Acoustic coupler assembly
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a facsimile machine, and the like, which uses a telephone handset to transmit and receive messages, the machine includes a cradle or handset support which usually comprises a ring of rubber which holds the telephone securely in place and prevents it from slipping. A pressure plate for the handset is also provided, and the handset is forced under this pressure plate and across the rubber support into its operating position. It has been found to be extremely difficult to force a telephone handset across a rubber support surface, and, in one machine, this problem is solved by not using a rubber ring but using, instead a large plastic disk which provides a large slippery surface. The handset slides comfortably on this disk; however, the favorable seal provided by the rubber ring is not present. In addition, in known facsimile apparatus, the support bed for the handset does not have optimum resiliency as provided by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the invention comprises the provision of a right of slippery material within a rubber ring, the slippery ring being contacted by the telephone handset as it is slipped into its operating position in a facsimile machine. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical facsimile machine embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of a telephone handset support assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another portion of the telephone handset support assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a view, along the line 7--7 in FIG. 4, that is, a left end view of the apparatus of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 showing the two parts assembled; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus for coupling together the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 4; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 4 assembled; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view showing the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 4 assembled; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the apparatus of the invention with a telephone handset in place; and 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional elevational view of a portion of the handset receiving assembly illustrating one aspect of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is useful with many types of apparatus; however, it is prarticularly suited for use with a facsimile machine 10, one form of which is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The facsimile machine 10 includes a housing or casing 20 which contains the usual electronic circuitry, a rotatable cylinder 30 which carries a document sheet, apparatus 40 for reading a printed document or writing electrically on a blank recording sheet, and a telephone 50 which transmits and receives electrical signals. The telephone 50 has the usual handset 51 which includes an earpiece or receiver 52 and mouthpiece or transmitter 54, and is suitably mounted on the housing 20. 
     The housing 20 for the machine 10 includes a support area 60, for example, on its top surface, which is readily accessible and includes a support assembly for receiving the telephone handset 50 when it is desired to operate the machine. This portion of the machine, that is, the telephone handset support assembly, includes a generally flat insulating plate 70 (FIGS. 2 and 3) having a generally oval opening 80, large enough to receive the telephone handset, and suitably secured to the frame of the machine. The plate 70 has a top surface 90 and a bottom surface 100, and, on its bottom surface, the plate is provided, at the four corners of the oval opening 80, with threaded mounting posts 110. The plate has one or more slots 82 for receiving electrical switches 84 or the like. 
     Another member 120 (FIGS. 4, 5, and 6), which actually supports the telephone handset, is secured to the lower surface of plate 70 in alignment with the oval opening 80 in plate 70. Member 120 is generally cylindrical in form, with an oval cross-section (like opening 80) and includes a top rim 121, a side wall 122, an open upper end, defined by rim 121, and a lower end closed by a base plate 124. The lower surface of the rim 121 is provided with threaded posts 150 at its corners, each post 150 (FIG. 6) being near a post 110. A flexible coupling (FIGS. 8 and 9) is provided between member 120 and plate 70, and this includes a rubber cylinder 160 secured between a first L-shaped bracket 164 secured to a post 110 on the plate 70 and between a second L-shaped bracket 166 secured to an adjacent post 150 of member 120. The base plate 124 supports the telephone handset and is not flat, but is generally V-shaped, with the apex of the &#34;V&#34; 124C being up and with the two portions 124A and 124B of the &#34;V&#34; sloping downwardly therefrom. The portions 124A and 124B are each provided with an aperture 130 and 140, respectively, over which the telephone transmitter and receiver lie when the telephone handset is in position thereon. 
     Member 120 also includes a pair of projecting walls 156 and 158 which extend away from the left hand end of the plate, as seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 12. A pin 162 is secured between the walls, and a pressure arm 184 is mounted on the pin 162 and projects through an opening 186 in the side wall of the plate and extends inwardly therefrom and overlies the opening 130. The pressure arm 184 has a certain amount of play, as permitted by the size of opening 186. However, its upward movement is limited. In addition, a switch 168 (FIG. 12) is mounted in this end wall of the member 120, positioned to be operated by the handset. The switch 168 is connected to the electrical circuitry of the machine which is thus energized or de-energized, depending on whether the handset is in place or not. 
     On the lower surface of plate 124 are also provided three threaded posts 170 spaced about each of the openings 130 and 140. Secured to these posts, in alignment with each opening 130 and 140, is an insulating plate 180. The plates 180 have apertures, by means of which they are threaded on posts 170, along with springs 200 and locking members 220, which are secured to the posts 170 to retain the plates 180 on the posts 170. The springs 200 provide a resilient mounting for the two plates 180. The springs associated with opening 130 are heavy springs, and the other springs are lighter springs. The plates 180 have generally central openings in which a rubber cylinder or insert 190 is seated. Each rubber insert includes a ring portion 194 which engages the plate 180 and surrounds the opening and which serves as a cushion on which the telephone handset can be securely seated when in use. The main body of each insert extends beneath its plate 180. 
     According to the invention, a ring 210 of material having a low coefficient of friction, a ring of plastic, for example, is secured to the portion 194 of the rubber insert 190 which lies beneath the pressure arm 184 so that, when the telephone 50 is moved into place, as illustrated in FIG. 13, it bears against and slides on the plastic ring 210. Once the telephone is in place, it is held in place by the rubber insert 190. The insert 190 may be provided with an annular notch 191 in which the ring 210 is secured, or the ring may be secured in place in any other suitable fashion. 
     It is noted that, when the handset is moved into place, the pressure arm 184 is lifted to its most elevated position at which it is held by the housing, and the flexibly mounted assembly beneath the handset gives sufficiently, against the insertion pressure of the handset, to permit the handset to seat on the member 120. 
     The usual flexible diaphragm 214 is provided beneath the ring 210, and the required transducer assembly 218 is provided within each of the rubber inserts 190.