Adaptor set for converting standard telephone into cordless telephone using replacement handset

• US 5,680,441 A
• Filed: 11/28/1994
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Gallo
• Original Assignee: Bruce Gallo
• Inventors: Gallo, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/345,500
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 379/61, 379/63, 379/58, 455/343, 455/38.3, 455/89
• US Class Current: 455/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A conversion kit, consisting of a two piece adaptor set, allows a conventional non-cordless telephone to be converted to a cordless telephone. A first piece consists of a unitary body which houses a transmitter/receiver therein and a conventional modular male telephone plug. The second piece consists of a transmitter/receiver built into a replacement handset. To covert a standard non-cordless telephone to a cord- less telephone, the coiled telephone handset cord, and the corded-handset are removed. The first transmitter/receiver body is plugged into the modular jack in place of the coiled cord, and the replacement handset is simply set into the cradle.

Claims

1. The conversion of a conventional non-cordless telephone to a cordless telephone, which comprises:

a the base of said non-cordless telephone including a handset cradle carried on said base and a switch hook operatively linked to said cradle;

b a first transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves and a respective terminal means electrically connecting said transmitter/receiver received in the terminal receptacle of said non-cordless telephone base;

c a replacement handset received in and resting directly on said handset cradle without any interfacing structural elements, said replacement handset including a second transmitter/receiver mounted within the replacement handset and effective for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic waves and for communicating wirelessly with the first transmitter/receiver;

d a battery and power saving circuit in said handset, said power saving circuit including a normally off relay means with means to close the switch contacts of said relay means that includes an multi-axis motion sensitive switch to detect movement of said handset; and

e a timer in circuit with said motion sensitive switch and said relay means in circuit therewith to maintain said switch contacts of said relay closed for a fixedly adjustable time interval.

2. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the respective terminal means of the first transmitter/receiver comprises a respective modular male telephone conventional plug.

3. The conversion kit of claim 2, wherein the first transmitter/receiver comprises a transmitter/receiver body and the respective modular plug of the first transmitter/receiver is connected directly to the first transmitter/receiver body.

4. The conversion kit of claim 3, further including telephone mounting means for securing the first transmitter/receiver body to the conventional non-cordless telephone base.

5. The conversion kit of claim 2, wherein the modular male plug on the first transmitter/receiver is physically spaced from the first transmitter/receiver and including a cord extending between the first transmitter/receiver and its respective modular male plug.

6. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including a respective locking tab on the terminal means of the first transmitter/receiver, the locking tab being effective for locking the terminal means within and releasing the terminal means from the telephone base.

9. The conversion kit of claim 1, further including first channel scanning circuit means in circuit with said first transmitter/receiver, and coacting second channel scanning circuit means in circuit with said second transmitter/receiver, with said channel scanning circuit means operative to select and lock onto a low energy channel.

10. The conversion kit of claim 1, wherein said first and second channel scanning circuit means include a hand-shaking routine to select said low energy channel.

7. A conversion kit for converting a conventional non-cordless telephone to a cordless telephone, the conversion kit comprising:

a a first transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves and a respective terminal means for enabling the first transmitter/receiver to be electrically connected to a non-cordless telephone base;

b a replacement handset for replacing a conventional handset which is associated with the non-cordless conventional telephone base, and a second transmitter/receiver mounted within the replacement handset and effective for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic waves and for communicating wirelessly with the first transmitter/receiver;

c a battery and power saving circuit in said handset, said power saving circuit including a normally off relay means with means to close the switch contacts of said relay means that includes an omni-directional motion sensitive switch to detect movement of said handset; and

d a timer in circuit with said motion sensitive switch and said relay means in circuit therewith to maintain said switch contacts of said relay closed for a fixedly adjustable time interval.

8. The conversion kit of claim 7 wherein said timer means is adjustable to permit variation of the duration of said time interval from 15 to 50 seconds.

11. The conversion kit of claim 7 wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery and including recharging means and a recharging input jack on said handset for connection of said recharging means to said battery.

12. A telephone, comprising:

a a conventional non-cordless telephone base of a conventional combination of said base and non-cordless handset associated with said base;

said base having a respective modular socket suitable for accommodating a corresponding modular male plug of a telephone cord to establish connection between said base and handset, said base also including a handset cradle with a switch hook operatively attached thereto;

b a first transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves and a respective modular male plug received in said modular socket for enabling the first transmitter/receiver to be electrically connected to said non-cordless telephone base;

c a cordless handset replacing the conventional handset received in and resting on said handset cradle of said non-cordless conventional telephone base without any interfacing structural elements, and a second transmitter/receiver mounted within the replacement handset and effective for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic waves and for communicating wirelessly with the first transmitter/receiver;

d a battery and power saving circuit in said handset, said power saving circuit including a normally off relay means with means to close the switch contacts of said relay means that includes a omni-directional motion sensitive switch to detect movement of said handset; and

e a timer circuit with said motion sensitive switch and said relay means in circuit therewith to maintain said switch contacts of said relay closed for a fixedly adjustable time interval.

13. The telephone of claim 12, wherein the first and second transmitter/receiver are effective for communicating with one another through radio waves.

14. The telephone of claim 12, wherein the first transmitter/receiver is housed within a transmitter/receiver body and the respective modular plug of the first transmitter/receiver is attached directly onto the first transmitter/receiver body.

15. The telephone of claim 12, further including telephone mounting means for enabling securing the first transmitter/receiver body to the conventional non-cordless telephone base.

16. The telephone of claim 12, further including timer means in circuit with said motion sensitive switch and said relay to maintain said switch contacts of said relay closed for a fixedly adjustable time interval.

17. The telephone of claim 12, further including first channel scanning circuit means in circuit with said first transmitter/receiver, and coacting second channel scanning circuit means in circuit with said second transmitter/receiver, with said channel scanning circuit means operative to select and lock onto a low energy channel.

18. The telephone of claim 12, wherein said first and second channel scanning circuit means include a hand-shaking routine to select said low energy channel.

19. The telephone of claim 16 where the battery is rechargeable with means to recharge the battery.