Coin controlled lock for two coins

Claim 2

In a coin controlled mechanism adapted to be operated by two coins of a proper size or denomination, the combination comprising: a lock having a bolt for locking a door in a closed position; means mounting said bolt for movement between door unlocking and locking positions; means providing a slot for depositing coins and a coin passage in communication with said slot; a coin gauging station offset from and normally communicating with said coin passage, said station including separate first and second coin receiving positions; switching means movably mounted on said lock and normally extending across said coin passage for diverting deposited first and second properly sized coins passing along said passage successively into said first and second receiving positions, said switching means being movable from across said coin passage automatically upon receipt of said second coin in said second receiving position thereby to permit additionally deposited coins passing along said coin passage to bypass said gauging station; and coin detecting means operatively connected to said lock and responsive only to the presence of said second coin in said second receiving position, said coin detecting means preventing operation of said lock to lock said door in closed position until said second coin is detected as aforesaid.

Claim 3

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said switching means is disposed intermediate said receiving positions and forms a common boundary thereof, whereby said first and second coins are arranged in engagement with and on opposite sides of said switching means when received within said receiving positions.

Claim 4

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said switching means includes a pair of dividers, a first of said dividers normally extending across said coin passage so as to divert said first and second coins to said gauging station, a second of said dividers being operable to direct said first coin when diverted to said first receiving position and to thereafter close said first receiving position such that said second coin is diverted from said first receiving position to said second receiving position and said first divider being movable from across said coin passage when said second coin is presented to said second receiving position, thereby to permit additionally deposited coins to bypass said gauging station.

Claim 5

A coin controlled mechanism aCcording to claim 3, wherein said dividers are mounted on a common shaft for pivotal movement relative to said lock, and resilient means are provided to resiliently bias said dividers in opposite directions, said second divider being movable in a direction against said resilient bias to close said first receiving position upon engagement thereof with said first coin when the latter is presented to said first receiving position said first divider being movable in a direction against said resilient bias from across said coin passage upon engagement thereof with said second coin when the latter is presented to said second receiving position.

Claim 6

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said first divider is provided with an opening adapted to freely receive said second divider and coins of a diameter at least as great as said first and second coins, said first divider having upper and lower web portions bounding said opening, said upper web portion normally extending across said coin passageway, and said lower web portion being arranged for engagement by said second coin to remove said upper web portion from across said coin passage.

Claim 7

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 1, wherein coin arresting means are provided in association with said receiving positions, said arresting means being adapted to arrest movement of said first and second coins through said receiving positions while freely permitting passage therethrough of coins having a diameter less than the diameter of said first and second coins, said coin arresting means being movable to release said first and second coins from said first and second receiving positions after operation of said lock is permitted by said detecting means.

Claim 8

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said gauging station is bounded by spaced surfaces and said switching means is disposed intermediate said spaced surfaces and cooperates with said spaced surfaces to define said coin receiving positions, and coin arresting means extends transversely of said coin receiving positions, said arresting means being adapted to arrest movement of said first and second coins through said receiving positions while freely permitting passage therethrough of coins having a diameter less than the diameter of said first and second coins and being movable to release said first and second coins from said first and second receiving positions after operation of said lock is permitted by said detecting means.

Claim 9

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said switching means includes first and second dividers mounted on a common pivot shaft disposed intermediate and generally parallel to said spaced surfaces and spring means for resiliently biasing said dividers in opposite directions, said first divider having an opening therethrough adapted to freely receive said second divider and coins of a diameter at least as great as said first and second coins, said first divider opening being bounded in part by an upper guide web portion normally extending across said passage so as to divert coins to said gauging station and a lower stop web portion, said second divider having angularly inclined upper guide and lower stop portions, said second divider upper guide portion normally directing diverted coins to said first receiving position and being movable against said resilient bias to close said first receiving position and thereafter direct diverted coins to said second receiving position when said first coin is presented to said first receiving position in engagement with said second divider stop portion, and said first divider guide web portion being movable against said resilient bias from across said coin passage when said second coin is presented to said receiving position in engagement with said first divider lower stop web portion.

Claim 10

In a coin controlled mechanism adapted to be operated by two coins of a proper size or denomination, the combination comprising: a lock having a bolt for lockIng a door in a closed position; means mounting said bolt for movement between door unlocking and locking positions; means providing a slot for depositing coins and a coin passage in communication with said slot; a coin gauging station offset from and normally communicating with said coin passage, said station including separate first and second coin receiving positions; switching means movably mounted on said lock for diverting deposited first and second properly sized coins passing along said passage to said gauging station and for thereafter permitting additionally deposited coins to bypass said gauging station, said switching means having a normal position across said passage for diverting said first coin from said passage and for directing same into said first receiving position, said switching means in succession being movable by engagement with said first coin when received in said first receiving position for closing said first receiving position and for diverting said second coin from said passage past said first receiving position into said second receiving position and being movable from across said passage by engagement with said second coin when received in said second receiving position for permitting additionally deposited coins passing along said passage to bypass said gauging station; and coin detecting means operably connected to said lock and responsive only to the presence of said second coin in said second receiving position, and said coin detecting means preventing operation of said lock to lock said door in closed position until said second coin is detected as aforesaid.

Claim 11

In a coin controlled mechanism adapted to be operated by two coins of a proper size or denomination, the combination comprising: a lock having a bolt for lockIng a door in a closed position; means mounting said bolt for movement between door unlocking and locking positions; means providing a slot for depositing coins and a coin passage in communication with said slot; a coin gauging station offset from and normally communicating with said coin passage, said station including separate first and second coin receiving positions; switching means movably mounted on said lock for diverting deposited first and second properly sized coins passing along said passage to said gauging station and for thereafter permitting additionally deposited coins to bypass said gauging station, said switching means having a normal position across said passage for diverting said first coin from said passage and for directing same into said first receiving position, said switching means in succession being movable by engagement with said first coin when received in said first receiving position for closing said first receiving position and for diverting said second coin from said passage past said first receiving position into said second receiving position and being movable from across said passage by engagement with said second coin when received in said second receiving position for permitting additionally deposited coins passing along said passage to bypass said gauging station; and coin detecting means operably connected to said lock and responsive only to the presence of said second coin in said second receiving position, and said coin detecting means preventing operation of said lock to lock said door in closed position until said second coin is detected as aforesaid.

Claim 12

A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said switching means includes return means tending to return said switching means to said normal position; and coin arresting means are provided in association with said receiving positions, said arresting means being adapted to arrest movement of first and second coins through said receiving positions while freely permitting passage therethrough of coins having a diameter less than the diameter of said first and second coins, said coin arresting means being movable to release said first and second coins from said first and second receiving positions after operation of said lock is permitted by said coin detecting means, thereby to permit said return means to return said switching means to said normal position.

Claim 13

A coin controlled mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said return means includes spring means deformable upon movement of said switching means induced by engagement thereof with said first and second coins when received in said receiving positions.