US2477133A - Selective coin operated switch - Google Patents

Description

' INVENTOR.

JOSEPH H- A/NA'PP I V r o ATTORNE] July 26, 1949. J. H. KNAPP SELECTIVE COIN OPERATED SWITCH Filed Sept. 5, 1946 "Joseph H. Knapp, Kansas City, Mo, assignor to 0. Earl Hovey, trustee, Kansas City, Mo.

Application September This invention relates to devices for making, breaking or changing the connections in an electric circuit and adapted to be operated by the insertio'n'ofa coin in a slotted wall of a coin receiving chute adjacent thereto.

One of the most important objects of this invention is the provision of a selective coin operated switch device in the nature of that disclosed by U. S. Letters-Patent No. 2,213,845, dated September 3, 1940, in which a coin operated actuating means is provided for the number of push rods for moving a contact into engagement with a stationary contact.

' Still further objects of'this invention include the provision of a switch device wherein the series of reciprocable plungers for closing corresponding circuits are each actuated by a specially formed lever pivotally mounted on a single shaft, and each having a portion thereof engageable by a coin; the provision of a coin receiving chute having openings formed therein for slidably receiving a portion of the levers; means for mounting the levers on said shaft; and the provision in one wall of the chute of a series of slots for receiving the coin to move the levers as the coins are moved against a portion of the lever covering the slot.

With the foregoin and many other objects in mind, the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the selective coin operated switch device made in accordance with my present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken on line IIIHI of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an edge elevational view thereof looking from the right in Fig. 1, parts being broken away for cleamess.

The operation of my present invention will become clear by setting forth briefly the broad idea embodied in Patent No. 2,213,8 5, covering a switch. That switch included a number of push rods or plungers l6 slidably mounted in slots formed in a pair of base members l2 and I4, and havin a single locking bar 16 threaded through slots provided in the plungers Ill. The operation is such as to cause the bar 16 to lock any one of plungers l against outward movement as the same is moved inwardly toward one end of its path of travel. Movement of any one of the other plungers inwardly causes the held plun er to be released and move to the point of beginning through the action of a spring provided for each plunger I6. A number of spring contacts, not here 5, 1946, Serial No. 694,841

lClaim. (Gr ef- 9) shown, are carried by an insulated block adjacent the plungers, and an equalnumber of contacts carried by the plungers arebrought into respective interengagement to close a series of circuits in which the switch is interposed.

All of the foregoing mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 as beingheld in position by a bracket l'l having apairof opposed, downwardly projectingfianges l8 and 20, which in turn areattachedto a plate '22 through the medium of bolts 24. Thi plate 22, isshown'mounted on' one face. 24 of a machine with which thedevice is to be used, or other suit-- able support, thatjis provided'with-an opening; 26, andthe'plate22 encirciesthis opening 26 and is fixed to the face 24 by screws 28 or other fastening means.

A pair of legs 30 and 32 fused to the bracket I! as at 34 carry a substantially U-shaped chute 36 on the free ends thereof that extends longitudinally below the plate 22 near one edge thereof. A series of coin receiving slots 38 in the plate 22 communicate with the chute 36, and a number of substantially L-shaped levers 40, each have one leg 42 thereof disposed in underlying relation with a respective slot 38.

A tubular portion 44 is formed at the bight of each lever 40 through which portions 44a shaft 46 passes to pivotally mount the levers 40, and a channeled support 48 welded to the bracket |"I is disposed in embracing relation with each lever 46 for holding the same against lateral displacement on the shaft 46. These supports 48 serve to mount the shaft 46 through the medium of transverse holes provided in the down-turned flanges thereof.

A 16g 56 of the lever 46 extending below the shaft 46, engages a respective plunger l6 when the lever 46 pivots on the shaft 46, and a spring 52 coiled about the shaft 46 has the legs thereof bearing against the bracket [1 and the bight thereof against the lever 40 t0 yieldably maintain the leg 42 of the lever 40 against the inner face of the plate 22. There is a spring 52 for each lever 40, and a pair of aligned openings 54 and 56 for each lever 40 provided in the chute 36, slidably mount the legs 42 of levers 46.

It is clear from the foregoing that as a coin 54 is inserted in one of the slots 38 in the plate 22, this coin 54 will engage a portion of the leg 42 that extends across the slot 38. As the lever 40 pivots on the shaft 46, the leg 56 thereof will engage a corresponding plunger I0 and move the same inwardly to a, point where a circuit is closed and the plunger I0 is engaged by the bar [.6 to hold the same against outward movement. As

3 the coin 54 is moved inwardly into the chute 36, for passage therein to a coin box, not here shown, the leg 42 of the lever 40 will be returned to a position underlying its slot 38 of the plate 22, by the action of its spring 52.

When a coin 54 is inserted in another slot 38 to actuate another plunger III, the bar 16 will release the first plunger l0 and hold the latter plunger 'i-IO in {operative position n: the :rnanner set forthdn'the aforesaid Patent No. 2213,2345.

A panel 56 mounted on the plate 22 carries. suitable indicia to number or name each of the slots 38 whereby the operator is.=mfermea.:aste

the manner in which the machine with which the switch is used will operate depending-on the lever 40 that is actuated.

Obviously, coin operated switch'devices :ha'v-ing appearances, form and modes of operationedlfferent from those above specified may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention-or scope of-the appended claim.

1 Having thus described the invention," what I clairrr as'ne'w and-desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

In a selective coin operated switchdevice having a reciprocabl'e'plunger; structure for actuating said plunger comprising a coin-receiving chute having a slot formedtherein; a shaft: a substantially --shaped lever pivotally mounted on the-shaft, one leg er said lever extending mm at Number saidchute; the other leg thereof being engageable with said plunger-to actuate the s'ame as a coin is insertedin the chute through the slot and 4 against said one leg of the lever, said chute being U-shaped in cross sectional contour and having a pair of aligned openings, one opening being formed in each leg thereof respectively, said one leg of the lever traversing the chute through said openings and being slidable therein; and means for yieldably holding the one leg flatly against one face of the chute across the slot and in coveringlrela'ticn ta a-rportion oi the latter.-

JOSEPH H. KNAPP.

MREFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in thm .tufs zme a: this paterlti UNBI'ED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 6491793 Argles May 15, 1900 698,972 Laing Apr. 29', 1902 '-'f906', 885 vargyas Deena, 1908 1,5' l 1 ;.'l.93 --Maxfield Febgz, 1928 1=,69 6;23l Haney Dec. 25,1928 1,760,462 Yeo -May'27, :l930 1,798,466 Haley r. Mar..-3r, 1931 l;924, 1"02 Benjamin Aug.:29', 1933 2,348,927 .iRunsvo'ld et al ''May' 16, 1944 FQREIGN PATENTS Country Date 3,531 Great Britain L 1911 26,030 Great Britain i908 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1933

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