Handset cradle

Claim 2

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, said spring means comprising a flat spring member consisting of spring steel, and means to position said spring member at the lower inside end of said upper opening.

Claim 4

In combination with the cradle of claim 1, a handset, said handset having two ends including at least one reed switch located at a predetermined position between said two ends for activating at least an audio function thereof, a magnet in said cradle body, means to mount said magnet in said body between said upper and lower openings therein and at a location thereon where said magnet cooperates with said reed switch in said handset to operate the same only when said handset is in said cradle.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1, said body comprising a one-piece plastic molding.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1, and at least one utility opening formed in said body at a location thereon which is unobstructed when said handset is mounted in said cradle, and at least one utility item mounted in said at least one opening.

Claim 7

In combination with the cradle of claim 1, a telephone handset, a mounting flange extending rearwardly out beyond said handset when said handset is mounted in said cradle, and additional mounting means in said body at positions thereon which are covered by said handset when said handset is mounted in said cradle, said mounting flange and said additional mounting means being provided for wall mounting said cradle.

Claim 8

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, said release means comprising a release member of V-shaped configuration having a first leg extending upwardly and forwardly of said upper opening, means on said first leg cooperative with said body to define said first position, said V member having a second leg extending into said upper opening, the inside free edge of said second leg being adapted to bear against said handset in said first position, hinge means having a leaf connected to the inside surface of said second leg and a second leaf connected to the inside surface of said body at the top of said upper opening, said biasing means comprising torsion spring means in said hinge means to urge said release member to said first position, whereby a pulling force on the upper free end of said first leg of said release member away from said body will pivot said second leg of said release member about said hinge means and out of the pAth of motion of said handset out of said opening under the influence of said first mentioned spring means.

Claim 9

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, said release means comprising a release member of V-shaped configuration having a first leg extending upwardly and forwardly of said upper opening, means on said first leg cooperative with said body to define said first position, said V member having a second leg extending into said upper opening, the inside free edge of said second leg being adapted to bear against said handset in said first position, hinge means having a leaf connected to the inside surface of said second leg and a second leaf connected to the inside surface of said body at the top of said upper opening, said biasing means comprising torsion spring means in said hinge means to urge said release member to said first position, whereby a pulling force on the upper free end of said first leg of said release member away from said body will pivot said second leg of said release member about said hinge means and out of the pAth of motion of said handset out of said opening under the influence of said first mentioned spring means.

Claim 10

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, and a cable interconnecting said handset and said cradle, said lower opening in said cradle body comprising a cutout extending from the bottommost portion of said lower opening into said bottom wall of said cradle to clear said interconnecting cable when said handset is in said cradle, and reinforcing flanges on said bottom wall in closely spaced relation to the edges of said cutout.

Claim 11

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, and a cable interconnecting said handset and said cradle, said lower opening in said cradle body comprising a cutout extending from the bottommost portion of said lower opening into said bottom wall of said cradle to clear said interconnecting cable when said handset is in said cradle, and reinforcing flanges on said bottom wall in closely spaced relation to the edges of said cutout.

Claim 12

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, a cable interconnecting said handset and said cradle, combined mounting and securing means in said body to join the cradle end of said cable to said body, said combined means comprising a downwardly facing wall portion of said body, an opening formed in said wall portion and adapted to pass said cable therethrough, a molded-in boss portion on the front face of said wall surrounding said opening, a U-shaped wall on the opposite side of said wall portion from said boss portion and surrounding about half of said opening, a pressure foot having a portion adapted to fit between the legs of said U-shaped wall and having a front face which matches the front surface of said downwardly facing wall portion, and means to secure said pressure foot at selected adjustable positions between said legs of said U-shaped wall to thereby secure said cable between said pressure foot and the curved portion of said U-shaped wall.

Claim 13

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, a cable interconnecting said handset and said cradle, combined mounting and securing means in said body to join the cradle end of said cable to said body, said combined means comprising a downwardly facing wall portion of said body, an opening formed in said wall portion and adapted to pass said cable therethrough, a molded-in boss portion on the front face of said wall surrounding said opening, a U-shaped wall on the opposite side of said wall portion from said boss portion and surrounding about half of said opening, a pressure foot having a portion adapted to fit between the legs of said U-shaped wall and having a front face which matches the front surface of said downwardly facing wall portion, and means to secure said pressure foot at selected adjustable positions between said legs of said U-shaped wall to thereby secure said cable between said pressure foot and the curved portion of said U-shaped wall.

Claim 14

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, said securing means comprising a pair of studs molded in said body to opposite sides of the legs of said U-shaped wall, a flange extending from said pressure foot to each side of said U-shaped wall to overlie said studs, an elongated slot in each of said flanges, and locking screw means in said slots to secure said flanges at any selected adjusted position of said pressure foot with respect to said studs.

Claim 15

A wall-mountable cradle for a telephone handset comprising a body formed with upper and lower forward-facing openings to receive the two ends of the handset, a bottom wall defining the bottom of said lower opening to locate the handset in the body, spring means at the inside of said upper opening adapted to urge the upper end of said handset out of said upper opening, release means at the upper front end of said upper opening, said release means having a first position wherein it secures the upper end of said handset against said spring means and a second position wherein it is substantially clear of the normal path of motion of said upper end of said handset in and out of said opening, and means to normally bias said release means to said first position, said securing means comprising a pair of studs molded in said body to opposite sides of the legs of said U-shaped wall, a flange extending from said pressure foot to each side of said U-shaped wall to overlie said studs, an elongated slot in each of said flanges, and locking screw means in said slots to secure said flanges at any selected adjusted position of said pressure foot with respect to said studs.