Recyclable cellular telephone and method and apparatus for supporting the use of a recyclable cellular telephone within a cellular telephone network
First Claim
1. A portable telecommunication instrument, comprising:
- a structural frame member;
at least one electrical circuit having components interconnected to provide telecommunication between said portable telecommunication instrument and another instrument, said electrical circuit being mounted to said structural frame member; and
a disposable cover substantially enclosing said structural frame member during use of the portable telecommunication instrument and providing a preaddressed return mail shipping container for said portable telecommunication instrument.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone. The recyclable telephones are activated and deactivated in a number of ways, including through the use of a separate activation and deactivation station which communicates with the telephones over a radio frequency communications link.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A portable telecommunication instrument, comprising:
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a structural frame member; at least one electrical circuit having components interconnected to provide telecommunication between said portable telecommunication instrument and another instrument, said electrical circuit being mounted to said structural frame member; and a disposable cover substantially enclosing said structural frame member during use of the portable telecommunication instrument and providing a preaddressed return mail shipping container for said portable telecommunication instrument.
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2. A portable telecommunication instrument, comprising:
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structural frame member having identification indicia disposed at a predetermined position on said structural frame member; at least one electrical circuit having components interconnected to provide telecommunication between said portable telecommunication instrument and another instrument, said electrical circuit being mounted to said structural frame member; and a disposable cover substantially enclosing said structural frame member during use of the portable telecommunication instrument and having an aperture aligned with said identification indicia whereby said indicia is readily visible when said disposable cover is disposed in enclosing relationship about said frame member during use of the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A portable telecommunication instrument comprising:
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a structural frame member; at least one electrical circuit having components interconnected to provide telecommunication between said portable telecommunication instrument and another instrument, said electrical circuit being mounted to said structural frame member; and a disposable cover substantially enclosing said structural frame member during use of the portable telecommunication instrument and providing a preaddressed return mail container for shipping said portable telecommunications instrument after use. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for recycling a telecommunication instrument wherein the telecommunications instrument is returned after a determined period of use, comprising the steps of:
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providing a disposable cover for said instrument, said cover being disposed contiguous with said instrument during use; and following return; removing the used disposable cover from said instrument; discarding said used disposable cover, if required; testing selected electrical components; replacing selected electrical components, if required; installing a new disposable cover on said instrument; and returning said instrument for reuse for another determined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification