US3870136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coin-operated latch mechanism with coin return means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-10
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1994-06-10
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a coin-operated latch mechanism to be used in a coin-operated dispensing device including a cabinet body providing an opening with a closure member to cooperatively close the opening where the latch is urged to locked position by movement of the door member and is released when a selected coin combination is received by a cooperative coin receptacle associated with the dispensing device. The latch mechcanism includes a latch mounted for both pivotal movement about and axial movement along a generally horizontal long axis of an axle carried by the closure member and a retractable bent coin-return plunger member that is engageable with the latch and is mounted on the cabinet for movement along an axis that is generally parallel to the long axis of the latch axle.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry Carl Voegeli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:45
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F5/00; G07F5/02; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
363 words
A latch mechanism for use in a coin-operated dispensing device including a cabinet having a cooperative opening to provide access to said cabinet, closure means to selectively close said opening, and a coin-operated mechanism actuatable upon receipt of at least one coin of selected value, comprising: a. a latch mounted for both pivotal movement about and axial movement along a generally horizontal long axis of an axle carried by said closure means; b. first yieldable means yieldably uring said latch toward a first axial position along said long axis of said axle; c. a strike mounted on said cabinet and having a first portion releasably engageable in an aperture provided in said latch when said closure means is located in a position closing said opening; d. a coin-receiving member mounted on said cabinet so as to trap a coin received therein generally vertically with its edge located atop a cam section provided on said latch and with one of the coin sides located contiguously to a second portion of said strike and thus to pivot said latch about said long axis of said latch axle against the yieldable urging of second yieldable means and disengage said aperture from said strike upon attempted removal of said closure means from a position closing said opening and to then discharge said coin into a coin-collecting receptacle; and e. coin-return means including retractable plunger means mounted on said cabinet for movement along a second axis generally parallel to said long axis of said latch axle, f. said plunger means having a first end protruding from the exterior of said cabinet and a second end being engageable with said latch and said coin-receiving member by movement of said first end towards the interior of said cabinet to cause said latch to overcome said yieldable urging of said first yieldable means and be moved axially along said long axis of said latch axle to a second position and, thus, to cause said coin to be released from said coin-receiving member and to be diverted by said second portion of said strike into a coin-return opening extending through an outer wall of said cabinet, rather than into said coin-collecting receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
363 words
A latch mechanism for use in a coin-operated dispensing device including a cabinet having a cooperative opening to provide access to said cabinet, closure means to selectively close said opening, and a coin-operated mechanism actuatable upon receipt of at least one coin of selected value, comprising: a. a latch mounted for both pivotal movement about and axial movement along a generally horizontal long axis of an axle carried by said closure means; b. first yieldable means yieldably uring said latch toward a first axial position along said long axis of said axle; c. a strike mounted on said cabinet and having a first portion releasably engageable in an aperture provided in said latch when said closure means is located in a position closing said opening; d. a coin-receiving member mounted on said cabinet so as to trap a coin received therein generally vertically with its edge located atop a cam section provided on said latch and with one of the coin sides located contiguously to a second portion of said strike and thus to pivot said latch about said long axis of said latch axle against the yieldable urging of second yieldable means and disengage said aperture from said strike upon attempted removal of said closure means from a position closing said opening and to then discharge said coin into a coin-collecting receptacle; and e. coin-return means including retractable plunger means mounted on said cabinet for movement along a second axis generally parallel to said long axis of said latch axle, f. said plunger means having a first end protruding from the exterior of said cabinet and a second end being engageable with said latch and said coin-receiving member by movement of said first end towards the interior of said cabinet to cause said latch to overcome said yieldable urging of said first yieldable means and be moved axially along said long axis of said latch axle to a second position and, thus, to cause said coin to be released from said coin-receiving member and to be diverted by said second portion of said strike into a coin-return opening extending through an outer wall of said cabinet, rather than into said coin-collecting receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
363 words
A latch mechanism for use in a coin-operated dispensing device including a cabinet having a cooperative opening to provide access to said cabinet, closure means to selectively close said opening, and a coin-operated mechanism actuatable upon receipt of at least one coin of selected value, comprising: a. a latch mounted for both pivotal movement about and axial movement along a generally horizontal long axis of an axle carried by said closure means; b. first yieldable means yieldably uring said latch toward a first axial position along said long axis of said axle; c. a strike mounted on said cabinet and having a first portion releasably engageable in an aperture provided in said latch when said closure means is located in a position closing said opening; d. a coin-receiving member mounted on said cabinet so as to trap a coin received therein generally vertically with its edge located atop a cam section provided on said latch and with one of the coin sides located contiguously to a second portion of said strike and thus to pivot said latch about said long axis of said latch axle against the yieldable urging of second yieldable means and disengage said aperture from said strike upon attempted removal of said closure means from a position closing said opening and to then discharge said coin into a coin-collecting receptacle; and e. coin-return means including retractable plunger means mounted on said cabinet for movement along a second axis generally parallel to said long axis of said latch axle, f. said plunger means having a first end protruding from the exterior of said cabinet and a second end being engageable with said latch and said coin-receiving member by movement of said first end towards the interior of said cabinet to cause said latch to overcome said yieldable urging of said first yieldable means and be moved axially along said long axis of said latch axle to a second position and, thus, to cause said coin to be released from said coin-receiving member and to be diverted by said second portion of said strike into a coin-return opening extending through an outer wall of said cabinet, rather than into said coin-collecting receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
363 words
A latch mechanism for use in a coin-operated dispensing device including a cabinet having a cooperative opening to provide access to said cabinet, closure means to selectively close said opening, and a coin-operated mechanism actuatable upon receipt of at least one coin of selected value, comprising: a. a latch mounted for both pivotal movement about and axial movement along a generally horizontal long axis of an axle carried by said closure means; b. first yieldable means yieldably uring said latch toward a first axial position along said long axis of said axle; c. a strike mounted on said cabinet and having a first portion releasably engageable in an aperture provided in said latch when said closure means is located in a position closing said opening; d. a coin-receiving member mounted on said cabinet so as to trap a coin received therein generally vertically with its edge located atop a cam section provided on said latch and with one of the coin sides located contiguously to a second portion of said strike and thus to pivot said latch about said long axis of said latch axle against the yieldable urging of second yieldable means and disengage said aperture from said strike upon attempted removal of said closure means from a position closing said opening and to then discharge said coin into a coin-collecting receptacle; and e. coin-return means including retractable plunger means mounted on said cabinet for movement along a second axis generally parallel to said long axis of said latch axle, f. said plunger means having a first end protruding from the exterior of said cabinet and a second end being engageable with said latch and said coin-receiving member by movement of said first end towards the interior of said cabinet to cause said latch to overcome said yieldable urging of said first yieldable means and be moved axially along said long axis of said latch axle to a second position and, thus, to cause said coin to be released from said coin-receiving member and to be diverted by said second portion of said strike into a coin-return opening extending through an outer wall of said cabinet, rather than into said coin-collecting receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
161 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein: a. said second end of said plunger includes a tip portion that is engageable with said latch to cause its movement to said second position, b. said tip portion is mounted on said plunger means by a second axle having its long axis arranged generally perpendicular to said long axis of said latch-mounting axle, and c. said tip portion is yieldably urged by third yieldable means against movement about said long axis of said second axle towards the interior of said cabinet unless said yieldable urging of said third yieldable means is overcome by sufficient inward pressure being applied against said tip portion through the engagement therewith of the distal end of said latch through attempted movement of said closure means from a position opening said cabinet access opening towards a position closing said cabinet access opening while said first end of said plunger means is also being moved towards the interior of said cabinet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 2, further including fourth yieldable means yieldably urging said plunger means toward movement outwardly from said cabinet along said second axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 1, further including third yieldable means yieldably urging said plunger means toward movement outwardly from said cabinet along said second axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
The invention of claim 4, wherein: a. said coin-trapping coin-receiving member comprises at least one generally vertically arranged chute including a first section that is fixed with respect to said cabinet and a second section that is moveable about a generally vertical axis with respect to said cabinet, and b. fourth yieldable means are provided for yieldably urging said moveable second chute section into engagement with said fixed first chute portion to enable said trapping of said coin unless said yieldable urging of said fourth yieldable means is overcome by action upon said moveable second chute section by said movement of said plunger means toward second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 5, further including cam means carried by said plunger means for engagement with other means connectable with said moveable second chute section to move the same out of engagement with said fixed first chute section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 6, wherein said other means comprises other cam means mounted on said coin-receiving member and engageable with said moveable second chute section to move the same out of engagement with said fixed first chute section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein: a. said second end of said plunger includes a tip portion that is engageable with said latch to cause its movement to said second position, b. said tip portion is mounted on said plunger means by a second axle having its long axis arranged generally perpendicular to said long axis of said latch-mounting axle, and c. said tip portion is yieldably urged by fifth yieldable means against movement about Said long axis of said second axle towards the interior of said cabinet unless said yieldable urging of said fifth yieldable means is overcome by sufficient inward pressure being applied against said tip portion through the engagement therewith of the distal end of said latch through attempted movement of said closure means from a position opening said cabinet access opening towards a position closing said cabinet access opening while said first end of said plunger means is also being moved towards the interior of said cabinet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein: a. said coin-trapping coin-receiving member comprises at least one generally vertically arranged chute including a first section that is fixed with respect to said cabinet and a second section that is moveable about a generally vertical axis with respect to said cabinet, and b. third yieldable means are provided for yieldably urging said moveable second chute section into engagement with said fixed first chute portion to enable said trapping of said coin unless said yieldable urging of said third yieldable means is overcome by action upon said moveable second chute section by said movement of said plunger means toward second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 9, further including cam means carried by said plunger means for engagement with other means connectable with said moveable second chute section to move the same out of engagement with said fixed first chute section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |