Patent US3748402A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3748402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers
Assignee: Telecommunications Corp of America
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for preventing the dialing of toll call telephone numbers using a public utility rotary dial telephone. The apparatus permits local telephone calls to be completed and can be disabled to permit toll calls by a key operated assembly. The apparatus can also be converted into a local call pay telephone.
Inventors
- 👤 A Yussen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/667; H04M17/00; H04M17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers but permitting all others to be dialed, comprising means for affixing said apparatus to a (public utility) telephone having a rotary finger dial wheel, dial wheel drive means in said apparatus for interconnecting with said telephone dial wheel and rotating the same, having the said apparatus finger dial wheel for dialing a telephone number, a mechanism for interconnecting said apparatus finger dial wheel with said drive means so that rotating said apparatus finger dial wheel also rotates said telephone finger wheel has, said interconnection mechanism including mechanical means to prevent the dialing of a predetermined dial digit at a predetermined position in a dialing sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers but permitting all others to be dialed, comprising means for affixing said apparatus to a (public utility) telephone having a rotary finger dial wheel, dial wheel drive means in said apparatus for interconnecting with said telephone dial wheel and rotating the same, having the said apparatus finger dial wheel for dialing a telephone number, a mechanism for interconnecting said apparatus finger dial wheel with said drive means so that rotating said apparatus finger dial wheel also rotates said telephone finger wheel has, said interconnection mechanism including mechanical means to prevent the dialing of a predetermined dial digit at a predetermined position in a dialing sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 1 wherein said prevention means includes means to disconnect said apparatus dial wheel from said drive means when a predetermined dial digit is dialed at a predetermined position in a dialing sequence, but not otherwise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 1 wherein said prevention means comprises means to disconnect said apparatus dial wheel from said drive means, said disconnect means comprising a latch mechanism normally interengaging said drive means to said dial wheel, and means to open said latch mechanism if a predetermined dial digit is dialed at a predetermined position in a dialing sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance wuth claim 3 wherein said means to open said latch mechanism comprises a trigger mechanism, and counter means controlling said trigger mechanism by counting the number of digits dialed and rendering said trigger means operative or inoperative as a function of the number of digits which have been dialed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for affixing said apparatus to a public utility telephone includes a key operated lock mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 1 including means to disable the apparatus so that all telephone numbers can be dialed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means to disable the apparatus includes a key operated mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 1 including means to prevent completion of any call until a coin has been deposited.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus for preventiNg the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means to prevent the completion of any call includes means for acoustically coupling a utility telephone hand set to a toll mechanism hand set through electronic circuitry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for preventing the dialing of certain telephone numbers in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means to prevent completion of any call includes means to disable the same so that a call can be made without depositing a coin.
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) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |