US3832497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone attachment for limiting dialing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-20
•
Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1992-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof, without in any way dismantling the telephone, for preventing long distance calls and at the same time facilitating local calls in which a first ratchet mechanism limits the number of dialed digits to those required for a local call only, a second ratchet mechanism prevents dialing the operator on the first dial, a third ratchet mechanism prevents the release of the telephone buttons before they are fully pressed to prevent dialing by depressing the buttons.
Inventors
- 👤 K Vogt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/677
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising: a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof, said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel having a plurality of pie shaped sections thereon; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed, said counting means comprising a counting arm slidably coupled to said ratchet wheel for counting said pie shaped sections, the coupling means between said telephone attachment dial and said ratchet means operable for advancing said ratchet wheel one pie shaped section with each dialed digit; a stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a delay mechanism coupled to the buttons on the telephone to which the attachment is attached for delaying the return movement of the buttons after the buttons have been depressed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising: a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof, said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel having a plurality of pie shaped sections thereon; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed, said counting means comprising a counting arm slidably coupled to said ratchet wheel for counting said pie shaped sections, the coupling means between said telephone attachment dial and said ratchet means operable for advancing said ratchet wheel one pie shaped section with each dialed digit; a stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a delay mechanism coupled to the buttons on the telephone to which the attachment is attached for delaying the return movement of the buttons after the buttons have been depressed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising: a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed; a stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a delay mechanism coupled to the buttons on the telephone to which the attachment is attached for delaying the return movement of the buttons after the buttons have been depressed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising: a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed; a stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a delay mechanism coupled to the buttons on the telephone to which the attachment is attached for delaying the return movement of the buttons after the buttons have been depressed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising: a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed; a stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a ratchet means coupled to the buttons on the telephone to which the attachment is attached operable for preventing partial depression of the telephone buttons and their return.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising: a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed; a stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a ratchet means coupled to the buttons on the telephone to which the attachment is attached operable for preventing partial depression of the telephone buttons and their return.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising; a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed; stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a camming means coupled to said telephone attachment dial and operable for preventing the number 0 for operator to be dialed as the first digit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A telephone long distance attachment for attaching to a standard telephone on the outside housing thereof and for preventing long distance calls while facilitating local calls comprising; a telephone attachment dial rotatably coupled to said attachment coupled to and in vertical alignment with the dial on the telephone to which the attachment is attached; a ratchet mechanism coupled to said telephone attachment dial for movement thereof; a counting means coupled to said ratchet means for counting the number of digits dialed; stop means coupled to said ratchet means for stopping further dialing after a predetermined number of digits have been dialed; and a camming means coupled to said telephone attachment dial and operable for preventing the number 0 for operator to be dialed as the first digit.
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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |