Patent Application
20070291932
The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a land telephone device 100 embodying the invention, which is in itself a complete telephone that can simply be connected by means of a telephone cord to a telephone line via a telephone socket for immediate use. As the telephone (device) 100 can obtain power directly from the telephone line, no extra wire connection or accessory is needed.
The telephone 100 has a generally flat rectangular upright case 110 designed for use by hand as a handset. The case 110 has a flat front wall/side 111 on which there are an alphanumeric keypad 120 typical for telephones and a press knob 130 below the keypad 120 for operating an internal on/off hook switch 220. Six small holes 112 through the front wall 111, at an upper end of the case 110, permit operation of an internal speaker. The press knob 130 protrudes from the front wall 111 at a lower end of the case 110, and it has three small holes 113 to allow an internal microphone to function.
The telephone 100 includes two permanent magnets 141 and 142 which are fixed on the inner surface of the front wall 111 of the case 110, centrally at or adjacent opposite upper and lower end portions thereof. The magnets 141 and 142 serve to attach the case 110 onto a support surface 9, such as a white board or the side of a refrigerator or computer case, by way of magnetic attraction, with its front wall 111 facing and lying against the support surface 9 such that the press knob 130 for the on/off hook switch 220 is pressed inwards upon engaging the support surface 9 to thereby put the telephone 100 on hook. The lower magnet 142 is located as close as possible to the press knob 130 to ensure maximum force upon attachment to a support surface for pressing knob 130.
The keys of the keypad 120 are feather-touch keys and they are flat, i.e. lying flush with or not protruding from the front side 111 of the case 110, such that attachment of the case 110 onto a refrigerator for example as described above will not cause unintended pressing of any of the keypad keys. If the keys are raised buttons, the middle part of the front side 111 where the keypad 120 is may be made recessed to accommodate the thickness of the keys to avoid unintended pressing.
The telephone circuit of the telephone 100, which is designated by reference numeral 200, is mounted on a circuit board 210 in the case 110, and it includes the on/off hook switch 220 that is likewise mounted on the circuit board 210. The aforesaid speaker and microphone are parts of the telephone circuit 200, and other standard telephone components include dialing circuit, ringing circuit and line interface, etc., as is generally known in the art.
The on/off hook switch 220 incorporates a switching member for operation, in the form of a spring-loaded lever 222 which extends laterally from one (lower) side of the hook switch 220 for pivotal movement by the press knob 130 to operate the hook switch 220. The hook switch 220 has a normal condition that puts the telephone 100 off hook ready for making or receiving a call, which is inhibited by pressing the press knob 130 or having it pressed.
The press knob 130 is a distinct and separate member from the on/off hook switch 220. It is supported by an individual square collar 132 fixed on the inner surface of the front wall 111 of the case 110, at a position close to the on/off hook switch 220, for sliding movement to operate the hook switch 220 immediately behind it. The press knob 130 passes through a matching aperture through the case wall 111, and is resiliently biased by an internal spring 134 to protrude outwardly from the wall 111 such that it is normally raised to release the on/off hook switch 220.
Upon placing of the telephone 100 onto the wall 9 of a refrigerator (for example), with its front side 111 facing the refrigerator, the internal magnets 141 and 142 will immediately hold the telephone 100 (by its case 110) in position on the wall by way of magnetic attraction. As the case 110 is getting close to the refrigerator wall, the press knob 130 is pressed inwards upon engaging the wall to pivot the lever 222 and hence operate the on/off hook switch 220, and this puts the telephone 100 on hook.
The telephone 100 then stays on the refrigerator in a standby mode ready for making or receiving another call. Detachment or removal of the telephone 100 from the refrigerator wall 9 will automatically release the press knob 130 and in turn the on/off hook switch 220, which then puts the telephone 100 off hook for operation.
The telephone 100 of the present invention is convenient to use as it can be attached onto a nearby ferromagnetic metal surface without occupying desktop or worktop space, at a location where there is a white board or a refrigerator whose surface is often used as a white board or there is a personal computer (computer case) and at such a location a telephone is handy and normally installed (a telephone socket is usually available).
The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.
