Telephone handset off switchhook and call holding alert system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is a telephone alert system comprising a telephone and a device for indicating that the telephone requires attending.
The telephone includes a telephone handset and a telephone chassis.
The telephone chassis is defined by a switchhook, a ringer for producing an alert tone and a signal transmission line for coupling the handset to the switchhook.
The switchhook is further coupled to a telephone line network which is capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the telephone.
These signals are delivered to the handset when the handset is disengaged from the switchhook.
The ringer is coupled to the switchhook and produces the alert tone when the handset is engaged with the switchhook and the signals are transmitted to the telephone from the telephone line network.
The alert tone ceases upon disengagement of the handset from the switchhook.
The indicating device includes a call holding alert mechanism for alerting a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to resume transmitting and receiving signals.
The indicating device includes a further mechanism for alerting someone that the telephone handset is inadvertently disengaged from the switchhook.
Both alert mechanisms are linked to the telephone chassis ringer.
This telephone handset off switchhook and call holding alert system provides adequate alert that the telephone handset is off of the switchhook.
Adequate alert is provided since this telephone alert system makes use of the easy to hear ringer of the telephone chassis, instead of the hard to hear handset earpiece as used in residential telephone line systems or the non-existent alert of the business telephone line systems.
In addition, this telephone alert system makes further use of the telephone chassis ringer to alert a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to resume conversation.
This allows the party on hold to pursue other activities during the telephone hold time period.
Lastly, this telephone alert system uses many of the standard components incorporated into the telephone to provide these features and as such, this alert system is relatively easy and inexpensive to implement