Communication device weather shield and vehicle door mount apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US10501024B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Communication device weather shield and vehicle door mount apparatus",
  "abstract": "A communication device weather shield and vehicle door mount apparatus protects a communication device from moisture and debris while being operated by a user, and mounts the communication device to a vehicle door panel, so as to be operable from directly on the vehicle. The apparatus provides an anchor panel that mounts the communication device with an anchoring mechanism, and enables manipulation of the communication device with a hand grip. The apparatus provides a protective transparent shield that is fixedly disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship with the anchor panel. The shield is larger than the anchor panel, covering the anchor panel to protect the communication device from moisture and debris. The transparent shield is sized to slide in a recess between a vehicle side inner window surface and a side inner door so that the communication device hangs on the side of the vehicle below the window.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A communication device protective shield apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprising: an elongated anchor panel defined by a panel first side, a panel second side, and a panel edge, the panel first side comprising a T-bar operable to detachably mount a communication device to a vehicle side inner door of a vehicle, the T-bar further comprising a size-adjustable hand grip operable to enable manipulation of the apparatus; the T-bar having a longitudinal section affixed to the anchor panel, and a transversal section affixed to the communication device; a transparent shield defined by a shield first side, a shield second side, a shield edge, and a generally flat, planar configuration, wherein the transparent shield being disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship with the anchor panel, the transparent shield being dimensioned generally larger than the anchor panel, whereby the transparent shield substantially covers the anchor panel; the transparent shield to slide in a recess between a vehicle side inner window surface and the vehicle side inner door, whereby the T-bar and the transparent shield form a clamping effect on the vehicle side inner window surface and the vehicle side inner door, the transparent shield being dimensioned generally larger than the anchor panel, whereby the transparent shield substantially covers the anchor panel and the communication device; and an elongated bridge portion connecting the edges of the anchor panel and the transparent shield to form an elongated cavity, whereby the communication device is positioned in the elongated cavity facing the shield first side of the transparent shield, thereby allowing a user to operate the communication device while it is simultaneously being protected by the transparent shield.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor panel and the transparent shield have a generally rectangular shape.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand grip is a detachable grip mechanism selected from the group of a strap, or a hook and loop fastener, or a buckle, a magnet or other hand fastening means.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a strip of hook and loop fastener material attached to the T-bar.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes touch screen devices selected from the following: a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop, a television, personal electronic devices, personal data assistants, computers, MP3 players, music players, video players, smart phones, GPS receivers, telematic devices, cell phones, satellite phones, pagers, monitors, walkie-talkies, bar code readers, computers, and general portable electronic devices.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent shield helps to protect the communication devices with touch screen capabilities.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated bridge portion separates the anchor panel from the transparent shield by at least 6 inches to form the “U-shaped” elongated cavity.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device can be rotatably mounted on the T-bar of the anchoring mechanism, thereby allowing the transparent shield to slidably mount on to a door of a vehicle.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand grip is attached to a back cover of the communication device."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates generally to a communication device protective shield. More so, the present invention relates to a weather shield and vehicle door mount apparatus that protects a communication device from moisture and debris while being operated by a user, and mounts the communication device to a vehicle door panel, so as to be operable from directly on the vehicle.\n\nSeveral efforts have been done to use clipboards at outdoors or at environment comprising extreme atmospheric conditions so as to allow use the clipboards at inclement weather conditions comprising heavy wind, wet conditions, or extreme light conditions or dust or debris or a combination thereof. But now computers, portable electronic and communication devices have become a part of our everyday lives. The declining use of paper has led to an increased need for ready access to a computing device as a source of information. A constant internet connection has become commonplace, accompanied by the expectation of rapid communication and constant availability.\n\nPortable electronic devices (PEDs), such as, tablets, iPads, PDAs, computers, MP3 players, music players, video players, smart phones, GPS receivers, telematics devices, cell phones, satellite phones, pagers, monitors, etc., are being very widely used, and are being deployed in severe hazardous environments including industrial environments, public places and outdoors allowing the PEDs to be exposed to direct sunlight, wind-blown debris, air-born dust, water, snow, moisture, heat and other effects of extreme weather conditions.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60R 11/02",
    "A45C 11/00",
    "A45C 11/001",
    "A45C 11/002",
    "A45C 11/003",
    "A45C 2011/001",
    "A45C 2011/002",
    "A45C 2011/003",
    "A45F 2005/008",
    "A45F 5/00",
    "A45F 5/1516",
    "A45F 5/1525",
    "B60R 11/0211",
    "B60R 11/0229",
    "B60R 11/0241",
    "B60R 11/0252",
    "B60R 11/0258",
    "B60R 2011/004",
    "B60R 2011/0294",
    "B60R 9/02",
    "G06F 1/163",
    "G06F 2200/1633"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A45C 11/00",
    "B60R 11/00",
    "B60R 11/02",
    "B60R 9/02",
    "G06F 1/16"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alexander J. Albright"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-01-18",
  "publication_date": "2019-12-10",
  "grant_date": "2019-12-10",
  "priority_date": "2017-12-13",
  "application_number": "US-201815874043-A",
  "family_id": "68766291",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
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  ]
}