US2697511A - Coin container with reversible filler member - Google Patents

Description

Dec. Z3, 1954 A. J. cuNl COIN CONTAINER WITH REVERSIBLE FILLER MEMBER Filed June 6, 1949 2 sneek-sheet 1 M 2g/ n` JNVENToR.. HL B EE T J. CIM/ Dec. 2l, 1954 A. J. cUNl com CONTAINER WITH REVERSIBLE EILLER MEMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1949 JNVENToR. AME/@TJ WA/f United States Patent Oiitice COIN CON'IANER WITH REVERSIBLE FHLLER IVIEMBER Albert J. Cnni, Cincinnati, Qhio Application June 6, 1949, Serial No. 97,387 Claims. (Cl. 20G-0.82)

This invention relates to improvements in containers for coins particularly wrapped coins or coin rolls.

Coins as is well known are arranged in rolls of each denomination there being a specific amount of each coin per roll. These coin rolls are then shipped to various places such as from the main bank to branch banks, between banks, and from the Federal Reserve depot to member banks.

In the past, coin shipments have generally been made in canvas bags in which, frequently, due to the handling thereof as well as the weight of the coins, the rolls were broken permitting an intermixing or mingling of the coins whether of the same denomination or of different denominations. It was therefore necessary for the receiver to sort and count the individual coins to be sure he was receiving the amount he was intended to receive.

The coin container of the present invention overcomes these dilliculties since the coins, in rolls, are stacked against displacement and therefore against damage or breakage to the wrapper. The coin container of the present invention may' further be provided with one or more sides of a transparent quality so that the contents of the container can be readily noted and observed. The container of the present invention further lends itself to the use as a coin tray from which a bank teller or the like can dispense coin rolls and at the same time readily store the coins by simply storing the container with its coins in the safe or vault provided for this purpose at night and other times when the coins are to be stored.

Due to the different diameters of coins of different denominations all sizes of coins cannot be readily stacked in a given area certain sizes accommodating themselves completely in a given area while other sizes require more or less area, wherefore the container of the present invention isl made to be readily adapted to accommodate all sizes of coins for shipping as well as dispensing purposes.

It is therefore the principal object of thel present inventionV to provide a container for wrapped coins that. may be used as a shipping container and individual coin roll dispenser.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a container for accomplishing the foregoing object and in which the contents can be accurately noted without opening the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container in which all sizesf of coins, that is, each denomination of coin, can be properly stacked so that no disarrangement and breakage of the rolls and wrappers occur.

A still further and specitic object of this invention is to providey a container for coin rolls in which the rolls are similarly stacked against movement and having means to take up the overall difference in dimension of the coin` rolls whereby containers of the sameI external dimensions may be employed and wherein the said makeup or ller means is employed with each size of coin.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference' to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and it is to be understood that any modiiications may be: made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims', without departing from or exceeding the spirit .of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a container formed of pressed or stamped sheet metal and embodying the princlplesof the present invention.

Fig. 2 1 s a top plan view of the container of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 1s a vertical sectional View through the contamer as seen from line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but with the filler member 1n a second position for accommodating coins of sizes different from that accommodated in Fig. 3.

.F1g. 5 is a vertical sectional view, at right angles to Fig. 3, through the container as seen from linel 5-5 on Fig. 2.

Fig 6 is a horizontal sectional View through the container as seen from line 6 6 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 taken on line 77 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view adjacent the lock or seal as seen from line 8-8 on Fig. 2.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

The coinV container, as disclosed in the drawings", is formed of sheet metal and comprises an outer, substantially U-shaped, shell providing: a back 20 and outer side members 21 and 22. The back 20 terminates at its upper end in a flange 23 while the bottom of the back is formed into a longitudinally extending channel 24 with a ilange 25 at its free end. The channel Z4 forms a foot or support for the back of the container. `The shell sides 2l and 22 respectively have their upper ends formed as inwardly projecting anges 26 and 27 each in the plane of the top flange 23 of the shell or container back 26. The said sides 21 and 22 at their lower ends, similar to the back 2li, are formed, respectively, as channels 28 and 29 with a ilange 3) and 3i at the free ends thereof. The shell sides vchannels 23 and 29 form feet or supports for the container in the same manner as the back channel 24.

Disposed between the shell sides and back and resting on the bottom flanges 25, 30 and 31 is the container bottom 32 which has its rear edge down turned to form a flange 33 that contacts the back 20 within the channel 24 and is secured in position in any suitable or desirable manner. The bottom 32 has its side edges similarly upturned to form llanges 34 and 35 which are in face contact with the container shell sides 21 and 22 and are secured in position in any suitable or desirable manner such as by spot welding or the like. The container bottom 32 rests on the shell sides flanges 3() and 31 and may be secured in position again by spot Welding or the like. The bottom 32 has its forward end down turned to form an upwardly projecting channel 36 which is in alignment with similar inwardly projecting channels 37 and 38 formed at the front ends of the shell sides 21 and 22. These channels 36, 37 and 38 form in effect a groove in which, as will later be made clear, is disposed the front or cover for the container.

Extending within and between the container shell back and sides, at the upper ends thereof, is the container top 39 which has its rear edge downturned as a flange 40 in face contact with the container back 20 through which the said top may be secured in position by spot welding c-r the like. The sides of the top 39 are similarly downturned as flanges 41 and 42 in face contact with the sides 21 and 22 and secured by spot welding or the like. The top 39 underlies the back and side llanges 23, 26 and 27 for additional spot welding for fastening the parts in operative positions. The front edge of the top 39 is short of the front edge of the sides 21 and 22 and in fact is in alignment with the inner edge of the groove formed by the channels 36, 37 and 38 and the said top front edge is downturned to form a flange 43 and act as a guide to the channels 36, 37 and 38.

The container shell sides 21 and 22 are reinforced by inner side members 44 and 45 each of which is pro vided with anges at its vertical and horizontal edges for engagement with the container back, and shell sides 21 and 22 for inwardly spacing the same the desired amount. The rear flanges 46 and 47, respectively, of inner sides 44 and 45, extend toward one another as clearly illus.- trated in Figs. 6 and 7 for a purpose subsequently to be Patented nec. 21, 1954,

made clear. The inner side members 44 and 45 are secured in position by spot welding or the like. The space between the shell sides 21 and 22 and their respective inner side members 44 and 45 -is utilized to accommodate reinforcing and strengthening members 48 and 49 to afford ample strength for the pressure of the coins against the said sides.

The container top 39 is illustrated in Fig. 5 as provided therebeneath with a reinforcing or strengthening structure 50 comprising a central section in face contact with the under surface of the container top 39 and having longitudinally thereof channels for resisting any bending or bowing tendency in the said top 39.

The container bottom 32 is provided adjacent one wall, side wall 22-45 for example, with a shallow depression or groove 51 receiving therein a member hereinafter referred to as a filler member 52. The filler member 52 comprises a panel 53 having extending from its upper end a flange 54 and from its lower end a similar flange 55, see Figs. 3 and 4. The filler member panel 53 is provided on one of its vertical edges with a flange 56 while its other vertical edge is free of any flange, see Figs. 6 and 7. The groove or depression 51 in the container bottom 32 is of a width substantially equal to the depth of the flanges 54, 55 and 56 plus the thickness of the metal and forms a groove or channel for receiving and accommodating the filler member 52. The top reinforcing member 50 has its end adjacent the container side wall 22-45 short of said side wall and, substantially, in vertical alignment with the inner end of the channel or groove 51 thereby providing a shoulder 57 for the upper end of the filler member 52 and cooperates with said channel edge in providing an abutment and guide therefor. The said filler member 52 is adapted to be utilized in reverse positions as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 for purposes hereinafter to be made clear.

The ller member 52 is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 in position with the filler member panel 53 in face contact with the container side wall inner wall member 45 and in position in Figs. 4 and 6 with said panel 53 spaced from the side wall member 45 a distance equal to the depth of its flanges 54, 55 and 56. With the filler member 52 in the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 the vertical edge of the panel 53 devoid of a ange is resting on the free end of the side wall member rear ange 47 and is thereby being supported while the ller member illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 is shown with the vertical edge of the panel devoid of a ange at the front or open end of the container and with the flange, at the other vertical edge thereof, in face contact with the aforementioned side wall flange 47.

` With the filler member 52 in the position of Figs. 3 and 7 the space transversely of the container between the opposed surfaces of the side wall inner member 44 and filler panel 53 is adapted to receive on the container bottom 32 ten rolls of pennies or one cent pieces in a horizontal direction While the height of the container affords space for ten layers of said rolls, this being illustrated in solid lines in said Figs. 3 and 7 and indicated by the reference numeral S. This space will also accommodate nine rolls of nickels or five cent pieces in a horizontal directionand nine layers of rolls in a vertical direction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 in dotted lines and indicated by the reference numeral 59, or this space will accommodate eight rolls of quarters or twenty-tive cent pieces in said horizontal direction and eight layers of rolls in a vertical direction illustrated in said Figs. 3 and 7 by phantom or dot and dash lines and indicated b y the reference numeral 60. lt will be noted that the horizontal rows of each of said coins is substantially completely utilized so that no relative movement between the coin rolls is possible while the vertical row stops short of the top reinforcing member and particularly the reinforcing channels thereof thereby providing a space 61 above the coins and which space is utilized as linger room when desired to extract a coin roll or rolls from the container. lt will be noted, however, that this space is insufficient to permit of a dislodgment of a coin roll so that the said rolls are prevented from movement that will result in damage thereto.

By reversing the filler member from the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 to the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 the transverse dimension of the container is reduced bv so much as is taken up by the flanges 54, and 56. This reduced space between the sid@ Wall lunar member 44 and the filler member panel 53 is such that ten rolls of dimes or ten cent pieces can be-accommo-v dated with substantially no space therebetween while the height of the container permits a vertical stack of ten rolls of said dimes or ten cent pieces which are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 in solid lines and indicated by the reference numeral 62; this same space will accurately accommodate in a horizontal direction six rolls of one-half dollars or fifty cent pieces and will permit six layers of rolls, all as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 by dotted lines and indicated by the reference numeral 63. A space somewhat greater than that above the coin rolls in Fig. 3 is provided in Fig. 4, but this space is insucient to permit dislodgment of the coin rolls while at the same time permitting the linger room for withdrawal of the coin rolls from the container.

The depth of the container is such as to accommodate the longest roll, namely, the one cent rolls as shown in Fig. 7, and which depth will therefor accommodate the rolls of all coins. Since one-half dollars are made up in rolls of twenty, or ten dollars worth, they are cornparatively short and in fact of substantially one-half the length of the pennies wherefor two layers or vertical rolls of one-half dollars can be accommodated in the preferred size of container such as illustrated in Fig. 6. By this construction there is insufficient room provided between the forward edge of the coin rolls and the inner surface of the container closure member or door 64 to permit dislodgment thereof and therefore damage to the rolls or their wrappers.

In order that the filler member can be readily removed from the container and inserted in position, the panel 53 is provided with one or more apertures 91 into which a finger of the user may be placed for pulling the filler member from the container or pushing same thereinto. It is understood that any other or desirable means may Re employed for assisting in positioning the filler mem- The cover or door 64 is' adapted to be slid downwardly in the groove provided by channels 36, 37 and 38 as above pointed out. This cover or door 64 is preferably formed of transparent material such for example as that of resin or synthetic resin condensate and generally designated as plastic which is tough and not easily broken. By making the door transparent the contents of the container can be readily observed and the rolls therein counted and which rolls are readily identified as to the denomination of coin therein both by their size and the usual color of the wrapper.

For shipping purposes it is desired to seal the cover in position to avoid pilfering or other tampering with the contents wherefor, as seen in Fig. 8, the container top 39 is provided with an aperture or apertures 65 which are in alignment with an aperture 66 in the cover 64 when said cover is in its fully closed position and through which aligned apertures is passed a tie member such as a wire 67. The ends of the wire 67 are brought forwardly of the cover 64 and passed through a suitable seal 68 to be irremovable therefrom necessitating the tie and seal to be broken in order to remove the container front or cover 64.

To permit of easy handling of the containers, whether full or empty, the top 39 has secured thereto a normally retractable or collapsible handle 69, conveniently in the form of a bail, that has its ends conventionally hinged beneath brackets 70. It will be understood that any suitable or desirable handle may be provided to afford easy transportation of the container.

As was noted above, the container may be utilized in the bank or other place as a coin dispensing tray which would require the complete removal of the cover or front 64 and in order to conveniently dispose of said cover or front 64 it isv arranged in face contact with and exteriorly of the container back 20, illustrated at 71 in phantom lines in Fig. 5. The cover is retained in this position by a spring latch 72 hingedly connected at 73 to the container top 39 so that it can be swung to its inoperative position when the container front is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, and can be swung to its cover holding operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In order that a plurality of containers may be stacked one on top of the other, the container top 39 has up. wardly extending therefrom a plurality of bumpers or;

74 which are of a height to have their upper supports the latch 72 and at the surface above the handle 69 and same time of a height substantially equal to the depth of the back channel 24, side channels 28 and 29 and front channel 36 so that said bumpers or supports 74 are within said container feet or supporting channels to engage the container bottom 32 of the supported container.

While the container has been described in detail it is to be understood that the exact constructional details are not controlling, the main features of the container being the filler member capable of use in reverse positions for varying or changing the interior transverse dimension of the container to accommodate all denominations of coins in rolls, the transparent front or cover whereby the container contents can be readily and accurately observed without removing the front or cover, the provision of means for stacking or vertically disposing containers on one another with security and a container for all sizes of coins which may be utilized for shipping as well as dispensing purposes.

From the foregoing it will now be appreciated that there has been provided a container for coin rolls that can be readily utilized as a shipping anddispensing container and at the same time adapted for coins of all de nominations without removing parts of the container which may be lost or left behind, as would be the case if the container were made to accommodate a given group of coins and require the insertion of the filler only when a second group of coins' were to be accommodated.

It will also be note dfrom the foregoing that there has been provided a container that accomplishes the objects initially set forth.

What is claimed is:

l. A container of the class described comprising a back, sides, top and bottom projecting from said back, a depressed portion in the container bottom adjacent one container side with said one container side and bottom depressed portion forming in effect a groove in said bottom, a reinforcing member secured to and depending from the underside of the container top and extending longitudinally thereof between said container sides with said reinforcing member having an endstopping short of said aforementioned one container side to form an abutment depending from the container top spaced from the aforementioned one container sid'eand with said abutment and container side forming in effect a groove in said top, said top and bottom grooves being in vertical alignment, a cooperating filler member including a panel having substantially parallel outer surfaces between the container top and bottom and' mounting means on and projecting from the ends of the filler member of substantially the same width as the width of and received in said top and bottom grooves, and with the outer surfaces of the projecting mounting means in sliding engagement with the sides of the topl and bottom grooves. said projecting mounting means having one outer surface thereof and one of the panel surfaces in a given plane and said projecting mounting means having the other outer surface thereof and the other panel surface offset from one another, said filler member through its mounting means being selectively reversely positioned within the container so that with the ller member in one position it has the surface of its panel that is in the plane of the said one outer surface of the mounting means in contact with the said one container side and its other surface spaced a given distance from the remaining cabinet side whereby a plurality of rolls of wrapped coins of a given denomination may be arranged in rows of rolls between the said filler member and the container side with said rows stacked one row above the other with the first row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement between the rolls in the rows, and with the filler member in its reversed position having the surface of its panel that is in the plane of the said one outer surface of the mounting means remote from said one container side and spaced from the remaining container side a distance different from the first spacing whereby a plurality of rows of wrapped coins of another denomination may be arranged in rows of rolls between said filler member and the remaining container side with said rows stacked one row above the other with the first row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement between the rolls in the rows'.

2. A container of the class described comprising a back, sides, top and bottom projecting from said back, a depressed portion in the container bottom adjacent one container side with said one container side and bottom depressed portion forming in effect a groove in said bottom, a reinforcing member secured to and depending from the underside of the container top and extending longitudinally thereof between said container sides with said reinforcing member having an end stopping short of said aforementioned one container side to form an abutment depending from the container top spaced from the aforementioned one container side and with said abutment and container side forming in effect agroove in said top, said top and bottom grooves being in vertical alignment, a cooperating' filler member including a panel having substantially parallel outer surfaces between the container top and bottom and mounting means on and projecting from the ends of the filler member of substantially the same width as the width of and receved in said top and bottom grooves, and with theouter surfaces of the projecting mounting means in sliding engagement with the sides of the top and bottom grooves, said projecting mounting means having' one outer surface thereof and one of the panel surfaces in a given plane and said projecting mounting means having the other outer surface thereof and the other panel surface offset from one another', said filler member through its mounting means being selectively reversely positioned within the container so that with the filler member in one position it has the surface of its panel that is in the plane of the said one outer surface of the mounting means in contact with the said one container side and its other surface spaced a given distance from the remaining cabinet side whereby a plurality of rolls of wrapped coins of a given denomination may be arranged in rows of rolls between the said filler member and the container side with said rows stacked one row above the other with the first row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement between the rolls in the rows, and' with the filler member in its reversed position having the surface of its panel that is in the plane of the said one outer surface of the mounting means remote from said one container side and spaced from the remaining container side a distance different from the first spacing whereby a plurality of rows of wrapped coins of another denomination may be arranged in: rows of rolls between said filler member and the remaining container side with said rows stacked one row' above the other with the first row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement' between the rolls in the rows, said container sides and bottom having portions projecting forwardly of the top, channel-like groovesformed in said projecting portions of the container sides and bottom, andV a closure member sldably received in said channel-like grooves for closing the container.

3. A container of the class described comprising a back, sides, top and bottom projecting from said back, a depressed portion in the container bottom adjacent one container side with said one container side and bottom depressed portion forming in effect a groove in said bottom, a reinforcing member secured to and depending from the underside of the container top and extending longitudinally thereof between said container sides with said reinforcing member having an end stopping short of said aforementioned one container side to form an abutment depending from the container top spaced from the aforementioned container one side with said abutment and container side forming in effect a groove in said top, said grooves in said top and bottom being in vertical alignment, and a ller member including a panel having substantially parallel outer surfaces with a flange projecting from three sides thereof from one panel surface laterally of the panel and beyond its other surface, said flanges each having a width substantially equal to the width of, and received in, said opposed top and bottom grooves for positioning and retaining the panel in position, said filler member being adapted to be selectively reversely positioned in said top and bottom opposed grooves and when in one position having the panel surface from which the flange projects in contact with the said one container side to give said container an effective transverse dimension and when said filler member is in its reverse position having said one surface of its panel from which the flange projects remote from said one container side to give said container a different effective transverse dimension to, in each instance, accommodate wrapped coins of different denominations with said coins arranged in rows of rolls between said ller member and the remaining container side with said rolls stacked one row above the other with the irst row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement between the rolls in the rows.

4. A container of the class described comprising a back, sides, top and bottom projecting from said back, a depressed portion in the container bottom adjacent one container side with said one container side and bottom depressed portion forming in effect a groove in said bottom, a reinforcing member secured to and depending from the underside of the container top and extending longitudinally thereof between said container sides with said reinforcing member having an end stopping short of said aforementioned one container side to form an abutment depending from the container top spaced from the aforementioned container one side with said abutment and container side forming in effect a groove in said top, said grooves in said top and bottom being in vertical alignment, a filler member including a panel having substantially parallel outer surfaces with a flange projecting from three sides thereof from one panel surface laterally of the panel and beyond its other surface, said anges each having a width substantially equal to the width of, and received in, said opposed top and bottom grooves for positioning and retaining the panel in position, said ller member being adapted to be selectively reversely positioned in said top and bottom opposed grooves and when in one position having the panel surface from which the flanges project in contact with the said one container side to give said container an effective transverse dimension'and when said ller member is in its reverse position having said one surface of its panel from which the anges project remote from said one container side to give said container a different effective transverse dimension to, in each instance, accommodate wrapped coins of different denominations with said coins arranged in rows of rolls between said iiller member and the remaining container side with said rolls stacked one row above the other with the rst row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement between the rolls in the rows, the container sides and bottom having portions projecting forwardly of the top, channel-like grooves formed in said projecting portions of the container sides and bottom, and a removable closure for the container disposed in said sides and bottom channel-like grooves.

5. A container of the class described comprising a back, sides, top and bottom projecting from said back` a depressed portion in the container bottom adjacent one container side with said one container side and bottom depressed portion forming in effect a groove in said bottom, a reinforcing member secured to and depending from the underside of the container top and extending longitudinally thereof between said container sides with said reinforcing member having an end stopping short of said aforementioned one container side to form an abutment depending from the container top spaced from the aforementioned container one side with said abutment and container side forming in effect a groove 1n said top, said grooves in said top and bottom being in vertical alignment, a filler member including a panel having substantially parallel outer surfaces with a flange projecting from three sides thereof from one panel surface laterally of the panel and beyond its other surface, said anges each having a width substantially equal to the width of, and received in, said Opposed top and bottorn grooves for positioning and retaining the panel in pos1tion, said filler member being adapted to be selectively reversely positioned in said top and bottom opposed grooves and when in one position having the panel surface from which the flanges project in contact with the said one container side to give said container an effective transverse dimension and when said filler member is in its reverse position having said one surface of its panel from which the anges project remote from said one container side to give said container a different effective transverse dimension to, in each instance, accommodate wrapped coins of diiferent denominations with said coins arranged in rows of rolls between said filler member and the remaining container side with said rolls stacked one row above the other with the first row on the container bottom with substantially no free movement between the rolls in the rows, the container sides and bottom having portions projecting forwardly of the top, channel-like grooves formed in said projecting portions of the container sides and bottom, and a removable transparent closure member received in the container sides and bottom channel-like grooves for closing the container and permitting an observation of the contents of the container while the closure member is in its closed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,345 Mayo et al. Nov. 26, 1878 926,537 Bagley June 29, 1909 1,144,835 Gibson June 29, 1915 1,186,642 Alamy June 13, 1916 1,207,988 Olmsted Dec. 12, 1916 1,256,241 McGinnis Feb. 12, 1918 1,280,918 Westbrook Oct. 8, 1918 1,313,003 Meklemburg Aug. 12, 1919 1,484,044 Toborg Feb. 19, 1924A 1,555,533 Vance Sept. 29, 1925 1,928,512 Swift Sept. 26, 1933 2,023,154 Trotter Dec. 3, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,393 Great Britain A. D. 1912

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