Abstract:
A universal mobile telephone headpiece holder includes a U-shaped receiver member, configured to hold an earpiece, and a generally linear support member that is capable to engage a curved member on a telephone headpiece not having an earpiece to support the headpiece within convenient reach of an operator of an automobile vehicle while the headpiece is not in use. The receiver member can be configured for mounting in different attachment members to be detachable therefrom. The attachment member can be in the form of a clip engagable with an air conditioning vent grille louver or an adhesive member that is simply stuck on a flush surface of the dashboard. Through the universal telephone headpiece holder, the headpiece can be supported at an elevated location to be accessed when the phone rings without searching for the headpiece.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/848,443, filed Sep. 29, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an accessory for use in an automobile to support a headpiece for convenient access and, more particularly, to a universal holder detachably affixed to a surface on the interior of the automobile to support the headpiece of a cellular telephone and other electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, digital music players and other communication devices have enjoyed increased acceptance and a proliferation in usage throughout the population. Often these electronic devices are utilized with a headpiece, particularly cellular telephones and related electronic communication devices. The headpieces come in many different sizes and configurations, including ones mounted on the ear, ones that fit into the ear, and ones that clamp on top of the head of the wearer. When the headpieces are not being utilized, they are typically stored someplace until the headpiece is needed again. When in an automobile, that storage place can be in a cup holder, around a gear shift lever, in some covered storage compartment, or other inconvenient or inaccessible location. 
     The placement of electronic devices in automotive cup holders is reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,467, issued to Matthew Rohrbach on Aug. 29, 2006, wherein an insert is positionable into the top of the cup holder. The insert is formed with a receptacle in which an electronic device, such as a digital music player, can be inserted for support thereof in the automobile. Adapting sleeves are disclosed to permit the insert to fit in a variety of differently sized cup holders. A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,466, granted on Aug. 29, 2006, to Sean Walsh wherein the insert has a pair of flexible members that resiliently deform to fit into the interior of an automotive cup holder. The insert has an upwardly extending pedestal on which a cell phone or other electronic device can be detachably mounted. 
     Other devices for mounting a cell phone from structure on the interior of an automobile other than the cup holder are also provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,194, granted on Dec. 10, 2002, to Ernest Marvin wherein a sleeve-like device is detachably mounted to the dash or other solid surface by an adhesive strip or by hook and loop fastener strip. The cell phone is slidable into the holding sleeve to be retained within the device in a convenient location until needed. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,549, granted to Chin-Yang Wang on Oct. 22, 1996, a similar sleeve-like device is mounted on the end of a deformable connector member that is attached to a base member equipped with suction cups for attachment of the device to a smooth, solid surface, such as the interior surface of the windshield of an automotive vehicle. 
     Other detachable devices have been provided for holding miscellaneous articles, such as eyeglasses, pens or pencils, with a device detachably mounted on the surface of an automotive vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,066, issued to Thomas Luisi on Jan. 16, 1996, discloses an object holder formed with a plurality of semi-circular members that are deformable to snuggly support a generally cylindrical object such as a pen or pencil. The clip members are formed in different sizes to be engaged with differently sized objects. U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,432, granted on May 20, 2003, to Robert Kushner, teaches a clip-on device for supporting personal articles, such as eyeglasses. This device is detachably mounted by clipping onto an automotive sun visor or by an adhesive strip attaching the device to a solid surface within the interior of an automobile. 
     None of the above-identified prior art documents are specifically adapted for use with headpieces, although some, such as the clip-on device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,432, could be adapted to accomplish the task of supporting a headpiece. Nevertheless, the support of a headpiece in the clip-on device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,432 would not make the headpiece conveniently accessible to an occupant of the automotive vehicle as the spring-loaded device would positively clasp the personal article to prevent an easy release thereof. 
     It would be desirable to provide a holder that would be operable to receive and engage a headpiece for an electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, so that the headpiece could be quickly and easily accessed. It would also be desirable that the holder be capable of engagement with substantially all forms and configurations of headpieces without requiring adapters for use with specific devices. It would further be desirable that the headpiece holder be formed in a manner to be associated with a selected manner of attachment to the surface of the interior structure of the automotive vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a universal holder device that can be mounted on an automobile dashboard to hold telephone headpieces. 
     It is another object of this invention that the universal headpiece holder can be selectively mounted on an air conditioning grille louver. 
     It is a feature of this invention that the universal headpiece holder can be associated with different attachment members to mount the holder on selected surfaces of an automobile dashboard. 
     It is an advantage of this invention that the headpiece holder will permit receipt of substantially all known mobile telephone headpieces for support thereof when not in use within an automobile. 
     It is another advantage of this invention that the universal telephone headpiece holder can store a mobile telephone headpiece for convenient access by the operator of an automobile. 
     It is another feature of this invention that the receiver member can be mounted on a selected one of different attachment members for deployment at the convenience of the operator. 
     It is still another feature of this invention that the receiver member can be selectively removed from the attachment member for deployment with a different attachment member. 
     It is still another advantage of this invention that the universal telephone headpiece holder can be detachably mounted on an air conditioning louver within reach of an operator of an automotive vehicle. 
     It is yet another feature of this invention that the receiver member is formed in a U-shaped configuration to receive ear pieces. 
     It is still another feature of this invention that the receiver member is formed with a generally linear support member interconnecting the attachment member and the receiver member to provide support for telephone headpieces that have curved members that can rest thereon. 
     It is yet another advantage that the telephone headpiece can be stored at an elevated location on the dashboard so that the operator of the automobile does not have to divert attention from the road in order to find the telephone headpiece to talk on a mobile telephone. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a universal telephone headpiece holder that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a universal mobile telephone headpiece holder that includes a U-shaped receiver member, configured to hold an earpiece, and a generally linear support member that is capable to engage a curved member on a telephone headpiece not having an earpiece to support the headpiece within convenient reach of an operator of an automobile vehicle while the headpiece is not in use. The receiver member can be configured for mounting in different attachment members to be detachable therefrom. The attachment member can be in the form of a clip engagable with an air conditioning vent grille louver or an adhesive member that is simply stuck on a flush surface of the dashboard. Through the universal telephone headpiece holder, the headpiece can be supported at an elevated location to be accessed when the phone rings without searching for the headpiece. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial front perspective view of a automobile dashboard on which is mounted a universal headpiece holder incorporating the principles of the instant invention, the headpiece holder is depicted provided with a first preferred attachment device, namely a clip for mounting on a louver of an air conditioning vent on the vehicle dashboard; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the universal headpiece holder shown in  FIG. 1 , the louver of the air conditioning vent being shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the universal headpiece holder shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the universal headpiece holder shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the universal headpiece holder having a alternative embodiment of an attachment member for mounting the headpiece holder; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the universal headpiece holder shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the universal headpiece holder shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a configuration of the universal headpiece holder in which the receiving member is selectively attachable to one of several alternate fastening members; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the universal headpiece holder according to the principles of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the receiving member shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of the receiver member depicted in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the receiver member depicted in  FIG. 10  with a clip member attachment device being shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the clip member attachment device shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the clip member depicted in  FIG. 13  looking at the connection face into which the receiver member is mounted; and 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the clip member depicted in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a universal holder for the headpiece of an electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, incorporating the principles of the instant invention, can best be seen. The holder  10  is preferably detachably connected to the surface on the interior of an automobile A and can be affixed through an adhesive strip or a strip of hook and loop fastener that will permit the holder  10  to be mounted in a temporary manner on a solid surface of the interior. Alternative mounting configurations would also include a suction cup that will adhere to a smooth solid surface, such as the interior surface of the front windshield of the automobile, or a mounting clip, described in greater detail below, that will enable the holder  10  to be temporarily attached to the louver of an air conditioning vent in the automobile. 
     The holder  10  has two portions, an attachment portion  12  and a headpiece receiving apparatus  20 . The attachment portion  12  can be formed in any one of the configurations noted above such that the receiving apparatus  20  is supported at an elevated position on the automotive vehicle  5 . In  FIGS. 1-4 , the attachment portion  12  is formed as a mounting clip  15  that has an upper leg  16  and an opposing lower leg  17  that are spaced apart sufficiently to receive the thickness of an air conditioning vent louver  7  therebetween. Preferably, each leg  16 ,  17  is formed with a convoluted or textured grip surface to enhance the engagement between the smooth surface of the vent louver  7  and the leg  16 ,  17 , including a nodule  18  at the distal end of at least one of the legs  16 ,  17  to slip behind the louver  7  to help secure the mounting clip  15  to the louver  7 . The legs  16 ,  17  are preferably pivotally connected together and interengaged with a spring  19  that will exert a biasing force on the legs  16 ,  17  toward one another and effect a gripping of the air conditioning vent louver  7 . 
     An alternative fastening portion  12  is depicted in  FIGS. 5-7 . The fastening portion  12  has mounting block  13   a  on which is secured a foam adhesive strip  13  for adhering to a substantially flat surface on the interior of the automobile, such as a vertically oriented surface of the automotive dash. The receiving apparatus  20  is substantially the same as is described below with respect to the mounting clip  15  embodiment and the operation of the receiving member  21  is the same. Only the means for mounting the universal headpiece holder  10  is different. One skilled in the art will recognize that other fastening devices can be utilized, including a suction cup (not shown), and that some fastening devices provide greater flexibility in positioning the holder  10  than others, as well as a greater flexibility in detaching and repositioning the holder  10 . 
     The receiving apparatus  20  projects outwardly from the fastening portion  12  and is formed with a receiving member  21  that includes at least one upwardly extending member  22  to engage or restrain from movement a headpiece mounted thereon. In such a configuration, the single upwardly extending member  22  could be shaped as a hook, or in an L-shaped configuration extending outwardly from the fastening portion  12  and then projecting upwardly. Preferably, however, the receiving member  21  will include a pair of laterally spaced upright members  22 ,  23  that define a gap or space therebetween in which a structural component of the headpiece connected to a mobile telephone (not shown) can be positioned so as to be supported at a location that is convenient for accessing as needed. The upright members  22 ,  23  are preferably joined at a lower portion thereof to create a U-shaped configuration, as is best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  6 . Alternatively, the upright members  22 ,  23  can be joined in a V-shape. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the upright members  22 ,  23  can be formed from different materials, including a semi-circular, half-tube member bent or shaped into a U-shaped configuration attached to the fastening portion  12 . The top ends of the upright members  22 ,  23  could be formed with laterally oriented and aligned grooves to facilitate an associated function, such as wrapping a cord from the headpiece to raise the cord out of the way from the operative controls of the vehicle. The preferred embodiment of the U-shaped entire receiving apparatus  20 , including the receiving member  21  and the upright members  22 ,  23 , will be formed from plastic, which can be injection molded. 
     Referring now to the schematic drawings in  FIG. 8 , the preferred connection between the fastening portion  12  and the receiving apparatus  20  can best be seen. Preferably, the receiving apparatus  20  includes a base member  25  that interconnects the receiving member  21  and the fastening portion  12 . The base member  25  is formed with a connection apparatus  26  that will permit the selective attachment of a desired fastening portion  12  to the base member  25 . Preferably, the holder  10  will be manufactured with the receiving apparatus  20 , including the base member  25  and the receiving member  21 , as an integral component, and the fastening portion  12  manufactured as separate disconnected members formed in different configurations. For example, a package containing the holder  10  could have a receiving member  21  and three different fastening portions  12 , such as an adhesive fastening portion  13 , a suction cup fastening portion  14 , and a clip-on fastening portion  15 . The purchaser of the holder  10  could then select which of the three fastening portions  12  he would want to utilize, and then attach the selected fastening portion  12  to the connection apparatus  26  on the base member  25  to assemble the completed holder  10 . 
     Accordingly, the connection apparatus  26 , as is depicted in  FIG. 8 , could include a spring clip  29 , having a retention tab  29   a , that slides into a receiver  27 , preferably in the form of a channel  28  on the fastening portion  12 . In the depicted configuration, the spring clip  29  deflects when placed into the channel  28  until the retention tab  29   a  pops into the opening  28   a  in the receiver  27 . One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the receiver  27  and spring clip connector  29  could be reversed with the spring clip connector  29  on the fastening portion  12  and the receiver  27  on the base member  25 . Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other forms of receivers and connectors are also applicable to the joining of the fastening portion  12  to the base member  25 . 
     Examples of such alternative connecting structure would be a fastening pin (not shown) as the connector  29  having a flanged head that would yield to permit passage into an opening (not shown) formed in the base member  25  for a snug fit therebetween. Once the flanged head passed into the opening, the flanged head would spring back into the normal position and retain the fastening portion  12  on the base member  25 . In such configurations, the fastening portion  12  would be permanently attached to the base member  25 , while in the channel receiver  27  and connector  29 , the fastening portion  12  could be removed from the base member  25  and a different configuration substituted therefor. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-15 , an alternative embodiment of the universal headpiece holder  10  can best be seen. The receiving member  21  is molded in a U-shaped configuration and attached to a mounting disk  32  by a pair of laterally spaced base members  25  that provide enhanced stability to the receiving member  21 . The receiving member  21  can be formed with a recess  34  defining a front pocket to assist in receiving certain headpiece configurations. The back side of the mounting disk  32  has molded onto it a mounting tab  35  that is engagable with the attachment member  12  described in greater detail below. Preferably, each of the base members  25  will be formed with a stop member  25   a  that limits the movement of any headpiece component resting on the base members  25  so that the headpiece is not moving back and forth in response to accelerations and decelerations of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 9  depicts alternate forms of attachment members  12 , as are described above. Although only the adhesive member  13  and the mounting clip  15  are depicted, other forms of an attachment member, such as a suction cup, are also within the scope of the invention. Each of the alternative attachment members  12  are formed with a receiver channel  28  into which the mounting tab  35  is engaged. Each of the receiver channels  28  are formed substantially identically and define a slot into which the mounting tab  35  fits snuggly so that the receiving apparatus  20  is stable when supported on the attachment member  21 . The clip member  15  is shown is greater detail in  FIGS. 13-15 . 
     The use of the holder  10  can accommodate the storage of a Bluetooth® form of a headpiece having an ear mounting member that can be received on the base member  25  with the receiver member  21  preventing the ear mounting member from sliding off the base member  25 . When the user desires to access the headpiece, he simply reaches to the holder  10 , grasps the headpiece and lifts the ear mounting member off the base member  25  and over the receiver member  21  to disengage the headpiece from the holder for use as desired. 
     A different configuration of a headpiece having a foam covered speaker member that fits on the ear of the user can also be mounted on the holder  10 . The receiver member  21  cradles the foam covered speaker member between the two upright members  22 ,  23  to restrain the headpiece on the holder  10 . Since the center of gravity of the headpiece would be below the receiver member  21 , the foam covered speaker member will stay mounted in the receiver member  21 . To remove the headpiece from the holder  10 , the user must simply grasp the headpiece and lift the speaker member above the cradle formed by the receiver member  21  to free the headpiece for use as needed. 
     The holder  10  is designed for engagement with substantially every known form of a headpiece to provide a universal support member for all forms of headpieces. The receiver member  21  can directly receive some component of the headpiece, such as a headpiece having a foam covered speaker member, or serve as a retainer member to prevent an engaged headpiece from sliding off the base member  25 , such as with the Bluetooth® form of a headpiece. The provision of different fastening portion configurations also provides substantial flexibility in where the holder  10  can be mounted. Accordingly, the holder  10  can be mounted on an interior surface of the automobile to conform to and provide the greatest convenience of the user of the headpiece. Furthermore, the provision of a detachable apparatus for mounting the holder  10 , such as by re-adhering the adhesive fastening portion  14  to another surface, or re-locating the mounting clip  15  to a different position, allows the holder  10  be positioned and re-positioned at the whim of the user to maximize convenience in usage. 
     It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     For example, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the upright members  22 ,  23  could be formed of frangible plastic so that the receiver member will safely disintegrate upon impact. Furthermore, the upright members  22 ,  23  could be covered with a foam or soft material to soften the engagement between the headpiece and the receiver member  21  and to provide a greater frictional engagement therebetween.