Abstract:
A device is designed to hold securely a mobile phone dialing device on the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle. The device is formed of a locating member and a restraining member. The locating member is provided at one end thereof with a connection portion for connecting the mobile phone dialing device, and at other end thereof with an arcuate recess corresponding in radian to the steering wheel. The arcuate recess makes an intimate contact with the steering wheel. The restraining member enables the locating member to be detachably fastened with the steering wheel of the automotive vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an automotive accessory, and more particularly to a device designed to hold securely a mobile phone dialing device on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle to facilitate the dialing of the mobile phone by a driver operating the motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art device for holding a mobile phone comprises a main body  1 , which is fixed on the dashboard of an automobile. The main body  1  is provided at the bottom thereof with a plate  2  on which a mobile phone  4  is placed. The main body  1  is further provided with two holding blocks  3  opposite in location to each other for confining the mobile phone  4 . When a driver of the automobile in operation wants to dial the phone, he or she must take the mobile phone  4  out of the prior art device. In dialing the mobile phone  4 , he or she must use one hand to hold the phone  4  and other hand to dial the phone  4 . It is conceivable that the driver in question is in danger of an accident. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a device for holding securely a mobile phone dialing device on the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, thereby freeing both hands of a driver of the automotive vehicle to steer the automotive vehicle. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a device which can be fastened easily and detachably with the steering wheel of a motor vehicle for holding a mobile phone dialing device. 
     In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by a device comprising a locating member and a restraining member. The locating member is provided at one end thereof with a connection portion for connecting a mobile phone dialing device, and at other end thereof with an arcuate recess corresponding in radian to the edge of the steering wheel. The locating member is attached to the steering wheel in conjunction with the restraining member. The restraining member is preferably formed of a retaining piece and an adhesive strap having a male retaining portion and a female retaining portion engageable with the male retaining portion. 
     The foregoing objectives, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a prior art device for holding a mobile phone in a motor vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination. 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention at work. 
     FIG. 6 shows another schematic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in all drawings provided herewith, a holding device  10  embodied in the present invention comprises a locating member  12  and a restraining member  13 . 
     The locating member  12  comprises a front shell cover  20  having a closed end and an open end. The closed end is provided with an arcuate recess  21  corresponding in shape to a mobile phone dialing device. The arcuate recess  21  is provided in the center thereof with a connection portion  23  which is provided in two sides thereof with two round holes  25 , and two parallel pillars  231 , two retaining slots  232  for locating the two pins of a mobile phone dialing device  9  of an oval shape. The front shell cover  20  is provided in left and right side pieces  201  thereof with an arcuate recessed portions  202 , and in up and down pieces  203  thereof with two inverted U-shaped slots  204 . The up piece  203  is provided with a hole  205  into which a retaining member  24  is inserted. The retaining member  24  is rectangular and is provided at one end thereof with a hole  241  for receiving a bolt  206  to fasten the retaining member  24 . The retaining member  24  is provided at other end thereof with a protruded portion  242 , which is inserted into a recess  902  of the mobile phone dialing device  9  at the time when two retaining pins  901  of the mobile phone dialing device  9  are inserted into the two retaining slots  232  of the front shell cover  20 . As the protruded portion  242  is pressed, the mobile phone dialing device  9  is relieved of the pressing action and can be thus taken upwards. 
     The locating member  12  further comprises a rear shell plate  25  of a curved construction, which is joined at the front end thereof with the arcuate recessed portion  202  of the front shell cover  20 . The rear shell plate  25  is provided at the bottom end thereof with an arcuate portion  251  corresponding in radian to the arcuate edge of a steering wheel  8 . In other words, the arcuate portion  251  is in an intimate contact with the steering wheel  8 . The rear shell plate  25  is provided in the periphery thereof with a protruded edge  252  which is in turn provided with a circular slot  253 . 
     The locating member  12  further comprises a connection plate  26  made of a rigid plastic material. The connection plate  26  is of a curved construction and is provided with two L-shaped hooks  261  which are provided with a stop piece  262 , and two round pillars  263  which are in turn provided with a threaded hole  264  engageable with a bolt  27 . The connection plate  26  is smaller than the rear shell plate  25  and is located in the circular slot  253  of the rear shell plate  25 . 
     The restraining member  13  is formed of a retaining piece  31  and a strap  35 . The retaining piece  31  is rectangular and is provided with a cross rod  311  and two frame holes  312 ,  313 . When the retaining piece  31  is placed on the connection plate  26 , two sides of the frame hole  312  are caught by the hooks  261  of the connection plate  26 . In the meantime, the end of the cross rod  311  presses against the stop piece  262  of the connection plate  26 . When the connection plate  26  and the rear shell plate  25  are mounted on the front shell cover  20 , two sides of the retaining piece  31  are exposed through the slots  204  of the front shell cover  20 , as shown in FIG.  6 . The strap  35  is an adhesive retaining strap having a male retaining portion and a female retaining portion. One end of the strap  35  is put through the frame hole  311  of the retaining piece  31 . The strap  35  is put through a slot  222  of the front shell cover  20  to circumvent the steering wheel  8 . Other end of the strap  35  is put through the frame hole  313  of the retaining piece  31  via another slot  222  of the front shell cover  20 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the device  10  of the present invention is disposed in the inner side of the steering wheel  8  such that the arcuate portion  251  of the rear shell plate  25  of the locating member  12  is attached to the steering wheel  8 , and that the strap  35  of the restraining member  13  is put through the frame hole  313  of the retaining piece  31  before the male retaining portion is joined with the female retaining portion. The mobile phone dialing device  9  is thus located such that the two retaining pins  901  of the mobile phone dialing device  9  are inserted into the two retaining slots  232  of the connection portion  23  of the front shell cover  20 . The mobile phone dialing device  9  is a voice control receiver, which is remotely controlled by infrared rays along with a mobile phone set  7  which is located on the dashboard of the motor vehicle. The mobile phone dialing device  9  is located on the steering wheel  8  of the motor vehicle. 
     In light of the mobile phone dialing device  9  being operated by voice of a driver of the motor vehicle, both hands of the driver are free to steer the motor vehicle while the driver is dialing. As a result, the driver is less vulnerable to traffic accident. 
     The device  10  of the present invention can be detached from the steering wheel  8  by relieving the steering wheel  8  of the restraining action of the strap  35 . The locating member  12  can be then removed from the steering wheel  8 . The mobile phone dialing device  9  can be easily located on the locating member  12  by inserting the retaining pins  901  of the mobile phone dialing device  9  into the retaining slots  232  of the connection portion  23  of the locating member  12 . In the meantime, the retaining member  24  is inserted into the recessed portion  902  of the mobile phone dialing device  9 . The mobile phone dialing device  9  can be taken out of the device  10  by pressing the retaining member  24  to free the mobile phone dialing device  9 . 
     The embodiment of the present invention described above is to be regarded in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following appended claims.