Apparatus and method for supporting and shielding a wireless device

A method of affecting the operability of a toll payment device including the steps of:

• providing a housing including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being rotatably secured to the second portion, the first and second portions forming a chamber for enclosing the payment device when the first portion is in a closed position, the first and second housing portions including a shield, the shield restricting the transmission of signals to or from the payment device when the first portion is in the closed position;
• securing the second housing portion to a vehicle;
• securing the payment device to the first housing portion;
• rotating the first housing portion to a closed position to prevent operation of the payment device;
• and
• rotating the first housing portion to an open position to open the chamber and permit operation of the payment device, wherein when the housing is in the open position, the payment device is positionable to face a windshield of the vehicle, and a space between the payment device and the windshield is substantially unobstructed by the housing.

A receptacle for supporting a wireless device on a support structure comprising:

• a housing including a first housing portion securable to the wireless device and a second housing portion being securable to the support structure, the first housing portion being pivotally secured to the second housing portion, the first housing portion and second housing portion each including a shield for attenuating the transmission of electromagnetic signals;
• and
• the first housing portion having a first position wherein the first housing portion and second housing portion form a chamber for enclosing the wireless device and restricting the transmission of electromagnetic signals from the chamber, the first housing portion having a second position wherein the first housing portion is displaced from the second housing portion thereby opening the chamber and exposing the wireless device to permit the transmission of electromagnetic signals to and from the wireless device, and wherein the first and second housing portions are connected by a hinge, and wherein the first housing portion includes a first wall and the second housing portion includes a second wall, the first and second walls being in opposed spaced relation when the first housing portion is in the first position to form the chamber, and wherein the first wall and second walls remain substantially parallel to each other when the first housing portion is pivoted about the hinge relative to the second housing portion.