EP0078319A1 - Couvercle protecteur de telephone - Google Patents

Couvercle protecteur de telephone

Info

Publication number
EP0078319A1
EP0078319A1 EP19820901891 EP82901891A EP0078319A1 EP 0078319 A1 EP0078319 A1 EP 0078319A1 EP 19820901891 EP19820901891 EP 19820901891 EP 82901891 A EP82901891 A EP 82901891A EP 0078319 A1 EP0078319 A1 EP 0078319A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
pockets
array
push
cover
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19820901891
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Milton Morse
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
APM Corp
Original Assignee
APM Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/299,509 external-priority patent/US4436965A/en
Application filed by APM Corp filed Critical APM Corp
Publication of EP0078319A1 publication Critical patent/EP0078319A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/036—Light emitting elements
    • H01H2219/052—Phosphorescence
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/08—Actuators composed of different parts
    • H01H2221/082—Superimposed actuators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00—Casings
    • H01H2223/044—Protecting cover
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/038—Anti-vandalism

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to protective covering devices for use in connection with arrays of key-operated switches. Arrays of this type are ex ⁇ emplified by the push-buttons on a conventional push ⁇ button type telephone set.
  • this telephone set which is usually con ⁇ veniently placed with respect to a work station, is subject to damage from environmental hazards, includ ⁇ ing especially to spillage of liquids, which can readily seep through the openings surrounding the individual push-button keys and cause damage,, in some cases irreparable damage, to the underlying switching mechanisms.
  • many telephone sets include one or more rows of further push-buttons beneath the dialing array, which buttons are used for signaling,
  • I provide a protective cover for a telephone set with an array of key-actuated switches, which generally comprises a flexible elastomeric sheet, having one or more pockets therein, which are adapted to receive and overlie the push-buttons in the array of push-buttons on the tele ⁇ phone set.
  • each of the push-buttons in the array fit into pockets of the cover, so that when the cover is emplaced over the set, all of the push-buttons are covered and the buttons may be operated by depressing the outwardly projecting pockets.
  • the pocket, or pockets may be provided with suitable indicia corresponding to those on the keys, enabling indentification of the keys with the cover placed thereover.
  • the protective cover is further provided with a skirt or border portion, which extends beyond the push—button covering pockets and the sheet is continuous between the lateral edges of same.
  • the gasket is adapted to extend completely around the periphery of the sheet in overlying relation to the border portion.
  • the gasket is flexible and ad ⁇ herent to the border portion of the sheet and to the planar surface of the equipment.
  • the gasket prior to use may have covers on its opposite sides which are removable for attachment of the gasket by the applica ⁇ tion of pressure to the sheet and to the planar surface of the equipment.
  • FIGURE 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a protective cover for a push-button telephone set of the type utilized with the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a side view of the cover of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is another side view of the FIGURE 1 device
  • FIGURE 4 is a side view of a single pocket of the array in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the device of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of a protective cover for a push-button telephone set of the type utilized with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 7 is a side view of the cover of FIGURE 6;
  • FIGURE 8 is a top view of a third embodiment of a protective cover of the type utilized with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a side view of the FIGURE 8 device
  • FIGURE 10 is a top view of a further protec ⁇ tive cover for a push-button telephone set of the type utilized with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cover of FIGURE 10, taken along the line 11-11 therein.
  • FIGURE 12 is a further cross-sectional view of the FIGURE 10 device, taken along the line 12-12 therein;
  • FIGURE 13 is a further cross-sectional side view of the FIGURE 10 device, taken along the line 13-13 therein;
  • FIGURE 14 is a further front plan view of a sealing cover of the type with which the present invention is utilized;
  • FIGURE 15 is a rear plan view of the device of
  • FIGURE 14 showing the gasket of the invention secured thereto
  • FIGURE 16 is a perspective view, showing the general configuration of a gasket in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view of the gasket of Figure 16;
  • FIGURE 18 is a top plan view of the gasket of • Figure 16;
  • FIGURE 19 is a cross-sectional view of the Figure 18 gasket, taken along the line 19-19 of Figure 18;
  • FIGURE 20 is a top plan view of a further em- 5 bodiment of a sealing gasket in accordance viith the invention.
  • FIGURE 21 is a cross-sectional view of the Figure 20 gasket, taken along the line 21-21 of Figure 20.
  • the cover 10 in Figure 1 is made of an elasto ⁇ meric material such as rubber, or it may be made of a plastic material such as polyvinylchloride.
  • a number 0 of pockets are provided in the cover, generally shown as 11. Each of these pockets has a top portion 12 and side wall portion 13, which conform to the shape of the underlying push-button. Adjoining pockets are joined by the material of the cover as shown by 14 in 5 Figure 4; thus each of the buttons in the push-button array in a telephone set are adapted to fit into each of the pockets of the cover so that when the cover is placed over the telephone set all of the push-buttons are covered.
  • cover is provided with a skirt 15, which extends beyond the push-button array, the sheet itself being continuous between the lateral edges generally shown as 16, 17, 18, and 19.
  • a raised portion or mesa 20 is provided which may be provided with an indicia corresponding to the indicia on the underlying button of the telephone set. Such indicia can be directly molded into mesa 20, or can be applied thereto, as by printing or so forth.
  • the underside of cover 12 may be provided with adhesive strips 21 ( Figure 5), but these are generally not required where the gasket arrangement of the pre ⁇ sent invention is utilized.
  • the projecting portion 20 of the pocket can be coated with, or made of a phosphorescent material which can glow in a darkened environment if properly ener ⁇ gized.
  • a phosphorescent material which can glow in a darkened environment if properly ener ⁇ gized.
  • certain phosphers will glow for a limited time after exposure to ambient light or may be caused to glow by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
  • phosphers can be used which will glow in response to a radio frequency field.
  • the means for producing phosphorescence in such cases is so well- known that no showing of such means is indicated in the drawing.
  • the protective cover 10 may be colored to match the telephone set if desired.
  • the cover 110 of Figures 6 and 7 is typically molded of a flexible elastomeric material such as a silicone rubber, or other synthetic elastomer, natural or synthetic rubber of the like.
  • Cover 110 is molded with a recessed portion 111 having side walls 112, which thus -forms a pocket which can cover the entire push-button array of the aforementioned telephone set.
  • cover 110 is preferably trans ⁇ parent (e.g., a clear silicone rubber), whereby the underlying push-buttons are directly visible — as is suggested in shadow at 108. It is also possible, how- ever, for cover 110 to be formed of an opaque elasto- meric material, in which event indicia corresponding ⁇ to buttons 108 can be applied to the outward face of portion 111.
  • trans ⁇ parent e.g., a clear silicone rubber
  • the cover 110 is provide with a skirt 113, which extends beyond the portion 111, the sheet itself being continuous between the lateral edges generally shown as 114, 115, 116, and 117.
  • cover 110 may be provided with adhesive strips 118, which initially are covered with paper 122 which is removed before the strip is attached. These strips are not required, however, where the gas ⁇ ket arrangement of the present invention is used.
  • the flexible elastomeric sheet is there seen to be provided with mesa-like projections 119 which can be provided with indicia 120 corresponding to those on the underlying telephone set buttons.
  • Indicia 120 may comprise a phosphorescent material which can glow in a darkened environment.
  • the cover 210 of Figure 10 is again made of an elastomeric material such as rubber, or it may be made of an elastomeric plastic material such as a polyvinyl- chloride.
  • Cover 210 is preferably formed of a material which is substantially transparent.
  • a rectangular grid 211 of pockets 208 are provided in the portion of cover 210 which will coincide with the telephone push-button array which is used for dialing.
  • Each of these pock ⁇ ets 208 has a top portion 212 and sidewall portion 213,
  • buttons in the rectangular push- button dialing array in a telephone set are adapted to fit into each of the grid pockets 208 of the cover, so that when the cover is placed over the telephone set, all of the said push-buttons are covered.
  • an elongated pocket 240 is pro- vided to cover a row of push-buttons, such as are com ⁇ monly provided below the switching (i.e. dialing) array. These further push-buttons (as is well-known) are used to select a particular telephone line, to signal, or for other purposes.
  • Elongated pocket 240 is defined by side walls 242, 243, 244, and 245, and a flat upper surface 241. If desired, one or more additional elon ⁇ gated such pockets may be provided between pockets 240 and grid 211, to coincide with additional horizontal rows of push-buttons on the underlying telephone set.
  • the plurality of push-buttons received in pocket 240 are fully visible, and may be actuated by the operator simply deforming the portion of upper surface 241, which overlies the desired push-button. Similarly, the operator can observe which of the push ⁇ buttons in pocket 240 are lit.
  • the cover 210 is provided with a skirt 215, which extends beyond the pockets 211 and 240, the sheet itself being continuous between the lateral edges generally shown as 216, 217, 218, and 219.
  • each of the grid pockets 211 a raised por ⁇ tion or mesa 220 is provided, which may be provided with an indicia corresponding to the indicia on the underlying button of the telephone set.
  • Such indicia can be directly molded into mesa 220, or can be applied thereto, as by printing or so forth.
  • cover 210 may be provided with adhesive strips at the shoulders 221, 222, 223, 224/ which initially are covered with paper which is removed before the strip is attached.
  • a preferable attaching means comprises a fabric-like or rein ⁇ forced paper gasket which is sized to just coincide with the continous surface presented by shoulders 221 through 224, and which can be adhesive on both faces thereof.
  • the indicia 209 on the mesa portions 220 of the grid pockets 208 can again be coated with, or made of a phosphorescent material which can glow in a darkened environment.
  • FIGURES 18 and 19 there appears a telephone cover device generally indicated at 310, to which is secured a sealing gasket 312 in accordance with the invention.
  • the gasket 312 is more specific- ally illustrated in the showing of Figure 16, and in Figures 17 through 19.
  • the telephone covering device 310 is similar to that of Figures 1 through 3, and comprises a sheet 314 of an elastomeric material, such as a natural or artificial rubber, an elastomeric plastic or the like, which sheet is continuous between its lateral edges 316, 318, 320, and 322, and is molded or otherwise deformed, so as to be provided with a plurality of pockets 324,
  • an elastomeric material such as a natural or artificial rubber, an elastomeric plastic or the like
  • CMPI which project upwardly from the plane of the paper in Figures 14 (and downwardly from the plane of the paper in Figure 15).
  • Pockets 324 are adapted to receive the push-buttons of a typical push-button type telephone set when the said cover 10 is emplaced atop the telephone set in overlying relationship to the array of dialing buttons .
  • the cover may have a single pock ⁇ et covering the entire array as in Figure 6 through 9 , or can include an elongated pocket as in Figures 10 through 13.
  • the cover may be provided with indicia corresponding those on each of the buttons to enable identification thereof.
  • the indicia may be placed on mesa-like projections corresponding to each of the buttons.
  • indicia 326 correspond to the underlying indicia on the telephone push-buttons are provided; and in use, the operator of the phone merely need depress the outwardly accessible portion of pockets 324 to in turn depress the underl ⁇ ying push-buttons and operate the telephone set.
  • FIG. 15 which represents the rearward side of device 310, i.e. the side of device 310 which will be placed in face- to-face contact with the telephone set, is (in accord ⁇ ance with the invention) associated with a gasket 312, which is placed directly in contact with the skirt-like border portion 332 of device 310.
  • gasket 312 which is placed directly in contact with the skirt-like border portion 332 of device 310.
  • one surface of gasket 312 has already been secured to this skirtlike portion and part of the paper covering 334 has been lifted from the gasket 312, so that the under ⁇ lying adhesive 336 can be seen.
  • the gasket 312 is thus seen to comprise a base material 338, which preferably comprises a paper or cloth-like material of relatively high strength, as for example, a paper or cloth which has been reinforced with fiberglass strands.
  • a base material 338 which preferably comprises a paper or cloth-like material of relatively high strength, as for example, a paper or cloth which has been reinforced with fiberglass strands.
  • Each side of such base material 338 is provided with a pressure- sensitive adhesive 336 to enable the gasket to be se ⁇ cured to both the device 310 as well as to the tele ⁇ phone set.
  • side 342 of gasket 312 which is the side preferably secured to device 310, is preferably provided with covering strips 344 of paper.
  • These strips 344 extend as two U-shaped portions 344a and 344b with the legs of the "U” being slightly separ- ated to provide a gap 346, which enables the user to readily grasp the ends of such portions and remove them prior to use of the gasket. Gap 346 may also be seen in the side view of Figure 17.
  • the opposed face 348 of gasket 312 (which is the side facing outwardly from the device 310 and which will ultimately be the side of the gasket placed in contact with the telephone set) prior to affixation of device 310 to the set, is covered with two further U-shaped strips of protective paper 350a and 350b.
  • OMPI legs 351 to gain access to the flap-like portion 353, whereupon the strips 350a and 350b are readily removed to expose the underlying pressure sensitive adhesive 336, after which the gasket 312 is ready for securing to the telephone set.
  • the gasket 312 is designed to provide a continuous portion 360, which when placed in contact with the rearward side of a covering device 310, completely covers the skirt-like border 332 of such device.
  • the gasket 312 is similarly, provided with a cut-out 362 at the center, which coincides with the pockets 324, so that same are open to receive the push ⁇ buttons of the telephone set.
  • the gasket of the present invention will in general be configured for the particular arrangement of push-buttons on the telephone set with which the specific covering device is intended to interact. Thus, a further embodiment of the invention appears in Figure 20.
  • This gasket 313 is used with a covering device intended to cover not the central telephone push-buttons used for dialing purpose, but rather for an instance wherein two rows of push-buttons appear at the bottom of a telephone set. These type of push- buttons are used for intercom arrangements or to act ⁇ ivate different outside telephone lines in common office-type telephone systems.
  • the gasket 313 while otherwise similar to that already described, includes two elongated rectangular cut-outs 366 and

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

Couvercle protecteur destine a un ensemble de commutations actionnees a l'aide de touches, lequel ensemble se projette au travers une surface generalement plane de l'appareil. Le couvercle protecteur comprend une feuille elastomere flexible (110) ayant une ou plusieurs poches evidees (109) adaptees pour reposer sur et recevoir l'ensemble de commutateurs actionnes a l'aide de touches, de sorte que chacun des commutateurs peut etre enfonce independamment au travers de la feuille. La feuille comprend une portion de bordure en forme de jupe (111) s'etendant lateralement au-dela des poches, la feuille etant continue entre ses bords lateraux, de sorte qu'une ou plusieurs poches peut ou peuvent reposer sur l'ensemble a commutateurs a touches, la portion de bordure en forme de jupe etant en contact avec la surface plane au-dela de l'ensemble. L'ensemble est ainsi protege contre des liquides deverses ou autres. Les poches peuvent etre pourvues de symboles appropries (120) correspondant a chacun des commutateurs a actionnement a touches pour les identifier. De plus, un joint (117) est prevu, lequel s'etend completement autour de la peripherie de la feuille reposant sur la portion de bordure. Le joint est flexible et adhere sur la portion de bordure de la feuille et sur la surface plane de l'appareil. Le joint, avant son utilisation, peut avoir des couvertures sur ses cotes opposes et sont amovibles pour la fixation du joint par application d'une pression sur la feuille et sur la surface plane de l'appareil.
EP19820901891 1981-05-07 1982-05-07 Couvercle protecteur de telephone Withdrawn EP0078319A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26164781A 1981-05-07 1981-05-07
US28606381A 1981-07-23 1981-07-23
US286063 1981-07-23
US06/299,509 US4436965A (en) 1981-02-23 1981-09-04 Sealing means for telephone cover device
US299509 1981-09-04
US261647 1999-03-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0078319A1 true EP0078319A1 (fr) 1983-05-11

Family

ID=27401427

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19820901891 Withdrawn EP0078319A1 (fr) 1981-05-07 1982-05-07 Couvercle protecteur de telephone

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0078319A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1982003958A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5371790A (en) * 1992-07-31 1994-12-06 Canetti Nicolai Telephone with resilient housing

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3491221A (en) * 1968-06-12 1970-01-20 Paul A Zamarra Apparatus casing with shield plate for projecting pushbuttons

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8203958A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1982003958A1 (fr) 1982-11-11

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Legal Events

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): FR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19830808

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: MORSE, MILTON