CA1054739A - Telephone handset - Google Patents
Telephone handsetInfo
- Publication number
- CA1054739A CA1054739A CA238852A CA238852A CA1054739A CA 1054739 A CA1054739 A CA 1054739A CA 238852 A CA238852 A CA 238852A CA 238852 A CA238852 A CA 238852A CA 1054739 A CA1054739 A CA 1054739A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pushbuttons
- handset
- hand
- fingers
- telephone handset
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
- H04M1/0279—Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
- H04M1/0281—Improving the user comfort or ergonomics for providing single handed use or left/right hand conversion
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Pushbutton Telephone Handset A single hand operated telephone handset contains a keyboard with pushbuttons. The pushbuttons are arranged in groups so that each group is within tactile distance of a finger of the hand holding the handset. Grooves in the body of the handset are used for aligning the fingers of the hand with the grouped pushbuttons. The fingers dart out consecutively from the aligned positions to depress the pushbuttons thereby permitting blind manipulation of the handset.
Pushbutton Telephone Handset A single hand operated telephone handset contains a keyboard with pushbuttons. The pushbuttons are arranged in groups so that each group is within tactile distance of a finger of the hand holding the handset. Grooves in the body of the handset are used for aligning the fingers of the hand with the grouped pushbuttons. The fingers dart out consecutively from the aligned positions to depress the pushbuttons thereby permitting blind manipulation of the handset.
Description
The present invention relates to key-in-handset telephone instruments and more Darticularly to im~rovements ln the housing structure of such tele~hones, and the result-ant advantaPeous ways of using the hands~t.
Key-in-handset telephones are known in the art as shown, for exam~le, on the back cover of the "Bell Laborator-ies Record", September 1974 issue. The handset contains a transmittin~ unit, a receivin~ unit and a calling arrange-ment consisting of twelve Dushbuttons and a recall button.
Durin~ operation the set is held in one hand while the station numbers are keyed into it with the other hand.
Inadvertant depression of the ~ushbuttons ~ust be avoided to prevent interruptions in the callin~ o~eration.
This latter problem has been overcome in Canadian Pa~ent 700,088 by R.E. Prescott and E. ~Jatkins which issued on December 15, 1964. The ~ushbuttons are recessed in the hand-set and vertical ridges between three columns of keys ~reven~
false operation of the keys while the handset is held during a call.
The above mentioned handsets are relatively bulky and therefore awkward to hold in comparison with the po~ular and widely used handset containin~ receivin~ and transmittin~
un~ts only. A model of this handset is shos~rn in the to~ left hand corner of the back ~aoe in the aforementioned issue of "Bell Laboratories Record", SeDtember 1974.
A common procedure for making a call with known key-in-handset teleDhones comprises holding the handset in one hand, lookino for and remembering a 7 digit telephone number, lookin~ at the keys in the face plate of the telephone, and keyino-in the desired number with the other hand. Thus known handsets re~uire the full attention of an onerator who
Key-in-handset telephones are known in the art as shown, for exam~le, on the back cover of the "Bell Laborator-ies Record", September 1974 issue. The handset contains a transmittin~ unit, a receivin~ unit and a calling arrange-ment consisting of twelve Dushbuttons and a recall button.
Durin~ operation the set is held in one hand while the station numbers are keyed into it with the other hand.
Inadvertant depression of the ~ushbuttons ~ust be avoided to prevent interruptions in the callin~ o~eration.
This latter problem has been overcome in Canadian Pa~ent 700,088 by R.E. Prescott and E. ~Jatkins which issued on December 15, 1964. The ~ushbuttons are recessed in the hand-set and vertical ridges between three columns of keys ~reven~
false operation of the keys while the handset is held during a call.
The above mentioned handsets are relatively bulky and therefore awkward to hold in comparison with the po~ular and widely used handset containin~ receivin~ and transmittin~
un~ts only. A model of this handset is shos~rn in the to~ left hand corner of the back ~aoe in the aforementioned issue of "Bell Laboratories Record", SeDtember 1974.
A common procedure for making a call with known key-in-handset teleDhones comprises holding the handset in one hand, lookino for and remembering a 7 digit telephone number, lookin~ at the keys in the face plate of the telephone, and keyino-in the desired number with the other hand. Thus known handsets re~uire the full attention of an onerator who
- 2 lOS4739 ls making the call.
In comoarison, this disclosure describes a handset which is held in one hand and the keys are mani~ulated with the same hand. The ooerator's eyes and other hand are there-by freed from the keying-in-operation. The eyes can, for ex-ample, remain fixed during the entire callino procedure on a written number to be keyed-in the handset. ~emorization o-a telephone number is therefore not required for speed and accuracy in the keying-in operation. The other free hand can be employed during the operation to indicate the location of the printed telephone number.
If the entire telephone number is memorized before calling, the eyes and the other hand are not needed to malce a call. Some skill is required with the fingers in keying-in a number. The arrangement of the keys in the handset oermits bllnd manipulation of the keys.
An ob~ect of this invention is to provide a key-in-handset telephone which requires only one hand to su~ort it and simultaneously operate the keys with the fingers of the one hand.
More specifically the invention provides a telephone handset comprisin~ in combination an elongated portion be-tween transmitter and receiver for being held in one hand, pushbuttons extending from said portion for actuating contacts and index means which register the fingers of said one hand with preselected groups of said pushbuttons, each of said groups having the contacts of said pushbuttons actuated by~-one of said registered fingers during the same holding operation.
Accordin~ to another aspect of the invention there ls provided a handset comprising a housin~ with a narrow ~054739 portion of such a length and section to be grasped in a hand, a sequence of pushbuttons arranged in rows, said rows forming pairs of said ~ushbuttons across said narrow portion, said pushbuttons spaced apart for the fingers of said hand to fall in registration over said pushbuttons when the handset is being gras~ed by said hand and one of said fingers fallin~
into said narrosl portion between two ~airs of pushbuttons.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a single hand operated handset having elongated sides joined together to be grasped by said hand and having buttons arran~ed in groups for alignment with different fingers of said hand, said buttons having a separation so that each of said fingers is operating a button in a pro-selected one of said groups of buttons.
More specifically the invention provides a telephone handset for blind manipulation with one hand, havin~ a transmitter, a receiver, and an elongated portion therebets~een for being grasped by said hand, Pushbuttons for actuating contacts extending from the elongated portion and aligned in at least one column along the elongated portion, the pushbuttons havin~a fingerwide spacin~ along said column and located within tactile distance of the fingers of said one hand, while said one hand is holdin~g said elon~ated portion with said fingers substantially perDendicular to said column.
Preali~nment of the fin~ers with ~ushbuttons in the immediate vicinity of the location where the fingers rest while grasping the handset is facilitated by indexing grooves in the elongated portion. Prealignment throu~h registration of the fingers with these grooves ensures that the finaers are within tactile distance of a ~redetermined number of pushbuttons.
_ 4 The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a teleohone key-in-handset and the operation thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sideview of a handset of Figure 1 oart-ly in section in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 3 is a front view of a handset sho~ing the moun-ting arrangement of the faceplate in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention will n~t be described, by way of exam~le, with reference to the accom~anying draw-ings which are not dra~m to scale. Figure 1 shows a telephone key-in-handset revealing an elongated body oortion 11 havino a first raised end portion 12 housing a receiver (not shown) and a second raised end portion 13 havin~ a transmitter (not shown). Both end portions are accessible throuo,h removable cover~ 14 and 15 at end portions 12 and 13 respectively which are of the turn on tyoe. The central part of the body portion 11 has a smooth and slightly convex back side 16 and a front side 17 containing face plate 18.
The faceplate contains ten movably mounted pushbutton keys 19 which are arranged in two columns of 5 pushbuttons each. The pushbuttons are further arranged into two clusters of 4 and 6 each, which are separated by finger soace 20 on the faceolate.
In order to provide a firm ~rip of the handset by hand 21 the middle finger can be ?laced substantially around the finger soace 20 as shown. The remining finger tios are placed across the front side of the body portion without ,~ 1054739 depressing any pushbuttons, as is described in detail further on. Another function of finger space 20 is to align the fin-gers ln an initial position along groups of pushbuttons in the body portion 11 of the handset.
Although the oresent exam~le is sh~rin~ the finger space 20 for the middle finger it is understood that the present example is for illustration only and that the finger space can be provided at other locations as, for example, the first two and last eight pushbuttons so as to provide a space for the index fin~er. Another alternative configuration is to provide a uniform spacing between each row of pushbuttons without any finger space. The fin~er sDace 20 in the preferred embodiment of the drawings was found to provide good support durin~ manipulation of the handset and division of the push-buttons into two groups provides easier aligning of the fingers with the pushbuttons la.
The preferred mode of operation of the oushbuttons ls for the index fin,~er to depress the first row of push-buttons indicated as numbers 1 and 2 in Figure 1. The ~iddle finger operates the second and third row of pushbuttons, the second row bein~, in the upper cluster and the third row in the lower cluster of pushbuttons ad~acent the finger space.
The fourth finger operates the fourth ro~r of pushbuttons and the fifth finger onerates the fifth or bottom row of push-buttons. In this configuration a minimum amount of movement is required for each fin,~er from its normal or initial ~osit-ion, without need for the lateral movement of the handset in the palm of the hand. During manipulation of the ten digital keys the thumb 17 of the hand rests against the raised end portion 12 either from the side or fro~ below as sh~rn in the drawin~ to sunport the handset in conjunction with other parts of the hand.
I~hen the mlddle finger is u~ed to operate the second and thlrd rows of ~ushbuttons the handset is supoorted by some or all of the remining fin~ers resting against the side or front plate of the body portion, the thumb and partly by the palm of the hand dependina on the size of the operators hand and the skill and habit of the operator. There are sufficient support points around the handset to ~rovide a steady hold on the handset provided that it is not too bi~, overly heavy, or unevenly balanced.
.~ The movably mounted pushbutton keys are surrounded by a U-shaped outer ridge 12 around the upper and lower group of pushbuttons in order to orotect the pushbuttons from being depressed inadvertantly by a finger which is placed across the face plate. Depression of teh pushbuttons is possible by usln~ the tip of a finger. A central ridge 22 is located between two columns of buttons. The height of the central ridge is less than the height of the outer ridges. The central ridge must be high enough to provide ~rotection from inad-uertant depression of the buttons but also permit depressionof the buttons located in the column closest to the wrist of the hand. The angle between the fingers and the keys is greater for this column of keys as the finoers are extended further than for the first column of keys.
The operation of the handset proceeds with one hand reaching for the handset~ with the fingers graspino the cen-tral portion of it. The fingers become aligned with the push-buttons through the indexing~ finger sDace. An operator can now devote his whole attention to the number to be keyed in since it becomes an automatic procedure with some ~ractice and knowledge of the location of the keys. The number is keyed-in sequentially into the handset either from memory or by keeping the eyes fixed on a written number without ever havlng to look at the handset to check for finaer posltioning.
Each fin~er has to o~erate a number of designated keyes similar to blind typing as mentioned above. Errors due to misdialling are thus much less likely to occur due to the greater attention paid to the number and the automatic manner of depressing the keys. A number with only a f~w digits can be keyed into the handset even before it is fully moved from the handset base to the operator's ear, if desired.
A very simple form that a handset can take is for each finger of the hand to operate one pushbutton only. If telephone handsets contain four buttons only instead of ten, greater economy, speed and accuracy can be obtained in the following manner. In most localities a telephone number has seven numerals. If thesç numerals contain the digits zero, one, two and three, the total number of different seven numeral numbers is about three million. This compares with about nine million different numbers for seven digit numerals having ten different digits. If three million is an insuffi-cient number of different tele~hones in a Particular locality an eight digit can be added. The simpliclty of operation of the ~resent invention outtreighs the extra labour involved in keying-in an extra digit on the keyboard.
The present invention is particularly useful to a person who is making frequent calls. If desired, the handset can be placed in the palm of one hand and keyed-in with the other hand as in the operation of prior art handsets. The handset can be o~erated by right or left handed persons since the handle is symmetrical.
Figure 2 shOwS a side view of the handset with a portion 24 thereof broken a~lay in order to show more detail.
The pushbuttons 19 in the faceplate 18 are recessed below the outer ridge 12 and the-central ridge 22. Finger space 20 is recessed below the ridges. Numberal 23 indicates a concave curvature in the transmitting end of the housing to provide ample space for placing the thumb of the hand against the housing.
When a pushbutton is operated by a finger it may be desirable to know when the button has been depressed suffi-ciently for the number to be keyed-in. Normally the pushbutton it depressed as far as possible but at times only a partial depression may occur leavino an ooerator uncertain if the required number has been keyed-in. To make the operator instantly aware of partial depressions, and thereby to avoid errors in the conneciton, the pushbutton means can be mounted in the handset w~th a variable force arrangement such that when the contacts below the buttons have been actuated the outward force acting on the button suddenly decreases signifying sufficient travel by the pushbutton for the number to be keyed-in the handset.
An embodiment of such oushbutton arrangement is provided by a coiled spring pressing against the button at one end and against a back plate at the other end. l~hen the button is depressed it will engage a pin after a fixed length of travel and push it a certain distance alon~ with the motion of the button. This force of the pin is translated to a backplate releasing mechanism which causes the coiled sprin~ to extend suddenly thereby reducing the compressive force oe the button. This change of force is ~elt by the fin-~er activatin~ the ~ushbutton. The tactile indication meansis shown by numeral 30 in Fi~ure 2 of the drawin~s.
lOS4739 .
Fi~ure 3 of the drawings shows the handset with the face plate removed. The central body portion is suf~iciently narrow to enable a firm grasp by one hand. me body portion must be wide enough to contain the electrical circuitry.
Opening 26 in the central portion of the handset permits the introduction and assembly of the electroni~ circuitry into the body. The face plate rests on rongues 27. Screws (not sh~m) are inserted through the face olate into openin~s 28 of the tongues thereby anchoring the plate to the body.
The above arrangement hides the ~oint between the face plate and the body from contact with the operator's hand thereby providing more convenient handling of the hand-set. Only a small region 29 at the finger space has a ~oint exposed to the index finger.
In view of the limited volume which is available lnside of the handset for the circuitry it is -~referable to have ~ all'electronic circuit for the pushbuttons. The com-mon switch and the pushbutton switches are ~referabiy made of solid state switches because of the desireable smaller size compared with electromechanical switches.
me handset may be used on present commonly used switchhooks such as on desk or wall bases. In the desk base the t~Yo recall buttons located in the handset receptacle may have to be somewhat longer in order to act on the recessed central ridge of the present handset.
In~-order to further improve the ali~nment of the fingers with the keys, the handset can have slight indenta-tions along the side of the handle of the body Dortion or on the ridges in line with the horizontal position of the keys. The indentations serve as a guide for the fingers to indicate the location of the oushbuttons. See numeral 31 in Figures 1 to 3.
Since the index means register the fln~ers in line with groups of pushbutton keys a convenient center to center spacing is a finger's width or about 5/8 to 7/8 of an inch ln order to prevent interference of different fingers with each other. Furthermore, the number of pushbutton keys need not be limited to 10 but can be more but preferably less for easy manip~lation of the keyboard. The natural movement of a finger is in a plane per~endicular to the palm of the hand from when the fingers are in an outstretched position to a position when the hand forms a fist. Except for the thu~b lateral movement of the fingers in other direc~ions is li~it~d.
The handset as described is obviously ~ery advanta~,e-ous to use by blind persons. Furthermore, a telephone of the present invention which is installed in an automobile takes a minimal ~)~ount o~ distraction from an operator of th~
moving vehicle.
$his completes the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein. ~owever,~-;~a,ny modifications thereof will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, any desired layout of structure may be formed with this invention. The invention may be used in the production of toys for children in which audible sounds are produced when the pushbuttons are depressed, such appara-tus may be manufactured without the sound transducers at either end of the handle. Accordingly, it is contemplated that this invention be no~t limited to the particular details of the embodiments dlsclosed herein, exce~t as defined by the appended claims.
In comoarison, this disclosure describes a handset which is held in one hand and the keys are mani~ulated with the same hand. The ooerator's eyes and other hand are there-by freed from the keying-in-operation. The eyes can, for ex-ample, remain fixed during the entire callino procedure on a written number to be keyed-in the handset. ~emorization o-a telephone number is therefore not required for speed and accuracy in the keying-in operation. The other free hand can be employed during the operation to indicate the location of the printed telephone number.
If the entire telephone number is memorized before calling, the eyes and the other hand are not needed to malce a call. Some skill is required with the fingers in keying-in a number. The arrangement of the keys in the handset oermits bllnd manipulation of the keys.
An ob~ect of this invention is to provide a key-in-handset telephone which requires only one hand to su~ort it and simultaneously operate the keys with the fingers of the one hand.
More specifically the invention provides a telephone handset comprisin~ in combination an elongated portion be-tween transmitter and receiver for being held in one hand, pushbuttons extending from said portion for actuating contacts and index means which register the fingers of said one hand with preselected groups of said pushbuttons, each of said groups having the contacts of said pushbuttons actuated by~-one of said registered fingers during the same holding operation.
Accordin~ to another aspect of the invention there ls provided a handset comprising a housin~ with a narrow ~054739 portion of such a length and section to be grasped in a hand, a sequence of pushbuttons arranged in rows, said rows forming pairs of said ~ushbuttons across said narrow portion, said pushbuttons spaced apart for the fingers of said hand to fall in registration over said pushbuttons when the handset is being gras~ed by said hand and one of said fingers fallin~
into said narrosl portion between two ~airs of pushbuttons.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a single hand operated handset having elongated sides joined together to be grasped by said hand and having buttons arran~ed in groups for alignment with different fingers of said hand, said buttons having a separation so that each of said fingers is operating a button in a pro-selected one of said groups of buttons.
More specifically the invention provides a telephone handset for blind manipulation with one hand, havin~ a transmitter, a receiver, and an elongated portion therebets~een for being grasped by said hand, Pushbuttons for actuating contacts extending from the elongated portion and aligned in at least one column along the elongated portion, the pushbuttons havin~a fingerwide spacin~ along said column and located within tactile distance of the fingers of said one hand, while said one hand is holdin~g said elon~ated portion with said fingers substantially perDendicular to said column.
Preali~nment of the fin~ers with ~ushbuttons in the immediate vicinity of the location where the fingers rest while grasping the handset is facilitated by indexing grooves in the elongated portion. Prealignment throu~h registration of the fingers with these grooves ensures that the finaers are within tactile distance of a ~redetermined number of pushbuttons.
_ 4 The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a teleohone key-in-handset and the operation thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sideview of a handset of Figure 1 oart-ly in section in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 3 is a front view of a handset sho~ing the moun-ting arrangement of the faceplate in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention will n~t be described, by way of exam~le, with reference to the accom~anying draw-ings which are not dra~m to scale. Figure 1 shows a telephone key-in-handset revealing an elongated body oortion 11 havino a first raised end portion 12 housing a receiver (not shown) and a second raised end portion 13 havin~ a transmitter (not shown). Both end portions are accessible throuo,h removable cover~ 14 and 15 at end portions 12 and 13 respectively which are of the turn on tyoe. The central part of the body portion 11 has a smooth and slightly convex back side 16 and a front side 17 containing face plate 18.
The faceplate contains ten movably mounted pushbutton keys 19 which are arranged in two columns of 5 pushbuttons each. The pushbuttons are further arranged into two clusters of 4 and 6 each, which are separated by finger soace 20 on the faceolate.
In order to provide a firm ~rip of the handset by hand 21 the middle finger can be ?laced substantially around the finger soace 20 as shown. The remining finger tios are placed across the front side of the body portion without ,~ 1054739 depressing any pushbuttons, as is described in detail further on. Another function of finger space 20 is to align the fin-gers ln an initial position along groups of pushbuttons in the body portion 11 of the handset.
Although the oresent exam~le is sh~rin~ the finger space 20 for the middle finger it is understood that the present example is for illustration only and that the finger space can be provided at other locations as, for example, the first two and last eight pushbuttons so as to provide a space for the index fin~er. Another alternative configuration is to provide a uniform spacing between each row of pushbuttons without any finger space. The fin~er sDace 20 in the preferred embodiment of the drawings was found to provide good support durin~ manipulation of the handset and division of the push-buttons into two groups provides easier aligning of the fingers with the pushbuttons la.
The preferred mode of operation of the oushbuttons ls for the index fin,~er to depress the first row of push-buttons indicated as numbers 1 and 2 in Figure 1. The ~iddle finger operates the second and third row of pushbuttons, the second row bein~, in the upper cluster and the third row in the lower cluster of pushbuttons ad~acent the finger space.
The fourth finger operates the fourth ro~r of pushbuttons and the fifth finger onerates the fifth or bottom row of push-buttons. In this configuration a minimum amount of movement is required for each fin,~er from its normal or initial ~osit-ion, without need for the lateral movement of the handset in the palm of the hand. During manipulation of the ten digital keys the thumb 17 of the hand rests against the raised end portion 12 either from the side or fro~ below as sh~rn in the drawin~ to sunport the handset in conjunction with other parts of the hand.
I~hen the mlddle finger is u~ed to operate the second and thlrd rows of ~ushbuttons the handset is supoorted by some or all of the remining fin~ers resting against the side or front plate of the body portion, the thumb and partly by the palm of the hand dependina on the size of the operators hand and the skill and habit of the operator. There are sufficient support points around the handset to ~rovide a steady hold on the handset provided that it is not too bi~, overly heavy, or unevenly balanced.
.~ The movably mounted pushbutton keys are surrounded by a U-shaped outer ridge 12 around the upper and lower group of pushbuttons in order to orotect the pushbuttons from being depressed inadvertantly by a finger which is placed across the face plate. Depression of teh pushbuttons is possible by usln~ the tip of a finger. A central ridge 22 is located between two columns of buttons. The height of the central ridge is less than the height of the outer ridges. The central ridge must be high enough to provide ~rotection from inad-uertant depression of the buttons but also permit depressionof the buttons located in the column closest to the wrist of the hand. The angle between the fingers and the keys is greater for this column of keys as the finoers are extended further than for the first column of keys.
The operation of the handset proceeds with one hand reaching for the handset~ with the fingers graspino the cen-tral portion of it. The fingers become aligned with the push-buttons through the indexing~ finger sDace. An operator can now devote his whole attention to the number to be keyed in since it becomes an automatic procedure with some ~ractice and knowledge of the location of the keys. The number is keyed-in sequentially into the handset either from memory or by keeping the eyes fixed on a written number without ever havlng to look at the handset to check for finaer posltioning.
Each fin~er has to o~erate a number of designated keyes similar to blind typing as mentioned above. Errors due to misdialling are thus much less likely to occur due to the greater attention paid to the number and the automatic manner of depressing the keys. A number with only a f~w digits can be keyed into the handset even before it is fully moved from the handset base to the operator's ear, if desired.
A very simple form that a handset can take is for each finger of the hand to operate one pushbutton only. If telephone handsets contain four buttons only instead of ten, greater economy, speed and accuracy can be obtained in the following manner. In most localities a telephone number has seven numerals. If thesç numerals contain the digits zero, one, two and three, the total number of different seven numeral numbers is about three million. This compares with about nine million different numbers for seven digit numerals having ten different digits. If three million is an insuffi-cient number of different tele~hones in a Particular locality an eight digit can be added. The simpliclty of operation of the ~resent invention outtreighs the extra labour involved in keying-in an extra digit on the keyboard.
The present invention is particularly useful to a person who is making frequent calls. If desired, the handset can be placed in the palm of one hand and keyed-in with the other hand as in the operation of prior art handsets. The handset can be o~erated by right or left handed persons since the handle is symmetrical.
Figure 2 shOwS a side view of the handset with a portion 24 thereof broken a~lay in order to show more detail.
The pushbuttons 19 in the faceplate 18 are recessed below the outer ridge 12 and the-central ridge 22. Finger space 20 is recessed below the ridges. Numberal 23 indicates a concave curvature in the transmitting end of the housing to provide ample space for placing the thumb of the hand against the housing.
When a pushbutton is operated by a finger it may be desirable to know when the button has been depressed suffi-ciently for the number to be keyed-in. Normally the pushbutton it depressed as far as possible but at times only a partial depression may occur leavino an ooerator uncertain if the required number has been keyed-in. To make the operator instantly aware of partial depressions, and thereby to avoid errors in the conneciton, the pushbutton means can be mounted in the handset w~th a variable force arrangement such that when the contacts below the buttons have been actuated the outward force acting on the button suddenly decreases signifying sufficient travel by the pushbutton for the number to be keyed-in the handset.
An embodiment of such oushbutton arrangement is provided by a coiled spring pressing against the button at one end and against a back plate at the other end. l~hen the button is depressed it will engage a pin after a fixed length of travel and push it a certain distance alon~ with the motion of the button. This force of the pin is translated to a backplate releasing mechanism which causes the coiled sprin~ to extend suddenly thereby reducing the compressive force oe the button. This change of force is ~elt by the fin-~er activatin~ the ~ushbutton. The tactile indication meansis shown by numeral 30 in Fi~ure 2 of the drawin~s.
lOS4739 .
Fi~ure 3 of the drawings shows the handset with the face plate removed. The central body portion is suf~iciently narrow to enable a firm grasp by one hand. me body portion must be wide enough to contain the electrical circuitry.
Opening 26 in the central portion of the handset permits the introduction and assembly of the electroni~ circuitry into the body. The face plate rests on rongues 27. Screws (not sh~m) are inserted through the face olate into openin~s 28 of the tongues thereby anchoring the plate to the body.
The above arrangement hides the ~oint between the face plate and the body from contact with the operator's hand thereby providing more convenient handling of the hand-set. Only a small region 29 at the finger space has a ~oint exposed to the index finger.
In view of the limited volume which is available lnside of the handset for the circuitry it is -~referable to have ~ all'electronic circuit for the pushbuttons. The com-mon switch and the pushbutton switches are ~referabiy made of solid state switches because of the desireable smaller size compared with electromechanical switches.
me handset may be used on present commonly used switchhooks such as on desk or wall bases. In the desk base the t~Yo recall buttons located in the handset receptacle may have to be somewhat longer in order to act on the recessed central ridge of the present handset.
In~-order to further improve the ali~nment of the fingers with the keys, the handset can have slight indenta-tions along the side of the handle of the body Dortion or on the ridges in line with the horizontal position of the keys. The indentations serve as a guide for the fingers to indicate the location of the oushbuttons. See numeral 31 in Figures 1 to 3.
Since the index means register the fln~ers in line with groups of pushbutton keys a convenient center to center spacing is a finger's width or about 5/8 to 7/8 of an inch ln order to prevent interference of different fingers with each other. Furthermore, the number of pushbutton keys need not be limited to 10 but can be more but preferably less for easy manip~lation of the keyboard. The natural movement of a finger is in a plane per~endicular to the palm of the hand from when the fingers are in an outstretched position to a position when the hand forms a fist. Except for the thu~b lateral movement of the fingers in other direc~ions is li~it~d.
The handset as described is obviously ~ery advanta~,e-ous to use by blind persons. Furthermore, a telephone of the present invention which is installed in an automobile takes a minimal ~)~ount o~ distraction from an operator of th~
moving vehicle.
$his completes the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein. ~owever,~-;~a,ny modifications thereof will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, any desired layout of structure may be formed with this invention. The invention may be used in the production of toys for children in which audible sounds are produced when the pushbuttons are depressed, such appara-tus may be manufactured without the sound transducers at either end of the handle. Accordingly, it is contemplated that this invention be no~t limited to the particular details of the embodiments dlsclosed herein, exce~t as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (7)
1. A telephone handset for blind manipulation with one hand, said handset having a transmitter and a receiver, comprising in combination:
an elongated portion between said transmitter and receiver for being grasped by said hand;
pushbuttons for actuating contacts extending from said portion and aligned in at least one column along said elongated portion;
said pushbuttons having a fingerwide spacing along said column and located within tactile distance of the fingers of said one hand while said one hand is holding said elongated portion with said fingers substantially perpendicular to said column.
an elongated portion between said transmitter and receiver for being grasped by said hand;
pushbuttons for actuating contacts extending from said portion and aligned in at least one column along said elongated portion;
said pushbuttons having a fingerwide spacing along said column and located within tactile distance of the fingers of said one hand while said one hand is holding said elongated portion with said fingers substantially perpendicular to said column.
2. The telephone handset as claimed in claim 1, in which said pushbuttons are aligned in two adjacent columns having a fingerwide spacing.
3. The telephone handset as claimed in claim 2, said elongated portion having indexing grooves for prealigning said fingers within tactile distance of predetermined pushbuttons.
4. The telephone handset as claimed in claim 3, having ten pushbuttons, in which said indexing grooves provide for prealignment of the index finger with a first pair of pushbuttons, the middle finger with a second and third pair of pushbuttons, the ring finger with a fourth pair of pushbuttons, and the little finger of said hand with a fifth pair of pushbuttons each of said pairs of pushbuttons comprising a pushbutton fromthe first and second columns.
5. The telephone handset as claimed in claim 4, in which said second and third pairs of pushbuttons have a fingerwide groove therebetween.
6. The telephone handset as claimed in claim 5, in which said fingerwide spacing is from 5/8 to 7/8 inches.
7. The telephone handset as claimed in claim 6, in which said pushbuttons have tactile indication means for indicating the activation of said contacts.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA238852A CA1054739A (en) | 1975-11-03 | 1975-11-03 | Telephone handset |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA238852A CA1054739A (en) | 1975-11-03 | 1975-11-03 | Telephone handset |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1054739A true CA1054739A (en) | 1979-05-15 |
Family
ID=4104428
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA238852A Expired CA1054739A (en) | 1975-11-03 | 1975-11-03 | Telephone handset |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1054739A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6373501B1 (en) | 2000-03-15 | 2002-04-16 | Richard A. Fiero | Portable device comprising keypad and screen |
-
1975
- 1975-11-03 CA CA238852A patent/CA1054739A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6373501B1 (en) | 2000-03-15 | 2002-04-16 | Richard A. Fiero | Portable device comprising keypad and screen |
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