GB2154390A

GB2154390A - Telephone handset earpiece attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2154390A
Application number: GB08501860A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael George Scott Debenham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-14
Filing date: 1985-01-25
Publication date: 1985-09-04
Also published as: GB8501860D0

Abstract

A telephone handset earpiece attachment (2) comprising a recess (4) for the human ear, a cup-like depression (6) which is juxtaposed to the recess (4) and which is adapted to receive the earpiece (8) of a telephone handset, and a partition (10) which is positioned between the recess (4) and the depression (6), the partition (10) including a hole for sound transmission, (12) the recess (4) being defined by resilient material which is adapted to contact the human ear during use of the attachment (2), and the resilient material being softer than the material from which the telephone handset earpiece is made. In a further development the use of an amplifier within the attachment is envisaged using additional transducers to boost the sound for the hard of hearing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone handset earpiece attachment This invention relates to a telephone handset earpiece attachment.

The riqid plastics earpiece of a telephone handset has a number of practical disadvantages. For example it can be too hard on the ear after prolonged use. Also, it can be cold to the touch and in this respect it is uncomfortable in cold conditions. Conversely, after a period of prolonged use, known rigid plastics earpieces tend to become too hot, especially during hot weather. Moreover, since known rigid plastics earpieces do not enclose the ear, they cannot prevent extraneous sounds from reaching the ear, such as traffic noise which can be a nuisance in public call boxes for example.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a telephone handset earpiece which serves at least in part to overcome the foregoing disadvantages.

According to the present invention a telephone handset earpiece attachment comprises a recess for the human ear, a cup-like depression which is juxtaposed to the recess and which is adapted to receive the earpiece of a telephone handset, and a partition which is positioned between the recess and the depression, the partition including at least one hole which facilitates in use the transmission of sound from a telephone handset earpiece to the ear of a telephone user, the recess being defined by resilient material which is adapted to contact the human ear during use of the attachment, and the resilient material being softer than the material from which the telephone handset earpiece is made.

The attachment may be formed so as to push on to the earpiece of a telephone handset with a tight fit thereby to be positionally retained.

The attachment may be provided with a deformable clip part which serves to define a wall portion of the cup-like depression. The clip part may enable some rotation of the attachment relative to the telephone handset.

The attachment may include a body portion adapted to embrace the hand grip of a telephone handset.

The attachment may include amplifier means for amplifying sounds which originate from the earpiece of the telephone handset.

The amplifier means may comprise a battery powered amplifier, a first transducer responsive to sounds emanating from the earpiece of a telephone handset for providing corresponding sounds which are fed to the battery powered amplifier, and a second transducer arranged to be fed from the amplifier to provide amplified sounds for the ear of a telephone user.

The attachment may have a body portion which may be made of a plastics material or a metal such as aluminium. The resilient material defining the recess may then be attached to the body portion, for example by being stuck in place. The resilient material may be a plastics material. Preferably, the plastics material is a foam plastics material.

The present invention also provides a telephone handset whenever provided with the telephone handset earpiece attachment.

The present invention further provides a telephone handset having an integrally formed telephone handset earpiece, the telephone handset earpiece comprising a recess for the human ear, and a partition which is positioned between the recess and the remainder of the telephone handset earpiece, the partition including at least one hole which facilitates in use the transmission of sound from the telephone handset earpiece to the ear of a telephone user, the recess being defined by resilient material which is adapted to contact the human ear during use of the telephone handset, and the resilient material being softer than the material from which the telephone handset earpiece is made.

The telephone handset earpiece may be such that a cup-like depression is provided on the side of the partition which is remote from the recess for the human ear. The telephone handset earpiece may comprise amplifier means for amplifying sounds which originate in the earpiece of the telephone handset.

The amplifyer means may comprise a battery powered amplifier, a first transducer responsive to sounds emanating from the earpiece of the telephone handset for providing corresponding sounds which are fed to the battery powered amplifier, and a second transducer arranged to be fed from the amplifier to provide amplified sounds for the ear of a telephone user.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a first telephone earpiece attachment fitted to a telephone earpiece; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a second telephone earpiece attachment fitted to a telephone earpiece; and Figure 3 is a sectional side view of a third telephone earpiece attachment fitted to a telephone handset.

Referring now to Figure 1, a telephone earpiece attachment 2 is made in one piece from a resilient foam plastics material. The attachment 2 has a recess 4 for the ear of a telephone user and, juxtaposed to the recess, a cup-like depression 6 in which an earpiece 8 of a telephone handset is fitted. The attachment 2 includes a partition 10 between the recess 4 and the depression 6. The partition 10 is provided with a hole 1 2 which facilitates the transmission of sound from the ear piece 8 to the ear of a telephone user.

Referring now to Figure 2, similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numeral and their precise construction and operation will not again be given. In Figure 2, the attachment 2 has a body part 2a which is made of a tough plastics material.

The body part 2a has resilient foam plastics material 2b stuck to it as shown to define the recess 4 for the ear of a telephone user. The body part 2a is formed with a clip portion 1 3 as shown for clipping to the earpiece a behind the mould line 1 5 of the earpiece 8.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, an attachment 14 for the earpiece of a telephone handset 1 6 is formed to define a recess 1 8 for the ear of a telephone user and a cup-like depression 20 which is formed to accommodate an earpiece 22 of the handset 16. The attachment 14 is provided with a body portion 24 which is arranged to embrace the handgrip 26 of the handset 16.

The body portion 24 is in use rested on the cradle (not shown) of a telephone instrument and therefore prevents tilting of the handset which might otherwise occur due to the thickness of the attachment 14 surrounding the earpiece 22.

In order to facilitate retention of the attachment 14 on the handset 16, a deformable clip part 28 is provided which forms part of a wall portion 30 which surrounds the cup-like depression 20.

The attachments as shown in Figures 1 to 3 may be made of any flexible resilient material such as foam, rubber, expanded polystyrene or any other soft or tough plastics material. If desired, the body part 2a shown in Figure 2 could be made of a soft metal such for example as aluminium. The attachments may be made in any colour to match a telephone handset and it will be appreciated that they are easily removable so that they can be simply clipped on or off of a telephone handset, or alternatively be permanently left in place.

It will be appreciated that by using an attachment as just before described, the risk of pressure damage to the human ear is minimised and the discomfort of overheating or chilling of the ear are largely obviated.

Moreover, it will be apparent that since the attachment is formed substantially to cup and surround the ear of a telephone user, the possibility of extraneous sounds reaching the ear as may be experienced due to traffic noise in a public call box are largely obviated.

Although the embodiments just before described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 are inactive devices, it is envisaged that an attachment may embody an amplifier which includes means for amplifying and re-transmitting sounds from a telephone earpiece to the ear of a telephone user. This later arrangement has the advantage that the benefits of the attachment can be enjoyed by the hard of hearing.

It will be appreciated that an attachment of the kind just before described is readily portable and may be clipped on to, or removed from a telephone handset and therefore the attachment may be used by one person exclusively which is attractive for reasons of hygene.

Various modifications may be made to the attachments just before described without departing from the scope of the invention and for example a perforated partition may be provided between the ear of a user and the telephone earpiece of a telephone handset.

Also, other designs for the attachment may be employed to suit various telephone designs. If desired, the illustrated telephone earpiece attachments may be formed as integral parts of telephone handset earpieces of telephone handsets.

Claims

1. A telephone handset earpiece attachment comprising a recess for the human ear, a cuplike depressiion which is juxtaposed to the recess and which is adapted to receive the earpiece of a telephone handset, and a partition which is positioned between the recess and the depression, the partition including at least one hole which facilitates in use the transmission of sound from a telephone handset earpiece to the ear of a telephone user, the recess being defined by resilient material which is adapted to contact the human ear during use of the attachment, and the resilient material being softer than the material from which the telephone handset earpiece is made.

2. A telephone handset earpiece attachment according to claim 1 and which is formed so as to push on to the earpiece of a telephone handset with a tight fit thereby to be positionally retained.

3. A telephone handset earpiece attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2 and which is provided with a deformable clip part which serves to define a wall portion of the cup-like depression.

4. A telephone handset earpiece attachment according to any one of the preceding claims and including a body portion adapted to embrace the hand grip of a telephone handset.

5. A telephone handset earpiece attachment according to any one of the preceding claims and including amplifier means for amplifying sounds which originate from the earpiece of the telephone handset.

6. A telephone handset earpiece attachment according to claim 5 in which the amplifier means comprises a battery powered amplifier, a first transducer responsive to sounds emanating from the earpiece of a telephone handset for providing corresponding sounds which are fed to the battery powered amplifier, and a second transducer arranged to be fed from the amplifier to provide amplified sounds for the ear of a telephone user.

7. A telephone handset earpiece attachment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A telephone handset whenever provided with a telephone handset earpiece attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

9. A telephone handset having an integrally formed telephone handset earpiece, the telephone handset ear iece comprising a recess for the human ear, and a partition which is positioned between the recess and the remainder of the telephone handset earpiece, the partition including at least one hole which facilitates in use the transmission of sound from the telephone handset earpiece to the ear of a telephone user, the recess being defined by resilient material which is adapted to contact the human ear during use of the telephone handset, and the resilient material being softer than the material from which the telephone handset earpiece is made.

1 0. A telephone handset according to claim 9 and in which a cup-like depression is provided on the side of the partition which is remote from the recess for the human ear.

11. A telephone handset according to claim 9 or claim 10 and including amplifier means for amplifying sounds which originate in the earpiece of the telephone handset.

1 2. A telephone handset according to claim 11 in which the amplifier means comprises a battery powered amplifier, a first transducer responsive to sounds emanating from the earpiece of the telephone handset for providing corresponding sounds which are fed to the battery powered amplifier, and a second transducer arranged to be fed from the amplifier to provide amplified sounds for the ear of a telephone user.

1 3. A telephone handset substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.