US3112366A

US3112366A - Signalling devices for telephones

Info

Publication number: US3112366A
Application number: US838289A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Gibbs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-09-04
Filing date: 1959-09-04
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 w. L. GlBBs 3,112,366

SIGNALLING DEVICES FOR TELEPHONES Filed Sept. 4, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLIAM L. Gx \BBS ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1963 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 W. L. GIBBS SIGNALLING DEVICES FOR TELEPHONES [o8 Ilo 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLMM L. CHESS Nov. 26, 1963 w. L. GlBBs SIGNALLING DEvIcEs FOR TELEPHONES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept. 4, 1959 22o 111. zu

INVENTOR.

WLLlAM L.. @H565 ATTORNEY United States Patent O M 3,1l256 SHGNALLHNG DEVllCEt-l FOR TELEPHNES William L. Gibbs, 6212 Nottingham, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,239 19 Claims. (Cl. 179-64) This invention relates to improvements in signalling devices for telephones. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in signalling devices for coin operated telephones.

t is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved signalling device for coin operated telephones.

Coin operated telephones are customarily provided with coin receptacle boxes; and those boxes are removable so they can be taken to a designated oice of the telephone company where their contents can be removed, counted and accredited. Collectors employed by the telephone company make periodic visists to the various coin operated telephones of the company to remove the coin receptacle boxes and to replace those boxes with empty coin receptacle boxes. The visits which the collectors make to the various coin operated telephones of the company should be frequent enough to keep the coin receptacle boxes from becoming so full that they prevent the entry, into those boxes, of additionally inserted coins; because the prevention of such entry can cause additionally inserted coins to lill up the coin hopper and coin chute of the elephone and can cause grounding of the coin-collecting of coin-refunding relay. On the other hand, the visits which the collectors make to the various coin operated telephones of the company should not be so frequent that only limited numbers of coins are found in the various coin receptacle boxes.

Heretofore it has been the practice of telephone companies to establish schedules which the collectors follow in visiting the various coin operated telephones of the company; and those schedules have been planned so the collectors would remove the various coin receptacle boxes at times when they were substantially filled but when they were not filled to overflowing. Unfortunately, the rate of use of coin operated telephones in different locations can vary widely, and furthermore the rate of use of a coin operated telephone in any given location can also vary widely. While it might seem possible to predict, with a good deal of accuracy, the extent and degree to which a coin operated telephone in any specific location would be used, it is actually impractical to do so. Not only are there unpredictable variations in the use of such a coin operated telephone for the purpose of making local calls, but there are unpredictable variations in the use of such coin operated telephone for the purpose of making long distance calls. As a result, even with the best statistical methods, it is impossible to establish schedules that will assure removal of the coin receptacle boxes before they are completely lled but that will avoid removal of such boxes when they contain only a few coins.

The need of avoiding the overflowing of the coin receptacle box of a coin operated telephone is acute, because overflowing can cause grounding of the coin-collecting or coin-refunding relay of that telephone. Any such grounding will render the coin operated telephone temporarily inoperable, and it can render a number of coin operated telephones in the same control bank temporarily inoperable. Moreover, any such grounding will require a service call plus an unscheduled visit by a collector; the service call being necessary to ascertain the source of the grounding, and the unscheduled visit by the collector heing necessary because the service nien are usually not authorized to remove and replace the coin receptacle boxes. The costs of service calls of this sort, and the Patented Nov. 26, i963 ICC costs of the ensuing unscheduled visits by the collectors, could be avoided if a device could be supplied which would indicate to the central oice of the telephone company when the coins in the coin receptacle box of a coin operated telephone reached a predetermined level. Such a device would avoid needless visits by a collector, because the collector would not visit that coin operated telephone until after the device indicated that the coins in the box of that telephone had reached the predetermined level; and such a device would avoid needless service calls by service men because the device would provide an indication at the central oiice of the telephone company that would enable a collector to remove the coin receptacle box before it became filled to overflowing. The present invention provides such a device; and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a de- Vice that can be used with a coin operated telephone to indicate, at the central office of a telephone company, when the coins in the coin receptacle box of that telephone reach a predetermined level.

The problem posed by the overflowing of coins in coin operated telephones is serious, because from about twenty-ive to thirty percent of the service calls made by a telephone company in one large city have been found to be due to such overflowing. Such service calls are actually needless, and they needlessly increase the operating costs of the service department of the company. All such needless costs are obviated by the use of the device provided by the present invention.

The device provided by the present invention includes an electrical conductor which is mounted within the coin receptacle box of the coin operated telephone; and that conductor will be contacted by one or more of the coins in the coin receptacle box when the coins in that box rise to a predetermined level. That conductor will be connected to the central otlice of the telephone company; and the engagement of the coins with that conductor will change the electrical status of the coin operated telephone. That change in electrical status can be detected at the central oflice by the making of the standard and usual line insulation test-a test that is usually made, on a periodic basis, by most telephone companies to determine the presence of impending breakdowns in line insulation. That test is made manually or automatically, as the equipment in the central office of the telephone company dictates; and it is only necessary to make the line insulation tests on the various coin operated telephones once each day to determine which of the coin operated telephones have coin receptacle boxes which require replacement. ln this simple and easy way, the present invention provides positive and prompt information as to the location of any coin operated telephone which has a coin receptacle box needing emptying. It is therefore an object of the present invention to mount a conductor, within the coin receptacle box of a coin operated telephone, which can be contacted by the coins within that coin receptacle box, after predetermined quantities of coins have been introduced into that coin-receptacle box, to change the electrical status of that coin operated telephone.

The conductor is mounted in the coin receptacle box in such a way that a substantial quantity of coins must be introduced into the box before that conductor can be contacted by the coins. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conductor is mounted so the coins will not contact it until approximately eighty percent of the usable space within the coin receptacle box has been filled with coins. As a result, the coin receptacle box will have a substantial quantity of coins in it when the collector removes it and replaces it with an empty coin receptacle box.

The conductor is disposed within the coin receptacle box so it is spaced inwardly `from the sides of that box. Such an arrangement is desirable because a conductor that would be set immediately adjacent one side of the coin receptacle box could have coins pile up adjacent it and indicate that the box was ready to be replaced although that box `actually did not require replacement. By mounting the conductor so it is spaced inwardly from the sides of the coin receptacle box, the present invention avoids premature indications of the need of replacing the coin receptacle box. It is therefore an object of the present invention to mount a conductor within a coin receptacle box so it is spaced inwardly from the sides of that box.

The conductor is spaced inwardly `from the walls of the coin receptacle box by la support, and that support protects the insulated portion of the conductor from abrasion land wear by coins entering that box. That support also serves `to deflect coins away from the horizontal center of that coin receptacle box. The coins that enter the coin receptacle box of a coin operated tel= phone are introduced into that box by a chute, and they tend to pile up directly under that chute. As a result, those coins tend to assume a pyramidal configuration, and the top of the resulting pyramid can approach the top of the coin receptacle box even though the level of the coins adjacent the sides of the box is quite low. This tendency of the coins to yfor-rn a pyramid is objectionable, and the present invention obviates this tendency because the support for the conductor serves to deect the entering coins toward the sides of the coin receptacle box. As a result, the coins introduced into the coin receptacle box will ll all of the lower areas of the coin receptacle box. It is therefore ian object of the present invention to provide a support which serves to deilect the entering coins toward the sides of the coin receptacle box.

The coin receptacle box must have an opening in one wall thereof to enable that :wall to telescope over the conductor and its support. However, that opening can not be as large as a dime; because, if it v ere, dimes could pass outwardly through that opening after the coin receptacle box was removed from the telephone. The present invention provides a conductor and a support therefor which are so small that the complementary opening in the coin receptacle box can be small enough to prevent the passage of a dime through it. it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which is small enough so an opening, smaller than a dirne, can be provided in one wall of a coin receptacle box to accommodate and telescope over that device.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying descriptions some preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing vand accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only 'and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be dened by the appended claims.

ln the drawing, FIG. 1 is a vertical section through part of a coin operated telephone that has been equipped with one embodiment of the device provided by the present invention,

FIG. 2 is `a sectional view, on a larger scale, through the combined support and deflector shown in the telephone of FIG. 1, and it is taken dong the plane indicated by the line 2 2 in FIG. l,

EG. 3 is a partially broken, plan view, on the scale of FiG. 2, of some components of the coin operated telephone shown in FIG. l,

FiG. 4 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 2, through the combined support and detlector shown in the telephone of `Fi l, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 4 4 in FIG. l,

FIG. 5 is 4a sectional view, along the plane indicated by line 5-5 in FlG. 3, through the combined support and deflector of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through part of another telephone,

FiG. 7 is a vertical section through part of still another teiephone,

FIG. 8 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, of the backbase and projecting conductors of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a rear view, on the scale of FIG. 8, of part of the backbase of the telephone of FIG. 7,

FIG. l0 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, of the rear wail of the coin receptacle box of FIG. 7,

FIG. 1l is a vertical section of another coin receptacle box,

FIG. 12 is a vertical section through the backbase of the telephone lwith which the coin receptacle box of FIG. 1l is used,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, along the piane indicated by the line 13-13 in FIG. l1,

FIG. 14 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a metal cone used in the telephone of FIG. ll,

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view, on Ia larger scale, of a retainer used in the telephone of FIG. ll, and

FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of an insulating washer used in the telephone of FIG. 1l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 denotes the metal backbase or backboard of a coin op erated telephone of standard and usual design `and construction. That backbase has a housing 12 secured to it by screws, not shown, and that housing has an opening at the front thereof. A removable closure 14 is provided for the opening at the front of housing 12, and that closure is provided with a suitable lock, not shown, that prevents access to that housing by unauthorized persons. The housing `12 has a large opening 17 in the top thereof, and that opening accommodates a mechanism base 15. An opening 16 is provided in the mechianism base 15, and that opening is in register with the outlet end of a chute through which coins introduced into the coin operated telephone pass. That chute acts to direct those coins toward an opening in the top of the coin receptacle box disposed within the housing 12. A second opening 1E provided in the mechanism base 15, and that opening is located adjacent one side of the opening 16, as shown particularly by FIG. 3.

The numeral 20 denotes a terminal lug that is mounted on, but is insulated from the backbase 10; and that terminal is customarily known in the telephony art as terminal lug Y. That terminal lug is on the ring or battery side of the line which is connected to the central office of the telephone company. The numeral 22 denotes a screw that is customarily provided in coin operated telephones; and that screw is one of the screws that customarily secures the mechanism base 1S to the housing 12. The numeral 24 denotes la binding screw which is mounted on the coin-collecting or coin-refunding relay, not shown, supported by the mechanism base 15 of the coin operated telephone.

in many coin operated telephones the backbases are not especially designed to be grounded; and FIG. l shows, in part, such a coin operated telephone. However, certain of the functional components of coin operated telephones are grounded; and the numeral 26 denotes the ground wire of the telephone circuit, and that wire extends to the binding screw 24. Further, as pointed out hereinafter in detail, the backbase of the coin operated telephone of FIG. 1 will be grounded when the signalling device of the present invention is incorporated within that telephone.

The numeral 23 generally denotes the coin receptacle box used `with the coin operated telephone that is shown, in part, by FIG. l. That coin receptacle box is dimensiened to lit within the housing 12; and its bottom rests upon spaced bosses 13 that are provided on the floor of the interior of the housing l2. The coin receptacle box ZS is of standard and usual design, :and it is provided with a cover 'Siti of standard and usual design. rllhat cover has an opening 32 therein, land that opening will be alined fwith the opening le in the mechanism base whenever the coin receptacle box ZS is fully seated within that housing. A seal 34 is provided lfor the coin receptacle box 25, and that seal prevents accidental opening of the cover or that coin receptacle box. The coin receptacle box 2S is also provided with a closure, not shown, -for the opening E in the cover thereof, and with a locking arrangement tor `that closure. A housing Sti is pro-vided at the under face of the cover 3), and that housing largely encloses a rotatable member 9S of the locking arrangement for the closure for opening 32. That closure and the rest of that locking arrangement have not been shown because they are of standard and usual design and are not a part of the present invention. In fact all of the various elements, of the `coin operated telephone, that have been discussed hereinbefore in this detailed description of the drawing, are of standard and usual construction and are not part or the present invention.

The numeral 36 generally denotes a combined support and deilector that is provided by the present invention. That combined support 4and deector has `a coin-deflecting surace 38, and that surface is generally rectangular in plan. An ear 42 is provided at one end of that coinideecting surface, and that ear projects vertically upwardly from that surface. One of the long sides of the coin-deecting surface 3S is bent downwardly and then inwardly and upwardly to form a tubular recess d4. The forward edge of the opposite side of the coin-deecting surface is cut away at 46 to provide a tapered leading edge for the combined support and deflector 36.

A tubular recess 44 accommodates an insulated lconductor 48, and one end of that insulated conductor projects outwardly beyond the leading edge of the colindeecting surface 3S. That outwardly projecting end is denoted by the numeral Sil; and that end is freed of inulation and is provided with a thin coating of solder or other corrosion-resistant material. The bared end S@ of the insulated conductor 48 is spaced a short distance beyond the tapered leading edge of the coin-deilecting surface 3S, as shown particularly by FIGS. l and 3. As a result, the insulated conductor 43 and the combined support and ideflector 36 are normally electrically isolated from each other.

The other end of the insulated conductor 48 extends rearwardly from the recess 44 of the combined support and deilector 36 and then extends through the opening lh in the mechanism base 1S. That other end also is free of insulation, and it is connected to one of the leads yot" a resistor 52 by a splicing sleeve 5d. That resistor can be one of the inexpensive carbon resistors used in radio and television work; and that resistor will preferably have a resistance of one hundred thousand ohms. The other lead of the resistor '52 is suitably secured to the terminal lug Ztl.

Self-tapping screws 62 extend through openings, not shown, in the ear 42, of the combined support and deiiector 36 to seat in openings in the backbase lil of the coin operated telephone. Those screws perform the `dual function oi' mechanically securing the combined deilectolr and support 36 to the backbase l0 and of electrically connecting that combined support and deilector to that backbase. The portion of the conductor 4S which extends upwardly from the rearwardly directed end of the tubular recess 44 is shown in FIG. l as being disposed forwardly of the screws 62 `and of the ear 42. This was done `to keep that conductor from obscuring the showing of the ear 42 and of the screws 62; but actually, that portion or" that conductor closely abuts the backbase lil. rllhe true position of that portion of that conductor is indicated by the larger scale plan view 'of FIG. 3.

d The conductor d3 will be stili, and it will be bent to closely abut the front face of the backbase 10 land to closely abut the under face of the mechanism base 15. As a result, the insulation on that conductor will not be fabraded or wenn by the coin receptacle boxes as they yare inserted into, and withdrawn from, the housing 12.

ln mounting the combined support and ldeilector 36, and in mounting `the insulated conductor 4S associated with that combined support and deector, the closure ld and the coin receptacle box 28 are removed, and two small holes are drilled in the backbase 10. This is easily done by placing a steel template against the backbase l@ and using that template to demark the location of the two small holes. After those holes have been drilled, one end of the insulated conductor 43 is passed upwardly through the opening i3 in the mechanism base; and thereupon that end of that conductor and one of the leads .of the resistor 52 will be electrical-ly interconnected by crimping 'a splicing sleeve S4 onto them. The other end of the insulated conductor 4S is then telescoped forwardly through the tubular recess 44 of the combined support and deilector 36 until that other end projects a short distance bey-ond the forward end of the coi-n-deflecting surface 3S. The insulated conductor 48 telescopes through the tubular recess 44 quite readily, but it tits that recess snugly enough to prevent accidental separation of that conductor from that recess. l

Once the conductor 4S has been assembled with the recess ill of the combined dee'ctor and support 36j, the two openings in the ear ft2 can be set in register with the two drilled openings in the backbase l0. Thereafter the two self-tapping screws 62 will be passed through the openings in the ear 4Z [and will be seated in the two drilled openings in the backbase 10. Those self-tapping screws will not only mechanically secure the combined support and deiiector 36 to the backbase 10, but they will also elect ically connect that support and deflector to that backbase. The upper lead of the resistor 52 will then be bent into the form of a hook and secured to the terminal Ztl. The conductor 43 will then be bent until it closely abuts the iront face of backbase .lll and closely abuts the under face of the mechanism base 15.

The numeral 56 denotes an opening which is provided yin the rear wall of the coin receptacle box 28. That opening lis circular in pant, and it is rectangular in part, as shown particularly by FIG. 4. That opening is given that configuration because such a coniguration is complementary to the cross section of the combined support and deilector 36. lf the combined support and deilector 36 were to be given a different cross section, the opening 56 would, of course, be given a conguration which was complementary to that different cross section. The opening Se is so located in the rear wall of the coin receptacle box 2S that it will be squarely in register with the combined support and `deilector 35 whenever the bottom of the coin receptacle box 2S is resting upon the bosses '13 lat the bottom of the interior of the housing 12. The tapered leading edge of the coin-deecting surface 3 of the combined support and deector Se will enable that combined support and deector to guide the coin receptacle box 28 as it is moved into position within the housing l2.

The opening y56 is made small enough to keep a dirne from passing through; and, consequently, none of the coins in the coin receptacle box 28 can become lost by passing through that opening. The opening 56 -is also made small enough to make it diicult for a screw driver, a stiff wire, or any other object to be passed through that opening and used to .turn the rotatable member 98 or" the locking arrange ent for the closure for the opening 32,. While that rotatable member has a slot to receive the blade of a turning key, a screw idriver or the like, and while that rotatable member is readily turned when the cover 30 is removed to provide full access to that rotatable member, it would be vexceedingly diicult atlaaee L: to insert a screw driver, a stiff wire, or any other object through the opening 56 and :turn the rotatable member 93. To make any such insertion and turning even more difficult, a protective barrier 10G is soldered, riveted or otherwise secured to the housing 96. That barrier is closed on three sides and `on the bottom to positively precude any turning of the rotatable member 9S by an object inserted through the opening The numenal 58 denotes a wire which will be held by the

screws

22 and 24 and which will electrically interconnect those screws. Since the screw 24 receives and holds one end of the grounding conductor 26, the wire 5S is able to lact as a ground for the screw 22. That screw is seated in the housing 12, and, consequently, the wire 58 acts to ground the backbase and the housing 12. This is important where the coin operated telephone is of the type that has an ungrounded backbase, because that backbase must be grounded to enable the combined support and decctor 36 to be grounded.

In the operation of the coin operated telephone that is shown, in part, in FIG. l, coins will pass downwardly through the opening 16 in the mechanism base 15 and enter the opening 32 in the coin receptacle box 28. rFhose coins will strike the coin-detlecting surface 38 and rebound toward the sides of the coin receptacle box 28; and as a result the coins will pile up rather evenly in that coin receptacle box. Eventually, the level of the coins in the coin receptacle box will rise to the level at which one or more coins 60 will complete a circuit between the bare end 50 of the conductor `48 and the grounded combined support and deector 36; and that circuit will interconnect the terminal lug 2G and the grounded conductor 26. Where this happens, the resistance of the resistor :32 will be interposed between `the terminal lug and the grounded `conductor 26; :and that resistance is readily detectable at the central ohce of the telephone company by means of the standard and usual line insulation test. The resistor 52 has an ohmic value that is high enough to avoid direct grounding of terminal lug 20, and hence the coin operated telephone is perfectly usable; but that ohmic value is low enough to provide an indication that is readily detectable iat the central oice of the telephone company.

Referring to FIG. 6, the numeral 64 denotes the backbase of another coin operated telephone and that backbase has an opening 66 through it. 'In addition, that backbase has two smaller openings 67 through it. rl`he openings `67 generally cor-respond to the openings, not shown, in the backbase 1t) which accommodate the fasteners I62. However, instead of receiving self-tapping screws 62, as do the openings in the backbase 1t), the openings 67 receive the bolts of bolt and nut combination 68. Those bolts extend through openings in the ear 42 of a combined support and deflector 36, and they xedly secure that combined support and deilector to the backbase 64.

The opening 66 in the backbase 61E is in register with the tubular recess -in the combined support and deector 36, and that opening accommodates the rearwardly extending portion of the conductor that is held within that tubular recess. That rearwardly extending portion is bent upwardly and extends along the rear face of the backbase 64. The leading edge of that conducto-r projects forwardly from the combined support and deflector, and that leading edge is stripped of insulation and is coated with tin or some other corrosion-resistant material. The conductor 49 is similar to the conductor 4S; but instead of being bent upwardly to extend along the front face of the backbase, the conductor f3 extends through the opening 66 and then is bent upwardly to extend along the rear face of the baclibase.

FIG. 6 diters principally from FIG. l in the manner of mounting the combined support and deticctor 36 and in the location of the conductor 49. Where there is sufficient room between the rear of the coin receptacle box 23 and the front face of the backbase to accommodate the conductor 48, the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 will be used. However, where there is not sumcient room to accommodate the conductor 48, the opening 66 will be drilled in the baclrbase 6ft and the conductor 49 will be passed through that opening and then extended upwardly to an opening, not shown, in the backbase 64 that accommodates the yvarious conductors of the telephone line.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the numeral 70 denotes yet another backbase of a coin operated telephone; and a housing '72 is suitably secured to that backbase by fastoners, not shown. 'Ihe housing 72 has an opening at the front thereof; and a removable closure 76 is provided for that opening. That closure is provided with a suitable lock, not shown, that precludes access to that housing by unauthorized persons. The housing 72 has a large opening in the top thereof, and that opening accommodates a mechanism base 7S. That mechanism base has an opening 8d through it, and that opening is located adjacent the bottom of the coin chute of the coin operated telephone. The opening 80 of the mechanism base '7S -fis identical to the opening 16 in the mechanism bm: i5. The mechanism base 78 has an opening identical to the opening 18 -in the mechanism base `15, but that opening does not perform any particular function in the coin operated telephone of IFIGS. 7-l0.

A screw S2 helps secure the mechanism base 78 to the housing 72. A binding screw S4 is provided on the coincollecting or coin-refunding relay, not shown, that is supported by the mechanism base 78. A grounding conductor 86 is connected to the binding screw 84, and that conductor extends to the grounding terminal, not shown, of the coin operated telephone.

The numeral 83 denotes a coin receptacle box that can be disposed within the housing 72; and that coin receptacle box will rest upon and be supported by bosses 74 on the upper face of the bottom of the housing 72. That coin receptacle box has a cover 9) and that cover is normally held closed by ya seal `92. An opening 94 is provided in the cover 9G, and that opening is below and in register with the opening 80 in the mechanism base 7S. The cover is provided with a closure, not shown, for the opening 94, and it is provided with a suitable loclting arrangement for that closure. A housing 96, for part of that locking arrangement, is shown in FIG. 7, and that housing supports a rotatable member 98. That rotatable member is provided with la slot into which a suitable resetting tool can be inserted to re-set the locking arrangement.

The numeral denotes a barrier which is secured to the housing 96, land that barrier underlies and protects the rotatable member 98. That barrier is close on three sides and on the bottom, and it obviates a straight line path between the rotatable member 98 and the

openings

104 and 106 in the 4rear wall of the coin receptacle box SS. The barrier 101B is identical to the barrier ti in FIG. l.

A grounding wire 162 extends between the screw 32 and the binding screw 84. That conductor is comparable to the ground conductor 58 in FIG. l; and it connects the housing 72, and thus the backbase 7), to the grounding conductor 86.

The numeral 188 denotes a flanged sleeve of some sturdy material such as metal. The flange on that sleeve has openings which are atlined with corresponding openings which are alined with corresponding openings in thc rear wall of the coin receptacle box 38; and the alined openings accommodate fasteners i116, such as rivets or the li.e. Those fasteners fixedly hold the sleeve 103 adjacent, and in register with, the opening 104 in the rear Wall of the coin receptacle box 83. An insulating lining is pressed within the tlanged sleeve 168, and that lining projects forwardly beyond the leading edge of the sleeve lil@ and projects rearwardly beyond the rear face of the rear wall of the coin receptacle box 33.

The numeral 114 denotes a iianged sleeve of a study material such as metal. The flange of that sleeve has openings which are in register lwith corresponding openings inthe rear wall of the coin receptacle box 83. Those alined openings accommodate fasteners ldd, such as rivets or the like; and those fasteners iixedly hold the sleeve 1214 adj-acent, and in register with, the opening diie in the rear wall of the coin receptacle box The numeral @|13 denotes an opening in the baclibase 79. The numeral 12! denotes a second opening in that backbase, and the opening 126i is disposed below, but in vertical registry with, the opening H3. A hanged sleeve 122 of insulation is telescoped into the opening M8 from the front face of the backbase 7h, and `a generally similar flanged sleeve i241' of insulation is telescoped into that opening from the rear face of that baclrbase. The confronting inner ends of the sleves 22 and 12d will preferably be spaced a short distance apart so the flanges of the flanged sleeves 22 and |124 can bear solidly against the front and rear faces, respectively, of the backbase 70.

The numeral l-Z denotes a cylindrical pin which has a conical leading edge and which has threads at its trailing edge. That cylindrical pin must be made of a material that iis electrically conductive, and it is preferably made from a material such as brass, Phosphor bronze or the like. A washer 12th is pressed onto the pin :126, and the engagement between that 'washer and that pin is so intimate that the washer is xedly and permanently secured in position on that pin. An opening V3.32 is provided in the rear portion of the pin 126.

The diameter of the pin 126 `is slightly smaller than the inner diameters of the flanged sleeves 122 and `124, but the outer diameter of the washer 128 is larger than the inner diameter of the hanged sleeve 122. As a result, when the trailing edge of .the pin 126 is passed through the flanged slee-ves 122 and 12d, the washer i123 will abut and be held by `the ilanged sleeve l-ZZ. At such time, a n-ut 130 can be threaded onto the threaded trailing edge of the pin 126 and can be tightened against the sleeve 12A. lIn this way, the pin `125 is held fixed relative to the backbase 7G Iwhile being insulated from that biackbase.

The numeral e134 denotes a conductor that has had its lower end stripped of insulation and then passed througr the opening l32 in the rear or the pin 126. That lower end can be soldered or bnazed to the pin i126 to assure a good electrical connection between that phi and that conductor. The conductor 134 inclines dovmwardly as shown by FIG. 9, to pass through a gap between two sections of an interrupted rib 138 which proiects rearwardly from the rear face of the back-base 7d. That conductor is then bent to extend upwardly through a channel defined by the interrupted rib i135 and by a continuous rib 135 which projects rearwardly from the rear face of the backbase 7th The conductor 134 extends upwardly to, and passes forwardly through, an opening dd@ in the backbase 7h, `and then it inclines downwardly toward the Y terminal i146 of the co'm operated telephone. A resistor :M2 is connected to the downwardly inclined upper end of the conductor 134 by a splicing sleeve 144. The resistor 142, the splicing sleeve ldd and the Y-terrninal 146 are identical to the splicing sleeve 54, the resistor SZ and the Y-ternrinal 2t) of FlG. l. The conductor 13d, the splicing sleeve 144, the resistor 142 and the Y-terminal lille connect the conductor 126 to the ring or battery side of the telephone line.

The numeral 143 denotes a cylindrical pin which has a conical leading edge and which has a threaded trailing edge. That pin has a washer l5@ pressed onto it, and the engagement between that washer and that pin is so intimate that the washer is permanently fixed on that pin. The diameter of the pin ldd is small enough so the rear thereof can be passed through the opening liti in the baclibase 70. A nut 21.42 is threaded onto the threaded trailing edge of the pin ldd, and that nut xedly secures that pin to the backbase 79. The pin ldd is of metal, and it will be held in electrically conducting engagement with the backbase 7i?. Since the backbase 70 is grounded, by means of the housing 72 and the conductor 102, the pin T148 also is grounded.

The sleeves ld and lidon the rear wall of the coin receptacle box titi are mounted and dimensioned so they are in register with, and can telescope over, the conductors lZ and ldd. rThe sleeve 11d may or may not come into electrical engagement with the conductor 148, but the sleeve lil?) will be unable to come into electrical engagement with the conductor l26 because of the lining ll?. of insulation. The conical leading edges of the conductors 126 and MS will help guide the sleeves 1&8 and lid as they telescope over the conductors 126 and 1.48. T he sleeve llisl and its lining lll?. will constitute a cornbined support and deflector that performs the functions of the combined support and deflector 36.

As coins enter the coin receptacle box S3 through the opening 9d, those coins will strike the sleeve 19S and be dehected toward the sides of that coin receptacle box. As further coins enter through the opening 94, the level of the coins in the coin receptacle box will eventually rise to the point where one or more coins will continuously lie in engagement with the conductor ldd. At such time, the coins within the coin receptacle box S3 will be grounded. As still further coins enter the coin receptacle box 89o, the level of the coins will eventually rise until one or more coins continuously lies in engagement with the conductor lid. At such time, the piled up coins within the coin receptacle box $3 will complete a circuit which extends from the grounding conductor 86, past the binding screw Sd, through the grounding conductor M2, past the screw 82, through the housing 72, through the backbase 7i), through the conductor 14S, through the piled up coins, through the conductor M6, through the conductor i3d, then through the splicing sleeve ldd, and then through the resistor id21 to the Y-terminal 146. rthat circuit will place the resistor 142 between the battery side and the grounded side of the telephone line; and the presence of that resistor can be detected at the central oiiice of the company by making the usual line insulation test.

The principal advantage of the construction of FiGS. 7-10 over the construction of FIG. 6 is that the sleeves litt and lid render it virtually impossible for anyone to pass an implement into the coin receptacle box 88 and rotate the rotatable member 93. While there is little or no likelihood that a person could pass an instrument through the opening 56 in the rear of the coin receptacle box 2S and rotate the rotatable member 9d, because the barrier lil@ encloses the bottom and three sides of that member, the sleeves lo@ and lid make it highly improbable that an instrument could be passed through the rear wall of the coin receptacle box and used to rotate the member 9S.

Referring to FlG. 12, the numeral 16h denotes the backbase of still another coin operated telephone; and that backbase has openings 162 and 16d through it. The opening lodis below, but in vertical alinement with, the opening 62. Shouldered sleeve ldd of insulation is telescoped into the opening 162 from the front of the backbase 7i), and a similar shouldered sleeve i163 of insulation is telescoped into that opening from the rear of that bachbase.

A cylindrical pin 179, which has a conical leading edge and which has a threaded trailing edge, is equipped with a washer 172. That washer is xed solidly in position on the pin 17d, and it will abut the front of the threaded sleeve lod when the rear of the pin 17h is telescoped through the hanged sleeves lido and 15S. A nut is threaded onto the threaded trailing edge of the pin 17d to ixedly secure that pin to the backbase 16d. The flanged sleeves M6 and 16h help support the pin 3.7i) but electrically insulate it from the backbase i60.

A conductor ll has one end thereof bared, and that bared end extends through an opening i7@- in the rear of the pin 170; and that bared end is suitably secured within that opening by solder, brazing or the like. That conductor is bent downwardly to pass through the gap in the interrupted rib 228 which projects rearwardly from the rear face of the backbase 16d. That conductor then passes upwardly through the channel defined by that interrupted ri'o and an adjacent uninterrupted rib and passes through an opening, not shown, comparable to the opening 146 shown in PEG. 9. The other end of that conductor will be suitable connected to the 1f-terminal, not shown, of the coin operated telephone by a splicing sleeve and by a resistor, not shown.

The numeral 18d denotes a cylindrical pin which has a conical leading edge and a threaded trailing edge. A washer 182 is pressed on, and is lixedly secured to, the pin ist). The rear portion of the pin T186 is telescopcd through the opening 16d in the baclrbase idd, and a nut 134 is threaded onto the threaded trailing edge of that pin to lixedly hold that pin in assembled relation with the baci/ibase E69. The pins lil and lil@ are generally comparable to the pins l26 and M3 of FlGS. 7 and 8, but they are smaller in diameter and they are shorter in length.

The numeral ld denotes the coin receptacle box which is used with the housing, not shown, that is secured to the baclrbase 16d. An opening S is provided in the cover of that coin rece jtacle box, and that opening permits coins to enter that box. A standard and usual closure and locking arrangement, not shown, will be provided for the opening SS. An opening is provided in the rear wall of the coin receptacle box ido, and a second opening 192 is also provided in that rear wall. The opening 92 is disposed below the level of the opening 1199.

A llanged sleeve 194 is provided with a truste-conical leading edge and with a llange at its trailing edge. An arcuate plate 196 of metal is embedded within the flange sleeve 194, and it constitutes the upper surface of that flanged sleeve. That imbedded metal plate 196 has prongs 193 which serve to anchor that metal plate within the sleeve 194. Preferably the sleeve 124 will be molded from a hard plastic material such as nylon or the like; and the metal plate ld will constitute a rebounding surface that will be struck by coins entering the coin receptacle box 36 through the opening E83.

The sleeve 94 has a short cylindrical recess 25d in the rear thereof and that recess is contiguous with a central passage 291 which extends through that sleeve. A second and very much shorter recess Iii-l2 is provided at the rear face of the sleeve 194, and that recess has a larger diameter than the recess Ztl-8. The central passage 291 and the recesses 213@ and 2552 are all concentric.

The numeral 234 denotes a cylindrical conductor which has a conical leading edge which has a washer 295 pressed onto it adjacent the training edge thereof. The engagement between the washer and the conductor 20d is suiliciently intimate to lock that was; er in position on that conductor. The diameter of the conductor 234 is large enough to provide a press lit between that conductor and the central passage Zll through the sleeve 194. As a result, when the conductor 294 has been pressed forwardly through the recesses 262 and 7x3@ and through the central passage ZM until the washer 2915 abuts the left-hand end of the ecess 29d, that conductor will remain in assembled relation with the sleeve i915.

The numeral 238 denotes a helical compression spring which is dimensioncd to telescope over the trailing edge of the pin 234 and to telescope freely within the recess Edil. A conical mber of metal nas its apex telcscoped partially within the right-hand end of the spring 26S, and it has a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the spring As a result, the conical member 215 centers i F relative to the helical compression spring 263 and can be used to apply compressive l2 forces to the hel`cal compression spring 20S. A flanged washer 2l?. is seated within tne recess Ztl-2, and the inner diameter of; that sleeve is smaller than the diameter of the conical member 216. Consequently, when that flanged washer is tixediy secured within the recess 262, as by consenting or the like, that flanged washer will prevent accidental separation of the helical compression spring and the conical member 219 from the sleeve The flange on the flanged washer 212 is annular in configuration; and it is smaller than, and projects through, the opening iM) in the rear wall of the coin receptacle box rl`he sleeve llis set in register with the opening 191'), and a retaining collar 2id is telcscoped over that sleeve used to hold that sleeve in assembled relation with the f -ar wall of the coin receptacle box 186. 'Ihat retaining collar has a number of openings 2l6 through it, and those openings can be set in register with corresponding openings in the rear wall of the coin receptacle box 185. steners 25,3, such as rivets or the like, .lass through the openings 2id and tnrough the corresponding openings in the rear wail ci the coin receptacle box i555 to lixedly maintain the collar 2514 a* d the sleeve l9-iin assembled relation with the ar wall of the coin receptacle box 186. The numeral 22 denotes 4a hollow cylinder which has a closed l 'ng edge and which has an open trailing edge and whicn has an outwardly directed ilange adjacent that open trailing c A helical compression spring Z22 is telescoped within the hollow cylinder 22d, and a conical member 224- nas its apex extending into the right-hend end of that helical compression spring. Openings are provided in the liangc of the `hollow cylinder 22d and corresponding openings are provided in the rear wall of the coin receptacle box 1515. Fasteners 226, such as rivets or the like, extend through the alined openings in the llange and in the rear wall of the coin receptacle `box iS and prema f.. To

nently secure the cylinder 2242 `to that rear wall. The diameter of the opening juf/2 in the rear wail of the com receptacle box is smaller than the diameter of the conical `member 22d, and hence the conical member 224 will be confined within the cylinder 223. That conical member will normally be pressed against the inner face of the rear wall of the coin receptacle box by the spring 222.

The conical Ileading edges of the pins l7l and 189 act to guide the movement of the coin lrc eptacle box 136 into position within the housing, not shown, secured to the baclzbuse T169. The conical leading edge of the pin 17'!) will pass through the flanged washer 212 and cngag the conical member 2li) and cause that conical member to compress the helical compression spring 23S. Simultaneously the conical leading edge of the pin lll@ will pass through the opening EEES in the rcar wall of the coin receptacle box 186 and engage the conical member 224 and cause it to compress the helical compression spring 222. The helical compression ysprings Zilli and E22 will serve as conductors and `will electrically connect the pin 17) with the conductor 264 while connecting the pin ld with the cylinder 22C. As `a result, when coins pile up within the coin rec ptacle box idf to the point where coins lie continuously in engagement with the cylinder 220 and other coins lie continuously in engagement with the conductor 231i, those coins `will complete the circuit between the conductor 2.0i!- and the cylinder 22S and thereby complete the circuit between the conductor 173 and the grounded bacltbase i633. The principal advantage of the construction shown in FIGS. ll-l6 over the construction shown in FIGS. '/ltl is that the

openings

198 and 92 in the rear ".vall of the coin receptacle box 136 are completely obstructed. Hence, no instrument or tool could be passed through those openings and used to re-sct the locking attacl' ont for the closure for opening `libia?. The sleeve ld and its embedded `fret-al plate E95 constitute a combined support and dellector that performs the functions ofthe combined support and deilector 36.

lf desired, the coin receptacle box 1t-S5 could itself he anlass@ used as the grounding conductor for the coins. This could easily be done by mounting a leaf or helical compression spring on the backbase lati so its free end engaged the coin receptacle box; and that spring would serve to interconnect that baclibase and that coin receptacle box. The surface engaged by the free end of the coin receptacle box should be free of paint or other insulating material and part of the inner surface of that coin receptacle box also should be free of paint or other insulating material. In that way, -a low resistance connection could be completed between lthe backbase lo@ and the coins within the coin receptacle box 186.

The particular configurations of the combined support and deflector shown in the drawing are desirable, but other configura-tions could be used. However, such other configurations also should dispose the exposed ends of the conductors inwardly from the walls of the coin receptacle boxes and also should space those exposed ends away from the inlet openings of those boxes. ln that wai those other configurations also will be able to avoid premature indications of the need of replacing the coin receptacle boxes.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described several preferred embodiments of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes -rnay lbe made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. in a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the `battery side of the telephone line, which has a `grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor the projects forwardly from a point adjacent the backbase of said coin operated telephone, and extends through the central area of said coin receptacle box and extends towards the 4front wall of said coin receptacle box, -a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals and a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box `and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical -connection between said baclcbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated b-ut being adapted to be connected -together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, said second conductor surrounding the first said conductor and serving to help support the first said conductor but permitting one end of the first said conductor to project beyond it, the first said conductor being insulated but having the insulation removed from said one end thereof, said second conductor bein-g below but adjacent the coin entrance of said coin receptacle box to intercept and deflect coins entering said coin receptacle box through said coin entrance.

2. In a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removab-le coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly `from a point adjacent the backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through the centnal area of said `coin .receptacle box and extends toward the front wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, and a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said bacltbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said backbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated `but being :adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first `said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up `coins and said resistor, said second conductor hav-ing a coin intercepting and defiecting surface and having a tubular recess, nlid coin intercepting and deflecting surface receiving and deflccting coins that enter said coin receptacle box, the first said conductor being disposed within and having one end thereof projecting beyond said tubular recess whereby the first and conductor is in part Vsupported by said second conductor, the first said conductor being insulated but said one end thereof being free of insulation, the first said conductor projecting through an 'opening in said rear wall of said coin receptacle box that is smaller than a dime.

3. -ln a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, land which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor rthat projects forwardly from the backbase of said coin operated telephone, said conductor telescoping through the rear wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, and a second conductor that is mounted on said backbase of said coin operated telephone, said second conductor telescoping through said rear wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said backbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, said second conductor surrounding the first said conductor, said second conductor protecting the insulation on the first said conductor from abrasion and wear.

4. yIn a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor 'that is mounted within and that is movable with said coin receptacle box and that is engageable by coins which enter and accumulate within said coin receptacle box, said conductor being physically spaced from and being electrically isolated from the walls and bottom of said coin receptacle box, a second conductor that also is engageable by coins which enter and accumulate within said coin receptacle box, one of said conductors being connectable to one of said terminals by a resistor and by a stationary conductive member whenever said coin receptacle box is assembled with said coin operated telephone, the other of said conductors being connectable to the other of said terminals by a second stationary conductive member whenever said coin receptacle box is assembled with said coin operated telephone, said conductors normally being electrically isolated from each other but being adapted to be interconnected by entering and accumulating coins as said entering and accumulating coins pile up in said coin receptacle box, said conductors coacting with said entering and accumulating coins to connect said terminals together through the medium of said resistor.

5. in a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable fcoin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly from la point adjacent the backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through the central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward the front wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, yand a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said back-base and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal Ito said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, the first said conductor being electrically insulated from said backbase.

6. In a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectablc to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly from a point adjacent the baekbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through the central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward the front wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, and a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said bacltbase of said coin operated `telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said backbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated, means including the relative positions of said conductors for connecting the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor.

7. ln :a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly from a point adjacent the backbase of said coin operated telephone 4and extends through the central area or said coin recep` tacle box and extends toward the front wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said backbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect .the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, and a sleeve within said coin receptacle box that receives the first said conductor, and an insulated lining for said sleeve.

8. In a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly from the backbase of said coin operated telephone, said conductor telescoping through the rear wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and the first said terminal, a second conductor that is mounted on said backbase of said coin operated telephone, said second conductor telescoping through said rear wall of said coin receptacle box, an electrical connection between said backbase and said grounded terminal, and a locking attachment for the closure for the coin entrance of said coin receptacle box, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, the first said and said second conductors extending through and being supported by said lbackbase, and sleeves that are carried by and disposed within said coin receptacle box, said sleeves minimizing the possibility of inserting an instrument through the rear wall of said coin receptacle box to re-set said locking attachment for the closure for the coin entrance of .said coin receptacle box.

9i In a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly from a point adjacent the `bacltbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through lthe central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward the front wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, and a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said backbase of said coin operated :telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said baclcbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, the first said conductor having its free end spaced inwardly from the sides of said coin receptacle box and spaced away from the coin entrance of said coin receptacle box.

l0. ln a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor L-that projects forwardly from a point adjacent the backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through the central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward the front wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor Ithat is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, and a second conductor that extends forwardly from a point adjacent said backbase of said coin operated telephone and extends through said central area of said coin receptacle box and extends toward said front wall of said coin receptacle box, and an eletcrical connection between said backbase and the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins yand said resistor, one of said conductors acting as a deector to intercept and deflect coins introduced into said coin receptacle box, the forward ends of said conductors being spaced from the bottom and from all of the walls of said coin receptacle box.

ll. ln a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor :that projects forwardly from the backbase of said coin operated telephone, said conductor telescoping through the rear wall of said coin receptacle box, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and the first said terminal, and a second conductor that is mounted on said back base of said coin operated telephone, said second conductor telescoping through said rear wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said -backbase and said grounded terminal, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, and a third conductor that is disposed within said coin receptacle box and that is connected to the first said conductor whenever said coin receptacle box is in position within said coin operated telephone.

12. ln a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a conductor that projects forwardly from the backbase of said coin operated telephone, said conductor teleseoping through the rear wall of said coin receptacle box,

a resistor that is connected between said conductor and the rst said terminal, land a second conductor that is mounted on said baclebase of said coin operated telephone, said second conductor telescoping through said rear Wall of said coin receptacle box, and an electrical connection between said backbase and said grounded terminal, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the first said terminal to and grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor, and a third conductor that is is disposed within said coin receptacle box and that is connected to the first said conductor by a conducting spring whenever said coin receptacle box is in position within said coin operated telephone, said third conductor and said spring being supported by a member of insulating material that has a metal rebounding surface thereon in register with the coin entrance of said coin receptacle box.

13. An indicating device that can be used with a coin operated telephone to indicate when the accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone should be removed and that comprises a conductor that can be mounted so it can be engaged by the coins accumulated within said coin operated telephone, a resistor that can connect said conductor to one side of the telephone line, and a second conductor that can be connected to the other side of said telephone line, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone to connect said one side of said telephone line to said other side of said telephone line through said resistor and said accumulated coins.

14. An indicating device that can be used with a coin operated telephone to indicate when the accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone should be removed and that comprises a conductor that can be mounted so it can be engaged by the coins accumulated wtihin said coin operated telephone, a resistor that can connect said conductor to one side of the telephone line, and a second conductor that can be connected to the other side of said telephone line, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone to connect said one side of said telephone line to said other side of said telephone line through said resistor and said accumulated coins, the first said conductor being electrically insulated from the coin receptacle box of said coin operated telephone and projecting through an opening in a wall of said coin receptacle box.

15. An indicating device that can be used with a coin operated telephone to indicate when the accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone should be removed and that comprises a conductor that can be mounted so it can be engaged by the coins accumulated within said coin operated telephone, ya resis-tor that can connect said conductor to one side of the telephone line, and a second conductor that can be connected to the other side of said telephone line, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone to connect said one side of said telephone line to said other side of said telephone line through said resistor and said accumulated coins, and a combined support and deflector that is adjacent the first said conductor and that intercepts and deects coins entering the coin receptacle box of said coin operated telephone.

16. An indicating device that can be used with a coin operated telephone to indicate when the accumulated coins in said coin operated telephone should be removed and that comprises a conductor that can be mounted so it can be engaged by the coins accumulated within said coin operated telephone, -a resistor that can connect said conductor to one side of the telephone line, and a second conductor that can be connected to the other side of said telephone line, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by Iaccumulated coins in said coin operated telephone to connect said battery side of said telephone line to said grounded side of said telephone line through said resistor and said accumulated coins, said second conductor being supported by the coin receptacle box of said coin operated telephone and projecting through an opening in a wall of said coin receptacle box.

17. In a coin operated telephone which has ia terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line, which has a grounded terminal, and which has a removable coin receptacle box, the improvement which comprises a detlector that is mounted so it can be engaged by coins entering said coin receptacle box, and that can deflect said coins away from the coin entrance of said coin receptacle box, a conductor, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one `of said terminals, and a second conductor that is connected to the other of said terminals, Isaid deector having a recess therein that accommodates the lirst said conductor, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by piled up coins in said coin receptacle box to connect the iirst said terminal to said grounded terminal through said piled up coins and said resistor.

18. In a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line and which has a grounded terminal, the improvement which comprises a conductor that `is mounted so it can be engaged by the coins that accumulate within said coin operated telephone, a resistor that is connected between said conductor and one of said terminals, `and a second conductor that is connected to the other of said terminals and that can be engaged by said accumulated coins, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by said accumulated coins to connect the iirst said terminal to said grounded terminal through said accumulated coins `and said resistor.

19. In a coin operated telephone which has a terminal connectable to the battery side of the telephone line and which has a grounded terminal, the improvement which comprises a conductor that is iixedly and permanently mounted within the coin receptacle box of said coin operated telephone so it can be engaged by the coins that accumulate within said coin lreceptacle box of said coin operated telephone, a second conductor that is exposed to and that can be engaged by said accumulated coins, one of said conductors being connectable to one of said terminals by a resistor, the other of said conductors being connectable to the other of said terminals, said conductors normally being electrically isolated but being adapted to be connected together by said accumulated coins to connect the first said terminal to said grounded terminal through said accumulated coins and said resistor.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,502,999 Shaun Apr. 4, 1950 2,642,881 Buchholz June 23, 1953 2,644,470 Labbe July 7, 1953

Claims

1. IN A COIN OPERATED TELEPHONE WHICH HAS A TERMINAL CONNECTABLE TO THE BATTERY SIDE OF THE TELEPHONE LINE, WHICH HAS A GROUNDED TERMINAL, AND WHICH HAS A REMOVABLE COIN RECEPTACLE BOX, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A CONDUCTOR THE PROJECTS FORWARDLY FROM A POINT ADJACENT THE BACKBASE OF SAID COIN OPERATED TELEPHONE, AND EXTENDS THROUGH THE CENTRAL AREA OF SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX AND EXTENDS TOWARDS THE FRONT WALL OF SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX, A RESISTOR THAT IS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID CONDUCTOR AND ONE OF SAID TERMINALS AND A SECOND CONDUCTOR THAT EXTENDS FORWARDLY FROM A POINT ADJACENT SAID BACKBASE OF SAID COIN OPERATED TELEPHONE AND EXTENDS THROUGH SAID CENTRAL AREA OF SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX AND EXTENDS TOWARD SAID FRONT WALL OF SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX, AND AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BACKBASE AND THE OTHER OF SAID TERMINALS, SAID CONDUCTORS NORMALLY BEING ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED BUT BEING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TOGETHER BY PILED UP COINS IN SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX TO CONNECT THE FIRST SAID TERMINAL TO SAID GROUNDED TERMINAL THROUGH SAID PILED UP COINS AND SAID RESISTOR, SAID SECOND CONDUCTOR SURROUNDING THE FIRST SAID CONDUCTOR AND SERVING TO HELP SUPPORT THE FIRST SAID CONDUCTOR BUT PERMITTING ONE END OF THE FIRST SAID CONDUCTOR TO PROJECT BEYOND IT, THE FIRST SAID CONDUCTOR BEING INSULATED BUT HAVING THE INSULATION REMOVED FROM SAID ONE END THEREOF, SAID SECOND CONDUCTOR BEING BELOW BUT ADJACENT THE COIN ENTRANCE OF SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX TO INTERCEPT AND DEFLECT COINS ENTERING SAID COIN RECEPTACLE BOX THROUGH SAID COIN ENTRANCE.