GB2131650A - Telephone aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A telephone aid has a base (1) for receiving a main telephone body (2). A support (3) on the base serves to hold the handset (5) clear of the telephone body and a cam device (8) serves to operate the telephone cradle switch. The telephone can thus be used without the need for a user to support the handset at the same time as a call is made. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone aid This invention relates to a telephone aid.

Standard telephones and handsets can be difficult for handicapped people to use as they are essentially two-handed in operation. Thus, the handset is held in one hand while a number is dialled with the other.

Various devices have been proposed to alleviate this problem, for example upright stands to which the handset can be attached once lifted from its cradle, but in each case the telephone user still requires the use of his hand or hands, even for incoming calls in lifting the receiver.

According to the present invention there is provided a telephone aid comprising a supportfor holding a telephone handsetclearofthe main telephone body, and a movble arm arranged to move between a first position in which it disconnects the telephonefrom its "engaged" condition and a second position in which it connects the telephoneto its "engaged" condition.

The movable arm may be in the form of a rotatable cam which in its first position depresses the receiver buttons on the cradle of a conventional telephone body and in its second position releases the buttons.

The telephone aid of this invention can be made as a unit for receiving a standard telephone and handset.

To this end the aid may have a base for receiving a main telephone body, the base having extending from it an upright column on which the movable arm is mounted, and also havingasupportextendingfrom it, the support having a clamp, clip or cradle for receiving a telephone handset An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying representations which are a perspective view and a front view of a telephone aid of the invention in use.

In this embodiment of the invention, the telephone aid has a wooden base 1 on which the main body 2 of a telephone sits. A metal support arm 3 is secured to the base 1 through a mounting plate and is cantilevered at its upper end to extend outwardlyfrom the base 1. At its free end the support arm 3 carries a clip 4 which extends around a handset 5 ofthetelephone to hold it firmly. A nut 6 is provided belowthe cantilever of the support arm 3to allowthe upper portion ofthearm to be swivelled and secured in a desired position to suit the user.

Awooden stand 7 extends upwardlyfrom the base 1 and is apertured at its upper end to provide a rotatable mounting for an axle of a eccentric bar8 extending horizontally from the stand 7. The bar 8 can be rotated through 90 degrees to depress or release the receiver buttons on the cradle of the telephone body, and the rotation of the bar 8 is facilitated by a handle 9 which is fitted on the end ofthe bar8 on a side ofthe stand 7 remote from the telephone body. Thus rotation of the handle 9 about a horizontal axis causes corresponding rotation of the eccentric bar 8.

When not in use, the handle9 and bar8 are in a position where the bar 8 depresses the receiver buttons so that the telephone is in condition to receive a call. When such a call is made and the telephone bell rings, the user need only push the handle 9 through 90 degreestocausethe bar8to rotatefreeofthe receiver buttons, thus connecting the handset and allowing the call to be taken.

When the call is over the handle 9 is simply rotated through 90 degrees to rotate the bar 8 onto the receiver buttons, thus disconnecting the handset from theoutsidetelephone line No connecting part of the telephone or aid need be lifted and no intricate or precise movement need be made in answering the telephone call. Indeed, stops can be provided to limitthe rotation of the handle 9 and bar8 to the desired angle so thatthe handle can be roughly knocked against the stops in a required direction to connect or disconnectthe call.

The combination ofthe support permanently holding the handset clear of the telephone body and the cam-operated device for connecting and disconnecting a call does away with the need for the handset to be lifted from its cradle, as in conventional aids, and located in a holder each timethetelephone is used.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

CLAIMS (Filed on 8-12-83) 1. A telephone aid comprising a support for holding a telephone handset clear of the main telephone body and an operating device arranged to move between a first position in which it holds the telephone in its "disengaged" condition and a second position in which it placesthetelephone in its "engaged" condition.

2. Atelephone aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the operating device is a cam which rotates two operate a switch between a first and a second position, the first position ofthe switch placing the telephone in its "disengaged" condition and the second position of the switch placing the telephone in its "engaged" position.

3. Atelephone aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the cam is rotated by a movable arm.

4. Atelephone aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the aid has a base for receiving a main telephone body, an upright column extending from the base and on which the operating device is mounted, and a support extending from the base, the support having a holder four receiving a telephone handset.

5. Atelephone aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying representations.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Telephone aid This invention relates to a telephone aid. Standard telephones and handsets can be difficult for handicapped people to use as they are essentially two-handed in operation. Thus, the handset is held in one hand while a number is dialled with the other. Various devices have been proposed to alleviate this problem, for example upright stands to which the handset can be attached once lifted from its cradle, but in each case the telephone user still requires the use of his hand or hands, even for incoming calls in lifting the receiver. According to the present invention there is provided a telephone aid comprising a supportfor holding a telephone handsetclearofthe main telephone body, and a movble arm arranged to move between a first position in which it disconnects the telephonefrom its "engaged" condition and a second position in which it connects the telephoneto its "engaged" condition. The movable arm may be in the form of a rotatable cam which in its first position depresses the receiver buttons on the cradle of a conventional telephone body and in its second position releases the buttons. The telephone aid of this invention can be made as a unit for receiving a standard telephone and handset. To this end the aid may have a base for receiving a main telephone body, the base having extending from it an upright column on which the movable arm is mounted, and also havingasupportextendingfrom it, the support having a clamp, clip or cradle for receiving a telephone handset An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying representations which are a perspective view and a front view of a telephone aid of the invention in use. In this embodiment of the invention, the telephone aid has a wooden base 1 on which the main body 2 of a telephone sits. A metal support arm 3 is secured to the base 1 through a mounting plate and is cantilevered at its upper end to extend outwardlyfrom the base 1. At its free end the support arm 3 carries a clip 4 which extends around a handset 5 ofthetelephone to hold it firmly. A nut 6 is provided belowthe cantilever of the support arm 3to allowthe upper portion ofthearm to be swivelled and secured in a desired position to suit the user. Awooden stand 7 extends upwardlyfrom the base 1 and is apertured at its upper end to provide a rotatable mounting for an axle of a eccentric bar8 extending horizontally from the stand 7. The bar 8 can be rotated through 90 degrees to depress or release the receiver buttons on the cradle of the telephone body, and the rotation of the bar 8 is facilitated by a handle 9 which is fitted on the end ofthe bar8 on a side ofthe stand 7 remote from the telephone body. Thus rotation of the handle 9 about a horizontal axis causes corresponding rotation of the eccentric bar 8. When not in use, the handle9 and bar8 are in a position where the bar 8 depresses the receiver buttons so that the telephone is in condition to receive a call. When such a call is made and the telephone bell rings, the user need only push the handle 9 through 90 degreestocausethe bar8to rotatefreeofthe receiver buttons, thus connecting the handset and allowing the call to be taken. When the call is over the handle 9 is simply rotated through 90 degrees to rotate the bar 8 onto the receiver buttons, thus disconnecting the handset from theoutsidetelephone line No connecting part of the telephone or aid need be lifted and no intricate or precise movement need be made in answering the telephone call. Indeed, stops can be provided to limitthe rotation of the handle 9 and bar8 to the desired angle so thatthe handle can be roughly knocked against the stops in a required direction to connect or disconnectthe call. The combination ofthe support permanently holding the handset clear of the telephone body and the cam-operated device for connecting and disconnecting a call does away with the need for the handset to be lifted from its cradle, as in conventional aids, and located in a holder each timethetelephone is used. Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS (Filed on 8-12-83)

1. A telephone aid comprising a support for holding a telephone handset clear of the main telephone body and an operating device arranged to move between a first position in which it holds the telephone in its "disengaged" condition and a second position in which it placesthetelephone in its "engaged" condition.

2. Atelephone aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the operating device is a cam which rotates two operate a switch between a first and a second position, the first position ofthe switch placing the telephone in its "disengaged" condition and the second position of the switch placing the telephone in its "engaged" position.

3. Atelephone aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the cam is rotated by a movable arm.

4. Atelephone aid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the aid has a base for receiving a main telephone body, an upright column extending from the base and on which the operating device is mounted, and a support extending from the base, the support having a holder four receiving a telephone handset.

5. Atelephone aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying representations.