GB2144305A - Improved telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

A moveable telephone comprises a base 1, mounted on casters 2 for free movement, carrying a hand set 5 linked to the base by an antenna 7. A coin freed mechanism 6 in the base enables the telephone to be used via a base telephone which may be some distance away and may be part of a cellular radio network. The base 1 illustrated is freely moveable but not easily portable and includes a compartment 3 for accommodating telephone directory as well as having panels (not referenced) recessed into each of its four upstanding faces. The panels may carry advertising and may be illuminated from within the base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved telephone The present invention relates to telephones, and more particularly to coin freed cordless telephones.

A telephone unit is hereinafter used to mean the combination of a handset containing a microphone and a speaker which may or may not be combined into a single hand-held unit, and a dialling means, which may be a rotating dial or a set of push buttons, and this may either be combined with the handset into an integral unit or it may be spaced therefrom and connected thereto by an electrical connection.

A cordless telephone unit is hereinafter used to define a telephone unit as defined above in combination with a transmitterlreceiver device and an antenna. Signals to and from the cordless telephone unit are transmitted and received respectively by a second transmitter/receiver device at a base station which may be several hundred meters from the cordless telephone unit. From the base station the telephone conversation is processed in the normai manner.

The above are well-known. Also weil-known are coin freed telephones, generally in public places, in which a standard telephone unit as defined above is mounted to a wall and may be used for a time dependent on the amount of money paid through the coin freed mechanism. It is also known to mount such coin freed telephone units on trolleys, for example for use in hospitals. However, while this may be more convenient, it carries with it the disadvantage that cable must be provided to connect the trolley to a telephone socket. This disadvantage can be partially overcome by providing a plurality of sockets, but this partial solution brings with it a second disadvantage of difficulty in locating the sockets.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved telephone unit of the cordless and coin freed type, whereby the above disadvantages are overcome.

According to the present invention there is provided a movable telephone comprising a cordless telephone unit, as hereinbefore defined, a base which is freely movable but not easily portable, and a coin freed mechanism located in said base.

Preferably the handset is connected to the base by the antenna of the cordless telephone unit, such that, in use, the antenna is extended, while the antenna retracts into the base when the handset is replaced on the base.

The antenna may be covered with metal tape wrapped spirally to deter separation of the handset from the base.

The dialling means of the telephone unit may be located either on the handset or on the base.

A speech transponder may be provided for instructing users of the telephone in the necessary procedures or for giving other information.

The base may comprise on at least one, but preferably all, of its side faces, panels for displaying information. They may be semi-translucent and illuminated from within the base.

The base is advantageously provided with castors for free movement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a movable telephone unit embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a front view of a similar unit.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a moveable telephone unit comprising a base 1 which is generallycuboidal with the four larger faces forming the sides of the base. It may be constucted of a framework of aluminium or other suitable metal, or rigid plastics material and each of the sides may form a panel for displaying information. If so desired the panel can be sub-divided into two or more, as shown in Figure 2. The panels may be of semi-translucent plastics material printed with the information it is desired to display. They may then be illuminated from within the base. For this purpose a rechargeable battery may be located within the base.

The exact dimensions of the base are not important provided that the base is large enough to make the unit difficult to remove surreptitiously and to allow users to operate the telephone unit in a comfortable manner. The base is mounted on four 360 castors 2, one at each corner of the base. This enables the base to be moved freely about such areas as hospitals, hotel lobbies or restaurants.

On the top of the base is a receptacle 3 for telephone directories or other publications, a cradle 4 for the handset 5 and coin slots 6. Inside the base, and not shown, are a coin freed mechanism allowing operation of the telephone for a settable length of time per unit coin, a coinbox for safely receiving coins, and in certain embodiments lighting means and a rechargeable battery for operating them. At least one of the panels may be hinged, preferably lockably, to allow access to the interior of the base.

The handset 5 comprises a microphone and speaker, arranged conventionally, with push buttons for dialling arranged in the space between them. It would of course be possible to transfer the push buttons or whatever other dialling means are desired to the top of the base. A transmitter/receiver device is located within the handset 5, although again this could be arranged within the base. Where the transmitter/receiver device is arranged in the handset, a re-chargeable 24 volt dc battery is provided and twin pins (not shown) are arranged in the cradle 4 for re-charging the battery when the handset is replaced. The pins are connected to a nickel cadmium rechargeable battery in the base which is chargeable from the electric mains.

Since the unit is intended for use in public places, and since the handset is vulnerable to unauthorised removal, the handset 5 is connected to the base 1 by a cable 7. This is connected to a reel-up device within the base so that when the handset is replaced, the cable 7 retracts into the base. In the preferred embodiment, this cable 7 comprises the antenna for the cordless telephone. Thus when the handset 5 is in use, the antenna is deployed but it may be retracted into the base when it is not required. In orderto preventthe cable 7 being cut, it is sheathed in an elongate metal band which is wound spirally about the cable.

The base need not, of course, be cuboid as shown but may be substantially cylindrical, box-like or spherical on a pedestal, or be a representation of some character such as the wellknown cartoon character MICKEY MOUSE.

The so-called "coin freed" mechanism could in fact be freed by the use of a credit card. The base 1 may incorporate a mechanism for scanning such a card when inserted into a suitable slot in the base, and if the scanning results in a "go" signal then the mechanism is freed. If a "no-go" signal isgiven then the mechanism is not freed and the unit cannot be used.

A credit card or disc could alternatively be physically "felt" by a scanning means within the base. In such an embodiment the card or disc would be embossed with a pattern which, when inserted into the scanning means, automatically gives a "go" signal and releases the mechanism.

Alternatively again the mechanism may be freed by a user dialling, or lifting the handset and speaking, a code number or a word specific to that particular user.

The term "coin freed" is to be interpreted in this specification to cover all the embodiments envisaged herein.

A unit embodying the invention could operate within a cellular radio network of any of the kinds currently being installed in increasingly widespread manner.

Claims (14)

1. A moveable telephone comprising a cordless telephone unit, a base which is freely moveable but not easily portable, and a coin-freed mechanism (as interpreted herein) located in said base.

2. A telephone according to claim 1 and in which the handset is connected to the base by a cable.

3. A telephone according to claim 2 and in which the cable automatically extends when the handset is lifted and automatically retracts into the base when the handset is replaced on the base.

4. A telephone according to claim 2 or claim 3 and in which the cable forms the antenna of the cordless telephone unit.

5. A telephone according to any of claims 2,3 or 4 and in which the cable is covered with a sheath wrapped spirally round it and the sheath is of vandal-resistant material.

6. A telephone according to claim 5 and in which the sheath comprises metal tape.

7. A telephone according to any of the preceding claims and in which the base has panels on its side faces for displaying information.

8. A telephone according to claim 7 and in which the panels are translucent.

9. A telephone according to claim 8 and in which the base contains means to illuminate the panels.

10. A telephone according to any of claims 7,8 or 9 and in which the panels are recessed into the respective sides of the base.

1 1.A telephone according to any of the preceding claims and incorporating means to accommodate telephone directories.

12. Atelephone according to claim 11 and in which the said means comprises a compartment recessed into the top of the base such that the directories stand substantially vertically and, when held in the compartment, are substantially wholly received within the base save for a relatively small portion of the or each directory which protrudes from the top of the base.

13. A telephone according to any of the preceding claims and with the base incorporating casters to aid the free movement thereof.

14. A telephone substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.