Cash box

Claim 2

A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably locked on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate slidably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate being slidable rectilinearly from said first position to said second position, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.

Claim 3

The cash box of claim 1 and further including spring means for urging said shutter plate from said first position to said second position.

Claim 4

The cash box of claim 1 wherein said plate has a pivotable finger mounted thereon, said finger engaging said pin when said shutter plate is in said second position, thereby preventing said shutter plate from being slid from said first position to said second position.

Claim 5

The cash box of claim 3 wHerein said finger may be pivoted out of engagement with said pin only from the interior of said box, thereby preventing the moving of said plate from the exterior of said box.

Claim 6

The cash box of claim 3 and further including spring means urging said finger into contact with said pin.

Claim 7

A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably secured on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate movably mounted with said box adjacent said opening, resiliently mounted means releasably securing said shutter plate in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, means releasably locking said shutter plate in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said securing means and said locking means being exposed on the interior of said box, said box having an access opening for the insertion of means to release said securing means, means within said box for preventing the inserted means from contacting said locking means, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.

Claim 8

A cash box comprising a receptacle and a lid adapted to be releasably secured on said receptacle, said box having an opening formed therein, a shutter plate movably mounted with said box adjacent said opening, resiliently mounted means releasably securing said shutter plate in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, means releasably locking said shutter plate in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said securing means and said locking means being exposed on the interior of said box, said box having an access opening for the insertion of means to release said securing means, means within said box for preventing the inserted means from contacting said locking means, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin.

Claim 9

The cash box of claim 6 wherein said opening is formed in said lid and said shutter plate is mounted on said lid.

Claim 10

The cash box of claim 6 and further including spring means for urging said shutter from said first position to said second position.

Claim 11

The cash box of claim 6 wherein said shutter plate has a pivotable finger mounted thereon, said finger engaging said pin when said shutter plate is in said second position, thereby preventing said shutter plate from being slid from said first position to said second position.

Claim 12

The cash box of claim 9 wherein said finger may be pivoted out of engagement with said pin only from the interior of said box, thereby preventing the moving of said plate from the exterior of said box.

Claim 13

The cash box of claim 9 and further including spring means urging said finger into contact with said pin.

Claim 14

The cash box of claim 6 and further including track means for guiding the movement of said shutter plate, whereby said shutter plate moves rectilinearly within said box.

Claim 15

The cash box of claim 12 and further including a longitudinal slot in said shutter plate and a pin passing through said slot, said pin and slot serving as a guide for the rectilinear movement of said plate.

Claim 16

In a vending machine adapted to dispense commodities by the insertion of coins, said vending machine comprising a coin chute for delivering coins that have been placed in the vending machine to a cash box, a housing for the cash box, and a door pivotably mounted on said housing, said door including a lock to secure said cash box in said housing, the improvement comprising a cash box having an opening formed therein for the reception of said coins, a shutter plate movably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin, said cash box housing having a rod therein which is inserted into said cash box when said cash box is placed in said housing, said rod being adapted to releAse said releasable securement, said rod releasing said releasable securement when said door is closed, thereby bringing said rod into contact with a trip mechanism to release said releasable securement, and said shutter plate moving to said second position when said box is removed from said housing.

Claim 17

In a vending machine adapted to dispense commodities by the insertion of coins, said vending machine comprising a coin chute for delivering coins that have been placed in the vending machine to a cash box, a housing for the cash box, and a door pivotably mounted on said housing, said door including a lock to secure said cash box in said housing, the improvement comprising a cash box having an opening formed therein for the reception of said coins, a shutter plate movably mounted within said box adjacent said opening, said shutter plate being adapted to be releasably secured in a first position wherein said opening is unsealed, resiliently mounted means for releasably securing said shutter plate in said first position, said shutter plate adapted to be releasably locked in a second position wherein said opening is sealed by said shutter plate, said shutter plate having flange means associated therewith, said flange means having an opening formed therein, said resiliently mounted means comprising a pin, said pin being received in said opening and releasably held therein, and spring means urging said pin from said opening, said pin being automatically released from said opening when said plate is slid relative to said pin, said cash box housing having a rod therein which is inserted into said cash box when said cash box is placed in said housing, said rod being adapted to releAse said releasable securement, said rod releasing said releasable securement when said door is closed, thereby bringing said rod into contact with a trip mechanism to release said releasable securement, and said shutter plate moving to said second position when said box is removed from said housing.

Claim 18

The vending machine of claim 14 and further including spring means urging said shutter plate from said second position to said first position.