Telephone

• US 4,866,764 A
• Filed: 08/26/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Barker III
• Original Assignee: Charles Barker III
• Inventors: Barker, Charles III
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Application Number:
  US07/236,993
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 379/40, 379/51, 379/216, 379/355, 379/354, 379/356, 379/357, 379/358, 379/359, 379/368, 362/88, 341/23, 341/28, 200/309, 200/310, 200/314, 40/337
• US Class Current: 379/355.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations

Abstract

A telephone has a first keypad provided with conventionally numbered touch tone keys. A second keypad has a plurality of transparent keys, each provided with a slot for the insertion of a small picture or symbolic representation. Optical fiber may be embedded in each of the transparent keys for illuminating the pictures. The telephone is provided for use with a conventional handset or as a speaker phone. Each of the keys in the second keypad are connected to actuate the speaker phone section of the telephone. The keys of the second keypad are each associated with a memory for the assignment of a telephone number associated with the picture or symbolic representation inserted within the key slot. A large emergency 911 key is also provided. The telephone is designed for use by small children.

Claims

1. In a telephone having a first numbered keypad and a speaker phone section, the improvement comprising:

a second keypad formed by a plurality of programmable keys, each of said keys bearing a pictorial representation of an emergency service or individual;

each of the keys of said second keypad formed form a transparent material and provided with an open interior slot for the insertion of a photograph or a symbolic representation of an emergency service;

and

an optical fiber within a sidewall of each of said keys and communicating with a light source within said telephone for illuminating each of said transparent keys.

2. The telephone of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber extends above and around a periphery of said interior slot.

3. The telephone of claim 1, wherein each of the keys of said second keypad is connected to simultaneously actuate said speaker phone section and dial a stored telephone number of the associated emergency service or individual.

4. In a telephone having a keypad, the improvement comprising:

at least one of the keys of said keypad formed from a transparent material and provide with an open interior slot for the insertion of a photograph or a symbolic representation;

and

an optical fiber within a sidewall of said transparent key and communicating with a light source within said telephone for illuminating said transparent key.

5. The telephone of claim 4, wherein said optical fiber extends above and around a periphery of said interior slot.