GB2207793A

GB2207793A - Push-button for introducing tokens

Info

Publication number: GB2207793A
Application number: GB08818159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aldo Maggi
Original assignee: Maggi Coniature SRL
Current assignee: Maggi Coniature SRL
Priority date: 1987-08-04
Filing date: 1988-07-29
Publication date: 1989-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-29
Also published as: IT211783Z2; IT8722166V0; GB8818159D0; GB2207793B

Abstract

A push-button for introducing tokens into dispensers, electronic games and the like adapted to also operated for returning tokens, characterized in that said push-button has an inlet (2) and a covering means (9) bearing pins (8) adapted to snap cooperate with holes (7) formed on said inlet, (2), said inlet (2) and covering means (9) having slots (3,10) for introducing said token, a metal plate (13) being provided to be interposed between said inlet (2) and covering means (9) said plate also having a slot (14) adapted to select said tokens. <IMAGE>

Description

PUSH-BUTTON FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF TOKENS INTO DISPENSERS, ELECTRONIC GAMES AND THE LIKE ALSO ADAPTED TO OPERATE FOR RETURNING TOKENS The present invention relates to a push-button for dispensers, electronic games and the like.

As is known, push-buttons presently available for this purpose have an inlet provided with a slot for receiving the tokens or coins and introducing them into the dispenser or electronic game to which the push-button is fitted; these inlets can be provided with covering means which are affixed at the top of said inlets, for example by a conventional glue, after the top surface of the inlet is provided with a conventional element for indicating the name and/or the cost of the articles being dispensed or of the game.

The assembling of these known push-buttons is however rather difficult, even if the single component parts thereof (in a case in which the push-button comprises a lot of parts) or the inlet thereof (in a case in which the push-button comprises exclusively an inlet) can be made in a comparatively simple way. Moreover the indicating element can be hardly fitted between the inlet and covering means and the time required for making the push-button is very long because of the welding operations of its parts, with a consequent increase of its cost.

Thus, the main object of the present invention is to provide a push-button for dispensers and/or electronic games the component parts of which can be assembled in a simple way, without using any assembling materials and in which the article and cost indicating element can be easily fitted.

Another object is to provide a push-button of comparatively low cost.

According to the present invention there is provided a push button comprising an inlet, a covering means having pins adapted to snap cooperate with holes formed on said inlet when the covering means is applied with pressure on the inlet, said inlet and covering means having slots for introducing said tokens, and a metal plate adapted to be interposed between the inlet and the covering means, said plate also having a slot adapted to select said tokens.

The invention will become more apparent from the following disclosure, with reference to the accompanying indicative drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a push-button according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig.l of the assembled push-button.

With reference to the Figures, the push-button, which has been indicated overall by the reference number 1, comprises an inlet 2 having a side slot 3, a locating fin 4 and a pin member 5 adapted to cooperate with a conventional driving mechanism of a dispenser and/or electronic game. The inlet 2 is provided, on its top surface 6, with holes 7 adapted to cooperate with pin members 8 of a covering means 9 also provided with a side slot 10 which, in the assembled condition of the push-button 1, will be arranged opposite to the slot 3 of the inlet 2.

The pin members 8 are provided with a frusto-conical shaped head 11 adapted to lock the pin members in the holes 7 of the inlet 2, the pin members 8 penetrating, before engaging the holes 7, into further holes 12 formed in a metal plate 13 to be interposed between the inlet 2 and covering means 9.

The metal plate 13 is provided with a side slot 14 which, with the push-button 1 in the assembled condition, will be located at a position corresponding to the slots 3 and 10 formed on the inlet 2 and covering means 9. The slot 14 of the metal plate 13 is provided in its inside, at its greater sides 15 and 16, with teeth 17 arranged at different levels on the two sides, so as to allow for the token introduced into the opposite slots 3, 10, 14 to be selected.

The push-button can be easily assembled by coupling the metal plate 13 to the covering means 9 by engaging the pins 8 in the holes 12 of the plate and possibly interposing between the plate and covering means 9 an element (not shown) for indicating the article being dispened and its cost or the cost of the electronic game.

Then the inlet 2 is fitted to the previously assembled parts, by engaging the pins 8 in the holes 7 of the inlet. In this connection, it should be apparent that this engaging operation will be facilitated by the configuration of the pins 8 which, as aforeaid, have frusto-conical shaped heads 11, thereby allowing for the pins 8 to penetrate easily into the hole 7 and remain firmly locked therein.

The push-button according to the invention can be easily made and assembled in a very reduced time with a consequent low cost.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A push-button for introducing tokens into dispeners, electronic games and the like adapted also to operate for returning tokens, characterized in that the push-button comprises an inlet (2), a covering means (9) having pins (8) adapted to snap cooperate with holes (7) formed on said inlet when the covering means is applied with pressure on the inlet, said inlet and covering means having slots (3,10) for introducing said tokens, and a metal plate (13) adapted to be interposed between the inlet and the covering means, said plate also having a slot (14) adapted to select said tokens.

2. A push-button according to claim 1, characterised in that each pin (8) of the covering means (9) has a frusto-conical shaped head (11) adapted to facilitate engagement in the holes (7) and prevent the pins from disengaging from the holes.

3. A push-button according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pins (8) cooperate with further holes (12) formed on the metal plate (13).

4. A push-button according to claim 1, characterized in that the slot (14) formed through the metal plate (13) is provided with teeth (17) arranged inside the slot on its greater sides (15,16).

5. A push button for introducing tokens into dispeners, electronic games and the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.