Patent Publication Number: US-6663063-B2

Title: Device and method for supporting an electronic toll pass assembly against the windshield of a vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electronic toll payment passes that are used to automatically pay a toll as a vehicle passes through a tollbooth. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods that are used to mount electronic toll payment passes against the windshield of a vehicle so it can be read at a tollbooth. 
     2. Prior Art Statement 
     In the past, when a vehicle passed through a tollbooth, the driver of the vehicle had to stop the vehicle and pay a toll. This disrupts the regular flow of traffic. If heavy traffic is present on the toll road, it is not uncommon for large traffic backups to exist approaching a toll plaza, as each vehicle prepares to stop and pay the toll. In attempts to better increase traffic flow, different traffic authorities have tried many different ways to decrease the amount of time a vehicle spends stopped at a tollbooth. If the amount of time per vehicle can be decreased, the traffic congestion can likewise be decreased. 
     One way to decrease the amount of time a vehicle spends at a tollbooth is to install coin toss buckets in some of the tollbooths. Coin toss buckets are commonly used on toll roads that have small tolls. Coin toss buckets enable a driver of a vehicle to pay a toll simply by throwing the money for the toll into a collection bucket that quickly counts the money to determine if the proper toll has been paid. However, if a toll is in excess of one dollar, coin toss buckets become impractical since few people carry enough coins to pay the toll. Many traffic authorities have also tried coupon books. Coupon books are bought by the driver of a vehicle. Each coupon in the book is good for one passage through the toll. As such, a toll collector need only collect the coupon without having to receive money and make change. The time savings with the use of coupons is nominal. Accordingly, the use of coupons does not have a significant effect on traffic patterns at tollbooths. 
     Electronic toll payment passes are the first true solution to reducing traffic congestion problems at tollbooths. Electronic toll payment passes are electronic transceivers that contain a coded customer number. Owners of vehicles open credit accounts and receive an electronic toll payment pass with a unique customer identification code. The electronic toll payment pass is mounted against the inside of a vehicle&#39;s windshield. When the vehicle passes through a tool booth, the electronic toll payment pass is automatically activated, wherein the electronic toll payment pass transmits its customer code. A receiver within the tollbooth reads the transmitted customer code and debits the price of the toll against the account having that customer code. 
     Since the use of electronic toll payment passes consists of nothing more than the exchange of electronic data, vehicles having electronic toll payment passes do not have to stop. They need only pass through the tollbooth. For the sake of safety, however, many tollbooths place speed limits on how fast a vehicle with an electronic toll payment pass can pass through the tollbooth without stopping. 
     Typically, electronic toll payment passes are provided with two strips of hook and loop material that adhesively mount to the windshield of the vehicle. The housing of the electronic toll payment pass also has two strips of hook and loop material that can be selectively joined to the hook and loop strips on the windshield. This retains the electronic toll payment pass in place against the windshield, yet provides the ability to quickly remove the device from the windshield when the vehicle is left unattended. 
     There are certain disadvantages to electronic toll payment passes. When an electronic toll payment pass is mounted onto the interior of a windshield, the base of the electronic toll payment pass is visible through the glass of the windshield. This enables thieves to quickly determine if an electronic toll payment pass has been left within a vehicle. The visibility of the electronic toll payment pass also detracts from the aesthetic value of the vehicle. 
     In the prior art, there have been devices that are designed to hold electronic toll payment passes in place. These prior art devices typically consist of some type of bracket that holds the electronic payment pass against the back of a vehicle&#39;s sun visor. As such, the sun visor must be lowered each time the vehicle passes through a tollbooth, in order to bring the electronic toll payment pass within close proximity of the windshield. With many makes of vehicles, the sun visor does not turn flush with the interior of the windshield. In such model vehicles, the electronic toll payment pass cannot be mounted to the sun visor because it may not be properly positioned to operate in a tollbooth. 
     A need therefore exists for a system and method of retaining an electronic toll payment pass in place against the interior of a windshield in a manner that both prevents the electronic toll payment pass from being readily seen and does not detract from the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a mounting device and method for mounting an electronic toll payment pass to the interior of a vehicle&#39;s windshield. The device is comprised of a mounting structure having a face surface and a back surface. The face surface of the mounting structure is attached to the glass of the vehicle&#39;s windshield with either adhesive or double-sided tape. The electronic toll payment pass is connected to the back surface of the mounting structure in a manner that allows the electronic toll payment pass to be easily installed and removed by the driver of the vehicle. 
     When the electronic toll payment pass is attached to the mounting structure, the mounting structure is interposed between the glass of the windshield and the electronic toll payment pass. The mounting structure preferably contains a display image. The display image is visible through the glass of the windshield and obstructs the viewing of the electronic toll payment pass through the windshield. Consequently, when the mounting structure is in place, the presence or absence of the electronic toll payment pass cannot be readily determined by an observer outside the vehicle. Furthermore, when the electronic toll payment pass is present, the uninteresting appearance of the electronic toll payment pass is replaced with a selected aesthetically pleasing display image. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of the windshield of a vehicle against which the present invention mounting device is installed; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounting device, shown with a section of windshield and an electronic toll payment pass; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounting device, shown with a section of windshield and an elect toll payment pass; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounting device, shown with a section of windshield and an electronic toll payment pass; and 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounting device, shown with a section of windshield and an electronic toll payment pass. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the present invention mounting device and method can be adapted for use with any electronic toll payment system, the illustrations show the present invention mounting shaped to receive the rectangular housing of the EZ Pass(TM) brand of electronic toll payment passes. Such a configuration is merely exemplary and it should be understood that different brand electronic toll payment passes are made with other housing shapes. The configuration of the present invention mounting device can be changed to accommodate those housing shapes. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounting device  10  is shown applied to the windshield  12  of an automobile. The mounting device  10  can be mounted to any point on the interior of the windshield  12  where an electronic toll payment pass  14  is to be held. However, it is recommended that most electronic toll payment passes  14  be mounted onto the interior of the windshield  12  either above or behind the mounting of the rearview mirror. As such, the present invention mounting device  10  is shown mounted to the windshield  12  at such a recommended point. 
     The present invention mounting device  10  engages and retains an electronic toll payment pass  14 . However, the mounting device  10  is opaque and presents a display image  16  towards the glass of the windshield  12 . In this manner, a person looking at the windshield  12  cannot tell if the electronic toll payment pass  14  is in place. Furthermore, even if the electronic toll payment pass  14  is in place, it cannot be seen. Only the display image  16  is seen. In this manner a display image  16  can be selected that compliments the aesthetics of the vehicle. As will later be explained, the display image  16  can be either a set image or an interchangeable image. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention mounting system  20  is shown having a set display image  22 . The display image  22  is printed on the face surface  23  of a support substrate  24 . The support substrate  24  is preferably a paperboard product. However, plastic substrates, such as vinyl, can also be used. After the display image  22  is printed on the support substrate  24 , the support substrate  24  can optionally be laminated on one or both sides to provide better strength and durability to the support substrate  24 . 
     A clear adhesive is applied to the face surface  23  of the support substrate  24  atop the display image  22 . The adhesive is covered with a removable protective cover  26  that prevents the adhesive from drying. The protective cover  26  is removed to expose the adhesive and enable the support substrate  24  to be adhesively attached to the inside of the vehicle&#39;s windshield  12 . 
     A first set of hook and loop strips  28  are provided. The first set of hook and loop strips  28  attach to the back surface of the support substrate  24  that faces in toward the interior of the vehicle. The first set of hook and loop strips  28  can come preattached to the back surface of the support substrate  24  or can come unattached for attachment by the installer. It will be understood that if the first set of hook and loop strips  28  are provided unattached to the support substrate  24 , the hook and loop strips  28  will have adhesively coated surfaces that enable them to be selectively applied to the support substrate  24 . 
     A second set of hook and loop fasteners  29  are provided. The second set of hook and loop fasteners  29  are adhesively attached to the housing of the electronic toll payment device  14  in positions that correspond to the positions of the first set of hook and loop strips  28  on the support substrate  24 . 
     With the second set of hook and loop fasteners  29  attached to the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14 , the electronic toll payment pass  14  can be selectively detached and reattached to the first set of hook and loop strips  28  on the back surface of the support substrate  24 . The area of the support substrate  24  is at least as large as the area of the abutment surface of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . Accordingly, once the electronic toll payment pass  14  is attached to the support substrate  24 , the bottom of the electronic payment pass  14  cannot be seen from a person viewing the front of the vehicle&#39;s windshield  12 . 
     The support substrate  24  is only a thin opaque sheet of paperboard or plastic. As such, the presence of the support substrate  24  between the windshield  12  and the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14  has a negligible effect upon the functionality of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a slightly different version of the mounting device  30  is shown. The embodiment shares many of the same features as does the embodiment of FIG. 2, accordingly, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same parts. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 3, two side walls  32  extend backward from the back surface of the support substrate  24 . The distance between the side walls  32  is at least as large as the length of the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . Accordingly, when the electronic toll payment pass  14  is attached to the support substrate  24  with the two sets of hook and loop strips  28 ,  29 , the side walls  32  extend over the sides of the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . Consequently, even when a person is looking through the windshield  12  of the vehicle from a side angle, the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14  cannot be seen. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a third embodiment of the present invention mounting device  40  is shown. In this embodiment, a display image  42  is printed on a removable insert  44 . The shown embodiment includes a pocket structure  46 . The pocket structure  46  has a front surface  47  and a back surface  48 , wherein a pocket is defined between the front surface  47  and the back surface  48 . The front surface  47  of the pocket structure  46  is transparent. The back surface  48  of the pocket structure  46  can be either transparent or opaque. The front surface  47  and back surface  48  of the pocket structure  46  can be manufactured to be either rigid or flexible. 
     The front surface  47  of the pocket structure  46  is not joined to the back surface  48  of the pocket structure  46  along at least one side edge. Accordingly, an insert  44  with a printed display image  42  can be added into the pocket structure  46  along this edge. In the shown embodiment, the open edge is the top edge. However, it should be understood that either the side edges or the bottom edge can be open in alternate embodiments. 
     The insert  44  with the display image  42  can be a photograph, drawing or any other image printed onto paper. The insert  44  can be selectively changed by simply removing the insert  44  from the pocket structure  46  and replacing it with another. 
     A clear adhesive is applied to the exterior of the front surface  47 . The adhesive is covered with a removable protective cover  49  that prevents the adhesive from drying. The protective cover  49  is removed to expose the adhesive and enable the exterior of the front surface  47  to be adhesively attached to the inside of the vehicle&#39;s windshield. 
     A first set of hook and loop strips  28  are provided. The first set of hook and loop strips  28  attach to the exterior of the back surface  48 . A second set of hook and loop strips  29  are provided. The second set of hook and loop strips  29  are adhesively attached to the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14  in positions that correspond to the positions of the first set of hook and loop strips  28  on the back surface  48 . 
     With the second set of hook and loop fasteners  48  attached to the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14 , the electronic toll payment pass  14  can be selectively detached and reattached to the first set of hook and loop strips  29  on the back surface  48  of the pocket structure  46 . The pocket area within the pocket structure  46  is at least as large as the area of the abutment surface of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . Accordingly, once the electronic toll payment pass  14  is attached to the back surface  48  of the pocket structure  46 , the insert  44  in the pocket structure  46  obscures the electronic toll payment pass  14  from being seen by a person viewing the front of the vehicle&#39;s windshield. 
     The pocket structure  46  is only made from thin pieces of plastic with a paper insert  44  in the pocket. Such a thin structure between the windshield  12  and the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14  has a negligible effect upon the functionality of the electronic toll payment pass at a tollbooth. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a fourth embodiment of the present invention mounting system  50  is shown. In this embodiment, a replaceable insert  52  with a display image  54  is also provided. In the shown embodiment, two nesting elements  56 ,  58  are provided. The outer nesting element  56  is comprised of a transparent front surface  59  and four walls  60  that extend from the periphery of the front surface  59 . The four walls  60  are connected at the corners creating an undisrupted peripheral wall. 
     The inner nesting element  58  is sized to fit snugly within the confines of the outer nesting element  56 . The inner nesting element  58  is also comprised of a front surface  61  and four walls  62  that extend from the periphery of the front surface  61 . The four walls  62  are connected at the corners creating an undisrupted peripheral wall. 
     An insert  52  with a display image  54  is placed in between the inner nesting element  58  and the outer nesting element  56 . The display image  54  is held in place by the seating of the inner nesting element  56  within the confines of the outer nesting element  58 . The display image is visible through the transparent front surface  59  of the outer nesting element  56 . 
     The face of the front surface of the outer nesting element  56  can be coated with an adhesive. However, in the shown embodiment, segments of double-sided tape  66  are used to illustrate that there is more than one way to adhere the present invention to the glass of a windshield. 
     The walls  62  of the inner nesting element  58  define an area that corresponds to the size of the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . Accordingly, when the electronic toll payment pass  14  is mounted within the inner nesting element  58  with the two sets of hook and loop strips  28 ,  29 , the side walls of both the inner nesting element  58  and outer nesting element  56  extend over the sides of the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14 . Consequently, even when a person is looking through the windshield of the vehicle from a side angle, the housing of the electronic toll payment pass  14  cannot be seen. 
     It will be understood that all of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that the present invention can be practiced in a variety of different ways other than what is shown. For example, the shape and size of the housing of the electronic toll payment pass may vary depending upon the manufacturer. Certainly in years to come, the size of electronic toll payment passes will decrease. Consequently, it will be understood that the present invention mounting device can be varied in shape and size to match the configuration of the electronic toll payment pass. All such modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be covered by the scope of the claims presented below.