SELF-ACTUATING TELEPHONE TIMER

MINUTERIE DE TELEPHONE A AUTO-ACTIONNEMENT

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to the present invention a timing
device for use with a telephone having a hand held
receiver/transmitter replacable on the phone when not in
use, is disclosed. The timing device includes a battery
operated self zeroing liquid crystal display clock module
provided with a normally closed switch. A feeler arm for
activation of the clock module is provided which controls
the position of the switch and biasing is provided for
urging the switch and the feeler arm to close the switch
and operate the clock module when no external forces are
provided on the feeler arm. The feeler arm is secured
within the timing device in a manner wereby a force of
sufficient magnitude at the free end of the feeler arm in
a direction generally opposed to the direction of the
biasing device, causes the arm to open the switch,
disconnecting the battery from the clock module. The
feeler arm allows the timing device, to be secured to a
phone in a convenient location with the free end of the
feeler arm being positionable to be engaged by a component
of the phone which forces the feeler arm to open the
switch when the receiver/transmitter is hung on the phone.
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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A self contained timing device for securement on a
telephone having a hand held receiver/transmitter replacable on
the telephone when not in use and hand held when in use, said
timing device being adapted for use with phones of varying
configuration and securable on the telephone adjacent the hand
held receiver, said device including a battery operated liquid
crystal display clock module provided with a switch for
selectively activating and deactivating said clock module, said
clock module when deactivated zeroing said clock module, a
pivotally secured feeler arm for controlling said switch and
including biasing means for urging said feeler arm and switch
to a position activating said clock module, said feeler arm
when a force of sufficient magnitude is applied thereto in a
direction to generally oppose said biasing means moving said
arm to thereby cause said switch to deactivate said clock
module, said timing device including means for securing said
device to a telephone in a convenient location adjacent said
hand held receiver/transmitter with said feeler arm being
bendable in its length to allow it to be engaged by said hand
held receiver/transmitter when placed on said telephone causing
said feeler arm to move and deactivate said clock module, said
arm moving under the influence of said biasing means to
activate said clock module when said receiver/transmitter is
removed for use.
2. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said
feeler arm is pivotally secured intermediate the ends thereof
within the timing device, said biasing means acting on the end
of said arm within the device.

3. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said
switch and said biasing means are combined in a pressure
sensitive switch mechanism.
4. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said
timing device is enclosed in a two piece casing having a top
portion for receiving said clock module and a base for
pivotally securing said feeler arm said switch being
positioned above said base and said feeler arm is secured to
have an end thereof generally centrally disposed within said
base and in contact with said switch, said base being securable
to said top portion in a number of positions to allow the
position of said feeler arm relative to said top portion to be
varied.
5. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge spring wire.
6. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge wire having two offset arms secured
by a transverse portion, said transverse portion being hingedly
secured within said timing device to provide a hinge axis.
7. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1, including
adhesive means for securing said device to a telephone.
8. A timing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said
timing device is enclosed in a two piece casing having a top
portion for receiving said LCD clock module and a base for
pivotally securing said feeler arm, said switch being
positioned above said base and said feeler arm is secured to
have a free end generally centrally disposed within said base
and in contact with said switch said base being securable to

said top portion in a number of positions to allow the position
of said feeler arm relative to the LCD readout to be varied,
and includes an adhesive secured to the lower surface of said
base to allow securement of said timing device to a telephone
and a release cover paper covering said adhesive to be later
removed to permit securement.
9. A timing device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said
timing device is enclosed in a two piece casing having a top
portion for receiving said LCD clock module and a base for
pivotally securing said feeler arm, said switch being
positioned above said base and said feeler arm is secured to
have a free end generally centrally disposed within said base
and in contact with said switch said base being securable to
said top portion in a number of position to allow the position
of said feeler arm relative to the LCD readout to be varied.
10. A timing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said
timing device is enclosed in a two piece casing having a top
portion for receiving said clock module and a base for
pivotally securing said feeler arms, said switch being
positioned above said base and said feeler arm is secured to
have a free end generally centrally disposed within said base
and in contact with said switch said base being securable to
said top portion in a number of position to allow the position
of said feeler arm relative to the readout to be varied.
11. A timing device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge spring wire to permit bending
thereof for adaption to telephones to varying configuration.
12. A timing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge spring wire to permit bending
thereof adaption to telephones of varying configuration.

13. A timing device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge wire having two offset arms secured
by a transverse portion, said transverse portion being hingedly
secured within said timing device to provide a hinge axis.
14. A timing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge wire having two offset arms secured
by a transverse portion, said transverse portion being hingedly
secured within said timing device to provide a hinge axis.
15. A timing device as claimed in Claim 2, including
adhesive means for securing said device to a telephone.
15. A timing device as claimed in Claim 3, including
adhesive means for securing said device to a telephone.
17. A timing device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said
timing device is enclosed in a two piece casing having a top
portion for receiving said LCD clock module and a base for
pivotally securing said feeler arm, said switch being
positioned above said base and said feeler arm is secured to
have a free end generally centrally disposed within said base
and in contact with said switch said base being securable to
said top portion in a number of position to allow the position
of said feeler arm relative to the LCD readout to be varied,
and includes an adhesive secured to the lower surface of said
base to allow securement of said timing device to a telephone
and a release cover paper covering said adhesive to be later
removed to permit securement.
18. A timing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said
timing device is enclosed in a two piece casing having a top
portion for receiving said LCD clock module and a base for

pivotally securing said feeler arm, said switch being position
above said base and said feeler arm is secured to have a free
end generally centrally disposed within said base and in
contact with said switch said base being securable to said top
portion in a number of position to allow the position of said
feeler arm relative to the readout to be varied, and includes
an adhesive secured to the lower surface of said base to allow
securement of said timing device to a telephone and a release
cover paper covering said adhesive to be later removed to
permit securement.
19. A self contained timing device for securement on a
telephone having a hand held receiver/transmitter replacable on
the telephone when not in use and hand held when is use, said
timing device including a battery operated liquid crystal
display clock module provided with a switch for selectively
activating and deactivating said clock module, said clock
module when deactivated zeroing said clock module, a feeler arm
for controlling said switch and including biasing means for
urging said feeler arm and switch to a position activating said
clock module, said feeler arm when a force of sufficient
magnitude is applied thereto in a direction to generally oppose
said biasing means moving said arm to thereby cause said switch
to deactivate said clock module, said feeler arm allowing said
timing device to be secured to a telephone in a convenient
location with said feeler arm being bendable in its length to
allow positioning thereof in engagement with a component of
said telephone and cause said feeler arm to move and deactivate
said clock module when said receiver/transmitter is replaced on
said telephone, said arm moving under the influence of said
biasing means to activate said clock module when said
receiver/transmitter is removed for use, said timing device
being housed in a two piece casing having a top portion for
receiving said clock module and a base for pivotally securing
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said feeler arm, said switch being positioned above said base
and said feeler arm is secured to have an end thereof generally
centrally disposed within said base and in contact with said
switch, said base being securable to said top portion in a
number of positions to allow the position of said feeler arm
relative to said top portion to be varied.
20. A timing device as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said
feeler arm is pivotally securd intermediate the length thereof
within the timing device, said biasing means acting on the end
of said arm within the device.
21. A timing device as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said
switch and said biasing means are combined in a pressure
sensitive switch mechanism.
22. A timing device as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said
feeler arm is a think gauge spring wire.
23. A timing device as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge spring wire having two offset arms
secured by a transverse portion, said transverse portion being
hingedly secured within said timing device to provide a hinge
axis.
24. A timing device as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge wire having two offset arms secured
by a transverse portion, said transverse portion being hingedly
secured within said timing device to provide a hinge axis.
25. A timing device as claimed in Claim 21, wherein said
feeler arm is a thin gauge wire having two offset arms secured
by a transverse portion, said transverse portion being hingedly
secured within said timing device to provide a hinge axis.
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26. A timing device as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said
feeler arm includes a hinge axis portion intermediate the
length of the arm, said hinge axis portion being secured in
said base to extend inwardly from a side edge of said base,
said switch being generally centrally disposed within said
casing, said arm having an end portion within said casing
secured to said hinge axis portion and extending at an angle
thereto and in contact with said switch, and an end portion
adjacent a side edge of the casing extending at an angle to
said hinge axis portion for contact with said
receiver/transmitter when said timing device is connecting said
end portions such that movement of either end portion in a
direction causing rotation about said hinge axis results in a
reactive movement of the other end portion.
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Description

1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to timing devices
Por use on telephones and in particular relates to a
timing device having a structure which allows the device
to be adapted for use with phones of different
configurations.
BACKGRO~ND O~ T~IE INVENTION
In recent years, liquid crystal display clock
modules have gained wide acceptance in the market place
and are used extensively for wrist watches, stop watches,
etc.. It is also possible to buy what is referred to as a
self zeroing liquid crystal display clock module which
always returns to zero after the source of power is
interrupted. Such a self zeroing liquid crystal clock
module is advantageously employed in the present invention.
Both in the business environment as well as in
the home household use, it is often desirable to time the
approximate length of telephone calls from both an
interest point of view as well as in an effort to keep the
telephone charges within a predetermined limit. To-date,
a simple inexpensive timing device has not been available
which is adaptable for use on the various styles of
telephones now commonly used throughout North America.
Although specialized timing devices may have been
developed for specific applications, there is still a need
for a timing device which due to its inherent structure is
adaptable for securement to telephones of varying types to
allow the appro~imate timing of telephone calls~
The present invention provides one such flexible
time piece, which is secureable to different models of
telephones and allows the approximate timing oP telephone
calls.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A self contained timing device according to the
present invention is for securement to telephones naving a hano
held receiver/transmitter replacahle on the phone when not ir,
use and hand held when in use. The timing device includes
battery operated self zeroing crystal display clock mo~ule
having a means For selectively activating and deactivating the
clock module. A feeler arm for activation of the clock mooule
by controlling -the selecting means and including biasing means
for urging the feeler arm to operate -the clock module are
provided. The feeler arm is pivotally secured within the
timing device in a manner whereby a force of sufficient
magnitude at the free end of the feeler arm, in a direction
generally opposed to the direction of the biasing means, causes
the arm to move and deactivate the clock module. The feeler
arm allows the timing device to be secured to a pnone in a
convenient location with the free end of the feeler arm being
positionable to be engaged by a component of the phone which
forces the feeler arm to deactivate the module when tne
receiver/transmitter is in position on the phone and allows the
arm to move under the influence of the ~iasiny means to
activate the module when the receiver/transmitter is removed
for use. This thereby allows the timing of the approximate
length of the call until the receiver/transmitter is returned
to the phone. The feeler arm is bendable along its length to
allow the user to set up the device when i-t is secured to a
particular phone adjacent the hand holder receiver/transmitter
by securing means of the device. The device is suitable for
telephone of varying configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the drawings are found in -the
drawings wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone with the
timimg device secured thereon;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a wall mount
telephone wi-th the timing device secureo thereon;

,. I
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view showing
the timing de~ice secured to a telephone of a different
structure;
Figure 4 is view similar to Figure 3, with the
receiver/transmitter shown on the phone of Figure 3
removed;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the
timing device;
Figure 6 is an exploded cross-section through the
timing device; and
Figure 7 is a side elevation which is partially
cut away showing the timing device and the movable feeler
arm.
DETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFE~RED EMBODIMENTS
As show in Figures 1 through 4, the timing device
generally shown as 10, can be secured at any convenient
area on a telephone 2 and positionable thereon in a manner
to allow the feeler arm 12 of the timing device to be
engaged by the receiver/transmitter of the telephone,
generally shown as 4 to disconnect the source of power
from the self zeroing clock module of the timing device.
Figure 2, illustrates how the location of the feeler arm
12 relative to the display window 15 and the digital read
out 17 of the clock module can be varied to allow
securement on telephones of different structures. ~he
wall telephone 2(a) of ~igure 2 has the timing device 10
secured in a manner whereby the return of the
receiver/transmitter 4 (a) on the wall structure causes
the cradle 35 to impinge upon the feeler arm 12.
Similarly, the return of the receiver/transmitter 4 (b) of
Figure 3, causes the feeler arm 12 to move to one position
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1 whereas when the receiver is removed as shown in Figure 4,
the feeler arm 12, due to a spring biasing provided within
the timing device, urges the feeler arm to a different
position and allows the power ~ource to be connected to
the clock module.
The structure of the timing device 10 can be
understood from a review of the exploded perspective view
of Figure 5 The timing device includes an upper casing
member 14 having a clock readout window 15 and this casing
receives the liquid quartæ display clock module 16 having
the timing display 17. In order to assure alignment of
the window 15 with the display 17, a small alignment lug
19 is provided on the clock module which is received
within a slot provided within the casing 14. The base
member 24 of the timing device hingedly secures feeler arm
12 in that the transverse portion of the feeler arm,
generally shown in dotted lines as 20, is hingedly secured
within the base unit. The feeler arm has one free end
~enerally designated as 18 which engages the biased
pressure switch of the clock module. The opposite end of
the feeler arm generally desiynated as 22 is the portion
which is engaged by the receiver/transmitter of a
telephone or some other component of the telephone to
cause the feeler arm to move when the receiver is returned
to the telephone.
In Figure 7, the end 22 of the feeler arm is
shown in two positions, and in the position shown in solid
lines, the feeler arm opens the switch of the clock module
and would be typical of when the receiver is in place on
the telephone. The second position, shown in dotted
lines, is the position of the feeler arm when only acted
upon by the biasing means of the pressure switch of the

8~
1 liquid crystal clock module and is typical of the feeler
arm when the switch is closed and the clock module of the
timing device is activated. In ~igure 7 an adhesive 28 is
shown securing the timing device to the phone surface 30
and preferrably this adhesive will be of the pressure
sensitive type and will include a release paper until the
device is to be secured to a telephone.
In a sectional view of Figure 6, the action of
the feeler arm in combination with the pressure sensitive
1~ switch 32 of the L C D module can be appreciatedO
Basically the switch 32 includes two metal contact members
which are biased into the conducting position as sho~n in
Figure 6. In order to deactivate the clock module, the
one contact member 33 must be urged by the end 18 of the
feeler ar~ upwardly towards the clock module. This cuts
the power to the clock module and deactivates the timer.
Member 33 is preferrably a spring biased leaf member and
therefor if there is no force on the feeler arm this leaf
member will cause the feeler arm to move to the position
generally shown in dotted lines in Figure 7 and activate
the clock module. Thus, the pressure sensitive switch 32
provides the biasing means for urging the feeler arm to
one position and the feeler arm when acted upon by an
external force, caused by the replacement of the
receiver/transmitter on the telephone, causes the switch
to open as the feeler arm forces the contact leaf spring
33 into a nonconducting position with respect to contact
34.
In order to provide flexibility in locating the
timing device on a telephone, the base 2~ is rotatable
relative to the upper casing 14 and the end portion 18 of
the feeler arm at any position of the base relative to the
_ 5 _

~8~
1 casing when secured therein provides the same action as
described above. Therefore, it is possible to position
the base relative to the casing 14 in a manner to provide
the most convenient location of the Eeeler arm relative to
the telephone, thereby simplifying securement of the
device to telephones of varying configurations. In
addition, the feeler arm is made of a thin gauge spring
wire which can be bent as examplified in Figure 4 to
further facilitate use of the timing device with telephone
of varying structures.
Although preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein in detail, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations
may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of
the invention or the scope or the appended claims.
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