GB2152783A - Telephone handset aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The aid comprises a holder for the handset and a harness by which the user can station the holder on his person to leave the handset therein in a position for use; the harness being collapsible and the holder being such that the harness can be releasaby collapsed together with the holder, and such that, when the harness is collapsed together with it, the handset held in the holder can be rested normally on the cradle of the telephone. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone handset aid The present invention reiates to an aid for using a telephone handset Users of a telephone find on many occasions the need to have both hands free while using the handset.

Forthis purpose, some attempt two cradlethe handset between the cheek and the shoulder, but this is not only uncomfortable, it also runs the risk of the user's dropping and possibly damaging the handset. Harnesses are knowfor holding a telephone microphone, but these are not suitable for handsets.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an aid for using a telephone handset by which the user can station the handset in a position for use while leaving both hands free, and which is convenient to use and is unobtrusive when not in use.

There is provided bythe presentinvention, an aid for using a telephone handset, comprising a holder for thehandsetanda harness by which the user can station the holder on his person to leave the handset therein in a position for use; the harness being collapsible and the holder being such that the harness can be releasably collapsed togetherwith the holder, and such that, when the harness iscollapsedtogether with it, the handset held in the holder can be rested normally on the cradle ofthe telephone.

Preferably, the holder provides a housing forthe collapsed harness so that no part ofthe harness protrudesfromthe holder. In an embodimentofthe invention, the harness comprises a head strap; and the housing therefor comprises an arcuate channel of general "U" shape in cross-section to receive the head strap. The head strap may comprise a pair of pivotable, resiliently biassed stays securelyto position the headband on the user's head; and the housing may comprise an abutment member by which, as the harness is col I psed, the stays are pivoted to overlap a remaining portion of the headband, whereby the harness is collapsed to a more compact condition.

It is preferred that the harness be resiliently biased so that, on release, it automatically extends to permit use by the user.

The headband may comprise telescopic members resiliently biased to telescope on one another, but manually expandible on one another, so that, when the headband is places on the user's head with the telescopic members fully expanded, the headband will then automatically contract if need be, to conform to the user's head on release of the headband by the user.

The holder and the telephone handset casing may be formed integrally so that the user is not called upon to attach the aid to his telephone.

The presentinvention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure lisa perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in a condition ready for use; and Figure 2 is a like view showing the embodiment in a condition in which the handset used with it, may be rested normally on the cradle of a telephone.

Referring now to the drawing, the telephone aid comprises a holder 1 forthe telephone handset, of a generally arcuateform and comprising a seating 3 formed by a wall Sand, normal thereto, contoured lateral walls 7,9; the walls being contoured so that the handset can readily be inserted in the seating while providing the user with a convenient grip by lateral parts 11, 13 on the holder. The holder also comprises a harness, generally indicated at 15, by which the user can station the holder on his person to leave the handsettherein in a position for use. The harness, in this instance, is intended to fit on the user's head.It comprises a head strap 17 provided with two pivotable stays, 19,21, which in the condition of the harness shown in Figure 1 form with the remaining part ofthe headstrap a structure which seats on the top of the headto station the handset held inthe holder with the earpiece adjacentthe user's ear and the mouthpiece adjacentthe user's mouth; the stay 19 assisting the prevention of side-to-side shifting of the harness on the user's head and the stay 21 assisting in preventing front-to-back movement thereof. The stays are resiliently biased towards the position shown in Figure 1 by a coil spring (not shown) and stationed underthe bias by a stop 22 formed on the headstrap.With the handset located in the holder, the holder is intended to be gripped with the user's left hand and the harness to be placed in the user's head from the left-hand side thereof. For use by the right hand, the holder would be modified to the opposite hand since the harness would need to be placed on the user's head from the right-hand side thereof.

The headstrap fu rther comprises telescoping mem bers 23, 25, which can betelescopically adjusted in relation to one another to accommodate a particular user by loosening screws 27, making the required adjustment and then re-tightening the screws. The headstrap is pivoted in the holder to a bracket 29 held against wall Son the side thereof remote from that facing the handset, by screws 31 passing through a slot 33 formed in wall 5,to permit adjustment ofthe pivot location ofthe headstrap; the headstrap being spring biased buy a coil spring (notshown) carried on the pivot, to the position shown in Figure 1.

The harness is collapsible by pivoting around its pivot on the bracket 29; and the holder is formed to receive the collapsed harness so thatwhen collapsed together with the holder, no part of the harness projects from the holder. For this purpose, the holder comprises a housing 33 formed by wall 5, awall 35 parallel thereto and a joining wall or web 37 collectivelyforming an arcuate channel of general "U" shape in cross-section, into which the harness can be urged.

The housing also comprises a stay folding device 39 such asto fold the stays to lie againstthe remaining part of the headstrap as it is collpsed into the housing.

The device comprises a pivotable plate 41 bearing a stop 43 and an abutment 45 positioned so that as the pivot of the stays to the member 23, approaches the device, stay 19 strikes abutment 45 and as a result is turned against the spring bias to approach stay 21.

Subsequently, asthe collapsing ofthe harness is continued, the stop 22 ofthe headstrap hits stop 43, and this causes the plate 41 to pivot so as to move abutment 45 through an arc towards the housing. As this movement continues, stay 21 is closed on stay 19 and both then closed on member 23 ofthe headstrap until, when members 23,25 ofthe headband lie in the housing, the two stays are closed on member 23 and lie bythe side thereof in the housing remote from wall 5 (see Fig. 2).

To maintain the harness in the collapsed condition, the holder comprises a latch 45 biased by a coil spring (not shown) to a position (as shown in Figure 2) holding the harness in place.

It may be noted that member 25 of the headstrap is provided with a thumb stop 47 to permit the user, when gripping the holder, to push the harness around its pivot on bracket 29 to the collapsed condition; the folding device also being formed with a thumb stop 49 to permit, in the final stage ofthe collapsing ofthe harness,the userto assistthemovement.

In the particular instance shown the holdercompris esan aperturecontaining a grommet51 totakethe electrical lead to the handset, when the latter is positioned in the holder with the respective end of the handsetadjacentthatend ofthe holder. However,this could be omitted; and, indeed,thatend ofthe holder could be shortened along with the harness. In this case, the holder could be made substantially symmet rical about a transverse axis thereof.

Claims (8)

1. An aid for using a telephone handset, comprising a holderforthe handset and a harness by which the user can station the holder on his person to leave the handset therein in a position for use; the harness being collapsible and the holder being such that the harness can be releasably collapsed together with the holder, and such that, when the harness is collapsed togetherwith it, the handset held in the holder can be rested normally on the cradle ofthe telephone.

2. An aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the holder provides a housing for the collapsed harness so that no partofthe harness protrudes from the holder.

3. An aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the harness comprises a head strap; and the housing therefor comprises an arcuate channel of general "U" shape in cross-section to receive the head strap.

4. An aid as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the head strap comprises a pair of pivotable, resiliently biassed stays securelyto position the headband on the user's head; and the housing comprises an abutment member bywhich, as the harness is collapsed, the stays are pivoted to overlap a remaining portion of the headband.

5. An aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the harness is resiliently biased so that, on release, it automatically extends to permit use by the user.

6. An aid as claimed in Claim 3 or in Claim 4 or 5 as dependent on Claim 3, wherein the headband comprises telescorJic members resiliently biased to telescope on one another, but manually expandible on one another, so that, when the headband is placed on the user's head with the telescopic members fully expanded, the headband will then automatically contract if need be, to conform to the user's head on release of the headband by the user.

7. Telephone apparatus comprising an aid accord ing to any of the preceding claims and a telephone handset, wherein the holder and the telephone handset casing are formed integrally.

8. An aid for using a telephone, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.