US3843043A - Locking cover for coin box - Google Patents

Abstract

Locking coin box to be inserted into a coin-controlled vending machine in alignment with the coin-accepting conduit and the coin-returning conduit, the machine being of the type in which these two conduits are close to one another and aligned front to rear. The box has a cover locked onto the box with a window to be aligned with the coin-accepting conduit and a laterally diverting chute aligned with the coin-returning conduit. There is a first spring-pressed plunger in the cover aligned with the window latched to be free of the window prior to installation of the box in the machine, a release mechanism which is actuated when the box is installed in the machine but the first plunger being held against movement to block the window so long as the box remains in the machine. When the box is removed from the machine the first plunger automatically moves to a locked position blocking the window and cannot be unlocked from this position without removing the cover from the box body. The first spring-pressed plunger moves to its window-blocking position from rear to front because the chute is forward of the window. There is a second plunger in the cover which has a rearwardly protruding extension that is adapted to be engaged by the rear wall of the receptacle of the vending machine into which the coin box is installed. The plungers are coupled by a reversing mechanism so that when one moves forward the other moves rearward and vice versa. The release mechanism is actuated by forward movement of the second plunger occurring when the coin box is installed. When the coin box is removed from the receptacle, the extension and second plunger move rearward causing the first plunger to move forward. The cover cannot be removed by the serviceman but is returned to the headquarters of the owner of the vending machine for the coins to be emptied and the cover re-locked in place and the plungers latched in window uncovering position.

Description

United States Patent [191 Sciortino [111 3,843,043 [451 Oct. 212, 1974 LOCKING COVER FOR COIN BOX [76] Inventor: August M. Sciortino, 1838 Weeg Way, Park Ridge, 111. 60068 [22] Filed: May 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 357,002

Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant ExaminerPeter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Silverman & Cass [57] ABSTRACT Locking coin box to be inserted into a coin-controlled vending machine in alignment with the coin-accepting conduit and the coin-returning conduit, the machine being of the type in which these two conduits are close to one another and aligned front to rear. The box has a cover locked onto the box with a window to be aligned with the coin-accepting conduit and a laterally diverting chute aligned with the coin-returning conduit. There is a first spring-pressed plunger in the cover aligned with the window latched to be free of the window prior to installation of the box in the machine, a release mechanism which is actuated when the box is installed in the machine but the first plunger being held against movement to block the window so long as the box remains in the machine. When the box is removed from the machine the first plunger automatically moves to a locked position blocking the window and cannot be unlocked from this position without removing the cover from the box body.

The first spring-pressed plunger moves to its window-blocking position from rear to front because the chute is forward of the window. There is asecond plunger in the cover which has a rearwardly protruding extension that is adapted to be engaged by the rear wall of the receptacle of the vending machine into which the coin box is installed. The plungers are coupled by a reversing mechanism so that when one moves forward the other moves rearward and vice versa. The release mechanism is actuated by forward movement of the second plunger occurring when the coin box is installed. When the coin box is removed from the receptacle, the extension and second plunger move rearward causing the first plunger to move forward. a

The cover cannot be removed by the serviceman but is returned to the headquarters of the owner of the vending machine for the coins to be emptied and the cover re-locked in place and the plungers latched in window uncovering position.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures LOCKING COVER FOR COIN BOX CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention utilizes teachings of the invention described in copending patent application, Ser. No. 277,245, now Pat. No. 3,797,735 filed Aug. 2, 1972, by applicant herein and Charles R. Rissmann and having the same title as this application.

Applicant is the owner of both applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention herein is the same as that of the copending application, the principal purpose of the structure being to prevent pilferage from cois boxes by the servicemen. Thus, the coin box has a locked cover with an open window adapted to be aligned with the bottom end of a coin conduit or coin chute which is located in the vending machine into which the coin box is to be installed. As the box is'installed, a release mechanism is operated by an extension of a plunger in the cover engaging the rear wall of the receptacle in the machine. In the copending application, the plunger includes a part which can cover and uncover the window, but, while installed in the machine and even after the release mechanism has been operated, the plunger will not move because its movement to uncover the window must be rearward. The extension on the plunger prevents this. As soon as the coin box is pulled out of the receptacle of the machine, the plunger is free to move rearward and when it does the coin box is still partially within the receptacle so that the serviceman cannot get at the window. The plunger is then locked in window covering position.

This invention is specifically intended for use with a popular type of vending machine in which in addition to a coin-accepting conduit or chute there is a coinreturn conduit or chute which is aligned with and close to the coin-accepting conduit. It can be appreciated that if the movement of the plunger above-described into window covering position is a rearward motion, it is bound to interfere with the coin return diverting chute that is required to be built into the coin box and be located directly under the bottom end of the coin return conduit. Coins are laterally deflected by this return coin chute. It must be always open and hence no plunger movement can be tolerated over the chute.

The invention solves this problem by having the plunger move forward in window covering action to the limit of such movement, i.e., not beyond the window.

To achieve this type of movement, actuated as it must be by the permitted rearward movement of a member protruding out of the back of the cover of the coin box, there is a second plunger connected with the protruding member the equivalent of the extension of the copending application and a reversing coupling provided between the two plungers so that all of the functions of the structure of the copending application are achieved with the important difference that the plunger operating in conjunction with the window moves in directions opposite to those in which the plunger of the copending application moves,

The resulting apparatus is simple and effective and does not at any time interfere with the return of coins by way of the coin return deflecting chute included in the coinbox.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is characterized by the provision of a cover locked to a coin box and having a window and a coin return notch and diverting chute. Two parallel sliding plungers are provided in the cover, coupled together for identical opposite movement. One plunger is adapted to be moved between window covering and window uncovering position. The second plunger has an extension protruding from the rear of the cover and adapted to be engaged by the rear wall of the receptable of a vending machine into which the box is adapted to be installed. In its initial condition, the first plunger is in window uncovering position rearward of the window while the second plunger has its extension partially protruding from the rear of the cover and a latch mechanism holds the plungers both in their respectively described conditions. The box is then installed in the machine and the extension comes into slight engagement with said rear wall of the receptacle, this operating a release mechanism and freeing the plungers to move under the urging of a spring, the first plunger being free to move forward and the second plunger being free to move rearward, but neither of these movements being possible while the coin box is so installed because the said-rear wall blocks movement of the extension rearward.

When the coin box is thereafter removed from the receptable, the extension and second plunger are then free to move rearward while the first plunger moves forward to window covering position, the latch mechanism at this time locking the plungers both in their respectively described latter positions. The coin box must then be returned to the headquarters of the vending BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin box having a cover constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same as it is installed in a vending machine and the extension of the second plunger being engaged against the rear wall of the receptacle of the vending machine;

FIG. 2 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken through the coin box along the line 2-2 of FIG. I and in the indicated direction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary. sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and in the indicated direction, showing the plungers latched in the condition in which the window is open and the coin box is ready to be installed in the vending machine but has not yet been so installed;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cover shown out of the coin box and in the same condition as in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cover but in this case, the top wallhas been cut away to show the interior structure, the conditions being the same as in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 3, but in this case the second plunger has moved slightly forward and the plungers are unlatched, ready to moe substantially if permitted to do so;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to that of FIG. 5, but in this case the coin box has been removed from the vending machine and the plungers have moved their limits so that they are once more latched, but now with the first plunger in window obstructing condition, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIGS. 3 and 6 but illustrating the condition of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As previously indicated, the structure of this invention differs from those of the said copending application in that the locking coin box window of-the locking cover is aligned with a coin return conduit so that the movement of a plunger which is designed to block and unblock the window cannot be carried forward of the window because a diverting coin return chute is located adjacent the window. The required movement of the box into the box-receiving machine is the same as that of the structures of the copending application and the mechanical movement of the plunger extension is the same. In accordance with the invention herein, the movement of the extension which engages the rear wall of the receptacle into which the box is installed operates a novel mechanism which converts the same into a reverse movement insofar as the plunger covering the coin box window is concerned.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a locking coin box 10 of the type with which the invention is intended to be associated. There is a right side wall 12, a left side wall 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, and a bottom wall which cannot be seen in the views. The described walls are fabricated into an open-topped box body 11 by means of bent flanges which engage the front and rear walls 16 and 18, respectively, and are spot-welded thereto as shown in FIG. 1. The rear wall 18 is plain but the front wall 16 has a handle loop 22 by means of which the serviceman may pull the box 10 out of the receptable of the vending machine into which it is installed. None of the vending machine structure is shown with the exception of the rear wall 24 in fragmentary perspective, it being understood that the receptacle of the machine is completely enclosed on its lateral and top and bottom sides so that when the box 10 is installed there is no way of gaining access to the box 10 without withdrawing it from the receptacle.

Continuing with the description of the box body 11 and cover 28, the front wall 16 also has a tumbler lock 26 installed therein by means of which the cover 28 may be removed from the box body 11 as will be described. For the moment, attention may be invited to the slot 30 provided in the lower wall 32 of the cover 28. The tumbler lock 26 has an internal latching arm (not shown) which engages into the slot 30 when the cover 28 is installed and the lock 26 is in locked condition. The key for this lock is retained at the headquarters of the owner of the vending machine and is not available to the serviceman.

The upper edges of the walls l2, l4, l6, and 18 define an opening at the top of the box body 11, and the cover 28 of the invention is adapted to be installed closely fitting inside of this opening. Spaced shearformed loops 34 are inwardly pressed slightly below the upper edges of the side walls 12 and 14. The cover 28 includes a top wall 36 having spaced depending lugs 38 along the bottom edges of the side flanges 40 and 42 thereof. When the cover 28 is installed into the opening of the lower box body 11 the lugs 38 enter the loops 34 on the interior of the box body holding the cover 28 in place and preventing the side walls 12 or 14 from being pried free of the cover 28. The front edge of the wall '12 also has an outwardly pressed guideway 44 to accommodate the head of a small plastic split pin 46 that keeps the cover in assembly.

The side flanges 40 and 42 have tabs 47 that are bent against the bottom of the lower wall 32 to prevent separation of the two parts 32 and 36 while still permitting them to be slid relative one another if the split pin 46 is not in place.

The wall 14 has a rectangular notch along its upper edge into which is fabricated a diverting coin chute 48 that includes a slanted bottom guide wall 50. The vending machine is constructed so that the customer may operate a suitable mechanism and have coins which have been introduced into the machine bypass the coin receiving box 10 and return to a suitable receptacle from which the customer may retrieve the same. This is quite common in practically all machines, but in the machine with which the box 10 is intended to be used,

the location of the bottom of the coin-return conduit located above the coin-receiving box 10 is directly in front of the coin-accepting conduit which leads to the window 56 in the coin-receiving box 10. Neither of the conduits is shown in the drawings but their locations are obvious from a study of the drawings, especially FIG. 1. The window 56 referred to is formed by virtue of cutouts of the top wall 36 and bottom wall 32. The cutout 52 in the top wall is rectangular (FIG. 1) and is aligned vertically with the cutout 54 in the bottom wall 32. These two cutouts together will be considered the window 56, and, as indicated they are in alignment with the bottom end of the coin-accepting conduit.

The directions referred to in this discussion as front and rear are relative. The front of the box 10 is to the left in all views but FIG. 2, this being the front of the machine into which the box is intended to be installed. Anything said to move forward or to the front will move toward the left. Thus, the rear direction is to the right in all of these views. As for FIG. 2, the view is taken looking toward the rear of the box 10.

The cover 28 has been partially described thus far, but generally it should be understood to comprise two channel-shaped members which are arranged face to face with the bottom channel-shaped member having its channel flanges engaged inside of the channel flanges of the upper one. The upper channel member has been described as comprising the top wall 36 and its side flanges have been described as the flanges 40 and 42. The lower channel has been described as comprising the bottom wall 32 and its flanges are desig nated and 62.

The bottom wall 32 has a relatively large generally rectangular notch 66 opening to the side thereof and located forward of the rectangular cutout 54. A somewhat smaller but similarly shaped notch 68 is provided in the upper wall 36, there two notches being aligned to fit around the coin chute 48. As best seen in FIG. 1, the coin chute 48 extends up to and flush with the top of the upper wall 36 so that when the cover 28 is locked in place there are no spaces which may be pried open or through which coins may be pilfered from the box.

Two plungers are provided moving right and left within the chamber defined between the face to face channel-shaped members. Such chamber may be designated as '78 and it will be appreciated that the chamber is enclosed and that the movable mechanism as described is carried within the chamber. The first plunger 72 comprises an elongate strip of metal occupying approximately half of the lateral side of the chamber 70 and adapted to slide forward and rearward by virtue of rivets or pins 74 the heads of which are exposed on the bottom of the cover 28 and ride in an elongate slot 76 parallel to the elongate sides of the cover 28.

The plunger 72 includes a side flange 78 which engages the inside of the side flange 62 to help stabilize the sliding movement of the plunger 72. The left-hand end of the plunger 72 is viewed in FIGS. and 7 especially, has right angle baffles- 81) and 82 mounted thereon. The baffle 80 which is at the left-hand end may be bent up from the body of the plunger 72 and the baffle 82 may be formed on a bracket riveted or welded to the body 72 It could also be shear-formed from the body so long as the area between the baffles is imperforate. This area is designated at 84 and it is congruent with the window 56, specifically overlying the cutout 54 when the plunger 72 is at the left-hand extreme end of its movement. This condition is shown in FIG. 7. At the extreme right-hand end of its movement the imperforate portion 84 is to the right of cutout54 and the window 56 is in unobstructed condition. The baffles prevent tampering with the mechanism in chamber 70.

Along its inner edge, the plunger 72 is provided with a rack 86 whose length is approximately slightly more than total stroke of the plunger. This rack may be formed on a separate member and riveted or welded in place or may be stamped directly from the same sheet metal member which forms the body of the plunger 72.

The second plunger 88 is substantially longer than the first plunger 72 and may be fabricated in any suitable or convenient manner. The body thereof is again a strip of sheet metal approximately half the width of the cover 28 and it likewise has rivets or pins 91) and 92 which cooperate with respective slots 94 and 96 formed in the lower wall 32 of the cover 28. Again, it will be noted that these are at the bottom of the cover and not accessible when the cover 28 is locked onto the box body 11.

The right-hand end of the plunger 88 has an extension 98 which protrudes through a suitable opening (not shown) of the rear wall 18 of the box body 11. The

upper wall 36 has a relatively large flange 180 slightly bent down to shield the location from which the extension 98 emerges and to make it difficult to pry the same away from the box body 11.

An angle bracket 102 is secured at the left-hand end of the bottom wall 32 adjacent the flange 60 and it carries an elongate fixed pin 104 which extends to 'the right as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7. A helical spring 1116 is arranged coaxially with the pin and the left-hand end of the plunger 88 has a tubular guide 188 mounted thereon also coaxial with the pin 1114 and the spring 106. In the movement right and left of the plunger 88, the spring will extend all the way through the tubular guide 108 and engage the tab 110 that closes off the right-hand end of the tubular guide 188. The spring 106 is normally biased to push the plunger 88 to the right. A lateral guide flange 112'is bent from the body of the plunger 88 and serves the same purpose for the plunger 88 as the flange 78 does for the plunger 72. The pin or rod 104 prevents the spring 186 frombuckling.

A second rack 114 is provided on the plunger 88 with its teeth facing those of the first rack 86 that is provided on the first plunger. A central bracket 116 secured by the fasteners 118 to the bottom wall 32 has a shaft 120 mounted therein upon which is 'journalled a toothed pinion 122 that meshes with the teeth of the racks 86 and 114. It will be seen that the movement of the first plunger to the left will be accompanied by corresponding movement of the plunger 88 to the right and vice versa.

The maximum extent to which plunger 88 may move to the right is determined by a small ear 124 on the right-hand end of the side flange 60 adapted to engage the right-hand end of the flange 112 under the pressure from the spring 186. This, of course, controls the stroke of the first plunger 72 as well and in the position just described the imperforate portion 84 blocks the window 56. The maximum extent of movement in the op posite direction, if permitted, is limited by the righthand rivet 74 engaging against the right-hand end of the slot 76, but this does not necessarily comprise a position which the plungers will assume for reasons to be explained.

On the bottom of the wall 32 there is mounted a latch mechanism designated generally 126, the same being mounted at two points by suitable screws, rivets, or the like indicated at 128 and 130. These points 128 and 131) comprise locations from which the respective latching arms 132 and 134 will rock in an up and down direction. The latching arms 132 and 134 are formed of resilient metal and are biased to move in opposite directions. The latching arm 132 which has a hook 136 on the end thereof is biased to move downwardly while the latching arm 134 which has a stop portion 138 and a finger tap 140 is biased to move upward. The bottom wall 32 has a passageway 142 aligned with the hook end 136 and a second passageway 144 aligned with the stop portion 138. The plunger 88 has a small rectangular passageway 146 which is adapted to move into alignment with either the passageway 142 or 144 depending upon the condition or the mechanism to be described.

lnitially, it may be assumed that the box 10 is being prepared to be sent out into the field. The cover 28 has been removed and the owner or operator wishes to latch the window 56 open. It may be assumed that from a previous operation the plunger 72 is in window obstructing condition represented by the arrangement of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. With respect to the hook end 136 of the arm 132, the plunger 88 may be pushed to the left since this hook arm is below the path of the plunger 88. With respect to the stop end 138 of the arm 134 if the plunger 88 is moved to the left it will come into engagement with the stop end 138 and therefore cannot be moved. The operator thus grasps the finger extension 140 and pulls it downwardly thereby removing the stop end 138 out of the passage way 146. Simultaneously, he pushes the extension 98 to the left. After he has pushed the passageway 146 past the passageway 144, he may release the arm 134, but

the end 138 will move up only as far as the bottom surface of the plunger 88 and ride thereonand will not prevent continued sliding of the plunger. The operator continues to push the plunger 88 to the left until the passageway 146 aligns with the passageway 142. He continues to push until he is able manually to press the arm 132 upward raising the hook end 136 so that it is above the plunger 88 after which he releases pressure on the extension 98. The spring 106 forces the plunger slightly to the right and into engagement with the hook end 136. To repeat, the plunger 88 is moved to the left until the passageway 146 aligns with the passageway 132 and there is sufficient clearance to enable the hook end 136 to move upwardly so that it can engage the left-hand edge of passageway 146 as shown in FIG. 3. This same condition is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

It will be appreicated that the window 56 is now open because the imperforate portion 84 of the plunger 72 is to the rear of the cutout 54. This is because movement of the plunger 88 to the left was accompanied at the same time by movement of the plunger 72 to the right.

With the cover in this condition, the operator carefully places it on the open top of the box body 11 with the lugs 38 engaged in the shear-formed loops 34. A finger loop 150 may be provided on the top wall 36 to assist in this manipulation; After the cover is in place it is locked and the box is given to a serviceman to install in a machine, the key to the tumbler lock 26 being retained The serviceman must be careful not to push the extension 98 to the left until he installs the box into the receptacle of a vending machine. As he does so the extension 98 engages the back wall 24 of the receptacle and moves slightly forward (to the left as in the views), this condition being shown in FIG. 6. The slight movement of the plunger 88 and the plunger 72 does not interfere with the open condition of the window 56 but what is does is to move the passageway 146 sufficiently. forward to clear the hook end 136 which immediately drops down to the position shown in FIG. 6. This is the condition which obtains while the coin box 10 is in locked condition installed in the vending machine. Coins which are to be accepted will drop through the window 56. Coins which are to be returned will drop onto the deflecting chute 48.

When the serviceman returns to remove the box so that the coins may be taken out at the operators headquarters, he pulls the box out of the receptacle. Since there is nothing to prevent the spring 106 from forcing the plunger 88 to the rear, this occurs as the box is being removed. Movement ofthe plunger 88 to the rear causes the rack and pinion mechanism to move the plunger mechanism forward to the condition shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The movement continues until the imperforate portion 84 blocks the window 56 at which time the passageway 146 is in alignment with the passageway 144 and the stop end 138 jumps up to the condition shown in FIG. 8. Since this is on the bottom of the cover 28, the serviceman cannot force movement of the plunger in either direction and the box 10 is effectively locked against pilferage. The serviceman replaces the box to be removed with a fresh one and takes the withdrawn box to the headquarters to be opened and relatched.

Variations are capable of being made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the pending claims.

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

l. A coin box adapted to be introduced into a coinoperated vending machine having a receptacle for receiving the coin box, a back wall in the receptacle and a coin-accepting conduit leading to the top of said receptacle, said coin box comprising:

A. a boxlike body open at its top,

B. a cover locked in place to close the top and removable from the box body and including a top wall fully'closing off the top from external access but for a window formed therein and located in a position which will vertically align with the coin-accepting conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle,

C. a first slidable plunger mounted to the cover below the top wall and arranged to move between window obstructing and window uncovering positions between the ends of said cover,

D. a second slidable plunger mounted to the cover below the top wall arranged parallel with the first plunger and coupled thereto for reverse movement simultaneously therewith, and having an extension protruding to the rear of said cover,

E. spring means biasing the plungers so that the first moves forward to said window obstructing condition while the second moves rearward,

F. the cover having latching means accessible only from the bottom thereof including a first arm, a second arm and cooperating engaging structure on one plunger, the first arm being biased to move away from said cooperating engaging structure and the second arm being biased to move toward said cooperating structure, said engaging structure being movable with sliding of said one plunger to align with the respective arms,

G. the cover adapted to be locked to the body with the first arm previously having been manually moved against its bias to latch with said engaging structure, the plungers being manually forced to move against the spring-biasing means to align the engaging structure with the first arm while said first plunger is in window uncovering condition, the box adapted to be installed in the receptacle and the extension pressed against said back wall slightly to move the plungers and causing release of said first arm from said engaging structure but said back wall preventing-substantial movement of said plungers, but upon removal of the box from the receptacle the extension and plungers being free to move whereby the first plunger will move forward to window obstructing condition and the second plunger will move to the rear, said one of said plungers moving the cooperating structure to align with the second arm whereupon said second arm automatically will latch therewith preventing any substantially movement of said plungers unless said second arm is manually unlatched.

2. The coin box as claimed in claim 1 in which said one plunger is said second plunger.

3. The coin box as claimed in claim 2 in which said cover includes a bottom support member and the plungers are mounted on top of the support member, the latching means are mounted on the bottom of the support member, the cooperating engaging structure is a passageway in said one plunger, and each arm has an individual slot adapted respectively to align with the passageway and to permit movement of the arm ends through said support member and into engagement with the passageway.

4. A coin box adapted to be introduced into a coinoperated vending machine having a receptacle for receiving the coin box, a back wall in said receptacle, a coin-accepting conduit leading to the top of said receptacle and a coin-return conduit leading also to the top of said receptacle adjacent to and in front of the firstmentioned conduit, the two conduits adapted to drop coins into said receptacle, the coin box being adapted to receive the coins from the coin-accepting conduit and divert the coins from the coin-return conduit to means making same available to the person who dropped the coins, said coin box comprising:

A. a boxlike body being open on its upper side,

B. a cover locked in place to close said open upper side and removable therefrom, said cover comprising a hollow elongate chamber formed between upper and lower walls,

C. a window formed in said cover by virtue of vertically aligned cutouts in said upper and lower walls, said window being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin-accepting conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle,

D. vertically aligned notches in said upper and lower walls respectively and a slanted coin chute formed in the upper portion of said box body for diverting coins laterally of the coin box, said notches and the upper entrance to said coin chute being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin return conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle,

E. first and second plungers mounted for forward and backward sliding movement in said chamber, the plungers being parallel and having reversing means coupling them together so that when one moves forward the other is moved rearward and vice versa,

F. the first plunger being disposed rearward of said window, aligned therewith and arranged to slide between window obstructing condition and window opening condition, the window obstructing condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the front end of its movement and the window opening condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the rear end of its movement,

G. the second plunger being disposed laterally of the window and the notches and chute so that its movement does not carry it into registration with any of the same and having an extension protruding from the rear of the coin box and adapted to engage against said rear wall when the coin box is installed in said receptacle,

H. spring means biasing the plungers to move in directi ons carrying the first plunger into window obstructing condition,

l. latch means on the bottom of the cover and operating through the lower wall in cooperation with said plungers to provide for manual operation of the latch means for latching the first plunger in window opening condition prior to installation of the cover on the box body and adapted to be released when the coin box is installed in the receptacle by the engagement of the extension against said rear wall and slight movement thereof, movement of the plungers being prevented by said engagement while the box is so installed, said plungers being permitted to move when the coinbox is removed from the receptacle and said latch means thereafter automatically locking the first plunger in windowobstructing condition when said is achieved.

5. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which said reversing coupling means comprise racks on juxtaposed edgesof said plungers and a pinion mounted in said chamber and enmeshed with both of said racks.

'6. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which slot and pin means are provided for guiding and confining the movement of said plungers.

7. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which said latch means are disposed to cooperate with said second plunger.

8. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which said spring biasing means comprise a tube in said chamber carried by one of said plungers, a pin connected to said lower wall and coaxial with the tube and a coil spring coaxial with the tube and pin.

9. The coin box as claimed in claim 8 in which the tube is carried by said second plunger.

lit). A coin box adapted to be introduced into a coinoperated vending machine having a receptacle for receiving the coin box, a back wall in said receptacle, a coin-accepting conduit leading to the top of said receptacle and a coin-return conduit leading also to the top of said receptacle adjacent to and in front of the firstmentioned conduit, the two conduits adapted to drop coins into said receptacle, the coin box being adapted to receive the coins from the coin-accepting conduit and divert the coins from the coin-return conduit to means making same available to the person who dropped the coins, said coin box comprising:

A. a boxlike body being open on its upper side,

B. a cover locked in place to close said open upper side and removable therefrom, said cover comprising a hollow elongate chamber formed between upper and lower walls,

C. a window formed in said cover by virtueof vertically aligned cutouts in said upper and lower walls, said window being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin-accepting conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle,

D. vertically algined notches in said upper and lower walls respectively'and a slanted coin chute formed in the upper portion of said box body for diverting coins laterally of the coin box, said notches and the upper entrance to said coin chute being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin return conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in'said receptacle,

E. first and second plungers mounted for forward and backward sliding movement in said chamber, the plungers being parallel and having reversing means coupling them together so that when one moves forward the other is moved rearward and vice versa,

F. the first plunger being disposed rearward of said window, aligned therewith and arranged to slide between window obstructing condition and window opening condition, the window obstructing condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the front end of its movement and the window opening condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the rear end of its movement,

G. the second plunger being disposed laterally of the window and the notches and chute so that its movesecond engaging arms each arm adapted to enter through respective first and second passageways in plunger in window-opening condition while the second engaging arm is not engaged with a plunger, and adapted when the coin box is installed in the receptacle and the extension engages said rear wall ment does not carry it into registration with any of 5 to move the plungers slightly releasing the first enthe same and having an extension protruding from gaging arm to enable substantial movement of said the rear of the coin box and adapted to engage plungers but said plungers being prevented from against said rear wall when the coin box is installed doing so while the coin box is installed in said rein said receptacle, ceptacle, and

H. spring means biasing the plungers to move in di- K. the plungers being free to move substantially in rerections carrying the first plunger into window obsponse to said spring means to bring the first structing condition, plunger into window-obstructing condition when the lower wall of the cover having latch means cathe coin box is removed from said receptacle, at pable of manual manipulation from the bottom of the same time the second engaging arm being arthe cover only, the latch means including first and ranged to move into engagement with a plunger to lock the plungers against further movement. 11. The coin box as claimed in claim 10 in which said lower wall and engage with a plunger to prevent movement of said plungers,

ii the first engaging arm being biased to move out of said first passageway but capable of being manually moved into said first passageway to engage with a plunger and the end of said arm being constructed to retain said engagement when the last-mentioned plunger is frictionally pressed against said end,

ii. the second engaging arm being biased to move into said second passageway into engagement with a plunger but capable of being manually pulled out of said second passageway,

J. the cover being locked onto said box with the first both of said engaging arms are adapted to move into engagement with the same plunger.

12. The coin box as claimed in claim 11 in which said last-mentioned plunger is the second plunger.

13. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which said second plunger has a third passageway adapted to be moved into alignment with said first passageway when the first plunger is in window opening condition and adapted to be moved into alignment with said second passageway when the first plunger is in window obstructing condition.

14. The coin box as claimed in claim 10 in which stop means are provided to limit the movement of said plungers forward and rearward.

engaging arm engaging a plunger to hold the first

Claims (14)

1. A coin box adapted to be introduced into a coin-operated vending machine having a receptacle for receiving the coin box, a back wall in the receptacle and a coin-accepting conduit leading to the top of said receptacle, said coin box comprising: A. a boxlike body open at its top, B. a cover locked in place to close the top and removable from the box body and including a top wall fully closing off the top from external access but for a window formed therein and located in a position which will vertically align with the coin-accepting conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle, C. a first slidable plunger mounted to the cover below the top wall and arranged to move between window obstructing and window uncovering positions between the ends of said cover, D. a second slidable plunger mounted to the cover below the top wall arranged parallel with the first plunger and coupled thereto for reverse movement simultaneously therewith, and having an extension protruding to the rear of said cover, E. spring means biasing the plungers so that the first moves forward to said window obstructing condition while the second moves rearward, F. the cover having latching means accessible only from the bottom thereof including a first arm, a second arm and cooperating engaging structure on one plunger, the first arm being biased to move away from said cooperating engaging structure and the second arm being biased to move toward said cooperating structure, said engaging structure being movable with sliding of said one plunger to align with the respective arms, G. the cover adapted to be locked to the body with the first arm previouSly having been manually moved against its bias to latch with said engaging structure, the plungers being manually forced to move against the spring-biasing means to align the engaging structure with the first arm while said first plunger is in window uncovering condition, the box adapted to be installed in the receptacle and the extension pressed against said back wall slightly to move the plungers and causing release of said first arm from said engaging structure but said back wall preventing substantial movement of said plungers, but upon removal of the box from the receptacle the extension and plungers being free to move whereby the first plunger will move forward to window obstructing condition and the second plunger will move to the rear, said one of said plungers moving the cooperating structure to align with the second arm whereupon said second arm automatically will latch therewith preventing any substantially movement of said plungers unless said second arm is manually unlatched.

2. The coin box as claimed in claim 1 in which said one plunger is said second plunger.

3. The coin box as claimed in claim 2 in which said cover includes a bottom support member and the plungers are mounted on top of the support member, the latching means are mounted on the bottom of the support member, the cooperating engaging structure is a passageway in said one plunger, and each arm has an individual slot adapted respectively to align with the passageway and to permit movement of the arm ends through said support member and into engagement with the passageway.

4. A coin box adapted to be introduced into a coin-operated vending machine having a receptacle for receiving the coin box, a back wall in said receptacle, a coin-accepting conduit leading to the top of said receptacle and a coin-return conduit leading also to the top of said receptacle adjacent to and in front of the first-mentioned conduit, the two conduits adapted to drop coins into said receptacle, the coin box being adapted to receive the coins from the coin-accepting conduit and divert the coins from the coin-return conduit to means making same available to the person who dropped the coins, said coin box comprising: A. a boxlike body being open on its upper side, B. a cover locked in place to close said open upper side and removable therefrom, said cover comprising a hollow elongate chamber formed between upper and lower walls, C. a window formed in said cover by virtue of vertically aligned cutouts in said upper and lower walls, said window being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin-accepting conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle, D. vertically aligned notches in said upper and lower walls respectively and a slanted coin chute formed in the upper portion of said box body for diverting coins laterally of the coin box, said notches and the upper entrance to said coin chute being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin return conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle, E. first and second plungers mounted for forward and backward sliding movement in said chamber, the plungers being parallel and having reversing means coupling them together so that when one moves forward the other is moved rearward and vice versa, F. the first plunger being disposed rearward of said window, aligned therewith and arranged to slide between window obstructing condition and window opening condition, the window obstructing condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the front end of its movement and the window opening condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the rear end of its movement, G. the second plunger being disposed laterally of the window and the notches and chute so that its movement does not carry it into registration with any of the same and having an extension protruding from the rear of the coin box and adapted to engage against said rear wall when the coin box is installed in said receptacle, H. spring means biasing the plungers to move in directions carrying the first plunger into window obstructing condition, I. latch means on the bottom of the cover and operating through the lower wall in cooperation with said plungers to provide for manual operation of the latch means for latching the first plunger in window opening condition prior to installation of the cover on the box body and adapted to be released when the coin box is installed in the receptacle by the engagement of the extension against said rear wall and slight movement thereof, movement of the plungers being prevented by said engagement while the box is so installed, said plungers being permitted to move when the coin box is removed from the receptacle and said latch means thereafter automatically locking the first plunger in window-obstructing condition when said is achieved.

5. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which said reversing coupling means comprise racks on juxtaposed edges of said plungers and a pinion mounted in said chamber and enmeshed with both of said racks.

6. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which slot and pin means are provided for guiding and confining the movement of said plungers.

7. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which said latch means are disposed to cooperate with said second plunger.

8. The coin box as claimed in claim 4 in which said spring biasing means comprise a tube in said chamber carried by one of said plungers, a pin connected to said lower wall and coaxial with the tube and a coil spring coaxial with the tube and pin.

9. The coin box as claimed in claim 8 in which the tube is carried by said second plunger.

10. A coin box adapted to be introduced into a coin-operated vending machine having a receptacle for receiving the coin box, a back wall in said receptacle, a coin-accepting conduit leading to the top of said receptacle and a coin-return conduit leading also to the top of said receptacle adjacent to and in front of the first-mentioned conduit, the two conduits adapted to drop coins into said receptacle, the coin box being adapted to receive the coins from the coin-accepting conduit and divert the coins from the coin-return conduit to means making same available to the person who dropped the coins, said coin box comprising: A. a boxlike body being open on its upper side, B. a cover locked in place to close said open upper side and removable therefrom, said cover comprising a hollow elongate chamber formed between upper and lower walls, C. a window formed in said cover by virtue of vertically aligned cutouts in said upper and lower walls, said window being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin-accepting conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle, D. vertically algined notches in said upper and lower walls respectively and a slanted coin chute formed in the upper portion of said box body for diverting coins laterally of the coin box, said notches and the upper entrance to said coin chute being located at a position which will vertically align with the coin return conduit when the coin box is in installed condition in said receptacle, E. first and second plungers mounted for forward and backward sliding movement in said chamber, the plungers being parallel and having reversing means coupling them together so that when one moves forward the other is moved rearward and vice versa, F. the first plunger being disposed rearward of said window, aligned therewith and arranged to slide between window obstructing condition and window opening condition, the window obstructing condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the front end of its movement and the window opening condition obtaining when said first plunger is at the rear end of its movement, G. the second plunger being disposed laterally of the window and the notches and chute so that its movement does not carry it inTo registration with any of the same and having an extension protruding from the rear of the coin box and adapted to engage against said rear wall when the coin box is installed in said receptacle, H. spring means biasing the plungers to move in directions carrying the first plunger into window obstructing condition, I. the lower wall of the cover having latch means capable of manual manipulation from the bottom of the cover only, the latch means including first and second engaging arms each arm adapted to enter through respective first and second passageways in said lower wall and engage with a plunger to prevent movement of said plungers, i. the first engaging arm being biased to move out of said first passageway but capable of being manually moved into said first passageway to engage with a plunger and the end of said arm being constructed to retain said engagement when the last-mentioned plunger is frictionally pressed against said end, ii. the second engaging arm being biased to move into said second passageway into engagement with a plunger but capable of being manually pulled out of said second passageway, J. the cover being locked onto said box with the first engaging arm engaging a plunger to hold the first plunger in window-opening condition while the second engaging arm is not engaged with a plunger, and adapted when the coin box is installed in the receptacle and the extension engages said rear wall to move the plungers slightly releasing the first engaging arm to enable substantial movement of said plungers but said plungers being prevented from doing so while the coin box is installed in said receptacle, and K. the plungers being free to move substantially in response to said spring means to bring the first plunger into window-obstructing condition when the coin box is removed from said receptacle, at the same time the second engaging arm being arranged to move into engagement with a plunger to lock the plungers against further movement.

11. The coin box as claimed in claim 10 in which both of said engaging arms are adapted to move into engagement with the same plunger.

12. The coin box as claimed in claim 11 in which said last-mentioned plunger is the second plunger.

13. The coin box as claimed in claim 12 in which said second plunger has a third passageway adapted to be moved into alignment with said first passageway when the first plunger is in window opening condition and adapted to be moved into alignment with said second passageway when the first plunger is in window obstructing condition.

14. The coin box as claimed in claim 10 in which stop means are provided to limit the movement of said plungers forward and rearward.

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