Apparatus for connecting telephone answering device and telephone terminal equipment, selectively, to telephone lines

A control system responsive to a telephone ringing signal for selectively connecting and disconnecting an automatic telephone answering device and telephone terminal equipment to and from a public telephone circuit, comprising:

• timer means for generating an output upon elapse of a preset period of time from the instant when operation of said telephone answering device starts;
• control signal reception means responsive to the output from said timer means for generating an output;
• ringing signal generating means responsive to the output from said control signal reception means, for applying to said telephone terminal equipment a dummy ringing signal which is substantially the same as the telephone ringing signal, said dummy signal starting said telephone terminal equipment;
• relay means responsive to operation of said control signal reception means, for disconnecting said automatic telephone answering device from the public telephone circuit and for connecting said telephone terminal equipment to the public telephone circuit;
• and
• relay control means connected to said relay means and said telephone terminal equipment for causing said relay means to maintain the connection between said telephone terminal equipment and the public telephone circuit after said telephone terminal equipment is operated, and for restoring said relay means upon completion of operation of said telephone terminal equipment, so that connection is established between said telephone answering device and the public telephone circuit.