Cover housing for telephone connectors or the like with magnetic or mechanical retaining means

Claim 2

A housing, said housing being particularly adapted for the covering of telephone connectors, said housing comprising: walls defining a main housing structure having an open side and an open interior, said open interior being sufficiently large to accept a telephone connector; engaging means in said housing, said engaging means being directed toward the open side of said housing; and retaining means engaged in said engaging means for retaining said housing in place, said retaining means comprising: a magnet housing having closed sides and having first and second open ends, said magnet housing being of sufficient size to accept a magnet and magnet pole pieces; and a rib extending across one of said open ends of said magnet housing, said rib being of such dimension as to be engageable by a magnet within said magnet housing but not engageable with the magnet pole pieces so that the magnet pole pieces are free to extend out of said magnet housing on opposite sides of said rib.

Claim 3

The housing of claim 1 wherein a magnet having two pole pieces on opposite sides thereof is positioned within said magnet housing so that said magnet lies substantially against said rib and sAid pole pieces are respectively movable on opposite sides of said rib, and including at least one ridge formed within said magnet housing, said ridge resiliently engaging said magnet so as to retain said magnet within said magnet housing, substantially lying against said rib.

Claim 4

The housing of claim 2 wherein said magnet has a hole therethrough and said pole pieces have projections thereon extending part way into said hole, said projections being smaller than said hole so that said pole pieces can move laterally on said magnet, said magnet housing embracing said pole pieces sufficiently closely so that said projections on said pole pieces are restrained within said hole in said magnet when said magnet and said pole pieces are within said magnet housing.

Claim 5

The housing of claim 1 wherein said engaging means in said housing comprises first and second engaging claws directed toward each other, and engaging means is provided on said magnet housing, said engaging means on said magnet housing comprising first and second locking feet, said magnet housing and said locking feet being so dimensioned with respect to said engaging means in said housing so that said magnet housing can be laterally slid underneath said housing-engaging means.

Claim 6

The housing of claim 4 wherein said magnet housing has an open side for insertion of said magnet into said magnet housing, said open side lying against said housing to close said open side on said magnet housing when said magnet housing is engaged in said housing by means of said engaging means.

Claim 7

The housing of claim 4 wherein at least one of said engaging means in said housing, and at least one of said locking feet on said magnet housing, have locking means thereon so that when said magnet housing is positioned in place in said housing so that said locking feet are retained by said engaging means, said locking means interengage to inhibit lateral sliding of said magnet housing with respect to said housing to inhibit disengagement of said magnet housing with respect to said housing.

Claim 8

The housing of claim 6 wherein said locking means comprises a rib on said locking foot and a rib on said engaging means in said housing, said ribs being arranged so that said ribs substantially resiliently deflect and pass each other upon sliding insertion of said magnet housing into said engaging means to inhibit removal of said magnet housing from said engaging means.

Claim 9

A housing, said housing being particularly adapted for the covering of telephone connectors, said housing comprising: walls defining a main housing structure having an open side and an open interior, said open interior being sufficiently large to accept a telephone connector; engaging means in said housing, said engaging means being directed toward the open side of said housing; a single wallplate integrally provided with retaining fingers thereon, said fingers being located solely in opposition to and engageable with said engaging means in said housing so that said housing can be secured to said wallplate by engagement of said engaging means and said fingers; said fingers comprising first and second pairs of fingers, each of said pairs of fingers having outwardly facing detent ribs; and said engaging means in said housing comprising inwardly facing claws, said detent ribs being engageable under said claws to retain said housing on said wallplate.

Claim 10

A housing, said housing being particularly adapted for the covering of telephone connectors, said housing comprising: walls defining a main housing structure having an open side and an open interior, said open interior being sufficiently large to accept a telephone connector; engaging means in said housing, said engaging means being directed toward the open side of said housing; a single wallplate integrally provided with retaining fingers thereon, said fingers being located solely in opposition to and engageable with said engaging means in said housing so that said housing can be secured to said wallplate by engagement of said engaging means and said fingers; said fingers comprising first and second pairs of fingers, each of said pairs of fingers having outwardly facing detent ribs; and said engaging means in said housing comprising inwardly facing claws, said detent ribs being engageable under said claws to retain said housing on said wallplate.

Claim 11

The housing of claim 8 wherein said claws have locking ribs thereunder, and each of said detent ribs has a notch therein, said notch in said detent rib being arranged to engage around said rib on said claw.

Claim 12

The housing of claim 9 wherein said fingers are resilient so that, upon engagement of said housing on said wallplate, said fingers resiliently deflect to snap under said claws.

Claim 13

A magnet housing comprising: four walls defining a space adapted to receive a magnet with pole pieces thereon, said magnet housing having an open end; a rib across said open end of said maGnet housing, said rib being positioned to engage a magnet in said magnet housing, and said rib defining first and second spaces, one on each side thereof, so that the pole pieces can extend through said spaces, and a longitudinal ridge integrally projecting from one of said walls into said space and adjacent said rib, said ridge projecting at a right angle to said rib and being of such dimension to resiliently engage a magnet in said magnet housing to retain the magnet adjacent said rib.

Claim 14

A magnet housing comprising: four walls defining a space adapted to receive a magnet with pole pieces thereon, said magnet housing having an open end; a rib across said open end of said maGnet housing, said rib being positioned to engage a magnet in said magnet housing, and said rib defining first and second spaces, one on each side thereof, so that the pole pieces can extend through said spaces, and a longitudinal ridge integrally projecting from one of said walls into said space and adjacent said rib, said ridge projecting at a right angle to said rib and being of such dimension to resiliently engage a magnet in said magnet housing to retain the magnet adjacent said rib.

Claim 15

The magnet housing of claim 11 wherein: a magnet has a hole therethrough, and first and second pole pieces are positioned against said magnet, said pole pieces have projections extending into said hole and said magnet, said projections being smaller in size than said hole so that said pole pieces can laterally move a limited distance with respect to said magnet, said magnet being positioned within said magnet housing; and said magnet housing being spaced from said pole pieces to permit said pole pieces to move with respect to said magnet housing, but said walls and said magnet housing lying sufficiently closely to prevent said projections from leaving said hole in said magnet.

Claim 16

A magnet housing comprising: four walls defining a space, and having first and second open ends opposite each other; a magnet having a hole therethrough, and first and second pole pieces positioned against said magnet, said pole pieces having projections extending into said hole in said magnet, said projections being smaller in size than said hole so that said pole pieces can laterally move a limited distance with respect to said magnet, said magnet and pole pieces being positioned within said space defined by said walls, said walls being spaced from said pole pieces to permit said pole pieces to move with respect to said magnet housing, but said walls lying sufficiently closely to prevent said projections from leaving said hole in said magnet; a rib across said first open end and engaging said magnet, said rib defining first and second spaces, one on each side thereof, so that said pole pieces can extend through said spaces; a ridge adjacent said rib, said ridge being of such dimension to resiliently engage said magnet in said magnet housing to retain said magnet adjacent said rib; and locking feet on said magnet housing, said locking feet being adapted to lock said magnet housing against a surface so as to close said second open end of said magnet housing.

Claim 17

A magnet housing comprising: four walls defining a space, and having first and second open ends opposite each other; a magnet having a hole therethrough, and first and second pole pieces positioned against said magnet, said pole pieces having projections extending into said hole in said magnet, said projections being smaller in size than said hole so that said pole pieces can laterally move a limited distance with respect to said magnet, said magnet and pole pieces being positioned within said space defined by said walls, said walls being spaced from said pole pieces to permit said pole pieces to move with respect to said magnet housing, but said walls lying sufficiently closely to prevent said projections from leaving said hole in said magnet; a rib across said first open end and engaging said magnet, said rib defining first and second spaces, one on each side thereof, so that said pole pieces can extend through said spaces; a ridge adjacent said rib, said ridge being of such dimension to resiliently engage said magnet in said magnet housing to retain said magnet adjacent said rib; and locking feet on said magnet housing, said locking feet being adapted to lock said magnet housing against a surface so as to close said second open end of said magnet housing.

Claim 18

The magnet housing of claim 13 wherein said locking feet have ribs thereon, said ribs being arranged to restrain lateral movement of said magnet housing out of locked position.

Claim 19

A housing, said housing being of such size as to be engageable over a cable connector on a telephone handset, said housing comprising: a top, opposite sides, and opposite ends, said top, said sides and said ends being connected together to form an open-sided housing; and walls within said housing, said walls being connected together and being connected to at least one of said sides and at least one of said ends to form a rectangular magnet-retaining recess in at least two corners of said housing, a retaining strap secured across the open face of said magnet-retaining recess to retain a magnet within said recess.

Claim 20

A housing, said housing being of such size as to be engageable over a cable connector on a telephone handset, said housing comprising: a top, opposite sides, and opposite ends, said top, said sides and said ends being connected together to form an open-sided housing; and walls within said housing, said walls being connected together and being connected to at least one of said sides and at least one of said ends to form a rectangular magnet-retaining recess in at least two corners of said housing, a retaining strap secured across the open face of said magnet-retaining recess to retain a magnet within said recess.

Claim 21

The housing of claim 15 comprising: a magnet having a hole therethrough; first and second pole pieces magnetically engaged against said magnet; projections on said pole pieces projecting into said hole in said magnet, said projections being of smaller size than said hole so that said pole pieces have restricted lateral freedom with respect to said magnet, said magnet and said pole pieces being positioned within said magnet-retaining recess; and said strap being engaged across the open face of said recess to engage said magnet, said strap being narrower than the open face of said recess so that said pole pieces can extend out of said open face of said recess on opposite sidEs of said strap.

Claim 22

The housing of claim 16 wherein first and second flange recesses are formed adjacent said magnet-retaining recess, said strap having flanges thereon, said flanges being engaged in said flange recesses, and being secured therein so as to retain said strap with respect to said magnet-retaining recess.

Claim 23

The housing of claim 17 wherein said flanges are adhesively retained within said flange-retaining recesses.

Claim 24

A magnet housing comprising: four walls defining a space, and having first and second open ends opposite each other; a magnet and a pair of pole pieces positioned within said space defined by said walls, said pole pieces being positioned against and retainedly engaged by said magnet and walls, a rib across said first open end and engaging said magnet; and locking feet on said magnet housing, said locking feet being adapted to lock said magnet housing against a surface so as to close said second open end of said magnet housing.

Claim 25

A magnet housing comprising: four walls defining a space, and having first and second open ends opposite each other; a magnet and a pair of pole pieces positioned within said space defined by said walls, said pole pieces being positioned against and retainedly engaged by said magnet and walls, a rib across said first open end and engaging said magnet; and locking feet on said magnet housing, said locking feet being adapted to lock said magnet housing against a surface so as to close said second open end of said magnet housing.

Claim 26

The magnet housing of claim 19 wherein said locking feet have ribs thereon, said ribs being arranged to restrain lateral movement of said magnet housing out of locked position.