US3729589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adapter unit for telephone answering instrument
Assignee: FORTEL Inc A CORP OF CA
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Filing: 1971-09-29
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1991-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An improved electronic adapter unit is provided which is intended to be interposed between the telephone line and a telephone answering instrument, and which serves to disconnect the instrument from the phone line in the event the calling party hangs up, or is disconnected, so as to prevent dial tones, busy signals, or the like from being recorded by the answering instrument. The adapter unit of the invention finds particular utility in conjunction with the voice operated type of telephone answering instrument, since such instruments respond to the absence of signals on the phone line to turn themselves off, and often the presence of a dial tone, busy signal, or the like, cause the instrument to remain energized, and to continue to record the received tone, even though there is no message being received over the line.
Inventors
- 👤 E Bonsky
- 👤 L Curtis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/654
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
An adapter unit to be interposed between a telephone answering system and a telephone line for normally isolating the telephone answering system from the telephone line and for connecting the telephone answering system to the telephone line in response to a ring signal, said telephone answering system including an input/output circuit having an audio network and a telephone ring network, and further having first relay means connected to said telephone ring network and including contact means connected to said audio network, said telephone ring network responding to the ring signal received over the telephone line to activate said first relay means and cause said contact means to connect said audio network across said telephone line, said adapter unit including: electric circuitry connected to one terminal of the telephone line and including first capacitor means presenting relatively low impedance to said ring signal to pass said ring signal to said ring network thereby to activate said first relay means, and said circuitry presenting relatively high impedance to other signals received over the telephone line to attenuate said other signals and thereby prevent said other signals from reaching said input/output circuit; and second relay means connected to a second terminal of said telephone lines and having normally open contacts connected across said capacitor means, said second relay means being responsive to the activation of said firsT relay means to shunt out said circuitry and cause message signals received over the telephone line to be introduced to said input/output circuit, and said second relay means remaining energized so long as said first relay means is activated but being responsive to changes in current flow in said telephone line to cause said circuitry to be interposed between said telephone line and said telephone answering system to assure de-activation of said first relay means and effectively to isolate said telephone answering system from said telephone line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
An adapter unit to be interposed between a telephone answering system and a telephone line for normally isolating the telephone answering system from the telephone line and for connecting the telephone answering system to the telephone line in response to a ring signal, said telephone answering system including an input/output circuit having an audio network and a telephone ring network, and further having first relay means connected to said telephone ring network and including contact means connected to said audio network, said telephone ring network responding to the ring signal received over the telephone line to activate said first relay means and cause said contact means to connect said audio network across said telephone line, said adapter unit including: electric circuitry connected to one terminal of the telephone line and including first capacitor means presenting relatively low impedance to said ring signal to pass said ring signal to said ring network thereby to activate said first relay means, and said circuitry presenting relatively high impedance to other signals received over the telephone line to attenuate said other signals and thereby prevent said other signals from reaching said input/output circuit; and second relay means connected to a second terminal of said telephone lines and having normally open contacts connected across said capacitor means, said second relay means being responsive to the activation of said firsT relay means to shunt out said circuitry and cause message signals received over the telephone line to be introduced to said input/output circuit, and said second relay means remaining energized so long as said first relay means is activated but being responsive to changes in current flow in said telephone line to cause said circuitry to be interposed between said telephone line and said telephone answering system to assure de-activation of said first relay means and effectively to isolate said telephone answering system from said telephone line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The adapter unit defeindc in claim 1 and which includes second capacitor means connected across said energizing coil of said second relay means, said first and second capacitor means presenting a relatively low impedance to the aforesaid ring signal to cause said ring signal to be passed through said adapter unit from said telephone line to said ring signal network of said telephone answering system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |