Abstract: A safety pay telephone using conventional telephone mechanical and electrical components mounted within a telephone housing, typically mounted on a wall, with the earpiece and mouthpiece mounted within the telephone. To operate, the user deposits the proper amount of currency and pushes an on/off switch, dials his number, and then places his ear next to the fixed earpiece. A method of retrofitting a conventional telephone with a retrofit housing member that permits that existing handset to be protected within a retrofit housing member. The safety phone is designed for use in prisons so inmates within a prison cannot hang themselves with a handset cord or break a handset and handset cord off for use as a weapon. The safety telephone is also designed for use in environments wherein the telephone is subject to abuse. The safety telephone design reduces the cost of maintenance by eliminating the need to fix and replace telephone components.

Abstract: A safety pay telephone using conventional telephone mechanical and electrical components mounted within a telephone housing, typically mounted on a wall, with the earpiece and mouthpiece mounted within the telephone. To operate, the user deposits the proper amount of currency and pushes an on/off switch, dials his number, and then places his ear next to the fixed earpiece. A method of retrofitting a conventional telephone with a retrofit housing member that permits that existing handset to be protected within a retrofit housing member. The safety phone is designed for use in prisons so inmates within a prison cannot hang themselves with a handset cord or break a handset and handset cord off for use as a weapon. The safety telephone is also designed for use in environments wherein the telephone is subject to abuse. The safety telephone design reduces the cost of maintenance by eliminating the need to fix and replace telephone components.

Abstract: A telephone using conventional telephone mechanical and electrical components mounted within a telephone housing, typically mounted on a wall, with the earpiece and mouthpiece mounted to be protected by the telephone housing. The housing has a front face surrounded by tapered edges, which provide angled transitions from the front face to the mounting surface. To operate, the user pushes an on/off switch and places an ear next to the fixed earpiece. The telephone is designed for use in prisons, so inmates within a prison cannot hang themselves with a handset cord or break a handset and handset cord off for use as a weapon. The tapered edges restrict access to the abrupt sides of the rigid housing, so the phone does not protrude as a blunt object from the wall. The telephone, which may include a payphone escrow system, is also suitable for use in any high crime or remote public areas to reduce the potential for vandalism.

Abstract: A telephone using conventional telephone mechanical and electrical components mounted within a telephone housing, typically mounted on a wall, with the earpiece and mouthpiece mounted within the telephone. To operate, the user pushes an on/off switch, dials his number, and then places his ear next to the fixed earpiece. The telephone is designed for use in prisons so inmates within a prison can not hang themselves with a handset cord or break a handset and handset cord off for use as a weapon. The telephone is also designed for use in any high crime or remote area to reduce the potential for vandalism. The telephone design reduces the cost of maintenance by eliminating the need to fix and replace a telephone handset.

Abstract: An inmate phone (10) of the type having a housing (12) in an interior wall (14) of a prison (16). A push-button dialing pad (18) is mounted within a front wall (20) of the housing (12) with the push-button digits (22) of the push-button dialing pad (18) extending out of the front wall (20). A telephone handset (24) is provided, being a handle (26) with an earpiece (28) at one end and a mouthpiece (30) at an opposite end. A handset cord (32) is electrically connected between the push-button dialing pad (18) and the telephone handset (24). The improvement comprises a facility (34) for permanently mounting the telephone handset (24) vertically within the front wall (20) of the housing (12), so that the earpiece (28) positioned at top and the mouthpiece (30) positioned at bottom will permanently extend out through the front wall (20) of the housing (12) to be used by inmates within the prison (16) hands free.