Timer connect-disconnect for telephone, cable and network connections

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6599139
  • Patent Number
    6,599,139
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, January 29, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 29, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Bradley; P. Austin
    • Nguyen; Truc
    Agents
    • Vandigriff; John E.
Abstract
A secure programable timer allows connections to the internet via a phone line or a network during a programmed specific time range. A timer is set to close the connection from a computer (or telephone) to the phone line or network during a programmed time span. The computer is not connected to the phone line or network outside of the programmed time span. A timer motor rotates a timer that has programmable devices that interact with a gear to close the connection between the computer and the phone/network line during the programmed time, and to open the connection at time not in the programmed time range. A cover is secured over the timer and connection to the phone/network line to prevent a bypass connection to the phone/network line.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to a programmable timer and circuits connected thereto, and more particularly to a protected timer and connect-disconnect circuit for Telephone, Cable and Network Connections.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




A computer may be connected to the internet through a dial-up telephone line, a cable connection or a network. When the connection is through a dial-up connection, the computer is connected through a telephone line. This line usually is connected by a telephone cord connected to an outlet in the wall and a connection to the computer through a modem. In this instant, the cord commonly uses RJ11 plugs. When the connection is made through a cable modem or network, the cord commonly uses RJ45 plugs. In either circumstance, the cord is commonly connected between the computer and a wall outlet that is wired in to the house telephone or network lines.




Children often have a telephone connection is their room, and tend to stay on the internet late into the night, or to make telephone calls after the time they should be asleep in bed. It is desirable to have control over the telephone and internet connection so that the use is not abused by extending it late into the night.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention is a secure programable timer for allowing connections to the internet via a phone line or a network during a programmed specific time range. A timer is set to close the connection from a computer to the phone line or network during a programmed time span. The computer, or a telephone, is not connected to the phone line or network outside of the programmed time span. A timer motor rotates a timer that has programmable devices that interact with a gear to close the connection between the computer and the phone/network line during the programmed time, and to open the connection at times not in the programmed time range. A cover is secured over the timer and connection to the phone/network line to prevent a bypass connection to the phone/network line.











BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a connect/disconnect switch of the invention;





FIG. 2

is a from view of the connect/disconnect switch;





FIG. 3

is a side view of the connect/disconnect switch;





FIG. 4

is a pictorial illustration of the function of the connect/disconnect switch;





FIG. 5

show a switch “ON/OFF” switch in the “ON” position;





FIG. 6

shows a first program device for activating the “ON/OFF” switch;





FIG. 7

shows a second program device for activating the “ON/OFF” switch;





FIG. 8

shows a front view of a switch activating gear;





FIG. 9

shows a side view of a switch activating rear;





FIG. 10

shows the complete timer and a connect-disconnect circuit for Telephone, Cable and Network Connections of the present invention; and





FIG. 11

shows a connect/disconnect switch of the invention configured to use as a cable/tv switch.











DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIG. 1

shows an example of a timer switch


10


for connecting and disconnecting a telephone or network line from, for example, a computer to a telephone or internet connection Switch


10


has a housing


11


which houses a motor driven timer


16


. Timer


16


is programed by two programming devices


14


and


15


which are manually placed on timer


16


to program the “ON” and “OFF” time of the switch. A power On/OFF switch


13


is shown in the top of housing


11


, and power is supplied to the timer motor by prongs


12


which are plugged into a power outlet. Switch


10


is connected to a telephone or network jack by plug


18


, and to the computer by connector


19


.





FIG. 2

is a front view of timer switch


10


showing ON/OFF switch


13


, timer


16


with the rotating time set ring


17


with programing devices


14


and


15


.





FIG. 3

is a side view of timer


10


showing prong


12


extending out of the back of the timer. Timer


16


is shown on the front side with the time set devices


14


and


15


. As an alternative to the plug and jack


18


and


19


, jacks


18




a


and


19




a


may be placed in the side of housing


11


. In this manner, ordinary telephone or network cables may be plugged into the jacks.





FIG. 4

is a pictorial illustration of the operation of the timer and switch to connect and disconnect the phone/network cable. A timer motor


20


is powered from a 110 volt A.C. outlet. A gear


21


is driven by timer motor


20


which in turn is connected to timer


16


and timer set ring


17


. Programing devices


14


and


15


are moveably attached to timer set ring


17


at specific times when connect/disconnect switch


25


is to be open or closed.




Programing devices


14


and


15


, as timer


16


rotates, engage wheel


22


which has teeth


1


-


8


extending outward from wheel


22


. The eight teeth on wheel


22


are alternately position in a “high” or “low” position so that programing timing device


14


will only engage the low, or odd numbered (


1


,


3


,


5


,


7


) teeth, and programing timing device


15


will only engage the even numbered (


2


,


4


,


6


,


8


) teeth.




When a tooth on wheel


22


is engaged by either programing timing device


14


or


15


, wheel


22


is rotated through a small angle rotating gear


23


. The rotation of gear


23


is sufficient to open or close switch


24


by moving switch arm


25


into or out of engagement with switch arm


26


.

FIG. 4

shows switch


24


open, and

FIG. 5

shows switch


24


closed.




Cable


27


is, for example, the telephone or network line into the timer switch, and cable


28


is the telephone or network line connected to the computer. Each cable


27


,


28


has at least four conductors labeled B(black), R (red), G (green) and Y (yellow) which are color codes for a standard telephone line. With the four conductors, two telephone lines may be connected to timer switch


10


. The B (black) and R (red) conductors for both cable


27


and


28


are connected or disconnected from each other depending on the state of switch


24


, open or closed.




In

FIG. 4

, programing timing device


15


is adjacent to tooth


7


of wheel


22


. As programing timing device


15


rotates and engages tooth


7


, wheel


22


and gear


23


will be rotated sufficiently to either close or open switch


24


, depending upon the condition of switch


24


prior to the rotation of gear


23


. Switch


25


will then stay in an open or closed condition until programing time device


14


rotates adjacent to wheel


22


and engages tooth


6


and rotates wheel


22


and gear


23


to change the condition of switch


24


from its prior condition.





FIGS. 6 and 7

show the two programing timing devices


14


and


15


. As illustrated in

FIG. 4

, programing timing device


14


has an extension


14




a


that extends outward that engages teeth


2


,


4


,


6


,


8


and programing timing device has an extension


15




a


that extends outward to engage teeth


1


,


3


,


5


,


7


.





FIGS. 8 and 9

are front and edge views of wheel


22


.

FIG. 9

shows that teeth


2


-


8


(


8


not shown) are on one side of wheel


22


and teeth


1


-


7


(


7


not shown) are on another side.





FIG. 10

illustrates the protected timer and connect/disconnect circuit for Telephone, Cable and network connections of the invention. Timer


10


is plunged in to a power plug


40


. Connector


18


is plugged into a telephone or network plug


43


in plate


42


. The base


36


of protective cover


30


is secured to the wall in which the power outlet


40


and telephone connector


42


/


43


are mounted. Cover


30


is attached to base


36


by inserting connectors


31


and


32


in to openings


38


(only one shown in

FIG. 10

) and lock


33


is turned to cause lock arm


34


to engage pin


37


. Connector


19


extends through opening


35


so that the computer may be connected to the telephone or network line.





FIG. 11

shows an example of a timer switch


50


for connecting and disconnecting a telephone or network line from, for example, a computer to a telephone or internet connection. Switch


50


has a housing


51


which houses a motor driven timer


56


. Timer


56


is programed by two programming devices


54


and


55


which are manually placed on timer


16


to program the “ON” and “OFF” time of the switch. A power On/OFF switch


53


is shown in the top of housing


51


, and power is supplied to the timer motor by prongs


52


which are plugged into a power outlet. Switch


50


is connected to a cable or TV outlet by connector


57


, and to the TV by connector


58


. A cover such as cover


30


of

FIG. 10

may be placed over timer switch


50


to prevent changing of the ON/OFF time for the TV as set by a parent or other authorized person.




An example of operation of the protected timer and connect/disconnect circuit for Telephone, Cable and Network Connections is a follows. Timer


10


is set to close switch


24


(

FIG. 4

) at 7:00 AM in the morning and to open switch


24


at 10:00 P.M. at night. During the period 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. a computer, or telephone, connected to connector


19


may access the internet or a network. At all other times switch


24


is open not allowing access to the internet or network. After timer


10


is programmed to the desired time range, cover


30


is locked into place on base


30


not allowing access to timer


10


so that it cannot be programmed for other than the desired time range.



Claims
  • 1. A secure timer-connector assembly for a computer connected to a telephone/network connection, comprising:a first connector and first cable connecting to a telephone/network connection; a second connector and second cable connecting to a computer; a time programmable switch connecting said first cable to said second cable for a desired time period; and a lockable enclosure enclosing said time programmable switch, first and second connectors for preventing access to said time programmable switch and telephone/network connection.
  • 2. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 1, including programming devices for programming the time programmable switch.
  • 3. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein said programming devices activate a gear for opening and closing a switch which within said timer-connector assembly.
  • 4. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said time programmable switch attaches directly to a power outlet on a wall adjacent to a telephone/network connection, and said enclosure is mounted over the programmable switch and telephone/network connection to limit access thereto.
  • 5. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said time programmable switch disconnects at least two conductors connected between said first cable and said second cable.
  • 6. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said telephone/network connection is capable of connecting to a plurality computers/telephones, and said timer switch disconnects only the computer which is connected to the telephone/network connection through the timer connect/disconnect switch.
  • 7. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein a timer connect/disconnect switch is enclosed in a housing, and said housing has connection input and output jacks mounted therein.
  • 8. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said time programmable switch plugs directly into a wall power outlet.
  • 9. A secure timer-connector assembly for a computer connected to a telephone/network connection, comprising:a first connector and first cable connecting to a telephone/network connection; a second connector and second cable connecting to a computer; a time programmable switch connecting said first cable to said second cable for a desired time period; first and second programming devices programming the time programmable switch; and a lockable enclosure enclosing said time programmable switch, first and second connectors for preventing access to said time programmable switch and telephone/network connection.
  • 10. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein said programming devices activate a gear for opening and closing a switch which within said timer-connector assembly.
  • 11. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein said programmable switch attaches directly to a power outlet on a wall adjacent to a telephone/network connection, and said enclosure is mounted over the programmable switch and telephone/network connection to limit access thereto.
  • 12. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein said time programmable switch disconnects at least two conductors connected between said first cable and said second cable.
  • 13. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein said telephone/network connection is capable of connecting to a plurality computers/telephones, and said timer switch disconnects only the computer which is connected to the telephone/network connection through the timer connect/disconnect switch.
  • 14. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein a timer connect/disconnect switch is enclosed in a housing, and said housing has connection input and output jacks mounted therein.
  • 15. The secure timer-connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein said time programmable switch plugs directly into a wall power outlet.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
5686881 Ridout Nov 1997 A
6329616 Lee Dec 2001 B1
6429779 Petrillo et al. Aug 2002 B1
6442106 Newby et al. Aug 2002 B1