Hello Direct, Inc.

Susan J Britto

Michael T Wise

Eric K Maxon

Automatic answering machine pick-up device

A cordless telephone headset and remotely controlled telephone handset pick-up device for use in conjunction with an existing corded telephone set. A mechanical lift arm of the pick-up device, driven by an electric motor with a slip clutch, lifts the handset away from the corded telephone cradle, placing the telephone handset in an off-hook position. The handset is lowered back onto the cradle by the mechanical lift arm, returning the telephone set to an on-hook position. The mechanical lift arm is activated and deactivated in response to a radio signal indicative of the lowering and raising of the microphone boom of the cordless headset. The slip clutch provides sufficient force to gently and reliably raise and lower the telephone handset without causing misalignment between the handset and the cradle and without causing damage. As the handset is gently lowered over the hook switch, the motor drives the lift arm downward beyond a point at which the handset is expected to be lowered into the cradle, ensuring that the telephone is reliably placed on-hook, while the slip clutch limits the amount of force that can be applied to the telephone set. The telephone set rests upon a platform coupled to the lift-arm, providing a unitary structure for the telephone set and handset pick-up device which aids in maintaining proper alignment of the handset to the cradle by preventing the lift arm from forcing the pick-up device out alignment.

Growing community of inventors

Valley Springs, CA, United States of America

Susan J Britto