Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A gate assembly for a coin accepting and separating device, comprising: (a) a main plate means, (b) a first gate hingedly connected to the main plate means and movable selectively between an open position away from the main plate means and a closed position adjacent to the main plate means, (c) a second gate hingedly connected to the main plate means, and located between the first gate and the main plate means, the second gate being movable selectively between an open position away from the main plate means and a closed position adjacent the main plate means, (d) resilient means between the gates and tending to urge the gates apart, and (e) latch means on the main plate means and selectively holding the first gate in its closed position, and the resilient means holding the second gate in its closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A gate assembly for a coin accepting and separating device, comprising: (a) a main plate means, (b) a first gate hingedly connected to the main plate means and movable selectively between an open position away from the main plate means and a closed position adjacent to the main plate means, (c) a second gate hingedly connected to the main plate means, and located between the first gate and the main plate means, the second gate being movable selectively between an open position away from the main plate means and a closed position adjacent the main plate means, (d) resilient means between the gates and tending to urge the gates apart, and (e) latch means on the main plate means and selectively holding the first gate in its closed position, and the resilient means holding the second gate in its closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: (f) the second gate and main plate means provide a coin passage therebetween, and (g) release means engages and moves the second gate selectively away from the main plate means and toward the first gate against the loading of the resilient means to release a coin trapped in the coin passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: (f) the latch means includes a pin having a keeper shoulder, (g) the first gate includes a catch shoulder engageable with the pin keeper shoulder in the closed position, and (h) the resilient means urges the catch and keeper shoulders together to maintain the first gate in the closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: (i) the pin is resilient so that the keeper shoulder snaps into overlapping latching engagement with the catch shoulder when the first gate is moved to the closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 4, in which: (j) the pin includes a cam portion engageable with the first gate as the first gate is moved to the closed position for resiliently flexing the pin laterally.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 5, in which: (k) the pin extends outwardly from the main plate and beyond the second gate when in its closed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: (f) the resilient means is a compression spring having one end engageable with the first gate and the opposite end engageable with the second gate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
203 words
A gate assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: (f) the second gate and main plate means provides a coin passage therebetween, (g) release means engages and moves the second gate selectively away from the main plate means and toward the first gate against the loading of the resilient means to release a coin trapped in the coin passage, (h) the latch means includes a pin extending outwardly from the main plate, and extending beyond the second gate when in its closed position, the pin having a keeper shoulder and a cam portion, (i) the first gate includes a catch shoulder engageable with the first gate as the first gate is moved to the closed position, (j) the pin is resilient and flexible laterally upon engagement of the first gate with the cam portion so that the keeper shoulder snaps into overlapping latching engagement with the catch shoulder when the first gate is moved to the closed position, and (k) the resilient means is a compression spring having one end engageable with the first gate and an opposite end engageable with the second gate, the spring urging the catch and keeper shoulders together to maintain the first gate in the closed position.