LOCKING COVER FOR COIN BOX
United States Patent 3797735
Locking coin box to be inserted into a coin-controlled vending machine in alignment with the coin chute to receive coins. The box has a cover locked onto the box with openings and a trigger mechanism including a spring pressed plunger movable to block the openings, the cover having a two position rocking latch cooperating with the plunger and operated by a rearward extension of the plunger. Initially, prior to installation into the machine, the plunger is cocked in open condition by the latch being in its first position. When the box is inserted into the machine, the extension engages a rear wall of the recess into which the box is inserted moves slightly forward and releases the latch from the first position uncocking the plunger to permit its movement but the movement requires the extension to move rearwardly. This movement is blocked by the rear wall. The latch cannot move into its second position so long as the box is in the recess of the machine. When the machine is serviced and the box, now containing coins, is removed, the extension is permitted to move rearwardly. This is done while the box is being withdrawn and without control or access by the serviceman. At the completion of movement, which occurs while the box is still substantially within the recess, the rocking latch is moved into its second position, locking the plunger into blocking position. The box can be unlocked by the proprietor of the machine. The proprietor unlocks the cover, removes the same, empties the box, releases the latch from its second position, pushes the plunger forward, manipulates the latch to its first or cocked position, returns the cover onto the box and locks it in place. The box can now be reinstalled in another machine by the serviceman.
US Patent References:
/1121063.html
Beck - December 1914 - 1121063
Coin box
Lorentzen - September 1928 - 1685219
Coin receptacle
Hoyt - January 1933 - 1894823
Coin receptacle cover
Veale - October 1937 - 2096476
/2371114.html
Von Stoeser - March 1945 - 2371114
/1121063.html
Beck - December 1914 - 1121063
Coin box
Lorentzen - September 1928 - 1685219
Coin receptacle
Hoyt - January 1933 - 1894823
Coin receptacle cover
Veale - October 1937 - 2096476
/2371114.html
Von Stoeser - March 1945 - 2371114
Inventors:
Sciortino, August M. (Park Ridge, IL)
Rissmann, Charles R. (Skokie, IL)
Rissmann, Charles R. (Skokie, IL)
Application Number:
05/277245
Publication Date:
03/19/1974
Filing Date:
08/02/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
G07F9/06; G07B15/00
Field of Search:
232/15,16,31,32
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Gilliam, Paul R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Irving, Silverman Et Al I.
Claims:
What it is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is
1. A cover adapted to be locked onto a coin box which is to be inserted into the recess of a coin-controlled machine of the type that has a stop on the interior of the recess and a coin chute ending in the recess, the box having a slot in its rear wall, the cover comprising:
2. A cover adapted to be locked onto a coin box which in turn is adapted to be installed in a coin machine which has a space for receiving the coin box including a wall at the rear of the space, said cover comprising:
3. The cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said housing is formed of upper and lower wall parts secured together and forming a passageway therebetween, said plunger and extension member being mounted for movement in said passageway, said latch mechanism being mounted on the bottom of the lower wall part and openings in said lower wall part to permit movement of said latching tips into the passageway to engage with said slot when said plunger and extension member are in either of said first and second positions, the said coin receiving window comprising a first window opening in the upper wall part and a second window opening in the lower wall part vertically aligned with said first window opening.
4. The cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said first latching tip includes an angled hook part adapted to pass through said slot and engage under an edge of said slot requiring movement of said edge a slight distance relative to said latching tip before there is sufficient clearance to permit withdrawal of said latching tip from said slot.
5. The cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said housing has a bottom wall provided with a coin passing opening aligned with said first-mentioned window, said plunger and extension member are elongate and flat and the upper surface of said bottom wall has means confining and guiding the movement of said plunger and extension member in face to face engagement with said upper surface and said wall has openings adapted to align respectively with said slot to permit said latching tips to pass through said bottom wall and into engagement with said slot in the said first and second positions of said plunger and extension member.
6. An elongate, generally rectangular cover adapted to be locked onto a coin box and being substantially pilfer-free, said cover comprising
7. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which one of the registry means comprises a passageway in the extension which aligns with the first free end only when the plunger is in window alignment position.
8. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which the registry means for said second free end comprises a portion of said second window, said second free end adapted to be disposed adjacent the rear edge of said window to obstruct movement of said plunger when said plunger is in window blocking position.
9. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which said rocking latch means comprises a single member secured at its center to the housing and each part comprises an independently movable resilient bent end of said single member.
10. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which said rocking latch means comprises a relatively rigid member having said latch parts at opposite ends and pivotally mounted to said housing on the bottom thereof and biased to rotate in a direction carrying the second part toward said second position.
11. The cover member as claimed in claim 6 in which said housing is formed of upper and lower wall parts secured together and forming a passageway therebetween for the movement of the plunger, the trigger mechanism is secured to the bottom of the lower wall part and said lower wall part has openings therein to permit movement of said latch parts into the passageway to said first and second positions and the lower wall part has a third window in alignment with said first window.
12. A coin box comprising an open topped box having front, rear, bottom and side walls, a cover adapted to be engaged in said open top between the side walls and locked thereon, key-operated means on the front wall and cooperating lock means on the cover for locking the cover to the box, the cover comprising a housing having a top wall with a coin receiving window therein adapted to be aligned with a coin chute of a coin-controlled machine in which the coin box is adapted to be installed, a plunger including a flat blade mounted for sliding movement along a path defined in the housing, having a second window in the blade and slidable within the housing between window alignment position wherein the second window is aligned with the first window and window blocking position wherein the second window is offset relative to said first window, means carried by the housing biasing the plunger to move to said window blocking position, a trigger and latch mechanism connected to the housing and having a pair of plunger-engaging arms each adapted to move toward and away from the path of movement of the plunger, the plunger having coupling means capable of establishing a connection with each said arm, a slot in the rear wall, an extension of said plunger protruding out of the slot of the rear wall and adapted to engage a stop member on the interior of the recess of said coin-controlled machine within which said coin box is adapted to be installed, the trigger and latch mechanism adapted to be preset to a cocked condition and one plunger-engaging arm connected to said coupling means with the plunger in window alignment position before installation of the coin box in said recess, the cocked condition adapted to be released by slight forward movement of said extension during installation but without substantially changing the position of said plunger, the said one arm being biased to move away from said path and to release said connection but being prevented from doing so during the cocked condition by the pressure exerted by the plunger itself acting in response to said movement biasing means thereof, and the trigger and latch mechanism adapted to operate to move the plunger to window blocking position when the extension is permitted to move rearward thereafter by withdrawing the coin box from the recess and to lock the plunger in said window blocking position, the second plunger-engaging arm being normally biased to move toward said path to connect with said coupling means but being blocked from such connection by being out of alignment with said coupling means until said plunger has moved said blade to window blocking position.
13. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which the housing and side walls of said open topped box have cooperating tongues and shear-formed loops engaging when the cover is installed in said box top to prevent prying the side walls away from the cover.
14. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which the top wall has a tab at the rear thereof being bent downwardly to block the slot of said rear wall from entry of unauthorized tools.
15. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which said trigger and latch mechanism comprise rocking latch means having two parts comprising, respectively said plunger-engaging arms, one part being manually movable to a first position in which it engages the plunger while the plunger is in cocked condition to hold the plunger in window alignment position but is biased to disengage from the plunger when the plunger is released as by said slight forward movement of said extension, the second part being normally biased to move to a second position in which it prevents return of the plunger from window blocking position after said plunger has moved to said window blocking position but being manually movable from said second position when it is desired to move the plunger forward manually back to window alignment position through the use of said extension.
1. A cover adapted to be locked onto a coin box which is to be inserted into the recess of a coin-controlled machine of the type that has a stop on the interior of the recess and a coin chute ending in the recess, the box having a slot in its rear wall, the cover comprising:
2. A cover adapted to be locked onto a coin box which in turn is adapted to be installed in a coin machine which has a space for receiving the coin box including a wall at the rear of the space, said cover comprising:
3. The cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said housing is formed of upper and lower wall parts secured together and forming a passageway therebetween, said plunger and extension member being mounted for movement in said passageway, said latch mechanism being mounted on the bottom of the lower wall part and openings in said lower wall part to permit movement of said latching tips into the passageway to engage with said slot when said plunger and extension member are in either of said first and second positions, the said coin receiving window comprising a first window opening in the upper wall part and a second window opening in the lower wall part vertically aligned with said first window opening.
4. The cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said first latching tip includes an angled hook part adapted to pass through said slot and engage under an edge of said slot requiring movement of said edge a slight distance relative to said latching tip before there is sufficient clearance to permit withdrawal of said latching tip from said slot.
5. The cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said housing has a bottom wall provided with a coin passing opening aligned with said first-mentioned window, said plunger and extension member are elongate and flat and the upper surface of said bottom wall has means confining and guiding the movement of said plunger and extension member in face to face engagement with said upper surface and said wall has openings adapted to align respectively with said slot to permit said latching tips to pass through said bottom wall and into engagement with said slot in the said first and second positions of said plunger and extension member.
6. An elongate, generally rectangular cover adapted to be locked onto a coin box and being substantially pilfer-free, said cover comprising
7. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which one of the registry means comprises a passageway in the extension which aligns with the first free end only when the plunger is in window alignment position.
8. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which the registry means for said second free end comprises a portion of said second window, said second free end adapted to be disposed adjacent the rear edge of said window to obstruct movement of said plunger when said plunger is in window blocking position.
9. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which said rocking latch means comprises a single member secured at its center to the housing and each part comprises an independently movable resilient bent end of said single member.
10. The cover as claimed in claim 6 in which said rocking latch means comprises a relatively rigid member having said latch parts at opposite ends and pivotally mounted to said housing on the bottom thereof and biased to rotate in a direction carrying the second part toward said second position.
11. The cover member as claimed in claim 6 in which said housing is formed of upper and lower wall parts secured together and forming a passageway therebetween for the movement of the plunger, the trigger mechanism is secured to the bottom of the lower wall part and said lower wall part has openings therein to permit movement of said latch parts into the passageway to said first and second positions and the lower wall part has a third window in alignment with said first window.
12. A coin box comprising an open topped box having front, rear, bottom and side walls, a cover adapted to be engaged in said open top between the side walls and locked thereon, key-operated means on the front wall and cooperating lock means on the cover for locking the cover to the box, the cover comprising a housing having a top wall with a coin receiving window therein adapted to be aligned with a coin chute of a coin-controlled machine in which the coin box is adapted to be installed, a plunger including a flat blade mounted for sliding movement along a path defined in the housing, having a second window in the blade and slidable within the housing between window alignment position wherein the second window is aligned with the first window and window blocking position wherein the second window is offset relative to said first window, means carried by the housing biasing the plunger to move to said window blocking position, a trigger and latch mechanism connected to the housing and having a pair of plunger-engaging arms each adapted to move toward and away from the path of movement of the plunger, the plunger having coupling means capable of establishing a connection with each said arm, a slot in the rear wall, an extension of said plunger protruding out of the slot of the rear wall and adapted to engage a stop member on the interior of the recess of said coin-controlled machine within which said coin box is adapted to be installed, the trigger and latch mechanism adapted to be preset to a cocked condition and one plunger-engaging arm connected to said coupling means with the plunger in window alignment position before installation of the coin box in said recess, the cocked condition adapted to be released by slight forward movement of said extension during installation but without substantially changing the position of said plunger, the said one arm being biased to move away from said path and to release said connection but being prevented from doing so during the cocked condition by the pressure exerted by the plunger itself acting in response to said movement biasing means thereof, and the trigger and latch mechanism adapted to operate to move the plunger to window blocking position when the extension is permitted to move rearward thereafter by withdrawing the coin box from the recess and to lock the plunger in said window blocking position, the second plunger-engaging arm being normally biased to move toward said path to connect with said coupling means but being blocked from such connection by being out of alignment with said coupling means until said plunger has moved said blade to window blocking position.
13. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which the housing and side walls of said open topped box have cooperating tongues and shear-formed loops engaging when the cover is installed in said box top to prevent prying the side walls away from the cover.
14. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which the top wall has a tab at the rear thereof being bent downwardly to block the slot of said rear wall from entry of unauthorized tools.
15. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which said trigger and latch mechanism comprise rocking latch means having two parts comprising, respectively said plunger-engaging arms, one part being manually movable to a first position in which it engages the plunger while the plunger is in cocked condition to hold the plunger in window alignment position but is biased to disengage from the plunger when the plunger is released as by said slight forward movement of said extension, the second part being normally biased to move to a second position in which it prevents return of the plunger from window blocking position after said plunger has moved to said window blocking position but being manually movable from said second position when it is desired to move the plunger forward manually back to window alignment position through the use of said extension.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein is concerned with a locking cover for a coin box for the type that is used with coin-controlled machines.
Vending machines operated by coins will normally have coin boxes or receptacles to receive the coins dropped into the machines by those who have purchased merchandise from the machines. Such coin boxes are locked into recesses provided in the machines and when the machine is serviced, the service man removes the coin box, empties it and replaces it.
For security purposes it has become customary to have a coin box which is locked, and remains locked until it is returned to the proprietor of the vending machine who opens the same and removes the coins. In such cases, the service man has an additional coin box with him, removing the box having coins already contained therein, bringing the filled coin box back to the headquarters of the owner of the coin-controlled machine.
To prevent pilferage from the coin box after it has been removed from the coin-controlled machine, the service man is not given the keys to the box itself. Accordingly, the box must have a mechanism in connection therewith to provide for the procedure described above.
First, the coin box must be in a condition to receive coins when the service man installs the same in the machine. There is a window or entrance into the coin box, normally at the top of it, which is open. The service man is given the fresh coin box at his base of operations, which must remain open to receive coins after the service man has installed the new coin box. When the service man removes the coin box, his act of so removing the same must close the coin entrance, lock it in such closed condition, and must thwart any attempts to reopen the same without authority for the surreptitious removal of coins.
Apparatus of this general type is known. Reference may be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,973,139; 1,685,219; 2,580,752 and the many prior telephone coin boxes known in the art.
The principal advantages of the invention herein over the prior art are the extreme simplicity of the apparatus, and its ability to be used with conventional coin boxes. Very slight modification of a form of coin box which is commonly used at the present time is all that is required in order to install the particular locking cover.
An unscrupulous service man will be able by ingenuity to "beat" most machines. The invention herein teaches the construction of a machine that is not easily beaten but if tampered with, the fact can be readily ascertained in spot checking by simply removing the locking coin box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is characterized by the provision of a cover locked to a coin box held in place by tongues engaging recesses in the side walls of the box on a lock. The cover has a housing formed by upper and lower channel-shaped parts enclosing a spring-pressed plunger having a rearward extension protruding beyond the cover and beyond the box when the cover is installed. There is a window in the top part aligned with a window in the bottom part and the windows being together aligned with the internal coin chute leading to the recess of the coin-controlled machine into which the box is adapted to be installed. A rocking latch carried on the bottom part cooperates with the plunger in two latch positions. The latch is manipulated to a first position in which the plunger is disposed in a condition unblocking the windows. In this condition the box is installed in the recess, the engagement of the extension with the rear wall of the recess releasing the latch from its first position, but preventing the plunger from moving from its unblocking position and also preventing the latch from moving to its second position. When the box is removed from the recess the extension is free to move rearwardly and such movement permits the plunger to move to window blocking position and the latch to move to its second position. In this second position the latch is in the path of the plunger preventing its being moved from window unblocking position by pushing the extension forward.
The latch can be manipulated from the bottom of the cover, to remove it from its second position and reinstate it into its first position. The proprietor does this at his office after unlocking the cover, removing it and emptying the box of coins. He may then replace and lock the cover onto the box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view with a portion broken away showing a substantially conventional coin box having a locking cover constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary median sectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and in the indicated direction, the box being in cocked condition prior to insertion into a coin-controlled machine;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating the condition of the mechanism within the cover after the box and cover have been installed in a coin-controlled machine, this being called the released condition;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3 except in this case the coin box has been removed from the machine and the entrance to the cover has been locked shut;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cover alone, most of the top wall of the cover having been broken away to show the interior thereof;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the cover with portions broken away;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views showing a modified form of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention herein relates primarily to a locking cover for a coin box and includes the combination of such a locking cover with a modified form of box.
FIG. 1 illustrates a coin box and cover generally designated by the reference character 10, the same comprising a more or less conventional coin box 12 and a cover 14. The coin box 12 has rectangular side walls 16, a bottom wall (not shown), a front wall 18 and a rear wall 20 which is seen in FIG. 2.
The front wall 18 has a tumbler or other type lock 22 installed therein to cooperate with a suitable formation on the cover 14 (not shown), and also has a rearwardly bent lip 24 at the top thereof. The rear wall 20 has a slot 26 punched therein to cooperate with the mechanism of the cover 14, as will be explained. The side walls 16 have shear-formed inwardly extending strips 28 adjacent the top edges thereof, these strips forming loops to be engaged by tongues 30 that are formed along the sides 32 of the cover 14.
The cover 14 is dimensioned closely to fit flush within the upper opening of the coin box 12, such opening being defined by the upper edges of the side walls 16, the rear wall 20, and the front wall 18. The cover 14 includes two channel-shaped parts, one being the upper part 34 having a top wall 36 and the side walls 32, previously mentioned. The upper channel-shaped part 34 opens downwardly. The lower channel-shaped part 38 has a bottom wall 40 and interior side walls 42. The lower, or channel-shaped part 38 opens upwardly and is nested within the upper channel-shaped part 34. Both the parts have their ends opened although the part has an extension or protrusion 44 which is angled downwardly and covers the right hand end of the cover.
Each of the walls 36 and 40 has a rectangular window punched therein, the window 46 being provided in the upper wall 36 and the window 48 being provided in the lower wall 40. The windows are in vertical alignment and when the coin box and cover 10 have been inserted into a coin-controlled machine, these windows will align also with a coin chute such as indicated at 50, the chute 50 being part of the machine and serving to convey coins into the coin box to be dropped into the box through windows 46 and 48.
The bottom wall 40 has a bracket 52 mounted to the underside thereof in a suitable manner, the bracket carrying a double-ended trigger 54 thereon by means of a rivet 56 passing through suitable holes provided in the bracket and trigger respectively. which will appear. The trigger or rocking latch 54 has a rearwardly extending angled tip 58 and a forwardly extending angled tip 60. Openings 62 and 64 respectively are provided in the lower wall 40 in alignment with these angled tips. The rocking latch member 54 is made of resilient material so that the tips assume positions and tend to maintain the same. The rear tip 58 tends to move upwardly into the opening 62 while the front tip 60 tends to move downwardly out of the opening 64. The significance of this arrangement shortly will be explained.
The bottom wall 40 has an extension 66 which serves somewhat as a key or guide that enters the punched out slot 26 of the rear wall 20 of the coil box 12 when the cover 14 is installed in place.
In addition to the upper and lower channel-shaped parts 34 and 38, the lower cover 14 includes an interior plunger 68 which is substantially shorter than either of the channel-shaped parts and is adapted to reciprocate right (rearward) and left (forward) on the interior of the cover 14. Looking at FIG. 5, the plunger comprises a channel-shaped body 70 having side walls 72 which nest within and are guided by the side walls 42 of the bottom channel-shaped part 38. There is an upstanding transverse partition 74 bent from the body 70 and a second upstanding transverse partition 76 spaced from the partition 74 to the right as viewed in FIG. 5. An extension of the body 70 connects the two partitions 74 and 76 including a portion of the sides 72. It will be seen that the opening 78 formed in the body 70 is substantially the same size as the opening 46 and 48, and almost aligned therewith when the trigger mechanism is in cocked condition as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.
At its right hand end the body has an elongated strip of metal 80 which is integral with the body 70 and extends a substantial distance beyond the key or guide 66. A slot 82 is formed in the strip 80 adjacent the body 70. The strip 80 is called an extension of the plunger 68 hereafter.
Looking now at the opposite end of the plunger 68, it has a formed tube 84 integral therewith and extending beyond the body 70 to the left as shown in FIG. 5. The coil spring 86 is mounted on a rod 88 that in turn is secured to a shear-formed ear 89 that is punched out of the bottom wall 40, the rod extending only part way into the tube 84, but the spring extending fully into the tube and being under compression so as to continuously force the plunger 68 to move to the right or rearward.
When the cover 14 is to be installed on a coin-box 12 and given to a service man to take out into the field, the cover is fully assembled as shown with the upper and lower channel-shaped parts 34 and 38 welded or otherwise permanently attached and the plunger 68 in place.
Now assume that the cover 14 is in the condition shown in FIG. 4. The proprietor of the coin-controlled machine now installs the cover onto a coin box 12 and for this purpose he must cock the trigger mechanism. If he pushes the extension strip 80 to the left against the compression of the spring 86, the partition 76 will engage the bent tip 58 of rocking latch 54 that has entered the window 78 and is now disposed in the path of movement of the partition 76 to the left. Accordingly, the proprietor pulls the tip 58 downwardly by means of a finger grip 90 that is secured to the rocking latch 54 trigger mechanism at the bent tip 58. Once having pulled the tip 58 out of the opening 62, pushing the extension strip 80 to the left will move the plunger 68 to the left compressing the spring 86. When the plunger 68 reaches the approximate location shown in FIG. 3 where the opening 64 aligns with the slot 82 of the extension strip 80, the bent up tip 58 is riding on the bottom of the extension strip 80 but the bias of the bent-up tip 60 leaves that tip in the condition shown in FIG. 3. The operator then manually presses upwardly on the bent-up tip 60 forcing the tip 60 to pass through the slot 82 and at the same time releases high pressure on the extension strip 80. When this is done, the plunger 68 moves slightly to the right under the influence of the spring 86 and the tip 60 now engages the end of the slot 82 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 2, preventing further movement of the plunger 68. At this time the opening 78 is almost in alignment with the openings 46 and 48.
To install the cover 14 onto the box 12, the operator inserts both the key 66 and the extension strip 80 into the punched out slot 26 and moves the same to the right with the bent down protrusion 44 disposed as shown until the front of the cover clears the front lip 24. He now pushes the cover down until all of the tongues 30 engage their respective loops 28. The key 66 establishes the level of the cover so that it is flush with the top of the coin box 12. The cover is then pushed forward towards the front wall 18 and the lock 22 is manipulated with a suitable key to secure the cover in place.
In this cocked condition the service man carries the locked coin box to the machine that he is servicing. After removing the previous coin box he installs the cocked coin box into the suitable space. This space is a recess or compartment enclosed on all sides in all conventional coin-controlled machines. As he does so, the extension strip 80 moves against the rear wall the compartment into which the coin box is to be locked. Such rear wall is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 at 92. The movement of the extension strip 80 pushes the plunger 68 to the left slightly by a distance which is sufficient exactly to align the opening 78 with the windows 46 and 48. This movement causes the slot 82 to move to the left relative to the bent-up tip 60, clearing the tip and enabling it to drop down to the position shown in FIG. 3.
This latter condition of the trigger mechanism is what may be termed released. The plunger 68 will remain in its position as shown in FIG. 3 with the opening 78 in alignment with the windows 46 and 48 for the remainder of the time that the locked coin box 10 remains in the coin-controlled machine. When the service man now removes the coin box 10 from the machine the spring 86 will force the plunger 68 to move to the right as the box 10 is being moved. The recess or compartment in which the box 10 is located has an entrance which is completely enclosed on all sides except for the opening which has a cross-section identical to the front of the box 10 and so the service man cannot reach inside to stop the operation of the return of the plunger 68 through the condition of FIG. 4. By the time the coin box 10 has been removed from the machine the plunger 68 has moved through the condition of FIG. 4, the bent-up tip 58 of the rocking latch 54 has moved into the opening 62 and is now in blocking condition relative to the wall or partition 76. The extension 44 prevents the service man from inserting any instrument into the rear of the mechanism to manipulate it, while the tongues 30 in cooperation of the loops 28 prevent the workman from prying the sides 16 away from the cover 14 to pilfer coins out of the box.
Movement rearward or to the right by the plunger 68 is stopped either by the downwardly bent extension 44 or by the upwardly bent tabs 93 integral with the key 66.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate another form of the invention which comprises a modification of the trigger mechanism, specifically a modified form of rocking latch.
In this case there is a bracket 52' mounted on the bottom wall 40' of a cover 14' in which a plunger 68' is adapted to move. The plunger has a strip 80' which carries the slot 82'. The bracket 52' has a pivot 56' to which is mounted a rocking latch member 54' having a hook 60' at its front end and a projection 58 at its rear end. The lower wall 40' has an opening 62' and the rocking latch member 54' is biased to rock in a counterclockwise direction by means of a spring 95 connected between the hole 96 and the loop 98.
In FIG. 7 the mechanism is cocked because the hook 60' is engaged through the slot 82' and prevents the pluner 68' from moving to the right. When the strip 80' is pushed slightly to the left, the spring 95 will draw the hook 60' out of the opening 82' and the plunger will move forward so that its opening 78' aligns with the windows 46' and 48'. This is the release condition. The projection 58' is now riding on the bottom of the strip 80' as shown.
When the strip 80' is permitted to move to the right by virtue of the spring 86', the projection 58' will enter through the opening 62' and engage through the opening 78' and block return of the plunger 68' to the left by virtue of its blocking movement of the partition 76'.
In both embodiments, the proprietor removes the cover 14 or 14' from the box and manipulates the rocking latch member 54 and 54'. In the case of the member 54 he pulls the tip 58 downward by engaging his finger in the ear 90. If no ear is provided, he can insert a sharp instrument under the tip 58 to bend it downward against its resilient bias. In the case of the latch 54' he may grasp the end near the projection 58' and pull down against the compression of the spring 95. In both cases he must hold the tip 58 or projection 58' down while simultaneously pushing leftward on the extension strip 80 or 80'. At least he must hold these projections down until the opening 62 or 62' has passed the location where the tip or projection will return. Thereafter the tip or projection will ride on the bottom of the extension strip. The condition is as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. The proprietor must push the extension strip forward sufficient to align the slot 82 with the tip 60 or the slot 82' with the hook 60'. Holding the extension strip in this position, he must push the rocking latch in each case upward at the front end thereof and when the respective tip 60 or hook 60' is up past the opening 82 or 82', he releases the extension strip to permit the spring 86 or 86' to push the plunger to the right. The plunger 68 and 68' now engages the tip 60 or 60' and prevents return rocking of the latch 54 or 54'. This is the cocked condition of FIGS. 2 and 7.
In the claims, the cocked conditions of FIGS. 2 and 7 will be referred to as the first position of the rocking latch 54 or 54'. This is a position which must be achieved by manual manipulation of the latch. The latch is biased to move the tip 60 or hook 60' downward by virtue of the resilience and normal position of the tip 60 or by virtue of the spring 95 in the case of the latch 54'. The locked condition of FIGS. 4 and 9 is referred to as the second position of the rocking latch 54 or 54'. The latch in each case is biased to move the tip 58 or projection 58' to the second position. Note that the latch 54 could be separated into two independent members, each held in place by separate rivets or fastening means. Such structure is contemplated as coming within the purview of the invention.
It will be obvious from the above that modifications may be made in the constructional details of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.
The invention herein is concerned with a locking cover for a coin box for the type that is used with coin-controlled machines.
Vending machines operated by coins will normally have coin boxes or receptacles to receive the coins dropped into the machines by those who have purchased merchandise from the machines. Such coin boxes are locked into recesses provided in the machines and when the machine is serviced, the service man removes the coin box, empties it and replaces it.
For security purposes it has become customary to have a coin box which is locked, and remains locked until it is returned to the proprietor of the vending machine who opens the same and removes the coins. In such cases, the service man has an additional coin box with him, removing the box having coins already contained therein, bringing the filled coin box back to the headquarters of the owner of the coin-controlled machine.
To prevent pilferage from the coin box after it has been removed from the coin-controlled machine, the service man is not given the keys to the box itself. Accordingly, the box must have a mechanism in connection therewith to provide for the procedure described above.
First, the coin box must be in a condition to receive coins when the service man installs the same in the machine. There is a window or entrance into the coin box, normally at the top of it, which is open. The service man is given the fresh coin box at his base of operations, which must remain open to receive coins after the service man has installed the new coin box. When the service man removes the coin box, his act of so removing the same must close the coin entrance, lock it in such closed condition, and must thwart any attempts to reopen the same without authority for the surreptitious removal of coins.
Apparatus of this general type is known. Reference may be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,973,139; 1,685,219; 2,580,752 and the many prior telephone coin boxes known in the art.
The principal advantages of the invention herein over the prior art are the extreme simplicity of the apparatus, and its ability to be used with conventional coin boxes. Very slight modification of a form of coin box which is commonly used at the present time is all that is required in order to install the particular locking cover.
An unscrupulous service man will be able by ingenuity to "beat" most machines. The invention herein teaches the construction of a machine that is not easily beaten but if tampered with, the fact can be readily ascertained in spot checking by simply removing the locking coin box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is characterized by the provision of a cover locked to a coin box held in place by tongues engaging recesses in the side walls of the box on a lock. The cover has a housing formed by upper and lower channel-shaped parts enclosing a spring-pressed plunger having a rearward extension protruding beyond the cover and beyond the box when the cover is installed. There is a window in the top part aligned with a window in the bottom part and the windows being together aligned with the internal coin chute leading to the recess of the coin-controlled machine into which the box is adapted to be installed. A rocking latch carried on the bottom part cooperates with the plunger in two latch positions. The latch is manipulated to a first position in which the plunger is disposed in a condition unblocking the windows. In this condition the box is installed in the recess, the engagement of the extension with the rear wall of the recess releasing the latch from its first position, but preventing the plunger from moving from its unblocking position and also preventing the latch from moving to its second position. When the box is removed from the recess the extension is free to move rearwardly and such movement permits the plunger to move to window blocking position and the latch to move to its second position. In this second position the latch is in the path of the plunger preventing its being moved from window unblocking position by pushing the extension forward.
The latch can be manipulated from the bottom of the cover, to remove it from its second position and reinstate it into its first position. The proprietor does this at his office after unlocking the cover, removing it and emptying the box of coins. He may then replace and lock the cover onto the box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view with a portion broken away showing a substantially conventional coin box having a locking cover constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary median sectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and in the indicated direction, the box being in cocked condition prior to insertion into a coin-controlled machine;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating the condition of the mechanism within the cover after the box and cover have been installed in a coin-controlled machine, this being called the released condition;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3 except in this case the coin box has been removed from the machine and the entrance to the cover has been locked shut;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cover alone, most of the top wall of the cover having been broken away to show the interior thereof;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the cover with portions broken away;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views showing a modified form of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention herein relates primarily to a locking cover for a coin box and includes the combination of such a locking cover with a modified form of box.
FIG. 1 illustrates a coin box and cover generally designated by the reference character 10, the same comprising a more or less conventional coin box 12 and a cover 14. The coin box 12 has rectangular side walls 16, a bottom wall (not shown), a front wall 18 and a rear wall 20 which is seen in FIG. 2.
The front wall 18 has a tumbler or other type lock 22 installed therein to cooperate with a suitable formation on the cover 14 (not shown), and also has a rearwardly bent lip 24 at the top thereof. The rear wall 20 has a slot 26 punched therein to cooperate with the mechanism of the cover 14, as will be explained. The side walls 16 have shear-formed inwardly extending strips 28 adjacent the top edges thereof, these strips forming loops to be engaged by tongues 30 that are formed along the sides 32 of the cover 14.
The cover 14 is dimensioned closely to fit flush within the upper opening of the coin box 12, such opening being defined by the upper edges of the side walls 16, the rear wall 20, and the front wall 18. The cover 14 includes two channel-shaped parts, one being the upper part 34 having a top wall 36 and the side walls 32, previously mentioned. The upper channel-shaped part 34 opens downwardly. The lower channel-shaped part 38 has a bottom wall 40 and interior side walls 42. The lower, or channel-shaped part 38 opens upwardly and is nested within the upper channel-shaped part 34. Both the parts have their ends opened although the part has an extension or protrusion 44 which is angled downwardly and covers the right hand end of the cover.
Each of the walls 36 and 40 has a rectangular window punched therein, the window 46 being provided in the upper wall 36 and the window 48 being provided in the lower wall 40. The windows are in vertical alignment and when the coin box and cover 10 have been inserted into a coin-controlled machine, these windows will align also with a coin chute such as indicated at 50, the chute 50 being part of the machine and serving to convey coins into the coin box to be dropped into the box through windows 46 and 48.
The bottom wall 40 has a bracket 52 mounted to the underside thereof in a suitable manner, the bracket carrying a double-ended trigger 54 thereon by means of a rivet 56 passing through suitable holes provided in the bracket and trigger respectively. which will appear. The trigger or rocking latch 54 has a rearwardly extending angled tip 58 and a forwardly extending angled tip 60. Openings 62 and 64 respectively are provided in the lower wall 40 in alignment with these angled tips. The rocking latch member 54 is made of resilient material so that the tips assume positions and tend to maintain the same. The rear tip 58 tends to move upwardly into the opening 62 while the front tip 60 tends to move downwardly out of the opening 64. The significance of this arrangement shortly will be explained.
The bottom wall 40 has an extension 66 which serves somewhat as a key or guide that enters the punched out slot 26 of the rear wall 20 of the coil box 12 when the cover 14 is installed in place.
In addition to the upper and lower channel-shaped parts 34 and 38, the lower cover 14 includes an interior plunger 68 which is substantially shorter than either of the channel-shaped parts and is adapted to reciprocate right (rearward) and left (forward) on the interior of the cover 14. Looking at FIG. 5, the plunger comprises a channel-shaped body 70 having side walls 72 which nest within and are guided by the side walls 42 of the bottom channel-shaped part 38. There is an upstanding transverse partition 74 bent from the body 70 and a second upstanding transverse partition 76 spaced from the partition 74 to the right as viewed in FIG. 5. An extension of the body 70 connects the two partitions 74 and 76 including a portion of the sides 72. It will be seen that the opening 78 formed in the body 70 is substantially the same size as the opening 46 and 48, and almost aligned therewith when the trigger mechanism is in cocked condition as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.
At its right hand end the body has an elongated strip of metal 80 which is integral with the body 70 and extends a substantial distance beyond the key or guide 66. A slot 82 is formed in the strip 80 adjacent the body 70. The strip 80 is called an extension of the plunger 68 hereafter.
Looking now at the opposite end of the plunger 68, it has a formed tube 84 integral therewith and extending beyond the body 70 to the left as shown in FIG. 5. The coil spring 86 is mounted on a rod 88 that in turn is secured to a shear-formed ear 89 that is punched out of the bottom wall 40, the rod extending only part way into the tube 84, but the spring extending fully into the tube and being under compression so as to continuously force the plunger 68 to move to the right or rearward.
When the cover 14 is to be installed on a coin-box 12 and given to a service man to take out into the field, the cover is fully assembled as shown with the upper and lower channel-shaped parts 34 and 38 welded or otherwise permanently attached and the plunger 68 in place.
Now assume that the cover 14 is in the condition shown in FIG. 4. The proprietor of the coin-controlled machine now installs the cover onto a coin box 12 and for this purpose he must cock the trigger mechanism. If he pushes the extension strip 80 to the left against the compression of the spring 86, the partition 76 will engage the bent tip 58 of rocking latch 54 that has entered the window 78 and is now disposed in the path of movement of the partition 76 to the left. Accordingly, the proprietor pulls the tip 58 downwardly by means of a finger grip 90 that is secured to the rocking latch 54 trigger mechanism at the bent tip 58. Once having pulled the tip 58 out of the opening 62, pushing the extension strip 80 to the left will move the plunger 68 to the left compressing the spring 86. When the plunger 68 reaches the approximate location shown in FIG. 3 where the opening 64 aligns with the slot 82 of the extension strip 80, the bent up tip 58 is riding on the bottom of the extension strip 80 but the bias of the bent-up tip 60 leaves that tip in the condition shown in FIG. 3. The operator then manually presses upwardly on the bent-up tip 60 forcing the tip 60 to pass through the slot 82 and at the same time releases high pressure on the extension strip 80. When this is done, the plunger 68 moves slightly to the right under the influence of the spring 86 and the tip 60 now engages the end of the slot 82 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 2, preventing further movement of the plunger 68. At this time the opening 78 is almost in alignment with the openings 46 and 48.
To install the cover 14 onto the box 12, the operator inserts both the key 66 and the extension strip 80 into the punched out slot 26 and moves the same to the right with the bent down protrusion 44 disposed as shown until the front of the cover clears the front lip 24. He now pushes the cover down until all of the tongues 30 engage their respective loops 28. The key 66 establishes the level of the cover so that it is flush with the top of the coin box 12. The cover is then pushed forward towards the front wall 18 and the lock 22 is manipulated with a suitable key to secure the cover in place.
In this cocked condition the service man carries the locked coin box to the machine that he is servicing. After removing the previous coin box he installs the cocked coin box into the suitable space. This space is a recess or compartment enclosed on all sides in all conventional coin-controlled machines. As he does so, the extension strip 80 moves against the rear wall the compartment into which the coin box is to be locked. Such rear wall is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 at 92. The movement of the extension strip 80 pushes the plunger 68 to the left slightly by a distance which is sufficient exactly to align the opening 78 with the windows 46 and 48. This movement causes the slot 82 to move to the left relative to the bent-up tip 60, clearing the tip and enabling it to drop down to the position shown in FIG. 3.
This latter condition of the trigger mechanism is what may be termed released. The plunger 68 will remain in its position as shown in FIG. 3 with the opening 78 in alignment with the windows 46 and 48 for the remainder of the time that the locked coin box 10 remains in the coin-controlled machine. When the service man now removes the coin box 10 from the machine the spring 86 will force the plunger 68 to move to the right as the box 10 is being moved. The recess or compartment in which the box 10 is located has an entrance which is completely enclosed on all sides except for the opening which has a cross-section identical to the front of the box 10 and so the service man cannot reach inside to stop the operation of the return of the plunger 68 through the condition of FIG. 4. By the time the coin box 10 has been removed from the machine the plunger 68 has moved through the condition of FIG. 4, the bent-up tip 58 of the rocking latch 54 has moved into the opening 62 and is now in blocking condition relative to the wall or partition 76. The extension 44 prevents the service man from inserting any instrument into the rear of the mechanism to manipulate it, while the tongues 30 in cooperation of the loops 28 prevent the workman from prying the sides 16 away from the cover 14 to pilfer coins out of the box.
Movement rearward or to the right by the plunger 68 is stopped either by the downwardly bent extension 44 or by the upwardly bent tabs 93 integral with the key 66.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate another form of the invention which comprises a modification of the trigger mechanism, specifically a modified form of rocking latch.
In this case there is a bracket 52' mounted on the bottom wall 40' of a cover 14' in which a plunger 68' is adapted to move. The plunger has a strip 80' which carries the slot 82'. The bracket 52' has a pivot 56' to which is mounted a rocking latch member 54' having a hook 60' at its front end and a projection 58 at its rear end. The lower wall 40' has an opening 62' and the rocking latch member 54' is biased to rock in a counterclockwise direction by means of a spring 95 connected between the hole 96 and the loop 98.
In FIG. 7 the mechanism is cocked because the hook 60' is engaged through the slot 82' and prevents the pluner 68' from moving to the right. When the strip 80' is pushed slightly to the left, the spring 95 will draw the hook 60' out of the opening 82' and the plunger will move forward so that its opening 78' aligns with the windows 46' and 48'. This is the release condition. The projection 58' is now riding on the bottom of the strip 80' as shown.
When the strip 80' is permitted to move to the right by virtue of the spring 86', the projection 58' will enter through the opening 62' and engage through the opening 78' and block return of the plunger 68' to the left by virtue of its blocking movement of the partition 76'.
In both embodiments, the proprietor removes the cover 14 or 14' from the box and manipulates the rocking latch member 54 and 54'. In the case of the member 54 he pulls the tip 58 downward by engaging his finger in the ear 90. If no ear is provided, he can insert a sharp instrument under the tip 58 to bend it downward against its resilient bias. In the case of the latch 54' he may grasp the end near the projection 58' and pull down against the compression of the spring 95. In both cases he must hold the tip 58 or projection 58' down while simultaneously pushing leftward on the extension strip 80 or 80'. At least he must hold these projections down until the opening 62 or 62' has passed the location where the tip or projection will return. Thereafter the tip or projection will ride on the bottom of the extension strip. The condition is as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. The proprietor must push the extension strip forward sufficient to align the slot 82 with the tip 60 or the slot 82' with the hook 60'. Holding the extension strip in this position, he must push the rocking latch in each case upward at the front end thereof and when the respective tip 60 or hook 60' is up past the opening 82 or 82', he releases the extension strip to permit the spring 86 or 86' to push the plunger to the right. The plunger 68 and 68' now engages the tip 60 or 60' and prevents return rocking of the latch 54 or 54'. This is the cocked condition of FIGS. 2 and 7.
In the claims, the cocked conditions of FIGS. 2 and 7 will be referred to as the first position of the rocking latch 54 or 54'. This is a position which must be achieved by manual manipulation of the latch. The latch is biased to move the tip 60 or hook 60' downward by virtue of the resilience and normal position of the tip 60 or by virtue of the spring 95 in the case of the latch 54'. The locked condition of FIGS. 4 and 9 is referred to as the second position of the rocking latch 54 or 54'. The latch in each case is biased to move the tip 58 or projection 58' to the second position. Note that the latch 54 could be separated into two independent members, each held in place by separate rivets or fastening means. Such structure is contemplated as coming within the purview of the invention.
It will be obvious from the above that modifications may be made in the constructional details of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.