The present invention relates generally to telephonic handsets, and, more particularly, to a telephonic handset housing assembly having a removable clip forming a portion thereof for permitting fastening of the telephonic handset to an external object.
A conventional telephone is comprised of a telephone base assembly and a telephone handset. The base assembly and handset are interconnected by a telephone cord. The handset contains a speaker and a microphone to permit a user to speak into the telephone and to hear signals transmitted to the telephone over the telephone network. The base assembly is coupled to a telephonic outlet which permits connection of the telephone to a conventional telephone network whereby communication between the telephone and a remote location may be effectuated.
A cordless telephone, while comprised of a telephone base assembly and a telephone handset, as its name implies, does not require a telephone cord to interconnect the handset with the base assembly. Both the handset and base assembly includes additional circuitry to permit transmission of signals between the handset and the base assembly to obviate thereby the need for the telephone cord.
More particularly, both the handset and the base assembly of a cordless telephone include circuitry forming transceivers for generating radio frequency signals transmitted thereto. The circuitry forming the transceiver disposed within the base assembly of the cordless telephone generates radio frequency signals which are transmitted to the circuitry forming the transceiver disposed within the handset. Similarly, circuitry forming the transceiver disposed within the handset of the cordless telephone includes circuitry for transmitting a radio frequency signal to the base assembly of the cordless telephone, and for receiving the radio frequency signal transmitted to the handset by the base assembly.
The circuitry forming the transceivers of both the base assembly and the handset of the cordless telephone are typically disposed upon one or more circuit boards and housed within the housing of the base assembly and the handset, respectively. The circuitry forming the transceiver of the base assembly is provided power by electrical connection to a conventional power supply, such as by connection to a conventional household, electrical outlet. The circuitry forming the transceiver of the handset of the cordless telephone is powered by a battery power supply wherein the battery power supply is carried within the housing of the handset.
The circuitry forming the transceives of both the base portion and the handset of the cordless telephone generate low-power, radio frequency signals, typically of frequencies of approximately fifty megahertz. Because the signals are of low-power, the transmission ranges of the signal generated by the respective circuitry of the handset and the base assembly of the cordless telephone are typically on the order of approximately six hundred feet.
As no cord is required to interconnect the base assembly and the handset of a cordless telephone, the user of the cordless telephone need not be positioned in close proximity (i.e., within the length of a telephone cord which interconnects the handset and base assembly of a conventional telephone) to the base assembly of the phone to effectuate communication. To the contrary, the user may carry the handset to any location within the transmission range of the circuitry forming the transceivers of the two portions of the cordless telephone.
When a telephone call is to be received by the user, the circuitry forming the transceiver located within the base assembly of the cordless telephone transmits a radio frequency signal which is received by the transceiver circuitry of the handset. Appropriate annunciation is made by circuitry of the handset to indicate reception of a telephone call. A user is thereby able to receive a telephone call even when positioned at a location remote from the location of the base assembly of the cordless telephone.
The handset of the cordless phone typically also includes apparatus necessary to permit the user to institute a telephone call when positioned at a location remote from the location of the base assembly of the cordless telephone. Typically, a conventional, telephonic keypad is disposed upon the handset. Depression of a desired sequence of keys of the keypad permits a user to institute a telephone call thereby. Signals representative of such sequence of digits are transmitted by the circuitry forming the transceiver of the handset, and received by the circuitry forming the transceiver of the base portion of the cordless telephone. A telephone call may be completed by conventional techniques.
A cordless telephone increases the mobility permitted of a user who wishes to receive or to place telephone calls as the user need not be positioned within close proximity to a base assembly of a telephone in order to place, or to receive, the telephone call. For instance, a user, while at home, may perform outside yard work tasks, or may otherwise be positioned at a location not in proximity to the base assembly of the cordless telephone. By carrying of the handset or by otherwise positioning the handset in close proximity to the user, the user is able to place, or to receive, telephone calls.
However, the user frequently moves about during performance of such yard work tasks. The handset must be carried by the user or be repeatedly picked up and repositioned by the user as the user moves about. If the user is wearing clothing having oversized pockets, the user may be able to carry the handset within such oversized pockets. Carriage of the handset by the user as the user moves to different locations is thereby automatic. However, when the user is not wearing clothing having such oversized pockets, the handset must be, as just mentioned, repeatedly picked up and repositioned each time in which the user changes location to maintain the handset in close proximity to the user. Even when carried in such an oversized pocket, tasks performed by the user, such as tasks involving bending motions, may result in the handset falling out of the pocket in which the handset is carried.
As typically, the user does not wear clothing having oversized pockets of sizes permitting positioning of a handset therewithin, a user much more frequently repeatedly picks up and repositions the handset each time in which the user moves about to different locations. As such repeated repositioning of the handset may be inconvenient, or the user may forget to reposition the handset as the user changes location, means by which the user could affix the handset to an article of clothing, other than a pocket, to ensure that the handset would be carried by the user as the user changes location would be beneficial.
However, the need for such means is, in many other instances, not necessary as carriage of the handset in manners requiring such means may occur only infrequently, if at all. For instance, a clip permanently affixed to the handset to form such means may be considered displeasing by one who does not have need for the utilitarian functions thereof.
It would therefore be desirable if the handset design would permit such means to form a portion of the handset only when needed by the user.