Timer of an automatic telephone answering apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic telephone answering apparatus which connects to a telephone line, said apparatus having a standby state and an answering state wherein said apparatus is in its answering state for a first time period and, during said answering state, said apparatus reads an outgoing message over said telephone line and then receives and records an incoming message over said telephone line wherein said apparatus comprises: a. starter circuit means, responsive to a ringing signal on said telephone line; b. timer means capable of timing for a predetermined time period no longer than said first time period, coupled to said starter circuit means for keeping said apparatus in its answering state during said first time period, said timer means being switched to its initial state in response to the output of said starter circuit, wherein said timer circuit means comprises a resistor and a condenser in an RC circuit; c. outgoing message means for reading out a message over said telephone line, said outgoing message means being coupled to said timer means such that the maximum time period which said outgoing message means can operate is the predetermined time period of said timer means; d. reset means, responsive to the end of the operation of said outgoing message means, for resetting said timer means to its initial state, wherein said reset means includes a discharge means for providing a discharge path for said condenser; and e. recorder means, responsive to the end of the operation of said outgoing message means, for recording an incoming message over said telephone line, wherein the operation of said recorder means is timed by said timer means and said recorder means operates for a period of time equal to said predetermined timE period of said timer means and wherein said first time period is equal to the operating time of said outgoing message means and said recorder means.

Claim 3

An automatic telephone answering apparatus which connects to a telephone line, said apparatus having a standby state and an answering state wherein said apparatus is in its answering state for a first time period and, during said answering state, said apparatus reads an outgoing message over said telephone line and then receives and records an incoming message over said telephone line, wherein said apparatus comprises: a. starter circuit means, responsive to a ringing signal on said telephone line; b. outgoing message means for reading a message over said telephone line; c. recording means for recording an incoming message sent over said telephone line; d. first timer means, capable of timing for a predetermined time period, coupled to said starter circuit means and responsive thereto, for keeping said apparatus in its answering state during the operation of said outgoing message means, wherein the maximum time period which said outgoing message means can operate is the predetermined time period of said timer means, said first timer means comprising a first resistor and a condenser, said condenser being previously charged; e. second timer means capable of timing for a predetermined time period, for keeping said apparatus in its answering state during the operation of said recording means, wherein the operation of said recording means is timed by said second timer means and said recorder means operates for a period of time equal to said predetermined time period of said second timer means; f. first switching means operated by said first and second timer means, said first switching means keeping said apparatus in said answering state during said first time period; g. second switching means for connecting said first switching means to said first timer means during the period of operation of said outgoing message means and for connecting said second timer means to said first switching means during the period of operation of said recording means; and h. charging means for charging said condenser after the operation of said outgoing message means.

Claim 4

An automatic telephone answering apparatus which connects to a telephone line, said apparatus having a standby state and an answering state wherein said apparatus is in its answering state for a first time period and, during said answering state, said apparatus reads an outgoing message over said telephone line and then receives and records an incoming message over said telephone line, wherein said apparatus comprises: a. starter circuit means, responsive to a ringing signal on said telephone line; b. outgoing message means for reading a message over said telephone line; c. recording means for recording an incoming message sent over said telephone line; d. first timer means, capable of timing for a predetermined time period, coupled to said starter circuit means and responsive thereto, for keeping said apparatus in its answering state during the operation of said outgoing message means, wherein the maximum time period which said outgoing message means can operate is the predetermined time period of said timer means, said first timer means comprising a first resistor and a condenser, said condenser being previously charged; e. second timer means capable of timing for a predetermined time period, for keeping said apparatus in its answering state during the operation of said recording means, wherein the operation of said recording means is timed by said second timer means and said recorder means operates for a period of time equal to said predetermined time period of said second timer means; f. first switching means operated by said first and second timer means, said first switching means keeping said apparatus in said answering state during said first time period; g. second switching means for connecting said first switching means to said first timer means during the period of operation of said outgoing message means and for connecting said second timer means to said first switching means during the period of operation of said recording means; and h. charging means for charging said condenser after the operation of said outgoing message means.