GB2171829A

GB2171829A - Dispensing container for coins, discs, tablets and like objects

Info

Publication number: GB2171829A
Application number: GB08505390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Keith Langley Mason; Eric Robert Percival
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-03-01
Filing date: 1985-03-01
Publication date: 1986-09-03
Also published as: GB8505390D0

Abstract

A coin or disc like object dispenser (hereafter stated as a coin or the contents), that fits the hand in the dispensing position with visual and a feel indication of the contents. The contents are dispensed by a forward action of the thumb or finger of the same hand. The dispenser terminates at the discharge end with an angular face 2, a combination of retaining lugs 3-4 and integral hinge like gates 17 that retain the contents from accidental discharge. The contents are dispensed singularly by hinge like gates flexing apart as a coin slides forward and closing behind as discharge takes place; the following coin is released ready for dispensing by the spring loaded plunger 14. Sequential discharge may be continued until the entire contents have been dispensed. The dispenser is reloaded by inserting singular coins into the slot like guides 5 formed by the frontal retaining lugs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing container for coins, discs, tablets and like objects We, Eric, Keith, Langley Mason, a British subject of 28 River Court, Chartham, Canterbury, Kent.CT4 7JN and Eric Robert Percival, a British subject of 5 River Close, East Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent.

ME15 OJE.

do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and be the following statement: This invention relates to an improvement to small coin magazines and dispensers that are primarily, but not solely used for general everyday transactions by the public, including disabled people. The existing designs of such coin magazines and dispensers is for the coins to be inserted flat, one upon the other to a specified capacity. To dispense a coin, it is usual practice to press on the face of the exposed coin, avoiding the projecting retaining lip, which must be correctly and positively aligned to the thumb by sight and then extending the thumb forward to slide out a coin.

The next coin is brought up to the discharge position by spring pressure from the base of the dispenser. As the coin has to slide out from the discharge position, it is possible for a coin or coins to be accidentally dropped: the impact causing the spring to viberate and release the holding pressure on the coins. The invention now described, allows the coin to be exposed, thus reducing the effort to discharge a coin whilst the retaining device prevents accidental discharge of a coin or coins if the dispenser is dropped. The loading of the dispenser is made much easier as the coins are inserted into the dispenser in the axial plane without the necessity of depressing the previous inserted coin or pressing back the spring loaded plunger.Indentations are provided along the body of the dispenser to indicate the number of coins in the dispenser and this is of particular importance to people without eyesight or with serious vision defects.

The dispenser is so designed that it fits readily into the hand and is positively aligned by feel of the thumb or finger to discharge a coin or coins, by a one simple pushing action thus eliminating the need to align the discharge position. Single coin discharge is effected by pushing on the exposed coin upper edge with a movement in the forward direction, across the face of the coin generally using the thumb only. The dispenser is made from a durable impact resistant plastic material, is light weight, non corrodible and ideally designed for mass production and low unit cost. The dispenser is designed primarily for the one pound sterling coin, thus keeping such coins separated from all other coins.

Because of its ease of loading, coins can be inserted into the dispenser as change is received as simply as placing coins in a purse, thus the invention will provide ease of handling for the one pound sterling coin replacement of the paper one pound note. The princi ple could also be used to store and dispense hard confectionary or medicines in tablet form.

The description of the invention.

A durable plastic body 1, has a frontal sloping face 2. set at typically 40 to the axial plane. The sloping face 2. carries two retaining lugs with profiled faces 3. which are formed as integral parts to the body at the positions shown on Drawing No. 1. Two other secondary retaining beads are formed (also as integral parts 4.) on the front of the sloping face 2. As the lugs 3. are positioned at the uppermost part of the sloping face 2.

and project inwards and the beads 4. are positioned on the lower part of the sloping face 2. A slot like construction is developed 5.

that provides the loading aperture for the coins. A contained axial slot 6. extends part way along the short side of the body 1. and terminates in bridge sections 7 & 8 at the front and rear sections of the body. A spring pressure actuated plunger with an angular face set typically 40 9. is located within the bore of the body 1. and is aligned to mate up with its sloping front face 2. by engagement of a projection 10. on the short side of plunger 9.

with the axial slot 6.

The projection 10. also has a straight knurled surface on its outer face so as to provide a finger grip should it be required to retract the plunger 9. against the forard moving spring pressure produced by the helical coil spring 11. This projection 10. can be so arranged to indicate the loaded capacity of the device by alignment with a raised number sequence positioned along the side of the contained slot 6. The helical coil spring 11. is housed partially within the hollow interior of the plunger 9. and the body 1. and is precompressed and retained within the assembly by the end cap 12. The plunger 9. is constructed in a durable plastic material with the projection 10. being formed as an inegral part, but with the ability to flex inwards as the plunger 9. is inserted into the body 1. from the open end 13.A spigot location 14. is formed within the interior of the plunger at the inner surface of the 40 sloping face 1. to locate and secure the spring 11. along the horizontal axis of the assembly. The end cap 12. is also formed from a durable plastic material, with a spigot location for the rear end of the spring 11. and two directly opposed securing lugs 15. The lugs 15. are an integral part of the end cap 12. and are so designed to flex inwards as the end cap 12. is pressed into the body 1. rear section 13. When pressed into the body 1. by the required amount, the securing lugs 15. spring outwards into slots 16. formed within the body 1. The spring 11. is pre-compressed as the end cap 12. is located and secured, causing the plunger 9. to move along the bore of the body 1.

until its typically 40 face 2. contacts the retaining lugs 3. and the secondary retaining bead 4. Coins are inserted into slot like aperture 5. edgewise. As the coin contacts the sloping face of the plunger 9. it proceeds to compress the spring and slide down the sloping face 2. until it snaps under the retaining lugs 3. and is thus secured in a magazine like manner. Further coins are inserted in the same manner until the magazine is completely loaded with a pack of coins that are laying over typically at 40 with the leading coin projecting above the sloping face of the body 2.

Coins are discharged by a sliding action of the thumb of finger that contacts the exposed upper outer edge of the coin. Coins are retained from accidental discharge by the inter-moulded flaps 17. such that, as coins are discharged by the sliding action of the thumb or finger, these flaps flex aside acting as swing doors, to allow the coins exit. They then spring back after discharge thereby retaining the next coin which has now been raised by the spring 11. raising the plunger 9.

thus bringing the next coin into the discharge position. It is preferable that the durable plastic material used for the body 1. which embodies the flaps 17. shall have physical properties that allow flexing of the flaps 17. repeatedly with resistance to fatique failure. Specifically the value of the flexural modulus of the material shall be such, that normal repeatedly flexing of the flaps shall not exceed a fatique life safety iimit of the device. A typically preferred material, that meets this requirement is a polypropylene polymer but other materials can be used with success, providing they meet the design criteria and have similar flex ular modulus properties. A disposable version of this device can be constructed in a low cost and lighter construction from lower flexural modulus materials, that can be utilised as a prepacked, machine loaded dispenser to the used by banks and like organisations that dispense money. Such a version of the device would incorporate the main features of the invention.

Claims

1. A dispenser for coins, discs & tablets made from a durable plastic material or other materials. So constructed that the upper edge of the coin, disc or tablet is exposed & permits discharge of the stored item by a simple single forward movement of the thumb or finger.

2. A dispenser that retains the contents when subjected to shock forces such as dropping on to a non resilient surface yet retains an easy dispensing action.

4. A dispenser that alloys the contents to be inserted in an axial plane, through a slot like configuration of the retaining heads & BR< swing like gate without the need to depress the previous stored item or by drawing back a feed plunger: the action being likened to a coin machine operated device.

5. A dispenser that fits into the hand & BR< aligns itself into the ideal dispensing position by its form & feel.

6. A dispenser that is manufactured in a material that is rigid yet possesses spring like properties with a flexural modulus that resists fatique.

7. A dispenser with swing like gates that retain the contents from accidental discharge, yet deflect sufficiently to allow dispensing objects singularly or successively, the afore said gates being so designed to spring back after each dispensing action to the retaining position.

8. A dispenser that consists of only three main components that can be produced at low cost, are non corrodible & ideally suited to the injection moulding process. That can be loaded simply by any member of the public.

9. A disposable type dispenser, pre loaded by money handling institutions such as banks, that can be produced at very low cost but has a reduced service life.

10. A dispenser that in addition to its eliptical form and size fits naturally into the hand with its discharge position naturally aligned to the thumb or first finger, as an indication of the contents that can be identified by feel or sight.