Articulating telephone base

Details Articulating telephone base Articulating telephone base

1998-11-17

2001-04-10

Chiang, Jack (Department: 2642)

Telephonic communications

Terminal

Housing or housing component

Reexamination Certificate

active

06215869

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of telephones. More particularly, the present invention relates to telephones having articulating bases for adjusting the position of the telephone.
Articulating features have been incorporated into current telephones such as the telephone having a slidable speaker unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,672 to Enokido et al.
Currently, with telephones and liquid-crystal-displays (LCDs) in wide use, both technologies have been integrated to offer consumers telephones with LCD displays. The LCD displays are used to display caller ID, telephone directories, answering machine information, operating instructions, etc.
Because LCDs have a limited optimal viewing angle, however, conventional LCD displays on telephones are often difficult to see without the user having to move to a better viewing position. This problem is aggravated by the multiple locations where the telephones can be placed, on top of a desk or wall mounted, for example.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to overcome the above problems and consists of a telephone base that can be articulated on a telephone base support, thereby giving the user the flexibility to adjust the position of the telephone to improve the visibility of the display.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an articulated telephone structure that will give the user the flexibility to adjust the position of the telephone.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the telephone includes a telephone base having a telephone function and including a first pair of guide rails, a bottom convex surface having a plurality of recesses, and a telephone base support having a second pair of guide rails and adapted to slidably support the telephone base by a cooperation between the first and second pairs of guide rails, wherein the telephone base support includes an elastic member for engaging the plurality of recesses so that the telephone base slides on the telephone base support in discrete steps when a user manipulates the telephone base.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the telephone includes a telephone base having a telephone function and including a first pair of curved guide rails and a side surface having an elastic member, and a telephone base support having a second pair of guide rails formed on corresponding side surfaces thereof and adapted to slidably support the telephone base by cooperation between the first and second pairs of guide rails, wherein one of the side surfaces of the telephone base support includes a plurality of recesses for engaging the elastic member so that the telephone base slides on the telephone base support in discrete steps when a user articulates the telephone base.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of the present invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5040712 (1991-08-01), Pesonen et al.
patent: 5222132 (1993-06-01), Rioux, Jr.
patent: 5974332 (1999-10-01), Chung

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