Patent Publication Number: US-6902437-B1

Title: Removable fastening mechanism connectable to socket of cigar lighter of automobile

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to removable fastening mechanisms and more particularly to a removable fastening mechanism adapted to connect to the socket of a cigar lighter of a motor vehicle with improved characteristics. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   GPS (Global Positioning System) has been widely employed in many applications such as AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) and AVM (Automatic Vehicle Monitoring) mounted in a fire engine, police car, ambulance, hazardous product carrying vehicle, bus, or truck for monitoring and management purposes. GPS can be combined with a navigation system to form an AVLN (Automatic Vehicle Location and Navigation System). 
   An implementation of the popular AVLN comprises installing a GPS engine, a GPS antenna, an e-map, and a platform (or software) in a car, and displaying the current location of the car and related routes on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD on the instrument board. As such, a driver can choose an optimum route to the destination by referring to the same. 
   For keeping up with the trend of developing multifunctional electronic products, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) having the feature of GPS has been commercially available recently. Scheduler, notebook, and phonebook features of the PDA can be used in an office, home, or an outdoor environment. Moreover, the PDA can be used as GPS based navigation device while driving a car. That is why the PDAs are widely used by many consumers. 
   Moreover, for safety reasons it is inappropriate to hold a steering wheel with one hand and hold a mobile phone with the other hand while driving. As such, it is typical that a driver couples a mobile phone to a mobile sound system. In a case of an incoming call occurred, a speaker of the sound system will amplify the ringing. Further, an immediate talking between the driver and the calling party can be amplified. Hence, the driver can talk with the calling party without holding the mobile phone with the other hand. 
   A well known connecting assembly has been developed for facilitating a driver to operate a mobile phone and a PDA, or view an LCD. Such connecting assembly  1  is illustrated in FIG.  1 . As shown, the connecting assembly  1  comprises an arm  11 , a seat  12  at one end of the arm  11  for securely coupling to and supporting an electronic device (e.g., PDA, mobile phone, or LCD TV) thereon, and a removable fastening mechanism  13  at the other end of the arm  11  for connecting to a socket of a cigar lighter of a car, the removable fastening mechanism  13  comprising a rotatable ring  131 , a first conical member  132 , a flexible sleeve  133 , and a second conical member  134 . One end of the rotatable ring  131  is coupled to the arm  11  and a threaded shank  135  is extended from the other end thereof. The threaded shank  135  is driven through the bores of the first conical member  132  and the flexible sleeve  133  into a threaded bore of the second conical member  134  for fastening. 
   By configuring as above, in use a driver may first insert the removable fastening mechanism  13  into the socket of cigar lighter of car. Next, rotate the rotatable ring  131  for driving the threaded shank  135  into the bore of the second conical member  134  and thus pushing the first conical member  132  toward the second conical member  134 . This in turn shortens the distance between the first conical member  132  and the second conical member  134  gradually. Further, conical surfaces at both sides of the flexible sleeve  133  are pressed toward each other by the first conical member  132  and the second conical member  134 . As such, the length of the flexible sleeve  133  is shortened and the diameter thereof is increased. Finally, inside of the socket of the cigar lighter is filled by the flexible sleeve  133 . This can achieve the purpose of fastening the connecting assembly  1  in the socket of the cigar lighter. Therefore, using the electronic device mounted on the seat  12  by the driver can be facilitated. 
   However, a turning of the rotatable ring  131  will also turn both the arm  11  and the seat  12  since the rotatable ring  131  is securely coupled to the arm  11 . Hence, the seat  12 , in often times, cannot be rotated to an optimum position when the diameter of the flexible sleeve  133  is increased to stuff itself in the socket of the cigar lighter. This may in turn cause inconvenience in operating the electronic device. Two techniques have been proposed to adjust the seat  12  to an optimum position as detailed below. 
   The first technique requires a driver to turn the rotatable ring  131  until the seat  12  has reached an optimum operating angle or position. However, in often times, it may compress the flexible sleeve  133  excessively, resulting in an elastic fatigue or even crack of the flexible sleeve  133 . Alternatively, it is possible that a driver cannot rotate and unfasten the rotatable ring  131  if the socket of the cigar lighter is overstuffed by the removable fastening mechanism  13 , resulting in a failure of removing the connecting assembly  1  from the socket of the cigar lighter. 
   The second technique requires a driver to slightly turn the rotatable ring  131  until it is loosened. Next, adjust the seat  12  to an optimum operating angle or position. However, it may vibrate the connecting assembly  1  while driving on a rough road since the removable fastening mechanism  13  is not secured to the socket of the cigar lighter. As a result, an easy operation of the electronic device mounted on the seat  12  is even impossible. 
   Thus, it is desirable among users to provide a novel removable fastening mechanism  13  which once connected to the socket of the cigar lighter, a turning of the rotatable ring  131  will not turn the arm  11  either. As a result, it is easy to adjust the seat  12  to an optimum position, thereby enabling a driver to easily operate an electronic device mounted on the seat  12 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a removable fastening mechanism connectable to a socket of a cigar lighter of an automobile wherein a seat coupled to one end of the removable fastening mechanism can be adjusted to an optimum operating angle or position for facilitating a driver to operate an electronic device mounted on the seat. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of a conventional connecting assembly having a removable fastening mechanism connectable to a socket of a cigar lighter of an automobile; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a removable fastening mechanism according to the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the assembled removable fastening mechanism shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of the removable fastening mechanism of  FIG. 2  connected to a seat and a power cord via an arm. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a removable fastening mechanism  2  connectable to a socket of a cigar lighter of an automobile in accordance with the invention. The removable fastening mechanism  2  comprises a hollow shank  21 , a rotatable ring  22 , two curved plates  231  and  232 , and a flexible sleeve  24  which is formed of rubber being adapted to appropriately deform and return to the same once a force exerted thereon is removed. External threads  211  are formed on an outer surface of the hollow shank  21  at one end and a conical member  212  is formed around the hollow shank  21  proximate the other end. Internal threads  221  are formed in the bore of the rotatable ring  22 . The internal threads  221  may be driven onto the external threads  211  so that the rotatable ring  22  may be threadedly moved along the length of the external threads  211  back and forth. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the flexible sleeve  24  is put on the curved plates  231  and  232  for urging the curved plates  231  and  232  on the hollow shank  21  from two opposite directions. The curved plates  231  and  232  are disposed between the rotatable ring  22  and the conical member  212 . 
   By configuring as above, in use a driver may first insert the removable fastening mechanism  2  into the socket of cigar lighter of car. Next, rotate the rotatable ring  22  for pushing it toward the socket of the cigar lighter. Further, the curved plates  231  and  232  are gradually pushed toward the surface of the conical member  212  by the rotatable ring  22 . The diameter of the removable fastening mechanism  2  will increase gradually since the surface of the conical member  212  is inclined. Eventually, the removable fastening mechanism  2  stuffs inside of the socket of the cigar lighter. As a result, the removable fastening mechanism  2  is fastened in the socket of the cigar lighter. To the contrary a driver may turn and loosen the rotatable ring  22  for moving it away from the socket of the cigar lighter. At the same time, the curved plates  231  and  232  may return to their original positions with respect to the hollow shank  21  by the elastic expansion of the flexible sleeve  24 . Finally, the diameter of the removable fastening mechanism  2  returns to its original length, resulting in a loosening of the removable fastening mechanism  2  from the socket of the cigar lighter. At the moment, the driver can remove the removable fastening mechanism  2  from the socket of the cigar lighter. 
   As stated above, the curved plates  231  and  232  are pushed toward the inclined surface of the conical member  212  as the rotatable ring  22  rotates. Also, the diameter of the removable fastening mechanism  2  increases until it is fastened in the socket of the cigar lighter. For further enhancing the fastening of the removable fastening mechanism  2  in the socket of the cigar lighter, the removable fastening mechanism  2  may further comprises a moveable conical member  25  on the hollow shank  21  between the rotatable ring  22  and the conical member  212  (see FIG.  2 ). The inclined surface of the moveable conical member  25  is opposite that of the conical member  212 . Also, the flexible sleeve  24  and the curved plates  231  and  232  are disposed between the moveable conical member  25  and the conical member  212 . By configuring as above, in use a driver may first insert the removable fastening mechanism  2  into the socket of cigar lighter. Next, rotate the rotatable ring  22  for pushing it toward the socket of the cigar lighter. Further, the moveable conical member  25  are gradually pushed toward and inserted in one ends of the curved plates  231  and  232  by the rotatable ring  22 . Furthermore, the conical member  212  is inserted in the other ends of the curved plates  231  and  232 . As such, the diameters of the removable fastening mechanism  2  at both ends will increase. As a result, the curved plates  231  and  232  are securely fastened in the socket of the cigar lighter with the flexible sleeve  24  being compressed against the interior wall of the socket of the cigar lighter. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , in the invention the removable fastening mechanism  2  further comprises a hollow arm  3  having one end coupled to one end of the hollow shank  21  and the other end coupled to a seat  4  with an electronic device (e.g., a PDA having the feature of GPS, a mobile phone, or an LCD TV) mounted thereon. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in the invention a first hole is formed at the bore of the hollow shank  21 . An opening  2311  is formed on the surface of the curved plate  231 . The opening  2311  is in communication with the first hole. Also, a conductive piece  27  has one end gripped between the flexible sleeve  24  and the curved plate  231 . A plug  51  at one end of a power cord  5  is located outside the hollow shank  21 . One terminal  521  at the other end of the power cord  5  is inserted through the first hole into the opening  2311  to couple to the conductive piece  27 . The other terminal  522  at the other end of the power cord  5  extends through the first hole to couple to a hollow, cylindrical conductive terminal  28  at the other end of the hollow shank  21 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4  again, in the invention the other end of the hollow shank  21  is at a position proximate the conical member  212  but distal the rotatable ring  22 . As such, a sleeve  26  having internal threads may be threadedly coupled to the hollow shank  21 . A second hole is formed in the bore of the sleeve  26 . The second hole is in communication with the first hole. As such, the conductive terminal  28  may be fastened in the sleeve  26  with one end of the conductive terminal  28  projected from the second hole. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4  again, a third hole is further formed in the bore of the hollow arm  3 . The third hole may communicate with the first hole and allow the power cord  5  to extend in the third hole as one end of the hollow arm  3  is coupled to one end of the hollow shank  21 . Hence, the plug  51  at one end of the power cord  5  may be located outside the other end of the hollow arm  3 . By configuring as above, in a case of the removable fastening mechanism  2  mounted in the socket of the cigar lighter, the power cord  5  may be electrically coupled to the positive and negative terminals in the socket of the cigar lighter through the conductive terminal  28  and the conductive piece  27 . Thus, power for activating the electronic device can be fed thereto when the plug  51  is inserted into a power socket of the electronic device. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , means for preventing the curved plates  231  and  232  from undesirably rotating around the hollow shank  21  is provided by the invention. In detail, two opposite ribs  2121  are formed on the inclined surface of the conical member  212 . Also, two opposite ribs  251  are formed on the inclined surface of the moveable conical member  25 . The opposite ribs  251  correspond to the opposite ribs  2121 . By configuring as above, the opposite ribs  2121 ,  251  are served as a spacer for separating one curved plate  231  from the other curved plate  232 . Hence, a turning of the rotatable ring  22  can either bring the curved plates  231  and  232  toward the hollow shank  21  from opposite sides or move the curved plates  231  and  232  away from each other without an undesired rotation around the hollow shank  21 . Moreover, two ends at the bore of the moveable conical member  25  are flat and two ends of the external threads  211  are also flat. As an end, the moveable conical member  25  can move back and forth along the hollow shank  21  as the moveable conical member  25  is threadedly coupled to the external threads  211  without an undesired rotation around the hollow shank  21 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the invention projecting ridges are formed around the outer surface of the rotatable ring  22 . Hence, in use a driver may exert force on the rotatable ring  22  for increasing friction for facilitating the rotation of the rotatable ring  22 . Also, an arcuate flange  2312  is formed at either end of the curved plate  231  and an arcuate flange  2321  is formed at either end of the other curved plate  232 . By configuring as above, the flexible sleeve  24  can be disposed between the arcuate flanges  2312 ,  2321  at one end and the arcuate flanges  2312 ,  2321  at the other end. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  again, a resilient member (e.g., spring)  261  can be provided in the second hole. As such, the conductive terminal  28  can be inserted through the third hole or pressed into the sleeve  26 . Moreover, a fuse  262  may be provided between the resilient member  261  and the conductive terminal  28  for electrical safety in operation. 
   While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.