US3884330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coin operated vending apparatus with door operated coin return & pawls therefore
Assignee: K JACK ENG CO Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-10
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1992-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A coin operated vending machine in which the coin sorting mechanism comprises a pair of chutes for transferring coins from the slots into which they are inserted by the consumer to a position in which the coins are resting upon a locking bar which is pivotally mounted on the element of the machine which is to be locked. Selected pawls may be adjustably mounted relative to the chutes so as to extend into the chutes to cooperate with the upper ends of coins therein. A coin seat or cam is formed on the locking bar and, as the consumer attempts to open the machine, the coin becomes wedged between the pawl and the seat, biasing the locking bar away from a latching-actuating lever. If the proper coins are not inserted, the locking bar will not be actuated away from the lever, causing the lever to open the chutes throughout the entire length thereof so that the coins and all other matter inserted into the slots will be rejected and returned to the consumer by deposit thereof in a coin return receptacle. A wide variety of pawls may be used for the coin selection depending upon the particular amount of money required to operate the machine. All of the pawls required for most coin combinations may be manufactured from a single blank which may be selectively formed into a wide variety of pawl configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack S Chalabian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:23
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/045; G07F5/00; G07F5/02; G07F5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A vending machine comprising a housing having means for supporting a product to be sold, a door for selectively providing access to the product from the exterior of said display case, and means for releasably locking said door comprising a coin selecting and receiving apparatus including a coin receiving and transfer chute, pawl means extending into said chute at a predetermined position relative thereto, a locking bar hingedly connected to said door and extending across the bottom of said chute and having engaging means thereon for locking said door against being opened and coin seating means thereon, and means for opening said chute throughout the length thereof to reject the coins therein when said opening means is actuated by said engaging means as a consumer attempts to open said door, unless the proper coinage is positioned between said coin seating and said pawl means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A vending machine comprising a housing having means for supporting a product to be sold, a door for selectively providing access to the product from the exterior of said display case, and means for releasably locking said door comprising a coin selecting and receiving apparatus including a coin receiving and transfer chute, pawl means extending into said chute at a predetermined position relative thereto, a locking bar hingedly connected to said door and extending across the bottom of said chute and having engaging means thereon for locking said door against being opened and coin seating means thereon, and means for opening said chute throughout the length thereof to reject the coins therein when said opening means is actuated by said engaging means as a consumer attempts to open said door, unless the proper coinage is positioned between said coin seating and said pawl means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said coin selecting and receiving means also includes means for adjustably supporting said pawl means relative to said coin seating means in such a relationship as to allow preselected coinage to become wedged therebetween as said door is opened.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said coin selecting and receiving apparatus comprises a central wall member and a pair of side wall members movable relative to said central wall member, each of said pair of side wall members cooperatively related to said central wall member to define a separate coin receiving and transfer chute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The machine of claim 3 wherein said central wall member includes means defining an access opening between said chutes, said side wall members include means defining access openings between the exterior and interior of each of said chutes, and said pawl means include fingers extending through at least one of said side wall member access openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein said pawl means also includes secondary finger means extending through said central wall access opening and into the chute on the opposite side thereof whereby said pawl finger is acted upon by coins in one of said chutes and said secondary pawl finger is acted upon by coins in the other of said chutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
A vending machine comprising a housing, a door pivotally mounted on said housing in a normally closed position means on said housing for receiving coinage of predetermined value when a consumer desires to open the door of said vending machine and gain access to the product being sold, a mechanism mounted on said housing comprising a coin transfer chute for transferring coinage inserted into said receiving means to a coin seat within said housing and including a pair of opposed wall means normally biased into coin-guiding relationship; latch means mounted on said door and haviNg a coin seat and finger means thereon, said mechanism further including means actuated by said finger means for opening said transfer chute throughout the length thereof to reject any matter therein whenever a consumer attempts to open said door without first having caused proper coinage to be transferred to said coin seat and means for preventing said finger means from actuating said opening means whenever proper coinage has been transferred to said coin seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A vending machine comprising a housing, a door pivotally mounted on said housing in a normally closed position means on said housing for receiving coinage of predetermined value when a consumer desires to open the door of said vending machine and gain access to the product being sold, a mechanism mounted on said housing comprising a coin transfer chute for transferring coinage inserted into said receiving means to a coin seat within said housing and including a pair of opposed wall means normally biased into coin-guiding relationship; latch means mounted on said door and haviNg a coin seat and finger means thereon, said mechanism further including means actuated by said finger means for opening said transfer chute throughout the length thereof to reject any matter therein whenever a consumer attempts to open said door without first having caused proper coinage to be transferred to said coin seat and means for preventing said finger means from actuating said opening means whenever proper coinage has been transferred to said coin seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein said preventing means includes means for forcing proper coinage on said coin seat against said coin seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine of claim 7 including a plurality of said coin transfer chutes in parallel relationship, said forcing means including a pawl having a plurality of fingers, each so located as to cooperate with coinage in a different coin transfer chute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 7 including a plurality of said forcing means in said mechanism extending into said transfer chute for cooperation with different combinations of proper coinage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 9 including means for withdrawing and holding at least one of said forcing means from said transfer chute to prohibit cooperation thereof with a predetermined coinage combination.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
A mechanism for coin operation comprising a central member chute forming members on each side of said central member extending substantially along the entire length of said central member, and having means for movably mounting said chute forming members on said central member, means normally biasing said chute forming members into abutment with said central member to maintain said chutes in a closed configuration, and access means for passage of a pawl into the chute formed thereby from outside of said chute, lever means mounted on said central member and fixed to said chute forming members, means for actuating said lever means to move said chute forming members away from abutment with said central member to open said chutes and release all material and coins contained therein throughout the length thereof, and said central member having means for passage of a pawl through one of the chutes and into another of the chutes for cooperation with coinage in both chutes simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
A mechanism for coin operation comprising a central member chute forming members on each side of said central member extending substantially along the entire length of said central member, and having means for movably mounting said chute forming members on said central member, means normally biasing said chute forming members into abutment with said central member to maintain said chutes in a closed configuration, and access means for passage of a pawl into the chute formed thereby from outside of said chute, lever means mounted on said central member and fixed to said chute forming members, means for actuating said lever means to move said chute forming members away from abutment with said central member to open said chutes and release all material and coins contained therein throughout the length thereof, and said central member having means for passage of a pawl through one of the chutes and into another of the chutes for cooperation with coinage in both chutes simultaneously.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 11 including mounting means located on said central member, and at least one pawl fixed to said mounting means for passage into at least one of the chutes through said access means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The mechanism of claim 12 including means fixed to said central member and operatively associated with said at least one pawl for selective withdrawl of said at least one pawl from the chute.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for retaining a door in a closed and locked position unless proper coinage is inserted into the apparatus comprising a housing, a face plate mounted on said housing and having an opening through which coinage may be passed into said housing, means for transferring the coinage to a coin seating means within said housing, a locking bar attached to the door and having coin seating means thereon including means for biasing the coinage in a direction opposite the direction it was moved by said transfer means, and locking means on said bar for selectively preventing opening of the door absent the seating of proper coinage on said seating means, actuating means mounted within said housing for cooperating with said locking means to prevent opening of the door and for opening said transfer means absent the seating of proper coinage on said seating means in response to an attempt to open the door, and means in said transfer means for holding only proper coinage against the force exerted by said biasing means to actuate said locking means out of a cooperating relationship with said actuating means so that the door may be opened.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for retaining a door in a closed and locked position unless proper coinage is inserted into the apparatus comprising a housing, a face plate mounted on said housing and having an opening through which coinage may be passed into said housing, means for transferring the coinage to a coin seating means within said housing, a locking bar attached to the door and having coin seating means thereon including means for biasing the coinage in a direction opposite the direction it was moved by said transfer means, and locking means on said bar for selectively preventing opening of the door absent the seating of proper coinage on said seating means, actuating means mounted within said housing for cooperating with said locking means to prevent opening of the door and for opening said transfer means absent the seating of proper coinage on said seating means in response to an attempt to open the door, and means in said transfer means for holding only proper coinage against the force exerted by said biasing means to actuate said locking means out of a cooperating relationship with said actuating means so that the door may be opened.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said holding means comprises first pawl means formed from a master blank and so configured as to hold proper coinage of a first coinage value combination and second pawl means formed from the same master blank but having a different configuration so as to hold proper coinage of the same value but a different combination as that held by said first pawl means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said holding means comprises first pawl means formed from a master blank and so configured as to hold proper coinage of a first value and second pawl means formed from the same master blank but having a distinct configuration, relative to said first pawl means, so as to hold proper coinage of a second value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 16 including means for deactivating at least one of said pawl means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for selecting coins comprising means for accepting coins within a predetermined range of sizes, means for delivering a coin within such predetermined range of sizes to a coin seating means, a coin seating means located to receive a coin from said transferring means comprising product access control means having means thereon for prohibiting access to a product unless proper coinage is delivered to said coin seating means via said delivering means, a first receptacle for receiving and retaining a coin, a second receptacle for receiving and allowing removal of a rejected coin, means for transferring coinage of proper size within said predetermined range of sizes from said coin seating means to said first receptacle, and means for transferring all matter other than coinage of proper size from any location within said apparatus to said second receptacle, including means cooperating with said prohibiting means to open said delivering means throughout the length thereof whenever an attempt is made to operate said product access control means to gain access to the product without first inserting coinage of the proper size.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for selecting coins comprising means for accepting coins within a predetermined range of sizes, means for delivering a coin within such predetermined range of sizes to a coin seating means, a coin seating means located to receive a coin from said transferring means comprising product access control means having means thereon for prohibiting access to a product unless proper coinage is delivered to said coin seating means via said delivering means, a first receptacle for receiving and retaining a coin, a second receptacle for receiving and allowing removal of a rejected coin, means for transferring coinage of proper size within said predetermined range of sizes from said coin seating means to said first receptacle, and means for transferring all matter other than coinage of proper size from any location within said apparatus to said second receptacle, including means cooperating with said prohibiting means to open said delivering means throughout the length thereof whenever an attempt is made to operate said product access control means to gain access to the product without first inserting coinage of the proper size.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said delivering means comprises a chute, said chute having a first wall, a second wall, means connecting said first and second walls to one another to allow relative movement therebetween, and means for biasing said first and second walls into cooperating relationship to control the movement of coinage through said chute.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 19 including means mounted on one of said walls for supporting pawl means relative to the other of said walls, and pawl means mounted on said supporting means for rotative movement into and out of said chute.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising, means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means, comprising a first chute and a second chute stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising at least one pawl having a first finger and a second finger, said at least one pawl being operatively associated with said first and second chutes such that said first finger acts upon coinage in said first chute and said second finger acts upon coinage in said second chute.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising, means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means, comprising a first chute and a second chute stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising at least one pawl having a first finger and a second finger, said at least one pawl being operatively associated with said first and second chutes such that said first finger acts upon coinage in said first chute and said second finger acts upon coinage in said second chute.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising, means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means, comprising a first chute and a second chute, stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising at least one pawl having a first finger and a second finger, said at least one pawl being pivotally mounted relative to said first and second chutes so that said first finger is acted upon by coinage in said first chute to locate said second finger in said second chute to prevent movement of coinage in said second chute away from said stop means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising, means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means, comprising a first chute and a second chute, stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising at least one pawl having a first finger and a second finger, said at least one pawl being pivotally mounted relative to said first and second chutes so that said first finger is acted upon by coinage in said first chute to locate said second finger in said second chute to prevent movement of coinage in said second chute away from said stop means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means including a first chute and a second chute, stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising pawl means comprising a first elongated finger and a second, shorter finger extending from said first finger, said pawl means being operatively associated with said first and second chutes such that said first finger acts upon coinage in said first chute and said second finger acts upon coinage in said second chute.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means including a first chute and a second chute, stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising pawl means comprising a first elongated finger and a second, shorter finger extending from said first finger, said pawl means being operatively associated with said first and second chutes such that said first finger acts upon coinage in said first chute and said second finger acts upon coinage in said second chute.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said pawl means includes counterweight means mounted thereon for maintaining said pawl means in operative relation relative to said first and second chutes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said pawl means further includes pivot means therein at the juncture of said first finger and said counterweight means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said pawl means further includes stop means for limiting the pivotability of said pawl about said pivot means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means including a first chute and a second chute, stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising pawl means comprising a first elongated finger and a second, shorter finger extending from said first finger, said pawl being pivotally mounted relative to said first and second chutes so that one of said first and second fingers is acted upon by coinage in one of said first and second chutes to locate the other of said fingers in the other of said chutes to prevent movement of coinage in the other of said chutes away from said stop means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for actuation of a machine upon insertion of coinage of predetermined value thereinto comprising means for transporting the coinage from the point of insertion to a stop means including a first chute and a second chute, stop means for positioning the lowermost inserted coin on its edge and retaining the remaining coinage on the respective edges thereof in substantially a straight line, and means cooperating with the uppermost coin in the straight line thereof for preventing movement of the coinage away from said stop means, said movement preventing means comprising pawl means comprising a first elongated finger and a second, shorter finger extending from said first finger, said pawl being pivotally mounted relative to said first and second chutes so that one of said first and second fingers is acted upon by coinage in one of said first and second chutes to locate the other of said fingers in the other of said chutes to prevent movement of coinage in the other of said chutes away from said stop means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said pawl means is formed from a single master blank reconfigured in accordance with the predetermined coinage values which must be inserted into the apparatus before the machine may be actuated.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 28 including counterweight means mounted on said pawl for maintenance of said fingers in operative relationship to said chutes and pivot means at the juncture of said pawl and said counterweight.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 29 including stop means for limiting the movement of said pawl about said pivot means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
197 words
Coin selecting apparatus comprising material receiving means, means for sorting material received by said receiving means, means for transferring material from said receiving means to said sorting means comprising first chute means and second chute means, each defined by a fIrst wall, a second wall, and means for biasing said first and second walls into a closed chute relationship, and means for opening said transfer means throughout the length thereof to reject all matter therein unless the matter includes coinage in predetermined value combinations as determined by said sorting means comprising means for separating said first and second walls in each chute simultaneously, means for retaining coinage in predetermined locations in said chutes and means for preventing reverse motion of coinage in at least one of said chutes if it is of a predetermined value combination but for not preventing reverse motion of coinage in either of said chutes if it is of any other value combination comprising pawl means having a first finger mounted for cooperation with coinage of a predetermined value in one of said chutes and a second finger mounted for cooperation with coinage of a predetermined value in the other of said chutes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
197 words
Coin selecting apparatus comprising material receiving means, means for sorting material received by said receiving means, means for transferring material from said receiving means to said sorting means comprising first chute means and second chute means, each defined by a fIrst wall, a second wall, and means for biasing said first and second walls into a closed chute relationship, and means for opening said transfer means throughout the length thereof to reject all matter therein unless the matter includes coinage in predetermined value combinations as determined by said sorting means comprising means for separating said first and second walls in each chute simultaneously, means for retaining coinage in predetermined locations in said chutes and means for preventing reverse motion of coinage in at least one of said chutes if it is of a predetermined value combination but for not preventing reverse motion of coinage in either of said chutes if it is of any other value combination comprising pawl means having a first finger mounted for cooperation with coinage of a predetermined value in one of said chutes and a second finger mounted for cooperation with coinage of a predetermined value in the other of said chutes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
90 words
A pawl for cooperation with coinage to prevent reverse motion thereof after the coinage has moved past the pawl comprising a relatively flat body having a first finger extending from said body substantially parallel to the plane of said body for cooperation with coinage in a first coin chute, a second, relatively shorter, finger extending from said first finger substantially parallel to the plane of said body for cooperation with coinage in a second coin chute simultaneously with the cooperation of said first finger with coinage in a first chute.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
90 words
A pawl for cooperation with coinage to prevent reverse motion thereof after the coinage has moved past the pawl comprising a relatively flat body having a first finger extending from said body substantially parallel to the plane of said body for cooperation with coinage in a first coin chute, a second, relatively shorter, finger extending from said first finger substantially parallel to the plane of said body for cooperation with coinage in a second coin chute simultaneously with the cooperation of said first finger with coinage in a first chute.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pawl of claim 32 wherein said second finger is so configured as to form a substantially U-shaped opening with said first finger.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pawl means of claim 32 wherein said body further includes means for pivotally mounting said pawl means to allow coinage to pass by said pawl.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pawl means of claim 34 wherein said body further includes means for limiting the movement of said pawl means about said pivotal mounting means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
171 words
Pawl means for cooperation with coins in a pair of parallel coin chutes comprising a substantially flat body having a substantially flat first finger extending therefrom substantially parallel to the plane of said body in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and having a coin abutment surface thereon for cooperation with coinage in a first chute and a substantially flat second finger, extending from said first finger substantially parallel to the plane of said body, forming a substantially U-shaped configuration with said first finger and having a coin abutment surface thereon for cooperation with coinage in a second chute simultaneously with cooperation of said first finger coin abutment surface with coinage in the first chute, means by which said pawl may be pivotally mounted relative to the first and second chutes to allow coinage to pass by said fingers of said pawl, and means for cooperation with apparatus for pivotally moving both of said fingers out of their respective chutes for selective deactivation of said pawl to prevent cooperation thereof with coinage.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
171 words
Pawl means for cooperation with coins in a pair of parallel coin chutes comprising a substantially flat body having a substantially flat first finger extending therefrom substantially parallel to the plane of said body in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and having a coin abutment surface thereon for cooperation with coinage in a first chute and a substantially flat second finger, extending from said first finger substantially parallel to the plane of said body, forming a substantially U-shaped configuration with said first finger and having a coin abutment surface thereon for cooperation with coinage in a second chute simultaneously with cooperation of said first finger coin abutment surface with coinage in the first chute, means by which said pawl may be pivotally mounted relative to the first and second chutes to allow coinage to pass by said fingers of said pawl, and means for cooperation with apparatus for pivotally moving both of said fingers out of their respective chutes for selective deactivation of said pawl to prevent cooperation thereof with coinage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |