GB2320604A

GB2320604A - Collection device for coin operated machine

Info

Publication number: GB2320604A
Application number: GB9626398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Leonard Barnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-19
Filing date: 1996-12-19
Publication date: 1998-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-19
Also published as: GB9626398D0; GB2320604B

Abstract

A collection device for collecting and securely storing coins or tokens in a coin operated machine such as a pay-to-play pool table consists of a coin collecting drawer 40 which receives coins or tokens which are put into a slot in the machine by a user. The drawer 40 is removably received inside a security box 20 which is itself connected to a supporting frame 11 mounted in the machine. The security box 20 can be moved relative to the frame 11 between a first position in which the security box 20 is retracted and locked inside the machine and a second position in which the security box extends out of the machine to allow the collecting drawer to be removed and the coins collected by an authorised person. The drawer 40 may have a coin counting device 43.

Description

COLLECTION DEVICE FOR COIN OPERATED MACHINE The present invention relates to a collection device for collecting and securely storing coins in a coin operated machine. In particular, the invention relates to a pay-to-play amusement machine, for example a pool table or the like.

It will be appreciated that some such machines take prepaid tokens or the like rather than coins and accordingly references to coins are also intended to apply to such tokens.

Conventional coin operated machines such as pool tables must be provided with a device for collecting the coins which have to be inserted before a game can be played. The collection device must be secure to avoid tampering and theft but it should also be accessible to an authorised person with relative ease for emptying. Such machines may accumulate a large number of coins and to avoid the need to empty the machine too frequently, a collection device of reasonable capacity must be provided.

One traditional design of pool table has large hollow legs in one of which a collecting box is located. Coins drop into the box via shutes from the coin insertion slot. This arrangement ensures a large height drop between the coin insertion slot and the collecting box which is useful because the system relies on gravity to ensure that coins fall correctly into the collecting box. In order to empty the collecting box it is necessary to open a panel in the side of the table leg and remove the box.

More modern pool tables are often styled differently and have only relatively narrow solid legs. Therefore the collecting box must be accommodated within the body of the pool table. In an attempt to provide a reasonable height drop between the coin insertion slot and the collecting box, one design locates the box in a metal casing suspended beneath the body of the pool table. The collecting box is accessible only from within the body of the pool table by first removing a panel in the side of the pool table body to allow access to the interior.

However, modern pool tables include a number of electronic control systems to register the insertion of a coin, to validate the coin and to release the balls upon validation in order to allow a game to be played, and to provide additional features such as reduced price games at certain times etc. In order to allow easy access to these control systems for maintenance, all of the systems together with the coin receiving mechanism are usually mounted on a single panel in the side of the pool table which is removable as a single unit. This means that to gain access to the collecting box the entire panel with attaced systems must be removed from the pool table body.

This makes retrieval of the collecting box more complicated and time consuming and leaves the control systems on the panel vulnerable to damage whilst the unit is, for example, placed on the floor.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for collecting coins or the like for use in a coin operated machine, comprising a support frame mountable to a machine body; a first container connected to the support frame so as to be movable between a first position and a second position; a second container for collecting coins, the second container being removably received within the first container;; and the first container being further provided with an opening through which the second container may be inserted and withdrawn; wherein in the first position at least part of the first container is retracted inside the support frame so as to prevent the second container from being removed from or inserted into the first container through the opening, and in the second position at least part of the first container extends out of the support frame so as to allow the second container to be removed from or inserted into the first container through the opening.

Thus the present invention provides a coin collection device which in one position is easily accessible for emptying but in another position is secure against theft.

Conveniently, the second container is connected to the support means by pivot means so that it may pivot between the retracted and extended positions.

In one embodiment, the device is mountable in a coin operated machine such that in use the first container projects as least partially out of the machine in both the retracted and extended positions.

Furthermore, the device is preferably mountable in a coin operated machine such that in use in the retracted position the opening in the first container is located within the machine and in the extended position the opening is revealed outside the machine.

Preferably, the device further comprises a pair of corresponding apertures provided in the first and second containers respectively through which coins may pass into the second container and the device is mountable in a coin operated machine such that in use in the retracted position the second container tilts downwardly in a direction away from its coin receiving aperture to encourage coins to collect clear of the aperture.

Advantageously, the device is provided with locking means in order to lock the second container in the retracted position to prevent unauthorised access to the second container in which the coins are collected.

In one embodiment, the locking means is mounted on the first container and engages with the support means in the locked position The first container may be provided with at least one stop member to locate the second container in position inside it.

In addition, the second container may be provided with a handle in order to facilitate its withdrawal from and insertion into the first container.

The device may also be provided with a means to count the number of coins which are inserted into the machine and conveniently this counter is located within the second container. Thus, the number of coins collected can be compared with the number on the counter as a security check.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a coin operated machine including a coin collection device as described above.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a collection device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the assembled device in its raised position; and FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the assembled device in the lowered position.

A collection device 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in exploded form in Figure 1. The device 10 comprises a main support frame 11 which is made up of four walls.

There are two substantially rectangular walls, one forming the front wall 12 which is relatively shallow and the other forming the rear wall 13 which is relatively deep. The front and rear walls 12,13 are joined by two substantially triangular side walls 14.

Right-angle flanges 15 extend outwardly from the uppermost edges of the rear wall 13 and the two side walls 14. The front wall 12 is provided with an aperture 16 for engagement with a locking mechanism 28 as described below. A pair of coaxial apertures 17 are provided in the lower rear corners of the side walls 14 to receive a pivot rod 34. The flanges 15 may each be provided with a pair of apertures 19 to allow the support frame 11 to be bolted to the body of a coin operated machine.

Situated within the main support frame 11 is a security box 20 which itself receives the coin or token collecting drawer 40 which is described further below.

The security box 20 consists of a rear wall 21, a pair of side walls 22, and a base 24. The box 20 has a front opening 25 defined by the side walls 22 and the base 24 and a lid 23 having an opening 26 towards the rear end. The box is also provided with a false bottom 27. A locking mechanism 28 is located in the gap between the false bottom 27 and the base wall 24. The locking mechanism 28 is actuable from beneath the box 20 through a keyhole 29 provided in the base 24 as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

A pair of stop members 30 are provided in the lower corners where the side walls 22 meet the false bottom 27 adjacent the front opening 25 to retain the collecting drawer 40 in position.

The lid 23 is formed with an aperture 31 at least partially surrounded by an upstanding lip 32 to embrace the bottom of a conventional coin drop mechanism in a coin operated machine which delivers coins from the insertion slot(not shown).

An electrical socket 33 is provided at the rear of the security box 20 for connecting a counting device 43 in the collecting drawer 40 to conventional control circuitry in the coin operated machine which monitors the number of coins inserted.

The security box 20 is pivotally connected to the support frame 11 by means of a pivot rod 34 situated adjacent and parallel to the rear lowermost edge of the box 20. The ends of the rod 34 pass through the apertures 17 in the side walls 14 of the support frame 11 and, in this example, are secured by clips 35.

However, for added security the pivot rod 34 may be fixed in a more permanent manner such as by welding.

To limit the extent of pivoting, a pair of stop tabs 36 extend outwardly from the lid 23 of the box 20 and a lip 37 projects forwardly from the base 24 of the box 20.

The side walls 22 of the security box 20 are substantially trapezoidal in shape, such that their front and rear edges taper inwardly towards the upper wall 23. The depth of the side walls 22 also decreases from the front to the rear of the box 20. This shape allows the security box 20 to pivot to a certain extent within the support frame 11 without hindrance.

Thus, the security box 20 is pivotable between a retracted position shown in Figure 2 in which the rear wall 21 of the box substantially abuts the rear wall 13 of the frame 11 and an extended position shown in Figure 3 in which the security box 20 tilts downwardly towards the front so that the front opening 25 is accessible beneath the front wall 12 of the frame 11.

The pair of stop tabs 36 engage against the flanges 15 extending from the side walls 14 of the frame 11 in order to limit the extent to which the security box 20 may pivot downwardly out of the frame 11. Similarly in the raised position, the lip 37 engages against the lower edge of the front wall 12 of the support frame 11 to limit the extent to which the security box 20 may pivot upwardly relative to the frame 11.

The locking device 28 carried by the security box in this example comprises a conventional mortice lock arrangement whereby the mortice can be extended through the aperture 16 in the front wall 12 of the frame 11 in order to lock the security box 20 in the raised position. When the mortice is retracted from the aperture 16, the security box 20 is free to pivot about the pivot rod 34 into its extended position.

It will be appreciated that any other convenient type of locking device may be used instead of a mortice type deadlock. Similarly, the locking device need not be mounted on the security box 20 nor engage with the front wall of the frame. For example, the locking device could comprise bars which extend to each side of the security box and engage through apertures in the side walls of the frame.

The collecting drawer 40 for receiving coins is slidably received within the security box 20. The collecting drawer 40 is a substantially closed box except for an aperture 41 adjacent to its front wall which, when the collecting drawer 40 is in position within the security box 20, is aligned beneath the aperture 31 and hence beneath the coin drop mechanism.

The drawer 40 is divided into two parts by a partition wall 42. The partitioned area to the rear of the drawer 40 holds a conventional counting device 43 which is electrically connected to the control circuitry of the coin operated machine by engagement with the socket 33 of the security box 20.

Conventional pool tables are usually fitted with a counting device linked to the coin drop mechanism so that every coin inserted adds one to the counter.

This provides a security check because the number can be compared with the number of coins found in the collecting drawer to make sure that the two numbers tally.

In the present invention, the counter 43 provides an additional safeguard. The counter 43 is also incremented each time a coin is inserted into the machine. Thus the number can be compared with that shown on the main counter. When the collecting drawer 40 is emptied the counter 43 is reset to zero. The main counter within the pool table is normally nonresettable for security reasons.

Preferably, a handle 44 is provided on the front wall of the collecting drawer 40 to facilitate removing and replacing the collecting drawer 40 within the security box 20.

In use, the main frame 11 is located in an aperture in the floor of a machine body. The frame 11 is inserted through the aperture from the interior of the body such that the flanges 15 contact the upper surface of the floor 50 and retain the frame 11 in position. Additional fastening means such as a nut and bolt may be fixed throught each aperture 19 to securely attach the support frame 11 to the floor 50 of the machine. The majority of the frame 11 hangs down through the aperture beneath the floor 50 of the machine. The front wall 12 of the support frame 11 is adjacent the inner surface of the side wall 51 of the machine body.

The collecting drawer 40 is received within the security box 20 behind the stop members 30 and the security box 20 is fitted within the frame 11 and pivotally connected thereto by the rod 34. In the retracted position, when the locking device 28 engages the aperture 16 in the frame 11, the forward parts of the security box 20 and collecting drawer 40 are within the machine body whilst towards the rear they hang beneath the machine. Thus, the front opening 25 is not accessible from the exterior of the pool table, preventing removal of the collecting drawer 40.

Furthermore the base 24, locking device 28 and false bottom 27 of the box 20 provide a barrier which prevents access to the collecting drawer 40 from beneath the machine. This arrangement also ensures that the whole assembly is not readily visible to a person standing or sitting in the vicinity of the machine since only the rearward part of the assembly hangs below the floor 50.

An additional advantage is that in the retracted position, the collecting drawer 40 is tilted downwardly towards the rear away from the aperture 41.

This tilt encourages the coins to collect towards the rear of the drawer rather than simply build up directly beneath the aperture 41 which might cause the mechanism to block.

When it is desired to remove the collecting drawer 40, a key can be inserted through the keyhole 29 in the base 24 of the security box 20 in order to unlock the locking device 28. The security box 20 and collecting drawer 40 then pivot under gravity in the direction of arrow A to reveal the front opening 25 of the security box 20 below the machine floor. The collecting drawer 40 can be raised to clear the stop members 30 and withdrawn in the direction of arrow B through the opening 21 in order to be emptied.

Thus, the present invention provides an improved coin collection device in which the collecting drawer is easy to remove for emptying when in the extended postion but which is securely retained in the retracted position when the machine is in use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the security box need not be pivotally connected to the support frame. For example the security box may be movable between the retracted and extended positions by means of a cantilever arrangement, mechanical linkage or any other convenient means.

Claims

CLAIM8:

1. A device for collecting coins or the like for use in a coin operated machine, comprising a support frame mountable to a machine body; a first container connected to the support frame so as to be movable between a first position and a second position; a second container for collecting coins, the second container being removably received within the first container;; and the first container being further provided with an opening through which the second container may be inserted and withdrawn; wherein in the first position at least part of the first container is retracted inside the support frame so as to prevent the second container from being removed from or inserted into the first container through the opening, and in the second position at least part of the first container extends out of the support frame so as to allow the second container to be removed from or inserted into the first container through the opening.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first container is connected to the support frame by pivot means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device is mountable in a coin operated machine such that in use the first container projects as least partially out of the machine in both the retracted and extended positions.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is mountable in a coin operated machine such that in use in the retracted position the opening in the first container is located within the machine and in the extended position the opening is revealed outside the machine.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a pair of corresponding apertures provided in the first and second containers respectively through which coins may pass into the second container and wherein the device is mountable in a coin operated machine such that in use in the retracted position the second container tilts downwardly in a direction away from its coin receiving aperture.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising locking means to lock the first container in the retracted position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking means is mounted on the first container and is engageable in the locked condition with the support means.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one stop member is provided in the first container to locate the second container in position.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second container is provided with a handle to facilitate withdrawal from and insertion into the first container.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means operable to count the number of coins inserted into the machine.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the counting means is mounted in the second container.

12. A coin operated machine including a coin collection device as claimed in any preceding claim.

13. A coin operated machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the device is mounted such that the first container projects at least partially out of the machine in both the retracted and extended positions.

14. A coin operated machine as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein, the device is mounted such that in the retracted position the opening in the first container is located within the machine and in the extended position the opening is revealed outside the machine.

15. A coin operated machine as claimed in any of claims 12,13 or 14, wherein the device is mounted such that in the retracted position the second container tilts downwardly in a direction away from its coin receiving aperture.

16. A device for collecting coins or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.