Switching mechanism for electrical devices

The present invention concerns a switching mechanism for electrical devices where the operations of each device are controlled by turning the page-like switches of the mechanism in a manner similar to turning the pages of a book. A preferred embodiment of the invention concerns an integral telephone and telephone answering machine.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns a switching mechanism for electrical devices 
in which the individual actuating members of the mechanism have the 
appearance of a page. In this novel mechanism the switches controlling the 
electrical devices are turned ON or OFF in a manner which simulates the 
turning or flipping of a page of a book. According to the invention these 
page-switches are provided with written information, instructions or 
directions on their face which concern the electrical devices which each 
individual page-switch controls. The present invention thus provides a 
novel user-friendly switching mechanism useful for various electrical 
devices. 
A preferred embodiment of the invention concerns an integral telephone and 
answering machine. In this embodiment of the invention the turning of the 
pages or switches selects the operations that are controlled by the 
function switches of the device. The operations of the telephone or 
answering machine can therefore be divided, organized and presented in 
functional groups. This limits the quantity of switches necessary and 
provides for the clear and easy operation of the device. 
The invention by providing for the use of page-switches to change the 
operational mode or functions of complex technological devices makes the 
operation of such devices conceptually easy for the average lay user to 
understand. In addition the surface or faces of the pages or page-switches 
can be provided with specific instructions and procedures for easy 
reference and easier operation of the device. Thus the present invention 
can be applied to any complex multifunctional electronic or 
electromechanical device to make its operation easier for the user who is 
not skilled in its operation or the technology it embodies. The present 
invention can thus be used to make the operation of devices such as 
photocopying machines, audio-visual equipment, vending machines, kitchen 
appliances, medical equipment, video equipment, to name but a few, more 
user friendly and easier to operate. 
The switching mechanism of the invention comprises a plurality of actuating 
members having the appearance of a page. These page-like members are 
constructed, configured and dimensioned to actuate a switch means upon the 
turning or flipping of each member in a manner which simulates the turning 
of a page of a book. Each switch member is electrically connected to a 
device and controls certain functions of the device. Each function is 
actuated by a functional switching means, which is in turn connected to 
the switching mechanism. One of the advantages of the invention is that 
the page-switches or actuating members of the invention may contain 
readable indicia on their front or back face concerning the functions of 
the electronic device. 
In the preferred embodiment, the invention concerns a switching mechanism 
for an integral telephone and telephone answering machine comprising a 
plurality of page-switch actuating members constructed, configured and 
dimensioned to be in the form of a book and to actuate a switch means upon 
the turning of each member in a manner which simulates the turning of a 
page of a book. For example in this embodiment at least one switch means 
is connected to a telephone, and in addition at least one switch means is 
connected to a telephone answering machine. The first switch means is 
connected to a functional switch means which controls the functions of the 
telephone and the second switch means is connected to a functional switch 
means which controls the functions of the telephone answering machine. 
Additional switch means can be added as necessary. The faces of the 
actuating members which actuate the first switch means contain readable 
indicia concerning the functions of the telephone and the faces of the 
actuating member which actuates the second switch means contain readable 
indicia concerning the functions of the telephone answering machine. Other 
written information such as telephone numbers, etc. can also be provided 
on the faces of the members. Additional switch means for other devices or 
functions e.g. facsimile transmission or LCD readout, can be added as 
necessary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in the 
form of an integral telephone and telephone answering machine. In this 
embodiment various operations, e.g. telephone, telephone recording device, 
speaker phone, playback, auto-dial etc. are activated by the page-switch 
mechanism of the invention. The machine comprises a book base 42 connected 
to a central hinge means 45 made up of a plurality of hinges 23 each 
connected to actuating members in the form of page-switches 22. The 
page-switches or actuating members 22 comprise a front face 20, and a back 
face 21. These faces or surfaces may contain readable indicia such as 
numbers, letters or symbols. The readable indicia may be in the form of 
instructions, directions or text concerning the various functions of each 
device activated by each page-switch 22 and controlled by the function 
keys 43. This is particularly useful since the functions of the functional 
switches 43, change with each page-switch 22. Alternatively, the readable 
indicia may comprise telephone number lists, operating instructions and 
procedures, or other information useful to the operator of the device. In 
other embodiments of the invention the readable indicia may be in braille 
characters so as to provide a user-friendly device for the visually 
impaired operator. In still other embodiments of the invention each 
individual page-switch may be connected to an audio-chip which when 
activated may provide information concerning the functions activated by 
the page-switch over the device's audio system. 
On the left side of the book base 42 is situated a telephone key pad 
comprising a plurality of buttons 50. The dialing buttons 50 are 
constructed and configured so as to protrude through holes in the 
actuating members 22. The holes 49 are positioned to correspond to the 
dialing buttons 50 so that the telephone can be dialed by pushing the 
dialing buttons no matter which actuating member is positioned in the ON 
or OFF position. Each of the actuating members 22 has a tab 46 
co-extensive therewith for ease of turning the page-switch or actuating 
member. 
The right side of the book base 42 comprises an audio player and recorder 
55 as part of the telephone answering machine. Any electronic means for 
sending an outgoing message and recording an incoming message may be used. 
A light 44 is also contained on the right side of the book base 42 and 
indicates whether a message has been recorded on the answering machine. 
Continuous with the control hinge means 45 a microphone 40 may be provided 
which is electrically connected to the answering machine and is used for 
the purpose of recording messages or for use as a speaker phone. Also 
connected to the central hinge means 45 is a volume control 41 which is 
also electrically connected to the integral telephone answering machine. 
On the right side of the book body are functional switch buttons 43. These 
functional switch buttons are connected to the functional switching means 
which are in turn electrically connected to the switching means which is 
activated by the actuating members 22. On the left side of the book body 
and co-extensive therewith is a cradle 54 for the telephone handset 48. 
The handset cradle 54 contains a button 47 which activates a telephone 
line when the handset is removed. The handset 48 contains an activating 
switch depression 52 which engages the activating switch 47 when the 
handset is replaced on the cradle 54. The activating switch depression 54, 
may also be designed so that it is integral with the receiver for voice 
communications. The handset also contains a telephone speaker 53. The book 
base 42 may be co-extensive and attached to the machine base 60. The 
machine base may have incorporated within it the automatic telephone 
answering means for sending an outgoing message and recording an incoming 
message. The machine base in certain embodiments may also incorporate 
facsimile means for transmission of graphic information. In other 
embodiments the book base and machine may be the same. The machine base 60 
is continuous with the handset cradle 54 and also contains an attachment 
means for attaching a telephone jack and may optionally contain an outlet 
for a speaker. In other embodiments of the invention the base may contain 
alternative connecting or communication means. In another embodiment, the 
base is provided with communications means for a remote or cellular 
telephone device. 
FIGS. 7A through 7F illustrates various internal actuating mechanisms that 
may be used in the switching mechanism of the invention. These actuating 
mechanisms serve to open and close electrical circuits which are connected 
to the switching mechanism. In each of these embodiments an actuating 
member having the appearance of a page 22, is co-extensive with a hinge 
means, 23. The actuating member has a front face, 20, and a back face, 21. 
In each of these embodiments the switching means is actuated by turning 
the actuating member in a manner similar to turning the page of a book. In 
this manner if one turns the actuating member 22 depicted in FIG. 7B in 
the direction of the arrow 29 to the position in FIG. 7A the switching 
mechanism will be turned from the OFF position to the ON position. For 
example, if one turns the actuating member from position in FIG. 7E in the 
direction of the arrow 34 to the position of FIG. 7F, the switching 
mechanism will be turned from the ON position to the OFF position. 
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B depict a preferred embodiment of the invention where 
the switching mechanism is activated by a flip switch. FIG. 7A indicates 
the ON position and, FIG. 7B the OFF position. The switch is activated by 
the nub, 24, co-extensive with the hinge, 23, which when moved in the 
direction of the arrow 26, moves the flip switch 25, which is connected to 
the switch mechanism body, 27, from the ON position to the OFF position 
and thus turns the switch off. To activate the switch from the OFF 
position in FIG. 7B the actuating member, 22, is moved in the direction 
29, so that the hinge nub, 24, moves in the direction 28, and moves the 
flip switch 25 to the ON position. 
FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D depict an embodiment of the switching mechanism 
invention wherein the switching mechanism is activated by a push-button 
switch 31. The push-button switch 31 is connected to the switching 
mechanism body 27. The switch is activated when the depression or hole 30 
in the hinge 23 is Placed in position so that the push-button 31 emerges 
into the hole or depression 30, FIG. 7D, interrupting the circuit within 
the switch mechanism thus turning the switch off. 
FIG. 7E and FIG. 7F depict an embodiment of the invention wherein the 
switching mechanism is actuated by direct contact. In this embodiment a 
strip of a conductor 32, e.g. a section of copper or another electrically 
conducting metal, is co-extensive with the hinge 23. This conductor 32 
acts to create a circuit within the interrupted conductor means 33 that is 
co-extensive with the switch means body 27. When the conductor 32 and the 
interrupted conductor 33 are in the ON position as depicted in FIG. 7E the 
conductor 32 establishes a circuit through the interrupted conductor 33 
and thus activates the switch. To inactivate the switch the actuating 
member is moved in the direction 34 in a manner similar to turning the 
page of a book and thus the contact between the conductor and interrupted 
conductor is ended, turning the switch off. 
The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7A through 7F are shown for means of 
illustration only. It is contemplated that other means, e.g. magnetic 
induction and others, known to those skilled in the art may also be used 
as actuating means for the page like members of the switching mechanism of 
the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
FIG. 8 represents a schematic diagram of the circuitry of a switching 
mechanism according to the invention. I, II, III and IV represent 
actuating members or page-switches corresponding to the actuating member, 
22, of FIGS. 7A through 7F. Each of these actuating members can actuate a 
switch means with a mechanism as depicted in FIGS. 7A through 7F. Each of 
the actuating members in FIG. 8 I, II, III, and IV actuate a switching 
means connected to a specific device or operation e.g. a telephone, 
telephone recording machine, facsimile machine. 
In FIG. 8 actuating member or master page-switch I, is directly connected 
to an electronic device e.g. a telephone answering machine. This telephone 
answering machine may have certain operations or functions such as, 
recording a message, automatic playing of the recording, playback of the 
message, transcription of the voice, or erasing the recording. The circles 
numbered 4, 8, 12 and 16 in FIG. 8 are representative of some of these 
functions. These functions are in turn controlled by the function 
switches, A, B, C and D. The function switches A, B, C and D are connected 
to and actuated by the master page-switch I. Each of the other master 
page-switches II, III and IV are in turn connected to a specific 
electronic device, e.g. an automatic dialer for a telephone, speaker 
phone, etc. The operations or functions of each device are in turn 
controlled by the functional switches A, B, C and D which are activated by 
each of the master page-switches. The set or group functions controlled by 
the function switches are determined by which of the master page-switches 
or actuating members is in the ON position or in other words by what page 
the user is "ON". For instance, when the user is on page I (master 
page-switch I) the group of functions 4, 8, 12 and 16 will be controlled 
by functional switches A, B, C and D. Thus, for example, another device 
e.g. a memory speed dialer having functions 1, 5, 9 and 13 will be 
controlled by a separate master page-switch or actuating member e.g. 
page-switch II. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the front 20, and/or back face 
21 of the actuating members 22, contain readable indicia concerning the 
functions of the device that are controlled by the function switches upon 
being activated by the actuating member containing the readable indicia. 
These readable indicia may be in the form of text, e.g. written 
instructions, schematics, numbers or some other form of readable 
information or recognizable information such as notes added by the user, 
that are useful to the user of the device. The readable indicia may for 
example instruct the user of the device as to the proper use or selection 
of the function switches and the functions of the electronic device 
activated by the actuating member. For example the actuating member I of 
FIG. 8 may contain readable indicia on one of its faces concerning the 
functions or operation of the functional switches A, B, C and D and the 
functions of the telephone answering machine that they in turn operate, 
thus making the machine easier for the user to operate. 
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of a function switching 
mechanism according to the invention which illustrates how the functions 
or operations for each function switch change by actuating a different 
master page-switch or actuating member. For example, function switch A in 
FIG. 9 may control four functions of a telephone e.g. speaker phone, hold, 
intercom, speed-dial, represented by the circled numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. 
Function switch controls or activates function 1 when master page-switch I 
is in the ON position. Function switch A controls function 2 when master 
page-switch II is ON, function 3, when pages switch III is ON and function 
4 when switch IV is ON. Each of the other function switches B, C and D is 
in turn controlled by the master page-switch or the actuating members I, 
II, III and IV so that each of the function switches controls four 
different functions for each of the devices that are activated by the 
master page-switches. 
Having specifically described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it 
is apparent that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment and 
that many modifications and variations may be effected therein by one 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the 
present invention as defined in the appended claims.