US3632892A — External illuminating device for key telephones

Claim 1

Independent Claim 375 words

A key telephone visual signaling and control system providing the illuminating features for a nonilluminated key telephone having a multiplicity of telephone lines and a hold means, without maintaining any electrical connections thereto, comprising, in combination: a. a main body section substantially mating with and following the contour of the key telephone having housing means positioned adjacent the front edge and pushbuttons of said key telephone, and a pair of parallel sidewall sections extending from said front edge into a rear wall section, said telephone demountably engaged in said main body section; b. a generally circular seNsor cavity formed integrally with one of said sidewall sections and projecting a distance therefrom, said sensor cavity placed in juxtaposition with the ringing bell of the key telephone; c. a normally open handset switch enclosed in said backwall section having an arm member extending into the cradle area of the key telephone so that said arm member contacts the telephone hand set when it is placed in said cradle, thereby maintaining the open condition of said switch until the handset is removed; d. a plurality of transparent finger actuator elements pivotally connected with the housing means, each of said elements extending through openings provided in said housing means to overlap a complimentary pushbutton provided on the key telephone, each of said finger actuator elements being in intimate contact with said complimentary pushbuttons and positioned to move in the same plane thereas; e. a plurality of normally open switches mounted within the housing means, each of said switches being in intimate contact with the bottom edge of one of the finger actuator elements so that said switches are closed when the finger actuator element associated therewith is depressed; f. a multiplicity of signal lamps mounted within the housing means, each of said lamps indicating one of the telephone lines of the key telephone and positioned adjacent the bottom edge of one of the finger actuator elements so that the light from said lamps will be transmitted through said elements; g. and a logic signal-control circuit coupled to the multiplicity of signal lamps and having a first means for generating a line-lamp signal, a second means for generating a busy-lamp signal and a third means for generating a hold-lamp signal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 375 words

A key telephone visual signaling and control system providing the illuminating features for a nonilluminated key telephone having a multiplicity of telephone lines and a hold means, without maintaining any electrical connections thereto, comprising, in combination: a. a main body section substantially mating with and following the contour of the key telephone having housing means positioned adjacent the front edge and pushbuttons of said key telephone, and a pair of parallel sidewall sections extending from said front edge into a rear wall section, said telephone demountably engaged in said main body section; b. a generally circular seNsor cavity formed integrally with one of said sidewall sections and projecting a distance therefrom, said sensor cavity placed in juxtaposition with the ringing bell of the key telephone; c. a normally open handset switch enclosed in said backwall section having an arm member extending into the cradle area of the key telephone so that said arm member contacts the telephone hand set when it is placed in said cradle, thereby maintaining the open condition of said switch until the handset is removed; d. a plurality of transparent finger actuator elements pivotally connected with the housing means, each of said elements extending through openings provided in said housing means to overlap a complimentary pushbutton provided on the key telephone, each of said finger actuator elements being in intimate contact with said complimentary pushbuttons and positioned to move in the same plane thereas; e. a plurality of normally open switches mounted within the housing means, each of said switches being in intimate contact with the bottom edge of one of the finger actuator elements so that said switches are closed when the finger actuator element associated therewith is depressed; f. a multiplicity of signal lamps mounted within the housing means, each of said lamps indicating one of the telephone lines of the key telephone and positioned adjacent the bottom edge of one of the finger actuator elements so that the light from said lamps will be transmitted through said elements; g. and a logic signal-control circuit coupled to the multiplicity of signal lamps and having a first means for generating a line-lamp signal, a second means for generating a busy-lamp signal and a third means for generating a hold-lamp signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 163 words

A key telephone signaling and control system substantially as described in claim 1, wherein said first means includes: a. an energy sensor mounted in the sensor cavity and responsive to the ringing bell of the telephone for generating a call signal; b. an AND gate having a first and second input means and an output; c. latch means coupled between the sensor and the first input of the AND gate, for providing a constant signal thereto in response to a call signal from said sensor; d. flasher means coupled to the second input of the AND gate for generating a variable oscilating signal thereto; e. and an OR gate having a plurality of input means coupled between the output of the AND gate and one of the multiplicity of signal lamps to supply an oscilating signal thereto, thereby causing said lamp to light at the frequency of said flasher means indicating an incoming call on the telephone line associated with the ringing bell.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 166 words

A key telephone signaling and control system substantially as described in claim 2, wherein said second means includes: a. an OR gate having an input means an output, the input coupled to one of said plurality of switches, said switch generating an output signal when the finger actuator element associated therewith is depressed; b. an AND gate having a first and second input means and an output coupled between the output from said last mentioned OR gate and one of the inputs of the OR gate from said first means; c. and wherein a signal passed by the handset switch when the handset is removed from the cradle is coupled to the latch means, thereby reseting said latch and discontinuing the output signal therefrom, and also coupled to the second input of said last mentioned AND gate, thereby providing a constant input signal to said one lamp causing said one lamp to light indicating that the telephone line associated with the ringing bell is in use.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 204 words

A key telephone signaling and control system substantially as described in claim 3, wherein said third means includes: a. a first and a second AND gate each having a first and second input means and an output; b. a first and a second OR gate each having at least one input means and an output; c. holD latch means coupled between the first OR gate and one of the inputs of the OR gate of said first means; d. and wherein the first AND gate is responsive to inputs from the signals passed by closing the switch associated with the hold pushbutton on the key telephone and by reclosing said one of said plurality of switches which is opened when the hold switch is closed, said second AND gate responsive to inputs from the signals passed by reclosing said one of said plurality of switches and by closing said handset switch, the output signal from said first AND gate coupled to the input of said first OR gate to supply a set signal to said hold latch, and the output signal from said second AND gate coupled to the input of said second OR gate to supply a reset signal to said hold latch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 147 words

A key telephone signaling and control system substantially as described in claim 4, wherein: a. the OR gate of said first means is responsive to a constant input signal from any other complimentary key telephones associated with said key telephone when an operator at said other telephone places the telephone line associated with said ringing bell into use, thereby indicating a busy condition by lighting said one lamp; b. and wherein the first OR gate of said third means is responsive to an input signal from a complimentary key telephone when an operator at said other telephone places the telephone line associated with said ringing bell on hold and the second OR gate of said third means is responsive to an input signal from a complimentary key telephone when an operator at said other telephone resumes a held call on the line associated with said ringing bell.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 243 words

A key telephone signaling and control system substantially as described in claim 5, wherein for each telephone line associated with the key telephone, the logic signal control circuit also includes: a. a third AND gate having a pair of input means responsive to an input signal from the switch associated with the hold pushbutton on the key telephone and from one of said other line switches, respectively, the output from said third AND gate supplying a set signal to said complimentary key telephones so that a hold condition is indicated on one of said other lines; b. a fourth AND gate having a pair of input means responsive to an input signal from the handset switch and from said one of said other line switches, respectively, the output from said fourth AND gate supplying a reset signal to said complimentary key telephones when a held call is resumed; c. and a third and fourth OR gate, said third OR gate responsive to an input signal from said one of said other line switches, an AND gate having a pair of input means and an output coupled between said third and fourth OR gates, said AND gate also responsive to an input signal from the handset switch, and the output from said fourth OR gate coupled to one of said other line lamps, said fourth OR gate also responsive to input signals from said complimentary key telephones for receiving line-lamp, busy-lamp and hold-lamp signals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 218 words

Apparatus for providing the signaling and illuminating features to a nonilluminated key telephone, comprising, in combination: a. a main body section demountably engaged on the body of the key telephone and substantially following the contour of the front, sidewalls and backwalls thereof; b. housing means formed in the main body section adjacent the pushbuttons of the key telephones; c. a sensor cavity formed in the main body section adjacent the placement of the ringing bell in the key telephone; d. a handset switch positioned adjacent the cradle area of the key telephone which is activated when the key telephone receiver is picked up; e. a complementary transparent actuator member overlapping and in intimate contact with each of the pushbuttons provided on the key telephone, said actuator members pivotally connected within said housing means to move with and In the same direction as said pushbuttons; f. and logic signal-control means including a switch for each of the actuator members operatively connected thereto, a signal lamp for each of the telephone lines, associated with the key telephone, each of said lamps mounted in the housing means adjacent an actuator member associated with the same telephone line, and means coupled between the switches and the signal lamps for producing a line-lamp, busy-lamp and hold-lamp signals for each of the telephone lines.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 218 words

Apparatus for providing the signaling and illuminating features to a nonilluminated key telephone, comprising, in combination: a. a main body section demountably engaged on the body of the key telephone and substantially following the contour of the front, sidewalls and backwalls thereof; b. housing means formed in the main body section adjacent the pushbuttons of the key telephones; c. a sensor cavity formed in the main body section adjacent the placement of the ringing bell in the key telephone; d. a handset switch positioned adjacent the cradle area of the key telephone which is activated when the key telephone receiver is picked up; e. a complementary transparent actuator member overlapping and in intimate contact with each of the pushbuttons provided on the key telephone, said actuator members pivotally connected within said housing means to move with and In the same direction as said pushbuttons; f. and logic signal-control means including a switch for each of the actuator members operatively connected thereto, a signal lamp for each of the telephone lines, associated with the key telephone, each of said lamps mounted in the housing means adjacent an actuator member associated with the same telephone line, and means coupled between the switches and the signal lamps for producing a line-lamp, busy-lamp and hold-lamp signals for each of the telephone lines.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-01-03	1975-07-05	1976-01-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-01-03	1979-07-05	1980-01-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-01-03	1983-07-05	1984-01-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

External illuminating device for key telephones

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