US2320838A - Telephone instrument - Google Patents

Description

June 1, 1943. J. c. WATSON TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 14, 1941 mmn IIIIIIIIU June 1, 1943. L Q WATSQN 2,320,838

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Eled March 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/ 27 fa I Hamill..

Il Illllllm! Num Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,320,838- Y TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Joseph C. Watson, Washington, D. C. appneamnMm-ch 14, 1941, serie1No.3s3,413

Claims.

This invention relates to telephones, and more particularly has reference to a holder for a telephone receiver in which the receiver may be placed without breaking the telephone circuit.

In the use of a telephone, it is frequently necessary for the user to put down the receiver temporarily without interrupting the telephone Icircuit. Ordinarily the receiver is merely placed upon some desk or table near or upon which the telephone rests. Especially if the telephone is of the so-called "hand set type, a sharp and objectionable noise is transmitted through the circuit each time the receiver, or hand set, is thus put down, Furthermore, there are occasions when there are no convenient objects upon'which to place the receiver, and, in Vany event, it is usually inconvenient to place the receiver upon a.

table or desk.

My invention is designed to provide a suitable holder for a telephone receiver which overcomes the above objections.

Another object ofl this invention is to provide a holder for a receiver located adjacent the telephone and which may be actually mounted upon the telephone instrument.

Yet another obiect of this invention is to provide a holder for a telephone receiver which is so constructed as to avoid the transmission of any noise or shock to the receiver when it is placed in such holder.

To accomplish the above, and other important objects, as will be more fully described hereinafter, my invention in general embraces the concept of providing a holder for a telephone receiver in which the receiver may be readily placed and from which it may be readily removed, in the event of temporary interruption to a telephone conversation. This holder is designed particularly for an instrument of the so-called hand set" type, and is preferably detachably secured to the conventional stand provided for hand set phones. In the preferred embodiment, that portion of the holder which actually contacts the hand setl is composed of a resilient material to obviate the transmission of any jars or noise into the hand set, and particularly the mouthpiece.

In the accompanyingdrawings, I have depicted two specific embodiments which are for purposes of illustration merely, it being understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of my inventive concept. In these drawings, in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts:

Figure 1 is aview, in elevation, of the rear of a hand set telephone equipped with a holder built in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, depicting the hand set resting within the holder.

Figure 3 is a top view of the device shown in Figures 1 and'2.

Figure 4 is a detail view, partially in section, of

the holder here involved, andshowingone specific method of securing the holder to the telephone stand.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the metal frame of the holder shown in Figures 1-4.

Figure 6 is a view of the resilient cushioning device in which the hand set actually rests.

Figure 7 is a view along the line I-I of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8`is a view along the line 8-8 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a view along the line 9 9 of Figure 6, looking in the direction oi' the arrows.

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of a modied form oi' metal frame'.

Figure 11 is a view, partly in section, showing a holder provided with the modiied form of frame,

in operative position on a telephone stand.

Figure 12 is a view along the line I2-I2 oi Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 13 is a view along the line lil-I3 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 14 is a detail view, in'top plan, of the modified formbf frame depicted in Figure 10.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1-3, I have illustrated a telephone of the so-called "hand set type comprising a stand member I, a normal cradle 2 and a hand set designated generally 3. 'I'he hand set is made up of a receiver 4, a transmitter 5, and a gripping member 8 which noted that the stand I is of the modern conventional type, and is Provided with a recess Il at its rear, which is designed to afford a member which may be readily grasped by the operator to move the stand. 'I'he overhanging top wall 'i2 of this recess is provided with a depending lip I3 which serves as a finger grip and also serves to maintain the holder in position. as will be described in more detail hereafter.

For ease of manufacture. I prefer/to make up the holder by using a metal frame member, which is shown in detail in Figure 5, and upon which are fitted resilient contacting elements at the ends of the frame member. The frame member is composed of a base Il which, for a portion of its length I5. is of a width to flt snugly within the recess II of 1the stand. Uptumed ears I3, the upper edges I6' of which are inclined downwardly, extend from the sides of section I to abut against the under edge of depending lip I3. At the end of the member I5, the base Il is bent as at I1, in order that the frame may accommodate itself to the depressed section of stand recess II and provide a foot I1 at the rear extremity of the base I5, and is then upturned. to form a section I3 which lies adjacent the inner wall of the recess. A spring latch I9 extends from the upturned member I8 and is provided with an offset 2| which engages the depending lip I3. It will, therefore, be noted that the latch member ils maintains the upturned ears I6 wedged between the bottom of the recess Il and the lip I3 to thereby maintain the frame member Il securely within the cavity I I.

The frame member Il, exteriorly `of the recess l I, is enlarged as at 22, and is bent ib form a depending trianguloid as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. At each end of the member 22 are outwardly turned lips 23 and 24 for the purpose to be described.

I have shown in Figures 6-9 the resilient contact members which are adaptedvto be secured to the metal frame member. In other words, instead of fitting a resilient member over the entire extent of the metal frame member, or more particularly portion 22 thereof, for reasons of economy and ease in manufacture, I prefer to employ resilient contact `members which are merely xed over each end of the portion 22. These contact members may be made up of rubber or some other suitable resilient material in order to compensate for slight deviations in the fit of the frame I4 within the recess, in order to absorb any shock attendant upon placing the hand set in the holder, and also to prevent any noise passing through the telephone circuit. As best shown in Figures 6-9, the resilient contact members. designated generally 25, are roughly of triangular shape, harmonizing with the lines of the stand l. One side, numbered 216, is complementarykto the shape of the rear of the stand in order to form a tight fit therewith. It will be noted that the side 26 extends Ifarther up than does the opposite side and is shaped to facilitate placing the hand set in the holder. The upper surface of the contact member is recessed as at 21 in order to afford a cradle in which the gripping member 6 of the hand set rests. l

Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8, it will be noted that the contact members are cut out as at 28 to form substantially triangular recesses of a shape corresponding to the outline of the triangle 22 of the frame member. Likewise, it will be noted that sockets 29 and 3| are formed in the recess 28 and are adapted to receive the lips 23 and 24, respectively, thus securing the resilient contact members upon the metallic frame member. As heretofore stated, the contact members are preferably formed of rubber and may thereby be readily fitted over the triangular Portion 22 and secured thereon.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to afford a holder for a telephone receiver so that in temporarily putting it down it may be spared any jar or contact with hard surfaces. with the attendant noise that is thereby induced in the circuit.' To insure that the receiver cannot contact the telephone stand itself when placed in the holder, I so shape the holder, and more particularly the contact members, that the hand set cannot touch the stand when resting in the holder. For instance, referring to Figures 7 and 9, the outside surface of the contact members is flared outwardly in a downward direction, as indicated at 32. In this way. longitudinal movement of the hand set with respect to the holder is prevented when the set is positioned in the holder, thus insuring that neither the receiver nor transmitter will contact the stand I. Likewise, as best shown in Figure 9, the exterior of the contact member is flared outwardly toward the rear of the stand, as indicated at 33. Thus, even if the hand set should be rotated upon its longitudinal axis, the flare 33 would prevent contact with the stand I.

There are, of course, alternative ways of securing the holder to the telephone stand, and in Figures 10-14 I have shown one modification. In this case, the only diiIerence resides in the section of the holder which is inserted in the recess II of the stand, and which consists essentially in incorporating the following changes. The bent depression I1 is dispensed with and the section I 5A extends straight to the rear of the cavity, terminating, just short of the rear wall, in an upturned lip 34. The upper edges of the ears IBA slant downwardly and inwardly of the recess and are provided with corresponding notches 35 adapted to register with depending lip I3, as best shown in Figure 11, when the section I5 is maintained truly horizontal.

To insure contact of the notches 35 with the lip I3, I have provided a pivoted lever. As best shown in Figure 11, this lever is made up of an L-shaped member 36, which is pivoted to the section I5A as at 31, a portion of member 36 extending through a slot in section I5A. The short leg of member 36 works against a leaf spring 33 secured to the underside of a depressed section 33 of the portion I5A. 'Ihe spring 33 is provided so that the lever member will not work directly against the telephone stand, thereby preventing any marring or scratching of the latter.

In order that the lever member 36 may lie ush with the top surface of section I5A, the section 33 is depressed, as mentioned above, and likewise I provide a cut out section 4I so that the wedge member will lie flush and at the same time affording a ready grip of the end of the longer arm in order to free the holder from the wedging action.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided a holder for a telephone receiver that may be easily and economically manufactured and readily attached tov a modern conventional telephone stand. This holder provides a. device for carrying the receiver when it is desired to avoid a closing of the circuit, which would occur if the holder were placed in the actual cradle of the stand, and furthermore it is so constructed,

. and of such material, that jars or the generation of noise when the receiver is placed in the holder is prevented. This feature not only adds to the longevity of the receiver, but, of more importance,

it spares the party at the other end of the line the sharp and discordant noises that are usually attendant upon jarring of the mouthpiece.4

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention. I wish itto be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telephone instrument comprising a stand, a hand set, a recess in the stand, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breaking the telephone circuit, said holder adapted to be supported bythe stand and having a portion detachably mounted within the recess of the stand.

2. A telephone instrument comprising a stand, a hand set, a recess in the stand, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breaking the telephone circuit, said holder adapted to be supported by the stand and having a portion detachably mounted within the recess, the surface of said holder which contacts the hand set being cushioned with resilient material.

3. A telephone instrument comprising a stand, a recess in said stand, a hand set, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breaking the telephone circuit, said holder being held in secure engagement with the stand by means of a tongue extending into and locked within said recess.

4. A telephone instrument comprising a hand set, a. stand, a recess in the stand, a lip formed in the wall of the recess, and a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breaking the telephonecircuit, said holder being provided with a tongue member extending within the recess, and a resilient latch upon the tongue member engaging the lip of the recess.

5. A telephone instrument comprising a hand set, a stand, a recess in the stand, a holder adapted to receive the hand set without breaking the telephone circuit, a tongue on said holder extending within the recess, and a lever pivoted on said tongue adapted to lock the tongue within the recess.

6. A telephone instrument comprising a hand set, a stand, a recess in the stand, said stand provided with a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuit when the receiver is placed therein, a holder for the hand set in addition to said cradle in which the receiver may be placed without breaking the circuit, a resilient material covering the holder at such places where the holder contacts the hand set, and a tongue formed integrally with the holder and extending within the recess, and means for locking said tongue in position within the recess.

'1. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recess defined by the stand, a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuit fOr the when the receiver is placed therein, and a holder for the hand set in addition to said cradle in which the reeciver may be placed without breaking the circuit, said holder comprising a base member, one portion of which is adapted to support the hand set, and a second portion of which is adapted to t within the said recess, and upwardly extending ears carried by said insert portion, said ears being adapted to iit against the walls of the recess.

8. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recess defined by the stand, a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuit when the receiver is placed therein, and a holder hand set in addition to' said cradle in which the receiver may be placed without breaking the circuit, said holder comprising a base member, one portion of which is provided with resilient means adapted to hold the hand set, and a second portion of which is adapted to t withing the recess, the extremities of said insert being upturned to form ears adapted to extend up* wardly within the recess.

9. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recess defined by the stand. a downwardly depending lip within the recess. a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuit when the receiver is placed therein. and a holder.`

for the hand set in addition to said cradle in which the receiver may be placed without break-f ing the circuit, said holder comprising a base member, a portion of which is adapted to support the hand set and a second portion of which is adapted to t within the recess, the extremities of said insert being upturned to form ears adapted to extend upwardly within the recess, two of said ears being adapted to abut the depending lip, and a spring latch mounted on the remaining ear, said latch being adapted to engage the depending lip. l

10. A telephone instrument provided with a hand set, a stand, a recess dened by the stand, a downwardly depending lip within the recess, a cradle adapted to break the telephone circuit when the receiver is placed therein, and a holder for the hand set in addition to said cradle in which the receiver may be placed without breaking the circuit, said holder comprising a base member, a portion of which is provided with resilient means adapted to support the hand set and the remaining portion being adapted to fit within the recess, upwardly extending ears carried by said insert, said ears being adapted to t snugly against the walls of the recess, means provided on two of said ears to engage the downwardly depending lip, a slot in the insert and a lever pivotally mounted on the insert, a portion of said lever extending through the slot and engaging a latch spring which rests against the bottom portion of the recess whereby the notched ears can `be forced against the depending lip when the lever is depressed.

JOSEPH c. WATSON.

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