GB2283309A

GB2283309A - A telephone unit and light unit combination

Info

Publication number: GB2283309A
Application number: GB9421352A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Andrew Russell; Paul Franklin Freedman
Original assignee: COMTRONICS Manufacturing GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: COMTRONICS Manufacturing GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-25
Filing date: 1994-10-24
Publication date: 1995-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-24
Also published as: GB9421352D0; GB2283309B; GB9321950D0

Abstract

A telephone unit and light unit combination, wherein the light unit of the combination comprises a free standing construction including a base (2), and a column (3) upstanding from the base, the column being adapted at its upper end to mount a shade and a bulb holder switched or otherwise, the telephone number selection facility (5) of a telephone unit being incorporated in the structure of the light unit, and wherein means (7) are provided elsewhere on the lamp unit for operationally mounting the handset of the telephone unit. <IMAGE>

Description

TELEPHONE UNIT This invention relates to telephone units.

For the purposes of local illumination of a desired area or region of a surface such as a table, work place or the like it is well known to utilise the so-called table lamp which conventionally is of such form as to be positionable as to be able to illuminate the desired area or region.

It is also a very common practice to position a telephone unit on a dedicated table or on any support considered to be appropriate.

It is also a well known practice to locate telephone directories at a place close to the telephone that such directories are intended to serve.

In many cases the location of the telephone is at a place which is not sufficiently illuminated to allow study of the directories.

Thus, it is a common practice to carry the directories to a place at which there is sufficient light find the number and then return to the telephone unit.

For many persons, unless they record the located number on a piece of paper or otherwise highlighted the number they find by the time they have returned to the telephone that the number has been either actually forgotten or incorrectly recalled.

An alternative solution has been to use a torch or table lamp, assuming that the latter has a connection lead of sufficient length to allow the table lamp to be used near the telephone unit to facilitate reading of the directories.

A further difficulty is often present when the illumination near a dialable telephone is inadequate in that the intended use of the telephone is rendered difficult since if the person wishing to use the telephone has poor eyesight it is more than likely that such person finds it difficult to read the numerals on the number keying in arrangements provided on the telephone, whether of rotary dial form or press buttom switching arrangements.

It is an object of the present invention to at least reduce the above mentioned difficulties.

Broadly according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a telephone unit and light unit combination in which a telephone unit is incorporated into the structure of the lamp unit.

Preferably,the light unit structure is free standing.

In a particular construction the structure of the lamp is such as to form a so-called table lamp including a base, and a column upstanding from the base and being adapted at its upper end to mount a shade and a bulb holder switched or otherwise, and wherein the telephone number selection facilitiy of the telephone unit is incorporated in a first part of the structure of the light unit, means being provided elsewhere on the lamp unit for operationally mounting the handset of the telephone unit.

Conveniently, the telephone number selection facility of the telephone is mounted to the base of the light unit, and wherein the handset part of the telephone unit is operationally mounted to the column of the light unit.

According to a specific aspect of the invention there is provided a telephone unit and light unit combination, wherein the light unit of the combination comprises a free standing construction including a base, and a column upstanding from the base, the column being adapted at its upper end to mount a shade and a bulb holder switched or otherwise, the telephone number selection facility of the telephone unit being incorporated in the structure of the light unit, and wherein means are provided elsewhere on the lamp unit for operationally mounting the handset of the telephone unit.

Preferably, the constuction of the handset of the telephone unit is such that it has a body shape matching the body shape of said column.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates an embodiment of a table lamp and telephone unit combined according to the invention.

In the Figure the telephone unit and light unit combination (1) includes a light unit in the form of a table lamp 1 including a base 2 and an upstanding column 3 which is adapted at its upper end to support a lampshade 4 and an electric bulb holder (not shown). It will be appreciated that the bulb holder is of an electrically standard form and may be incorporate an on/off switch.

Since such bulb holders are of standard construction a specific description thereof is not thought necessary.

The telephone number dialling facility 5 of a telephone unit is mounted to the base 2. As shown the dialling facility 5 comprises one of the standard forms for a dialling facility, namely a dialing ring 6 positioned in such manner that the dialling ring 6 is conveniently user-wise presented to a would be user.

The column 5 is adapted to mount the handset part 7 of the telephone unit and is for this purpose provided with a cradle or other suitable support means 8 for operationally mounting the handset 8 of the telephone unit. It will be understood that the support means 8 will incorporate the load responsive switching means conventionally associated with a telephone unit.

In practice, the visual appearance of the dialling facilities and handset are styled so as artistically to conform to the stylistic form of the column.

It will be understood that electical conductors for the supply of electricity to the light unit and for the operational connection of the telephone unit to a user telephone line are connected to the appropriate elements of the combined telephone unit and light unit.

The Figure illustrates the conventional telephone hand set coiled connection cable 9.

It will appreciated that the telephone number dialling facilities can take whatever form thought approriate. For example, the dialling ring arrangement 6 can comprise an actual rotatable dialling ring or a fixed ring and associated push buttons. If desired, the dialling ring arrangement 6 can be replaced by any other form of dialling arrangement such as a key pad.

Claims

1 A telephone unit and light unit combination in which a telephone unit is incorporated into the structure of the lamp unit.

2. A telephone and light unit combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light unit structure provides a free standing lamp.

3. A telephone unit and light unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the structure of the lamp is such as to form a so-called table lamp including a base, and a column upstanding from the base also being adapted at its upper end to mount a shade and a bulb holder switched or otherwise, and wherein the telephone number selection facilitiy of a telephone unit is incorporated in a first part of the structure of the light unit, means being provided elsewhere on the lamp unit for operationally mounting the handset of the telephone unit.

4. A telephone unit and light unit combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the telephone number selection facility of the telephone is mounted to the base of the light unit, and wherein the handset part of the telephone unit is operationally mounted to the column of the light unit.

5. A telephone unit and light unit combination, wherein the light unit of the combination comprises a free standing construction including a base, and a column upstanding from the base, the column being adapted at its upper end to mount a shade and a bulb holder switched or otherwise, wherein the telephone number selection facility of a telephone unit is incorporated in the structure of the light unit, and wherein means are provided elsewhere on the lamp unit for operationally mounting the handset of the telephone unit.

6. A telephone unit and light unit combination as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the handset of the telephone unit is operationally mounted from'the column of the light unit.

7. A telephone unit and light unit combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and wherein the construction of the handset of the telephone unit is such that it has a body shape matching the body shape of said column.

8. A combined telephone unit and light unit combination, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.