Self-locking coin receptacle

Claim 1

In a self-locking coin receptacle wherein a coin receptacle with a cover having an opening therein has a pivotally mounted shutter member in normally closed position with respect to said opening which shutter member has an outwardly extending lever causing it to move to uncover said opening and permit deposit of coins into said receptacle when said receptacle is placed in a receiving vault and which shutter member automatically moves to close said opening and is locked in closed position by a latch member when said receptacle is withdrawn from said vault, the improvement which comprises operating mechanism containing only three moving parts, one of said moving parts being said shutter member, a second being a latch member, and the third being a single spring directly connecting said shutter member and said latch member, said spring normally biasing said shutter member to a closed position over said opening, said latch member and said shutter member having an interfitting projection and recess normally engaged with one another in a pre-set position in which said latch member and said shutter member will normally remain fixed but will permit said shutter member to be moved to uncover said opening in the receptacle when said outwardly extending lever on said shutter is moved as said coin receptacle is inserted into the receiving vault, whereupon said interfitting projection and recess become disengaged from said pre-set position, said latch member and said shutter member having a second interfitting projection and recess which engage one another in a locking position when said coin receptacle is withdrawn from its receiving vault thereby causing said spring to retract said shutter member until said latch member and said shutter member are in said locking position, and manually operable means associated with said latch member to move said latch member and said shutter member simultaneously against the pressure of said spring from said locked position to said pRe-set position.