Telephone ringing adapter for operating upon reception of a preset number of calling signals

Claim 1

A telephone ringing adapter which operates upon receipt at a called party station of a preset number of incoming calling ring signals comprising: (a) first circuit means for accepting calling signals through a telephone line, (b) a digital counter which generates an output when said incoming calling ring signals coincide in number with said preset number, (c) relay means which is energized by said output from said digital counter, (d) a transfer relay contact of said relay means which changes connection of said calling signals from said circuit means to a telephone answering device at the called party station, (e) a ringing detector circuit of said telephone answering device which is energized by said calling signals after energization of said relay means, (f) outgoing message transmitting means operative after engagement of said telephone answering device, (g) incoming message recording means operative after said outgoing message transmitting means, (h) hang-up detecting circuit means which detects the hang-up of a calling party or an on-hook condition of the telephone answering device, for releasing said relay means to change over connection from said telephone answering device to said first circuit means, and (i) disengaging means of said telephone answering device for causing said detecting circuit means to effect release of said relay contact to establish a standby mode.