Telephone attachment

Claim 1

In combination with a telephone having a base, a rotatable dial on the base, a cradle associated with the base and from which the telephone receiver has been removed, and an actuating switch button disposed in the cradle, an attachment to be used by a handicapped person to operate the telephone, comprising an arm mounted on the telephone and movable between an operative position wherein the arm overlies the cradle and depresses the switch button and an inoperative position wherein the arm is out of engagement with the switch button, a handle pivoted to the base and projecting upwardly beyond the base to a position where it can be engaged by other than a person's hand, latch means carried by the handle for latching the arm in the operative position, pivotal movement of said handle acting to release said latch means and move said arm to the inoperative position and release said switch button, a drum mounted on the dial, a cable wound around the drum, an elongated tube connected to the base and having a longitudinal slot extending a substantial portion of the length thereof, a slide disposed within the tube for sliding movement therein, said slide being connected to the outer end of said cable, a projection mounted on the slide and extending outwardly through said slot, the outer extremity of said slot forming a stop to limit the sliding movement of said projection in said slot, and linearly spaced indicia on said tube for determining the rotary position of said dial relative to the position of said projection, said projection adapted to be engaged by other than a handicapped person's hand and moved longitudinally of said slot to thereby rotate said dial and enable the person to place a telephone call.