METHOD AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING MOBILE PHONES IN VEHICLES

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for attaching a socket (1) for a mobile phone in a vehicle, and more precisely to insert a specially designed socket into the radio rack (9) of the vehicle, and a socket for performing said method. The method is characterized in removing from the rack (9) a cassette (8) having a stop lug (8a) on its front side, inserting an essentially angularly shaped socket (1) with two shank portions (2, 3) and with two external small vanes (5a, 5c), integral with and extending essentially perpendicular and mutually parallel at the two sides of one of said shank ends (3a) of the socket and with a tongue (6) extending from an angular shoulder (5b) being bent from said one shank portion (3) of the socket; a) either behind the stop lug (8a) of the cassette and astriding one short side thereof for abutting said lug; or b) after removal of one of said narrow vanes, to abut the long side of the cassette (upwards or downwards, to the left or to the right) with the shoulder and the other remaining narrow vane abutting the lug, whereupon the cassette and radio (if any) are pushed back into the rack and into the cassette, respectively.

Description: Method and means for attaching mobile phones in vehicles The present invention relates to a method and means for attaching a mobile phone in a vehicle, and more precisely to place a specially designed socket into the radio rack of the vehicle. EP-A-0 465 965 discloses a device for securing a mobile phone where a radio rack in the vehicle is used for securing a socket for a mobile phone. This device comprises a mounting frame being pushable into the radio rack in the dashboard of the vehicle without forming an obstacle for the ordinary use of a radio in the rack. Socket means for the mobile phone is arranged on the mounting frame. Also WO 96-33885 discloses a socket for a mobile phone using the standard radio rack (according to ISO-7736) for attaching a socket for a mobile phone. These to devices according to prior art both suggest soloutions to decrease the total amount of socket models needed to fit all existing vehicles on the market. However it has proven that this devices according to the prior art just admit inserting on the one (or both) sides of the radio rack. Any simple insertion in connection to the upper or lower sides of this rack is not possible with these known devices. The main object of the present invention is to obtain a method and a device for mounting a mobile phone in a vehicle and being usable in the most car models in the one and same design, i.e in car models having a radio rack according to ISO-7736, or any similar rack design, and allowing several possible attachments in connection to this rack. This freedom of choice regarding the attachment of the mobile phone socket is important both for security and for comfort reasons. The above mentioned object is obtained according to invention by a method and a device having the characterizing clauses mentioned in the claims. By first removing a cassett having a stop lug on its front side from the rack it is possible to insert an essentially angular socket with two shanks and with two external small vanes formed in one piece with the one shank of the socket and extending perpendicular and mutually paralell with both sides of said one shank and with a tongue extending from one from said one shank of the angular socket angularly bent shoulder - for abutting the stop lug and astriding one short side thereof, or, after removing the one of said narrow vanes, to abutting the long side of the cassett (upwards or downwards, to the left or to the right) with the shoulder and the other remaining narrow vane abutting the lug and the tongue towards the side of the cassett. Thereafter the cassett with the radio is pushed back into the rack. When placing the socket on the upper or lower side of the cassett the remaining vane will abut against the short side of the cassett and will prohibit a sliding of the socket along the long side of the cassett and simultaneously the length of the vane - at least half of the hight of the cassett - will steady the socket and secure its attachment between the stop lug of the cassett and the rack. The invention will now be described in connection to a drawing; wherin Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a radio unit, a cassett according to ISO 7736, and a rack opening in the dashboard of a vehicle and where two alternative positions of a socket for a mobile phone is indicated, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the socket, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of six possible positions of the socket for the mobile phone. In fig. 1 two identical sockets la and lb for positioning behind the stop lug 8a in the cassett 8. The sockets have tv& vanes 2 and 3, the vane 2 is intended to carry a holder (not shown) for the mobile phone (not shown). For this purpose it has a hole pattern permitting different methods and means of attachment to be used. The bracket lb being positioned on the upper side of the cassett, which means that the vane 5a will be cut (by pliers T). This procedure shall not be repeted for the socket la which in a mounted position will straddle the cassett 8 and will come to abut the stop lug 8a of the cassett 8. The tongue 6 shown in fig. 2 will abut the short or long side of the cassett depending upon the position of the socket at the cassett 8. A bead 5b between the tongue 6 and the shank 3 also constitute a supporting surface against the stop lug 8a of the cassett and will contribute to a steady mount of the socket. When the socket is placed in position, a radio 7, a cassett 8 with said socket 1 attached are pushed into the rack 9 and will be locked in place in any known way. Fig. 3 shows the possible positions of the socket, i.e six different positions A - F can be chosen.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for attaching a socket for a mobile phone in a vehicle, and more precisely to insert a specially designed socket into the radio rack of the vehicle, characterized in from the rack removing a cassett having a stop lug on its front side, inserting an essentially angularly shaped socket with two shanks and with two external small vanes, formed in one piece with and extending esentially perpendicular and mutually parallel at the two sides of one of said shanks of the socket and with a tongue extending from an angular shoulder being bent from said one shank of the socket, a) either behind the stop lug of the cassett and astriding one short side thereof for abutting said lug , or, b) after removal of one of said narrow vanes, to abut the long side of the cassett (upwards or downwards, to the left or to the right) with the shoulder and the other remaining narrow vane abutting the lug, whereafter the cassett and radio (if any) are pushed back into the rack and into the cassett, respectively. 2. Socket for a mobile phone, and more precisely for a radio rack (8b) in connection to the dashboard, and for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized in an essentially angular socket (1) with two shank portions (2, 3) and with two exterior narrow vanes (5a, 5c) - one being removable - formed in one piece with and extending essentially peφendicular and mutually parallel at the two sides of said one exterior shank end (3a) of the socket and with a tongue (6) extending from an angular shoulder (5b) being bent from said one shank end (3a) of the socket, and which is esentially parallel with said shank portion (3). 3. Socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the lengths of the vanes (5a, 5c) correspond to at least half the hight of the rack (8b).

Inventors: PERSSON PAUL, PERSSON, PAUL
Applicants: PERSSON PAUL, PERSSON, PAUL
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B60R11
IPC codes: B60R11