Door answering machine

Abstract

A door answering machine records a short verbal message of a visitor at a door of a building. The door answering machine includes a voice message recorder for recording verbal messages, a power source for the voice message recorder for recording verbal messages; as well as a lockable holder for the voice message recorder. The voice message recorder has a manually operable record function button which operates the recorder. A message retrieval and playback feature retrieves and plays back the visitor's recorded verbal messages. Optionally, the door answering machine can be alternately used as either a voice message recorder or as a sound annunciator, such as a door chime or door bell. An optional sliding switch actuator urges the record button and then releases the record button upon a reverse sliding excursion of the sliding switch actuator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.