COIN TELEPHONE FACILITY FOR COMBINED USE BY GENERAL PUBLIC AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

• US 3,598,920 A
• Filed: 10/28/1969
• Issued: 08/10/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carroll D. Hays, James L. Fischer, Richard G. Klier
• Original Assignee: Carroll D. Hays, James L. Fischer, Richard G. Klier
• Inventors: Fischer, James L., Hays, Carroll D., Klier, Richard G.
• Application Number:
  US04/870,040
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• US Class Current: 379/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features

Abstract

In a coin telephone facility designed for use by both physically handicapped persons and the general public, a vertical wall mounted portion supports a forwardly sloping shelf portion. For easy access, the telephone handset, the pushbutton dial and an oversized coin return lever are mounted on the shelf portion. A mechanism below the shelf operated by the coin return lever raises refunded coins and delivers them into a shelf-level receptacle.

Claims

1. A pay telephone facility comprising, in combination, a vertical panel portion, a downwardly sloping shelf portion protruding outwardly from the lower part of said shelf portion, a handset supported by raised brackets mounted on said shelf portion to facilitate easy removal of said handset without manual grasping thereof, a dial assembly mounted on said shelf portion, a substantially flat coin release lever protruding from said shelf portion to enable operation thereof with slight downward pressure exerted by the hand or arm of the user, a coin return mechanism mounted beneath said shelf portion and a coin return lever protruding upwardly from said shelf portion for operating said mechanism, said lever being mounted to enable operation thereof by pull force away from said shelf portion.

2. A pay telephone facility comprising, in combination, a vertically mounted panel portion, a downwardly sloping shelf portion protruding outwardly from the lower part of said panel portion, a handset, a dial and a coin return mechanism operating lever mounted on said shelf portion and a coin deposit slot guide member and a coin release lever mounted on said panel portion, thereby to facilitate telephone operation by users in wheelchairs and by handicapped persons lacking in manual dexterity.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including raised brackets for supporting said handset in a plane substantially parallel to and above said shelf portion and a pair of apertures in said shelf portion for accommodating the receiver and transmitter portions of said handset when said handset is resting on said brackets, one of said depressions housing switch hook means and the other of said depressions accommodating the receiver portion of said handset to facilitate placing said handset in a rest, off-hook position.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coin release lever comprises a flat handle portion normally substantially horizontally disposed, and movable rotatably downward in response to pressure exerted on the top thereof and means including a push-pull cable for translating the downward rotational movement of said handle portion into a linear force for application to the coin release mechanism of a coin telephone set.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coin return mechanism operating lever comprises a substantially flat handle portioN and means mounted below the level of said shelf portion responsive to pull force on said handle portion for raising refunded coins to the level of said shelf portion.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said last-named means comprises a drumlike receptacle with an entrance aperture and an exit aperture for said coins, and a rotatably mounted vane member responsive to the movement of said handle portion for sweeping said refunded coins from said receptacle and out said exit aperture, said coins being delivered thereby to a depressed coin collection area on said shelf portion.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further including a rotatable door member mounted within said receptacle and normally supported by said vane member, said door rotating by gravity force behind said vane member thereby to block said entrance aperture after said vane member has passed said entrance aperture, whereby coins are prevented from collecting behind said vane member.

8. A pay telephone facility comprising, in combination, a vertically mounted panel portion, a downwardly sloping shelf portion protruding outwardly from the lower part of said panel portion, a coin return mechanism supported by said shelf portion, said mechanism including an operating handle extending above said shelf portion, a drumlike receptacle mounted beneath said shelf portion for receiving coins refunded from a coin telephone set, a rotatable vane mounted within said receptacle, said vane sweeping coins out of said receptacle and up to said shelf in response to the operation of said handle.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said receptacle includes entrance and exit apertures for refunded coins, a pivotally mounted cover member normally flush with said shelf portion and covering said exit aperture, means locking said cover member in place when said entrance aperture is open thereby to prevent ready access to said last-named aperture from said shelf and means responsive to the upward movement of said vane for pivoting said cover to an open position.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including counterweight means to minimize the force required for opening said cover.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including constant force spring means for automatically returning said coin return mechanism to a normal rest position after the release of said handle.