Support for telephone hand sets

Nov. 5, 1935.

2,020,084

M. A. BIDDERS

SUPPORT FOR TELEPHONE HAND'SETS

Filed Nov. 2, 1934

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Patented Nov. 5, 1935

2,020,084

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,020,084 SUPPORT FOR TELEPHONE HAND SETS Marie A. Sidders, Queens Village, N. Y. Application November 2, 1934, Serial No. 751,130

Claims. (Cl. 179—156)

This invention relates, generally speaking, to devices for facilitating the support of telephone hand sets upon the head of the user in such manner as to leave both of his hands free for • other purposes.

Telephone desk sets which are now extensively used embody, generally speaking, a suitable support or base provided therein with switching mechanism and frequently a dialing mech10 anism and are formed at their top with a holder to receive a hand set. The hand set comprises a handle or hand grip at one end of which is mounted a receiver and at the opposite end of which is supported a transmitter, the receiver U and transmitter being spaced apart in such relation that the receiver may be held to the ear while the transmitter is positioned in the proximity of the mouth of the user. Desk sets of this character have enjoyed wide popularity, 30 but have been open to one pronounced objection, namely, that the hand set must be held in proper proximity to the head of the user. Generally this is accomplished by holding the hand set in one of the operator’s hands, thus leaving only one hand free to handle papers, books, or other matter to which he may desire to refer during the telephone conversation. Expedients have heretofore been suggested for supporting a hand set wholly on the head of the user, but these ex30 pedients have invariably been of a cumbersome nature and have failed to meet the requirements of a proper support for the hand set. In some instances they have been so constituted that the user is required to move the head out of an ab33 normal and into a strained position which is not only tiresome but inconvenient.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages and to provide a simple and efficient mechanism comfortable to wear 30 and readily placed on the head or removed therefrom and which when in place will properly support the hand set in an easy and convenient position with the receiver against the ear and the transmitter in proper cooperative relation 33 to the mouth.

An important practical feature of the invention resides not only in its simplicity; but in the firm and rigid manner in which the hand set may be supported for universal movement in or30 der to permit its regulation into a convenient and satisfactory position without necessitating turning of the head or moving the same into a strained or abnormal position. This feature of the invention fundamentally requires a firm attachment of the device to the hand set in such manner that, when adjusted, it will stay in the position in which it is placed and will not tend to move therefrom.

A further feature of the invention consists in a novel and efficient head band construction with 6 the universal joint connection between the head bands and a supporting hanger by which the head bands are secured to the hand set.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing the head bands with a novel form of 10 terminal member having associated therewith an ear pad adapted to cover the ear opposite to that with which the receiver is associated in such manner as to exclude outside noises and to thereby permit the telephone conversation to be more 16 readily carried on.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 20

The accompanying drawing Illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. 25

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the support of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the supporting hanger of this invention with the universal joint which is associated therewith shown in section 30 and the parts disconnected from one another to more clearly illustrate the structure. In this view, the hand set is shown in phantom to show the manner in which the supporting hanger is attached thereto in a firm and positive way. 35

Figure 3 is a fragmental section on the line 3—3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, I designates generally a conventional form of telephone hand set, the same embodying a handle portion 2 at one 40 end of which is mounted a receiver > and at the other end of which is supported a transmitter 4. 5 designates the supporting hanger of this invention. It is made of resilient material in the form of a loop 5 provided at its lower end with 45 depending and laterally extending resilient clamping jaws 6. The upper ends of the material forming the loop are brought together, preferably swedged in the circular cross section and attached to a spherical portion or ball 7. 50

The loop 5 and the jaws 6 are of resilient material so that they may be sprung into engagement with the telephone hand set as shown in Figure 2. The loop 5 is so proportioned that it will snugly embrace the shank 8 at the base of the re- 55

9,090,084 ceiver in a manner to firmly and securely hold the same, while the spring clamping jaws ( are so shaped and proportioned that they may be sprung over the handle adjacent the shank I, as 5 shown in Figure 2. The loop I and the jaws C thus grip the hand set in right angular relation to one another and are thus able to support the hand set on the hanger in any angular position without any chance of the hand set twisting in the 10 hanger or changing position with relation thereto.

The material from which the hanger is formed is made heavy enough to carry all the strains and stresses to which it may be subjected and it nevertheless possesses sufficient inherent resiliency to 15 grip the hand set tightly in the manner described.

The ball 7 to which I have referred constitutes one element of a ball and socket joint. The socket member is designated · and is provided with a concave seat 10 for the reception of the ball 7. 20 The upper portion of the socket 0 is interiorly threaded to receive a threaded plug 11, the end of which is also formed with a seat 12 to cooperate with the ball 7. Above the threaded part 11, the plug is provided with a knurled flange 10 which ²⁵ may be readily gripped to facilitate the screwing in of the plug in order to clamp the ball between the seats 10 and 12 with sufficient friction to preclude inadvertent shifting in this joint. Thus the hanger may be adjusted into the position de³⁰ sired and the plug screwed tightly into place to set up sufficient friction to preclude further relative movement of the hanger. The plug 13 is provided at its top with a lug 14 perforated at IS to receive a rivet 16 and this rivet passes through one end ³⁵ of each of two resilient bands 17. The opposite ends of the bands 17 extend into tubular resilient bands 18 in a telescoping manner, so as to permit of adjustment of the head bands and the opposite ends of the tubular bands are pivotally secured by ⁴⁰ means of a rivet 16 to a band terminal 20, having a laterally extending finger piece 21, preferably perforated as shown at 22, so that it may be readily gripped to, permit the head bands to be positioned on or removed from the head. The ⁴⁵ rivet 19 also serves to hold in place an ear pad 23 comprising a disk 24, the inner face of which is padded as shown at 25. The disk is mounted on the rivet 19 off center, so that when it is swung down into the position shown in full lines in Fig5° ures 1 and 3 it may cover one ear of the wearer, but, if desired, it may be swung up on the rivet into the dotted line position of Figure 3, so as to uncover said ear.

In use the head bands are properly adjusted by ⁵⁵ telescoping them as desired to properly fit the head of the user and they are sufficiently resilient to cause them to clamp firmly over the head with the ear pad 23 over one ear of the wearer and the transmitter 3 of the telephone hand set ⁶® against the free ear of the wearer. The universal joint comprising the ball and socket joint may be adjusted to place the instrument in proper cooperative relation to the ear and mouth of the user and further adjustment, if any be desired, ⁶⁵ may be had by pivotally moving the ball and socket joint on the rivet 16. In this way, the instrument is mounted for universal movement and may be brought into just the position desired „ to give the most comfort and operate to the best '° results.

It should be noted that in the device of this invention, the instrument is rigidly secured to a single hanger and that the hanger is mounted for universal adjustment, but may be clamped rigidly ⁵ when adjusted as desired. The device is readily put on or taken off and when not in use does not Interfere with the positioning of the hand set I upon the usual base of a telephone desk set. The structure is such moreover that it may be economically manufactured and in use will be thor- 5 oughly efficient and comfortable to wear.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims. 10