Quick Release Minimum Profile Shuttle for Vehicle Radios and Tape Players

The theft of high quality radio and tape players from vehicles has become a major concern to the owners of vehicles. In many areas the presence of an expensive automobile is also a signal of the presence of a high quality valuable radio and tape player. Various attempts have been developed through the years to provide alarms, vehicle locks, radio locks and the like as deterrents to thieves. The effectiveness of such deterrents has not been great. Professionals have developed many ways to by-pass or neutralize auto alarms. In certain cities where expensive cars bound, the sound of an auto alarm is a common everyday occurrence and is usually ignored.

Locking devices which hold a radio in place only serve as a challenge to would-be thieves who often manage to remove the radio doing great damage to the console or panel. In many cases, the damage done by removal of the radio exceeds the value of the radio. The vehicle owner and the insurance company suffer an even greater loss by attempting to prevent the theft.

The only effective prevention against theft of high quality radios and radio tape players is removal from the vehicle while are not in use and the automobile is parked with an observable empty radio cavity. There is no incentive to break into a vehicle if it is apparent that there is no radio present. Attempts have been made to disguise radios by overlays. However professional thieves are well educated to that deception.

One of the difficulties with the removal and replacement of a radio is that the conventional mounting requires removal of mounting screws from underneath the panel, disconnecting several leads and pulling the radio forward through the panel. Quick disconnect holders for radios and particularly citizen band radios, have been developed through the years. Most of these are for under-dash mount, and not to be used in the dash console. In such cases the radio itself disturbs the appearance of the dash and the owner is usually not concerned about the size of the mounting mechanism.

For in-dash or console quick removal devices, I have found that most are quite cumbersome and result in the radio protruding out of the dash or console, seriously detract from the appearance of the dash and console. Likewise, I have found existing mechanisms with "quick release" connector or connectors at the rear of the radio require substantial force or manual disengagement remove the radio.

Example of quick release mechanisms for auto-radios are illustrated in the following patents:

I have developed an auto-radio shuttle which is characterized in that it is a closely conforming thin metal open faced housing with an edge lip sufficient to engage the front face of the dash or console of an automobile yet fall behind the edge trim of the radio normally mounted in the dash or console. Integral fingers may be bent up behind the dash or console to secure the housing or shuttle in place. Low removal force connectors are positioned in the shuttle for direct engagement with the particular leads for power antenna and speakers of the radio installed. The housing or shuttle conform so closely to the exterior of the radio that direct alignment of the connectors is assured. Sufficient clearance exists between the interior walls of the housing or shuttle and the radio so that the radio may easily slide in and out.

The shuttle includes its own leads corresponding to those of the radio. These leads are connected in the mating vehicle leads so that once the shuttle is in place and the automobile leads connected to the shuttle, the radio is ready for installation.

A dummy or operative tape cassette including a handle which extends out of the tape player or radio is insertable into the tape player and into an engagement with the tape-holding elements such as the alignment pins or the drive capstan. The connectors are of such low force, the alignment of the radio in the shuttle so precise and the central location of the dummy tape are all such that a slight pull on the tape handle easily removes the radio tape player.

In an alternative embodiment, the edge flange includes a pair of ears which extend outward around the radio but do not extend beyond the front surface of the radio trim. A handle which conforms to the dimensions and shape of the front trim of the radio is pivoted to the pair of ears. The handle is pivotal into alignment with the front edge of the radio or outward at approximately a 90 degree angle to be used to draw the radio out of the shuttle.

This invention may more clearly understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view a high quality auto radio positioned in the shuttle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of shuttle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the shuttle of the invention installed in a automobile dash with a radio in place taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented perspective view of a rear corner of the shuttle of FIG. 1 with a connector board exploded;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the shuttle of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of a typical radio showing its connector placement;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the shuttle of FIG. 8 with the handle removed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment handle of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view partly in section of the radio-shuttle combination of FIG. 8.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, a perspective view of a modern high quality auto radio-tape player generally designated 10 may be seen located within the shuttle or housing of this invention generally designated 11. As is common among auto radios, the radio 10 has have a number of controls generally designated 12 on the front. A dial 13 and a cassette tape player opening 14 appear in FIG. 1. The front face 15 of the radio 10 typically includes an outer rim or lip 16 which rests flush against the outer face of the console or dash 20, a fragmentary portion of which is shown in FIG. 1. The relationship between the radio front face 15, the dash or console 20 and the shuttle 11 are best seen in FIG. 6.

The shuttle or housing 11 is a closely conforming, thin, metal housing enclosing at least three sides of the radio and the rear. The shuttle 11 as seen in FIG. 5 is open at the front. In the preferred embodiment, the shuttle 11 is an open face box of steel having a thickness in the order of 0.022 to 0.026 inches. Emerging from the rear of the shuttle 11 an antenna lead 21 with jack 22, two pair of speaker leads 23 and 24 having respective connectors 25 and 26 at their ends. A ground lead 30 with a shielded spade lug 31 also emerges from the rear of the shuttle 11. A plurality of additional leads 32 including power extend out of the rear of shuttle 11 and terminate in a polarized plug 33. The above leads are not leads from the radio 10 but rather are part of a harness 37 of FIG. 2 which connect to the special jack 50 engaging plug 51 as shown in FIG. 2 but not present in FIG. 1. The shuttle 11 is of thin gauge steel and may be formed from a single flat sheet and folded into the appropriate shape including interlocking teeth 34 providing joints that may be spot welded together to provide a structurally secure enclosure for the radio 10. The internal dimensions of the shuttle 11 are matched to the particular high quality radio to be mounted so that the two are in slip fit engagement and the radio 10 and housing or shuttle 11 may easily slip into the opening 20A in the console or dash 20 as best seen in FIG. 3.

One additional element of this invention present is a dummy tape cassette 40 having dimensions and openings corresponding to standard tape cassettes or tape cartridges accepted by the radio-tape player 10. Notable however, is a handle 41 extending from the edge of the tape cassette 40 closest to the tape door when the dummy tape cassette 40 is in place. This invention is designed in this embodiment to be used with radio tape players in which the tape is in mechanical engagement with the tape player when in place. Such engagement is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which either locking pin 70 or the capstans 71 extend partly through tape cassette 40 upon insertion into the tape receiving recess 72 of the radio tape player. The direction of movement of the pin 70 and the capstans 71 is illustrated by the heavy double ended arrows in FIG. 4. This movement of drive elements 70 and 71 is initiated by internal mechanical linkages of the tape player unshown and not a part of this invention. FIG. 6 also illustrates the handle 41 as secured within the cassette 40 by an internal wall 40w.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the shuttle 11 may be seen including its cable harness 37 and in socket 50 which matches plug 51. Connector plate 52 is secured with its plug 51 extending parallel to the rear face of the shuttle 11.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the edge flanges 12 and 13 appearing at the front edge of the shuttle 11 and the integral locking fingers 54 and 55 on the top edge and sides of the shuttle. These locking fingers 54 and 55 are available to be bent outward to snap through and engage the rear face of the panel 20 of FIG. 1 and the side walls of the opening 20A. In this manner, the shuttle 11 may be inserted the recess 20A with the fingers locking the shuttle in place. At the rear of the shuttle is lead 21 which enters the rear of shuttle 11 and engages a plug 60 which mates with the antenna socket of the rear of the radio 10.

The inner side of the plate 52 mounts on an insulating base and bears a series of connectors which match is location and size the integral sockets on the rear of the radio. This location and size of relationship is illustrated in FIG. 7 and particularly by comparing FIGS. 9 and 10 which show the rear of the radio in FIG. 9 with the antenna jack 60J at the right mating with the shuttle plug 60P of the left and the mating plugs 52P on the rear right of the radio 10 which mate with the jack 52J on left rear of the shuttle 11 when the radio is reversed 180 degrees and inserted in the shuttle 11. The close fitting configuration of the shuttle 11 and radio 10 provides proper alignment for these connectors when the radio 10 is placed in the shuttle 11 thereby minimizing pin bending and providing a standard insertion and withdrawal force for the radio 10. This force is sufficiently low. for example less than 25 pounds, to which easily allow the radio to be withdrawn from the shuttle 11 by grasping handle 41 of dummy tape 40.

This invention is employed in a automobile is illustrated in FIG. 3 in the following manner. The wiring connectors for the radio from the automobile are located behind the console 20 and unshown in FIG. 3 but located under the dash 20. The wiring connectors are drawn out through the opening 20A and connected to the respective leads of the wiring harness 37 of FIG. 3. This includes a ground lead 30, a power lead 32 and its plug 33, the antenna lead 21 and its jack 22 and speaker connectors 25 and 26. These leads are fed back into the opening 20A and the shuttle 11 is slipped half way into the opening 20A. At that time, the appropriate members of the tab groups 54 and 55 of FIGS. 2 and 5 are bent outward slightly in order that they may snap through the panel 20 or simply engage the wall of the opening 20A. The locking tabs 54 have sharp edges which dig into the rear face of the console or dash 20 and do not allow the shuttle to come out of the opening 20A until the tabs are bent back. Then the radio tape player 10 is simply slid into the shuttle 11 in what appears to be exactly the same position it would be located if installed without the shuttle 11. Only the wall thickness of the shuttle 11 lies between the console 20 and the rear face of the radio 10. The radio 10 is now ready for operation in the normal manner.

Whenever the owner has concern for a possible break-in or theft, he merely inserts the dummy tape cassette 40 into the tape opening, pulls gentle on the handle 41 and the entire radio 10 exits the shuttle 11. The radio may then be to be taken and stored hidden in the trunk of the vehicle, or carried off.

For radios without tape players, or if for any reason the dummy tape cassette handle 11 is impractical, I have devised the minimum visibility handle 80 employing the same shuttle 11 of this invention with a minor change. Again, the shuttle 11 does not cause the radio 10 to protrude any more than the shuttle wall thickness of 0.022 to 0.026 inch. The handle 80 is hardly visible when the radio is in place since it lies along the edge trim of the radio 10. This alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 8 11 and 12.

The handle 80 is C shaped and is pivoted from edge flanges 81 and 82 of frame 83 which is dimensioned to fit behind the edge lip 16 of the radio 10. It adds only the thickness of frame 83 to the lip 16. The handle 80 is dimensioned to closely fit around the radio edge lip and be hardly noticeable when in place.

To remove the radio in the embodiment of FIGS. 8, 11 and 12, one need only reach over, grasp the handle 80, pivot the handle 80 upward and outward and pull the radio 10 from the shuttle 11. The radio it is automatically disconnects in the process.

Therefore, I have developed two embodiments of a secure effective shuttle arrangement for holding a radio or radio-tape player in place in the automobile dash or console and to allow its virtually instantaneous removal for storage or safekeeping. This invention employs a handle which, in one embodiment, forms a part of a dummy tape cassette, and in the second embodiment, folds to be virtually invisible. The shuttle 10 itself is a thin wall metal enclosure conforming almost exactly to the radio external dimensions and including integral plugs and jacks which mate directly with the radio jacks and plugs so that upon insertion of the radio 10 into the shuttle 11, all electrical connection are automatically made and upon removal by either form of handle, the same electrical connections disengage automatically.

This invention shall not be limited to the illustrative embodiments but rather to the claims as set forth below which constitute definitions of this invention including the protection afforded by the doctrine of equivalents.