Hanging latch hook mechanism for telephones

Details Hanging latch hook mechanism for telephones Hanging latch hook mechanism for telephones

1998-11-16

2001-04-03

Chiang, Jack (Department: 2642)

Telephonic communications

Terminal

Switch or switch actuator structure

C379S425000, C379S428030

Reexamination Certificate

active

06212276

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telephones, and, more particularly, to a mechanism for setting a telephone to an on-hook state with the handset oriented in different positions.
Corded telephones, such as trim line or slim line telephones, typically require the handset to be positioned in the cradle of a base of the telephone in order to hang up the telephone. The handsets in such positions have the operative components, that is, the mouthpiece microphone, the earpiece speaker, and the numerical keypad facing toward the base, and thus inaccessible to the user when the telephone is on-hook
To implement speakerphone functions, additional circuitry is required for the telephone to replace the operative components of the handset which, when on-hook, cannot be used. Accordingly, duplication of equipment and needless complexity is introduced into telephones with speakerphone functions.
Thus, there is a need to implement a speakerphone in a telephone without extra components while the handset is cradled in the base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone which may be placed on-hook in either the face up or face down positions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive hook mechanism to a telephone base which can engage any of at least two opposing surfaces of a telephone handset.
In accordance with the invention, an apparatus sets a telephone to an on-hook state while the handset is cradled in the base. The base has at least one cavity forming the cradle for the handset. The telephone also has a handset with an operative surface including a mouthpiece microphone and an earpiece speaker. A first surface of the handset is opposite to the operative surface.
The apparatus includes a first arm having a surface, and the first arm responds to the surface being pressed by a portion of the handset being positioned in the base. The first arm moves to actuate an on-hook switch to set the telephone to the on-hook state. The portion of the handset which presses the first arm is at least the first surface. The first arm responds to the handset having the operative surface facing away from the base. The first arm also responds to the handset being positioned entirely out of the cradle by extending from a first slot in the base.
With a portion of the handset being positioned in the cradle, the first arm is moved by the portion to be retracted through the first slot into the base. A cooperative arm is pivotally coupled to the first arm, with retraction of the first arm into the base causing the cooperative arm to extend through a cooperative arm slot to engage the handset to maintain the first arm in a retracted position in the base.
In one embodiment, the apparatus has two surfaces mounted on at least one arm which extend from the base when the handset is entirely out of the cradle. One surface extends from a first slot positioned in the portion of the cradle which engages the earpiece of the handset when the handset is placed face down in the base. A second surface extends from a second slot positioned in a portion of the cradle which engages the opposing or back surface of the handset when the handset is placed face up in the base. The portion of the cradle which engages the back of the handset is contoured to match the contour of the back of the handset. In a conventional trim line corded telephone, this contour is curved.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2083971 (1982-03-01), None

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