JPH07202995A - Telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] Various changes can be given to the shape and appearance of the housing by using a foam material as the material of the main body. Construction: The housing consists of a layer of foam material and has a cavity for containing the electromechanical components of the telephone. The upper layer of foam material covers the matrix of the push button dial and consists of a smooth keyboard.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improved electrical devices, particularly telephones.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical manufacturing method of a conventional telephone relates to a manufacturing method of a device having a standard appearance. Since the circuit design is constantly improved, it is possible to downsize the circuit required for the telephone and downsize the device. Conventional design restrictions have disappeared, and conventional designs cannot keep up with miniaturization in response to advances in electrical technology.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is not only to be able to respond to various changes in appearance, but also to be novel and inexpensive to manufacture, and to give an attractive appearance and feel. It is to provide the structure of the telephone.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a push button telephone housing made of a durable and resilient material, the housing covering the electromechanical components of the telephone being formed of a rigid foam material. There is.

The telephone according to the present invention comprises: (a) a push button type dial comprising a housing formed of a block of foam material having an upper wall and a lower wall facing each other; and (b) a push button having an operating surface on the top. Of the electromechanical module and (c) an internal cavity surrounded by blocks for receiving the module, the matrix being arranged to be actuated through the upper wall.

The block is formed of a large number of foam synthetic resins. The top wall is an elastic structure and the top surface of the push button faces approximately the interior surface of the bottom wall so that pressure exerted on the top wall at one location on the top actuation surface actuates the corresponding push button element. It has become. And having a planar flexible layer attached to the upper wall so as to overlap the matrix, the planar layer of which serves as display means for identifying the upper actuation surface of the push button element below the upper wall. Have

Further, a second housing can be arranged and the module can be fixed thereto. The dimensions of the second housing are such that they fit into the void.

In one embodiment, the top wall of the housing comprises a matrix of push button dials, while in another embodiment a separate push button device extends through the top surface of the wall. The housing can be configured in two pieces,
The side wall and the lower wall are then formed as a first element having a void therein, and after the electromechanical component is placed in the void,
The top wall is coupled to the first element.

Alternatively, the housing can be constructed in layers. The layered construction allows the use of coexisting dissimilar materials, thus improving performance within the intended construction. Even in the case of a layered construction, the electromechanical elements in the housing can be arranged directly in the cavity, which can be provided with an internal cavity for accommodating the electromechanical components, or the element can be provided with a sturdy jacket. The enclosure can then be enclosed in a void.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a telephone has an elongated housing 10 of approximately normal size, generally rectangular,
There is a handset 12 at one end of the housing, a transmitter 14 at the other end, and a pushbutton matrix 16 in the center. Cable 1
Reference numeral 8 shows the outside of the housing and connects the telephone to the outside line.

Contrary to the construction of conventional telephones, the housing 10 is not formed of a rigid synthetic resin, but rather a material with closed-chamber foam, such as an ethyl vinyl acetate (eva) copolymer composition. Has been formed. In FIG. 2, the housing 10 comprises multiple laminates or layers of this type of foam material, the lower wall 20 of the housing being the first.
Layer, but the next intermediate layer or element 22, 24,
26 is a frame-like structure, and the peripheral portion surrounds the central window. Accurate stacking of the frame elements creates the side walls of the housing and at the same time forms the internal cavity 28. The electromechanical component is housed in this void.

The upper layer 30 forms the upper wall of the telephone and seals the void. The laminate is bonded into a block shape by a known appropriate means such as ultrasonic waves or an adhesive. The thickness of each layer may be the same or different and may vary depending on the appearance, between which a void is formed to accommodate the electromechanical component. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the exterior of the telephone can be significantly changed and the components can be molded, for example, so that they can be changed according to the preference of the designer. You can also change the color and appearance of each layer.

The electromechanical module 32 is mounted inside the cavity 28 and connected to the cable 18. The cable enters the housing through a side wall window and has a known jack or connector attached to its end. In one embodiment, each module element is connected to a printed circuit board 34, as is known. The circuit board surrounds the speaker 36 and microphone 38, and is supported by the speaker and microphone at its opposite end. Speakers and microphones extend through appropriately sized windows in circuit board 34. The height of the speaker and the microphone are adapted to the depth of the void 28. Speakers and microphones may be bonded to the lower wall layer 20 with an adhesive or the like to fix the position of the module element. One or more windows may be provided in the top wall layer 30 parallel to the speaker and microphone to improve the transfer of sound energy. Similarly, a pair of perforated elements 40 can be provided on the upper wall portion that covers the speaker and the microphone.

The module 32 has a matrix of pushbutton elements 42. The operation of the matrix, as is known, produces a voice or pulse for dialing and other uses. These pushbutton elements 42 may be of known construction and are arranged in the cavity so that in FIG. 3 their tops are in contact with the lower surface 44 of the upper wall layer 30. Since the upper wall layer has elasticity, if one point on the push button is pressed with a finger, the button is sufficiently pushed down, so that it can be used for dialing or the like.

The upper wall layer 30 forms a part of the housing having the push button and is connected to the central portion thereof, so that the push button element is protected from the surrounding dust and moisture, and the new structure and appearance are obtained. give.

Appropriate markings may be made directly on the outer surface of the upper wall 30 to indicate the location of the pushbuttons on top, or the upper wall 30 may be suitably covered with a thin layer 46.
The thin layer 46 may be formed of a suitable elastic material such as a foam material or synthetic resin, metallized synthetic resin, woven fabric, or the like. If desired, a window 48 through the upper wall 30 and the dial layer 46 may be provided, for example for a known slide switch 50 for switching between voice and dial operation.
Alternatively, instead of the slide switch 50, a toggle switch that activates when pressed may be similarly arranged on the push button of the matrix.

In the embodiment, the switch 50 is used for switching when a known manual device is lifted from the cradle, so that the phone can be used in any direction.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the module 32 is contained in the secondary housing 52. The entire speaker and microphone elements 36, 38 may be outside the sub-housing or, as shown,
As is known, it may be arranged in the sub-housing.
The push button matrix 42 is the surface 5 of the secondary housing.
It projects through 4. Practically, the sub-housing is made of a light and rigid material such as synthetic resin. The dimensions of the sub-housing are chosen so that it fits snugly in the cavity 28 and that the pushbutton matrix 42 lines up with the display of the buttons on the outside of the housing.
The sub-housing may rub against the edges of the cavity to make a tight fit, and the illustrated sub-housing 52 is made of a foam material.
Alternatively, the sub-housing may be fixed with a material such as a suitable adhesive. Module 3 by using the sub-housing
2 can be further protected and still maintain the elasticity obtained by the structure of the telephone.

[0019]

The telephone provided by the present invention is lightweight, strong, and can greatly change its appearance, and has an excellent aesthetic appearance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a telephone.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a dial portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of an embodiment in which an electromechanical component is housed in a sub housing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 housing 12 receiver 14 transmitter 16 matrix 18 cable 20 lower wall 22 element 24 element 26 element 28 void 30 upper wall 32 module 34 circuit board 36 speaker 38 microphone 40 perforated element 42 push button element 44 lower surface 46 thin layer 48 Window 50 switch 52 sub-housing 54 surface

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ichak Nebo Tel-Aviv, Israel, Shirt Estee 7 (72) Inventor Gideon Yeshaya Ramat Gan 52383, Ben-Gallion Estee 173

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A housing (10) formed of a block of foam material having opposite upper and lower walls (30) and (20), (b) from each push button having an actuating surface at the top. An electromechanical module (32) having a matrix (16) of push button dials (42) and (c) an internal cavity (28) surrounded by the block for receiving the module (32) A telephone set in which the matrix (16) is arranged to be activated through the upper wall (30). 2. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein the block is formed of a large number of foam synthetic resins. 3. The upper wall (30) is an elastic structure, and the upper surface of the push button faces approximately the inner surface of the lower wall (20), whereby the upper surface of the push button on one position of the upper working surface. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the pressure exerted on the top wall (30) is adapted to actuate a corresponding pushbutton element (42). 4. Further comprising a second housing (52),
The module is fixed thereto, and the second housing (5
A telephone as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the dimensions 2) are such that they fit into the void (28). 5. The planar layer (46) further comprising a planar flexible layer (46) attached to the upper wall (30) so as to overlap the matrix (16).
A telephone as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that it has display means for identifying the position of said upper working surface below said upper wall (30).