EP0484267A1

EP0484267A1 - Telephone handset protector device

Info

Publication number: EP0484267A1
Application number: EP91500120A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jaime Barella Vigal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-30
Filing date: 1991-10-30
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Also published as: ES1015490Y; ES1015490U

Abstract

This consists of a receptacle whose size is suitable for a telephone handset (4), structured on the basis of two rectangular and elongated strips, or a single strip (1) folded over on itself along a middle line (2) with side seams (3-3′) coinciding with its longer sides and which leave a large area (6-6′) thereof to facilitate the coupling/uncoupling of said handset. The protector is the single-use and throw-away type.

Description

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a protector for telephone headsets whose specific purpose is to create a physical barrier between said handset and the user, while not interfering with the telephone transmission, i.e. neither with the sound emission or reception. Said physical barrier is focused upon the health aspect, and the protector is particularly applicable in public telephones.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

As is known, given their very functional conception, telephone handsets must be in contact with the user's ear, at the end of the handset as such, while the microphone end is opposite the mouth and is frequently subject to small projections of saliva which many people release when speaking.
In many cases, this leads to a certain aversion to the use of public telephones, because of the repugnance arising from the above causes, apart from their usually dirty condition, often associated with smells of one degree or another of offensiveness which, while slight, are clearly noted because of the proximity of the handset to the user's face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed protector in this invention has been designed to resolve this problem in a completely satisfactory form, comprising a single-use component which isolates the handset from the user, avoiding direct contact, and therefore enabling the user to be unaffected by any dirt there may be on the apparatus, while also protecting it during use.
For these purposes, and in more specific form, the protector put forward is structured on the basis of a band of paper or similar suitable material, which folds over on itself and which, by means of side seams, forms a bag or receptacle which is large enough to contain the telephone handset, whose wire emerges at the opening.
With this basic structure and according to another of the features of the invention, there is provision for said side seams to only partially affect the associated sides of said band so that the opening for access to the bag is in turn of such a size as to make it very easy to introduce and remove the handset.
Said side seams can be provided by any standard securing means such as sewn seams, adhesive lines, by securing lines stamping the paper itself, etc. without affecting the substance of the invention.
At all events, an extremely simple and economical receptacle is obtained, giving it its single-use character, while not significantly affecting the cost of the telephone call.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement this description and in order to help in a better grasp of the features of the invention, these Specifications are accompanied by a single sheet of drawings, forming an integral part hereof and which, by way of illustration and without limitation, show the following:
Figure 1 shows a ground plan view of the band, made of paper or some other material used to form the telephone handset protector which is the subject of this invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the shaped protector.
Figure 3 shows, finally, a front elevation of said protector, now in use.

A PREFERENTIAL DESIGN OF THE INVENTION

From these figures, it can be seen how this telephone handset protector is formed on the basis of a rectangular band of paper (1) folded over on itself along its transversal mid-line (2) so that, in association with the side seams (3-3′) it forms a bag or receptacle of such a size as to accommodate the telephone handset (4) as shown with the broken line in figure 3. Therefore all the operations involving said handset during the course of the telephone call are carried out through said bag, i.e. with no direct physical contact with the handset, and by creating a hygienic barrier for the area of the face which is usually in contact with said handset, specifically the ear, as well as the others e.g. nose and mouth, which are very close.
Clearly, the wire (5) of the telephone handset (4) emerges from said receptacle through its opening, which can extend toward the sides of the protector, as shown in the figures, in the form of large areas (6-6′) which are not affected by the seams (3-3′), thereby making it easier to introduce and extract the handset (4) as already pointed out.
As also pointed out, the seams (3-3′) may in fact be sewn or they may also be secured by adhesive, soldering, mechanical stamping, etc. without in any way affecting the substance of the invention.
Optionally, and as shown in figure 3, the protector can also, rather than being of a single band, be structured on the basis of two rectangular sections whose dimensions are half that of said band: they are sewn together by the aforementioned seams (3-3′), which substitute for the previous fold line (2) while also being secured by a third sewn sector (7) without this either affecting the substance of the invention.
It is not felt necessary to further extend this description in order for any expert in the field to grasp the scope of the invention and the benefits arising from it.
The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements may vary, provided that this does not involve an alteration to the substance of the invention.
The terms of these Specifications must be interpreted at all times in the broadest sense, without limitation.

Claims

A telephone handset protector, particularly suitable for use in public telephones, of the single-use type wherein, essentially, said protector is made of a strip body made of a rectangular band of paper or other suitable material which is folded over on itself along its transversal mid-line, the two sectors of which are secured by side seams to form a bag or receptacle of such a size as to accommodate the telephone handset during each telephone call.
A telephone handset protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein, optionally, the two sides of said bag or receptacle are made of two separate parts which are linked not just by the aforesaid side seams, but also by a third seam corresponding to the bottom of the bag.
A telephone handset protector as set forth in previous claims, wherein said seams, which may be sewn, adhesive, heat-soldered, mechanically stamped or any other standard type of fixing, partly affect the sides edges of the protector, leaving free large areas of it, close to the open end of the receptacle, to make it easier to introduce and remove the handset.