Lighted telephone

Claim 1

A telephone handset having a local source of illumination comprising: a telephone handset having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is placed to a user's ear and said second end is placed to a user's mouth when said telephone handset is in its normal, active communicating mode; an electric socket contained within said telephone handset; an electric light bulb contained within said electric socket; a battery compartment located inside said telephone handset; at least one electric battery contained within said battery compartment; a first switch located inside said telephone handset, said first switch having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position occurs when said telephone handset is placed in a horizontal position, and said closed position occurs when said telephone handset is at an angle to said horizontal position, said angle defined by said first end being elevationally above or below said second end; a second switch located inside said telephone handset and placed in series between said at least one battery and said first switch, said second switch having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position of said second switch creates an open circuit between said at least one battery and said first switch, thereby preventing said electric light bulb from illuminating when said telephone handset is at said angle to said horizontal position, and said closed position of said second switch creates a closed circuit between said at least one battery and said first switch, positioning means for said second switch located on the exterior of said telephone handset, said positioning means for manually placing said second switch in said open position or said closed position; a third switch, normally open and placed in series between said at least one battery and said electric light bulb, and placed in parallel with said first switch and said second switch, said third switch for manually illuminating said electric light bulb regardless of the positions of said first switch or said second switch, positioning means for said third switch located on the exterior of said telephone handset, said positioning means for said third switch for manually placing said third switch in an open or closed position; telephone electrical circuitry connecting said battery compartment, said first switch, said second switch, said third switch and said electric light bulb, wherein said first switch and said second switch are in series, and said third switch is in parallel with said first switch and said second switch; a digital clock located on said telephone handset, said digital clock having a separate power source, and block electrical circuitry isolated from said telephone electrical circuitry; whereby said electric light bulb will illuminate when, said second switch is placed in said closed position, said telephone handset is placed at said angle to said horizontal position, wherein said first end is elevationally above or below said second end, thereby causing said first switch to be in said closed position.