US1654193A - Telephone accessory - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1927. Q 1,654,193

D. 8 S. STEUART TELEPHONE ACCESSORY Filed Oct. 21 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dyan far:

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1 D. s. s. STEUART TELEPHONE ACCESSORY Filed Oct 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iwl/Infon- 3a 71:25 Jzuari igo ens Jfewarf Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE;

DOUGLAS STUART SPENS STEUART, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TELEPHONE ACCESSORY.

Applicationlfiled October 21', 1927, Serial No. 227,815, and in GreatBritain January 26, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved telephone accessory and more particularly v phone art that the transmitter in central battery working should be connected to a fixed and more or less rigid support, and forthis reason 111 certain countriesthe use of such a solid back transmitter as distinct from a handset is lnsisted upon so as to retain all the advantages which a fixed transmitter has over the capsule transmitter in the handset. Ahandset is liable to be turned to all angles and held in a variety of positions, some of which positions renderspeaking very unsatisfactory; in fact in a number of handsets the circuit from theorchange may be actually broken, causing a disconnect signal to be given, or in the case of an automatic telephone system causing the whole ofthe switches to be released. On the other hand'the handset hascertain advantages from the point of View of the telephone user, as it will be appreciated that the ordinary type of table telephone or wall telephone necessitates the subscriber placing hismouth close up to the mouthpiece. There are several disadvantages to this, one of which is, that it is very difficult to read a message over the telephone and it is also difficult to write down a telephone message received. In the case of the pillar-type telephone it is often necessary tolift or move thewhole of the telephone so as tobring it right in front of the subscriber, and it then becomes diflicult at the same time'to write on, or read from paper-son the desk.

The principal object of this invention 1s, therefore, the diminution or abolition of strain to the subscriber, and the increase of thefacilities which the telephone can render to the subscriber, and the principal feature of! this'invent-ion consists of providing an; exceedingly light flexible tube extend ing' from the transmitter of either a wall or pillar-type telephone to a mouthpiece which may be supported at a distance from the telephone and in a position mosh convenient to the subscriber.

It is important, in order that the subscriber s hand may be free, that such a mouthpiece should be supported independently and accordingly a further feature of the invention consists of supportingmeansadjustable with the mouthpiece and extend+ ingfrom the vicinity of the transmitter so that the mouthpiece may be automatically supported in any desired position to which -11; maybe put.

No a part of' the telephone therefore need rest on the desk immediately 1n front of a subscriber and accordingly this part of the desk is clear for either readin or writing. It is found that by carefully constructing sucli a flexible tube. the sound received by the transmitter is. as great, or greater, than is received when the mouth is held up close to the usual transmitter mouthpiece in accordance with the instructions issued by the telephone operating" companies or administrations, The further feature of the invention therefore concerns the provision of special supporting means whereby theflexible tubecan be placed in any desired position and can stay in the posit-ionin which it is put. be mentionedthat the length of the flexible tube would length of the receiver cord so'thatthe subscrihers mouth could be at a distance from ear. In certain telephone administrations the regulations insist that-no attachments should be made to the telephone of any kind what ever, and in order to enable the present in,- vention tobeused: without infringing any of such regulations a further feature of the invention consists in providing a stand on which the pillar-type telephone will rest and which is firmly held owing to the Weight of the telephone, this stand having a projection to which aferrule suitably shaped is secured, preferably to move so as to adjust itself into a position-to fit in the ordinary telephone mouthpiece when the telephone is placed on the stand. This ferrule is secured to one end oftheflexible tube, the other end of the flexible tube carrying the mouthpiece and 1 represents one example of carrying" the 1I1VI1t1OI11I1t0*8fieCt, 1n whlch a ball and It should sually correspond with the with freedom socket joint is used as a means whereby the mouthpiece at the end of the 'fiQXllJl tube may be supported in any desired position; Figs. 2 and 3 representan alternative form which avoids the use of a. joint and yet enables the mouthpiece to be supported in a variety of positions, and Fig. t shows :1v third form and illi'istratcs in full how the invention may be applied to a pillartype telephone without any attachn'ient. clips, or the line.

Referring to Fig. 1, the pillar-type telephone is shown carrying at its upper end in the usual manner the transmitter with its casing 11. From this transmitter the nsnnl mouthpiece has been ren'myed and in place thereof a ferrule 12 is screwed in. 'i.l1i for rule has attached to it a llexible tn which it is important should he lig l durable, and at the SitlslQ time should a free passage of the sound we loss of etiiciei'icy. All the end of the 1 tube 13 is fitted a monthpie 14-. which mouthpiece is considerably llll ilfllv than the usual mouthpiece and is shaped sannowhet as shown. This enlarged ni nllni ere hes the advantage that the user is not n arlyso restricted owing; to its size even when he wishes to speak right up to the mouthpiexi, but it should be understood that he can speak with considerable ellieienty a few inches away from the mouthpiece, while being); still perfectly ai'idible to a listener at the other end of the telephone. Ei'i'iln'acing the inthpiece and secured thereto is a ring: a. projection 16 adapted to engage 17 secured on the end of a rod 18. i gagement between 16 and l? is such the; while it makes a still friction tie'l k it jouit which secures the ring to the rod 18. it permits freedom of rotation so that the projection 16 is pivoted in socket 1'4 The rod 18 slides in a tube 19 in telescopic manner. while the tube 19 is screwed into a ball 20. ll" be understood that a. number ot telescopic tubes could be provided intermediate the rod 18 and the tube 19 so as to give any eesired length of: extension of the distance between the ball 20 and the pivot 17. The telescopic attachment, including the rods 18 and it) which would be of the usual. well known design for this type of fitting and would be made of very light material such as uh iniuin, would be preferably slightly friction tight. The ball 20 rests in a cup 2i provided with friction material 22 at its outer edge against which the ball may be torced by a screw 23 so as to regulate the degree of friction. The cup 22. it should be understood is, of course. slightly greater tl an a hemisphere so that it actually enil'iraees the hall and the edge 22 holds the ball when. it is pressed outwarl by the screw 25:3. This cup 21 is supported. on an arm 24.- fixed to n sleeve or collar 25 that fits over the ferrule piece in such position'when it is linished with and not required. lVhen it is required, the subscriber removes the mouthpiece out of the fork or cradle 2? mid places it as shown in dotted lines. assuming: that the position shown is convenient. The friction tigz'ht l all joint would he rcgruli'itcd so that the monfhpiece would be held in any position in which it. may be put. it will be appreciated that for this "nu-peso not only the telescopic inenn here. but also the tube and mouthpiece. must be exceedingly light in weight. It will be i'nlcd that the telescopic joint enables the radial d stance of the mouthliiece from the bull 20 to be varied as desired. while the ball joint permits the mouthpiece to be moved in c "euni'tercntial direction.

"ring to the idtm'nntivc shown in li ies. ull joints are avoided by this con- The ferrule l2 and tube 13 are to those shown in Fig. l. The

n on her is ulso .-;imilar. The collar 25 czr s a special frame :38 shown in perspccti re \lfW in Fig. 3. This fr: me coniprises two semi-cylindrical shells 29. 230. of dili'erent dinnie' rs. with the smaller extend inn; upwards from the top of the l: rger one. so as to form two shouldei 1' 2, and $32 at dil'li'e 'cnt YGI'tlCEll l'iei g'hts; to the upper shoulder a stirrup 31-3 is attached as is also the collar rod 18 is pivotally connected to the ring 15 as before. The rod it can he a straight rod or if desired can be telescopic. in he cri' winn'. it is shown as a straight rod i; peration is as follows:

: "1d the i lorinally the mouthpiece ll, would rest in the cradle 27. but \i'hen it desired to Hl'lOflll'. the mouthpiece would he lifted from the cradle. and the rod l8. which hangs down in the opening between the stirru 'rl-lfl and the sen'iicvlimlrical shells 29 and P l is lifted end is f (red in eiti of the two positions she in dotted lines, according to the hei: at which it is desired to normally man in the mouthpiece. it is clear that the ober of shoulders could be varied so that irsieat of haying two steps or two planes in which the -21 )L2tl1})10('t can move,

there could be three our. or any other number. by snng'ily p" idine iurthushoulders such. us 31 and 32. The stirrup 33, as will be seen, acts as a pivot and this arrangement avoids the i1?C' S..ll' V of any complicated joint.

Ii third construction is shown in Fig. 4.

7 Referring; to this figure it will be seen thal the pillar-type telephone 10 is placed on u nesanes stand. 86 is a socket 37, and: an extension piece 38 .isalso'provided onthestand. The extens1onp ecei38 18 for the purpose oi? increasin 'the stabilit of the arran 'emeut' e Y e to reduce. the danger of it being capsized when the flexible tube carryingthe mouthpiece is, extended to its furthest position. It is assumed that thepillar-type telephone 10 is exactly as supplied by a telephone operating company and that it is not de sired to attach or clip any external apparatus to such instrument. Consequently the usualmouthpiece 39 is left screwed into the transmitter casing 11. In the socket 237. is fitteda shaped rod 40 whichis of such-a size as-to have a good fit therein while still being capable of movement for transport purposes when desired. The shapedrod l-O extends upwards tonear the transmitter and then bends out at: right-angles, as shown, and carries at its endan elbow piece 46 having a vertical socket. 41. In this socket a ferrule 42 connected to the endot the flexible tube 13 is secured by. means of the milled headed screw 43' which en 'es a a clrcular rod 4s secured to theierrule 42.

i As the elbow piece is also pivoted on the rod 40 and capable of being secured where desired by the milled screw it is possible by means of these arrangements to ad ust the ferrule to such a position that its shaped end can enter the mouthpiece-39 and fit snugly therein when the telephone 10 is placed on the base or stand 36. It will therefore be appreciated that the object of the slope is to cause the mouthpiece iifi) to press against the shaped end 4-5 and therefore insure a tight fit, which is important, 2; not only the transmitter is protected from extraneous noises but also the speech is received by the transmitter in a more eiiicieut manner. Intermediate the socket ll and theelbow of the elbow piece 46, a collar 47 is pivoted, which collar carries a forked member .18. The collar is free to turn about the vertical portion of the elbow piece 48. At the outer end of each arm of the fork 4,8 is pivoted a series of articulated arms 4:9, 50. These articulated arms are connected at their joints in such a manner that they can move relatively to each other but with considerable friction; for instance, this could be effected by screws and nuts press ing on a spring washer, as is well known.

The two series of articulated arms -49, 50 extendon each side of the flexible tube 13, which is provided with a ferrule 51 at the mouthpiece end to which the mouthpiece 1+1; is secured. It should be mentioned that the joint of the arms 50 to the ferrulebl is similar to the joints between the arms 48 and 49, and 49 and 50, and permits a rotary I movement: of the mouthpiece 14: relative, thereto. The articulated arms would: be made of very light material such as duraluminum. Between the opposite joints of each series of articulated arms are straps whi h engage with the flexibletube 13 and so move it to any desired position as the mouthpiece L- is moved;in dotted lines the mouthpiece, is shown moved to its ex-.

tended position, whereas the fulllines show the position which the mouthpiece mav occupy whcnnot in use.

struction is that thedesk space is left quite free under the mouthpieceand therefore the subscriber when using. the telephone has substantially anv unobstructed vision or his desk and papers lyingthereon. He can have the mouthpiece in the position most convenient to him and can beperfectly free in that he has not to hold themouthpiece at all, the mouthpiece staying-in: any position to which it. may be put-.

I claim:- v a 1. In combination a telephone transniitter, a mouthpiece for said transmitter, a flexible tube extending from said transmitter to said mouthpiece, anda universally movable support for said mouthpiece.

2. In combination a telephone trans mitter, amoiiithpiece for saidtransmitter; a flexible tube extending from said transmitter, and a stiff universally movable-sup port for said mouthpiece extending from the vicinity of the transmitter to said mouthpiece.

In combination pillartype telephone instrument, a. transmitter mounted on said instrument, a stand on which said pillartype telephone rests, a mouthpiece on said transmitter, a tube, a'ferrule shaped so asto fit into said mouthpiece and connected'at one end of said tube, asupporting member fixed to said stand andiarranged toihold said ferrule in: position in said mouthpiece, and a second mouthpiece connected at the other said mouthpiece, a second mouthpiece connected at the other end of said tube, and a second supporting member connected to said first supporting member and adapted to support said second mouthpiece while permitting said second mouthpiece to be moved relatively to said ferrule. y

5. In combination a stand adapted to act as a rest for a pillar-type telephone, a flexi- It will: be noted I that a considerable advantage of this conble tube, a :t'errule shaped so as to fit into the mouthpiece of a transmitter and connected. at one end to said flexible tube, a supporting member fixed to said stand and arranged. to hold. said ferrule in position in said mouthpiece, a second mouthpiece connected at the other end o't said tube, and a second supporting member adapted to support the second mouthpiece and to move relatively to said 'tcr ule.

6. In combination a transmitter, a mouth-- piece on said transmitter, a flexible tube, a second mouthpiece on one end of said lexible tube, a ferrule on the other end of said flexible tube siiaped to tit into said first mouthpiece, a SllppOll] for said ferrule, and a support for said transmitter, said supports being so arranged that the :terrule and the first mouthpiece are pressed against each other by gravity.

7. In combination a stand for a pillartypc telephone instruz'nent having a. sloping surface on which the instrument sits, a vertically extending projecting member rising from the sand, ferrule shaped to til into the mouthpiece oil the transmitter oi' said instrument, supporting ineins on said member adapted to hold said ferrule at the same height as sale. transmitter, said ferrule and said'sloping surface being inclined to a horizontal plane at the same angle, a flexible tube to which said terrule is attached at one end, and a mouthpiece attacl'led to the other end of said tube.

8. in ci'nabination a telephone transmitter, a moutl'lpiece tor said transmitter, a. tlcxible tube extending from said transmitter to said mouthpiece, and a still, universally movable support for said mouthpiece.

J. in. combination a telephone transmitter, a mouthpiece for said transmitter, a flexible tube GXi'Clltlll from said transmitter to said mouthpiece, and a freely pivoted member for supporting said mouthpiece.

it). In combination a telephone transmitter, a mouthpiece for said transn'iitter, a flexible tube extending from said transmitter to said mouthpiece, and a stiff, pivoted universal support for said mouthpiece.

ll. in combination a telephone transmitter, a mouthpiece tor said transmitter, a flexible tube extending from said mouthpiece to said transn'iitter, a supporting member in the vicinity of said transmitter, and a series of articulated arms joined end to endand extending along said tube troin the supper ing member to said. mouthpiece to hold the mouthpiece in a desired position.

19. In combination a. telephone transmitter, a. mouthpiece for said transmitter, a i'llillifilti tube extending from said mouthpiece to said transn'iitter, a supporting member in the vicinity oi said transmitter, and a series of articulated arms joined end to end in a friction-tight manner and extending along said tube from the supporting member to said mouthpiece to hold the inoutl'ipiecc in any desired position.

13. In combination a telephone transmit ter, a mouthpiece :tor said transmitter, av tlenible tube extending trom said mouthpiece to said transmitter, a supporting member in the vicinity of said transmitter, two series 01 articulated arms joined end to end in a trictiou-tight manner and extending along said tube, one series on each side thereof, from the supporting member to said mouthpiece to hold the mouthpiece in a desired position, and straps connecting corresponding joints of said articiiilated arms to support the lexible tube at intermediate parts.

151-. In combination a. telephone transmit ter, a mouthpiece for said transmitter, a flexible tube extending from said mouthpiece to said transmitter, a supporting member in the vicinity of said transmitter, and a series ot articulated arms joined end to end in a :tri.ctiontigl1t manner, one end arm being pivoted to said supporting n'iember and the other end arm being connected to said mouthpiece.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature this 10th day of October, 1927.

DOUGLAS STUART SPENS STEUAR'I'.

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