US3887773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic telephone answering apparatus
Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
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Filing: 1974-05-14
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1994-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An automatic telephone answering apparatus coupled to a telephone set for cooperative operation therewith comprises a device operating upon receiving a call when the called person is absent to send an answering message prerecorded on an answering tape to the caller and then recording any incoming message from the caller, a line connecting circuit operating in response to a call signal to connect the apparatus to the telephone line, and a circuit for holding the line connecting circuit in its operative state with respect to the above mentioned call until the answering tape returns to a predetermined starting position at which the answering message starts.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuji Urayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In an automatic telephone answering apparatus of the type operating in response to an incoming call arriving through a telephone line from a caller to reproduce an answering message previously recorded on a recording medium and to send out the reproduced signal to a telephone line, the combination of: telephone line connecting means operating in response to the incoming call to connect the apparatus to the telephone line; detection and storing means for detecting and storing an indication that the caller has replaced his telephone receiver on its cradle to cut off the telephone line connection of the caller side; and control means for holding the telephone line connecting means in its operative state of connecting the apparatus to the telephone line until the apparatus places the recording medium in a state wherein the answering message can be reproduced from the starting point thereof even when the detection and storing means operates when the apparatus is in an intermediate point in its answering operation and for releasing thereafter the telephone line connecting means from its operative state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an automatic telephone answering apparatus of the type operating in response to an incoming call arriving through a telephone line from a caller to reproduce an answering message previously recorded on a recording medium and to send out the reproduced signal to a telephone line, the combination of: telephone line connecting means operating in response to the incoming call to connect the apparatus to the telephone line; detection and storing means for detecting and storing an indication that the caller has replaced his telephone receiver on its cradle to cut off the telephone line connection of the caller side; and control means for holding the telephone line connecting means in its operative state of connecting the apparatus to the telephone line until the apparatus places the recording medium in a state wherein the answering message can be reproduced from the starting point thereof even when the detection and storing means operates when the apparatus is in an intermediate point in its answering operation and for releasing thereafter the telephone line connecting means from its operative state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an automatic telephone answering apparatus of the type operating in response to an incoming call arriving through a telephone line from a caller to reproduce an answering message previously recorded on a recording medium and to send out the reproduced signal to a telephone line, the combination of: telephone line connecting means operating in response to the incoming call to connect the apparatus to the telephone line; detection and storing means for detecting and storing an indication that the caller has replaced his telephone receiver on its cradle to cut off the telephone line connection of the caller side; and control means for holding the telephone line connecting means in its operative state of connecting the apparatus to the telephone line until the apparatus places the recording medium in a state wherein the answering message can be reproduced from the starting point thereof even when the detection and storing means operates when the apparatus is in an intermediate point in its answering operation and for releasing thereafter the telephone line connecting means from its operative state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an automatic telephone answering apparatus of the type operating in response to an incoming call arriving through a telephone line from a caller to reproduce an answering message previously recorded on a recording medium and to send out the reproduced signal to a telephone line, the combination of: telephone line connecting means operating in response to the incoming call to connect the apparatus to the telephone line; detection and storing means for detecting and storing an indication that the caller has replaced his telephone receiver on its cradle to cut off the telephone line connection of the caller side; and control means for holding the telephone line connecting means in its operative state of connecting the apparatus to the telephone line until the apparatus places the recording medium in a state wherein the answering message can be reproduced from the starting point thereof even when the detection and storing means operates when the apparatus is in an intermediate point in its answering operation and for releasing thereafter the telephone line connecting means from its operative state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
An automatic telephone answering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the control means comprises message starting point detecting means for detecting the placement of the recording medium in its state wherein the answering message can be reproduced from its starting point and producing a detection signal and disconnecting means operating upon receiving said detection signal, with the detection and storing means in its detection and storing state, to place the telephone line connecting means in the inoperative state thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
An automatic telephone answering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the control means comprises detection means for detecting the answering message starting point, first activating means operating in response to the incoming call to place the telephone line connecting means in its operative state prior to the operation of the detection means during the answering operation of the apparatus, second activation means for causing the telephone line connecting means to continue to be in its operative state after the operation of the detection means, and suppressing means operating in response to an operation of the detection and storing means to suppress the action of the second activating means causing the telephone line connecting means to operate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
An automatic telephone answering apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which there is further provided means for causing the detection and storing means to be held in its operative state over a further, very short, specific time after the telephone line connecting means has been converted into its inoperative state by the control means, and the suppressing means suppresses the operation with respect to the telephone line connecting means due to the second activating means during saId specific time after the conversion of the telephone line connecting means into its inoperative state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
An automatic telephone answering apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the suppressing means comprises circuit means for grounding an output from the second activating means and circuit opening and closing means for opening the circuit means prior to the operation of the detection and storing means and closing the circuit means as a result of the operation of the detection and storing means, and the output of the second activating means is grounded by the circuit means closed by the circuit opening and closing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic telephone answering apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which there is further provided means for regulating the supplying of a signal from the first activating means to the suppressing means side, and the first activating means causes the telephone line connecting means to operate unrelatedly to the operative and inoperative states of the suppressing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
An automatic telephone answering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which there are further provided a relay for closing a telephone line operating in response to the operation of the telephone line connecting means and holding means for causing the detection and storing means to be held in its inoperative state after the operation of the telephone line connecting means at least until said relay operates, and the holding means prevents the detection and memory means from carrying out erroneous operations as a result of a signal which is generated when the relay operates and is equivalent to a signal generated when the caller replaces his telephone receiver on its cradle to cut off his telephone line.
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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |