Public terminal receptacle

• US 4,897,868 A
• Filed: 07/25/1988
• Issued: 01/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Colwell, Kevin, Engelke, Robert M., Borst, Rodney D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/224,118
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 379/96, 379/52, 379/97, 379/98, 379/99, 379/143, 379/144, 379/145, 379/153, 379/155, 379/368, 379/433, 379/435, 379/437, 379/454, 379/451, 379/453, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 379/93.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads

Abstract

A public terminal receptacle for containing, protecting, and allowing a user access to a computer terminal, telecommunications device for the deaf, or another type of terminal which is telephonically linked and physically adjacent to a public telephone through which the terminal may telecommunicate with other electronic devices. The public terminal receptacle includes a housing having an opening and which is adapted to be attached to a public telephone booth, a drawer which is slidably mounted within the housing to move between a closed position where the drawer is within the housing and an open position where at least a forward portion of the drawer extends out through the opening, the terminal, and a motor drive system mounted within the housing and which is drivingly connected to the drawer for opening and closing the drawer in response to specific electrical signals. The drawer is adapted to contain a terminal and has a keyboard opening through which a user can have physical access to the keyboard on the terminal. The public terminal receptacle is armored to protect the terminal from vandalism and from the elements. Specific electronic signals can be sent from the public telephone to the motor to open the drawer in a variety of ways.

Claims

1. A public terminal receptacle comprising:

(a) a tamper-resistant housing which is adapted to be physically adjacent to a public telephone booth;

(b) a terminal which is telephonically linked and physically adjacent to the public telephone through which the terminal may telecommunicate with other electronic devices, said terminal normally being covered and protected by said housing; and

(c) a motor drive system which is mounted within the housing and which is connected to the receptacle for moving a portion of the receptacle for opening and closing the receptacle in response to specific electronic signals, such that when the receptacle is open, the terminal is accessible to an user.

2. A public terminal receptacle comprising:

(a) a terminal which is telephonically linked and physically adjacent to a public telephone through which the terminal may telecommunicate with other electronic devices;

(b) a housing which is adapted to be attached to a public telephone booth and which normally covers and protects the terminal; and

(c) means for allowing an user access to said terminal in response to specific electronic signals.

3. A public terminal receptacle for containing, protecting and allowing an user access to a terminal which is telephonically linked and physically adjacent to a public telephone through which the terminal may telecommunicate with other electronic devices, the public terminal comprising:

(a) a terminal;

(b) a housing which is adapted to be attached to a public telephone booth and which covers and protects the terminal when the receptacle is closed; and

(c) a motor drive system which is mounted within the housing and which is connected to the terminal and housing for moving one of the housing and terminal in relation to the other for opening and closing the receptacle in response to specific electronic signals, the motor drive system including a motor and a force transmission system which is utilized by the motor to apply force to one of the housing and terminal to move it between open and closed positioned.