GB2226215A - Means for restricting the use of a telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a means for restricting the use of a telephone 6 to authorised personnel comprising an open top box 1 to receive the telephone base and handset of a push button telephone assembly 6 and a hinged lid 3 attached to the container and dimensioned to overlie that portion of the telephone base including the push buttons and including means to secure the lid in the closed position. The apparatus allows the handset 7 to be removed from the base to receive incoming calls. Preferably the lid contains an aperture over the number 9 push button whereby the telephone may be used to make emergency calls only, when the lid is closed. <IMAGE>

Description

MEANS FOR RESTRICTING THE USE OF A TELEPHONE The present invention relates to a means for restricting the use of the telephone to authorised personnel whilst permitting emergency calls to be made without restriction.

Old style telephone which rely on a circular dial to call a number may have their use by unauthorised personnel restricted by fitting a lock which will allow only emergency 999 calls to be made whilst the lock is in position. To date no such comparable designs exist in respect of telephones in which the dial has been replaced on the base by push buttons.

We have now developed a simple apparatus for use with push button telephones, in which the push buttons are located on the base1 that restricts use of the telephone to authorised personnel.

Accordingly the present invention provides an apparatus for restricting the use of a push button telephone comprising an open top container dimensioned to receive the telephone base and handset of a push button telephone assembly, means releasably secured to the open top of the container and dimensioned to overlie that portion of the telephone base including the said buttons thereby allowing the handset to be removed to receive incoming calls when preventing the use of the telephone for outgoing calls whilst the said means is in the secured position. Preferably the said means consists of a lid dimensioned and shaped to cover that part of the telephone base on which the push buttons are located whilst allowing the handset to be removed from the container for use, and includes means to secure the lid against removal other than by authorised personnel.Apertures may be formed in the container to allow the handset and base connecting wire to pass therethrough and means may be provided in the lid to allow access to the button number 9 to enable emergency calls to be made whilst the lid is in the secured position.

The securing means may be any suitable form of locking device.

The container and lid may be made of any suitable material, e.g. plastics, metal or wood.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the company drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the present invention, Figure 2 is an illustration of the container of figure 1 with the telephone and handset in position, and Figure 3 is an illustration of the apparatus with the lid in the secured position.

Referring to the drawings1 the container generally indicated at 1 comprises a base (not shown) and four wall portions 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d to provide a rectangular open topped box-like structure. A lid portion 3, hinged at one end, to side 2b of the container overlies a portion of the open top and includes means (not sown) for securing the non-hinged end of the lid to the opposite side of the container. U-shaped slots 4 and 5 are provided in walls 2a and 2d to provide access for the base and handset cables.

As illustrated in figure 2 the telephone base 6 and handset 7 are contained within the container 1 and the container is so dimensioned and shaped that the telephone base 6 is generally not movable therein.

To prevent unauthorized use the hinged lid 3 is closed over the top of the telephone and secured in position thereby completely blocking the push buttons and presenting the telephone from being used except to receive incoming calls. In order to provide that the telephone may, however, be used to make emergency calls an aperture 9 is formed in the lid 2 directly above the button number 9.

The lid may also be shaped, for example as at 10, to accommodate any projecting part of the telephone base, for example the upper portion 11 of the handset cradle.

It is clearly not strictly necessary for the handset cable 8 to lie outside the apparatus but it is more convenient since space within the container will be strictly limited.

The shape of the container and it's lid and the dimensions of both can be adjusted to suit the particular type of push button telephone and is not restricted to that illustrated in the drawings.

Claims (5)

1. Apparatus for restricting the use of a push button telephone comprising an open top container dimensioned to receive the telephone base and handset of a push button telephone assembly, means releasably secured to the open top of the container and dimensioned to overlie that portion of the telephone base including the said buttons thereby allowing the handset to be removed to receive incoming calls when preventing the use of the telephone for outgoing calls whilst the said means is in the secured position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a lid hinged along one edge and including locking means to retain the lid in the secured position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the container includes appertures to allow the handset and base connecting wires to pass therethrough.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said means includes an apperture positioned to allow access to the number 9 button when the said means is in the secured position whereby the telephone may be used to make emergency calls.

5. Apparatus for restricting the use of a push button telephone substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.