GB2232559A

GB2232559A - Security apparatus to prevent unauthorised outgoing calls being made on a telephone

Info

Publication number: GB2232559A
Application number: GB9012689A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Burke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-07
Filing date: 1990-06-07
Publication date: 1990-12-12
Also published as: GB9012689D0; GB8913096D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a bracket 12 with a planar portion 30 on which may be placed a telephone, and a cover 10 which is engagable with the bracket 12 to substantially cover the dialling means of the telephone but enable free access to the handset. A lock is provided to secure the bracket 12 to the cover 10 thereby retaining the telephone in the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

Security Apparatus This invention relates to security apparatus and particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for preventing unauthorised outgoing calls to be made on a telephone.

A very large number of unauthorised outgoing calls are made on telephones every year resulting in excessive bills for the telephone owners. Simple locking devices are available for rotary dial telephones but no such devices are available for push button dialing telephones.

According to the present invention there is provided security apparatus comprising a cover releasably engagable with a telephone, and means for locking the cover in engagement with the telephone, the cover being constructed to, when engaged, prevent access to the dialing means of the telephone but to enable free access to the handset.

The cover is preferably shaped to substantially surround the part of the telephone including the dialling means but not the handset of the telephone. The locking means may comprise a bracket engagable with a surface of the telephone remote and facing away from the dialing means, and lockably connectable to the cover. The bracket may be lockable in a plurality of positions relative to the cover.

The cover may comprise a container open on two adjacent sides and the bracket may be so formed as to at least partly close one of said openings. The bracket may comprise a substantially U-shaped portion upstanding around the perimeter of a planar portion which extends in the plane of the U-shaped portion. Preferably the limbs of the U engage on opposite sides of a one of the openings such that the planar portion provides a base on which a telephone may stand.

Preferably a lock is provided on the bracket or cover engagable with a respective aperture in the cover or bracket.

Preferably a series of apertures is provided in the bracket and/or the cover to permit lockable engagement therebetween. Preferably the series of apertures is provided in the planar portion of the bracket.

Alternatively the series of apertures may be provided in at least one side of the cover.

An abutment may be provided within the cover to facilitate correct positioning of a telephone therein, resting against the abutment. The lock may be accommodated in the abutment.

Alternatively the cover may comprise a container open on only one side and the bracket may be substantially U-shaped with the limbs of the U engaging on opposite sides of the covers opening.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of telephone security apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a cover part of the apparatus of rig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the cover part of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows the interconnection between the cover and a bracket part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 dn an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is provided security apparatus usable with a standard push button dialling telephone. The apparatus comprises a cover 10 and a bracket 12. The cover 10 has three sides and is open on two further adjacent sides. One of the sides 14 comprises four portions, each portion being inclined relative to the or each adjacent portion such that the side 14 has a substantially curved profile turning through substantially 900. The other two sides 18, 20 extend parallel to each other and connect between the side edges of the side 14.

An abutment 22 is provided within the cover 10 in the form of a hollow column upstanding from the side 14.

A lockable pin may be passed through the hole 24 in the column 22 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The bracket 12 comprises a substantially U-shaped strip of a size that the side limbs 28 thereof slidingly fit outside the sides 18, 20 of the cover 10 and a base plate 30 from which the strip upstands and which closes off the U. A line of apertures 32 are provided in the base plate 30 extending midway between and parallel to the limbs 28.

An upwardly extending lip 34 is provided on the outer edge of the sides 18, 20 remote from the side 14 engagable with corresponding lips 36 provided on the side limbs 28 of the bracket 12. The lips 34, 36 permit slidable engagement between the cover 10 and bracket 12.

(See Fig. 5).

In use, with the bracket 12 detached from the cover 10, a push button telephone is placed onto the base plate 30 with the handset adjacent the base of the U of the bracket strip 12. The cover 10 is then slidably engaged with the bracket 12 by means of the lips 34, 36 and slid over the telephone until the column 22 abuts the telephone. The column 22 enables telephones of standard size to be positioned correctly within the apparatus. In this position the cover 10 prevents access to the dialling buttons of the telephone but permits free access to the handset. The lockable pin 26 is then passed through the hole 24 in the column 22 into a one of the series of apertures 32 aligned therebeneath thereby locking the telephone in position within the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 6, in an alternative embodiment the cover 10 comprises a further side 16 corresponding to the base plate 30. Consequently the bracket 12 comprises only the substantially U-shaped strip as hereinbefore described. Further, a series of apertures 38 is provided in at least one of the side walls 18, 20. A suitable locking means 40 is provided adjacent the free end of one of the limbs 28 and is engagable with any one of the series of apertures 38.

There is thus described apparatus for preventing unauthorised outgoing calls being made on a telephone.

This apparatus could in fact be used with push button or rotary dial telephones. The provision of holes 32, 38 enable the apparatus to be used with a number of different sizes of telephone. The apparatus is of simple construction and can thus be robustly and inexpensively manufactured. With this apparatus a telephone can be quickly locked or unlocked.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the cover may be made to any suitable size or shape to accept different telephones. A slot may be provided in the cover through which the locking means may pass, thereby enabling the series of apertures to be replaced by a single aperture. In the further embodiment a second lock could be provided on the other limb of the bracket 12.

Alternatively this limb could engage in a sleeve in the cover. The apparatus can obviously be decorated in any suitable way, and it is to be realised that this invention could be used on many types of apparatus other than telephones.

Claims

1. Security apparatus comprising a cover releasably engagable with a telephone and means for locking the cover in engagement with the telephone, the cover being constructed to, when engaged, prevent access to the dialling means of the telephone but to enable free access to the handset.

2. Security apparatus according to claim 1, in which the cover is shaped to substantially surround the part of the telephone including the dialling means but not the handset of the telephone.

3. Security apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, in which the locking means comprises a bracket engagable with a surface of the telephone remote and facing away from the dialling means, and lockably connectable to the cover.

4. Security apparatus according to claim 3, in which the bracket is lockable in a plurality of positions relative to the cover.

5. Security apparatus according to claims 3 or 4, in which the cover comprises a container open on two adjacent sides and the bracket is so formed as to at least partly close one of said openings.

6. Security apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5 in which the bracket comprises a substantially U-shaped portion upstanding around the perimeter of a planar portion which extends in the plane of the U-shaped portion.

7. Security apparatus according to claim 6, in which the limbs of the U engage on opposite sides of a one of the openings such that the planar portion provides a base on which a telephone may stand.

8. Security apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the cover comprises a container open on only one side.

9. Security apparatus according to claim 8 when dependent on either of claims 3 or 4, in which the bracket is substantially U-shaped with the limbs of the U engaging on opposite sides of the covers opening.

10. Security apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which a series of apertures is provided in the bracket and/or the cover to permit lockable engagement therebetween.

11. Security apparatus according to claim 10 when dependent on either of claims 6 or 7, in which the series of apertures is provided in the planar portion of the bracket.

12. Security apparatus according to claim 10, in which a series of apertures is provided in at least one side of the cover.

13. Security apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, in which a lock is provided on the bracket or cover engagable with a respective aperture in the cover or bracket.

14. Security apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which an abutment is provided within the cover to facilitate correct positioning of a telephone therein resting against the abutment.-

15. Security apparatus according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 6, in which the lock is accommodated in the abutment.

16. Security apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Security apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.