US3859464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical circuit for a phone answering device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-29
•
Granted: 1975-01-07
•
Expires: 1993-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrical circuit for a phone answering device connectable across the electrical input terminals of a telephone to receive an electrical ringing signal therefrom, the ringing signal entering a ringing signal distinguisher to distinguish an electrical ringing signal from other electrical impulses encountered at the telephone input terminals, the distinguisher conducting ringing signals to a ringing signal counter arranged to actuate a main timer for a first predetermined time interval after reception of a predetermined number of electrical ringing signals by the counter. Actuation of the main timer closes first and second switches of a main timing circuit. Closing of the first switch turns on a second timing circuit which continues in operation for a second predetermined time interval, and while on actuates a message sending unit which may be a conventional cassette player, to play a recorded message to a caller on the phone line. The second switch of the main timing circuit cooperates with the second timing circuit to actuate a message recording receiver which is typically a commercially available cassette recorder to record a message from the caller, the message receiving unit being turned on as the second timing circuit goes off and remaining on until the main timing circuit turns itself off. A sensor detects hanging up of the phone by the caller, and in response thereto turns off the main timing circuit, thereby preventing the invention from recording any incoming message.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip W Seamans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/654
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
493 words
An electrical telephone answering device usable with an electrical power source to receive electrical ringing signals and messages from the electrical terminals of a telephone and to deliver messages thereto, comprising: a main electrical timing circuit connectable with the power source and including a main timer with input and output terminals, said main timer defining a first predetermined time interval when actuated by a predetermined signal and said main timing circuit further including first and second electrical relay switches, each having a pair of normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, each holding coil electrically connected to the output terminals of said main timer and energized by said main timer during said first predetermined time interval to close said switch terminals of said first and second relay switches during said first predetermined time interval; a message receiving unit operatively electrically connectable to the terminals of the telephone for receiving messages from the telephone terminals, said message receiving unit being electrically connectable to the power source and electrically connected with the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit to energize said message receiving unit from the power source to record the message of a caller when said relay switches of said main timing circuit are closed; a message sending unit operatively electrically connectable to the power source and having a message output connected in a series circuit passing through the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit and connectable across the telephone terminals when the said relay switches of said main timing circuit close so as to deliver a message to the telephone terminals; a ringing signal counter electrically connectable with the terminals of the telephone and the power source, and electrically connected to the input terminals of said main timer to deliver said predetermined signal to said main timer in response to receiving of a predetermined number of ringing signals from the terminals of the telephone; and a second electrical timing circuit connectable to the power source and defining a second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit electrically connected to the switch terminals of one of said relay switches of said main timing circuit and actuated by closing of said relay swtiches of said main timing circuit to begin timing of said second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit including a relay switch having normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, said holding coil electrically connected in said second timing circuit to be energized for closing said switch terminals during said second predetermined time interval, said relay switch of said second timing circuit having its switch terminals operatively electrically connected to said message sending unit and connectable to the energy source to conduct electrical energy from the energy source to the sending unit to energize said sending unit when said relay switch terminals of said second timing circuit close during said second predetermined time interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
493 words
An electrical telephone answering device usable with an electrical power source to receive electrical ringing signals and messages from the electrical terminals of a telephone and to deliver messages thereto, comprising: a main electrical timing circuit connectable with the power source and including a main timer with input and output terminals, said main timer defining a first predetermined time interval when actuated by a predetermined signal and said main timing circuit further including first and second electrical relay switches, each having a pair of normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, each holding coil electrically connected to the output terminals of said main timer and energized by said main timer during said first predetermined time interval to close said switch terminals of said first and second relay switches during said first predetermined time interval; a message receiving unit operatively electrically connectable to the terminals of the telephone for receiving messages from the telephone terminals, said message receiving unit being electrically connectable to the power source and electrically connected with the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit to energize said message receiving unit from the power source to record the message of a caller when said relay switches of said main timing circuit are closed; a message sending unit operatively electrically connectable to the power source and having a message output connected in a series circuit passing through the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit and connectable across the telephone terminals when the said relay switches of said main timing circuit close so as to deliver a message to the telephone terminals; a ringing signal counter electrically connectable with the terminals of the telephone and the power source, and electrically connected to the input terminals of said main timer to deliver said predetermined signal to said main timer in response to receiving of a predetermined number of ringing signals from the terminals of the telephone; and a second electrical timing circuit connectable to the power source and defining a second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit electrically connected to the switch terminals of one of said relay switches of said main timing circuit and actuated by closing of said relay swtiches of said main timing circuit to begin timing of said second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit including a relay switch having normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, said holding coil electrically connected in said second timing circuit to be energized for closing said switch terminals during said second predetermined time interval, said relay switch of said second timing circuit having its switch terminals operatively electrically connected to said message sending unit and connectable to the energy source to conduct electrical energy from the energy source to the sending unit to energize said sending unit when said relay switch terminals of said second timing circuit close during said second predetermined time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
The electrical telephone answering device of claim 1 wherein said message sending unit is a tape recorder having an endless tape thereon and wherein said second timing circuit includes a termination switch, said termination switch including a shorting strip positioned on said endless tape and further including a pair of electrical contacts positioned adjacent said tape to be shorted by said strip and electrically connected in said Second timing circuit to turn off said second timing circuit in response to closing of said contacts by said shorting strip thereby prematurely terminating said second predetermined time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
The electrical telephone answering device of claim 1 wherein said ringing signal counter includes: an amplifier with input and output, the input operatively connectable with the telephone terminals to amplify ringing signals thereform; a capacitor and discharge resistor electrically connected in parallel with one another and electrically connected with said output of said amplifier to charge said capacitor therefrom; a potentiometer electrically connected with said capacitor to selectively vary the voltage level applied to said capacitor to thereby control the length of the time interval required to charge said capacitor to a predetermined voltage level; and a switching circuit electrically connected to said discharge resistor and to said main timer and responsive to a predetermined voltage level on said capacitor to generate said predetermined signal and apply said predetermined signal to said main timer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The electrical telephone answering device of claim 3 and further including a manually actuated control accessible to an operator and mechanically connected to said potentiometer to permit the operator to manually control the resistive value of the potentiometer thereby permitting the operator to control the number of ringing signals required to charge said capacitor to said predetermined voltage level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
490 words
An electrical telephone answering device usable with an electrical power source to receive electrical ringing signals and messages from the electrical terminals of a telephone and to deliver messages thereto, comprising: a main electrical timing circuit connectable with the power source and including a main timer with input and output terminals, said main timer defining a first predetermined time interval when actuated by a predetermined signal and said main timing circuit further including first and second electrical relay switches, each having a pair of normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, each holding coil electrically connected to the output terminals of said main timer and energized by said main timer during said first predetermined time interval to close said switch terminals of said first and second relay switches during said first predetermined time interval; a message receiving unit operatively electrically connectable to the terminals of the telephone for receiving messages from the telephone terminals, said message receiving unit being electrically connectable to the power source and electrically connected with the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit to energize said message receiving unit from the power source to record the message of a caller when said relay switches of said main timing circuit are closed; a message sending unit operatively electrically connectable to the power source and having a message output connected in a series circuit passing through the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit and connectable across the telephone terminals when the said relay switches of said main timing circuit close so as to deliver a message to the telephone terminals; a switching circuit electrically connectable with the terminals of the telephone and the power source, and electrically connected to the input terminals of said main timer to generate and deliver said predetermined signal to said main timer in response to receiving of ringing signals from the terminals of the telephone; and a second electrical timing circuit connectable to the power source and defining a second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit electrically connected to the switch terminals of one of said relay switches of said main timing circuit and actuated by closing of said relay switches of said main timing circuit to beGin timing of said second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit including a relay switch having normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, said holding coil electrically connected in said second timing circuit to be energized for closing said switch terminals during said second predetermined time interval, said relay switch of said second timing circuit having its switch terminals operatively electrically connected to said message sending unit and connectable to the energy source to conduct electrical energy from the energy source to the sending unit to energize said sending unit when said relay switch terminals of said second timing circuit close during said second predetermined time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
490 words
An electrical telephone answering device usable with an electrical power source to receive electrical ringing signals and messages from the electrical terminals of a telephone and to deliver messages thereto, comprising: a main electrical timing circuit connectable with the power source and including a main timer with input and output terminals, said main timer defining a first predetermined time interval when actuated by a predetermined signal and said main timing circuit further including first and second electrical relay switches, each having a pair of normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, each holding coil electrically connected to the output terminals of said main timer and energized by said main timer during said first predetermined time interval to close said switch terminals of said first and second relay switches during said first predetermined time interval; a message receiving unit operatively electrically connectable to the terminals of the telephone for receiving messages from the telephone terminals, said message receiving unit being electrically connectable to the power source and electrically connected with the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit to energize said message receiving unit from the power source to record the message of a caller when said relay switches of said main timing circuit are closed; a message sending unit operatively electrically connectable to the power source and having a message output connected in a series circuit passing through the switch terminals of one of said electrical relay switches of said main timing circuit and connectable across the telephone terminals when the said relay switches of said main timing circuit close so as to deliver a message to the telephone terminals; a switching circuit electrically connectable with the terminals of the telephone and the power source, and electrically connected to the input terminals of said main timer to generate and deliver said predetermined signal to said main timer in response to receiving of ringing signals from the terminals of the telephone; and a second electrical timing circuit connectable to the power source and defining a second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit electrically connected to the switch terminals of one of said relay switches of said main timing circuit and actuated by closing of said relay switches of said main timing circuit to beGin timing of said second predetermined time interval, said second timing circuit including a relay switch having normally open switch terminals and a holding coil, said holding coil electrically connected in said second timing circuit to be energized for closing said switch terminals during said second predetermined time interval, said relay switch of said second timing circuit having its switch terminals operatively electrically connected to said message sending unit and connectable to the energy source to conduct electrical energy from the energy source to the sending unit to energize said sending unit when said relay switch terminals of said second timing circuit close during said second predetermined time interval.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |