FR2844416A1 - Hands free mobile telephone car kit having thin container with steering wheel attachment holding mobile phone free inner space and having microphone/loudspeaker connected amplifier and connection telephone audio. - Google Patents

Abstract

The mobile telephone (2) support has a thin container (1) with a steering wheel (3) attachment (4) and placed in the free space inside the steering wheel.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for supporting a telephone

  portable, also known as a "hands-free car kit". Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of road accidents related to the use of a mobile phone by the driver,

while the latter is driving.

  One of the causes of these accidents lies in the fact that the driver 10 must hold the telephone handset close to his ear, so that he no longer has

  only one hand available for driving.

  In order to remedy this drawback, some drivers use an accessory, called a "hands-free pedestrian kit" composed of an electric cable, one end of which is provided with a headset and the other with a connection plug, 1 5 capable of being connected to a terminal called audio input / output of the portable telephone provided for this purpose. A miniature microphone is also connected on this cable. When the driver places the headset in one of his ears, the microphone is located approximately at the level of his chest and therefore

within earshot.

  However, with such a device, the telephone handset is simply placed on the passenger seat or on the driver's lap from which it risks falling due to a sudden movement of the vehicle. In addition, the

  driver should always hold the phone when wishing to dial a number.

  There is also known an accessory called "hands-free car kit" comprising a support / charger, a remote microphone and a speaker.

  The microphone is fixed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, for example above the windshield or of the left front door, so as to be within earshot of the driver who, moreover, can hear his interlocutor thanks to the loudspeaker.

  The support / charger fixed on the dashboard (usually near the car radio or the cigarette lighter socket) acts as a physical support for the handset. It is furthermore provided with a connection plug and connected directly to the vehicle battery so that the mobile telephone is constantly recharged when it is placed on this support.

  If such an accessory allows the driver to no longer hold the handset during the telephone conversation, it does not solve the problem of dialing or taking a call and the driver must always temporarily release the wheel to perform these tasks and momentarily direct his gaze towards 5 the telephone and no longer towards the road. This transient inattention can be a cause of traffic accidents.

  In order to overcome this risk of inattention, there are also accessories incorporating a voice recognition device making it possible to call a correspondent by voice command without having to dial the number on the keyboard. 10 However, this kind of accessory is expensive, especially for young people.

  motorists who are also heavy users of the mobile phone.

  The present invention therefore aims to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above and to develop a mobile phone holder of a simple structure which allows the driver to use his phone while keeping both hands on the steering wheel direction of the vehicle and without his gaze moving too far away from the field of vision that he is supposed to

observe while driving.

  Such a device must also be inexpensive. To this end, the invention relates to a device for supporting a portable telephone, intended for use in a motor vehicle.

  According to the invention, this device comprises a thin box, provided with means capable of ensuring its fixing in a removable manner on the steering wheel of said vehicle and more precisely in the free space located inside the circle of the steering wheel , substantially in the plane containing this circle, this housing being provided, on its upper face, with removable retaining means of said

  portable telephone, this housing containing a microphone and a loudspeaker connected to an electronic amplifier circuit also housed in said housing, this device also comprising electrical connection means suitable for connecting said electronic amplifier circuit to the audio input / output terminal of said portable telephone .

  According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in combination: - said means for detachably fixing the housing are a clip for clipping onto the steering wheel; - The inside of said clip clamp intended to come into contact with the steering wheel is lined with an anti-slip material; - The removable retaining means consist of one of two strips of fabric gripping a closure device with loops and hooks, the rear face of the portable telephone being provided with the other complementary strip; the strip of gripping fabric carrying the hooks is secured to the housing and the strip of complementary fabric carrying the loops is secured to the mobile phone; - the removable retaining means consist of a clamp; - The electrical connection means are an electrical cable secured to the housing; According to an alternative embodiment, the device comprises means making it possible to recharge the battery of the portable telephone from the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle when this portable telephone is placed on said housing, these means comprising on the one hand, a first electrical connector secured to the underside of the housing and intended to be connected to the charging terminal of the battery of the mobile phone and, secondly, a second electrical connector secured to a fixed part of the passenger compartment located nearby of the steering wheel, such as in particular the covering shell surrounding the steering column, these electrical connectors being so arranged that they ensure mutual electrical contact when said steering wheel is in a centered position, as well as in a zone of angular clearance given relative to this centered position, said second connector being intended to be connected to the socket automobile cigarette lighter Advantageously, the second electrical connector consists of a double conductive flat rod, curved in the shape of an arc of a circle, disposed on the fixed part of the passenger compartment located near the steering wheel, so as to be centered on the axis of rotation XX 'of said flywheel, while the first connector comprises two conductive plates slightly spaced from each other, so as to be able to grip said second connector with a slight clearance allowing its movement . Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from

  reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and one of its variants. This description is established with reference to

  attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the device 35 according to the invention fixed on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same device and a portable telephone ready to be attached to it; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear face of a portable telephone provided with a fastening element on the support device; - Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views respectively from the side and from above of the support device according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a battery charging device, capable of being associated with the support device according to the invention; - Figures 7 and 8 are respectively top and side views of this loading device and;

  - Figure 9 is a bottom view of the support device, the battery charging device and part of the steering wheel.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the device 15 according to the invention comprises a housing 1 intended to support a portable telephone 2 by means of removable retaining means 5, this housing 1 being provided with means 4 suitable for securing it removably to the steering wheel

3 of a motor vehicle.

  The housing 1 is of a generally substantially rectangular shape and of small thickness. It has an upper face 11, a lower face 12, two end faces 13 and 14 respectively, opposite one another and two faces

longitudinal side 15 and 16.

  This box is designed to be mounted on the steering wheel 3 of a motor vehicle, as shown in FIG. 1.

  This flywheel 3 comprises a central portion 31 mounted on the steering column and connected to an O-ring 32, by several substantially radial arms 33. The housing 1 is of sufficient dimensions to support the mobile telephone 2, but nevertheless sufficiently small to be arranged in the free space 30 situated inside the circle 32 of the steering wheel 3, more precisely substantially in the

plane containing this circle.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the means 4 capable of securing the housing 1 removably on the circle 32 of the steering wheel are advantageously constituted by a C-shaped clipping clip. One of the branches 41 of this clamp 4 is integral with the end face 14 of the housing 1, while the other branch 42 is folded upwards in the direction of the housing 1. The inside diameter of the curved middle portion 43 of

  this clamp 4 corresponds substantially to the diameter of the section of the circle 32.

  Advantageously, the inner face of this clipping clip 4, that is to say the inner face of the curved part 43, intended to come into contact with the circle 32 is lined with an anti-slip material 40. This lining non-slip 40 makes it possible to prevent the box 1 from pivoting around the circle 32 of the steering wheel 3 until it finds itself in a position where it would no longer be substantially in the plane of the latter,

  which could hinder the rotation of this wheel.

  This clipping clip 4 could also be replaced by any other suitable fixing means, such as a spring or jaw clamp.

  Make sure to fix the box 1 on the steering wheel 3, so that it does not prevent the driver from seeing the dials located in the background on the board

  instrument panel, and in particular the tachometer dial (speedometer).

  For this purpose, and thanks to the clamp 4, the housing 1 can be fixed either on the left or right side of the steering wheel. In Figure 1, this housing has

  been represented arbitrarily on the right half of the steering wheel 3.

  The mobile phone 2 is detachably retained on the housing 1, thanks to a hook and loop closure device known under the brand

filed "Velcro".

  Advantageously, in particular for the comfort of the driver, the

  strip of gripping fabric 51 carrying the hooks is glued to the upper face 11 of the housing 1, while strip 52 of gripping fabric carrying the loops (therefore softer) is glued to the rear face 22 of mobile telephone 2, (see figures 3 and 2).

  To this end, the rear face of the strip 52 of gripping fabric is advantageously covered with an adhesive strip provided with a peelable film that the user can

  remove when sticking this strip 52 on the back of his phone.

  These "Velcro" bands allow the user to fix the phone on the box 1 so that its display dial 25 is always located upwards, so that the box 1 is itself fixed to the right or left of the steering wheel of 30 direction 3.

  This closing device with strips of gripping fabric could also be replaced by a clamp provided on the upper face 11 of the housing 1, provided that such a clamp allows the fixing of the telephone 2 in the two diametrically opposite positions of 180, depending on whether this box is fixed on the right 35 or on the left on the steering wheel.

  As appears better in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the housing 1 contains a microphone 60 and a loudspeaker 61 connected to an electronic amplifier circuit 62 also housed inside said housing 1. This amplifier circuit 62 is furthermore connected to an electrical connection terminal 63 provided for example on the end face 13 of the housing 1.

  Finally, an electrical connection cable 64 connects this terminal 63 to the audio input / output terminal 23 of the portable telephone 2.

  This audio input / output terminal 23 corresponds to that provided on the commercially available portable telephones for the connection of the “pedestrian hands-free” kit 10 described above.

  According to an alternative embodiment not shown in Figure 2, in order to prevent the cable 64 from hanging outside the housing 1 when the telephone 2 is not in place, it is possible to provide means allowing its retraction at

  inside the housing 1 or its winding outside said housing.

  According to another alternative embodiment, this cable 64 could be replaced by a plug projecting from the upper face 11 of the housing 1, in the vicinity of the strip of gripping fabric 51. In this case, the input / output terminal

  audio 23 of mobile phone 2 should be provided on its underside 22.

  The use of the device is as follows.

  The driver places the box 1 on the circle 32 of the steering wheel, making sure

  not to hide the dashboard counters. He can leave this device in place permanently, (although he can however remove it if he wishes to place it in another motor vehicle thanks to the clamp 4). It has the mobile telephone 2 provided with its gripping strip 52 on the strip 51, the screen 25 being in the direction of normal reading.

  Then, he can use his phone while driving, without having to let go of the steering wheel 3 to dial the numbers on the keyboard 26 since the phone 2 is close to his hands. In addition, the speaker 61 and the microphone

  allow him to converse without holding the handset.

  In addition, when the telephone 2 is positioned on the casing 1, it is located substantially in the driver's line of sight, so that the latter has no

  not to turn your head when dialing the number.

  Referring now to Figures 6 to 9, we can see an alternative embodiment, according to which the support device comprises means 35 7 for recharging the battery of the mobile phone 2 when it is

placed on the housing 1.

  These means 7 consist of two electrical connectors 71 and 72.

  The first electrical connector 71 consists of two conductive plates 710, 710 ', fixed on the underside 12 of the housing 1, so as to be slightly spaced from each other by a space e. This first connector 71 is connected via the interior of the housing 1, to a connection terminal 73 formed for example on the longitudinal side face 15 of the housing 1, then by means of a cable (not shown in the figures), at

  mobile phone battery charging terminal 24 2.

  The second electrical connector 72 consists of two flat conductive rods 720, 720 ′, curved in the shape of an arc of a circle and glued against each other by means of an insulating adhesive 721. This double rod mounted on a support 9 is intended to be electrically connected to the cigarette lighter socket of the

  vehicle (not shown in the figures), via a cable 74.

  As is better seen in FIG. 6, the support 9 consists of an adhesive base 91, of a pad 93 secured to the two conductive plates 720, 720 ′, this pad 93 being connected to the base 91 by means of a deformable rod

flexible 92.

  The base 91 of the support 9 is intended to be fixed to a fixed part of the passenger compartment, located near the steering wheel 3, such as in particular the hull

  covering 8 surrounding the steering column.

  As is better seen in FIG. 6, the support 9 is fixed to the covering shell 8 so that the double conductive flat rod 720, 720 ′ is centered on the axis of rotation XX ′ of the steering wheel 3, slightly below 25 of the plan thereof. In other words, the double rod 720, 720 ′ is curved according to an arc of a circle whose center (of the circle) coincides with the axis X-X ′ of rotation of the

  steering wheel 3, (see also figure 9).

  Thus, when the housing 1 is in place on the steering wheel 3, the double conductive rod 720, 720 'is placed between the two plates 710, 710' of the first connector 71. These conductive plates 710, 710 'enclose the second connector 72 with a slight clearance allowing the movement of the latter between these plates without

  too much friction but while ensuring electrical contact.

  The two electrical connectors 71 and 72 are so arranged that they ensure mutual electrical contact when the steering wheel 3 is in a centered position 35 represented by the axis Y-Y ', as well as in a zone of clearance

  angular has given on either side of this centered position.

  The electrical connector 72 leaves the connector 71 only in the event of rotation of the steering wheel 3 by a large angle, which only occurs when the driver makes a maneuver or a U-turn. During normal driving of the vehicle, that is to say with small angles of rotation of the steering wheel 3, the electrical connectors 71 and 72 remain in contact with one another. In addition, the two ends 711 and 711 ′ of the plates 710 and 710 ′ are advantageously slightly bevelled, so that if the connector 72 comes completely out of the connector 71 (in the event of significant rotation of the steering wheel 3), it can re-enter easily again in space e. 10

Claims (9)

  1. Support device for a portable telephone (2), intended for use in a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a casing (1) of small thickness, provided with means (4) capable of ensuring its fixing removably on the steering wheel (3) of said vehicle and more precisely in the free space located inside the circle (32) of the steering wheel (3), substantially in the plane containing this circle, this housing (1 ) being provided, on its upper face (11), with removable retaining means (5) of said portable telephone (2), this housing (1) containing a microphone (60) and a loudspeaker (61) connected to a circuit electronic amplifier (62) also housed in said housing (1), this device 10 also comprising electrical connection means (64) capable of connecting said electronic amplifier circuit (62) to the audio input / output terminal (23) of said mobile phone (2).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (4) for removable fixing of the housing (1) are a clip clamp on the steering wheel (3).   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner face of said clip clamp (4) intended to come into contact with the steering wheel (3) is   lined with non-slip material (40).   4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable retaining means (5) consist of one of two strips of gripping fabric (51, 52) of a closure device with loops and hooks, the back side   the mobile telephone (2) being provided with the other complementary band.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the strip of gripping fabric (51) carrying the hooks is secured to the housing (1) and the strip of complementary fabric carrying the loops is secured to the mobile telephone (2).   6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable retaining means (5) consist of a clamp.   7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection means (64) are an electrical cable secured to the housing (1).   8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (7) for recharging the battery of the portable telephone (2) from the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle when this portable telephone (2) is placed on said housing (1), these means (7) comprising on the one hand, a first   electrical connector (71) integral with the underside (12) of the housing (1) and intended to be connected to the terminal (24) for charging the battery of the mobile telephone (2) and on the other hand, a second electrical connector (72) integral with a fixed part of the passenger compartment located near the steering wheel (3), such as 5 in particular the covering shell (8) surrounding the steering column, these electrical connectors (71, 72) being so arranged that they ensure mutual electrical contact when said flywheel (3) is in a centered position, as well as in a zone of angular movement (a) given relative to this centered position, said second connector (72) being intended to be connected to the cigar lighter socket10 of the motor vehicle.   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the second electrical connector (72) consists of a double conductive flat rod, curved in the shape of an arc of a circle, disposed on the fixed part of the passenger compartment located near the steering wheel direction (3), so as to be centered on the axis of rotation XX '15 of said flywheel (3), while the first connector (71) comprises two conductive plates (710, 710') slightly spaced one of the other, so that I can   enclose said second connector (72) with a slight clearance allowing its movement.