US 7,251,458 B2 · Systems and methods for recycling of cell phones at the end of life

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for transforming cell phones at end of life into new electronic devices, such as clocks, calculators, PDAs, remote controls, etc. Importantly, the systems and methods of the present invention salvage many of the features and electronics of the cell phone that are not associated with the placement and reception of telephone calls. The electronics of the cell phone are repackaged and/or configured to hide the telecommunications options associated with the phone, leaving intact or upgrading other features of the phone, such as clock, calculator, storage device, etc. In doing so, all or most of the components of the cell phone are successfully recycled over more conventional methods that scavenge the phones for precious metals and reusable components.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for recycling cell phones having a plurality of features some of which are related to placement and reception of phone calls, said method comprising:

receiving a cell phone after a period of use for purposes of recycling the cell phone;
wherein the cell phone was used for placement and reception of phone calls;
disassembling the cell phone components including receiving and transmitting components;
altering the operation of the communication section of the cell phone so that the cell phone is no longer used for placement and reception of phone calls;
and
reassembling the cell phone with the communication section disabled, so that the cell phone when recycled is used only for features of the cell phone not related to placement and reception of telephone calls.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for recycling of cell phones at the end of life

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for recycling of cell phones at the end of life

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26