US 4,382,161 AGranted

Clip-on electronic switching and hold devices for telephones

OwnerGeorge A. Saer, Jeffrey D. Steininventors

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Abstract

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, a clip-on switching device is disclosed to prevent the placing of unauthorized outgoing calls from a (Touch Tone) telephone and/or to selectively switch an incoming call to an accessory (extension) telephone circuit. The switching device includes a housing which is particularly shaped to conform to the contour of the telephone cradle so as to be releasably connected therewithin. Positioned within the housing is a card having a control circuit thereon for selectively controlling the telephone circuitry. A unique spring-biased light emitting diode push-button switch is associated with the instant switching device, whereby to provide a visible signal, so as to indicate the operation of the telephone control circuit. In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, a telephone circuit hold device is provided which can be releasably connected to a (Touch Tone) telephone to permit the recipient of an incoming call to return his telephone handset to the telephone cradle whereby to temporarily place the existing call in a hold condition. The hold device includes an actuator assembly which is particularly structured for movement into physical contact with an associated circuit of the hold device, to selectively activate said circuit in order to place the telephone circuits in the hold condition.

Claims12

Dependent claims

For a telephone having a handset and a cradle, said cradle including pairs of projections respectively formed and disposed at opposite sides thereof and a ledge formed between said oppositely disposed pairs of projections, a device to be attached at said telephone cradle for receiving the telephone handset and for controlling the telephone circuits, said device comprising:

a housing having a top and a bottom,
the bottom of said housing being positioned adjacent said cradle ledge,
the top of said housing having an arcuate ridge extending completely across a first end thereof, said arcuate ridge being aligned with and positioned between two of the projections of the said pairs so as to extend the outline of said two projections across a corresponding first end of said cradle,
circuit means located within said housing and electrically connected to the circuits of the telephone to control the operation thereof,
switching means located within said housing for controlling the energization of said circuit means,
actuator means located within said housing and extending through the arcuate ridge at the top of said housing, said actuator means having a pivotable member thereof, and
pivot support means located within said housing to interface with the pivotable member of said actuator means, so that said actuator means can be pivoted at said pivot support means and rotated into physical contact with said switching means in order to operate said switching means and thereby control the energization of said circuit means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.