US1298771A - Telephone-handset. - Google Patents

Description

G. H. NASH & B. B. GRACE.

I TELEPHONE H ANDSET APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. wt

1 ,298,77 1 Patnted Apr. 1, 1919.v

kit/eh f0r: Gen/7e H. Nash. Ber/ram B. Gracev GEORGE HOWARD NASH,v 0F SIDCUP, AND BERTRAM BARNETT GRACE, OETJPMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION-.011? NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE-HANDSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filedJuly 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,194.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE HOWARD NASH and BERTRAM BARNETT GRACE, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sidcup, in the county. of Kent, England,

.and at Upminster, in thecounty of Essex,

. with field telephones or with portable telephones of any description. A telephone handset for use with field telephones, in addition to being an efiicient instrument, should be small enoughto be carried in a case or in a pocket when not in use. The usual type of handset, if made small enough to be carried in a pocket or small case, is ineflicient and, in spite of its small size, is clumsy to use, owing to the distance between the receiver and'the transmitter being too short for the average person. Y

An object of the invention,atherefore, is the provision of a handset which will be fully as eificientas the ordinary type of handset, but will occupy a small space when not in use. To accomplish this end this invention provides a handset in which the supporting member for the receiver and transmitter is hinged intermediate its ends, enabling the instrument to be folded up when not in use.

Another feature of this invention is the v provision of means for obtaining good circuit connections between the receiver and transmitter of a handset of the folding type, consisting of an arrangement whereby the circuit connections between the receiver and transmitter are made by what might be i called a plug and jack connection.

The invention further provides a stop which limits the movement of the folded part of the instrument, thereby preventing the transmitter and receiver from striking together and also preventing the accidental depression of the circuit closing buttons with which such instruments are customarlly equipped.

need not, be described.

.. In the drawings illustrating the inven- Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section,

of a handset embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view With. the top cover, transmitter and receiver removed; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the handset showing the same in folded position.

In the drawings, 10 is a supporting plate 1 formed with end portions 11 and 12, the end portion- 12 having extending therefrom a transmitter supporting plate 13/ To the end portion 11 is hinged the receiver support 14. Mounted on a supporting member 10 is a block of insulating material 15 to which are fastened the spring contact members 16. These two members 16 act as and perform the functions of a jack. In addition to carrying the receiver the plate 14 carries a block of insulating material 17 in which is inserted a pair of conducting members 18 separated one from the other. The

inembers 18 are, as shown in Fig. 2, provided with oppositely disposed notches in which the free bent ends of .thecontact springs 16 are adapted to be forced by the resiliency of the springs.- The engagement of these springs in the notches serves as a catch or lock to maintain the handle in its extended condition as it is necessary to force the springs out of the notches before the handle can be folded. The receiver 19 is electrically connected with the conducting members 18. The supporting member 10 is provided with anopening 20 therein through which the members 18 extended position and'back.

With the handset in position for use, all parts are in the position shown in .Fig. 1, with the insulating piece 17 carried by the ass in moving from folded toplate 1 1 against the end extension 11, and an Y inspection of Fig. 2 will show that the conducting members 18 are in electrical connection with the contact springs 16. Cone nection-is made with the telephone circuit through the medium of the cord 21 and the circuit connections of the receiver 19 and the transmitter 22 are formed in the usual manner, but'as they form no art of the present invention the details 0 such connections l When in use the handset is grasped by is held on to the supporting member by means of screws 27 engaging the pillars 28. When not in use the receiver 19 is folded over toward the transmitter 22 until such parts assumethe position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to prevent depression of the rectangular insulating piece 23 under these conditions or the hitting of the receiver against the transmitter and the consequent injury to either or bothof them, a projection 29 has been struck-up out of the metal forming the cover plate 26 and against which the edge of the receiver 19 strikes.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 that with the instrument in position for use the distance between the receiver and transmitter is such that it may be conveniently used by the ordinary person and that when folded up the instrument occupies but a very small space and is of a convenient size to be carried in either a case or a pocket.

What is claimed is:

1. A telephone handset comprising an ex- 1 receiver mounted thereon, contact springs mounted in one part of said handle, and a member carried by the other part of said handle arranged to make electrical contact with said contact-springs when the handle I is extended and to mechanically engage with sald contact springs to hold the handle-in lts extended position.

2. A telephone handsetcomprising a folding handle, including two parts hinged together, a transmitter and a receiver mounted thereon, a switch operating lever carried by the other when not in use and to be extended with the said portions in alinement when in use, and contact springs carried by one of said portions and an operating member carried by the other of said portions adapted to be brought into operative relation when said portions are extended into alinement.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our7names this eighth day of June, A. D. 191

GEORGE HOWARD NASH. BERTRAM-BARNETT GRACE.

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