US4618917A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integral phone light accessory
Assignee: Plantronics Inc
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Filing: 1984-08-31
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Granted: 1986-10-21
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Expires: 2004-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A phone light accessory comprising a light producing element and a conductor element which is integrated into the hand set apparatus of many standard telephone designs.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Lee
- 👤 George F. Cheung
- 👤 Joe T. Yee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A light device for use with existing telephone instruments comprising, a mouthpiece transducer housing (12) adapted to detachably engage the existing handset portion (10) of a telephone instrument, at least one aperture formed in the sidewall of said mouthpiece transducer housing, light emitting device means (13) arranged to be mounted in the aperture in said housing, and a wafer-like electrical conductor (30, 530) having an annulus configuration joined to said light emitting device and mounted within said mouthpiece transducer housing adjacent to the transducer and adapted to be connected with the electrical power line in the handset of the telephone instrument whereby said light emitting device selectively is activated solely by the electrical power produced in said telephone instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A light device for use with existing telephone instruments comprising, a mouthpiece transducer housing (12) adapted to detachably engage the existing handset portion (10) of a telephone instrument, at least one aperture formed in the sidewall of said mouthpiece transducer housing, light emitting device means (13) arranged to be mounted in the aperture in said housing, and a wafer-like electrical conductor (30, 530) having an annulus configuration joined to said light emitting device and mounted within said mouthpiece transducer housing adjacent to the transducer and adapted to be connected with the electrical power line in the handset of the telephone instrument whereby said light emitting device selectively is activated solely by the electrical power produced in said telephone instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The lighting device recited in claim 1 including, an extender portion which protrudes from the edge of said conductor and which is connected to said light emitting device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The lighting device recited in claim 1 wherein, said conductor comprises two layers of conductive material separated by a layer of insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The lighting device recited in claim 3 wherein, said light emitting device means includes a pair of electrical conductors each separately connected to a different one of said layers of conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The lighting device recited in claim 1 wherein, said light emitting device means comprises a light emitting diode (LED).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device recited in claim 4 wherein, each of said pair of electrical conductors is mounted at the exterior surface of the respective layers of conductive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device recited in claim 5 wherein, said LED produces light from the group of red, amber, white and green.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device recited in claim 1 wherein, said wafer-like electrical conductor is substantially circular in configuration with a central aperture therethrough to accomomodate the existing mouthpiece transducer in the existing telephone instrument.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A light producing device for use with telephone handset equipment by interconnection in-line into the existing telephone system, at least one light emitting device, support means for supporting at least one light emitting device to selectively project light toward the front of said handset equipment, and connector means for connecting said light emitting device in-line with the existing lines in said telephone system whereby said telephone system remains unaffected and said light emitting device receives power when said telephone system is activated, said connector means including modular construction whereby it is interchangeable with existing telephone equipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A light producing device for use with telephone handset equipment by interconnection in-line into the existing telephone system, at least one light emitting device, support means for supporting at least one light emitting device to selectively project light toward the front of said handset equipment, and connector means for connecting said light emitting device in-line with the existing lines in said telephone system whereby said telephone system remains unaffected and said light emitting device receives power when said telephone system is activated, said connector means including modular construction whereby it is interchangeable with existing telephone equipment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device recited in claim 9 wherein, said connector means is mounted external to said telephone handset.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
A light producing device for use with a telphone handset comprising, a housing having at least one light emitting device means mounted therein, a projection from one end of said housing which is configured to engage with a modular connection slot in said handset, an aperture in another and of said housing which is configured to receive and engage a modular conenection jack in the existing telephone wires, said projection including a resilient latch means for locking said housing to said handset.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A light producing device for use with a telphone handset comprising, a housing having at least one light emitting device means mounted therein, a projection from one end of said housing which is configured to engage with a modular connection slot in said handset, an aperture in another and of said housing which is configured to receive and engage a modular conenection jack in the existing telephone wires, said projection including a resilient latch means for locking said housing to said handset.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device recited in claim 11 including, slot means formed in said housing adjacent said projection in order to permit access to said latch means to selectively unlock said housing from said handset.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device recited in claim 12 wherein, said light emitting device meanse is disposed adjacent said aperture in said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device recited in claim 11 wherein, said housing is constructed with a slanted axis such that said projection and said aperture are not axially aligned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device recited in claim 11 including, electrically conductive means mounted therein and arranged to connect said light emitting device means to contact means at said projection and at said aperture.
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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) | 1989-10-20 | 1990-04-21 | 1990-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-20 | 1994-04-21 | 1994-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-20 | 1998-04-21 | 1998-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |