US4066308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cash drawer
Assignee: Atlas Manufacturing Inc
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Filing: 1977-01-21
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Granted: 1978-01-03
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Expires: 1997-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A cash drawer movably mounted in a housing between open and closed positions and yieldingly urged toward its open position by resilient rods adjustably mounted in the housing. A latch hook releasably holds the drawer in its closed position, and a power operated device is used alternatively with a manually operated mechanism to move the latch hook in a direction to release the drawer for opening movements. The manually operated mechanism includes a latch hook engaging portion for positively locking the latch hook against drawer releasing movement, when desired. Drawer supporting slide rails are tilted to a degree which provides for substantially constant velocity of opening movement of the drawer, and a yielding friction element engages the drawer to stop opening movement of the drawer at a given position of said opening movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. Wedel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:55
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0018; G07G1/0027; E; E05; E05B; E05B65/00; E05B65/46; E05B65/461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A cash drawer assembly comprising: a. a housing including a frame having a bottom wall and laterally spaced side walls; b. a drawer having front and rear walls and side walls; c. support means mounting said drawer in said housing for forward opening and rearward closing movements; d. latch means releasably holding said drawer in a closed position; e. operating means for said latch means; f. elongated, normally straight flexible resilient rod means for urging said drawer toward its open position; g. bracket means for supporting said rod means in said housing at an oblique angle to the direction of movement of said drawer for engagement of one end of the rod means by said drawer, whereby said rod means is rearwardly bent by said drawer during closing movements of the drawer; h. and clamping means securing the other end of said rod means to said bracket means for adjustment of said rod means longitudinally thereof on said bracket means, whereby to vary the effective bending length of said rod means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A cash drawer assembly comprising: a. a housing including a frame having a bottom wall and laterally spaced side walls; b. a drawer having front and rear walls and side walls; c. support means mounting said drawer in said housing for forward opening and rearward closing movements; d. latch means releasably holding said drawer in a closed position; e. operating means for said latch means; f. elongated, normally straight flexible resilient rod means for urging said drawer toward its open position; g. bracket means for supporting said rod means in said housing at an oblique angle to the direction of movement of said drawer for engagement of one end of the rod means by said drawer, whereby said rod means is rearwardly bent by said drawer during closing movements of the drawer; h. and clamping means securing the other end of said rod means to said bracket means for adjustment of said rod means longitudinally thereof on said bracket means, whereby to vary the effective bending length of said rod means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 1 in which said rod means comprises an elongated rod formed into U shape to provide elongated, generally parallel rod sections and open and closed ends, said closed end engaging said drawer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 2 in which said bracket means includes a plate-like portion disposed at said angle oblique to the direction of travel of the drawer, said clamping means comprising a pair of clamping elements spaced apart longitudinally of said rod sections and releasably clamping said rod sections to said plate-like portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 1 in which said rod means comprises a pair of spaced generally parallel rods each formed into U shape to provide a pair of elongated parallel rod sections and open and closed end portions, said closed end portions engaging spaced portions of said drawer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 4 in which said bracket means includes a plate-like portion disposed at said angle oblique to said direction of travel of the drawer; said clamping means comprising pairs of clamping elements spaced apart longitudinally of their respective rods, the clamping elements of each pair thereof releasably clamping their respective rod to said plate-like portion independently of the other of said rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 1, further including a yielding friction element mounted between adjacent portions of said housing and said drawer; said friction element being secured to one of said portions and frictionally engaging the other thereof during opening movement of said drawer to stop said opening movement before the drawer reaches a fully open position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 1 in which said latch means comprises a latch hook pivotally mounted in said housing for swinging movements toward and away from latching engagement with a portion of said drawer; said latch operating means including a spring urging said latch hook toward latching engagement with said portion of the drawer, power operated means for moving said latch hook in an unlatching direction against bias of said spring, and a manually operated member for imparting unlatching movement to said latch hook independently of said power operated means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 7 in which said latch includes a pair of abutments on said latch hook, said abutments being spaced apart in the direction of movement of said latch hook; said manually operated means comprising a crank pivotally mounted in said housing and having an abutment engaging crank pin portion, said crank being rotatable in one direction from a neutral position, wherein said crank pin portion is spaced apart from both of said abutments, to a locking position wherein said crank pin portion engages one of said abutments to lock said latch hook against movement in a drawer-releasing direction, and in the opposite direction wherein said crank pin portion engages the other of said abutments to move said latch hook in a drawer-releasing direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 8, further including lock mechanism for releasably locking said crank in the latch hook locking position thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 8 in which said power-operated means includes a solenoid operatively connected to said latch hook, characterized by a control switch for said solenoid and an operating arm for said control switch, said operating arm being engaged by said crank pin, in said neutral position of said crank, to permit energization of said solenoid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cash drawer assembly defined in claim 1 in which said support means comprises cooperating slide rails mounted on said frame side walls and said drawer side walls, said slide rails sloping forwardly and downwardly at an angle permitting free forward movement of said drawer at a constant speed.
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) | 1981-01-02 | 1981-07-04 | 1982-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-02 | 1985-07-04 | 1986-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-02 | 1989-07-04 | 1990-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |