Patent US3555193A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3555193A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Long distance timer
Assignee: PHONOMETRICS INC A CORP OF FLORIDA A CORP OF FLORIDA
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Filing: 1968-04-12
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-04-12
Abstract
Abstract The overtime cost of a long distance telephone call is registered on a dial, the dial being turned by a timing motor which is energized through a manual start button when the conversation is commenced. The motor is also effective to wind a spring for resetting the dial. At the end of the call the motor is disabled by pressing a stop button, the dial is stopped in a position showing the overtime cost of the call and the spring is in a tensioned state. At the commencement of the next call the dial is instantly reset by releasing the spring automatically as an incident to operating the start button.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul M Brand
- 👤 Lawrence Reich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/28; H04M15/30; G; G04; G04F; G04F8/00; G04F8/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
Apparatus for indicating the cost of a long distance telephone call comprising a cost indicator settable by a rotary shaft, said cost indicator bearing information related to the cost of the call, a constant speed motor for driving the shaft during the course of a call thereby to set the cost indicator and register the cost of the call, a normally open start switch for the motor, a normally engaged clutch for coupling the output of the motor to the shaft whereby the shaft and cost indicator are synchronized with the motor, means for simultaneously disengaging the clutch and for resetting the shaft upon the commencement of the next call, the last-named means including a spring with the ends thereof so anchored as to be tensioned while the shaft is turning to store energy therein, said spring remaining tensioned until the clutCh is disengaged, a start button to be actuated at the commencement of a call, and means effective on actuation of the start button to close the switch to energize the motor and to momentarily disengage the clutch allowing the tensioned spring to reset the shaft, the last-named means including a pivotally mounted clutch release lever having an extension thereon disposed in the path of the start button so as to be pivoted from an inactive to an active position when the start button is actuated, said clutch release lever having respective portions operable to actuate the motor start switch and disengage the clutch when in its active position, and a stop button to deenergize the motor at the termination of the call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
Apparatus for indicating the cost of a long distance telephone call comprising a cost indicator settable by a rotary shaft, said cost indicator bearing information related to the cost of the call, a constant speed motor for driving the shaft during the course of a call thereby to set the cost indicator and register the cost of the call, a normally open start switch for the motor, a normally engaged clutch for coupling the output of the motor to the shaft whereby the shaft and cost indicator are synchronized with the motor, means for simultaneously disengaging the clutch and for resetting the shaft upon the commencement of the next call, the last-named means including a spring with the ends thereof so anchored as to be tensioned while the shaft is turning to store energy therein, said spring remaining tensioned until the clutCh is disengaged, a start button to be actuated at the commencement of a call, and means effective on actuation of the start button to close the switch to energize the motor and to momentarily disengage the clutch allowing the tensioned spring to reset the shaft, the last-named means including a pivotally mounted clutch release lever having an extension thereon disposed in the path of the start button so as to be pivoted from an inactive to an active position when the start button is actuated, said clutch release lever having respective portions operable to actuate the motor start switch and disengage the clutch when in its active position, and a stop button to deenergize the motor at the termination of the call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the clutch has a pair of plates normally urged into engagement by a spring surrounding said shaft, and the clutch release lever having an end bearing on a movable element of the clutch so that the spring which holds the clutch engaged also normally disposes the clutch release lever in its inactive position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the cost indicator is a rotary member, the apparatus being provided with a zero stop defining the zero position of the rotary member, a striker on the shaft engageable with the zero stop upon resetting the shaft to stop the rotary member in its zero position and movable away from the stop as the shaft is being turned, said spring being a clock spring surrounding the shaft, one end of the spring engaging a fixed stop and the other end of the spring being anchored to a part movable with the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the rotary member is a dial scribed with concentric circles each representing a different cost rate and a progression of charges based on the elapsed time of the call at that rate, a plate juxtaposed on the dial presenting a viewing slot through which the progression of charges may be observed, and an index slide at one side of the slot movable to the radius of the prevailing rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus for indicating the cost of a long distance telephone call comprising a cost indicator settable by a rotary shaft, said cost indicator bearing information related to the cost of the call, a constant speed motor for driving the shaft during the course of a call thereby to set the cost indicator and register the cost of the call, a normally open start switch for the motor, a normally engaged clutch for coupling the output of the motor to the shaft whereby the shaft and cost indicator are synchronized with the motor, means for simultaneously disengaging the clutch and for resetting the shaft upon the commencement of the next call, the last-named means including a spring with the ends thereof so anchored as to be tensioned while the shaft is turning to store energy therein, said spring remaining tensioned until the clutch is disengaged, a depressable start button to be actuated at the commencement of a call, said button being characterized by a depressable plunger which when depressed is effective in the movement thereof to operate the clutch disengaging means to allow the tensioned spring to reset the shaft and is effective in the same movement to produce closure of the start switch for the motor, and a stop button to deenergize the motor at the termination of the call.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus for indicating the cost of a long distance telephone call comprising a cost indicator settable by a rotary shaft, said cost indicator bearing information related to the cost of the call, a constant speed motor for driving the shaft during the course of a call thereby to set the cost indicator and register the cost of the call, a normally open start switch for the motor, a normally engaged clutch for coupling the output of the motor to the shaft whereby the shaft and cost indicator are synchronized with the motor, means for simultaneously disengaging the clutch and for resetting the shaft upon the commencement of the next call, the last-named means including a spring with the ends thereof so anchored as to be tensioned while the shaft is turning to store energy therein, said spring remaining tensioned until the clutch is disengaged, a depressable start button to be actuated at the commencement of a call, said button being characterized by a depressable plunger which when depressed is effective in the movement thereof to operate the clutch disengaging means to allow the tensioned spring to reset the shaft and is effective in the same movement to produce closure of the start switch for the motor, and a stop button to deenergize the motor at the termination of the call.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3136114A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |