US3851942A - Meter box with vault latch - Google Patents
Meter box with vault latch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3851942A US3851942A US00420945A US42094573A US3851942A US 3851942 A US3851942 A US 3851942A US 00420945 A US00420945 A US 00420945A US 42094573 A US42094573 A US 42094573A US 3851942 A US3851942 A US 3851942A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- latch
- drawer
- box
- closed position
- vault
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05C—BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS
- E05C19/00—Other devices specially designed for securing wings, e.g. with suction cups
- E05C19/18—Portable devices specially adapted for securing wings
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
- G07F9/06—Coin boxes
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T292/00—Closure fasteners
- Y10T292/08—Bolts
- Y10T292/1043—Swinging
- Y10T292/1063—Gravity actuated
- Y10T292/1064—Operating means
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T292/00—Closure fasteners
- Y10T292/08—Bolts
- Y10T292/1043—Swinging
- Y10T292/1075—Operating means
- Y10T292/1083—Rigid
- Y10T292/1085—Friction catch
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T292/00—Closure fasteners
- Y10T292/08—Bolts
- Y10T292/1043—Swinging
- Y10T292/1075—Operating means
- Y10T292/1083—Rigid
- Y10T292/1086—Padlock or seal catch
Definitions
- auxiliary latch may be released through a not- UNITED STATES PATENTS mally locked service opening in the side of the meter 1.031.194 5/1913 M cNulty 312/333 x 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEL 31 74 sum 2 or 2 III] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
- This invention relates to a meter boxfor use with a coin operated laundry machine or the like and, more particularly, to a meter box which houses both a timing meter for controlling the machine and a cash drawer or vault for receiving coins deposited into the machine.
- the front ,wall of the cash drawer is locked to the front wall of the meter box by a key-operated lock while the timing meter is located behind the drawer and is accessible through a service opening which is formed through one of the sides of the box and which is normally closed by a locked door.
- the general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and improved meter box with which it is more difficult for a thief to gain access to the cash drawer even if the thief succeeds in picking the lock of the cash drawer.
- a more detailed object is to equip the meter box with an auxiliary latch for preventing removal of the cash drawer from the meter box, the auxiliary latch being inaccessible to a thief from the front of the box but being releasable by an authorized person through the service opening after the service door has been unlocked and opened.
- a further object is to provide a unique auxiliary latch which automatically latches against the cash drawer when the latter is pushed into the meter box.
- Still another object is to provide an auxiliary latch which may be locked in its latched position to provide still another deterrent to a thief who might be success ful in gaining access to the service opening.
- An additional object is to provide an auxiliary latch which may be easily removed from the meter box and not used if the coin-operated machine is located in a low risk area where the auxiliary latch is not needed.
- the invention also resides in the comparatively simple and inexpensive construction of the auxiliary latch and in the unique manner of attaching the latch to the meter box.
- FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical coin-operated machine having a meter box equipped with a new and improved auxiliary latch embodying the novel features of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary latch.
- the invention is embodied in a meter box of the type which is used with a coin-operated washing machine 11 or the like and which houses a timing meter (not shown) and other mechanism for controlling operation of the machine.
- the meter box also houses a cashvault 13 which receives coins deposited into the machine by way of a coin chute 14 associated with the meter box.
- the meter box 10 is made of sheet metal and includes upright front and rear walls 15 and 16, top and bottom walls 17 and 18 and two upright side walls 19 and 20 (FIGS. 1 to 3).
- a service opening 21 (FIG. 1) is formed through the side wall 19 to enable a serviceman to gain access to the timing meter, the service opening normally being closed by a door 23 which normally is locked to the side wall 19 by a key operated locking mechanism 24.
- openings 25 and 26 are formed through the front wall 15 of the meter box 10 and receive the cash vault 13 and the inner end portion of the coin chute 14, respectively.
- a funnel 27 is located below the inner end portion of the chute and is mounted on a generally horizontal support or plate 29 connected to the side walls 19 and 20 and overlying the cash vault, there being a vertical plate 30 extending downwardly from the horizontal plate and located just to the rear of the vault.
- An opening 31 (FIG. 3) is formed through the horizontal plate 29 in alinement with the funnel 27 and thus coins delivered into the-meter box 10 by the chute 14 drop into the funnel and then fall into the cash vault 13.
- the cash vault 13 is in the form of a drawer and includes a bottom wall 33,- upright side walls 34 and front and rear walls 35 and 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3).
- the vault is slidable within the opening 25 and normally is located in a closed position within the meter box 10 but may be pulled out of the box to permit emptying of the coins.
- a key-operated locking mechanism 37 (FIG. 1) is carried by the front wall 35 of the vault and is operable to lock the vault to thefront wall 15 of the meter box.
- the meter box 10 is equipped with a unique auxiliary latch 40 (FIGS. 2 to 4) which acts independently of the lock 37 to prevent removal of the cash vault 13 from the box and which cannot be released from the front of the box.
- auxiliary latch 40 acts independently of the lock 37 to prevent removal of the cash vault 13 from the box and which cannot be released from the front of the box.
- the auxiliary latch can, however, be easily released by an authorized person having access to the service opening 21 and, in addition, the latch is adapted to re-latch the vault automati cally when the latter is re-inserted into the meter box and is slid rearwardly into its closed position.
- auxiliary latch 40 is supported on the horizontal plate 29 and is formed by a generally U-shaped member having two spaced legs 41 (FIG. 4)
- the legs overlie the top plate 29 and are located in straddling relation with the funnel 27.
- the legs 41 are formed with depending and generally L-shaped lugs 44 which fit into slots 45 (FIG. 3) in the plate 29 to mount the latch 40 for upward and downward pivoting on the plate about an axis extending transversely of the legs.
- the latch 40 may be removed easily from the top plate by swinging the latch to a generally vertical position to enable the lugs to be withdrawn from the slots 45.
- the detents project downwardly into the cash vault 13 adjacent the rear corners thereof and the rear surfaces or edges of the detents engage the front side of the rear wall 36 of the vault. Accordingly, the detents prevent the vault 13 from being pulled out of the meter box even if the lock 37 is released and thus a thief who picks the lock 37 still cannot gain access to the coins in the vault.
- auxiliary latch 40 Because of the auxiliary latch 40, an authorized route man cannot remove the vault l3 merely by unlocking the front lock 37. He may, however, unlock and open the service door 23 and gain access to the auxiliary latch 40 through the service opening 21. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a rearwardly projecting tab member or handle 50 is attached to the bridge 43 of the latch 40 and may be reached by the route man through the service opening 21. By manually pivoting the latch upwardly to its unlatched position, the route man may release the detents 46 from the rear wall 36 and slide the vault outwardly from the meter box 10, assuming, of course, that he first has unlocked the front lock 37.
- the padlock presents yet another deterrent to the thief. Regardless of whether the padlock is used, it may be desirable to thread a wire (not shown) through the holes 57 and to connect the ends of the wire with a distinctive seal. The owner of the coinoperated machine 11 then can determine if the vault has been broken into since either the wire or the seal must be broken before the vault can be removed.
- the owner of the machine 11 may not wish to use the auxiliary latch 40 in order to avoid the need for the route man to open the service door 23 when collecting the coins. If the latch 40 is not desired,
- the latch 40 automatically re-latches itself when the route man returns the vault 13 to the meter box 10 and thus the route man need not manually reset the latch.
- the forward surfaces or edges of the detents 46 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly.
- the latch 40 automatically swings downwardly to its lowered position by virtue of its own weight.
- the rear side of the rear wall 36 of the vault engages the forward edges of the detents 46 and cams the latch upwardly to allow the vault to be pushed into its fully closed position.
- the latch When the vault reaches such position, the latch automatically returns downwardly and the detents 46 latch against the front side of the rear wall 36 as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, there is no need for the route man to manually hold the latch in its released position when he returns the vault to the meter box.
- Apparatus for use with a coin-operated machine comprising a box having upright side walls and an upright front wall, an opening formed through said front wall, a cash drawer having upright front and rear walls, said drawer normally being in a closed position within said box but being removable from said box through said opening, a key-operated locking mechanism mounted on one of said front walls and engageable with the other of said front walls to lock said drawer within said box, an access opening formed through one of the side walls of said box, a door normally covering said access opening and normally locked to said one side wall, and a support attached to at least one of the walls of said box, the improvement in said apparatus comprising, a latch mounted on said support and biased to a latched position, said latch having a first surface which, when said latch is in said latched position and said drawer is in said closed position, engages the rear wall of the drawer to hold the drawer in its closed position, said latch being accessible through said access opening when the latter is uncovered and being manually movable to an unlatched position releasing the rear wall of
- said latch includes a detent which projects downwardly into said drawer when said latch is in said latched position and said drawer is in said closed position, said first and second surfaces being formed on said detent with said first surface being engageable with the front side of the rear wall of said drawer when the latter is in said closed position, said second surface being engageable with the rear side of the rear wall of said drawer as the latter is moved toward said closed position.
- said latch is generally U-shaped and includes two legs and a bridge extending between the rear ends of said legs, said detents projecting downwardly from said legs intermediate the ends thereof, and means on the forward ends of said legs and mounting said latch to pivot upwardly and downwardly between said latched and unlatched positions.
- said support comprises a generally horizontal plate fastened to the side walls of said box and overlying said drawer, slots formed through said plate, said means comprising lugs on the forward ends of said legs and fitted releasably into said slots to mount said latch pivotally on the upper side of said plate while allowing removal of the latch from the plate.
- Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including additional slots formed in said plate and alined with said detents to enable the latter to move into and out of said drawer.
- Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including a member projecting rearwardly from said bridge and defining a handle facilitating manual pivoting of said latch to said unlatched position.
- Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means mounting said latch on said support for pivoting between said latched and unlatched positions, said means being releasable from said support to enable removal of said latch from said meter box.
Abstract
Description
Claims (8)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00420945A US3851942A (en) | 1973-12-03 | 1973-12-03 | Meter box with vault latch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00420945A US3851942A (en) | 1973-12-03 | 1973-12-03 | Meter box with vault latch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3851942A true US3851942A (en) | 1974-12-03 |
Family
ID=23668508
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00420945A Expired - Lifetime US3851942A (en) | 1973-12-03 | 1973-12-03 | Meter box with vault latch |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3851942A (en) |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3922048A (en) * | 1974-10-24 | 1975-11-25 | Whirlpool Co | Top lock and locator for appliance |
US4031721A (en) * | 1976-07-12 | 1977-06-28 | Anderson Lyle V | Combined anti-theft and adjustable mounting assembly for a CB radio device |
US4078843A (en) * | 1975-12-08 | 1978-03-14 | Malton Electric Company | Handle construction |
FR2454144A1 (en) * | 1979-04-13 | 1980-11-07 | Crouzet Sa | Securing of cash box for automatic dispenser - is provided by separate keys to release and open containers |
US4462233A (en) * | 1982-04-26 | 1984-07-31 | Horetzke John R | Detachable guard for keyholes |
EP0121170A1 (en) * | 1983-03-24 | 1984-10-10 | ADS - Anker GmbH | Removable money container actuated by a cash register |
FR2622997A1 (en) * | 1987-11-09 | 1989-05-12 | Schlumberger Ind Sa | MACHINE ACTUATED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF COINS OF MONEY |
US5058966A (en) * | 1991-01-11 | 1991-10-22 | Quadrum Telecommunications, Inc. | Vault liner for use in coin telephones |
US5076078A (en) * | 1989-06-13 | 1991-12-31 | Knaack Manufacturing Company | Lock system |
US5216907A (en) * | 1992-02-13 | 1993-06-08 | Kaspar Wire Works, Inc. | Device for locking a coin control mechanism and insert into the interior of a cabinet of a newspaper rack |
US5791796A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-08-11 | Eltron International, Inc. | Thermal printer with spring biased drive roller/platen |
US5857417A (en) * | 1997-04-29 | 1999-01-12 | Hart; Arthur T. | Coin vault for air machines |
US20080010195A1 (en) * | 2006-05-26 | 2008-01-10 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Power failure compensation method of laundry room machine and machine therefor |
US10825282B2 (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2020-11-03 | Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. | Coin selector holder for a commercial appliance and commercial appliance |
US11078683B2 (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2021-08-03 | Werner Co. | Lockable latch handle assembly |
US11085206B2 (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2021-08-10 | Werner Co. | Lockable latch handle assembly |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1061194A (en) * | 1911-07-24 | 1913-05-06 | Thomas E Mcnulty | Extension and lifting lid for desks. |
US2671683A (en) * | 1951-05-10 | 1954-03-09 | Anchor Post Prod | Gate latch |
US2674510A (en) * | 1951-10-30 | 1954-04-06 | Walrus Mfg Company | Locking device for twin drawers |
US2877637A (en) * | 1956-03-14 | 1959-03-17 | Greenwald Co Inc H | Locked coin drawer |
US3084008A (en) * | 1961-08-15 | 1963-04-02 | Harry H Mallett | Automatic locking key safe |
US3112839A (en) * | 1962-02-01 | 1963-12-03 | Gen Electric | Cover latch for meter socket |
US3674360A (en) * | 1970-10-29 | 1972-07-04 | Automatic Close & Lock Corp | Security locking device |
-
1973
- 1973-12-03 US US00420945A patent/US3851942A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1061194A (en) * | 1911-07-24 | 1913-05-06 | Thomas E Mcnulty | Extension and lifting lid for desks. |
US2671683A (en) * | 1951-05-10 | 1954-03-09 | Anchor Post Prod | Gate latch |
US2674510A (en) * | 1951-10-30 | 1954-04-06 | Walrus Mfg Company | Locking device for twin drawers |
US2877637A (en) * | 1956-03-14 | 1959-03-17 | Greenwald Co Inc H | Locked coin drawer |
US3084008A (en) * | 1961-08-15 | 1963-04-02 | Harry H Mallett | Automatic locking key safe |
US3112839A (en) * | 1962-02-01 | 1963-12-03 | Gen Electric | Cover latch for meter socket |
US3674360A (en) * | 1970-10-29 | 1972-07-04 | Automatic Close & Lock Corp | Security locking device |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3922048A (en) * | 1974-10-24 | 1975-11-25 | Whirlpool Co | Top lock and locator for appliance |
US4078843A (en) * | 1975-12-08 | 1978-03-14 | Malton Electric Company | Handle construction |
US4031721A (en) * | 1976-07-12 | 1977-06-28 | Anderson Lyle V | Combined anti-theft and adjustable mounting assembly for a CB radio device |
FR2454144A1 (en) * | 1979-04-13 | 1980-11-07 | Crouzet Sa | Securing of cash box for automatic dispenser - is provided by separate keys to release and open containers |
US4462233A (en) * | 1982-04-26 | 1984-07-31 | Horetzke John R | Detachable guard for keyholes |
EP0121170A1 (en) * | 1983-03-24 | 1984-10-10 | ADS - Anker GmbH | Removable money container actuated by a cash register |
FR2622997A1 (en) * | 1987-11-09 | 1989-05-12 | Schlumberger Ind Sa | MACHINE ACTUATED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF COINS OF MONEY |
EP0316227A1 (en) * | 1987-11-09 | 1989-05-17 | Schlumberger Industries | Coin-actuated device |
US5076078A (en) * | 1989-06-13 | 1991-12-31 | Knaack Manufacturing Company | Lock system |
US5058966A (en) * | 1991-01-11 | 1991-10-22 | Quadrum Telecommunications, Inc. | Vault liner for use in coin telephones |
US5216907A (en) * | 1992-02-13 | 1993-06-08 | Kaspar Wire Works, Inc. | Device for locking a coin control mechanism and insert into the interior of a cabinet of a newspaper rack |
US5791796A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-08-11 | Eltron International, Inc. | Thermal printer with spring biased drive roller/platen |
US5857417A (en) * | 1997-04-29 | 1999-01-12 | Hart; Arthur T. | Coin vault for air machines |
US20080010195A1 (en) * | 2006-05-26 | 2008-01-10 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Power failure compensation method of laundry room machine and machine therefor |
US10825282B2 (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2020-11-03 | Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. | Coin selector holder for a commercial appliance and commercial appliance |
US11078683B2 (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2021-08-03 | Werner Co. | Lockable latch handle assembly |
US11085206B2 (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2021-08-10 | Werner Co. | Lockable latch handle assembly |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: REED INDUSTRIES, INC., 1445 ROCK MOUNTAIN BOULEVAR Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:REED INDUSTRIES, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:004856/0967 Effective date: 19870129 Owner name: REED INDUSTRIES, INC., A DE. CORP., GEORGIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:REED INDUSTRIES, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:004856/0967 Effective date: 19870129 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WICO DISTRIBUTION CORP., A DE CORP., ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:WICO DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, L.P.;REEL/FRAME:005001/0133 Effective date: 19881221 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WICO DISTRIBUTION CORP.;REEL/FRAME:005036/0898 Effective date: 19880831 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WICO DISTRIBUTION CORP., A DE CORP. Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005216/0312 Effective date: 19880831 Owner name: NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK USA, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WICO DISTRIBUTION CORP., A CORP. OF DE;REEL/FRAME:005216/0295 Effective date: 19890614 |