US3016185A - Tamperproof coin box - Google Patents

Description

Jam 1962 F. H. OSBORNE 3,016,185

TAMPERPROOF COIN BOX Filed Oct. 6. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9, 1962 F. H.'OSBORNE 3,016,185

TAMPERPROOF COIN BOX Filed Oct. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,016,185 TAMPERPROOF COIN BOX Fred H. Osborne, Snyder, N.Y., assignor to The Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 844,737

8 Claims. (Cl. 232) This invention relates generally to coin-operated juke boxes, vending machines and the like and especially to a 'tamperproof coin box for use with such devices.

A common problem in the management of coin-operated juke boxes, vending machines and the like'ispreventing the looting or pilfering of the coin repositories, particularly by those individuals assigned to collect the receipts of operation. Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is toprovide coin-repositing apparatus which is constructed to prevent looting or pilfering.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coin box for use with juke boxes, vending machines and the like.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

The structure in accordance with the'invention includes a housing defining-a coin-receiving chamber and having a coin-passing aperture which communicates with the chamber, a structure enclosing the housing, plate means positionable to obstruct the aperture, latch means for releaseably fastening the housing in the enclosing structure, lock means for simultaneously positioning the plate means and operating the latch means, the lock means being arranged to position the p ate means so as to obstruct the aperture when the latch means are disposed to release the housing from the structure and being arranged to position the plate means to free the aperture when the latch means fasten the housing in the structure; and detent means arranged with the lock means selectively to block movement of the plate means from its aperture obstructing position. I

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

'FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin box constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view in crosssection showing the coin box of FIG. 1 fastened in a juke box structure;

FIG. 3 is a'view through the section 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view through section 44 of FIG. 3.

One important use of the coin-repositing apparatus of the invention is in the art of coin-operated phonographs or juke boxes; and hereinafter, such art will be used for purposes of explanation and illustration without intendingto limit the applications and'uses of the invention in Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. '1, a housing generally indicated at -10 is shown to include a front wall 12, amp 14, a bottom 16 and sides 18, all firmly joined together, asby being formed integral or by spot welding. Housing 10 additionally includes a removable back Wall 20. A front 'plate 21 12, as by screws, when such a plate is desired.

With reference now to FIG. 2, it will become apparent extending beyond the sides 18 may be affixed .to front wall thathousing 10 is adapted to be installed fin 'a box-like assembly '22 which is mounted in a juke box cabinet shown generally at 24 or in some other similar supporting structure. Housing 10 is advantageously received on guide rails 26 or otherwise appropriately supported.

The box-like assembly 22 is closed off by means of an access panel 28 which may be removably mounted in cabinet 24 by slot-and-flange elements such as are shown generally at 30 or by any other suitable means. Panel 28 is furthermore provided with a lock 32 which operates an eccentrically mounted arm 34 to secure panel 28 in the cabinet 24.

The top 14 of housing 10 is fashioned with an aperture 36 which cooperates with a coin chute 38 conventionally incorporated in cabinet 24. As is well known to those versed in juke boxart, a coin chute such as chute 38 is associated with a coin slot, a slug detector, and an operating switch. However, since these elements comprise no part'of the present invention, they are neither illustrated in detail nor described herein.

Housing 10 is divided into a coin-receiving chamber 46 and a mechanism chamber 42 by means of a partition 44. Accordingly, a coin hopper 46 is fastened to the top 14 communicating aperture 36 with the coin-receiving chamber 40. As will become apparent from an examinationof FIG. 3, partition 44 is assembled to sidewalls 18 by means of mounting brackets 48 which are affixed to sidewalls 18 as by a spot welding. Holes 50 are provided in brackets 48 in order to receive sheet metal screws or other suitablefasteners passing through.

corresponding holes in partition 44 and securing partition 44 to brackets 48.

Proceeding with reference to FIG. 2, removable back wall 20 is shown swingably mounted to housing 10 as by offset flanges 52 entering-cooperating slots 54 in the bottom 16. As will become-apparent, other suitable means of mounting back wall 2 may also be employed. In order to secure back wall 20 in housing 10, there is provided a lock 56 which is operable exteriorly of housing Ill and which is adapted to rotate an eccentrically mounted arm 58 so as selectively to cooperate with a strike 63 fastened to the interior surface of top 14. Lock 56 is preferably of the type in which the key can only be removed when the lock is in its locked position.

.An exteriorly operable lock 62 is mounted in front 12 to extend its rotatable barrel 64 into the mechanism chamber 42. To the free end of barrel 64, a drive plate 66 is securely fastened, as by a nut 68 threadedly engaging a stud 70 which projects from barrel 64.

As best shown in FIG. 3, latch means, comprising a pair of lock arms 72 pivotally mounted to drive plate 66 by lock arm studs 73, are adapted to secure housing 10 in the box-like assembly 22. Specifically, rotation of the drive plate 66 is adapted to extend the lock arms 72 through appropriate slots in sidewalls 18 into cooperating slots 74 in assembly 22. The housing 10 is fastened in assembly 22 when lock arms 72 take the position shown-in dotted outline in FIG. 3. Conversely, housing 10 may be removed or installed in the assembly 22;"when the lock arms 72Qai'e disposed as shown in solid outline. The free ends of lock arms 72 are advantageously beveled as shown in order to provide maximum ease in insertion and Withdrawal of housing 10 when the lock arms are positioned as shown in solid outline.

According to the showing of FIGS. 2 and 3, drive plate a 44 by'means of retainenstuds 88 which are securely fastened to the plate 78 and pass through a cooperating slot 90 in partition44. Retainer stud 88 is advantageously'formed with a projection 92 which enters the slotted end 94 of lever in order to complete coupling slide plate 78 to drive plate 66. Whereas one retainer Patented Jan. 9, 1852 I C9 stud 83 is adequate for satisfactorily engaging lever 80, it is useful to mount slide plate 78 to partition 44 with two or m re of the retainer studs 38 so as to attain positive relative positioning of the slide plate and the partition.

As is best shown in HS. 4, a bearing bracket d6 is firmly fastened to partition 44 by suitable means including a sheet metal screw 98. One end of the bracket 9% is apertured to receive a rotatable ratchet shaft lllll. Shaft lllll is appropriately grooved to receive a lock washer 162 so as to limit its axial motion in one direction. The other end of shaft 1% terminates in an operating knob or thumb screw 164 which extends into coin-receiving chamber 49.

The opposite end of bracket 96 terminates in a tongue 1% which cooperates with a centering spring 1% and an L-shaped arm 110 in providing a centering action for shaft 1%. Arm lltl is securely fastened to ratchet shaft llltl as by silver soldering and, as is best shown in FlG. 3, extends a pawl H2 into cooperative engagement with notches 114 which are provided on drive plate 66. Ad vantageously, partition 44 is apertured with a slot 116 which allows rotational movement of arm 110. There is additionally provided a biasing spring 118 which urges operating knob 164 in the geenral direction of coin-receiving chamber 49, thereby normally positioning pawl 112 coplanarly with drive plate 66.

Having thus described one construction of the invention, it is important now to state how the illustrated embodiment operates,

Considering first that housing 10 has been properly installed in the box-like assembly 22 and that the juke box enclosed in cabinet 24 has been in operation for some time, it will become apparent that coins will have been delivered from chute 38 through the aperture 36 into the hopper 46; and since, in this configuration, slide plate 78 frees hopper 46, coins will have been delivered into the coin-receiving chamber as in the direction generally indicated by arrow 12%. 56 will have disposed arm 58 behind strike 69 so as to secure wall 24) to housing 31%. Furthermore, lock arms 72 will have been disposed in the slots '74 in box-like assembly 22 fastening housing 10 in the assembly. Also, lock 32 will have disposed arm 34 so as to secure panel 28 and preclude access to housing 10.

Assuming that a collector has been provided with keys to locks 32 and 62, preferably a single key which operates both locks, it will become apparent that the collector can gain access to housing 10 by removing panel 28 after lock 32 has been unlocked. The collector may then release housing 10 from box-like assembly 22 and cabinet 24 by inserting his key in lock 62. A turning of this key will effect a rotation of barrel 64 which, in turn, will result in a rotation of drive plate 56, thereby incurring retraction of the lock arms 72 from the position shown in dotted outline in FIG. 3 to the position shown in solid outline.

This rotation of the drive plate 66 will also result in notches 114- sliding past pawl 112 until the pawl comes to rest in the bottornmost of these notches. Furthermore, this rotation of drive plate 66 will cause lever 80 to reposition slide plate 78 so as to obstruct the bottom of hopper 46. Thus, when the collector has access to housing 10 and may withdraw it from the box-like assembly 22, ingress through the coin hopper 46 is effectively blocked; and he cannot shake or otherwise manipulate the coins contained in chamber 40 through the hopper 46. Furthermore, the engagement of pawl 112 in the bottommost of the notches 114 in conjunction with the end of slot 116 blocking further movement of arm illl prevents the collector from reopening hopper 46 by means of his key.

Accordingly, the collector has no other alternative than to withdraw the filled coin box and return with it intact to a central collection point, replacing the filled coin box with a properly prepared empty box of similar constmc tion.

in this situation, operation of lock At the central collection point, the coin box is received from the collector and a master key is inserted in lock 56 whereby arm 58 may be rotated out of engagement with strike 60. Subsequently, back wall 20 may be removed from housing 10 and the coins contained within chamber 4i} dumped out onto a counting table.

While housing 10 is thus opened exposing the coinreceiving chamber 49, the coin box may be prepared for reinstallation by depressing operating knob 104 against the bias of spring 118 and rotating the pawl 112 behind drive plate 66 in the general direction indicated in KG. 3 by arrow 122.. Finally, when pawl 112 has cleared drive plate 66, operating knob 1494 may be released allowing spring 118 to return pawl 112 into coplanar relationship with the drive plate 66.

So arranged, the lock arms 72 Will be withdrawn so as to permit installation of the housing 10 in the box-like assembly 22; and the slide plate 78 will be in position to obstruct the hopper 46. It is important to point out that, in this configuration, the collectors key may be used to operate lock 62 so as to relocate the slide plate '78 into its hopper freeing position but that such movement will simultaneously cause drive plate 66 to move the notches 114 past pawl 112 so that the subsequent operation of lock 62 is limited to a single rotation whereby slide plate 73 is repositioned to obstruct hopper 46.

Thus, when the housing 10 has been prepared for reinstallation by the central agent, operation of lock 62 is limited to one complete cycle corresponding to the steps necessary to fasten the housing in the cabinet freeing hopper 46 and subsequently to release housing 10 and simultaneously obstruct hopper 46. Accordingly, the collector is effectively prevented from pilfering or looting the coin box comprising housing iii.

The specific example herein shown and described is illustrative only. Various changes in the structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar asthey fall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. Coin-repositing apparatus comprising: a housing de-' lining a coin-receiving chamber and having a coin-passing aperture which communicates with said chamber; a structure enclosing said housing; plate means slidably mounted to a fixed element within said housing and positionable to obstruct said aperture; latch means for releasably fas-' tening said housing in said structure; and lock means for simultaneously positioning said plate means and operating said latch means, said lock means being arranged to position said plate means to obstruct said aperture when said latch means is disposed to release said housing from said structure and being arranged to position said plate 1 means to free said aperture when said latch means fastens said housing in said structure.

2. Coin-repositing apparatus comprising: a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and having a swingably mounted wall and a coin-passing aperture which communicate with said chamber; a structure enclosing said housing; plate means positionable to obstruct said aperture; latch means for releasably fastening said housing in said structure; first lock means for securing said wall closing off said housing and adapted to be operable exteriorly of said housing; second lock means for simultaneously positioning said plate means and operating said latch means, said lock means being adapted to be operable exteriorly of said housing and being arranged to position said plate means to obstruct said aperture when said latch means is disposed to release said housing from said structure and being arranged to position said plate means to freesaid aperture when said latch means fastens said housing in said structure; and resettable detent means arranged with said second lock means selectively to block movement of said plate means from its aperture obstructing position, said detent means being further arranged to be resettable from the interior of said housing.

3. A coin box for use in a coin-operated machine comprising: a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and a mechanism chamber, said housing having a coin-passing aperture; a partition separating said coin-receiving chamber and said mechanism chamber; a coin hopper communicating said aperture with said coin-receiving chamber; a slide plate slidably mounted to said partition and positionable to obstruct said hopper; a lock fastened to said housing to extend a rotatable barrel into said mechanism chamber; a drive plate fixed to said barrel; and a lever pivotally mounted to said partition and coupling said slide plate to said drive plate.

4. A coin box for use in a coin-operated machine comprising: a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and a mechanism chamber, said housing having a coin-passing aperture and a plurality of slots radiating from said mechanism chamber; a partition separating said coin-receiving chamber and said mechanism chamber; a coin hopper communicating said aperture with said coin-receiving chamber; a slide plate slidably mounted to said partition and positionable to obstruct said hopper; a lock fastened to said housing to extend a rotatable barrel into said mechanism chamber; a drive plate fixed to said barrel; a plurality of lock arms mounted to said drive plate to fasten said housing releasably in said machine; and a lever pivotally mounted to said partition coupling said slide plate to said drive plate so as to position said slide plate to obstruct said hopper when said lock arms are disposed to release said housing from said machine and so as to position said slide plate to free said hopper when said lock arms fasten said housing in said machine.

5. A coin box for use in a coin-operated machine comprising; a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and a mechanism chamber, said housing having a coin-passing aperture and a pair of opposed slots radiating from said mechanism chamber; a partition-separating said coin-receiving chamber and said mechanism chamber; a coin hopper communicating said aperture with said coin-receiving chamber; a slide plate slidably mounted to said partition and positionable to obstruct said hopper; a lock fastened to said housing to extend a rotatable barrel into said mechanism chamber; a peripherally notched drive plate fixed to said barrel; a pair of lock arms pivotally mounted to said drive plate and extending through said slots to fasten said housing releasably in said machine; a lever pivotally mounted to said partition coupling said slide plate to said drive plate so as to position said slide plate to obstruct said hopper when said lock arms are disposed to release said housing from said machine and so to position said slide plate to free said hopper when said lock arms fasten said housing in said machine; and a pawl mounted to extend rotatably and reciprocably through said partition, said pawl being adapted to cooperate with the notches in said drive plate in selectively blocking movement of said slide plate from its hopper obstructing position.

6. A tamperproof coin box for use in a coin-operated machine comprising: a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and a mechanism chamber, said housing having a removable wall, a coin-passing aperture, and a pair of opposed slots radiating from said mechanism chamber; a partition separating said coin-receiving chamber and said mechanism chamber; a first exteriorly operable lock for securing said wall to said housing; a coin hopper communicating said aperture with said coin-receiving chamber; a slide plate slidably mounted to said partition and positionable to obstruct said hopper; a second exteriorly operable lock fastened to said housing to extend a rotatable barrel into said mechanism chamber; a drive plate fixed to said barrel; a pair of lock arms pivotally mounted to said drive plate and extending through said slots to fasten said housing releasably in said machine; a lever pivotally mounted to said partition and disposed within 6 7 said mechanism chamber, said lever coupling said slide plate to said drive plate so as to position said slide plate to obstruct said hopper when said lock arms are disposed to release said housing from said machine and so as to position said slide plate to free said hopper when sa1d lock arms fasten said housing in said machine; and unlike 'keys for operating said locks.

7. A tamperproof coin box for use in a coin-operated machine comprising: a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and a mechanism chamber, said housing having a removable wall, a coin-passing aperture, and a pair of opposed slots radiating from said mechanism; a partition separating said coin-receiving chamber and said mechanism chamber; a first exteriorly operable lock for securing said wall to said housing;-a coin hopper communicating said aperture with said coin-receiving chamber; a slide plate slidably mounted to said partition and positionable to obstruct said hopper; a second exteriorly operable lock fastened to said housing to extend in a rotatable barrel into said mechanism chamber; a peripherally notched drive plate fixed to said barrel; :1 pair of lock arms pivotally mounted to said drive plate and extending through said slots to fasten said housing releasably in said ma: chine; a lever pivotally mounted to said partition and disposed within said mechanism chamber, said lever coupling said slide plate to said drive plate so as to position said slide plate to obstruct said hopper when said lock arms are disposed to release said housing from said machine and so as to position said slide plate to free said hopper when said lock arms fasten said housing in said machine; and a pawl mounted to a ratchet shaft which slidably and reciprocably extends an operating knob through said partition into said coin-receiving chamber, said pawl being adapted to cooperate with the notched portion of said drive plate in selectively blocking movement of said slide. plate from its hopper obstructing position. I I

8. A tamperproof coin box for use in a coin-operated machine comprising: a housing defining a coin-receiving chamber and a mechanism chamber, said housing having a removable wall, a coin-passing aperture, and a pair of opposed slots radiating from said mechanism chamber; a partition separating said coin-receiving chamber and said mechanism chamber; a first exteriorly operable lock for securing said wall to said housing; a coin hopper communicating said aperture with said coin-receiving chamher; a slide plate slidably mounted to said partition and positionable to obstruct said hopper; a second exteriorly operable lock fastened to said housing to extend a rotatable barrel into said mechanism chamber; a peripherally notched drive plate fixed to said'barrel; a pair of lock arms pivotally mounted to said drive plate and extending through said slots to fasten said housing releasably in said machine; a lever pivotally mounted to said partition and disposed within said mechanism chamber, said lever coupling said slide plate to said drive plate so as to position said slide plate to obstruct said hopper when said lock arms are disposed to release said housing from said machine and so as to position said slide plate to free 1 said hopper when said lock arms fasten said housing in said machine; a pawl mounted to a ratchet shaft which slidably and reciprocably extends an operating knob through said partition into said coin-receiving chamber, said pawl being adapted to cooperate with the notched portion of said drive plate in selectively blocking movement of said slide plate from its hopper obstructing position; unlike keys for operating said locks; and biasing means for urging said pawl normally into coplanar relationship with said drive plate. I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,778 Bucknam Oct. 20, 1908 1,121,063 Beck a. Dec. 15, 1914 2,783,937 Hudson Mar. 5, 1957

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