Combination alarm and automatic telephone answering system

Claim 1

A combination alarm and automatic telephone answering apparatus adapted for monitoring at least one potential alarm condition at a remote location and adapted for connection to a telephone line, comprising: (a) at least one alarm sensor connected to said apparatus for sensing the existence of a predetermined alarm condition; (b) controllable means responsive to an incoming call on said telephone line for engaging said line; (c) control means coupled to said line engaging means for selectively interconnecting said line engaging means with said line so that when said control means is in a first condition said line is engaged in response to an incoming call on said telephone line, and when said control means is in a second condition said line is engaged in response to an incoming call on said telephone line only when said alarm sensor is in an alarm condition; (d) means coupled to said line engaging means and adapted to maintain said line engaging means in engagement with said line for a predetermined interval when said control means is in said first condition; (e) means connected to said alarm sensor for checking the condition thereof; and (f) means connected to said alarm sensor checking means for generating an alarm signal during said predetermined interval, which signal is indicative of the condition of such alarm sensor, said generating means being connected to said telephone line during said predetermined interval whereby said alarm signal is fed along said telephone line to the place where said call was initiated, to thereby provide an indication at said place of the existence of said alarm condition.