US3926366A

US3926366A - Pilfer-proof locking cover for a coin box

Info

Publication number: US3926366A
Application number: US447156A
Authority: US
Inventors: August M Sciortino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-03-01
Filing date: 1974-03-01
Publication date: 1975-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-16

Abstract

The cover is of the type which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box and which has a coin receiving window. The coin box with the cover thereon is adapted to mate with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway therethrough which registers with the coin receiving window when the coin box and bracket are brought into mating engagement. In use, the coin box cover with various mechanisms and devices therein is preset in a counting room for mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket and then locked to the top of the box. The coin box cover of the invention is of the type in which the window is initially closed when the devices and mechanisms are preset so that the window cannot be taped open before it is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket. The coin box cover is also of the type in which the window is closed and locked in the window closed position when the coin box is removed from the coin box receiving bracket.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Sciortino Dec. 16, 1975 1 PILFER-PROOF LOCKING COVER FOR A COIN BOX August M. Sciortino, 1838 Weeg Way, Park Ridge, I11. 60068 221 Filed: Mar. 1, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 447,156

[76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerPeter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or FirmSilverman & Cass, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT The cover is of the type which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box and which has a coin receiving window. The coin box with the cover thereon is adapted to mate with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway therethrough which registers with the coin receiving window when the coin box and bracket are brought into mating engagement. In use, the coin box cover with various mechanisms and devices therein is preset in a counting room for mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket and then locked to the top of the box. The coin box cover of the invention is of the type in which the window is initially closed when the devices and mechanisms are preset so that the window cannot be taped open before it is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket. The coin box cover is also of the type in which the window is closed and locked in the window closed position when the coin box is removed from the coin box receiving bracket.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,926,366

US. Patent Dec. 1 1975 Sheet2 of2 3,926,366

J //////lillll- PILFER-PROOF LOCKING COVER FOR A COIN BOX BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a pilfer proof locking cover for a coin box. The cover is of the type which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box and which has a coin receiving window. The coin box with the cover thereon is adapted to mate with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway therethrough which registers with the coin receiving window when the coin box and bracket are brought into mating engagement. In use, the coin box cover with various mechanisms and devices therein is preset in a counting room for mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket and then locked to the top of the box. The coin box cover of the invention is of the type in which the window is initially closed when the devices and mechanisms are preset so that the window cannot be taped open before it is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket. The coin box cover is also of the type in which the window is closed and locked in the window closed position when the coin box is removed from the coin box receiving bracket.

Coin box covers having a window which is initially closed when the coin box is mated with a coin box receiving bracket and which is closed and locked when the coin box is removed from the bracket are known. In this respect reference is had to US. Pat. No. 1,964,528 and US. Pat. No. 2,096,476. In the coin box covers disclosed in these two patents, the cover has a window and a shutter is movable to and from a window closed position. An arm extends outwardly of the box from the shutter and is engageable by cooperating structure on a coin box receiving bracket which has a coin passageway or chute that registers with the coin receiving window. The coin box covers also have latching mechanisms which will latch the window into a window closed position when the coin box is removed from the coin box receiving bracket.

The coin box cover of the present invention differs from the covers previously proposed in the patents referred to above in that no shutter arm is provided which extends outwardly of the coin box. Instead, the coin box is provided with a hole in one side wall thereof just beneath the open top of the coin box and the underside of the coin box cover has mechanisms which will interact with a bar received through the hole. The bar extends from a coin box receiving bracket and engages the mechanisms of the coin box cover when the coin box is brought into mating engagement with the bracket.

The coin box cover of the present invention also includes mechanisms which will prevent tampering with the coin box prior to insertion into and after removal from the coin box receiving bracket. In this respect if a probe is inserted a short distance into the hole and then withdrawn in an attempt to open the window prior to insertion of the coin box into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket in a coin operated vending machine, a hole blocking mechanism is actuated and will block the hole and prevent insertion of another probe or the bar through the hole. The bar, of course, will bring about the same action of the mechanisms in the coin box cover as the probe so that when the bar is removed, the blocking mechanism is operative to block or cover the hole from inside the coin box. Additionally, when the bar is removed, a latching mechanism is operated to latch the shutter in a window closed position. As a result the coin box cover of the present invention is substantially pilfer proof. In this respect, once the cover is preset for operation and detachably locked to the top of a coin box, it is difficult, if not impossible, for someone to tamper with the coin box cover for removing coins from the coin box.

According to the invention there is provided a coin box cover which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box having a bar receiving hole in one side thereof and which is cooperable with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway and a bar that extends from the bracket generally parallel to the cover for insertion through the hole. The cover has a coin receiving window, which registers with the passageway when the coin box is brought into mating engagment with the bracket, and includes a shutter movable across the window and resiliently biased to a window closed position, a tab on the shutter engageable by the bar received through the hole for moving the shutter to a window open position as the window is brought into registry with the passageway anda hole covering mechanism operative to cover the hole after the tab has been moved a short distance by the barand the bar is then Withdrawn.

Preferably, the cover also includes a latch mechanism operative to lock the shutter in the window closed position after the shutter has been moved a short distance toward the window open position and then returned to the window closed position such that when the coin box is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket, the window is initially closed and the hole is open and when the coin box is removed from the bracket, the window is closed, the shutter is locked in the window closed position and the hole is covered by the hole covering mechanism to prevent tampering of the coin box cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top of a coin box, the coin box cover of the invention, and a coin box receiving bracket with the bracket separated into two parts and spaced from the coin box better illustrate the configuration of the bracket.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the locking box cover taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of the various mechanisms of the coin box cover after it has been removed from the coin box receiving bracket.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 and shows a shutter latch mechanism in an enabled position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6 and showing the latch mechanism in a shutter latched position.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the cover similar to FIG. 6 but after the cover has been removed from the coin box and shows a hole covering plunger reset in a hole open position and showing the latch mechanism still in the shutter latched position.

FIG. is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the latch mechanism in the unlatched, disabled position and the plunger in the hole open position, such positions defining a cover preset condition where the cover is ready for mounting in the top of the coin box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 a conventional coin box receiving bracket modified according to the teachings of the invention is identified by the reference numeral 10. The bracket 10 includes a conventional plate 11 of the type mounted within a coin operated vending machine. The plate 11 has a coin receiving passageway 12 therethrough which is located at the end of a coin chute (not shown). The ends of the plate 11 are bent over forming

end flanges

13 and 14 for locating a coin box therebetween. Also,

spacing members

15 and 16 are secured to the underside of the plate 1 1 for maintaining a coin box cover spaced a slight distance from the underside of the plate 11.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the bracket 10 also includes a depending plate 20 which is secured, such as by welding, to the underside of the plate 11 and mounts a bar 22 which extends beneath and parallel to the plate 11 of the bracket 10.

Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is the top of a coin box 24 including a coin box cover 26 detachably locked to the coin box 24 by means of a key operated latching and locking mechanism 28. As shown, the coin box cover 26 has a ring 29 on the upper surface thereof to facilitate removal of the coin box cover 26 from the coin box 24 after the mechanism 28 is unlocked. Also, it will be noted that the coin box 24 has a hole 30 in one side wall 31 thereof (FIG. 4) which is adapted to receive the bar 22. In this respect it will be understood that the coin box 24 and cover 26 thereon are brought into mating engagement with the bracket 10 by moving the box 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow 32.

In use, empty coin boxes 24 with covers 26 attached are supplied to a serviceman from a counting room at the offices of the owner of the vending machine and coin boxes filled with coins are returned by the serviceman to the counting room. In the counting room the coin box cover 26 is separated from each coin box 24 and after the coins are emptied and counted mechanisms in the cover 26 are preset and the cover 26 is mounted to the top of an empty coin box 24 and locked in place. The cover 26 is then ready for insertion with the box 24 into the vending machine and into mating engagement with the bracket 10 where a coin receiving window 36 in the cover 26 registers with the coin receiving passageway 12 in the bracket 10.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the window 36 is closed by a shutter plate 38 prior to the insertion of the box 24 into the vending machine and after removal of the box 24 from the vending machine as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 it is apparent that the cover 26 is hollow and includes parallel spaced top and

bottom wall plates

41 and 42. The bottom wall plate 42 has upwardly extending end flanges 43 which engage the underside of the top wall plate 41 and maintain a desired spacing between the

wall plates

41 and 42. Similarly, the top wall plate 41 has end flanges 44 which are bent over the end flanges 43. Also, extending from the end flanges 44 and bent over beneath the bottom wall plate 42 are several tabs 45 shown in FIGS. 2-6 and 9-10. Additionally, several cover locating tabs 46 extend from the flange 44 and are received in slots 47 (FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) punched into opposite side walls of the coin box 24. Furthermore, cover retaining tabs 48 extend outwardly from one side edge 49 of the wall plate 42, are received in slots (not shown) in side wall 31 and cooperate with the mechanism 28 for locking the cover 26 to the coin box 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, the window 36 in the cover 26 is defined in part by a window opening 50 in the top wall plate 41. The window 36 is also defined in part by flanges 51 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and 52 (FIG. 3) which extend downwardly from the top wall plate 41. The window 36 is further defined by a window opening 53 (FIG. 5) in the bottom wall plate 42.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 the shutter plate 38 is located between the top and

bottom wall plates

41 and 42 and is situated for movement adjacent the bottom wall plate 42 across the window opening 53. The shutter plate 38 has

end flanges

54 and 55 which extend upwardly towards the top wall plate 41. It will be noted that the

flanges

51 and 52 which extend downwardly toward the shutter plate 38 and the

flanges

54 and 55 which extend upwardly from the shutter plate 38 to the top wall plate 41 serve to locate and maintain the shutter plate 38 in a desired location adjacent the window opening 53 in the bottom wall plate 42. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, two

ears

58 and 59 are secured to the bottom wall plate 42 adjacent the side edge 49. These

ears

58, 59 are spaced on either side of the

flanges

54 and 55 extending from the shutter plate 38 which also has

ears

64 and 65 extending outwardly from 54 and 55 and spaced from and in alignment with the

tabs

58 and 59. As best shown in FIG. 5 a spring 66 is connected between the ear 58 and ear 64 and a spring 67 is connected between the ear 59 and ear 65. The

springs

66 and 67 form a biasing means for biasing the shutter plate 38 to the window closed position shown in FIG. 1.

In addition to the window opening 53, the bottom wall plate 42 has an elongate slot 68 which extends generally parallel to the

flanges

43 and 44 and terminates at slot ends 69 and 70 which are spaced a short distance from the side edges of the bottom wall plate 42, slot end 69 being close to plate side edge 49. As shown, first and

second tabs

71 and 72 extend from either side of the shutter plate 38 through the slot 68. The

tabs

71 and 72 perform several functions one of which is to provide, in cooperation with the slot 68, guide means for guiding and aligning movement of the shutter plate 38 to and from the window closed position thereof.

As shown, the tab 71 is located in a position to be engaged by the bar 22 when the coin box 24 is brought into cooperating mating engagement with the bracket 10. Thus, when the bar 22 is extended through the opening 30, it engages the tab 71 and pushes the shutter plate 38 to a window open position as shown in FIG. 5.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the cover 26 includes a hole covering or bar blocking mechanism 74 situated adjacent the side edge 49 and a latch mechanism 78 located adjacent a side 79 of the window opening 53 farthest from the plate side edge 49 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 9 and 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mechanism 74 includes a spring biased plunger 80 having a head 82 at the outer end thereof with the inner end received into a mounting bracket 84 which is fixed to the underside of the bottom wall plate 42. The plunger 80 is arranged for movement across the path of travel of the bar 22 and across the hole 30. The mechanism 74 also includes a stop 86, fixed to the underside of plate 42 and positioned on the other side of the path of movement of the bar 22 and in position to limit forward movement of the plunger 80. As will be described hereinafter the mechanism 74 is operable to block or cover the hole 30 in the side wall 31 of the coin box 24 to prevent tampering with and pilfering of the coin box 24.

The latch mechanism 78 cooperates with an aperture 90 in the bottom wall plate 42 adjacent the edge 79 of the window opening 53 and includes an aperture cover plate 92 pivotable to and from a position over the aperture 90. When the cover plate 92 is in an aperture covering position, distal end 94 of the cover plate 92 is in the path of movement of the tab 72 as shown in FIG. 10. The latch mechanism 78 further includes a detent 96 at the end of a spring arm 98. The spring arm 98 is fixed to the underside of the bottom wall plate 42 with the detent 96 arranged for movement into and out of the aperture 90 and has an ear 99 at the outer end thereof for facilitating manual manipulation of the spring arm 98. When in an aperture covering position, the cover plate 92 prevents movement of the detent 96 into and through the aperture 90 as shown in FIG. 10. A keeper bracket 106 which cooperates with the locking and latching mechanism 28, has tabs fixed to the plate 42 and one of the tabs functions as a stop for limiting pivotal movement of the aperture cover plate 92 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The operation of the various latching mechanisms of the cover 26 is as follows:

FIG. illustrates the various parts of the latching mechanisms of the cover 26 in their preset position prior to the locking of the cover 26 to the coin box 24 and the insertion of the coin box 24 and cover 26 into mating engagement with the bracket 10. As shown, the shutter plate 38 is in the window closed position and the tab 71 is resting against the end 69 of the slot 68. It will be noted that the head 82 of the plunger 80 is much wider than the plunger 80 such that the tab 71 serves as a stop for the plunger head 82. This leaves the area behind the hole 30 within the coin box 24 open for insertion of the bar 22 and permits the bar 22 to engage the tab 71 for moving the plate 38 from the window closed position to the window open position. Also, as shown the aperture cover plate 92 is in an aperture covering position with the detent 96 bearing against the cover plate 92. Further, it will be noted that the distal end 94 of the cover plate 92 engages and extends part way into the path of movement of the tab 72.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the bar 22 is inserted through the hole 30 and engages the tab 71. When the coin box 24 is in full mating engagement with the bracket 10, the bar 22 will be in the position shown in FIG. 5 with the distal end of the bar 22 bearing against the tab 71 to hold the shutter plate 38 in the window open position. During this action the tab 72 moves to the other end of the slot 68 and pivots the distal end 94 of the cover plate 92 out of the path of the tab 72 to the position shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9. In this position the aperture 90 is uncovered and the detent 96 is allowed to enter the aperture 90 and bears against the shutter 6 plate 38 which has now moved across the aperture 90 as shown in FIG. 7.

It will be noted that the diameters of the hole 30 and the bar 22 are less than the width of the tab 71 so that when the bar 22 is withdrawn, the head 82 on the plunger will be in the path of movement of the tab 71 rather than laterally thereof. As a result, when the bar 22 is removed the plunger 80 will move across the path of movement of the bar 22 to a hole blocking or covering position as shown in FIG. 6. In this position the head 82 bears against the stop 86 and the tab 71 is positioned behind the head 82. The hole 30 is then covered or blocked preventing the insertion of a probe therethrough into the coin box 24. Also, an attempt to use a tool to push the plunger 80 backward will meet with little success since the tab 71 will engage the backside of the head 82 and prevent the plunger from being moved to the hole open position thereof. Further, it will be noted that when the tab 71 has moved to the end 69 of the slot 68, the shutter plate 38 has been moved to the window closed position. In this position a back edge 107 of the shutter plate 38 has been moved past the aperture 90 permitting the detent 96 to move downwardly through the aperture to a latching position (FIG. 8). In the latching position the detent 96 is in the path of edge 107 to prevent movement of the shutter plate 38 from the window closed position. The shutter plate 38 is now latched in the window closed position and after the coin box 24 is removed from the bracket 10 it will be very difficult if not impossible to force the shutter plate 38 to a window open position with a gouging tool, such as a screw driver, inserted through the window opening 50 in the top wall plate 41.

After the coin box 24 is removed with the latching mechanisms of the cover 26 in the position shown in FIG. 6, the coin box and cover are taken to a counting room where a key is inserted in the latching and locking mechanism 28 to unlatch the cover 26 from the coin box 24. Then the ring 29 is gripped to pull the cover 26 from the coin box 24. At this point the coins are removed from the coin box 24 and counted. Then the cover 26 is turned over the ear 99 is engaged by one finger to move detent 96 out of the path of the shutter plate 38 and the tab 71 is engaged by another finger to move the tab 71 in the slot 68 (with shutter plate 38 moving past aperture 90) to clear the path of plunger head 82 to enable the plunger 80 and the head 82 thereof to be moved to the hole open position at which point the tab 71 is returned to the end 69 of the slot 68 as shown in FIG. 9. Then the operator engages the ear 99 with one finger to pull the detent 96 above the plane of the aperture cover plate 92 and then pivots the cover plate 92 with another finger to the aperture covering position shown in FIG. 10. With the

mechanisms

74 and 78 now cocked or preset in the positions shown in FIG. 10, the cover 26 is ready to be detachably locked to the coin box 24 for reinsertion with the box into mating engagement with the bracket 10 in a vending machine.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the coin box cover 26 of the present invention provides a number of advantages some of which have been described above and others which are inherent in the invention. In particular, it will be apparent that the coin box cover 26 has the advantage of minimizing, if not altogether preventing, the possibility of tampering with the coin box 24 prior to its insertion into a vending machine. In this respect, it will be noted if the

tabs

71 and 72 are moved inwardly slightly such as by inserting a probe into the hole 30 and then allowed to return to the position shown in FIG. 6 the

mechanism

74 and 78 are triggered to the positions shown in FIG. 6 and prevent (l) the coin box from being inserted into the bracket and (2) prevent the opening of the shutter plate 38. Also, once the coin box is removed from the coin box receiving bracket 10 with the

mechanisms

74 and 78 in the position shown in FIG. 6, it is practically impossible to pry open the shutter plate 38 without material damage to the cover 26 or the coin box 24.

From the foregoing remarks it will be apparent that obvious modifications and variations can be made to the coin box cover of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is desired to cover by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A coin box cover which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box having a bar receiving hole in one side thereof and which is cooperable with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway and a bar that extends from the bracket generally parallel to said cover, the bar being receivable through the bar receiving hole, said cover having a coin receiving window which registers with the passageway when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with the bracket, and said cover comprising:

A. shutter means movable across said window and resiliently biased to a window closed position,

B. tab means on said shutter means engagable by the bar received through the hole for moving said shutter means to a window open position as said window is brought into registry with the passageway,

C. resiliently biased hole covering means movable across an inner-facing surface of said one side to cover the hole when said cover is mounted to the coin box and after said tab means have been moved a short distance by the bar and the bar is then withdrawn said hole covering means initially being held in a hole open position by said tab means, and

D. latch means operative to lock said shutter means in said window closed position after said shutter means have been moved a short distance towards said window open position and then returned to said window closed position,

whereby when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket, said window is initially closed and the hole is open and when said coin box is removed from the bracket, said window is closed, said shutter means are locked in said window closed position and the hole is covered by said hole covering means to prevent insertion of a probe through the hole.

2. The coin box cover according to claim 1 wherein said hole covering means include a plunger.

3. The coin box cover according to claim 2 wherein said plunger has a head and said tab means engage said plunger head and are aligned with and wider than the hole such that when said tab means are moved out of engagement with said plunger, said plunger moves forward towards said covering position with said head engaging the bar inserted through the hole and said head being positioned in the path of movement of said tab means whereby when the bar is withdrawn, said plunger will move to said hole covering position.

4. The coin box cover according to claim 3 wherein said plunger head has a lateral extent which is greater than the remainder of said plunger and which extends into the path of movement of said tab means such that said tab means initially engage the front side of said plunger head and, after removal of the bar, said tab means are situated behind said head and in position to engage the back side of said head in the event an attempt is made to move said plunger toward the hole open position thereof.

5. The coin box cover according to claim 1 wherein said tab means include a forward tab which is initially positioned to engage said hole covering means to hold same in the hole open position and a rearward tab which is movable into engagement with said latch means, when the bar engages and moves said forward tab, for placing said latch means in an enabling position operable to latch said shutter means in said window closed position when said coin box cover is withdrawn from mating engagement with the bracketv 6. The coin box cover according to claim 5 including at least one cover plate having said window therein and wherein said shutter means include a movable shutter plate arranged for movement along a first side of said cover plate between a window closed position and a window open position, said cover plate having a slot therein through which said tab means extend, the bar being movable adjacent to and parallel to the second side of said cover plate and into engagement with said forward tab for moving said tab means in said slot, and said latch means include an aperture in said cover plate adjacent the path of movement of said shutter plate, detent means mounted on said second side of said cover plate in alignment with said aperture and resiliently biased toward said aperture, aperture covering means initially covering said aperture and engageable by said rearward tab which, when said tab means are moved, move said aperture covering means away from said aperture permitting said detent means, first, to enter said aperture and bear against said shutter plate and, second, when said shutter plate returns to said window closed position, to move into the path of movement of said shutter plate thereby to lock said shutter plate in said window closed position.

7. In a latching assembly within a coin box cover which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box having a bar receiving hole in one side thereof and which is cooperable with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway and a bar that extends from the bracket generally parallel to said cover for insertion through the hole, said cover having a coin receiving window which registers with the passageway when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with the bracket, shutter means movable across said window and resiliently biased to a window closed position and tab means on said shutter means, within the confines of the coin box and engageable by the bar received through the hole for moving said shutter means to a window open position as said window is brought into registry with the passageway, the improvement comprising, resiliently biased hole covering means movable across an inner-facing surface of said one side to cover the hole when said cover is mounted to the coin box and after said tab means have been moved a short distance by the bar and the bar is then withdrawn, said hole covering means initially being held in a hole open position by said tab means, whereby when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket, said window is initially closed and the hole is open and when said coin box is removed from the bracket, said window is closed and the hole is covered by said hole covering means to prevent insertion of a probe through the hole.

8. In combination, a coin box having an open top and a bar receiving hole in one side thereof, a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway and a bar that extends from said bracket generally parallel to said cover, said bar being receivable through said bar receiving hole, and a cover detachably lockable to the top of said coin box and having a coin receiving window which registers with said passageway when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with said bracket, said cover comprising, shutter means movable across said window and resiliently biased to a window closed position, tab means on said shutter means engageable by said bar received through said hole for moving said shutter means to a window open position as said window is brought into registry with said passageway, resiliently biased hole covering means movable across an inner-facing surface of said one side to cover said hole when said cover is mounted to the coin box and after said tab means have been moved a short distance by said bar and said bar is then withdrawn, said hole covering means initially being held in a hole open position by said tab means, and latch means operative to lock said shutter means in said window closed position after said shutter means have been moved a short distance towards said window open position and then returned to said window closed position, whereby when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with said coin box receiving bracket, said window is initially closed and said hole is open and when said coin box is removed from said bracket, said window is closed, said shutter means are locked in said window closed position and said hole is covered by said hole covering means to prevent insertion of a probe through said hole.

9. A coin box cover having a coin receiving window and comprising, shutter means movable across said window and resiliently biased to a window closed position, tab means on said shutter means engageable by a bar for moving said shutter means to a window open position, resiliently biased blocking means movable across an inner-facing surface of the cover into and out of the path of movement of the bar for blocking the path to said tab means after said tab means have been moved a short distance by the bar and the bar is then withdrawn, said blocking means initially being held in an unblocking position by said tab means out of the path of movement of the bar, and latch means operative to lock said shutter means in said window closed position after said shutter means have been moved a short distance towards said window open position and then returned to said window closed position.

Claims

1. A coin box cover which is detachably lockable to the open top of a coin box having a bar receiving hole in one side thereof and which is cooperable with a coin box receiving bracket having a coin passageway and a bar that extends from the bracket generally parallel to said cover, the bar being receivable through the bar receiving hole, said cover having a coin receiving window which registers with the passageway when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with the bracket, and said cover comprising: A. shutter means movable across said window and resiliently biased to a window closed position, B. tab means on said shutter means engagable by the bar received through the hole for moving said shutter means to a window open position as said window is brought into registry with the passageway, C. resiliently biased hole covering means movable across an inner-facing surface of said one side to cover the hole when said cover is mounted to the coin box and after said tab means have been moved a short distance by the bar and the bar is then withdrawn, said hole covering means initially being held in a hole open position by said tab means, and D. latch means operative to lock said shutter means in said window closed position after said shutter means have been moved a short distance towards said window open position and then returned to said window closed position, whereby when said coin box is brought into mating engagement with the coin box receiving bracket, said window is initially closed and the hole is open and when said coin box is removed from the bracket, said window is closed, said shutter means are locked in said window closed position and the hole is covered by said hole covering means to prevent insertion of a probe through the hole.

5. The coin box cover according to claim 1 wherein said tab means include a forward tab which is initially positioned to engage said hole covering means to hold same in the hole open position and a rearward tab which is movable into engagement with said latch means, when the bar engages and moves said forward tab, for placing said latch means in an enabling position operable to latch said shutter means in said window closed position when said coin box cover is withdrawn from mating engagement with the bracket.

6. The coin box cover according to claim 5 including at least one cover plate having said window therein and wherein said shutter means include a movable shutter plate arranged for movement along a first side of said cover plate between a window closed position and a window open position, said cover plate having a slot therein through which said tab means extend, the bar being movable adjacent to and parallel to the second side of said cover plate and into engagement with said forward tab for moving said tab means in said slot, and said latch means include an aperture in said cover plate adjacent the path of movement of said shutter plate, detent means mounted on said second side of said cover plate in alignment with said aperture and resiliently biased toward said aperture, aperture covering means initially covering said aperture and engageable by said rearward tab which, when said tab means are moved, move said aperture covering means away from said aperture permitting said detent means, first, to enter said aperture and bear against said shutter plate and, second, when said shutter plate returns to said window closed position, to move into the path of movement of said shutter plate thereby to lock said shutter plate in said window closed position.