US 4,061,888 AGranted

Control unit mounting and interconnecting apparatus for telephone sets

AssigneeCrest Industries, Inc.

InventorHarry R. Rasmussen

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Abstract

A control unit mounting and interconnecting apparatus for telephone desk sets is disclosed which includes a base member including a first plate portion for receiving a printed circuit board and configured to lie within and be supported by a metallic base of the telephone desk set. The base member also includes a second plate portion for supporting a control unit, such as one having a plurality of control keys, and a plurality of walls interconnecting the first plate portion and the second plate portion and defining a recess which slips over an upturned flange of the metallic base of the telephone desk set to maintain the base member in position when installed. Structure is provided in the base member for receiving a printed circuit interconnecting element, of flexible insulating material, which provides electrical interconnections between the control unit and the printed circuit board. An access aperture is provided in the second plate portion for receiving a removable access door to allow changing of bulbs used to illuminate keys of the control unit. Electrical connections to the bulbs in the control unit are provided, in part, by a flap of the printed circuit interconnecting element which can be manipulated through the access aperture.

An apparatus for mounting a control unit, the control unit comprising manually-operable switch means having a base portion on which are arranged, in spaced-apart relation, a plurality of electrical switch terminals, on a telephone desk set which includes a substantially planar base having an upstanding peripheral flange and a removable cover having a downstanding peripheral wall extending over the flange in assembly, and for electrically interconnecting the electrical switch terminals of the control unit with a plurality of electrical terminals located on a printed circuit board to be installed within the telephone desk set, said apparatus comprising:

a. a base member including a first plate portion for supporting the printed circuit board within the telephone desk set, said first plate portion having an upper surface and a substantially planar lower surface formed to lie on the substantially planar base totally within the flange thereof, a second plate portion which is to be located external to the telephone desk set in assembly, said second plate portion having an upper surface formed to receive the base portion of the control unit, and a lower surface and wall means joining said first and second plate portions, said wall means having an upper surface defining a recess for receiving a printed circuit interconnecting element and a lower surface defining a recess for receiving a portion of the flange of the substantially planar base;
and,
b. a printed circuit interconnecting element including a flexible insulating member formed into a first portion for overlying said first plate portion, a second portion for overlying said second plate portion, and a strip joining said first and said second portions for overlying said wall means and further including a plurality of conductors located on said flexible insulating member and having respective terminals in said first and said second portions adapted to be electrically connected to the plurality of electrical terminals located on the printed circuit board within the telephone desk set and to the plurality of electrical switch terminals of the control unit, respectively.

Abstract

Claims10