.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a storage system incorporating the known method of attaching a toll transponder to a vehicle windshield. A toll transponder case surrounds a toll transponder that is securable to a windshield whereby the transponder supports the case. The case includes a means for mounting functional items to the case such as holders for items. The case provides an aesthetically appealing appearance to the otherwise functional-looking transponder, and the attachable functional items to the case can be coordinated in appearance with the case.  
         [0006]     The invention provides a toll transponder case assembly that includes a transponder case for surrounding at least a portion of a toll transponder and a holder for holding items, wherein the transponder case and the holder are interengageable by the use of a releasable fastener.  
         [0007]     The releasable fastener preferably comprises interengaging hook and loop strips applied between the case and the holder.  
         [0008]     The holder can comprise an eyeglasses case. The eyeglasses case can include a closable opening on each opposite end of the eyeglasses case. The eyeglasses case can comprise a tubular body closed on opposite ends by an openable flap.  
         [0009]     The holder can comprise a pocket. The pocket can be closed by at least one flap to secure items therein.  
         [0010]     The releasable fastener can comprise engageable fastening strips, applied to both the transponder case and to the holder, wherein the fastening strip applied to the holder extends above the holder.  
         [0011]     The releasable fastener can comprise a fastening strip applied onto a front side of the transponder case and a fastening strip applied onto a rear side of the holder wherein a back side or the holder is releasably fastened to a front side of the transponder case.  
         [0012]     For both the eyeglasses case and the pocket, items can be conveniently stored at the elevated level of the transponder on the windshield. Thus, the driver can access these items without having to cast his eyes downward to find the items, for example for items otherwise located within the floor level or dash level vehicle console.  
         [0013]     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic elevational view of an inside portion of a vehicle from the driver&#39;s perspective;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a transponder case, holding a toll transponder therein, according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the transponder case shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the trasponder case of  FIG. 2  with transponder removed and in an open configuration;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of an eyeglasses case to be used with the transponder case shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken generally through line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a utility pocket to the used with the transponder case of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is an alternate embodiment of the utility pocket shown in  FIG. 6 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates in schematic form, a driver&#39;s view of an inside of a vehicle  10 . The vehicle includes a windscreen or windshield  12  upon which is mounted a rear view mirror  14  and a toll transponder case  18  of the present invention. The toll transponder case is mounted to the windscreen  12  by two vertical fastener strips  22 ,  24 , such as composed of hook and loop material which can include hooks, or loops, or a mixture of the two, or any other known configuration. As an alternate to the strips  22 ,  24 , suction cups, magnetic material or any other known type of mounting a transponder to a windshield could be used. Preferably, the hook and loop strips  22 ,  24  are used and are adhesively secured to an inside of the windshield  12 . Where “hook and loop” material is described herein, it should be understood that a strip having such material can include all hooks, or all loops or a mixture of hooks and loops, such as to be engageable with another such strip having all loops, or all hooks or a mixture of hooks and loops.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear perspective view of the transponder case  18  of the invention. The foreground of this figure is the side of the case that will be held closest to the windshield  12  as installed. The case  18  holds a toll transponder  30  therein. The toll transponder  30  is a known device for receiving and sending toll signals on a highway for a highway authority to charge a fee to the motorist for use of the highway. The transponder  30  communicates with a station on the highway via a wireless signal. A typical transponder, for example as used in Illinois, USA, is referred to by the name “IPASS.” 
         [0025]     The transponder  30  can include two strips  34 ,  36  of hook and loop material that engage with the strips  22 ,  24  secured to the windshield  12  to hold the transponder  30  and case  18  securely to the windshield  12 . The strips  34 ,  36  are adhesively secured to a transponder housing  38 .  
         [0026]     The case  18  comprises a four sided, open box  42  or rectangular frame having an open face  44  for receiving the transponder  30 . The open box  42  can be formed from a cardboard or plastic material and adds some shape rigidity to the case  18 . A soft cover layer  45  is composed of a material, such as vinyl or leather, and covers a front open face  46  of the open box  42 . The cover  45  can also be folded inward and secured over the bottom and sides of the open box to form soft inside surfaces  45   a ,  45   b ,  45   c  inside the open box  42 . These soft surfaces  45   a ,  45   b ,  45   c  act to snugly contain the transponder  30  within the case  18 . The cover  45  extends upwardly into a flap  50  that includes an elongated, narrow portion  54  that extends across the rear open face  44  and curls beneath the covered open box  42 . The elongated portion  54  includes a hook and loop strip adhesively secured thereto which engages with a hook and loop strip  62  adhesively secured to the cover  45  on an underside of the open box  42 . Thus the narrow portion  54  when extended across the open face  44  and secured by the strip  60 ,  62  retains the transponder  30  within the open box  42 . The narrow portion  54  has a width and a thickness so as not interfere with the engagement of the hook and loop strips  34 ,  36  with the hook and loop strips  22 ,  24  mounted on the windshield  12 .  
         [0027]     Although the box or frame  42  is described above, it is not a required aspect of the invention in that it is possible that a material that forms the cover  45  holds its shape sufficiently without the need for the added reinforcement provided by the open box  42 .  
         [0028]     As an alternative to the case  18  as described up to this point, the case as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,925 could be used as well, this patent herein incorporated by reference as modified by the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates that a front side of the case  18  includes an attachment panel  70  adhesively secured to the outer cover  45  of the case  18 . This panel  70  is useful to attach functional items to the case  18 . The panel  70  can be adhesively secured to the cover  45  or sewn to the cover  45 , or attached by other known means. Preferably, the attachment panel is a wide strip of hook and loop material. However, other attachment methods are encompassed by the invention including clips, snap fasteners, magnetic material, etc.  
         [0030]     As an example of one such functional item,  FIG. 5  illustrates an eyeglasses case  100  that includes a tubular body  104  having open ends  106 ,  108  and that are closed by flaps  112 ,  114 . A hook and loop panel  120  is secured on a back side of the case  100 , such as by adhesive or sewing. The panel  120  is engageable to the panel  70  shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, the transponder  30  and case  18  can be releasably secured to the windshield via the strips  22 ,  24 ,  34 ,  36 , and the eyeglasses case  100  can be held elevated on the case  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, if the driver or passenger needs eyeglasses or sunglasses either one of the flaps  112 ,  114  can be opened to retrieve the eyeglasses or sunglasses. In this regard, the flaps  112 ,  114  include hook and loop strips  126 ,  128  secured to ends of the flaps  112 ,  114 . They tubular body  104  includes hook and loop strips  132 ,  134  that are engaged by the adhesive strips  126 ,  128  to hold the flaps closed. Because the attachment of the eyeglasses case is releasable, the eyeglasses case can be removed from the vehicle as desired with or without the case  18 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5A  illustrates, in a diagrammatic fashion, one construction of the tubular body  104 . The body  104  includes a tubular support  140 , such as composed of cardboard or plastic. A soft inner lining  142  such as felt, or the like, is applied onto an inside surface of the support  140 . A cover layer  146  covers the support  140  and also extends continuously into the flaps  112   114 . The cover layer  146  can be vinyl or leather and preferably matches the cover  45  of the case  18 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternate functional attachment, a pocket  200 . The pocket  200  can include two compartments, a tall compartment  208 , and a short compartment  210 . The tall compartment  208  is useful for holding pencils, pens, and other tall items. The short compartment  210  can be useful for holding receipts, small change or other small items. The tall or short pocket could be sized to hold a cellular telephone. The pocket  200  can be sewn together from a vinyl or leather stock material preferably that matches the vinyl or leather material of the cover  45  of the case  18 . A hook and loop strip  220  can be adhesively secured or sewn to a back side of the pocket  200 . This strip  220  is engageable to the strip  70  of the case  18 . Thus, the pocket  200  can be held elevated on the case  18  as it is secured to the windshield  12 .  
         [0033]     The pocket  200  can also be provided with one or more flaps  240  (shown dashed) to close the open ends  208   a ,  210   a  of the compartments. A hook and loop strip  244  is secured to the flap  240  that engages a hook and loop strip  246  secured to a front portion of the pocket  200  to hold the flap  240  in closed condition. Thus, the pocket  200  can be removed from the case  18 , or with the case  18 , and items can be held secured in the pocket as the case  18  is moved within or outside the vehicle.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the pocket shown in figure six wherein the strip  220  shown in  FIG. 6  is elongated to an extent above the compartments  208 ,  210  forming a strip  320 . The strip  320  can function as a hanger to hang the pocket  200  down to a position below the case  18  as installed on the windshield  12 . This strip  320  gives more flexibility of attachment of the pocket  200  depending on the configuration of the windshield and object interferences within the particular vehicle. The elongated strip  320  can also be used with the eyeglasses case  100  to provide more flexibility of elevational location of the eyeglasses case  100  with respect to the case  18 . The strip  320  can be adhesively secured or sewn to a backside of the pocket  200 , or if used with the eyeglasses case  100 , to the tubular body  14 .  
         [0035]     Although an eyeglasses case and a pocket are described, the invention would also be useful for holders for flashlights, map holders, or other useful items.  
         [0036]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.