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Title:
MOUNTING MECHANISM FOR A PUBLIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM WITH REMOVABLE ELECTRONIC MODULE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/082611
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
Public telephone apparatus including an electronic module (2) which is replaceable without the use of tools, a mount plate (1), and a cover (3). Preferably, the electronic module (2) is automatically fitted on a connector (33) providing the connection to the public telephone system, at the time of assembling the module to the mount plate (1). The cover (3) is lockable on the mount plate (1), in its closure position, but it can also be detached from the electronic module (2), leaving the latter on the mount plate (1), if it is desired to replace this cover with another cover (3) bearing for instance another advertisement graphics. The flat form of cover (3) is particularly suited for this advertising function.

Inventors:
LALOE LUCIO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IT2006/000058
Publication Date:
August 10, 2006
Filing Date:
February 03, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
IPM GROUP SPA (IT)
LALOE LUCIO (IT)
International Classes:
H04M1/02; H04M17/02
Foreign References:
US20020044646A12002-04-18
EP0124105A21984-11-07
US4574272A1986-03-04
US5425088A1995-06-13
US5488656A1996-01-30
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
FIAMMENGHI, Carlo et al. (Via Quatro Fontane 31, Roma, IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:

Claims

1. Telephone apparatus for public use, including a mount plate (1) and a telephone assembly (2, 3), characterized in that:

- the telephone assembly (2, 3) comprises at least an electronic module (2), formed by a replaceable single block, suited to perform all functions of electronic, mechanical, electrical and optical components of a public telephone terminal;

- the telephone assembly (2, 3) also comprises at least an external protective structure (3), for instance a cover (3), which is attached in a removable way to the electronic module (2), and which is also attached in a removable way to the mount plate (1); wherein, moreover, said electronic module (2) is connected to the handset (11). and in a removable way to the mount plate ( 1 ); said electronic module (2) being connected to the telephone exchange through the ends or contacts of the electric wires of the telephone line which extend from the telephone exchange, and being replaceable with another similar, electronic module (2) consisting of a replaceable single block, simply by disconnecting and reestablishing the connection with said electric wire ends or contacts belonging to the electric wires which come from the telephone exchange.

2. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to claim 1, wherein locking means

(23, 24, 25) are provided in order to stably lock said external protective structure (3) on the mount plate (1) and in order to prevent an unauthorized access to the inner space of the telephone assembly (2, 3).

3. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said external protective structure (3) is separately detachable from the mount plate (1) and from the electronic module (2), and moreover it has a surface (4) with wide free spaces usable for advertisement images, texts, or symbols.

4. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a connector (32, 33) is provided, which is suited to automatically connect the electronic module (2) to the electric wires of the telephone exchange, when the module is attached or hooked to the mount plate (1).

5. Telephone apparatus for public use according to claim 4, wherein said connector (32, 33) is a slide-and-rotation type connector.

6. Telephone apparatus for public use according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said electronic module (2) is connected by means of magnets (26) to an inner wall of said external protective structure (3).

7. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the external protective structure forms a cover (3) and the telephone assembly (2, 3) is completely closed on its rear side by the mount plate (1) itself.

8. Telephone apparatus for public use according to claim 7, wherein said cover (3) has a front part which is substantially flat (4) and wide, in order to leave free spaces usable for advertising functions, which are not occupied by the keyboard (9), the display (10), the card reader (7), or the like.

9. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to anyone of the claims 5 to 8, wherein the external protective structure or cover (3) may take three rotational positions with respect to the mount plate ( 1 ), that is:

- a first rotational position, corresponding to the initial locking position, in which it is possible to lock the cover (3) on the mount plate (1);

- a second rotational position, towards which the electronic module (2) may be

rotated integrally with the cover (3), and which allows to disengage the cover (3) from its connection means (18a, b, c; 20a,b,c) connecting the cover to the mount plate (1) without however disengaging at the same time the module (2) from its connection means (27a, b, c, d; 28a, b, c, d) that permit a removable connection to 5 the mount plate (1), so as to allow the replacement, for example for advertisement purposes, of cover (3) by another cover (3), without separating the electronic module (2) from the mount plate (1); and finally

- a third rotational position, towards which the electronic module (2) may be rotated integrally with the cover (3), and in which the module (2) also disengages itself from 10 the mount plate (1), since its connection means (27a,b,c,d,), which insure a removable connection, can be disengaged from corresponding means (28a,b,c,d) provided on the mount plate (1), so that the whole telephone assembly (2, 3) may be disengaged and disassembled from the mount plate (1).

15 10. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to any of the preceding claims, comprising guide means (18, 19) used to facilitate the operation of alignment, that is centering, of the telephone apparatus on the mount plate (1).

11. Telephone apparatus for public use, according to claim 9 or 10, wherein there are 0 provided recognition means (29, 30) allowing the operator to recognize when said second and/or third rotational position have been reached.

12. Telephone apparatus according to claims 9 to 11, wherein said second rotational position is an intermediate rotational position between the first rotational position 5 and the third rotational position.

13. Use of a public telephone apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, for advertisement purposes.

14. Use of a public telephone apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, for performing a quick replacement of the electronic module (2) without utilizing any specific tool.

15. Use of a public telephone apparatus according to any of the preceding claims as "WiFi" terminal.

Description:

Description

Apparatus for the public telephone system with removable electronic module

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the public telephone system, which is mounted on a mounting plate.

Background Art

Known apparatus for the public telephone system are usually mounted on so-called mounting plates which, due to their perfect planarity, allow to easily mount the assembly of the telephone apparatus also on support surfaces that are not planar. In the present description, the words "assembly of telephone apparatus" will mean the set of mechanical, electronic, optic components, etc.. (e.g. the external frame of the assembly, mounted on the mounting plate, the card reader, the handset, the display, the master board, any payment management means, and so on) that are mounted on the mounting plate. In other words, the assembly of telephone apparatus includes the set of components of the public telephone, which must be coupled to the mounting plate and to the ends (contacts) of the wires from the telephone line, these wires ending on the mounting plate itself.

In known public telephone system apparatus, several drawbacks occur. One of these drawbacks is linked to the maintenance and replacement of electric and electronic components. In case of failure of the assembly of telephone apparatus, a specialized technician must go to the place concerned to cany out the repair work or replace the electronic components. The components' replacement work, for instance the replacement of the electronic master board connected to the various peripheral units (card reader, display, keyboard), requires a preliminary work consisting firstly in the disconnection of several cables (wiring) from several connectors, and secondly in the

disconnection of the same board from the connection terminals with the telephone exchange. Some of these actions must also be performed according to a specific sequence, so that only a qualified technician who attended professional training courses will be able to do this maintenance work. Moreover, several screws, even of different types, must be unscrewed, and all these actions must be carried out in reverse order during the operation of mounting the new electronic board. The main costs arising from maintenance and repair work are due to the fact that a qualified technician must go to the place concerned. Therefore, the problem arises of the realization of an assembly of telephone apparatus having a structure capable of minimizing maintenance costs.

Moreover, in public telephone system apparatus according to the prior art, the front side of the telephone apparatus is usually connected (hooked) to the rear part - which is called "bottom part" (and which in that case is also included in the telephone assembly to be mounted on the mounting plate) - by means of (usually two) hinges and of a closure mechanism. The hinges, which are located on one side of the cover, allow both a stable connection (hooking) of the cover to the bottom part and a rotation of the cover for permitting access to the inner space of the assembly of telephone apparatus. The closure mechanism, which usually is located on the opposite side and is provided with a lock, allows a stable and reliable closing of the cover on the bottom part. However, this type of telephone assembly is not suited for advertising purposes. In fact, on the one hand the geometric external shape of the front part has a limited extent and a substantial portion thereof is occupied by the keyboard, the display, etc., and on the other, the cover cannot, in all cases, be individually disassembled by separating it from the mechanical and electronic parts. In other words, in order to arrange for the telephone apparatus to perform also the advertising function, it is necessary to provide an adequate, useful planar surface together with specific technical means allowing to rapidly take off and replace the sole cover of the telephone assembly, independently of all other internal parts, that is,

mechanical parts, electronic parts, etc. In this manner, a cover of the telephone assembly, on which a specific image, logo, written text, etc. or combinations thereof could be printed using any kind of technique (dip print, sublimation, etc), could be quickly disassembled and replaced with a structurally identical cover provided - however - with other written words and/or images for advertisement.

Generally, in contrast with the background art, the present invention intends to realize a public telephone apparatus allowing to totally eliminate the requirement of specialized manpower for performing maintenance works in the place concerned, and/or allowing a rapid replacement of the cover - with the advertising image or written text thereon - that can be performed by any kind of operator without particular skills.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention attains its objects by means of a telephone apparatus for public use, including a mount plate and a telephone assembly, which is characterized in that:

- the telephone assembly comprises at least an electronic module, formed by a replaceable single block, suited to perform all functions of electronic, mechanical, electrical and optical components of a public telephone terminal; - the telephone assembly also comprises at least an external protective structure, for instance a cover, which is attached in a removable way to the electronic module, and which is also attached in a removable way to the mount plate; wherein, moreover, said electronic module is connected to the handset, and in a removable way to the mount plate; said electronic module being connected to the telephone exchange through the ends or contacts of the electric wires of the telephone line which extends from the telephone exchange, and being replaceable with another similar electronic module consisting of a replaceable single block, simply by disconnecting and reestablishing

the connection of said electric wire ends or contacts belonging to the electric wires which come from the telephone exchange.

Therefore, it may be seen that the present invention also allows a non-specialized technician to replace the module, containing all functional components and related connections including e.g. a card reader, the keyboard, the display, etc., with a module of the same type, by simply disassembling from the mount plate the external protective structure together with the module, and separating thereafter the module from said external protective structure. In order to facilitate separation of the module from the respective contacts or ends of the wires coming from the telephone exchange, and which normally are located on the mount plate itself, the present invention, in a particular embodiment, utilizes a connector which automatically performs the disconnection between a male portion (pins), mounted on the module, and the female portion of this connector, mounted on the mount plate, at the time the module is detached from the mount plate. If it is desired to disassemble only the external protective structure, bearing e.g. an advertisement text, it will only be necessary to unlock the external protective structure from the mount plate and separate it from the latter, while leaving the module on the mount plate, and then replace this external protective structure with another one of the same kind but presenting another advertisement graphic or text. This operation does not require any specific expertise since the module remains mechanically connected to the mount plate.

According to a particular embodiment, the external protective structure forms a cover that is lockable on the mount plate by means of an external lateral key. According to a specific embodiment, said cover is connected on its inner face, by means of magnets, to the front part of the module.

In a further embodiment, which is more specific, the cover may take three rotational positions with respect to the mount plate which remains stationaiy, that is: - a first rotational position, corresponding to the initial locking position, in which it

is possible to lock the cover on the mount plate by simply rotating in one direction the external lateral key provided on the cover itself;

- a second rotational position, towards which the electronic module may be rotated integrally with the cover, and which allows to disengage the cover from its connection means connecting the cover to the mount plate, without howeλ'er disengaging at the same time the module from its connection means that permit a removable connection to the mount plate, so as to allow the replacement, for example for advertisement puiposes, of said cover by another cover, without separating the electronic module from the mount plate; and finally - a third rotational position, towards which the electronic module may be rotated integrally with the cover, always in the same direction, and in which even the module disengages itself from the mount plate, since its connection means, which insure a removable connection, can be disengaged from the corresponding means provided on the mount plate, so that the whole telephone assembly may be disengaged and disassembled from the mount plate.

In this latter, specific embodiment, corresponding presently to the preferred one, it is advantageous to use as connector a connector of the male-female kind, of the slide- and-rotation type, which physically interrupts and respectively reestablishes the connection between the female portion of the connector (provided on the mount plate), and the male part (or "plug"; pins) of the connector (provided on the rear side of the module), depending on the rotation direction of the module. In this manner, when the third position has been reached, the module disconnects itself physically and automatically (both in the electrical and mechanical sense) from the ends (contacts) of the wires (leads) coming from the telephone exchange and provided on the mount plate. Therefore, according to this preferred embodiment, also an unspecialized operator having no skill at all in the field of telephony, will be able to actuate the unlocking key of the cover to unlock the cover from the mount plate and to rotate the cover - in unison with the module located inside it - from the first

rotational position, or rest position, up to the second rotational position, in which the cover may be individually separated or "unhooked"' from the module in order to replace it with a new one presenting other advertising images and/or written texts and/or logos. On the other hand, if the module has a failure, the same operator or another operator (also unspecialized in the field of telephony) will be able to perform a complete rotation of the cover in the same direction, from the first rotational position up to the third rotational position, in which the module, like the cover, becomes disengaged from the mount plate and may be replaced together with the cover, in order to cany out a direct replacement with another module (if possible), or in order to send it - for instance - to a company specialized in the maintenance service and/or the manufacturing of these modules; this company, in a later time, will send back a new module, which can then be mounted by the same unspecialized operator, without any assistance from the company. In a particular embodiment, the external protective structure is therefore formed by the cover alone, with no "bottom part", and the latter will then consist of the mount plate itself, which will perform the function of closure means of the telephone assembly. This solution therefore permits to save a component and, accordingly, to reduce costs. According to a particular variant of the preferred embodiment of the invention there are provided recognition means enabling the operator to recognize the position at which the cover has reached the intermediate rotational position (second position). Some examples of these position recognition means will be mentioned in the detailed description of the present invention, which is given below and which refers to the drawings.

To be able to easily align (that is, to center) the cover and the module on the mount plate, this mount plate is preferably provided with a frustoconical seat acting as a guide and fitting means for a complementary portion realized integrally on the rear

face of the electronic module.

In particular, the shape of the cover may be cylindrical, including a front part, with a planar and relatively wide surface, where the advertising images or texts are preferably printed. The latter may however also be printed on the lateral, circular surface of the cover.

The module and/or the cover can be easily taken off, without being obliged to use any specific tool, by simple movements and rotating a single key.

Brief Description of Drawings The present invention, together with its objects and advantages, will now be described in more detail, only for illustrative and non-limitative purposes, with reference to a preferred embodiment which is shown in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the public telephone apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the front parts of cover, electronic module, and mounting plate;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the rear part of the electronic module;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear part of the cover shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective, enlarged-scale view with respect to Fig. 1, of the mounting plate taken alone;

Fig. 5a is an enlarged-scale view (with respect to Fig. 4) of the connector, in the 'closure condition', this connector being used to provide the connection to the wires of the telephone exchange;

Fig. 5b is a view analogous to Fig. 5a but with the connector corresponding to the 'open condition'.

Description of the preferred embodiment

The public telephone apparatus shown in Fig. 1 , besides the usual function of "terminal unit" of a public telephone, could serve in the future for instance as a WiFi terminal, or simply to connect oneself to the fixed telephone system (fixed network) by means of a mobile phone (cellular phone) (e.g. in order to send SMS messages), reducing in this way the costs of the telephone call, of the transmission of the SMS message, and so on.

In substance, the apparatus for the public telephone system, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a mount plate (or mounting plate) 1 , a module 2, and an external protective structure 3, the latter consisting in the present case of: a circular cylindrical cover 3 having a projecting circular rim 5, with a plane face 4 "lowered" with respect to the projecting circular rim 5, and with a lateral cylindrical wall 6. From Fig. 3 it may be seen that the rear side of the cover 3 forms a cylindrical chamber or space, suited to receive the electronic module 2 between the cover 3 itself and the mount plate 1 , the latter having a circular form geometrically congruent with the circular form of the cover 3.

The electronic module 2 comprises all the electric, electronic, mechanical, and optical parts of the telephone apparatus, such as the reader 7 of chip cards 8, the keyboard 9, the display 10, the electronic board, etc. The electronic module 2 forms a rigid module, or single block, which is also easily replaceable by any person (as will result from the following description) with no expertise in the field of telephony. Obviously, a locking system will be provided, that may be actuated by a key (see below) and which is suited to prevent access by an unauthorized person to the inner space (chamber) where the module is received, and further, which insures stability of

the telephone assembly (module 2 + cover 3) on the mount plate 1. The handset 11, by means of a cable 12, is directly connected to the module 2 (cf. Figs 1 and 2), while being hung on the seat 13 mounted on the cover 3. Cover 3 is preferably made of metal and has an upper, elliptic aperture 14 and a lower, elliptic aperture 15, wherein the upper aperture 14 is used to insert therein the display 10 of module 2, while the lower aperture 15 is used to receive (that is, allow the passage of) the card reader 7, so that the latter can project out of the planar surface 4 of the cover after the assembling of the telephone assembly on the mount plate 1. On the planar surface 4 of cover 3 there are also provided several holes 16 for the insertion (passage) of the keys of the keyboard 9. Thus, after the assembling operation, these keys of the keyboard 9 of the electronic module 2 will project out of cover 3 in order to be pressed by the user. The hooking seat 13 of the handset 11 may for instance be made of plastics and can be press-fitted in a corresponding hole (aperture) realized on the metallic cover 3. The metallic cover, in accordance with the present invention, is easily replaceable (see the following detailed description) also by an unskilled person, and it can be used for advertisement purposes. For example, it could consist of an integral piece of metal, obtained by molding or casting processes, or by any other traditional method; moreover, using a printing technique (dip print; sublimation, etc.) it is possible to reproduce figures, written texts, logos, etc. on the planar surface 4, which to this end has wide, free, useful spaces. Note, also, that even the lateral surface of cover 3 can be used for printing thereon images or advertising texts (words). The hooking/unhooking system used for mounting (and taking off) the cover 3 on (or from) the module 2 and on/from the mount plate 1 will now be described, and at the same time we will describe the system for unhooking (detaching) the module 2 from the mount plate. Moreover, the locking and unlocking system used for locking (and respectively

unlocking) the cover 3 with respect to the mount plate 1 will also be described. However, it should be borne in mind that these systems are purely illustrative and that a skilled person may easily find alternative solutions which in any case are comprised in the same inventive concept. Moreover, in the present solution the mount plate 1 forms itself the "bottom part" of the telephone apparatus, and this means that one component can be dispensed with; nevertheless, the external protective structure (covering) could also have a different configuration, that is, one which includes this bottom part and with an inner electronic module formed by a single block 2 easily extractable from it. Another simplification obtained by the present invention consists in providing a connector which automatically performs, during the assembling operation, the electric connection between the electronic module 2 and the contacts of the leads (wires) coming from the telephone exchange. However, this connector, that could consist of a rotation-type or slide-type connector (see the following description) is not indispensable to attain the principal objects of the present invention, that is, providing a cover 3.which is easily disassembled without being forced to disassemble or detach the module at the same, and providing a module that can be immediately replaced also by an unskilled person. Actually, assuming that this type of connector is not used, if one intends to detach and replace the module, it will only be required to detach the wires (leads) connecting the module to the telephone line of the telephone exchange, but this operation (which amounts for instance only to unscrewing a few screws) can be performed effectively by anybody, with no expertise whatsoever. In any case, since the electronic module consists only of a single monolithic block, it will no more be necessary - as before - to detach different wirings from different connectors according to a predetermined sequence with actions performable only by a person skilled in the field who has attended special training courses. According to the present invention the mount plate 1 has a central seat 18 for fitting a

guide 19, with truncated-cone shape, provided on the rear side of module 2 (cf. Fig. 2); these components are used to centre (that is, to concentrically align) the telephone assembly with respect to the mount plate. Moreover, the mount plate 1 has means 17a, 17b, 17c for hooking the cover 3, these hooking means being formed by small 5 brackets with radial pins 18a, 18b, 18c, and these pins being spaced apart from the plane of the plate 1 but parallel thereto. On the rear side, as follows from Fig. 3, the cover has corresponding brackets 20a, 20b, 20c, a portion of which extends perpendicularly to the plane of the cover 3; these brackets have hooks 21a, 21b, 21c extending parallel to the plane of the cover 3. The dimensions of the hooks 21a, 21b,

10 21c are adapted to the diameters of the radial pins 18a, 18b, 18c, so that these hooks can engage these radial pins. The cover 3 is drawn near and adjacent the mount plate 1, paying attention, e.g., to a reference mark consisting in an upper projection 22 of cover 3 (cf. Fig. 1), and to a corresponding reference sign provided preferably on the mount plate 1 itself (and consisting e.g. of a projection, a tooth, or an upper mark on

15 the mount plate 1 , not shown in the drawings).

Thereafter, the cover 3 is rotated clockwise (arrow F, Fig. 1) to engage the hooks 21a, b, c of cover 3 with the radial pins 18a, b, c of mount plate; this position corresponds to the closure position (that is. the rest position) of cover 3, or in other words, to the first rotational position. In this first rotational position, the

20 locking/unlocking system may be used to lock or unlock the cover 3 to and respectively from the mount plate 1. In fact, on Fig. 3 it may be noted that inside cover 3, and in proximity of its lateral inner wall 6', there is provided a movable hook 23 which can be actuated from outside with a key (not shown) used for locking and respectively unlocking the cover 3. The enlarged detail of Fig. 3 shows both the

25 open position "A" of the movable hook 23 (unlocking of the cover 3), parallel to the cover plane, and the closure position "B" (locking of the cover 3), orthogonal to the plane of cover 3. In the closure position, the rotatable movable hook 23 engages a radial lock pin 24

associated with an additional bracket 25 provided on the mount plate 1 (cf. Fig. 1). Since the movable hook 23, in the closure position B, is oriented in a direction opposite to the stationary hooks 21a,b,c of the cover (cf. Fig. 3), it is obvious that the cover will be locked and is prevented from rotating in both rotational directions after the rotation of the movable hook 23 to the position "B", provided the cover 3 is in its first rotational position.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the cover 3 is also connected in a removable manner to the module 2. Preferably, magnets 26 are used, which are integral with the front part of the module 2 and are designed to adhere to the rear plane surface of the cover 3.

After the cover 3 has been unlocked by rotating its external key (not shown), which in turn rotates the hook 23 towards position A, the cover itself may be rotated (in the direction opposite to that of arrow F, i.e. in the anticlockwise direction) from the first rotational position (rest position), to a second rotational position ("intermediate position"), to be defined later, in which the hooks 21a, b, c are in any case disengaged from the radial pins 18a, b, c. In this intermediate position, which still needs to be defined precisely, the electronic module 2 remains still hooked (attached) to the mount plate 1 (see below), though it was rotated together with the cover 3 (by virtue of the magnets 26). Then, by simply using like a "lever" the external lateral key normally used to rotate the movable hook 23, that is, by pulling this key with his/her hand, the operator can immediately detach the cover 3 from the magnets 26 which positively held it on the module 2, provided the cover has already reached said intermediate position (second rotational position), in which the cover is positively disengaged from the mount plate 1. Since this key is inserted in an eccentric (lateral) position, that is, in the lock provided on the external lateral wall 6 of the cover 3, the detachment of cover 3 from module 2 is facilitated by pulling the key like a lever with one's hand; in fact, the force of the magnets 26 is not overcome simultaneously, but "sequentially".

The preferred hooking/unhooking system of the module 2, used for hooking (attaching) the module, and respectively for detaching it from the mount plate 1, will now be described.

However, it is worth to make first another remark. The operator who intends to detach only the cover in the above described manner, in order to replace this cover with a structurally identical one but having a different advertising graphics, is not obliged to accede to delicate parts of the telephone apparatus, and this fact avoids their damage. This would not be guaranteed in a traditional telephone apparatus of the public system, due to the presence of several - more or less sophisticated and delicate - wirings and instruments. In the present invention, on the other hand, all these easily damageable components are positively protected, being enclosed within the single rigid (monolithic) block formed by the electronic module 2. The electronic module 2 according to the present invention also has (cf. Fig. 2) four slots 27a,b,c,d with an initial, narrow and straight portion, and an end portion which is enlarged and circular. When the module 2 is attached (assembled) to the mount plate 1, these slots 27a,b,c,d engage respective screws denoted by 28a,b,c,d, whose head, and part of their stem, projects from the mount plate 1. To attach module 2 to mount plate 1, the screws 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d of mount plate 1 are guided through the corresponding circular, enlarged portions of the respective slots 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d of module 2. A rotation of the module 2 in the clockwise direction (arrow F) locks the latter in the first rotational position, in which the above screws engage the narrow portions of the slots and the screw heads prevent the module 2 from being detached (disassembled) in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the mount plate 1. Summing up, there is a first rotational position in which the module 2 and the cover 3 are attached (adhere) to each other due to the magnets 26, the cover 3 is attached to the plate 1 by means of its hooks 21a,b,c, and module 2 is hooked to plate 1 in a stable state (since the screws 28a,b,c,d, will be in their "travel end" position, inside the narrow rectilinear portion of the slots 27a,b,c,d). In this position, cover 3 can be

locked on the mount plate 1 by acting on the apposite key to rotate the movable hook 23.

There exists, moreover, a third rotational position, or module(2) - detachment- position, in which the screw heads 2Sa,b,c,d will be located inside the enlarged, circular portions of slots 27a,b,c,d and the module 2 can be separated (detached) from the mount plate 1, individually or together with the cover 3. There exists, therefore, the possibility to replace the cover only, for instance for advertising purposes, when it is in the intermediate rotational position together with the module 2 (see above), or alternatively, there is the possibility to replace both the cover 3 and the module 2 at the same time, when (after having rotated integrally) they have both reached said third rotational position. The latter position allows for instance a snackbar owner, or any other unskilled person, to replace the module 2 and to send the module by mail, for instance by courier (carrier), to a specialized firm which will send back a new replacement module or will repair the old one. In order to be able to recognize when said second position has been reached, i.e. the intermediate position allowing separation (unhooking) of the cover alone, the operator needs to have recognition means at his disposal, which are suited to enable the recognition of said intermediate position. In a specific embodiment, which is not considered binding, said recognition means can be embodied by an elastically biased, small sphere, which is mounted on the rear side of the electronic module 2. This small, metallic sphere (not shown in the drawings) is initially pressed - against the force exerted by a spring - inside a respective seat (recess) (not shown) provided on the rear part of the electronic module 2, since initially (in the first rotational position) this sphere is in contact with the planar surface of the mount plate 1. Then, when the cover 3 is manually rotated in counterclockwise direction (i.e. in the direction opposite to the arrow F on Fig. 1), the small sphere exerts initially a small frictional resistance, and at last, when the intermediate position is reached, the small sphere is trapped, - due to the action of the spring that tends to push it out of its seat - , in a

circular hole 29 shown on the left in Fig. 1 and obtained on the mount plate 1. The automatic insertion of this small sphere into the hole 29 causes a click and an increase in the factional resistance against further rotation, that will both be perceived by the operator. At that time the operator recognizes that the second rotational position has been reached (intermediate position), in which it is possible to take off the cover 3 alone, by detaching (separating) it from the magnets 26, in the manner described above; instead, the electronic module 2 cannot - at this time - be separated from the mount plate 1 because in this second position the screw heads 28a,b,c,d are still located in an intermediate position along the straight, narrow portion of the slots 27a,b,c,d of the electronic module 2, thereby preventing the latter from being unhooked from the mount plate 1. Consequently, the electronic module 2 can be individually rotated towards the third rotational position (in case the cover has already been separated from the module 2), or alternatively, it can be integrally rotated together with the cover towards said third position, in case the latter has not been detached from the module 2. The latter rotation step, which is still carried out in the direction opposite to the "arrow F direction", starts when the small sphere is "inside" the hole 29 of the plate 1; therefore, the operator will initially perceive a certain frictional resistance due to the fact that the small sphere is forced to reenter in its seat. This initial resistance lasts for a very short period of time, specifically until the small sphere penetrates in a guide or slot 30 (cf. Fig. 30) under the action of its spring. At this time, the small sphere is "free to slide along the slot 30" and the operator does no more perceive said initial resistance, until reaching of the third position in which the screw heads 28a,b,c,d become aligned with the circular portions of the slots 27a,b,c,d. The recognition means used to "detect" the intermediate position could also be of another kind. The mount plate could have, for instance, an upper extension (bearing e.g. instructions on how to use the telephone apparatus) with a two-color band, such that when the projection 22 reaches the boundary line between the two colors, the

operator can be sure that the cover is unhooked from the radial pins 18a,b,c,d of the mount plate. Other solutions can be provided, e.g. small limit switches or LEDs.

The slide-and-rotation-type connector will now be described referring in particular to

Figs. 2, 4, 5a and 5b. The male portion of the connector is provided for instance on the rear side (rear face)

31 of the electronic module 2 and is clearly visible on Fig. 2. It includes two projecting pins 32 which slidably and rotatably engage, or respectively disengage, the female portion 33 of the connector which is provided on the mount plate 1 (cf.

Fig. 4). As follows from Figs. 5a and 5b, the pins 32 of the connector, in order to realize the connection with the line of the telephone exchange, engage (are inserted into) the corresponding guides of the female portion 33 of the connector, until they contact the respective electric contacts.

Fig. 5a shows the "on" position of the connector, whereas Fig. 5b shows its "off position corresponding to the physical "separation" of the telephone exchange from the electronic components of the electronic module 2. In the latter position, an exchange of data and signals between the telephone exchange and the module 2 is impossible.

Obviously, the pins 32 which contact the respective electric contacts of the female portion 33 of the connector, must always be thought to be integral with the electronic module 2, even if- for illustration purposes - they are shown in isolation in Figs. 5a and 5b.

It is equally possible to invert the described configuration, by providing the female portion of the connector on module 2, and the male portion on mount plate 1. It is a matter of course that the connector is in the "on" state when the telephone apparatus is in the first rotational position, while in its third rotational position the connector must be in the "off state.

A skilled person immediately understands the extreme usefulness of the device, in particular in its variant which also includes the slide-and-rotation-type connector. Actually, in the latter case, the module, besides being replaceable without the intervention of skilled manpower, has the additional advantage that the contacts can be opened and closed without using common tools (like screwdrivers, for instance). In this particular embodiment, the replacement of the module (like the replacement of the cover) can be done by simple movements (manual actions) and without the use of tools (except the key or an equivalent locking/unlocking means). Moreover, in another possible variant the connector could be closed or opened by means of a translational movement or a compound movement of translation and rotation. These are obvious design modifications which in any case do not change the basic inventive concept.

The present invention has been described only for illustrative and non limitative purposes, by referring to specific embodiments and variants. This has been done only in order to enable a skilled person to reproduce the invention. Several other modifications, included in the present teaching, could be imagined by a person skilled in the art when the invention is put into practice.