GB2336448A

GB2336448A - Telephone timing device

Info

Publication number: GB2336448A
Application number: GB9808171A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Barton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-18
Filing date: 1998-04-18
Publication date: 1999-10-20
Also published as: GB9808171D0

Abstract

A device for timing the duration of a telephone call is mounted to the handset H of a telephone receiver and comprises timing means, a tilt or movement sensor which senses when the handset H is removed from or replaced onto the base unit of the telephone receiver, in order to start or stop the timing means, and a visual display 14 for displaying the time measured by the timing means. There is a reset key 16.

Description

2336448 Telephone Timing Device The present invention relates to a device

f or timing the duration of a telephone call.

It is often desirable to time the duration of a telephone call. A number of arrangements have been proposed hitherto for achieving this: however, such arrangements have either required the user to operate a key to start and stop the timing process or, where they start and stop automatically, have involved a relatively complicated mechanism.

I have now devised a telephone timing device which alleviates the above-noted drawback of the previous ly-proposed timing arrangements.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for timing the duration of a telephone call, the device being mountable to the handset of a telephone receiver and comprising timing means, a tilt or movement sensor which senses when the handset is removed from or replaced onto the base unit of the telephone receiver, in order to start or stop the timing means, and a visual display for displaying the time measured by the timing means.

Preferably the device comprises means for adhering it to the telephone handset, preferably on the rear surface of the handset.

Preferably the device comprises a generally flat housing, the front face of which is provided with the visual display (preferably a liquid crystal display).

Preferably the device includes a reset key which can be actuated to reset the timing means to zero.

An embodiment of -the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, In which:

FIGURE 1 is a vAw of a device in accordance with the present invention, mounted to the rear face of the handset of a telephone receiver; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the device shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device; 2 FIGURE 4 is a view of the device in the direction of arrow A shown in Figure 3; and FIGURE 5 is a view of the device in the direction of arrow B shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a device for timing the duration of a telephone call: the device comprises a generally flat, circular housing made up to two half-shells 10,12 snap-engaged together. The housing contains an electronic system and a battery for powering this system. A liquid crystal display 14 is mounted within the housing and is visible through a window in its front face. A resetting key 16 projects through an aperture in the front face of the housing. The rear face of the housing is provided with a selfadhesive tag or an adhesive coating, enabling the device to be adhered to the rear f ace of the handset H of a telephone receiver, as shown in Figure 1.

The housing of the device also contains a tilt or movement sensor which controls the switching on and switching off of the device. Thus, normally the handset H will be at rest on the telephone receiver: however, when the handset H is lifted, the tilt or movement sensor of the device senses this to switch the device on; a counter of the electronic system then accumulates clock pulses and the counted time duration is shown on the display 14 of the device. When the handset H is returned to the receiver, the tilt or movement sensor responds to this to stop the counter: optionally, the display may switch off automatically after a predetermined interval, or the display may automatically reset to zero. However, the resetting key 16 may be depressed at any time to reset the displayed count to zero.

It will be appreciated that, in use, the timing device senses when the handset is lifted and automatically begins counting: the user is not required to actuate any "start" key. However, if desired the user can reset the device when the call is actually connected, in order to obtain a more accurate measurement of the call duration. When the handset is replaced, the device stops counting but holds and displays the accumulated count for a predetermined period of time.

The device is accordingly effective in timing the 3 duration of a telephone call in an automatic manner, leading the users of the telephone to reduce their call times and also enabling the cost of individual calls to be estimated.

Preferably the device is arranged to give an audible "beep" at predetermined intervals of time, making the user aware of the call time during use.

4 claims 1) A device for timing the duration of a telephone call, the device being mountable to the handset of a telephone receiver and comprising timing means, a tilt or movement sensor which senses when the handset is removed from or replaced onto the base unit of the telephone receiver, in order to start or stop the timing means, and a visual display for displaying the time measured by the timing means.

2) A device as claimed in claim 1, including means for adhering the device to said telephone handset.

3) A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a generally flat housing, the front face of which is provided with said visual display.

4) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a reset key which is actuable to reset said timing means.

5) A device for timing the duration of a telephone call, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6) A telephone receiver which is provided with a device as claimed in any preceding claim.