US2172554A

US2172554A - Cover for coin receptacles

Info

Publication number: US2172554A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1939-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1956-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1939. c. c. VEALE COVER FOR COIN RECEPTACLES Filed Oct. 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

lull. 710m 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1956 INVf/VTOR C. C l/EALE Mwm Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNiTED STATE PATENT OFFICE COVER FOR COIN nEoErrso s Application Qctober 31, 1936, Serial lfIo. 108,590 8 Claims. (Cl. 23215) This invention relates to covers for coin boxes or receptacles and more particularly to covers for coin receptacles of the type used in telephone coin collectors, such a receptacle being'described, for

5 example, in United States Patent 1,121,063, issued December 15, 1914, to W. 0. Beck.

Cash receptacles used in telephone coin collectors are ordinarily furnished with a hinged cover which has an opening therein through 1 which the collected coins pass into the receptacle. A sliding shutter is usually provided for closing the coin receiving opening. A projection carried by an extension of the shutter is adapted to engage with a portion of the coin collector housing when the coin receptacle is placed therein, this engagement being effective, when the receptacle is being inserted in the housing, to move the shutter to open position, and being efiective, when the receptacle is being removed, to move the shutter to closed position. Means is ordinarily provided for automatically locking the shutter in closed position.

In accordance with the usual practice the empty coin receptacles are prepared for distribution at a central cashiers office. Before the cover is placed on the coin box the shutter locking means is set in free position, i. e., a position which allows the shutter to move to open position. The cover is then placed in position on the coin box and suitably secured thereto, for example-by means of a special seal. The receptacles are then taken by designated employees to'be placed in the telephone coin collectors. As. the receptacle is inserted in the housing the shutteris moved to open position as stated above and the locking means is ordinarily so.arranged that before the receptacle is'fully inserted, the locking means is tripped and moved into locking position. Now when the filled receptacle is later withdrawn the shutteris closed as above mentioned,-the locking means then being effective to hold the shutter in closed position.

An object of the present invention is to provide coin receptacle covers of the above mentioned 45 type with an inexpensive and reliable shutter locking mechanism having means permanently associated therewith for facilitating authorized manipulation thereof and adapted to effectively resist fraudulent tampering therewith. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, acoin receptacle cover of the type referred to is provided with a shutter locking mechanism comprising a ratchet adapted to be rotated by movementof the shutter to open or 55 closed position, a spring pressed locking pawl for cooperating with the ratchet to prevent opening movement of the shutter, and a' hand lever mounted'on the under side of the cover for releasingth'e locking pawl. A projection on the ratchet is ifectiixefdhring movement of the 5 shutter froniclo'sed tofiopen position,"for tripping thelocking pawl to locking position. The locki'ng pawrreieasm lever is constructed and arranged so that when the cover is in closingposi Ion tlfiii oin box,'a side wall of t efbox is in 10 the path ofthe lever and prevents movement thereof to relieasethe locking pawl. V

Qther .ie atu'res" and advantages of the inveneh will heq 'eahpareh mm h f o d taile des ri ti n w e rea in qqn n ho th the eqe ihpah ih drawin s. iwh s Fig. 1 is a plan vie wof a coin receptacle cover em e ih th ntentio how n h sh e i i d w i h a q o e p r we eing broke awa to sh w th ear th n h ,0 Shut e .WmQ Qnsag z p o o m v n e ratchet oi the locking mechanism which is contained a separate housing in the lower wall -ih hqve V Fi Zisa plan view of ,the cover showing the shutter in its closed and locked position, a portion of the housing being broken away to show the lockin mechanism;

Fig. 3.is ,a plan view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the locking pawl releasing lever moved tothe position wherein it is about to trip the locking pawl .to its free position;

Fig.4 isa planview similar to Fig. 3, but showing thelocking pawl in its free position, and the releasing lever returned to its normal position, the covernow being shown in closed position on a coinbox and withthe shutter about to begin its opening movement as the coin receptacle is inserted irithe coin collector;

".Fig. '5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4, but 40 showing the relative positions of the parts when the coin receptaclehas been inserted intothe coin collector to a point where the locking pawl is about tobe trippedto its active position;

Fig.6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the shutter in its fully opened position after the coin receptacle has been inserted in the coin collector, the locking pawl being in its active position;

Fig. 7 is a similarview showing the relative positionsofthe parts when the coin receptacle has been partiallyremoved from the coin collecton the shutter being shown partly closed with the locking" pawl inposition preventing opening 55 movement but permitting further closing movement of the shutter, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, a coin receptacle cover II) is shown which comprises a flanged outer plate II and an inner plate I2 secured together in spaced relation by rivets or otherwise. A coin receiving opening I4 is provided in the plates and the plates are spaced apart sufliciently to slidably accommodate therebetween a shutter plate I5 for closing the opening. The shutter is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin I6 extending between the two plates. A formed U-shaped spring I8 serves to normally hold shutter I5 in closed position with respect to opening I4. One end of spring I8 presses against the shutter at I9 and the other end of the spring is attached to a pin 2|] (Fig. 1) secured to-the under side of outer plate II. An extension arm 2| of shutter I5 extends upwardly through an arcuate slot 22 in outer plate II and then laterally beyond the edge of the cover as shown.

The inner plate I2 is formed with a circular recess or depression 24 (Fig. 8) in its upper surface and an inverted cup-shaped housing 25 is fitted into the recess so that a closed chamber is provided for housing the shutter locking mechanism hereinafter described. The upper surface of the housing 25 is flush with the upper surface of inner plate I2, as shown in Fig. 8.

On the upper surface of the housing 25 a pinion gear 26 is rotatably mounted, the pinion having an integral hub portion 2'! rotatably journaled in the upper wall of the housing. This pinion meshes with gear teeth 29 on an arcuate extension 30 of the shutter. The hub 21 of the pinion projects into the housing 25 wherein the hub has fixed thereto a toothed wheel or ratchet 32. By this structure ratchet 32 is caused to rotate in a direction opposite to that of shutter I5 when the latter is opened or closed.

A substantially dynamically and statically balanced locking pawl 33 is pivotally mounted within the housing on a pin 34 projecting downwardly from the upper wall of the housing to the upper surface of inner plate I2. The locking pawl has two pairs of symmetrical radially projecting arms and one of the arms 36 is adapted to cooperate with the teeth on ratchet 32 to prevent opening movement of the shutter. A formed U-shaped spring 31 serves to bias the pawl 33 in whichever direction it may be rotated beyond the dead center position shown in Fig. 3. One end of the spring fits into a V-notch in the end of locking pawl arm 36 and the opposite end of the spring extends into a V-notch in the side wall of housing 25.

In Fig. 2 the shutter is shown in the closed position and the locking pawl is shown in the locking position, i. e., in the position wherein locking pawl arm 36 cooperates with a tooth on ratchet 32 to lock the shutter in closed position. The spring 31 holds the locking pawl in looking position. The substantially dynamically and statically balanced design of the locking pawl effectively resists fraudulent attempts to release it from the locking position by twirling or striking the coin receptacle or otherwise subjecting it to sudden shocks.

A hand lever 40 is provided for rotating the locking pawl in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) to release it from locking engagement with the ratchet. The hand lever is of angular form having a vertical portion 4I pivoted in the depressed portion 24 of inner plate I2 and extending below the peripheral flange of the cover where it is provided with a horizontal L-shaped handle 42. The vertical portion M has formed on its upper end a finger or cam 43 which projects laterally into the housing 25 and is adapted to engage an arm 44 of locking pawl 33 to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction upon rotation of the hand lever counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. This releases locking pawl arm 36 from ratchet 32. As soon as the locking pawl is rotated by cam 43 beyond the dead center position, spring 31 becomes effective to bias the pawl in a clockwise direction against a fixed stop 45 on the inner surface of housing 25, as shown in Fig. 4. The hand lever may now be returned to its normal position, the spring 31 now serving to hold the pawl in its inactive or free position, i. e., a position which allows shutter I5 to move to open position.

Upon movement of the shutter from closed position to open position, ratchet 32 is rotated in a'clockwise direction (Fig. 4) through the engagement of toothed portion 30 of the shutter with pinion 26. A projection 41 on the ratchet is effective, during movement of the shutter to open position, to trip the locking pawl 33 from its free position shown in Fig. 4 to its active position shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 5 the parts are shown in their respective positions when the locking pawl is about to be tripped by the projection 41 on the ratchet. It will be noted that the shutter is now only par tially opened. As soon as the pawl passes the dead center position, spring 31 becomes effective to bias the pawl in a counterclockwise direction, pressing locking arm 36 against smooth portion 48 of the ratchet. The pawl is now in its active position, wherein it is held by the spring, but the shutter is permitted to continue its opening movement since the locking pawl arm 36 is now free to ride on smooth portion 48 of the ratchet.

Upon movement of the shutter from its open position to its closed position, ratchet 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The spring pressed locking pawl arm 36 first rides on smooth portion 48 of the ratchet and then on the toothed portion thereof. The locking pawl arm drops into engagement with each ratchet tooth, successively, as the shutter moves to closing position. It will be noted that the construction is such that the first tooth of the ratchet is engaged by the locking pawl arm when the shutter is only partially closed, after which opening movement of the shutter is automatically blocked by either one of the ratchet teeth depending upon the extent to which the shutter has been moved toward the closed position (see Fig. 7).

V The manner in which the shutter I5 is moved to open position with'respect to coin receiving opening I4 as the coin receptacle is inserted in the coin collector housing, is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. A portion 53 of the guide rail which is attached to the coin collector housing is shown, the guide rail being provided with an aperture 54 in which the arm 2i of the shutter is positioned, as shown in Fig. 4, when the receptacle is placed in the housing. Then, as the receptacle is pushed back into position in the housing in the direction indicated by the arrow, arm 2I is prevented from moving by its contact with the rear edge of aperture 54 so that the shutter is, in effect, moved to open position (Fig. 6) with respect to coin receiving opening I4. Conversely, when the receptacle is being moved in the opposite direction, that is, when it is being withdrawn from the housing, the shutter is, in effect, moved to closed position with respect to opening M. The respective dimensions and arrangement of the coin receptacle and the coin collector housing are such that it is impossible to insert the receptacle in the housing without first positioning the shutter arm 2l in the guide rail aperture 54.

Before the coin receptacle is inserted in the coin collector housing, locking pawl 33 should, of course, be set in free position (Fig. 4) to allow shutter ill to be moved to open position. This is accomplished by means of the hand lever 40, as above described. This hand lever, being a permanent part of the cover mechanism, eliminates the necessity of employing a separate tool for resetting the locking mechanism. It will be obvious, also, that the hand lever, being on the under side of the cover, is not accessible when the cover is in closing position on the coin box. Furthermore, the hand lever is so constructed and arranged that it cannot be operated to release the locking mechanism when the cover is in closing position on the coin box. This will be apparent upon referring to Figs. 4 and 8, wherein the cover is shown in closing position upon a coin box 60, a portion of which is illustrated. It will be noted that the hand lever 40 projects into the receptacle and is so positioned with respect to the side wall 6! of the coin box that the latter prevents movement of the hand lever sufficiently to release the locking mechanism, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, unauthorized tampering with the shutter locking mechanism is effectively prevented.

After the locking pawl has been set in the free position by the hand lever, as above described, the cover is placed on the coin box and sealed. The receptacle is then inserted in the coin collector housing. As stated above, the shutter is opened as the receptacle is pushed into the housing. As the shutter moves to the open position, projection 41 on ratchet 32 trips the locking pawl from the free position shown in Fig. 4 to the active'position shown in Fig. 6, wherein it is held by spring 31.

As long as the coin receptacle remains in the coin collector housing, shutter I remains in open position and locking pawl 33 remains biased in the active position shown in Fig. 6. Upon withdrawing the coin receptacle from the housing the shutter is moved to closed position, as above stated. Locking pawl arm 36 rides on the periphery of the ratchet as the latter is rotated counterclockwise by the closing movement of the shutter. After the shutter has been partially closed and while continuing its closing movement, locking pawl arm 36 passes over the ratchet teeth, which become effective successively for preventing opening movement of the shutter. Upon reaching the completely closed position the shutter is automatically locked by engagement of the locking pawl with the last tooth on the ratchet, as shown in Fig. 2.

After the coin receptacle has been removed from the coin collector housing, the seal is broken by an authorized person and the cover is removed from the coin box. Before the cover is replaced, the locking pawl is reset in free position as mentioned above.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin receptacle having a coin receiving opening therein, a movable shutter for closing said opening, a rotatable member geared to said shutter and having a series of spaced teeth, a

movable locking element for cooperating with any of said teeth to prevent opening movement of the shutter, said element being movable to either of two positions, means for holding the element in either of said positions, said element being effective to cooperate with the teeth on the rotatable member in one of said positions and being ineffective to cooperate with said teeth in the other position, and means on the rotatable member movable into operative engagement with and effective for moving the locking element from the ine-fiective position to the effective position.

2. A coin receptacle having a coin receiving opening therein, a movable shutter for closing said opening, a ratchet geared to said shutter, a movable pawl for cooperating with said ratchet to lock the shutter in closed position, said pawl being movable to either of two positions, means for biasing the pawl in either of said positions, the pawl being effective to cooperate with the ratchet in one of said positions and being ineffective to cooperate with said ratchet in the other position, and a projection on the ratchet movable into operative engagement with and effective for moving the pawl from the ineffective position to the effective position.

3. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a movable shutter for closing said opening therein, a rotatable member geared to said shutter and having a series of spaced teeth, a movable locking element for cooperating with any of said teeth to prevent opening movement of the shutter, said element being movable to either of two positions, means for holding the element in either of said positions, said element being effective to cooperate with the teeth on the rotatable member in one of said positions and being ineffective to cooperate with said teeth in the other position, and means comprising a hand lever mounted on the under side of the cover for moving the locking element from the effective position to the ineffective position.

4. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a movable member on said cover for locking the shutter in closed position, and a hand lever pivotally mounted on the under side of the cover for releasing the locking member, said hand lever being constructed and arranged so that movement thereof to release the locking member is blocked by a portion of the coin box when the cover is in closing position on the box.

5. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a movable member on said cover for locking the shutter in closed. position, and a hand lever pivotally mounted on the under side of the cover for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the shutter for releasing said locking member, said hand lever having a portion projecting into the box adjacent a wall thereof, whereby said wall prevents movement of the lever to release the locking member when the cover is in closing position on the box.

6. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a moveable member on said cover for locking the shutter in closed position, and means for releasing said locking member comprising a hand lever mounted on the under side of the cover for movement in a plane parallel to the plane. of the shutter, said hand lever being constructed and arranged so that movement thereof to release the locking. member is blocked by a portion of the coin box when the cover is in closing position on the box.

7. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a movable member on the cover for locking the shutter in closed position, and means for releasing said locking member comprising a lever on the under side of the cover and having a portion projecting into the box adjacent an inner surface thereof, whereby said surface prevents movement of the lever to release the locking member when the cover is in closing position on the box.

8. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing the opening, and a locking member pivotally mounted on the cover for locking the shutter in closed position, said locking member being substantially balanced dynamically and statically, whereby accidental movement thereof is prevented.

CHARLES C. VEALE.