Pushbutton telephone dial locks

• US 4,396,810 A
• Filed: 06/15/1981
• Issued: 08/02/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hunter H. Cover
• Original Assignee: Hunter H. Cover
• Inventors: Cover, Hunter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stellar, George G.
• Application Number:
  US06/274,016
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 179/189 D, 70/DIG. 72, 70/95, 70/158, 70/159, 70/160, 70/163
• US Class Current: 379/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/667 Preventing unauthorised calls from a telephone set H04M1/677 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/72 Telephone lock

Abstract

A keyboard lock mechanism is disclosed herein for preventing all or some of the keys or pushbuttons on a telephone from being depressed which includes a mounting plate attached detachably or permanently to the body or case of the telephone and having a central opening therein exposing the full keyboard of keys normally carried on the telephone body. A movable cover is pivotally or slidably carried on the mounting plate for selective positioning over the keys of the keyboard so that the keys are inaccessible. A lock having a movable latch releasably secures the cover over the keys or pushbuttons. Attachments are provided on the mounting plate for securing the mechanism onto the telephone body.

Claims

1. A keyboard lock mechanism for a telephone having a handset and pushbutton keys normally exposed through a case body comprising the combination of:

a mounting plate attached to the case body having a central opening therein passing the pushbuttons therethrough, and further having upper and lower track guides;

a flexible strip having permanent-setting adhesive on both its surfaces to attach said mounting plate to said case body;

cover means movably carried on said mounting plate for selectively rendering the pushbuttons inaccessible, said cover means comprising a pair of plates slidably carried between said upper and lower track guides of said mounting plate; and

lock means to releasably secure said cover means over the pushbuttons.

2. A keyboard lock mechanism for a telephone having a handset and pushbutton keys normally exposed through a case body comprising the combination of:

a mounting plate attached to the case body having a central opening therein passing the pushbuttons therethrough, said mounting plate comprising a horizontal hinge along its top edge and a staple perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate rising from the bottom edge of said central opening;

cover means movably carried on said mounting plate for selectively rendering the pushbuttons inaccessible, said cover means comprising a plate rotatably attached at its top edge to said horizontal hinge and having flanges extending downward from its non-hinged edges to prevent access to said pushbuttons, said cover means further having a lock guide and lock support integral with its bottom edge so as to accept said staple in the locked position, and in the unlocked position rotatably completely folded out of the way under said handset; and

lock means to releasably secure said cover means over the pushbuttons, said lock means comprising a cylindrical tumbler lock well known for locking rotary telephone dials.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said cover plate comprises individual access openings located above all pushbuttons and further comprises individual plugs lockably insertable into said individual access openings to close off any desired said access openings to render inaccessible only those pushbuttons underneath said inserted individual plugs.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 including:

a flexible strip having permanent-setting adhesive on both its surfaces to attach said mounting plate to said case body.