EP0010379B1

EP0010379B1 - A re-usable, cylindrical transparent coinholder for holding a predetermined number of coins

Info

Publication number: EP0010379B1
Application number: EP79302104A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Réal F. Lemaire
Original assignee: LES INNOVATIONS REAL LEMAIRE Inc
Current assignee: LES INNOVATIONS REAL LEMAIRE Inc
Priority date: 1978-10-23
Filing date: 1979-10-04
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: AU5170679A; ZA795654B; JPS63195473U; ES253440U; JPS5579240A; ATE6391T1; OA06362A; MX149208A; BR7906782A; EP0010379A1; DE2966710D1; ES253440Y

Abstract

A re-usable transparent coin holder (50) comprising two open-faced receptacles (51, 51 min ) formed from a transparent plastics material. The receptacles are interconnected along a common edge (52) and each receptacle has a substantially semi-cylindrical side wall (53). A substantially semi-circular end wall (54) is provided at opposite ends of each side wall (53). Each end wall (54) slopes outwardly towards a top edge of the receptacle and an end rib (54) is provided inthe end wall (54) of at least one of the receptacles (51,51 min ) and disposed adjacent at least a portion of the side wall (53) and extending transverse to the side wall (53) whereby to retain an exact quantity of coins when stacked side-by-side in close fit across the side wall (53) and transverse to the plane thereof between the end walls (54). The side walls of the receptacles (51,51 min ) form one or more closed hollow cylindrical compartments when the receptacles are folded together from the common edge and secured in juxtaposition.

Description

The present invention relates to a re-usable cylindrical transparent coin holder for holding a predetermined number of coins in a securable manner.

Description of Prior Art

Various types of coin holders have been heretofore provided and reference is made to U.S. Patent Specifications Nos: 667,104; 712,087; 1,010,346; 1,076,400; 3,164,478; 3,420,359 and 3,981,395. Some of the disadvantages of the known coin holders are that the type which are tubular are normally formed of an opaque material, therefore, not providing the visibility of the contents of the holder. The result is that a false quantity of coins can be fraudulently represented with such holders. Also, the denomination of the coins cannot be visually ascertained when different denomination coins are of similar sizes.
A further disadvantage of some of the known coin holders is that these are difficult to assemble, usually being provided in parts or in a blank form, thus requiring an assembly of the holder prior to the insertion of coins therein. Still further, some of these holders do not positively lock the coins therein and sometimes the holder will become detached or break and its contents will fall out when subjected to small jolts. Furthermore, known holders are not provided with proper identification means to instruct the user of the proper denomination to be placed into the holder and consequently, this results in improper usage of the holders. Furthermore, some known holders are bulky and not nestable and are therefore awkward to handle and store and when consisting of more than one part, some of its parts become lost, rendering the holder entirely non-usable.
A still further disadvantage of some of the known coin holders is that these do not permit a precise number of coins to be stored therein and will permit the insertion of one or more additional coins above a predetermined quantity, thus permitting errors to occur and necessitating counting the coins before placing same in the holder. Furthermore, some holders are not of the proper structural design and fail in transit, resulting in loss of money and errors in accounting.
In FR-A-1 236 487 there is disclosed a coin holder comprising two transparent semi-cylindrical receptacles each provided with retaining means for interlockingly coupling the two receptacles together to form a cylindrical container for holding therein a predetermined number of coins.
The invention is as set out in the claims.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a re-usable transparent coin holder which substantially overcomes all of the above- mentioned disadvantages.
A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a re-usable transparent coin holder for holding a precise number of coins in close fit therein and permitting coins to be inserted and removed quickly without the necessity of counting same and providing a correlation between the denomination and the proper size of holder.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a re-usable transparent coin holder which is nestable, when not in use, and which does not have any loose parts.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a re-usable transparent coin holder which is easy to use and does not require a pre- assembly thereof.
In one embodiment of the invention the receptacles are secured in juxtaposition by a flange extending outwardly of a side wall of one of the two receptacles from an edge thereof, opposite the common edge, and are detachably securable.
Each of the end walls is provided with structural ribs integrally moulded.
One or more longitudinal expansion ribs are formed longitudinally across the flange between the edge from which the flange extends whereby to exert a retention force on an attachment means provided in the flange when both receptacles are connected in juxtaposition.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the examples thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a re-usable transparent coin holder of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an end view of the coin holder of Figure 1, but shown in a completely open position and as molded and in its nesting state;
Figure 3 is a fragmented cross-section view along cross-section lines 3-3 of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a fragmented cross-section view along cross-section lines 4-4. of Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown generally at 50 the re-usable transparent coin holder of the present invention. As herein shown, the coin holder 50 is molded from a sheet of transparent plastic material and consists of two open-faced receptacles 51 and 51', each interconnected along a common edge 52 and having a substantially semi-cylindrical side wall 53 each having semi-circular end walls 54.
An attachment means is herein constituted by a flange 55 extending outwardly of one of the side walls 53 of one of the receptacles 51 from a diametrically disposed edge 56. Herein, the edge 56 is provided with a hinged rib 57 which facilitates folding the flange 55 over the outer face 53' of the opposite side wall 53 and accommodating a short structural flange 58 extending diametrically outward from a top edge of the side wall of the other receptacle 51'. One or more longitudinal expansion ribs 59 are formed longitudinally across the flange 55 and disposed parallel between the edge 56 or 52 and the plurality of cavities 60 which are molded adjacent the end edge 61 of the flange. A plurality of protrusions 62 are formed in the side wall 53 of the receptacle 51' and spaced on a long axis thereof lying on the apex of the semi-cylindrical side wall 53 at 90° to the plane of the opening of the receptacle. When the receptacles 51 and 51' are juxtaposed, the flange 55 is folded over the outer surface 53' of the receptacle 51' and the protrusions 62 are received in a respective cavity 60 of the flange. The position of the cavity 60 on the flange 55 are such that when the cavities are aligned with the protrusions and the protrusions pressed into the cavities, the ribs 59 will permit a slight expansion whereby in its secured position, a retention force will be exerted on the protrusion received in the cavities by the ribs 59. Thus, a more secure attachment means is provided.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, there is shown the construction of the end walls 54 of each receptacle. As can be seen, the end walls 54 slope outwardly toward a top edge of the receptacle in a sloping portion 63 thereof. An end rib 64 is formed in the end walls 54 of at least the receptacle in which the coins 65 are intended to be firstly positioned. The end rib 64 extends transverse to the side wall 53 and/or 53' in at least a portion thereof, although hereinshown fully along the interconnecting edge of the end wall 54 and the side walls 53 or 53'. The distance between adjacent end ribs 64 of a receptacle 51 is precisely the distance required to stack a predetermined quantity of coins of a predetermined denomination therein. Although the end walls have a sloping portion 63, it is not possible to insert an extra coin in the holder as there will be no spacing between the end ribs 64 and the resiliency in the plastics material of the sloping portion of the side wall 63 will not permit the coin to be inserted in the receptacle.
A plurality of structural ribs 66 are provided in the sloping portion 63 of the end walls 54 to add rigidity. Further, the end walls are provided with a structural flange 67 to add further structural rigidity to the receptacles, as the coin holder is formed of a thin plastic vinyl material having a thickness of approximately 0.178 mm (7 mil). The purpose for providing an end wall 54 with a sloping portion 63 is to permit the nesting of the coin holders, one within the other, when in their non-used molded state, as shown in Figure 2.
As further shown in Figure 2, the common edge 52 is provided with a hinge rib 68 to facilitate hinging of the receptacles to juxtapose them. Also, this figure illustrates that the cavities 60 and the protrusion 62 are both molded by male plugs provided in the mold (not shown) whereby they have substantially the same distribution of plastics material thereabout to have substantially the same resistance. This provides for a better securement between the cavities and the protrusions.
Although not shown, the outer surface of the side wall 53 may be moulded with a rough texture in at least a portion thereof whereby when a plurality of such coin holders are strapped together by an elastic band, they provided better retention and do not slip out of such attachment. The protrusions resulting from the outer surfaces of the cavities 60 will also provide retention, as an elastic band would also engage between these. Further, in order to identify a coin holder with the proper denomination of coins to be placed therein, an identification marking 35 is provided on the side walls 53. The marking consists of a transparent colour strip extending across one of the receptacles 51 or 51' or both. Alternatively, the entire holder 60 may be made from a transparent plastic having a colour pigment therein.

Claims

1. A re-usable cylindrical transparent coin holder (50) comprising two open-faced receptacles (51, 51') formed from a transparent plastics material, each receptacle having a semi-cylindrical side wall (53), a substantial semi-circular end wall (54) at opposite ends of each said side wall, the holder retaining an exact number of coins when stacked side-by- side in close fit across said side walls and transverse to the axial plane of said cylindrical holder, characterised in that said receptacles are interconnected along a common edge (52), extending parallel to the cylinder axis, said end walls of at least one receptacle including an end rib (64) extending inwardly from and normal to said side wall, said end wall has a portion (63) sloping outwardly from said end rib toward the free edge of said end wall said side walls (53) being positively secured in juxtaposition by attachment means (60, 62) whereby said receptacles are detachably securable, said attachment means being constituted by a flange (55) extending outwardly of a side wall (53) of one of said two receptacles from an edge thereof opposite said common edge, two or more cavities (60) in said flange spaced on a long axis thereof and positioned to receive in friction fit a respective one of two or more protrusions (62) formed in the other of said two receptacles and spaced on a long axis thereof lying on the apex of said semi-cylindrical side wall.

2. A coin holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said end rib (64) is provided in each end wall of each receptacle and extends entirely along said side wall (53) transversely thereto.

3. A coin holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said end walls is provided with structural ribs (66) integrally molded, said outwardly sloping of said end walls (54) permitting clearance of said end walls of one receptacle with end coins positioned adjacent said end wall of the other of said receptacles and further permitting nesting of holders one within the other when not in use.

4. A coin holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein a peripheral structural flange (58) extends diametrically outward of one of said receptacles from at least the free edge of said side wall opposite said common edge, and a further structural flange (67) extending transversely outward from the free edge of said end walls to structurally stabilize said receptacles.

5. A coin holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plastics material is an acetate plastic vinyl of 0.178 mm (0.007 in) thickness and being coloured to identify the coin denomination to be retained in said holder.

6. A coin holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said common edge has a hinge rib (52) formed therealong.

7. A coin holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receptacle having said flange is formed with at least a roughened outer surface in an apex region of said side wall.

8. A coin holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more longitudinal expansion ribs (59) are formed longitudinally across said flange between said edge from which said flange extends and said cavities in said flange whereby to exert a retention force on said protrusions (62) received in said cavities (60).