Hands-free cradle with elevator assembly

A hands-free cradle for receiving a mobile phone to enable hands-free operation of the mobile phone, the mobile phone having a data port for passing data signals and an antenna port for receiving antenna signals from an external antenna, the hands-free cradle comprising:

• a base assembly having a longitudinal axis;
• an elevator assembly joined with the base assembly to form an outer casing, the elevator assembly having a recessed portion, the recessed portion shaped to receive at least a part of the mobile phone having the data port, the elevator assembly moveable along the longitudinal axis, when the mobile phone is received in the recessed portion, to define an upper position and a lower position;
• an antenna connection member protruding from the outer casing, the antenna connection member having a coaxial antenna connector oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base assembly, the coaxial antenna connector situated to interface with the antenna port of the mobile phone when the mobile phone is received in the recessed portion of the elevator assembly in the upper position, the antenna connection member in cooperation with the elevator assembly to be moveable with the elevator assembly along the longitudinal axis;
• a data connector fixed relative to the base assembly, the data connector situated with respect to the data port of the mobile phone and to an opening formed in an area of the elevator assembly defining the recessed portion of the elevator assembly such that the data connector protrudes from the opening, when the elevator assembly is in the lower position, to interface with the data port of the mobile phone;
• a latching mechanism in cooperation with the elevator assembly to be engaged to retain the mobile phone when the elevator assembly is in the lower position, and disengaged when the elevator assembly is in the upper position;
• and
• an elevator release mechanism in cooperation with the elevator assembly and a locking apparatus which locks the elevator assembly in the lower position, the elevator release mechanism capable of being activated to release the locking apparatus, and a spring assembly forcing the elevator assembly from the lower position towards the upper position along the longitudinal axis when the elevator release mechanism is activated.