GB2227394A - Telephone handset with inbuilt cassette tape recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

A conventional telephone into which a small cassette tape recorder is fitted enabling the telephone to be used for other purposes. Operated via a standard push button design key-pad the device may be used as a message recorder, a telephone answering machine or conventional telephone. It may be a cordless house phone, mobile phone or car telephone for business use. The device may use presently available dictaphone type cassettes or equivalent and would provide a dictaphone, telephone answer machine and telephone in one compact unit. <IMAGE>

Description

PHoNECiOF?DER This'; -invent ion relates to a combined dictaphone and telephone answering machine within a telephone handset.

Dictaphones and telephone answering machines are well known as separate units . There are telephone answering machines available which have an answer machine attached.,but not as an integral part of the telephone handset.

In the case of the dictaphone, the present invention consists of a rectangular casing incorporating a small cassette recorder with built in microphone and loudspeaker.

This invention relates to the re-housing of the recorder together with the microphone and loudspeaker in the body of the telephone handset. (See Illus trat Thn).

The microphone is placed ,nto the mouthpiece of the handset, and the speaker into the earpiece, there fore allowing personal recordings to be made and/or listened to in greater privacy with the appearance of the user making or taking a telephone call.

In the case of the existing answer machine, this is presently available as a separate item to be set up adjacent to an existing telephone point or as an add on to a telephone to allow the recording of important messages in a persons absence.

This invention relates to the housing of a two tape recording/answering facility within the handset of a-telephone whilst retaining the normal facilities of the telephone.

This would allow the user the normal functions of a standard telephone together with dictaphone and telephone answering facility.

This invention makes use of existing components readily available, thus enabling its construction to be carried out simply by persons with sufficient knowledge in this field of work.

The numeric keypad of the telephone handset is of standard push button design. The re#corder/answer machine would be operated either by means of the introduction of a record and play switch and fast forward/rewind switch, or by incorporating a function select button in the keypad which, when depressed once, allows the operation of the recorder/answer machine by using specified keys on the keypad. When the function select key is released the handset would revert back to normal telephone dialling mode.

The operation of the recording and answering facilities would vary depending on design.

This invent ion could be powered by mains electricity or in the case of a car by car battery, as with existing telephones, and would incorporate re-chargeabid batteries fitted into the handset in the case of portable and/or mobile phones.

This invention is designed to allow the user the convenience and benefits of the existing inventions within one comprehensive unit The design of recorder may also be incorporated into the body of a nonworking telephone handset to operate purely as a message recorder or within a working telephone without the telephone answering facility, enabling the user to record those important telephone conversations for future reference.

Reference to the accompanying drawings will describe the invention.

Figure 1 shows the handset of a mobile or 'cordless' telephone incorporating a single tape recording facility.

Figure 2 shows the keypad of a conventional modern telephone handset as used in car phone installations.

Figure 3 shows the reverse of Figure 2 indicating the two tape system to enable the function of telephone/answer machine/dictaphone.

KEY TO ILLUSTRATIONS: 1.- Earp iece/Loudspeaker 2. Function/Number display panel 3. Cassette tape recorder 4. Push button key-pad 5. Function select button/key (Varies) 6. Mouthpiece/Microphone 7. Aerial

Claims (8)

1. This invention relates to the housing of a tape recorder together with micro-phone and speaker within the body of a telephone handset.

2. The recording means is via a small cassette type recorder.

3. The micro-phone and speaker are placed within the mouthpiece and ear-piece respectively.

4. The recording means are controlled via the key-pad on the handset of the telephone.

5. The keypad comprises a function select facility for switching from record mode to conventional telephone dialling mode.

6. The invention as claimed in 1.,2.,3.,4., and 5., allows conventional use of the telephone with the facility to use as a conventional recording machine or to allow recording of important telephone conversations or as a message recorder in the absence of the user.

7. The invention allows the user the benefits of existing inventions within one comprehensive unit.

8. This irivention is a tape recorder, telephone and telephone answer machine in one unit.