Combined telephone-table system

Abstract

The specfication and drawings disclose a combined telephone-lamp-speaker system for use in a restaurant having a telephone ordering system. An integral support structure is adapted to be supported on a table, or on a wall adjacent a table. Mounted on the support structure are a lamp enclosure, a telephone and a speaker. Telephone ring current detection means responds to telephone ring current to interrupt the lamp light to signal that the phone is being rung. The speaker is mounted wthin the lamp enclosure. Switching means permit the feeding of a telephone conversation into the audio amplifier which drives the speaker so that a telephone conversation can be played on the speaker. Additional disclosed features include a cable of sufficient length to extend via a hole in the table though a pedestal and past the pedestal's base to be plugged into the central cable system and then retracted beneath the base. Also disclosed is a lever-operated snap switch responsive to the telephone's ringer to interrupt the lamp light.

Description

Claims

1. A combined telephone-table system comprising:

(A) a table having a table top, pedestal and base, said base comprising a wall enclosing a space of substantially the same shape as said base;

(B) an opening in said table top above said pedestal;

(C) a single telephone unit solely positioned above the upper surface of said table top;

(D) a first cable having a movable socket;

(E) a second cable passing from said telephone unit through said opening and pedestal and terminating in said space enclosed by said wall of said base;

(F) a movable plug attached to the end of said second cable;

(G) retracting means associated with said second cable whereby said second cable when stretched will retract to substantially its original length when released;

(H) said second cable and movable plug having a combined length which is sufficient when stretched for said movable plug to extend past the periphery of said base, and when released for said movable plug to retract past the periphery of said base into said space enclosed by said wall of said base;

(I) whereby when said movable plug of said second cable is stretched past the periphery of said base and plugged into said movable socket of said first cable, said connected movable plug and movable socket will retract past the periphery of said base into said space enclosed by said wall of said base when said second cable is released.

2. The combined telephone-table system of claim 1 wherein said retracting means comprises a coiled portion of said second cable.

3. The combined telephone-table system of claim 1 wherein said telephone unit includes a lighting lamp and said second cable comprises a pair of wires for operating said telephone and a pair of wires for operating said lighting lamp.

4. The combined telephone-table system of claim 3 wherein said telephone unit further includes a speaker and said second cable further includes a pair of wires for operating said speaker.

5. The combined telephone-table system of claim 2 wherein said telephone unit includes a lighting lamp and said second cable comprises a pair of wires for operating said telephone and a pair of wires for operating said lighting lamp.

6. The combined telephone-table system of claim 5 wherein said telephone unit further includes a speaker and said second cable further includes a pair of wires for operating said speaker.