Convertible Handset Device for Telephone Sets

This invention relates to a handset device for telephone sets, and more particularly to a convertible handset device designed to be either held in hand or worn over the head.

The conventional handset for telephone sets is usually formed in an arcuate shape having a receiver installed at one end and a transmitter at the other end with the center portion adapted to be held in one hand. Since a telephone set is an indispensable instrument in our daily life, the increasing need for convenience requires that a greater number of telephone sets be installed throughout areas such as offices, shops, homes, etc. However, because the conventional handset provided on the telephone sets must be held in one hand when making or answering a telephone call, it often presents a great inconvenience when the user is kept busy working with his hands. In this situation, the user usually tilts his head and holds the handset between the shoulder and the head in order to free his hands continue working while listening and talking through the handset. Alternatively, the user must simply stop working in order to hold the handset in hand and exclusively engage himself in telephone conversation because the structure of the conventional handset provides no other option.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a convertible handset device for telephone sets which handset device can be either held in one hand or worn over the head so as to overcome the foregoing problems associated with the prior art.

With the above and other objects in mind, this invention provides a convertible handset device for telephone sets, which handset device comprises: a handset body with a handle portion in the middle having a cord groove formed therein, a first internal trough with a trough mouth in one end and an external passage with an end opening in the other end; conductive means electrically installed in said cord groove; a receiving means with a flexible link and a first contact engaging member movably disposed in said first internal trough through the trough mouth thereof and electrically connected to said conductive means at one end thereof; and a transmitting means with an adjustable link and a second contact engaging member movably arranged along said external passage through the end opening thereof and electrically connected to said conductive means at the other end. Thereby, the handset device can be either held in one hand or worn over the head.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become clear in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective and partial cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of a convertible handset for telephone sets according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective and partial cut-away view of an alternative example of the handset body of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 (A) is a perspective view of another alternative example of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 (B) is an illustrative view indicating a general structure of a receiving and/or a transmitting means of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 (A).

Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of a convertible handset device for telephone sets according to this invention comprises in combination a handset body 10, a receiving unit 20 and a transmitting unit 30. The handset body 10 integrally formed in an arch shape including a handle portion 100 with a cord groove 101 in the middle, a first internal trough 102 with a trough mouth 11 at one end. An external passage 103 with a cord channel 104 leading to the cord groove 101 in the other end, is adapted to be placed over the switchhook of a telephone set in a way similar to the conventional handset. A conductive cord 14 with an elastic portion 140 in the middle is disposed in the cord groove 101 and electrically connected to the telephone circuit of the telephone sets. The receiving unit 20, including a receiver portion 200 at one end with a receiver installed therein and electrically connected to the conductive cord 14, and a flexible link 21 at the other end with a stop edge 22 around the end, is movably installed in the first internal trough 102. The receiver portion 200 further includes a first contact engaging member 201 integrally formed at a back side thereof for being detachably engaged with a first engaging recess 151 provided at an outer side of the trough mouth 11 when the receiving unit 20 is pushed into the first internal trough 102 of the handset body 10. The transmitting unit 30, including a transmitter portion 300 at one end having a transmitter installed therein and electrically connected to the conductive cord 14 through cord channel 104, and an adjustable link 31 at the other end with a flange 32 around the end and an elbow joint 33 in the middle, is movably disposed in an end opening 12 of the handset 10 for being moved to and fro along the external passage 103. The transmitter portion 300 also includes a second contact engaging member 301 integrally provided at a front side thereof for being detachably engaged with a second engaging recess 131 integrally formed at an inside edge of the end opening 12 when the transmitter unit 30 is pushed backward along the external passage of the handset body 10.

It shall be appreciated that, when the receiver unit 20 and the transmitter unit 30 are kept in retraction within the handset body 10 and secured in position through both contact engaging members 201 and 301, the handset body 10 is used as an ordinary handset for being held in one hand during telephone conversation. Meanhile, if the user's hands have to be occupied, the handset body 10 can be worn over the user's head simply by pulling out the receiver unit 20 and the transmitter unit 30 as a headset. It shall be further appreciated that the elbow joint 33 of the adjustable when the handset body 10 is worn over the head with the transmitter unit 30 being pulled out, the adjustable link 31 can be optionally adjusted for keeping the transmitter portion 300 close to the user's mouth.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the handset body 10' wherein all members or elements identical with or corresponding to those illustrated in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and, therefore, explanation of those members or elements is omitted. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the handset body 10' includes a second internal trough 103' with the transmitter unit 30 movably disposed therein. It shall be appreciated that with the formation of the second internal trough 103', the thickness of the end portion of the handset body 10' for accommodating the transmitter unit 30 is thicker than that of the handset body 10 shown in FIG. 1, but the function remains unchanged.

Referring to FIGS. 3 (A, B), there is shown a further alternative embodiment of the convertible handset device 1' for telephone sets according to this invention. In this alternative embodiment, elements identical or corresponding to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are also indicated by the same reference numerals and explanation is omitted. The handset body 10" of the embodiment includes two sets of conductive contactors 231, 232 and 431, 432 respectively provided in the opposite ends of the first and second troughs 102 and 103' and separately connected to the electrical cord 14, of which the elastic portion 140 (as shown in FIG. 1) is not required. As shown in FIG. 3 (A, B), the receiver unit 20 and the transmitter unit 30 are respectively provided with a conductive contact point 23, 34 on each side thereof and electrically connected to the respective receiver and transmitter installed in the receiver and transmitter portions 200 and 300. When the receiver and transmitter units 20 and 30 are in retracted position within the handset body 10" for hand holding, the conductive contact points 23 and 34 of the receiver and transmitter units 20 and 30 will be respectively kept in electrical contact with the conductive contactors 232 and 432 of the handset body 10" while when the receiver and transmitter units 20 and 30 are pulled out from the handset body 10" for overhead wearing, the conductive contact point 23 and 34 of the receiver and transmitter units 20 and 30 will be separately kept in contact with the conductive contactors 231 and 431 of the handset body 10".

Having thus described the invention, it is to be understood that many embodiments thereof will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the specification and drawings be interpreted as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense except as defined in the appended claims.