GB2394504A

GB2394504A - Locking device for cabinet door

Info

Publication number: GB2394504A
Application number: GB0321177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Corristine
Original assignee: IGT UK Ltd
Current assignee: IGT UK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-10
Filing date: 2003-09-10
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-10
Also published as: GB0321177D0; GB2394504B; GB0220944D0

Abstract

A locking device comprising a cover 11 lockable in a position to prevent access to a release member 8. The release member 8 is operable to effect disengagement of a locking mechanism for a door structure of a cabinet. The locking mechanism is interengageable between the body structure of the cabinet and the cover. The cover 11 is mounted on one structure and is movable into a locking position at which it covers the release member 8. The cover 11 can be locked in position and this may be done by a padlock. The device is characterised in that the cover 11 is arranged to interengage the release member 8 in the locking position such as to prevent operation thereof. The cover 11 may be pivotally mounted on the door structure 4 by way of a hinge 15. The cover 11 may be comprised of two parts 13, 14, one being movable relative to the other. The device may be used to lock a fruit machine.

Description

1 2394504

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CABINET DOOR

This invention relates to a locking device for releasably locking a door structure across an opening in a body structure of a cabinet. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively, for use in conjunction with cabinets of 5 entertainment machines especially coinoperated gaming machines, such as so-called fruit machines.

Typically fruit machines have selector devices, such as actual or simulated rotatable reels mounted behind a window in a Dont panel of a cabinet. The machine is actuated for play of a game by insertion of coins or tokens into a coin slot and a 10 winning outcome may result in a payout of coins or tokens or other prizes to the player. Retained coins or tokens are stored in a cash box which is located inside the machine cabinet, and coins or tokens or other prizes for pay-outs are stored in pay-out mechanisms within the cabinet.

The fruit machine cabinet has an opening closed by a lockable door to provide 15 authorised access to the interior of the cabinet for repair, maintenance and routine emptying of the cash box and re-stocking of the pay-out mechanism.

Fruit machines are commonly a target for thieves and it is important to have a lockable door arrangement which provides adequate security.

This is particularly a problem with fruit machines since they are known to 20 contain money and are often unattended, although similar problems can also arise with other equipment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lockable door arrangement which can provide high security yet which can be incorporated in an aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically acceptable manner.

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a. À À * À According to the invention there is provided a locking device for releasably locking a door structure across an opening in a body structure of a cabinet, said device comprising a locking mechanism interengageable between the structures, a release member operable to effect disengagement of the locking mechanism a cover mounted 5 on one structure, the cover being movable into a locking position at which it covers the release member to prevent access thereto, and means for locking the cover relative to the said other structure, characterized in that the cover is arranged to interengage the release member in the said locking position such as to prevent operation thereof.

With this arrangement, the interconnection of the release member, and the 10 cover facilitate a high security arrangement. In order to release the locking mechanism it is necessary for the cover to be unlocked and the cover to be disengaged from the release member.

Preferably the one structure on which the cover is mounted is the door structure. 15 Preferably the release member is mounted on the other structure which is preferably the body structure of the cabinet.

The cover may be pivotally mounted on the said one structure particularly with a hinge joint.

The release member may comprise a projecting member and in this case 20 interengagement of the cover with the release member may be via a receiving structure, such as an apertured plate or the like, on the cover.

The projecting member may be operable by movement along a slot, whereby the interengagement of the cover with the member acts to prevent such movement.

À À À a À With this arrangement, the release member must be in the correct locking position in order for the receiving structure to interengage the cover thereby enabling the cover to be moved to the closed position and thus eliminating poor operating procedures. 5 The cover may be formed in two interconnected parts, one being mounted on the said one structure and the other being adapted for said locking to the said other structure. The parts may be interconnected via a movable joint e.g. a hinge, drop pin or the like, or may be rigidly interconnected or even formed integrally.

10 The said receiving structure may be located on the said one part of the cover.

The other part may have a first locking member, for juxtaposition alongside a second locking member on the said other structure, a locking means being provided for interconnection of the locking members. The locking members may be apertured brackets or the like, and the locking means may be a padlock or the like.

15 The other part is preferably arranged to project over and beyond the locking members to provide cover and protection for the locking means. Thus the other part may extend transversely to the said one part.

The cover is preferably formed from one or more metal structures which may comprise plates or channel section structures or the like.

20 The said locking mechanism between the structures may be of any suitable kind e.g. involving a finger or pawl or bolt which engages a receiving structure.

Most preferably the locking mechanism includes a security device which has to be released, using a release device which may be a mechanical key or other device, before the release member is operable.

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À À À c Preferably the release member is incorporated in the locking mechanism via a weak link or itself is a weak link whereby any attempt to force the release member before release of the security device will break or disrupt the link and prevent release of the mechanism.

5 Advantageously, this arrangement provides a visible deterrent to potential thieves and provides substantial protection to the release member.

Preferably, the locking mechanism is operable in several inter-dependent stages. Disengagement of the locking mechanism is initiated by the release of a 10 security device. The security device may be located in the said one structure.

Following release of the security device it is then possible to slide the release member to the open position. Such movement completes the disengagement of the locking mechanism thus allowing authorised access to the cabinet.

With this arrangement, the inter-dependence of the release aspect and the 15 release member gives rise to a further high security arrangement. In order to move the release member and thereby disengage the locking mechanism it is first necessary to release the security device.

Preferably, the locking device described herein is fitted to a fruit machine cabinet. 20 The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front perspective view of one form of fruit machine fitted with the locking device of the present invention;

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Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side perspective view of a cabinet fitted with the locking device of the present invention, wherein the locking device is in the closed position; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side perspective view of a cabinet fitted with 5 the locking device of the present invention, wherein the locking device is in the open position; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a cabinet fitted with the locking device of the present invention, wherein the locking device is in the closed position. 10Referring to Figure 1, this shows a fruit machine having a floor- standing box shaped cabinet 1 with a front wall 2 having an upper structure 3.

The body structure 3 comprises an opening door structure 4 which is opened by way of a set of hinges 5.

Located on the body structure 3 is a locking mechanism 6 comprising a key 15hole 7, a lever 8 and a vertically aligned protruding bracket 9 with an aperture 10 located therein.

A cover 11 is pivotally mounted on the door structure 4 by way of a hinge 12.

The cover 11 is composed of two parts, 13 and 14, one being movable relative to the other. The movement is achieved by way of a hinge 15 (not shown). With this 20 arrangement, the second part 14 can be both perpendicular and co-planar to the first part 13.

A vertically aligned bracket 16 bearing a hole 17 is mounted on the cover 1 1.

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e ee e Referring to Figure 2, this shows the upper structure 3 of the cabinet 1, wherein the door 4 is in the closed position and the handle (not shown) is protected by the cover 11.

Referring to Figure 3, this shows the upper structure 3 wherein the door 4 is in 5 the closed position and the cover 11 is in the open position.

Referring to Figure 4, this shows door structure 4 in the closed position with the cover 11 in the locked position.

In use, to open the door structure 4, the padlock (not shown) securing the cover 11 to the body structure 3 is released. The hinge mounted cover 11 is then 10 moved to the open position, as shown in Figure 2.

The operator is now able to initiate disengagement of the internal mechanism (not shown) by inserting a key in the keyhole 7 thereby releasing the security device (not shown). Movement of the key into the open position results in the disengagement of the security device from its corresponding member (not shown) 15 which is located on the body structure 3.

This initial disengagement allows the operator to complete disengagement of the internal locking mechanism by moving lever 8 in a longitudinal fashion, via slot 19, into the open position. The operator is now able to open the door structure 4.

In order to securely fasten the door structure 4 to the body structure 3 the door 20 must first be closed. The lever 8 is then longitudinally moved in the reverse direction to the closed position. This initiates engagement of the locking mechanism.

Operation of the key hole to the closed position activates the security device thereby completing engagement of the locking mechanism.

À r e c I À e ce The cover 11 is then moved into position by way of hinge 15. The aperture located on the first part 13 of the cover engages the lever (only when the lever is in the correct closed position) and the second part 14 is then moved by way of hinge 15 in order that bracket 17 located on the cover 11 and bracket 9 located on the body 5 structure 3 are juxtaposed. The cover is then secured in place by way of a padlock (not shown) which is passed through the apertures present in brackets 9 and 17 and locked. The door is now securely closed.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of 10 example only.

Claims

c: c::: t: ce Q ece e 0 c ce Claims

1. A locking device for releasably locking a door structure across an opening in a body structure of a cabinet, said device comprising a locking mechanism interengageable between the structures, a release member operable to effect 5 disengagement of the locking mechanism, a cover mounted on one structure, the cover being movable into a locking position at which it covers the release member to prevent access thereto, and means for locking the cover relative to the said other structure, characterised in that the cover is arranged to interengage the release member in the said locking position such as to prevent operation thereof.

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2. A locking device according to claim 1 wherein the one structure on which the cover is mounted is the door structure.

3. A locking device according to claim 1 wherein the other structure is the body structure of a cabinet.

4. A locking device according to any preceding claim wherein the cover is 15 pivotally mounted on the said one structure.

5. A locking device according to any preceding claim wherein the cover is mounted upon the said one structure by way of a hinge joint.

6. A locking device according to any preceding claim wherein the release member is a projecting member which interengages the cover by way of a receiving 20 member.

7. A locking device according to claim 6, wherein the receiving member is an apertured plate on the cover.

8. A locking device according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the projecting member is operable by movement along a slot.

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9. A locking device according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is formed in a first part and a second part, said parts being interconnected.

10. A locking device according to claim 9, wherein the first part of the cover is mounted on the said one structure and the second part of the cover is adapted for 5 locking to the said other structure.

A locking device according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the first and second parts are interconnected by a movable joint.

12. A locking device according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the first and second parts are interconnected by a drop pin arrangement.

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13. A locking device according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first and second parts are rigidly interconnected.

14. A locking device according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first and second parts are formed integrally.

15. A locking device according to any preceding claim, where the receiving 15 member is located on the first part of the cover.

16. A locking device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second part is provided with a first locking member and the other structure is provided with a second locking member.

17. A locking device according to claim 16, wherein the first and second locking 20 members are interconnected with a locking device.

18. A locking device according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the locking members are apertured brackets.

19. A locking device according to claim 17, wherein the locking means is a padlock.

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20. A locking device according to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the said other part projects over and beyond the locking members.

21. A locking device according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism between the said structures includes a security device.

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22. A locking device according to any preceding claim wherein the release member is incorporated into the locking mechanism via a weak link.

23. A locking device according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism is operable in several inter-dependent stages.

24. A locking device according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking 10 mechanism is disengaged by release of the security device.

25. A locking device according to any preceding claim wherein the cabinet is a fruit machine.

26. A locking device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.