US2098771A

US2098771A - Circuit control device

Info

Publication number: US2098771A
Application number: US78617A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bogue William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-05-08
Filing date: 1936-05-08
Publication date: 1937-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1954-11-09

Description

Nov. 9, 1937. w. BOGUE v CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE I Filed May a, 1936 m I mien r I Ell/II r Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claim.

This invention relates to a circuit control device, and more particularly to a device adapted for use in connection with an ordinary telephone for controlling a power circuit independently of the telephone circuit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means controlled by the usual telephone receiver hook or support, whereby a radio or other electrically operated device may be automatically disconnected from its power source when the receiver is removed from the hook. and wherein the power circuit will be automatically closed when the receiver is replaced on the hook.

A further object is the provision of a so-called extension cord having a combined attachment plug and receptacle at one end into which the connector cap or plug of a radio circuit may be removably inserted. and an automatic switch at the other end of the cord and arranged to be automatically controlled by the movement of the telephone receiver hook or support.

A.i'urther object is to provide a device of the character described which will be cheap to manuiacture, easy to install, and which will not easily get out of order.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the usual desk 30 telephone having the control switch attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section through the control switch illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the combined attachment plug cap and receptacle used on the extension cord.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a line substantially corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit and connections arranged for controlling a radio set or other electrically operated device.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation oi a so-called cradle telephone having a control switch attached thereto.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a preferred form of switch plunger arranged to be removably positioned for operation by a telephone hook.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the switch and illustrates the method of attachment by means of a vacuum cup. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises an ordinary desk telephone i having the usual transmitter supporting column 2 and re ceiver hock 3, on which latter is removably supported a receiver 4. A control switch 5, which is preferably cyl ndrical, as illustrated, is positioned below the hook 3 and clamped to the column 2 by means of a suitable clamping member 6 and securing screw T.

The switch is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 and preferably comprises a cylindrical shell 8 of insulating material having a metallic sleeve 9 therein. The lower end of the sleeve 9 is closed by means of an insulating plug l0 and the sleeve extends above the upper end of the insulating plug as illustrated.

The insulating plug 10 is provided with a center contact ii having a threaded stand i2 extending through the insulating plug and provided at its lower end with a terminal l3 to which an electrical conductor M may be secured. The shell contact 9 is provided with a downwardly extending terminal l5 to which conductor i6 may be attached. These terminals are suitably insulated and enclosed by means of a cap 8a threaded on the insulating shell 8.

The switch is provided with an upwardly extending plunger H, the lower end being threaded and having an insulating member l8 attached thereto. Spring contact members l9 are secured to the insulating member l8 by means of a contactor screw 20 and the upper ends of these spring members are in frictional contact with the shell. This contactor screw 20 is arranged to complete the electrical connection between the shell 8 and the center contact 9 when the plunger is in the lowered position illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that by raising the plunger H the electrical connection between the shell and center contact will be broken.

The plunger I! may be connected to the telephone hook in any suitable manner, for instance. such as illustrated in Fig. l, in which a sheet metal arm 2| may be clamped or otherwise secured to the hook 3 between the receiver and the column 2, and the plunger I! may be threaded therein and secured by means 01 a nut 22. A preferred method of coupling the switch plunger to the receiver hook is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the hook 3 is engaged in a slot Ila in the plunger.

The switch 5 is also positioned under the hook 3 so that when the receiver is on the hook, the

plunger ill and associated friction contacts 68 to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and the circuit will be broken. It will be appar cut that when the receiver is replaced on the hook the circuit will again be closed.

The opposite ends of the conductors it and it forming the extension cord are secured to the terminals of a combined connector and receptacle til as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. This connector comprises a base it having the

usual connector blades

26 and 26 mounted thereon. Receptacle contacts 2? and w of the usual type are provided and the contact it is insulated from the connector blade and is provided with a suitable terminal to which the conductor id is electrically connected. Receptacle contact it is electrically connected to the connector blade 26, as illustrated.

The electrical control circuit for controlling the usual radio set by means of the telephone receiver is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5, and it will be apparent that when the combined receptacle and connector 28 is inserted in the usual manner in the ordinary electrical outlet of a power circuit, and a connector cap it on the extension cord of-a, radio set it is plugged into the receptacle 23, the radio may be operated from the power line in the usual manner.

The control switch 6 is preferably in series in the power line. Therefore, whenever the receiver 4 is lifted from the telephone hook, the power line will be broken and will be automatically connected to continue the operation oi the radio when the receiver is replaced on the hoolr.

Fig. 6 illustrates the application of the device to a so-called cradle telephone and in this application a sheet metal bracket 3! may be provided with depending ears 82 which are clamped to the movable support 33 on which the receiver normally rests and which corresponds in iunc= tion to the usual telephone hook. The plunger i l of the switch 5 may be connected to the bracket ii in the same manner as previously described in connection with Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 illustrates a method of removably attaching the switch to a box telephone or to any other type of telephone presenting a surface capable of receiving and supporting a so-called vacuum cup. In this embodiment the switch t is provided with a clamp or supporting bracket it having an arm. 85 to which is attached a vacuum cup it. The cup is preferably of rubber and the switch may be easily attached by merely pressing the cup against a suitable surface on the telephone below the hoolr t3.

While the invention has been described in connection with a radio set, it will be apparent that it is adaptable for controlling various types -Modiflcations may be made to adapt the inven- I tion to the various requirements, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore desired that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

i. In a circuit control unit an extension cord comprising a pair of conductors having a combined connector and receptacle at one end, said connector comprising a base having a plug-in contact and a receptacle contact electrically connected in series, a second plug-in contact and a second receptacle contact in said base and insulated from each other, a switch connected in series between said second contacts by means oi. said conductors, and means for mounting said switch on a telephone in cooperative relation with the usual receiver support, said switch being constructed and arranged to be opened and closed by the normal operation of said receiver support.

2. A control extension cord unit for electrically operated devices, comprising a combined plug-in and receptacle base having two receptacle terminals therein and two plug-in terminals extending therefrom, one of said receptacle terminals and one of said plug-in terminals being connected together to form a continuous conductor through said base, the other receptacle terminal and plugin. terminal being insulated from each other in said base and electrically connected in series by an elongated extension cord conductor extending therefrom, a switch at the opposite end of said conductor and in series with said lastmentioned terminals, and means associated with said switch for mounting said switch on a telephone adjacent the receiver support whereby said switch is automatically controlled by said support to open said switch when the telephone receiver is removed from said support and to close said switch when said receiver is returned to said support.

WILLIAM BQGUE.