Telephone handset especially for use in a vehicle

Details Telephone handset especially for use in a vehicle Telephone handset especially for use in a vehicle

1997-09-05

2001-07-31

Trost, William G. (Department: 2683)

Telecommunications

Transmitter and receiver at same station

Radiotelephone equipment detail

C455S090300, C455S575100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06269258

ABSTRACT:

The invention concerns a telephone apparatus according to patent claim
1
or according to the preamble of patent claim
7
.
Different varieties of telephone apparatus for motor vehicles exist already.
A portable mobile telephone is know from German utility model G 9,311,294.7. It is held by means of a form-fitting and film connection within a holder. The holder is, for example, screwed to the side wall of a central console between the driver and passenger seats inside the motor vehicle.
A holder for a mobile telephone is known from EP 0,545,670 A2 which is made up by two parts that fit one into the other. The outer part is screwed firmly on a support. The inner part represents a kind of rocker, wherein the hand-held receiver apparatus is placed from the front. The rocker can be tilted about a horizontal axis. In the forward position, the rocker is ready for receiving the apparatus. When the rocker is tilted back, it is held by a rest mechanism. The mechanism is released by means of a handle arranged on the bottom side of the rocker which is operated by pushing down the hand-held receiver apparatus into the holder.
A two-part holder for a hand-held receiver apparatus is described in German utility model G 9,311,242.4. Here, an independently standing clip part is attached onto the hand-held receiver apparatus, which has a tongue that can be inserted into a slit of the holder. A HF shield and antenna part is further disclosed, which is connected to an on-board antenna system of the motor vehicle by means of a coaxial cable. The antenna part has a coupling that couples onto the antenna part of the mobile telephone generating a galvanized connection between the antenna part of the hand-held receiver apparatus and the on-board antenna of the motor vehicle. If the hand-held transmitter apparatus has speaker capabilities, then it can be left in the holder for telephoning. If it is not desired that other persons riding in the motor vehicle can hear the conversation, then the receiver apparatus can be removed from the holder, so that the user can telephone by holding the earpiece to his ear. The hand-held receiver apparatus is connected, in both cases, by means of an antenna line with the on-board antenna of the motor vehicle. If the apparatus is to be used outside of the motor vehicle, then the clip part and the shield or antenna part are removed.
The object of the invention is to provide a telephone apparatus with a holder for a handheld receiver apparatus that provides, aside from the purely communications engineering functions, also other services and reports, is partially automatic, and can be carried out by the operator without problem and in a secure fashion, particularly in “rough” surroundings.
The eventualities of normal life such as, for example, spilled beverages that could splash into the below-described insert cover when the hand-held receiver apparatus has been removed, coins that have fallen into the same, and other objects as well as crumbs of food that have fallen into the same are particularly considered under “rough surroundings”.
The manner in which this object is attained is the subject of patent claims
1
and
7
. The preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
The telephone apparatus of the invention obtains universal application capabilities by means of the integration of further services and reports aside from the communications engineering functions. These universal application capabilities are obtained in that the telephone apparatus consists of a hand-held receiver apparatus and an insert part that receives the same. The insert part has at least one function key and preferably at least one display elements. The function key or keys is or are decoupled from the general dialing functions of a telephone keypad, which results in the additional functions described below, which are not common to a general (conventional) telephone. As explained below, the signal and energy efficient coupling between the insert part and the telephone apparatus is preferably structured so that it is “idiot proof.” This “idiot proof” structure is preferred in the uses described herein; it can, of course, also be used for all the uses of a hand-held receiver apparatus that can be removed from a holder (insert part), no matter if it is a so-called Handy with a transmitter technical connection to the terrestrial or satellite sender/receiver installation or merely a sender/receiver installation located nearby, such as with a wireless hand-held receiver apparatus.
The interface between hand-held receiver apparatus and insert part is preferably structured so that the coupling function is not affected even by neglect.
The above-named object is attained further in that the insert part for the hand-held receiver apparatus is structured in such a manner that it serves for receiving the hand-held receiver apparatus and, at the same time, has a signal transmitter means as interface that is seal-tight against the penetration of liquids and/or foreign bodies. In this way, there can be no disturbance of the connection between the insert part and the hand-held receiver apparatus even when there is carelessness. The interface serves as energy supply for the hand-held receiver apparatus as well as for signal transmission, particularly of antenna signals. The interface is preferably a galvanized break-away coupling (transmission). There can also be an inductive, optic, . . . transmission, particularly of telecommunications signals. The signals and energy supply can be transmitted by means of a single coupling or several separate couplings.
The telephone apparatus of the invention is structured in such a manner that it can be used preferably in motor vehicles, wherein as motor vehicles are understood, for example, trucks and also wagons of a train, as well as any kind of self-propelling apparatus. A telephone apparatus such as the one of the invention also can be installed in conference rooms, hotel rooms, etc.
In a preferred embodiment, the insert part has a quiver-shaped lower part for the lower front side of the hand-held receiver apparatus. Function keys or display elements can be arranged on the outside of the quiver. Instead of arranging them herein, they can also preferably be partially or completely placed in the upper part of the insert part.
The quiver or the lower part of the insert part can be opened or fixed. A display unit is preferably provided, which brings the hand-held receiver apparatus after unlocking of the lower part into a position wherein it can be easily grasped. The hand-held receiver apparatus is, therefore, preferably pushed out of the inside of the quiver. As a further advantage, therefore, results the safety against damages to the edge of the quiver. Preferably, a collar-shaped unit according to the above description is used for the quiver-like lower part.
The rear wall of the quiver is preferably pulled over the upper edge, that is, lengthened upward. This lengthening serves as guidance element where the hand-held receiver apparatus will be inserted.
The insert part is preferably shaped as a hand shell. The hand shell is shaped in such a manner that it has an indentation for the hand-held receiver apparatus, so that the same is an integrated component part of the hand shell or appears to be and does not protrude from the same. The hand shell also has a shape that is larger than the hand-held receiver apparatus. When the hand-held receiver apparatus is removed, the hand shell looks as if the corresponding part had been “cut out.”
A speaker is preferably installed in the hand shell. A switch ensures that, when the handheld receiver is in the hand shell, the hearing and speaking arrangements of the hand-held receiver apparatus are automatically switched over to those of the hand shell. This switch can, for example, be activated by means of an automatically operated mechanic or electric sensor (activation element). The switching can also be carried out manually.
The insert part can preferably be removed from a console. The console can have a loudspeaker for

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