Coin collecting apparatus

Claim 2

A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap; said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and said vane comprises two upstanding flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation In a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of rollers mounted on opposing faces of said flanges for contacting said trap and supporting it in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

Claim 3

A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap comprises a generally rectangular floor having upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, and four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, said sides each have a groove formed in the exterior face thereof; said hopper includes opposing walls each having generally vertically oriented arcuate slots therein for receiving said journals in a respective one of said slots; and said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted to move under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of rollers mounted on the opposing faces of said flanges and adapted to fit within respective ones of said grooves in said sides of said trap for thereby supporting said trap in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

Claim 4

A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap comprises a generally rectangular floor having upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, and four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, said sides each have a groove formed in the exterior face thereof; said hopper includes opposing walls each having generally vertically oriented arcuate slots therein for receiving said journals in a respective one of said slots; and said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted to move under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of rollers mounted on the opposing faces of said flanges and adapted to fit within respective ones of said grooves in said sides of said trap for thereby supporting said trap in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said grooves comprise substantially semi-elliptical grooves extending a substantial portion of the length of said sides, said grooves including a relatively straight center portion joining two relatively arcuate end portions, said rollers being adapted to contact said center portions when said trap is in said support position and said end portions when said trap is in said inclined position.

Claim 6

A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap; said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to thereby prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of linkages rotatably mounted on opposing faces of said flanges, said linkages being connected to said trap for supporting it in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

Claim 7

A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap; said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to thereby prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of linkages rotatably mounted on opposing faces of said flanges, said linkages being connected to said trap for supporting it in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said trap has upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, said journals comprise four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap, said sides each have a groove in the exterior face thereof and a stud mounted in said grooves upon which said linkages are mounted for supporting said trap.