GB2272132A

GB2272132A - Telephone hand set support

Info

Publication number: GB2272132A
Application number: GB9322097A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Linda Garber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-29
Filing date: 1993-10-27
Publication date: 1994-05-04
Also published as: GB9322097D0; GB9222759D0

Abstract

The handset support has a base 1 for gripping the user's shoulder S and a cradle 2 for holding a handset H with its mouthpiece M adjacent the user's mouth and its earpiece E adjacent the users ear. The base member has front and rear limbs 3, 4 arranged in invert U form to grip the front and rear of the shoulder. The limbs are plastics material mouldings with end pieces 5, 6 extended to spread the force with which they grip the shoulder. The limbs 3, 4 are pivotally connect by a pin 7, about which a spring 8 acts, urging the limbs together. A stem 11 connects the cradle 2 to one 3 of the limbs. A ball and socket joint 12 is provided between the stem and the cradle, to allow adjustment of the disposition of the cradle with respect to the limb. The joint is tight enough to prevent slippage in use. The cradle is L-shaped in cross-section with a foot member 13 carrying the joint 12 and an upstand 14. The latter is provided with one part 15 of a hook and loop fastening tape. The other part is fixed to the handset, for holding it at a position convenient for the user. <IMAGE>

Description

Telephone Hand Set Support Device The present invention relates to a device for supporting a handset of a telephone.

Conventionally when using a telephone handset, is gripped in the user's hand and held in proximity to his ear.

Alternatively in an effort to make use of both hands whilst using the telephone the user may attempt to grip the handset between his shoulder and his head. To allow a telephone user to to carry out manual tasks such as typing at a keyboard or ironing at home, so called "hands-free" headsets have been developed. Such headsets are however expensive and are not normally transferable between telephones.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device with which a telephone handset can be supported to allow manual tasks to be carried out.

According to the invention there is provided a device for supporting a handset of a telephone comprising: a base member adapted to fit on a user's shoulder and having a pair of free ends generally arranged in use as the limbs of an invert "U", the free ends of the base member being biased towards each other for gripping the front and rear of the user's shoulder; means at the junction of the limbs for holding the telephone handset above the user's shoulder with the handset's earpiece adjacent the user's ear and mouthpiece adjacent the user's mouth.

Preferably, the handset holding means is adapted for adjustment of the disposition of the handset with respect to the base member. Nevertheless, it can be envisaged that the holding means could immovably fix the handset to the base member.

Preferably, the handset holding means includes a cradle having releasable fastening means for the handset. The releasable fastening means can comprise hook and link fastening tape on the cradle and the handset.

Conveniently the cradle is adjustable for right or left shoulder use.

Preferably the cradle is connected to the base member by a ball and socket joint.

In one device of the invention, the limbs of the base member are resilient for gripping the shoulder. In the preferred embodiment however, the limbs of the base member are pivotally connected to each other and spring biased towards each other.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment and a variant thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is side view of a handset support of the invention in use and Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the support of Figure 1.

The handset supporting device shown in the drawings has a base 1 for gripping the user's shoulder S and a cradle 2 for holding a handset H with its mouthpiece M adjacent the user's mouth and its earpiece E adjacent the user's ear.

The base member has front and rear limbs 3,4 arranged in invert U form to grip the front and rear of the shoulder.

The limbs are plastics material mouldings with end pieces 5,6 extended to spread the force with which they grip the shoulder. To ensure that the shoulder is gripped so that the relatively heavy handset is held securely, the limbs 3,4 are pivotally connect by a pin 7, about which a spring 8 acts, urging the limbs together. The insides of the end pieces 5,6 have frictional fabric 16 secured to them to help their grip.

In a non-illustrated alternative, the limbs are a single moulding and structured to be resilient for gripping the shoulder.

A stem 11 connects the cradle 2 to one 3 of the limbs.

A ball and socket joint 12 is provided between the stem and the cradle, to allow adjustment of the disposition of the cradle with respect to the limb.

The joint is tight enough to prevent slippage in use.

Although the joint is shown at the cradle end of the stem, it could be provided at the limb end; or indeed a joint could be provided at both ends of the stem.

The cradle is L-shaped in cross-section with a foot member 13 carrying the joint 12 and an upstand 14. The latter is provided with one part 15 of a hook and loop fastening tape. The other part is fixed to the handset, for holding it at a position convenient for the user.

It will be readily seen that the position of the handset can be adjusted for comfortable hands free use of the telephone. The use shown in Figure 1 is on the right hand side of the user. For left hand use, the cradle is turned on the ball and socket joint and the handset is reversed on the cradle.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device for supporting a handset of a telephone comprises: a base member adapted to fit on a user's shoulder and having a pair of free ends generally arranged in use as the limbs of an invert "U", the free ends of the base member being biased towards each other for gripping the front and rear of the user's shoulder; means at the junction of the limbs for holding the telephone handset above the user's shoulder with the handset's earpiece adjacent the user's ear and mouthpiece adjacent the user's mouth.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handset holding means is adapted for adjustment of the disposition of the handset with respect to the base member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the handset holding means includes a cradle having releasable fastening means for the handset.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the releasable fastening means comprises hook and link fastening tape on the cradle and the handset.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cradle is adjustable for right or left shoulder use.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3, claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the cradle is connected to the base member by a ball and socket joint.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the limbs of the base member are resilient for gripping the shoulder.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, the limbs of the base member are pivotally connected to each other and spring biased towards each other.

9. A device for supporting a handset of a telephone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.