Plug-in telephone facility

• US 5,105,460 A
• Filed: 03/11/1991
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John S. Williams
• Original Assignee: John S. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/667,223
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 379/155, 379/58, 379/61, 379/428, 379/429, 379/434, 379/437, 379/440, 379/451, 379/453, 379/454, 379/457
• US Class Current: 379/155
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features

Abstract

A plug-in telephone facility includes conventional telephone communication apparatus together with a conventional coin-operated mechanism supported within a housing enclosure. A plurality of telephone plug receptacles are supported within the housing and may be accessed by a user'"'"'s personal telephone communication device. Embodiments are shown which provide alternatives to a conventional pay telephone as well as convenient roadside facilities accessible from a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. For use in combination with a user-provided telephone having a telephone connecting plug for communication with a telephone line, a plug-in telephone facility comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity;

a support panel for supporting a coin-operated mechanism; and

a plurality of telephone plug receptacles cooperating with said telephone connecting plug supported upon said support panel.

2. A plug-in telephone facility as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a movable door movable between a closed position overlying said cavity and an open position exposing it.

3. A plug-in telephone facility as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing includes a vertical support and a horizontally extending extension to facilitate roadside access to said interior cavity.

4. A plug-in telephone facility as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is integrally formed in a vertical pole.

5. A plug-in telephone facility as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is shaped to correspond to a rectangular prism.

6. A plug-in telephone facility having a plurality of telephone plug receptacles and coin operated connection means for coupling a selected one of said telephone plug receptacles to a telephone line.