Abstract: A dispenser of small hardware items includes a generally parallelepiped-shaped box with having a base containing a side opening for access to the interior. At least one removable cartridge is insertable within the box and has similar cross-sectional dimensions as the box, each cartridge containing a plurality of stacked holders for the hardware items. The cartridge further has a removable closure located at its base and positioned adjacent to the base of the box thereby permitting removal of holders one at a time through the side opening, upon removal of the closure. Each holder further includes a card having a foil backing of easily breakable material and a transparent cover bonded on preselected areas to the backing thereby creating distributed raised cells, between the backing and cover, for receiving hardware items of identical characteristics.

Abstract: A terminal for sound and vision communication, of the type associated, in particular, with a telephone set, comprises a case (100) containing a display screen monitor (128), a camera (132) provided with optics (130), an electronic assembly (134) for control, coding/decoding, and telephone line interfacing and control (114). The case (100) comprises a first part (110) via which the terminal is supported on a support surface, and a second part (120) which is hinged to the first part about a substantially horizontal axis (A) and which receives the camera (132) and its optics (130) together with the monitor (128). The terminal is such that, in use, the second part (120) of the case can assume at least two different angular positions relative to the first part (110), corresponding to two different aiming directions (B) for the camera.

Abstract: A telecommunications terminal is provided which has a central unit (100) and a handset (200). The handset houses a microphone (210) and a speaker (220) and is connected to the central unit via a cord (300). The connecting cord has a plurality of wires (301-304) for conveying output signals from the microphone and input signals to the speaker. The telecommunications terminal incorporates at least one function under the manual control of its user. That function is controlled by a switching means (l1, l2; 230) housed in the handset, with the corresponding control signals being conveyed along said cord in the form of phantom D.C. voltages.