US2911485A - Telephone attachment - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 3, 1959 1 s H RRls 2,911,485

TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Filed June 15, 1956 Leon 5. Harris INVENTOR.

ited States ice The present invention relates generally to desk or hand set telephones and for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment for such instruments which will serve the triple purposes of a holder for the receiver-transmitter when it off its cradle, as an ash receptacle and as an advertising medium.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a multiple purpose attachment of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously mounted for use on various makes of desk telephones without altering the instrument in any manner or resorting to the use of bolts, screws or other extraneous securing elements.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a telephone attachment of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone equipped with an attachment embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view principally in vertically longitudinal section; i

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section through the device, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates generally a conventional telephone of the desk or hand set type. The instrument 5 includes the usual base 6 comprising a cradle 7 for the reception of a receiver-transmitter 8. Extending into the back 9 of the base 6 beneath the cradle 7 is a hand chamber 11) to facilitate lifting the instrument, the top 11 of said chamber being provided with the usual transversely extending, depending grip rib 12.

The embodiment of the presentinvention which has been illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular tray of metal, plastic or other suitable material which is designated generally by reference character 13. As shown to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing, the.forward end portion of the tray 13 is insertible in the chamber of the telephone base 6, said tray resting on the usual raised portion 14 of the bottom 15 of said chamber.

The tray 13 includes a bottom 16 comprising upwardly curved front and rear end portions 17 and 18, respectively, together with side walls 19. The side walls 19 of the tray 13 are provided, on their upper, rear end portions, with out turned horizontal flanges 20 for receiving thereon and supporting the receiver transmitter 8 when it is removed from the cradle 7 of the instrument. The rear end portion 18 of the bottom 16 of the tray 13 terminates in an upwardly extending stop flange 21 for the receiver-transmitter 8. If necessary, the forward portions of the receiver-transmitter supporting flanges 20 may be reinforced by depending lips or beads 22. The side walls 19- of the tray 13 include relatively low or reduced forward end portions 23 having formed in the upper edges thereof notches or recesses 24 for the reception of the rib 12 for anchoring said tray 13 in the chamber 10.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the forward end portion of the tray 13 is inserted in the chamber 10 and engaged with the front wall 25 of said chamber. The tray 13 is then seated and rocked on the portion 14 of the chamber 10 for swinging the forward end portion of said tray upwardly in a manner to engage the rib 12 in one of the pairs of notches or recesses 24. Thus, the tray 13 is firmly secured in position on the instrument. The purpose of the multiple notches or recesses is to accommodate the slightly differently located ribs 12on various makes of telephones. Cigarette and cigar ashes, used matches, etc. may now be deposited in the tray 13 in an obvious manner. The construction and arrangement is such that the tray 13 may be readily removed for emptying. When the telephone is in use the receiver-transmitter 8 may, if desired, be placed transversely on the protruding end portion of the tray 13 without breaking the circuit, said receiver-transmitter resting on the flanges 20 where it is retained by the flange 21. Any desired advertising or other matter may be placed on the elements 20 and 21 or on other portions of the device.

In the modification of Figure 4 of the drawing, reference character 26 designates generally a tray comprising a bottom 27 and side walls 28. The forward portions of the side walls 28 have formed in the upper edges thereof relatively large, single notches or recesses 29 of a size to accommodate the differently located ribs 12 of different makes of telephones. Extending laterally from the upper edges of the sidewalls 28 on the rear or outer end portion of the tray 26, are horizontal flanges 30 which are formed to provide transverse grooves or channels constituting cigarette and cigar rests 31. In other respects this form of the invention is substantially similar to the tray 13.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention-as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A combination ash receptacle and handset holder attachment for desk telephones of the type including a hand chamber extending thereinto from the rear thereof and a transverse rib depending from the top of the chamber, said attachment comprising an elongated, open tray mounted longitudinally in the chamber and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said tray including a bottom resting at an intermediate point on the bottom of the chamber and further including longitudinal side walls each having a plurality of notches in the upper, forward edge portion thereof, engaged selectively with the rib,

' and out turned flanges extending horizontally from the 3 side walls and the flanges and comprising lateral exten- D. 154,762 sions integral with the rear ends of said flanges. D. 172,130

References Cited in the file of this patent' UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 214881516 Stofer Apr. 27, 1948 2,614,177

41 Forkapa Aug. 9, 1949 Coulter May 11, 1954 Philips Oct. 25, 1955 Zeman Dec. 20, 1938 Shore Nov. 15, 1949 Orms Oct. 14, 1949

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