Patents Examined by Jack K. Chiang
  • Patent number: 5844985
    Abstract: A portable phone unit for use in satellite communication systems has a vertically correcting antenna module pivotally secured to the handset for free rotation about a pivot axis. The module contains a mechanism, such as a gravitational counterweight for urging the module to pivot into a predetermined vertical orientation regardless of the handset orientation. An antenna projects from the module in a direction which is vertically upright when the module is in its predetermined vertical orientation. A mast mounted antenna module can also be used to take advantage of dissimilar antenna segment weights for multiple frequency antennas. As the handset is moved into an angular orientation, the module pivots under the weight of the counterweight, or a portion of the antenna itself, until the antenna is oriented vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric C. Kulberg, William R. Panton, James H. Thompson, Stephen B. Tidwell, Robert P. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5835586
    Abstract: An armrest telephone assembly comprises an armrest unit and a telephone handset. The armrest unit includes an upper side and a lower side, and the armrest unit has a release mechanism mounted therein. The telephone handset includes a latching mechanism for releasably mounting the handset to the lower side of the armrest unit. The release mechanism of the armrest unit is mechanically linked to the latching mechanism of the handset such that the latching mechanism releases the handset from the lower side of the armrest unit in response to actuation of the release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: GTE Airfone Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard E. Skowronski
  • Patent number: 5748728
    Abstract: A shield conceals operation of a keypad such as a telephone keypad, from a view oblique to the user, who can view the keypad either over or through a front member. The front member is movable such that it does not interfere with normal operation of the telephone, and permits the handset to be conventionally mounted over the keypad. One or two side members extend from the sides of the keypad forward toward the user, for example by a distance at least equal to the width of the keypad. The front member can be pivotable and/or slidable on the side members, and is preferably translucent, whereas the side members are preferably opaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Phran-Tek Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert L. Ginsberg, Frances R. Ginsberg
  • Patent number: 5729606
    Abstract: A one-piece metal clip, of spring material, having spaced prongs at a second end forming a convex bearing point near a first end and a recess forward thereof. At a trailing end it has a re-bent hook. The clip is fitted on a releasable and detachable fitting on a telephone instrument by which the cord is secured to the instrument, to overcome weakness in the fitting and cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: David R. Linderholm
  • Patent number: 5708708
    Abstract: Telephone set providing for telephone communications, and also for the cleaning and disinfecting of the speaking and hearing portions of the telephone receiver to improve the quality of life by preventing contamination by diseases, being made of plastic, and including the components of a mechanical system inside the telephone case providing for the cleaning, which includes a cassette or cartridge having two reels; a supply reel on which is wound a cleaning cloth impregnated with disinfectant liquid, and a receiving reel on which the cleaning cloth is would after it has passed across a cleaning window provided at the location of the speaking and hearing portions of the telephone receiver, which portions are cleaned by frictional contact with the cleaning cloth which is displaced manually or electrically from the one supply reel to the other receiving reel. The cassette or cartridge is either of the disposable type or of the continuous use type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Eduardo Fernandez Sacristan
  • Patent number: 5708705
    Abstract: A wallhung arrangement for a cordless telephone of the present invention is generally made up of a wiring implement buried in a wall, and a connecting unit for connecting a communication line. The wiring implement has on the front thereof an outlet for supplying AC power, and at least one modular connector for connecting a communication line. The connecting unit has a power supply plug and at least one modular jack at predetermined positions on the rear thereof. The power supply plug and modular jack are respectively connectable to the outlet and modular connector of the wiring implement. The connecting unit is affixed to the wiring implement by an affixing device. The connecting unit is pressed against the wiring implement to insert the power supply plug and modular jack into the outlet and modular connector, respectively. At the same time, the connecting unit is affixed to the wiring implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Mika Fujii
  • Patent number: 5708707
    Abstract: A telephone holder according to the present invention includes a carrier (101) and a body (102), which are able to move vertically in relation to each other between two extreme positions. In the first extreme position an electrical connector of the telephone (111) is galvanically connected to a counterpart (109) of the connector in the holder. In the second extreme position the connector is disconnected from the counterpart. The carrier is joined to the body by means of slide surfaces (103, 104), which permit the carrier to move back and forth vertically in relation to the body between said extreme positions. The movement and its extent are governed by springs (106), for example. The holder according to the present invention can be accurately formed according to the contours of the telephone (111), preventing the telephone from moving laterally while in the holder, facilitating alignment of the connector with the counterpart (109).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
    Inventors: Mikko Halttunen, Paul Sofield
  • Patent number: 5706341
    Abstract: A method of dialing digits using dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals comprised of generating a digit from a DTMF generator comprised of a first pair of signals forming a DTMF signal, one signal of the first pair of signals being in a low frequency band and one signal of the first pair of signals being in a high frequency band, and applying the DTMF signal to a telephone line connected to a central office, detecting the first pair of signals in an auxiliary circuit and immediately applying a third signal in either of the low or high bands to the telephone line at the same time as the first pair of signals, and detecting the presence of the pair of signals and the third signal at the central office and preventing processing of the DTMF signal at the central office as a result thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Mitel, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Zabel, James E. Neil
  • Patent number: 5706345
    Abstract: An over the head hands free phone holder comprising an adjustable headband terminated on each end by pivotable rigid housings whose inner surfaces are terminated by resilient ear cushions similar to an audio headset. A phone holding housing has an opening at the lower end which accepts most portable phones. Opposing gripping fingers on the left and right sides of the phone holding housing help hold the phone in place. The opposing, non-phone housing contains a perforated wall to which the resilient ear cushion is attached. A mating inner sliding wall has matching perforations. When the inner wall slides in a downward direction, the holes are misaligned with respect to the non-sliding wall, thereby blocking unwanted ambient noise. The non-phone housing also contains a weight to balance and offset the weight of the phone located on the opposite side of the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: James E. Allen
  • Patent number: 5701341
    Abstract: A multi-purpose battery for a mobile telephone including a casing, a battery pack disposed within the casing, a vocal processor fitted in the casing and connected with the battery pack, the vocal processor including an analog/digital converter, a memory unit and a signal amplifier, a microphone connected with the vocal processor, a speaker connected with the vocal processor, a record switch connected with the vocal processor, a playback switch connected with the vocal processor, and an illumination switch connected between illuminating device and the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Hung Chin Kuo
  • Patent number: 5692045
    Abstract: A portable telephone having a cover (14) rotatably mounted to a cover body (2). When the cover (14) is in a closed condition, it covers and protects a switch section of the body (2), while when the cover (14) is in an open condition, it is held in a stable position at a predetermined inclined angle with respect to the body (2) by a cover holding mechanism. When the cover (14) is in the open condition, it also functions as a voice reflecting and collecting board for a microphone provided in the body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisamitsu Takagi, Hideharu Suzuki, Masashi Tomura, Akihide Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 5687231
    Abstract: A communication headset is provided which includes two curved housings that rotate with respect to one another to allow the headset to be held firmly in place over one ear of the user. One housing supports a microphone boom which has a free end positionable adjacent to the users mouth and the other houses a receiver element for producing sound from electrical signals. Feedback between the receiver and the microphone is reduced by an elastomer friction hinge between the two housings. The receiver element is encapsulated by elastomer to further reduce feedback and to protect the receiver element from physical shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: ACS Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Gattey, Christine Burris, Wolfgang W. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5687234
    Abstract: A mobile telephone charger includes a charger case housing a circuit board, and a plug to be combined with the charger case to use DC source in an automobile for charging. The circuit board has an input terminal for connecting with the plug and an output terminal for connecting with a mobile telephone. If AC source is to be used for charging, a plug from AC source can be directly connected with the input terminal of the charger case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Holintron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Yao Chang
  • Patent number: 5687232
    Abstract: An adjustable length telephone handset for permitting adjustment of the length of a telephone handset. The inventive device includes a telephone mouthpiece connected to a telephone earpiece by an adjustable handpiece assembly which supports the mouthpiece in an adjustable spacing relative to the earpiece to allow adjustment of the handpiece for both child and adult individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventors: Sherri L. Grant, Thomas T. Grant
  • Patent number: 5673314
    Abstract: An electronic device (100) includes an attached door cover (150) having a speaker (160) with an integral speaker magnet (165) that is used as an actuator for a magnetically enable switch (130) positioned within the housing (115) of the electronic device (100). The door cover (150) is movable between a first position adjacent to the housing (115), and a second position having at least a portion of the door cover (150) away from the housing (115) and the switch (130) is actuated magnetically by the speaker magnet (165) when the door cover (150) is in the first position. Preferably, the speaker magnet (165) helps to latch the door cover (150) closed. Additionally, the door cover (150) is preferably detachable from the housing (115) of the electronic device (100) and is user replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jill C. Olkoski, Tyler D. Jensen, Julio C. Castaneda, Gordon Wayne James, Wille Kotte, William D. Werner, Larry E. Marvet, Roger G. Higgins, Steven Jay Finch, Benjamin J. Hafen, William R. Williams, Joseph Patino, Kok Huat Chong
  • Patent number: 5671274
    Abstract: A lid of the lid opening/closing mechanism is rotatably mounted on a slide member arranged in the casing for movement along a linear guide formed on the inner surface of the casing and is moved along with the slide member along the guide direction by the linear guide while being rotated in a direction of opening the aperture. A holding unit is provided between the lid and the casing for holding the lid at an aperture closure position. The holding unit is made up of an engagement portion in the lid or in the casing and a mating engagement portion in the casing or the lid. The slide member supporting the lid for rotation is guided by the linear guide so as to be moved between a first position in which the engagement portion and the mating engagement portion of the holding unit are engaged with each other and a second position in which the engagement between the engagement portion and the mating engagement portion are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kotaka
  • Patent number: 5668869
    Abstract: The present invention provides a telephone handset holder which engages a mobile telephone handset and is provided with means for clipping the holder to the shoulder strap of a seat belt, preferably so that the handset is oriented toward the user's ear when in position for use. In the preferred embodiment the holder is slidably mounted to the shoulder strap, fixed in position by frictional engagement, and can be slid to the most comfortable position for use. When the telephone is not in use the handset can be slid down the shoulder strap to lap level for temporary storage, without removing the handset from the holder and without detaching the holder from the shoulder strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Raphael Zinno
  • Patent number: 5668867
    Abstract: A foldable portable telephone is made up of an upper casing having a receiver portion, and a lower casing having a transmitter portion. The lower casing is rotatably connected to the upper casing by a hinge. When the lower casing is rotated away from the upper casing, the receiver portion is moved to protrude from the upper casing. At this instant, the telephone is brought into an off-hook state. When the lower casing is rotated onto the upper casing, the receiver portion is retracted into the upper casing while the telephone is brought into an on-hook state. The receiver portion, when protruded from the upper casing, increases the distance between an antenna and the user's ear. In this condition, the antenna is not influenced by the user's body and, therefore, maintains a sufficient antenna gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Michio Nagai
  • Patent number: 5666409
    Abstract: A dealing board has a dealing board main body having a box-like structure. The box-like structure includes a top plate, bottom plate, front face plate and rear face plate. The top plate is forwardly slanted relative to the top of a desk on which the main body is mounted and has a number of openings formed therein. The dealing board further has a plurality of panel units arranged in the opening. A receiving device secured to a bent portion of the top end of the front face plate or the rear face plate forms a gap. The dealing board further has a screen plate attached to a top end of the one of the rear face plate or the front face plate which is not bent, and a fixing device is provided on the screen plate so as to be removable by set screws. The dealing board further has a card insertion slot of a reader-writer for reading and writing information on memory cards, a card take-out button placed near the card insertion slot, and a cover covering the card slot and card take-out button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Telecom Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Tanji, Fumiyoshi Oono, Takuya Ishida, Toshimi Akimoto, Tomonobu Watanabe, Katutoshi Yoshida, Ichiro Hoshi, Tatsuo Yamauchi, Junichiro Imai
  • Patent number: 5666410
    Abstract: A telephone sterilizer device. The device is used in telephones having a base unit and a handset. The handset is a typical telephone handset that is modified by adding two magnetic switch elements. One element is located near the mouthpiece and the second element is located near the center of the handle. Two corresponding switch elements are located in the base unit so that once the handset is returned to the base set completely, the magnetic switch elements close. Once closed, the sterilizer, a UV bulb, energizes. A thermister monitors the temperature of the mouthpiece and disengages the UV light when a sufficient temperature is reached to ensure sterilization is complete. A safety sensor monitors the temperature to ensure that the mouthpiece does not become too hot, thereby possibly causing a user to be burned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Jerry McLane