US2640109A - Telephone instrument - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1953 P. T. O'NEIL 2,540,109

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT v Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LMLWZQ/ "25 IN VEN TOR.

17770/P/VEY5' May 26, 1953 P. T. ONEIL 2,640,109

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M W Mil "W I I INVENTOR. Fau/I' 71/!!! Dump M Km nrmRNEYs Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Paul T. ONeil, Englewood, N. J assignor to Connecticut Telephone and Electric Corporation, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,378

7 Claims. (Cl. 179-100) This invention relates to a structural and functionally improved telephone instrument.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which may alternatively be supported from a wall or similar surface or may-in conventional mannerbe disposed upon a horizontal surface such as a desk top, the in strument requiring no alteration or rearrangement on either one of such surfaces.

A further object is that of designing an instrument of this type which will include relatively few parts each individually rugged and simple in structure and capable of economical production; such parts being susceptible of ready assemblage to furnish a unitary instrument which will be compact and of pleasing appearance.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the base portion;

Fig. 2' is a side elevation showing that base portion partly in section and with a hand set associated therewith;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 but with other portions of the base broken away to disclose underlying structures; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternative form of structure which may be employed.

In these views the numeral 10 indicates the base of the instrument which may be in the form of a hollow casing enclosing the necessary operating mechanism. This may include the various contacts, contact springs providing the gang switch etc. With the exception of one switch assembly, which resiliently resists shifting, that mechanism has not been shown. Such assembly has been diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2. under the reference numeral ll. Also shown in that figure are the structures extending from that assembly in accordance with present teachings.

Conveniently, the casing presents an inclined face portion i2 upon which there appears an annular outline i3 within which indicia I4 is disposed. The latter in accordance with conventional practice may include the usual subdivi-. sions of numbers and letters arranged in groups corresponding to those appearing in a usual dial 2 type telephone. Within the outline or band [3 casing ill preferably provides a well portion 15 as shown in Fig. 3I A dial [6 may be mounted in this well. That dial is preferably provided with finger openings l'l below the conventional indicia groups It are disposed. These groups will correspond to the adjacent groups It. Accordingly, an operator may use either group in operating the dial. That dial will be connected to the conventional circuit controlling mechanism in any acceptable manner. It is to be noted, however, that the indicia are disposed in a manner preferably such that they may be read when the instrument is positioned so that its right hand edge, as in Fig. 1, either faces towards the user or else extends downwardly.

The base provides a cradle portion which may be recessed with respect to face i2. This cradle portion is defined by pairs of spaced arms I9 between which the casing is provided with a slot 29. Extending upwardly within this slot is a bar 21. Adjacent the upper or left hand end of the casing as viewed in Figs. .1 and 2, the latter is provided with a ledge or projecting portion 22 below which a recess 23 is furnished. A plunger 24 extends into this recess. The inner end of the plunger projects through an opening in the casing and may mount a rotatable anti-friction member or roller 25. Similarly, a plunger 28 may have its outer end connected to bar iii and its inner end mounting an anti-friction unit should it be necessary to employ the latter. Within the casing and between the inner ends of these plungers is an operating cam 21 pivotally supported as at 28. This cam bears against, or is suitably connected with the gang switch so that when the cam is shifted the contact springs of the switch will correspondingly shift.

Adjacent the opposite end of the base from which plunger 24 extends, the casing is recessed as indicated at 29. A hand set 30 including at one end a receiver 3i and at the opposite end a transmitter 32 has these units extending adjacent the surfaces defining recesses 23 and 29. The overall length of the hand set and spacing of the receiver and transmitter units is such that the described disposition of the parts may occur even when the hand set is only casually placed in the cradle of the instrument. With the latter disposed upon a horizontal surface as in Fig. 2, it

is apparent that gravity will cause the hand set to bear against bar 2! with suficient force to cause plunger 26 to shift cam 21 to the position shown in full lines in that figure. Under these circumstances the transmitter and receiver leads will disconnect incident to an opening or separation of certain of the spring arms of switch H. Thus, it is apparent that an instrument is furnished which may be properly disposed upon a desk or other horizontal surface and used in a conventional manner.

That instrument may additionally be mounted upon a vertically extending surface. This will be primarilyajchievefd "by having; a member. 6X? tending from the "vertical surface, "project through an opening in the base plate of the cas; ing (not shown). If a more permanent asso ciation or mounting is desired, then',fofg;course, that base plate may be removedand sc ws. 01f, bolts may secure it and th rted from the vertical surface. Ina ported, it is apparent that the p the positions shown in Fig. 4;?

In that view it will be noted that thereceiver unit 3| has moved downwardly into suppafong relationship withthe surface of recess 23. Therefore, it has engaged plurlge'r 24. Again, duefto the 'weight of the handset; that plunger willhave been forced-into retracted position t'o 'shift' cam 21 as shown in full lines in'Fig. 2; accidental displacement 6f "the handset isvirtually precluded due to the fact that-it-will bear against theprojection 22. The latt'er'will'act somewhat on the order of a fulcrui'n areu ewmen the hand set may pivot to a 'slight degre'e'. Thiswill; cause that hand set to-"swinginwardly asshown in Fig. 4 so that its parts "will-be neatly disposed,- with the central portion -lying'properly iivithi'n the cradle and the transmitter 'aifrari'ged adjacent I the surfaces of recessedfportion- 29; 1 .1

Asis apparent f'under the circumstances, if an operator grasps the'hand set-[henfay readily lift it away from the casing or base. With such lifting, plunger 23 will shift outwardly due'to the spring pressure transmitted "by. 'switch"'assembly H through cam 27; "Therefore, the switch andv its associated. mechanisms will becomeoperative to energize'..the parts of the dial me'ch'anismi and, hand. set. With. such positioning of a; the parts, cam. ZlLwill shift to thepositionin-' dicated in dot andidashrlinesinl fig. 2 Therefore, plunger. 26.. as. we hift d o tw l TQ facilitate a grasping. of the-hand set regardless of whether the, instrument is supported upon" the horizontal, or, vertical surface-the recesses into which, the transmitter .andreceiver offthatf hand set extend ,are continued" through; to' the outer edge of the base. 'I'hislislclearlyevident in Figs. 1 and 2. It. is also evident fromthes'e figures that when the instrument is upon a hon zontal surface andthe hand set-is liftedlpliinger 25 will be shifted upwardly whichwill result in the cam 21 assuming the dottedline position'again dueto. the urging of the assembly HE Under certain. circumstances it maybe found that ,the response. tomovement 'offeredb'y the cam and plungers is s'uch that the spring action of assembly I I. should be supplemented. In th'at' event, a, structure .such'as 'h'as been "suggested' in Fig,.. 5, may be employed, In that {view {the numeral32. indicates the wellporti'oncbrrespondingtotheslot 2.0. "The 'bar 'has again beenin dicatedby the numeral 2 I. 'It's plunger 33 -'ma'y be, somewhat: reduced and: extend "intc anfd'j ll. as. -p'lunger 24...wil1 be through the base of a recess 34. The latter is conveniently defined by a part integral with casing I 0. Within this recess, a spring 35 is arranged. As is apparent, this spring will supplement the spring action of the assembly H to assure a projection of plunger 33 when the hand set is lifted from the cradle. A similar structure may be provided in association with plunger 24. It has been regarded as being unnecessary to illustrate this duplication. It is also apparent that other supplemental spring structures might be employed.

Thus, among others, the several, objects in the invention as specifically: aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

aim;

Irtelephonednstrument including in combination 'a base,a cradle portion forming a part ofsaid base to support a hand set, said base being. formed with recessed surfaces beyond the ends of said cradle portion to accommodate the transmitter and receiver units of a hand set, a projecting portion forming a part of said b ase and'int'erposedbetween the cradle portion and one of the recessed surfaces, to provide a'fulcrum for the surface of that unit of a hand set posed adjacent and par'allelone of said-side edgesg saidbase being formed with recessedsurfacesbef yon'd the ends of said cradle portion to accom- 4O member extending" from said; cradle portion and 45 I to be engaged by said hand setiand arelatively raised dial-mounting surface interposed between said cradle portion and the side edgeopposite tof'the o tend.

H 3. In a telephone instrument a base, acradle portion' forming'a'part of said base and'tore ceive ahand set, sa'id base being formed with a recess adjacent one'end of that portion and both'said cradle and recess being formed with openings through which switch-actuating plungers to be shifted by the weight of a hand set may extend. Y

45A telephoneinstrument including the combination of a base, ac radl e portion forming'a part of said base to receive a hand set, a recessed "surface also forming apart of saidbase and disposed adjacentsaid cradle portion, both said portion and surface 'beingformed with openings and switch-actuating plungers extending through saidopenings.

bination of a base a cradle porti'on forming a part of saidbase to receive a hand set, a recessed surface also forming a part of saidbase and" 75 mechanism I within said' base,

which extends into the adjacent base recess and modate the transmitter and receiver units of a, 'handset mounted uponsaid'cradle portion, said n'e into' w'hich said recessed surfaces ex '5. A telephone instrument including the comperafi i g a switch 6. A telephone instrument including a base, a cradle portion forming a part of said base and to receive a hand set, said base being formed with recesses beyond each end of said cradle portion and a relatively raised dial receiving surface forming a part of said base, said surface being disposed to one side of said cradle portion and extending above the same.

'7. A telephone instrument including a base, a cradle portion forming a part of said base and to receive a hand set, said base being formed with recesses beyond each end of said cradle portion, a relatively raised dial receiving surface forming a part of said base and disposed to one side of said cradle portion to extend adjacent one side edge of said base and said recesses extending from said dial surface through to the opposite side edge of said base.

PAUL T. ONEIL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Telephony, Feb. 29, 1936, page 5.

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