Telephone handset coupler

Claim 2

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset to a terminal comprising: a handset coupler of resilient material having an annular outer wall for mounting on the terminal, an annular inner wall on said coupler spaced radially inwardly of and located within said outer wall a distance sufficient to preclude abutting engagement therebetween at any time, an integral connecting portion on said coupler joining said inner wall and said outer wall and movably supporting said inner wall relative to said outer wall, while largely isolating said inner wall from mechanical vibrations impressed on said outer wall from the terminal, and a support for engaging and holding an end of said handset on said inner wall, so that any vibrations from said terminal are transmitted to the end of said handset substantially only through said outer wall and said connecting portion and said inner wall.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including a terminal having means engaging only a relatively narrow width portion of said outer wall and providing the only support for said coupler relative to the terminal.

Claim 4

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset to a terminal comprising: a handset coupler of resilient material having an annular outer wall for mounting on the terminal, an annular inner wall on said coupler spaced radially inwardly of and located within said outer wall, an integral connecting portion on said coupler joining said inner wall and said outer wall and movably supporting said inner wall relative to said outer wall while largely isolating said inner wall from mechanical vibrations impressed on said outer wall from the terminal, a portion of said inner wall being formed to receive and hold an end of the handset in spaced relationship to the terminal and said outer wall, said inner wall being axially movable relative to said outer wall upon engagement of the end of the handset with said portion of said inner wall, and having a stepped region on its radially outer surface forming a downwardly facing ledge, said outer wall having a groove formed in its radially inner surface, and a ring-like member mounted in said groove and located for abutting engagement with said ledge upon axial movement of said inner wall.

Claim 5

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset to a terminal comprising: a handset coupler of resilient material having an annular outer wall for mounting on the terminal, an annular inner wall on said coupler spaced radially inwardly of and located within said outer wall, an integral connecting portion on said coupler joining said inner wall and said outer wall and movably supporting said inner wall relative to said outer wall while largely isolating said inner wall from mechanical vibrations impressed on said outer wall from the terminal, a portion of said inner wall being formed to receive and hold an end of the handset in spaced relationship to the terminal and said outer wall, said inner wall being axially movable relative to said outer wall upon engagement of the end of the handset with said portion of said inner wall, and having a stepped region on its radially outer surface forming a downwardly facing ledge, said outer wall having a groove formed in its radially inner surface, and a ring-like member mounted in said groove and located for abutting engagement with said ledge upon axial movement of said inner wall.

Claim 6

Apparatus for coupling to a handset comprising: a handset coupler of highly elastic material, having a substantially annular inner wall for receiving an end of said handset and for supporting a transducer, said inner wall having upper and lower end portions, said coupler having an annular outer wall surrounding and spaced outwardly from said inner wall, said outer wall having upper and lower portions, and said coupler also having an annular membrane integral with said upper end portions of said inner and outer walls to connect them; and a terminal having a portion engaged with said outer wall of said coupler to support it so that said inner wall can move relative to said outer wall.

Claim 7

Apparatus for coupling to a handset comprising: a handset coupler of highly elastic material, having a substantially annular inner wall for receiving an end of said handset and for supporting a transducer, said inner wall having upper and lower end portions, said coupler having an annular outer wall surrounding and spaced outwardly from said inner wall, said outer wall having upper and lower portions, and said coupler also having an annular membrane integral with said upper end portions of said inner and outer walls to connect them; and a terminal having a portion engaged with said outer wall of said coupler to support it so that said inner wall can move relative to said outer wall.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said inner and outer walls have thIn upper portions that merge with said membrane, and lower portions thicker than their respective upper portions, said upper portion of said inner wall constructed to receive said end of said handset in an interference fit therewith.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said lower end portion of said outer wall has an annular groove on its outer surface, for receiving a mounting bracket flange; and said terminal has a flange for reception in said groove of said outer wall.

Claim 10

Apparatus for coupling a handset to a terminal comprising: a handset coupler of elastic material, having a substantially annular inner wall for receiving an end of said handset and for supporting a transducer, said inner wall having upper and lower end portions, said coupler having a substantially annular outer wall surrounding and spaced outwardly from said inner wall for mounting on said terminal, said outer wall having upper and lower portions, and said coupler also having a substantially annular membrane integral with said upper end portions of said inner and outer walls to connect them; said upper end portion of said inner wall having a handset receiving portion with a handset-abutting part forming an upwardly facing ledge and an aperture extending through said handset abutting part; and a switch mounted on said inner wall and having an operating element extending through said aperture in said handset-abutting part to detect the seating of a handset end.

Claim 11

Apparatus for coupling a handset to a terminal comprising: a handset coupler of elastic material, having a substantially annular inner wall for receiving an end of said handset and for supporting a transducer, said inner wall having upper and lower end portions, said coupler having a substantially annular outer wall surrounding and spaced outwardly from said inner wall for mounting on said terminal, said outer wall having upper and lower portions, and said coupler also having a substantially annular membrane integral with said upper end portions of said inner and outer walls to connect them; said upper end portion of said inner wall having a handset receiving portion with a handset-abutting part forming an upwardly facing ledge and an aperture extending through said handset abutting part; and a switch mounted on said inner wall and having an operating element extending through said aperture in said handset-abutting part to detect the seating of a handset end.

Claim 12

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset, having an annular communication end portion, to a transducer in a terminal and comprising: a rigid support housing for mounting said handset on the terminal, an opening in said housing to receive the end portion of the handset, a coupling member mounted in said opening to support the end portion of the handset relative to said support housing and reduce transmission of vibrations therebetween and to connect the end portion of the handset to the transducer and limit outside sound transmission thereto, said coupling member being made of a resilient deflectable relative non-vibratable and sound deadening material and comprising: an annular outer wall extending axially through said opening, attachment means fixedly connecting said outer wall to said support housing, an annular inner wall radially inwardly spaced from said outer wall and extending axially therewithin, a resilient deflectable integral connecting portion extending radially between adjacent end portions of said inner wall and said outer wall, and permitting axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall between a normal unstressed axial position and a resiliently displaced axial position, an annular end portion receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the end portion of the handset so as to be sealingly engageable therewith, said inner wall being axially movable relative to said outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting portion as the end portion of the handset is placed in sealing engagement with said portions of said inner wall within said end portion receiving cavity, a first radially extending abutment surface on said inner wall, a second radially extending abutment surface on said outer wall and extending radially beyond said first radially extending abutment surface for abutting engagement therewith to limit axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall, a transducer cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said inner wall axially spaced from said end portion receiving cavity, a transducer mounted in said transducer cavity in accoustically sealed relationship to said inner wall, and an accoustically sealed transmission chamber defined by said inner wall and said end portion of said handset and said transducer.

Claim 13

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset, having an annular communication end portion, to a transducer in a terminal and comprising: a rigid support housing for mounting said handset on the terminal, an opening in said housing to receive the end portion of the handset, a coupling member mounted in said opening to support the end portion of the handset relative to said support housing and reduce transmission of vibrations therebetween and to connect the end portion of the handset to the transducer and limit outside sound transmission thereto, said coupling member being made of a resilient deflectable relative non-vibratable and sound deadening material and comprising: an annular outer wall extending axially through said opening, attachment means fixedly connecting said outer wall to said support housing, an annular inner wall radially inwardly spaced from said outer wall and extending axially therewithin, a resilient deflectable integral connecting portion extending radially between adjacent end portions of said inner wall and said outer wall, and permitting axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall between a normal unstressed axial position and a resiliently displaced axial position, an annular end portion receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the end portion of the handset so as to be sealingly engageable therewith, said inner wall being axially movable relative to said outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting portion as the end portion of the handset is placed in sealing engagement with said portions of said inner wall within said end portion receiving cavity, a first radially extending abutment surface on said inner wall, a second radially extending abutment surface on said outer wall and extending radially beyond said first radially extending abutment surface for abutting engagement therewith to limit axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall, a transducer cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said inner wall axially spaced from said end portion receiving cavity, a transducer mounted in said transducer cavity in accoustically sealed relationship to said inner wall, and an accoustically sealed transmission chamber defined by said inner wall and said end portion of said handset and said transducer.

Claim 14

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset, having an Annular communication end portion, to a transducer in a terminal and comprising: a support housing for mounting the handset on the terminal, a radially extending support flange on said housing defining an annular opening, an end portion receiving member mounted in said annular opening and being made of a resilient deflectable material and comprising: an annular outer wall extending axially through said annular opening, a radially outwardly facing annular groove in said outer wall receiving said support flange and providing the sole means of support for said member relative to said housing, an annular inner wall radially inwardly spaced from said outer wall a distance sufficient to prevent abutting engagement therebetween and extending axially therewithin, a resilient deflectable integral connecting means extending radially between said inner wall and said outer wall and permitting axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall and limiting transmission of vibrations between said outer wall and said inner wall, an annular end portion receiving cavity within said inner wall and defined by radially inwardly facing resilient portions thereof and having a diameter less than the diameter of the end portion of the handset so as to be sealingly engageable therewith to prevent transmission of sound therebetween, said inner wall being axially movable relative to said outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting means as the end portion of the handset is placed in sealing engagement with said portions of said inner wall within said end portion receiving cavity, cooperable abutment means on said inner wall and said outer wall engageable upon axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall a predetermined distance, an axially extending sound transmission chamber within said inner wall adjacent said end portion receiving cavity, and a sound transducer sealing associated with said inner wall at one end of said sound transmission chamber opposite said end portion receiving cavity.

Claim 15

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a telephone handset, having an Annular communication end portion, to a transducer in a terminal and comprising: a support housing for mounting the handset on the terminal, a radially extending support flange on said housing defining an annular opening, an end portion receiving member mounted in said annular opening and being made of a resilient deflectable material and comprising: an annular outer wall extending axially through said annular opening, a radially outwardly facing annular groove in said outer wall receiving said support flange and providing the sole means of support for said member relative to said housing, an annular inner wall radially inwardly spaced from said outer wall a distance sufficient to prevent abutting engagement therebetween and extending axially therewithin, a resilient deflectable integral connecting means extending radially between said inner wall and said outer wall and permitting axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall and limiting transmission of vibrations between said outer wall and said inner wall, an annular end portion receiving cavity within said inner wall and defined by radially inwardly facing resilient portions thereof and having a diameter less than the diameter of the end portion of the handset so as to be sealingly engageable therewith to prevent transmission of sound therebetween, said inner wall being axially movable relative to said outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting means as the end portion of the handset is placed in sealing engagement with said portions of said inner wall within said end portion receiving cavity, cooperable abutment means on said inner wall and said outer wall engageable upon axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall a predetermined distance, an axially extending sound transmission chamber within said inner wall adjacent said end portion receiving cavity, and a sound transducer sealing associated with said inner wall at one end of said sound transmission chamber opposite said end portion receiving cavity.

Claim 16

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a transmitter end and a receiver end of a telephone handset to a receiving transducer and a transmitting transducer, respectively, of a terminal and comprising: a housing mounted on the terminal, a first radially extending flange on said housing defining an annular transmitter opening, a second radially extending flange on said housing defining an annular receiver opening, a resilient transmitter end holding member fixedly mounted in said transmitter opening and comprising: an annular outer wall extending through said transmitter opening, a radially outwardly facing annular groove in said annular outer wall receiving said first radially extending flange and providing the sole means of support for said transmitter end holding member relative to said housing, an annular inner wall extending through said transmitter opening and being radially inwardly spaced from said annular outer wall a distance sufficient to prevent abutting contact therebetween, an annular integral resiliently deflectable connecting wall portion extending between adjacent ends of said annular outer wall an said annular inner wall, an annular transmitter end receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said annular inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the transmitter end so as to be sealingly engageable therewith, said annular inner wall being axially movable relative to said annular outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting wall portion when the transmitter end is placed within said transmitter end receiving cavity, a radially extending abutment surface on said inner annular wall, a radially inwardly facing groove in said outer wall, an abutment plate mounted in said inwardly facing groove and extending radially inwardly beyond said abutment surface for abutting engagement therewith to limit axial mOvement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall, an annular axially extending transmission opening in said inner annular wall, a radially inwardly facing transducer groove in said inner annular wall located adjacent said transmission opening, a receiver transducer having a radially outwardly extending annular flange sealingly mounted in said transducer groove in axially spaced relationship to said transmitter end and defining a sealed accoustical chamber therebetween, a resilient receiver end holding member fixedly mounted in said receiver opening and comprising: an annular outer wall extending through said receiver opening, a radially outwardly facing annular groove in said annular outer wall receiving said second radially extending flange and providing the sole means of support for said receiver end holding member relative to said housing and accoustically sealing the space therebetween, an annular inner wall extending through said receiver opening and being radially inwardly spaced from said annular outer wall a distance sufficient to prevent abutting contact therebetween, an integral annular resiliently deflectable connecting wall portion extending between adjacent ends of said annular outer wall and said annular inner wall and movably supporting said inner wall within said outer wall, an annular receiver end receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing resilient portions of said annular inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of said receiver end so as to be sealingly engageable therewith, said annular inner wall being axially movable relative to said annular outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting wall portion when the receiver end is placed within said receiving end cavity, a radially extending abutment surface on said inner wall, a radially inwardly facing groove in said outer wall, an abutment plate mounted in said inwardly facing groove and extending radially inwardly beyond said abutment surface for abutting engagement therewith to limit axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall, an annular axially extending transmission opening in said inner annular wall, a radially inwardly facing transducer groove in said inner annular wall located adjacent said transmission opening, and a transmitter transducer having a radially outwardly extending annular flange sealingly mounted in said transducer groove in axially spaced relationship to said receiver end and defining a sealed accoustical chamber therebetween, and the abutment plates being located relative to the terminal so as to hold the handset in spaced relationship to the terminal, the inner walls being the sole support for the handset relative to the terminal.

Claim 17

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a transmitter end and a receiver end of a telephone handset to a receiving transducer and a transmitting transducer, respectively, of a terminal and comprising: a housing mounted on the terminal, a first radially extending flange on said housing defining an annular transmitter opening, a second radially extending flange on said housing defining an annular receiver opening, a resilient transmitter end holding member fixedly mounted in said transmitter opening and comprising: an annular outer wall extending through said transmitter opening, a radially outwardly facing annular groove in said annular outer wall receiving said first radially extending flange and providing the sole means of support for said transmitter end holding member relative to said housing, an annular inner wall extending through said transmitter opening and being radially inwardly spaced from said annular outer wall a distance sufficient to prevent abutting contact therebetween, an annular integral resiliently deflectable connecting wall portion extending between adjacent ends of said annular outer wall an said annular inner wall, an annular transmitter end receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said annular inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the transmitter end so as to be sealingly engageable therewith, said annular inner wall being axially movable relative to said annular outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting wall portion when the transmitter end is placed within said transmitter end receiving cavity, a radially extending abutment surface on said inner annular wall, a radially inwardly facing groove in said outer wall, an abutment plate mounted in said inwardly facing groove and extending radially inwardly beyond said abutment surface for abutting engagement therewith to limit axial mOvement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall, an annular axially extending transmission opening in said inner annular wall, a radially inwardly facing transducer groove in said inner annular wall located adjacent said transmission opening, a receiver transducer having a radially outwardly extending annular flange sealingly mounted in said transducer groove in axially spaced relationship to said transmitter end and defining a sealed accoustical chamber therebetween, a resilient receiver end holding member fixedly mounted in said receiver opening and comprising: an annular outer wall extending through said receiver opening, a radially outwardly facing annular groove in said annular outer wall receiving said second radially extending flange and providing the sole means of support for said receiver end holding member relative to said housing and accoustically sealing the space therebetween, an annular inner wall extending through said receiver opening and being radially inwardly spaced from said annular outer wall a distance sufficient to prevent abutting contact therebetween, an integral annular resiliently deflectable connecting wall portion extending between adjacent ends of said annular outer wall and said annular inner wall and movably supporting said inner wall within said outer wall, an annular receiver end receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing resilient portions of said annular inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of said receiver end so as to be sealingly engageable therewith, said annular inner wall being axially movable relative to said annular outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting wall portion when the receiver end is placed within said receiving end cavity, a radially extending abutment surface on said inner wall, a radially inwardly facing groove in said outer wall, an abutment plate mounted in said inwardly facing groove and extending radially inwardly beyond said abutment surface for abutting engagement therewith to limit axial movement of said inner wall relative to said outer wall, an annular axially extending transmission opening in said inner annular wall, a radially inwardly facing transducer groove in said inner annular wall located adjacent said transmission opening, and a transmitter transducer having a radially outwardly extending annular flange sealingly mounted in said transducer groove in axially spaced relationship to said receiver end and defining a sealed accoustical chamber therebetween, and the abutment plates being located relative to the terminal so as to hold the handset in spaced relationship to the terminal, the inner walls being the sole support for the handset relative to the terminal.

Claim 18

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a transmitter end and a receiver end of a telephone handset to a receiving transducer and a transmitting transducer, respectively, of a terminal and comprising: support means for the handset on the terminal, an annular transmitter opening on the support means, an annular receiver opening on the support means, each opening having a resilient handset end holding member fixedly mounted therein comprising: an annular outer wall extending through the opening, attachment means on a portion of said outer wall fixed to the support means adjacent the opening and providing the sole means of support for the holding member relative to the terminal, an annular inner wall extending through the opening, an integral resiliently deflectable connecting wall portion extending between adjacent ends of said outer wall and said inner wall, and limiting vibrational transmission between the terminal and the inner wall, a handset end receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the handset end so as to be accoustically sealingly engageable therewith, said inner wall Being axially movable relative to said outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting wall portion when the headset end is placed within said handset end receiving cavity, abutment means engageable with said inner wall to limit axial movement thereof relative to said outer wall, an accoustically sealed axially extending transmission opening in said inner annular wall adjacent and connected to said handset end receiving cavity, transducer receiving means on said inner wall adjacent and connected to said transmission opening and accoustically sealingly receiving the transducer and defining a sealed accoustical chamber between the handset end and the transducer, and the abutment means being located relative to the terminal so as to hold the handset in spaced relationship to the terminal, the inner walls being the sole support for the handset relative to the terminal.

Claim 19

Apparatus for accoustically coupling a transmitter end and a receiver end of a telephone handset to a receiving transducer and a transmitting transducer, respectively, of a terminal and comprising: support means for the handset on the terminal, an annular transmitter opening on the support means, an annular receiver opening on the support means, each opening having a resilient handset end holding member fixedly mounted therein comprising: an annular outer wall extending through the opening, attachment means on a portion of said outer wall fixed to the support means adjacent the opening and providing the sole means of support for the holding member relative to the terminal, an annular inner wall extending through the opening, an integral resiliently deflectable connecting wall portion extending between adjacent ends of said outer wall and said inner wall, and limiting vibrational transmission between the terminal and the inner wall, a handset end receiving cavity defined by radially inwardly facing portions of said inner wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the handset end so as to be accoustically sealingly engageable therewith, said inner wall Being axially movable relative to said outer wall by resilient deflection of said connecting wall portion when the headset end is placed within said handset end receiving cavity, abutment means engageable with said inner wall to limit axial movement thereof relative to said outer wall, an accoustically sealed axially extending transmission opening in said inner annular wall adjacent and connected to said handset end receiving cavity, transducer receiving means on said inner wall adjacent and connected to said transmission opening and accoustically sealingly receiving the transducer and defining a sealed accoustical chamber between the handset end and the transducer, and the abutment means being located relative to the terminal so as to hold the handset in spaced relationship to the terminal, the inner walls being the sole support for the handset relative to the terminal.

Claim 20

The invention as defined in claim 11 and having transducer switch means operable by movement of said inner wall into engagement with said abutment means to connect the handset to the terminal.