US4323739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone locking device
Assignee: TELEVAULT Inc A CORP OF NJ
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Filing: 1979-06-14
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Granted: 1982-04-06
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Expires: 1999-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A telephone locking device for preventing unauthorized use of a push-button type telephone includes a shield covering at least one of the dial push-buttons to prevent unauthorized access to that push-button. The shield is held on the telephone by either a push-button gripping device or a strap, and a key is required to release the shield.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Flax
- 👤 Vincent Brzezinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/667
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A locking device for preventing unauthorized use of a push-button telephone, comprising: a protective shield for preventing access to at least one of the dial push-buttons on a dial push-button telephone, said shield including a front surface, a rear surface, sides and ends and having a dial push-button receiving chamber defined in said rear surface for accommodating therein the at least one dial push-button, said chamber being located in said shield rear surface so that access to the interior of said chamber is only possible from said shield rear surface so that said shield prevents access to the at least one dial push-button when said shield is in position on a telephone; and shield mounting means for detachably mounting said shield on a telephone, said mounting means including locking means for locking said shield on the telephone, said shield mounting means including a dial push-button grasping means attached to said locking means and grasping the at least one dial push-button to hold said shield in a dial push-button covering position on the telephone, said locking means including grasping means operating means mounted on said locking means for moving said grasping means into a dial push-button grasping position to mount said shield on a telephone with the at least one dial push-button accommodated in said dial push-button receiving chamber to control access to the at least one dial push-button.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A locking device for preventing unauthorized use of a push-button telephone, comprising: a protective shield for preventing access to at least one of the dial push-buttons on a dial push-button telephone, said shield including a front surface, a rear surface, sides and ends and having a dial push-button receiving chamber defined in said rear surface for accommodating therein the at least one dial push-button, said chamber being located in said shield rear surface so that access to the interior of said chamber is only possible from said shield rear surface so that said shield prevents access to the at least one dial push-button when said shield is in position on a telephone; and shield mounting means for detachably mounting said shield on a telephone, said mounting means including locking means for locking said shield on the telephone, said shield mounting means including a dial push-button grasping means attached to said locking means and grasping the at least one dial push-button to hold said shield in a dial push-button covering position on the telephone, said locking means including grasping means operating means mounted on said locking means for moving said grasping means into a dial push-button grasping position to mount said shield on a telephone with the at least one dial push-button accommodated in said dial push-button receiving chamber to control access to the at least one dial push-button.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The locking device defined in claim 1 further including a second dial push-button grasping means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The locking defice defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a key lock mounted on said shield so that access to a key slot is from said front surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The locking device defined in claim 1 wherein all of the dial push-buttons of a dial push-button telephone are accommodated in said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The locking device defined in claim 1 wherein said grasping means includes teeth engaging at least one side of the at least one dial push-button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The locking device defined in claim 1 wherein said dial push-button grasping means includes a prong attached at one end thereof to said locking means and having another end adapted to contact one side of a dial push-button, a cam mounted on said locking means and adapted to abut said prong to move said prong another end toward such push-button one side, and means abutting another side of such push-button against which such push-button is wedged by said prong.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The locking device defined in claim 6 wherein said cam has a hole defined therein and said locking means has a plate mounted thereon, said plate being snugly received in said cam hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The locking device defined in claim 7 wherein said locking means includes an escutcheon and a key barrel rotatably held within said escutcheon, said key barrel having keys retractably mounted thereon and key operating means for extending said keys outwardly of said key barrel, said escutcheon having keyways defined therein for receiving said extended keys to lock said key barrel against rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The locking device defined in claim 8 wherein said cam is mounted on said key barrel for rotation therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The locking device defined in claim 9 wherein said prong includes a knurled surface thereon for contacting a push-button.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The locking device defined in claim 10 further including a second prong attached at one end thereof to said locking means and being spaced from said first prong and having another end thereof adapted to contact one side of another dial push-button, said cam being mounted to abut said second prong to move said second prong another end toward such another push-button one side, and second means abutting another side of the second push-button against which such second push-button is wedged by said second prong.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The locking device defined in claim 1 wherein said shield has a grasping means chamber defined therein adjacent said push-button accommodating chamber, and wherein said dial push-button grasping means is located in said grasping means chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The locking device defined in claim 12 wherein said grasping means includes a base attached to said shield, a prong attached at one end thereof to said base and having another end adapted to abut said prong to move said prong another end toward such push-button one side, and means abutting another side of such push-button against which such push-button is wedged by said prong.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The locking device defined in claim 13 wherein said grasping means further includes a second prong attached at one end thereof to said base and being spaced from said first prong, said second prong having another end adapted to contact another side of the push-button.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The locking device defined in claim 6 wherein said prongs are spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate one dial push-button of the telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The locking device defined in claim 6 wherein said prongs are spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate a plurality of dial push-buttons of the telephone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The locking device defined in claim 7 wherein said hole is located off-center in said cam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3899647A
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US3965310A
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US4081630A
Cited
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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) | 1985-04-05 | 1985-10-05 | 1986-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-04-05 | 1989-10-05 | 1990-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-04-05 | 1993-10-05 | 1994-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |