Removable holder for an electronic toll collection tag

Abstract

The present invention relates to a removable holder (2) for an electronic toll collection tag (1), comprising an annular strip (3) made of elastic material, such that, when stretched, it forms into a first loop (4) and a second loop (5); said strip (3) being dimensioned with a material with elastic properties suitable for surrounding one edge (102) and an opposite edge (103) of a housing (100) of said electronic toll collection tag (1) by means of the loops (4, 5); passing around a stalk (200) fastening a rear-view mirror (20) to a windscreen of a vehicle; and holding the electronic toll collection tag (1) against the fastening stalk (200), as a result of the tension in said elastic material of the strip (3). The invention also relates to a method for holding an electronic toll collection tag (1) by means of an annular elastic strip (3), and to the use of said removable holder (2).

Description

[0001] REMOVABLE TOLL BADGE SUPPORT DEVICE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention falls within the field of motor vehicle accessories and is particularly aimed at the support, namely the fixing and holding, of a road or motorway toll tag.

[0004] As is well known, a road or motorway toll tag, hereinafter referred to as an "electronic toll tag," comprises a casing, generally made of rigid plastic, with a roughly rectangular shape and rounded corners. This casing incorporates electronic components that ensure short- and medium-range wireless communication, enabling the identification of a user of said electronic toll tag in a motor vehicle when passing through a toll plaza.

[0005] Such an electronic toll tag must therefore be carried in a motor vehicle, in order to ensure the identification of its user.

[0006] Generally, this badge is positioned near the windshield, or even directly on the interior glass surface. In particular, windshields are often equipped with a dedicated area, located at the base of the vehicle's interior rearview mirror; this area is designed to facilitate the transmission and reception of radio waves.

[0007] STATE OF THE ART

[0008] Currently, a known method for securing a toll tag to the inside of a vehicle's windshield is adhesive mounting. To achieve this, the tag's casing is equipped with an adhesive on one side, which is then applied to the windshield.

[0009] It is easy to understand that, in the event of replacement or change of the toll tag, or even a change of windshield or vehicle, such an adhesive fixing makes the removal of said toll tag tedious.

[0010] A similar solution involves separating the adhesive into two strips: one stuck to one side of the housing and the other to the windshield. The strips then work together via a removable fastener, such as a magnetic one or a grippy velvet material.

[0011] Although such a removable fixing makes it easy to remove the toll tag to reposition it or change it to another vehicle, it is still cumbersome to replace one and / or the other of the bands in this case.

[0012] Another common solution involves a holder with a specially sized compartment to removablely accommodate the toll tag. The tag is held securely within the compartment, for example, by clipping or snapping. The tag can then be removed and inserted into another vehicle equipped with the same type of holder. Again, the holder is attached to the windshield using adhesive. Furthermore, each type of housing requires a separate holder, making it impossible to insert one housing into a holder of a different size due to the lack of standardization between manufacturers.

[0013] In a related development, for motor vehicles equipped with a central interior rearview mirror mounted on the windshield, there are flat pouches made of plastic, often transparent, with a top hook for hanging them from the mirror's mounting bracket on the windshield. These pouches include a compartment for inserting, either permanently or removable, a tag or identification badge, such as one equipped with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip. These pouches can easily be moved from one vehicle to another, but their shape makes them unsuitable for use with a standard electronic toll tag.

[0014] Alternatively, for two-wheeled vehicles, there are pouches in the form of an armband or cuff, which can be worn as a removable attachment on the user's arm or wrist. While such pouches make it easy to transfer the toll tag from one vehicle to another, as well as to replace it easily, the user must remember to wear it on every journey.

[0015] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a removable toll tag support device, designed to be extremely simple, in the form of a band made of elastic material to allow it to be wound under tension around the rearview mirror mounting base and shaped into a loop to encircle two opposite sides of said toll tag, thus holding it in place due to the elastic tension on both sides of said rearview mirror mounting base.

[0017] To this end, the removable support device comprises a band made of elastic material shaped in an annular manner, so as to allow, through elastic deformation, a first loop and a second loop on either side of said band, with a central portion connecting the first and second loops; characterized in that said band is dimensioned with a material having elastic characteristics adapted for

[0018] - to surround one edge and one opposite edge of a case of said toll tag by means of respectively the first loop and the second loop;

[0019] - to surround a rearview mirror mounting foot on an internal surface of a vehicle's windscreen; and - to ensure the retention of said toll tag against said mounting foot, due to the tension of said elastic material of said band.

[0020] According to additional, non-limiting characteristics, said headband comprises two ends joined together, in particular by crimping, at the level of said first loop.

[0021] According to one embodiment, said removable support device may include a label having a first end, surrounding said band covering said crimping of the ends, as well as opposite a free end.

[0022] According to one embodiment, said label is dimensioned complementary to said headband, with a length between the first end and the free end, such that said free end fits within said second loop.

[0023] According to one embodiment, said label has two identical segments folded and joined together, in particular by ultrasonic welding.

[0024] According to one embodiment, said label has a visual display area, in particular in printed form, located between the first end and the free end.

[0025] Thus, such a support device can adapt to different toll tag formats, as well as different mirror mounting bracket sizes. This support device can be quickly mounted and, more importantly, removed, to secure and detach the toll tag, particularly when transferring from one vehicle to another.

[0026] The invention also relates to a method of holding a toll tag on a rearview mirror of a vehicle, said rearview mirror comprising a mounting base on an internal surface of a windscreen of said vehicle.

[0027] In addition, said toll tag includes a box of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with at least one face, one edge and one opposite edge.

[0028] Therefore, the said support method includes at least the following steps: starting from a headband made of elastic material shaped in an annular manner,

[0029] - a first loop is formed on one side of said headband and said first loop is wrapped around said edge;

[0030] - the said mounting foot of the said rearview mirror is surrounded by means of a remaining portion of the said band, by putting the elastic material of the said band under tension;

[0031] - the opposite edge of said toll tag is surrounded by means of a second loop formed from the remaining portion of said band.

[0032] Depending on additional, non-limiting characteristics,

[0033] - said headband comprises a label attached at one end at the level of said first loop; - said label having one opposite end free; and in that

[0034] - the said free end is slid between the portion of the headband forming the second loop and the face of the said case.

[0035] Preferably, said holding method is provided for the implementation of the holding device according to the invention.

[0036] Furthermore, the invention also relates to the use of said removable support device for holding a toll tag around the mounting base of a rearview mirror on the inner surface of a vehicle windshield.

[0037] In particular, this use involves the first and second loops of the elastic material band of said removable support device, in order to surround one edge and opposite edge of a case of said toll tag, as well as to surround the fixing foot, ensuring the retention of said toll tag against said fixing foot, due to the tensioning of said band.

[0038] PRESENTATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0040] [Fig. 1] schematically represents a generic view of one embodiment of a removable support device, also showing different steps for installing an electronic toll tag by wrapping said device around said tag and a mounting bracket for a central rearview mirror on the inner surface of a vehicle's windshield; and

[0041] [Fig. 2] schematically represents successive views of an embodiment of the removable support device, showing in particular its manufacture and the different elements composing it.

[0042] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] For the purposes of this invention, the term "motor vehicle" encompasses any rolling vehicle comprising a passenger compartment equipped with a windshield. Such a vehicle may be, but is not limited to, a car, truck, or van, but also a two- or three-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle, scooter, or even a snowmobile.

[0044] Preferably, such a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror mounted in the center of the windshield via a mounting bracket.

[0045] It should be noted that the invention can be adapted to other types of vehicles, under similar conditions, including maritime vehicles such as boats and ships.

[0046] In this respect, the invention relates to the removable attachment and retention of a road or motorway toll tag, hereinafter referred to as a "toll tag." As mentioned previously, a toll tag comprises a casing 100, generally made of rigid plastic, with an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape, notably with rounded corners. Furthermore, said casing 100 includes a face 101, in particular a front face, as well as a first edge 102 and an opposite edge 103. Said casing 100 also includes, opposite said face 101, another face (not shown).

[0047] Such a 100 box integrates electronic components ensuring short and medium range wireless communication, in order to identify a user of said 1 electronic toll badge on board a motor vehicle when passing through a toll station.

[0048] Such a 1-way toll tag must therefore be carried in a motor vehicle, in order to ensure the identification of its user.

[0049] It should be noted that a badge similar to the electronic toll badge can also be used to restrict a motor vehicle user's access to another type of passage, particularly a restricted access zone, such as a parking lot or a residential or industrial area. Alternatively, such a badge can be used to restrict access for another type of vehicle, such as a river or marine vessel, to a geographically defined lake, river, or maritime area, such as a section of a lake or sea, or a canal.

[0050] However, the invention aims at securing and retaining a toll tag 1 within a vehicle. To this end, the invention relates to a removable support device 2 for said toll tag 1.

[0051] Essentially, said removable support device 2 comprises a headband 3 made of elastic material.

[0052] The said headband 3 can be made of any type of material, natural or synthetic, such as rubber, or preferably composite, based on elastane.

[0053] Such a material exhibits elasticity, meaning that it deforms from a rest position when tension is applied and returns to its original shape without tension. In particular, said strip 3 exhibits elastic deformation along a longitudinal or essentially longitudinal direction, that is, along its longest dimension (i.e., its circumference).

[0054] Moreover, under tension, the elastic material of the headband 3 generates an elastic restoring force, in the opposite direction to said tension, from a deformed configuration back to its initial position.

[0055] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the headband 3 comprises an elastic material covered with a woven or fibrous material to protect the elastic material. Thus, the headband 3 retains its flexibility at rest, allowing it to be put on or wrapped around the head even without applying tension.

[0056] Further on, the aforementioned band 3 is shaped in an annular manner, namely in the form of a circle. Such a shape is notably visible in figure 1.

[0057] To achieve this, according to one embodiment, said band 3 is manufactured directly in annular form, forming a round or circle.

[0058] According to another preferred embodiment, the band 3 comprises two ends 30, 31 joined together to form a ring. Preferably, the ends 30, 31 of the band 3 are joined by crimping, in particular by means of a crimp ring 32, in particular metallic, preferably made of nickel-plated iron. Such a crimp ring 32 undergoes plastic deformation so as to compress and hold together the ends 30, 31, in particular by pinching them, thus shaping the band 3 into a ring. Figure 2 shows the steps of such crimping.

[0059] Preferably, said crimping is carried out by overlapping the ends 30,31 at the level of a crimping zone 33 over a length 330 of 12 mm (millimeters).

[0060] Thus, the elastic annular headband 3 allows for elastic deformation according to a first loop 4 and a second loop 5 on either side of said headband 3.

[0061] Furthermore, due to its annular configuration, the band 3 includes a central portion 6 connecting the first loop 4 and the second loop 5. In particular, said central portion 6 is made from two closely spaced strands of said band 3. Figure 1 shows in particular this configuration of the band 3 with two loops 4,5 and a central portion 6, to which is applied, as an example, a tension modeled by opposing arrows.

[0062] As mentioned previously, according to the corresponding embodiment, said band 3 comprises two ends 30,31 joined together, in particular by crimping, at the level of said first loop 4. In other words, as the band 3 is round, said first loop 4 is formed at the level of said crimping.

[0063] Advantageously, said band 3 is made of a material with elastic properties suitable for encircling an edge 102 and an opposite edge 103 of a housing 100 of said toll tag 1 by means of the first loop 4 and the second loop 5, respectively. Furthermore, these dimensions and elastic properties allow it to encircle a mounting foot 200 of a rearview mirror 20 on an inner surface 1000 of a vehicle's windshield. By thus encircling, on the one hand, the tag 1 at each of its edges 102, 103 and, on the other hand, passing around the foot 200, the band 3, due to the tension of said elastic material of said band 3, ensures that said toll tag 1 is held against said mounting foot 200.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment, at rest, said strip 3 has a length greater than ten centimeters, in particular greater than 20 cm, preferably a length of 22 cm. This length is understood to mean with the strip 3 positioned in a flat or flattened configuration, said strip 3 then being formed by two superimposed and joined strands.

[0065] According to the corresponding embodiment, when the band 3 is made from a strand whose ends 30,31 are joined together, in particular by crimping, said band 3 has, from one end 30 to the other end 31, a doubled length, namely greater than about twenty centimeters, in particular greater than 40 cm, preferably a doubled length of about 45 cm, in particular 45.2 cm.

[0066] Furthermore, at rest, said strip 3 has a width 300 of a few millimeters, preferably a width 300 of 7.5 mm. This width 300 extends transversely with respect to the length, preferably orthogonally in a plane defining the material of said strip 3.

[0067] As such, the band 3 has an essentially flat or planar section, namely that at rest, the thickness of the material is on the order of a millimeter or less than a millimeter, and much less than the width 330 and the length.

[0068] In one embodiment, the removable support device 2 comprises a label 7 having a first end 70 surrounding said band 3. Preferably, in the corresponding embodiment, the first end 70 overlaps said crimping of the ends 30, 31, namely of the crimp ring 32. In addition, the label 7 comprises, opposite said first end 70, a free end 71.

[0069] According to one embodiment, said label 7 is dimensioned complementary to said band 3, with a length 702 between the first end 70 and the free end 71, so that said free end 71 fits into said second loop 5. In other words, the label 7 is long enough to fit into said second loop 5, in particular under tension of said removable support device 2 and in the configuration of holding the toll tag 1 around the base 200 of the rearview mirror 20.

[0070] Preferably, label 7 has a length of 702 of a few tens of millimeters, especially greater than 30 mm, preferably a length of 702 of 37 mm.

[0071] Furthermore, the label 7 has a width 703, extending along the length of the band 3, suitable for covering the junction of the ends 30, 31, in particular the crimp ring 32. This width 703 is greater than the crimp length 330, in particular greater than 12 mm, preferably the width 703 is 20 mm. Thus, the dimensions of the label 7 allow the free end 71 to be slid between the portion of the band 3 forming the second loop 5 and the face 101 of the housing 100, when it is held at the level of the rearview mirror 20.

[0072] According to one embodiment, said label 7 has two segments 72, 73 folded and joined together. In short, the label 7 surrounds the band 3, particularly at its crimping point, and is then folded so that the faces opposite each of the segments 72, 73 come together against each other.

[0073] The folded segments 72, 73 can be joined by any method: by sewing through the material of said two segments 72, 73, or by bonding the contacting and joined faces with an adhesive. Preferably, the folded segments 72, 73 are joined by ultrasonic welding.

[0074] It should be noted that the lengths of segments 72 and 73 can be identical, or preferably different, meaning that one segment 72 is longer than the other segment 73. In particular, the shorter length of the other segment 73 defines a zone 700 for attaching segments 72 and 73 together. Furthermore, the length of the longer segment 72 corresponds to the length 702 of label 7.

[0075] Such a 700 fixing zone can extend over a length of a few millimeters, in particular about ten millimeters, preferably over a length of 10 mm.

[0076] When folded in this way, the label 7 covers and protects the junction of the ends 30,31 of the band 3, in particular the crimping ring 32, also giving a better aesthetic appearance to the whole.

[0077] In addition, the folded label 7 remains flexible, but has a certain rigidity, allowing it to fit better into the second loop 5. Relatedly, the label 7 also helps to stiffen the length of the band 3 and to facilitate the identification of the first loop 4 for the purpose of setting up the removable support device 2.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the label 7 has a visual display area 701, particularly in printed form, located between the first end 70 and the free end 71. According to the corresponding embodiment, preferably, the visual display area 701 is located between the attachment area 700 and the free end 71.

[0079] Such a 701 visual display area allows for the printing or embroidery of visual information, for example in terms of communication or advertising, such as a name or logo.

[0080] The invention also relates to a method of holding a toll tag 1 on a vehicle rearview mirror 20.

[0081] As mentioned previously, said rearview mirror 20 includes a foot 200 for mounting on an internal surface 1000 of the vehicle's windshield. Furthermore, said toll tag 1 includes a housing 100 of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with at least one face 101, one edge 102, and an opposite edge 103.

[0082] That being said, the maintenance process includes at least the following steps.

[0083] First, from a band 3 made of elastic material formed in an annular way, preferably the band 3 of the removable support device 2 as previously described, a first loop 4 is formed on one side of said band 3 and said first loop 4 is wrapped around said edge 102.

[0084] Next, the said foot 200 of the fixing of the said rearview mirror 20 is surrounded by means of a remaining portion of the said band 3, by putting under tension the elastic material of the said band 3. In short, once an edge 102 of the housing 100, located on the right or left, is inserted into the first loop 4, the rest of the band 3 (i.e. the central portion 6 and what will form the second loop) is passed around the foot 200.

[0085] Finally, the opposite edge 103 of said toll tag 1 is surrounded by means of a second loop 5 formed from the remaining portion of said band 3.

[0086] It should be noted that, during these steps, all or part of the band 3 is manually tensioned by the user to ensure it remains in place as it is positioned around the toll tag 1 and the rearview mirror mounting bracket 200, and also to pull and extend the band 3 to allow it to encircle the second loop 5 formed around the tag. Once the user releases the tension applied to the band 3, the elastic return force forces the band 3 back into its initial position, but it remains under tension around the various elements thus encircled, ensuring that the toll tag 1 remains in place at the level of the rearview mirror mounting bracket 200.

[0087] In addition, the user can then reposition the toll tag and adjust its position.

[0088] Accordingly, in a particular embodiment, when said band 3 includes a label 7 connected to a first end 70 at the level of said first loop 4, and when said label 7 has a free opposite end 71, the holding method provides that said free end 71 is slid between the portion of the band 3 forming the second loop 5 and the face 100 of said housing 100. In other words, the label 7 is slid under the strand of the second loop 5 which holds the other edge 103 of the housing 100, the tension force pressing and holding the free end 71 between these two elements.

[0089] Furthermore, in the corresponding embodiment, once in place and maintained, the visual display area 701 is then located between the two loops 4,5 and partially covers the facelOl of the toll tag.

[0090] The invention further relates to the use of a removable support device 2 according to the invention and as previously described, for holding a toll tag 1 around a foot 200 for fixing a rearview mirror 20 on the inner face 1000 of a vehicle windscreen.

[0091] Such use combines the elements according to the different embodiments of the removable support device 2 and / or the holding method, taken alone or in combination, as previously described.

[0092] In a related way, it should be noted that the removable support device 2 can ensure the attachment of the toll tag 1 around another component added within the vehicle, for example: the removable mounting foot on the glass surface of the windshield of a phone holder or a geolocation system, or even an independent rearview mirror.

[0093] In addition, the removable support device 2 can be adapted, in particular in length, to surround another component integrated into the vehicle, or to another location, for example by positioning said toll tag 1 behind the mirror 201 and surrounding said mirror 201 in overlap and in front.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Removable toll tag (1) holder device (2), comprising a band (3) made of elastic material shaped in an annular manner, so as to allow, through elastic deformation along a first loop (4) and a second loop (5) on either side of said band (3), a central portion (6) connecting the first loop (4) and the second loop (5); characterized in that said band (3) is dimensioned with a material having elastic characteristics adapted for - surround an edge (102) and an opposite edge (103) of a case (100) of said electronic toll tag (1) by means respectively of the first loop (4) and the second loop (5); - to surround a mounting foot (200) of a rearview mirror (20) on an internal surface (1000) of a vehicle's windshield; and - ensure the retention of said toll tag (1) against said fixing foot (200), due to the tension of said elastic material of said headband (3).

2. Removable support device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - said headband (3) includes two ends (30,31) joined together, in particular by crimping, at the level of said first loop (4).

3. Removable support device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises - a label (7) having a first end (70), surrounding said band (3) in overlap of said crimping of the ends (30,31), as well as opposite a free end (71).

4. Removable support device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - said label (7) is dimensioned complementary to said band (3), with a length (702) between the first end (70) and the free end (71), so that said free end (71) fits within said second loop (5).

5. Removable support device (2) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that - said label (7) has two segments (72,73) folded and joined together, notably by ultrasonic welding.

6. Removable support device (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that - said label (7) has a visual display area (701), including in printed form, located between the first end (70) and the free end (71).

7. A method for retaining a toll tag (1) on a vehicle rearview mirror (20), said rearview mirror (20) comprising a base (200) for attachment to an internal surface (1000) of a vehicle windshield; said toll tag (1) comprising a case (100) of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with at least one face (101), one edge (102) and an opposite edge (103); said retention method characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: from a band (3) of elastic material formed in an annular shape, - a first loop (4) is formed on one side of said band (3) and said first loop (4) is wrapped around said edge (101); - the said foot (200) of fixing said rearview mirror (20) is surrounded by means of a remaining portion of said band (3), by putting under tension the elastic material of said band (3); - the opposite edge (103) of said electronic toll badge (1) is surrounded by means of a second loop (5) formed from the remaining portion of said band (3).

8. A holding method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - said headband (3) includes a label (7) connected to a first end (70) at the level of said first loop (4); - said label (7) having a free opposite end (71); and in that - we slide said free end (71) between the portion of the band (3) forming the second loop (5) and the face (101) of said case (100).

9. Use of a removable support device (2) according to any one of the claims, for holding a toll tag (1) around a mounting foot (200) of a rearview mirror (20) on the inner face (1000) of a vehicle windscreen.

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