US2790450A - Coin dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1957 GOLDY com DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1954 INVENTOR.

FIGZ

GOLDY AGENT.

United States LCOIN DISPENSING APPARATUS .II aaGQ dy, S am rd, ana- Application March 23, 1954, Serial No. 418,121

1 Claim. ,,(Cl. 133,-6)

This'invention relates to coin dispensing devices and has particular reference to a small 'and compact coin dispenser which dispenses coins or tokens in single units. By virtue of its design, the instant device .will be found particularly useful in connection with motor vehicles where the dispenser is attached to existing structures, such as the dashboard, for disp ensing coins to the operator as he passes through toll stations or requires a certain amountof change .for other purposes. It. should be understood however, that. there are many other uses for the device described hereinafter and no limitation as toTits .use or manner .of application is implied .or expressed.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction and durable so that the same may be maintained in working order over a long period of time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin dispenser which is comparatively small and compact in order that it may be mounted in an inconspicuous manner to existing structures.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a coin dispenser in which the coin storage mechanism is retractably received by a housing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which renders coins available in a dispensing tray and wherein this tray when swung against the housing encloses the dispensing and storage mechanism.

A still further and other object of the invention is the design of a coin dispenser which may be manufactured primarily from sheet metal parts so as to achieve economical production, especially when mass-produced.

One of the features of the invention includes a coin dispensing apparatus having a plurality of coin storage compartments. A dispensing lever is associated with each of the compartments in such a manner as to singly select and dispense coins. A housing is provided in which the compartments are retractably received. The housing has an open front and a bottom plate tapering towards the front to cause dispensed coins to slide forward under the influence of gravity. A cover attached to the front of the housing serves when in open position as a receiving tray for dispensed coins. I

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view partly in section of the device;

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section showing the coin storage compartment in forward position for loading;

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 3 showing the cover in closed position; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the coin storage compartment in conjunction with the dispensing lever.

;With reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiment chosen to illustrate the present invention comprisesthree coin .storage compartments '10,.one compartment for one-cent coins, one for five-cent coins and one for ten-cent coins as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. It should be clearly understoodhowever, that the present inventionis notlimited to three compartments but may .use any number desired. These storage compartments 10 are attached to a commonbracket .11 "by spot welding V .orany other convenient means. A portion 12 of bracket 11 projects at right angles to form an L each side of which has a further projection which is bent upwardly to form;ears '13. Astud 11:4 which is fastened to each ear 13 ,serves to support bracket 11 as will be described thereafter.

Storage compartments 10 together with bracket '11 are retractably' received in housing '15 by virtue of the fact that studs 14 project through slots 16 in' each side lofsthe 'h'ousing1 15r-thereby furnishing a-support for bracket 11 and also permitting .the bracket .to be pulled forward in :the .manner of a drawer for loading coins into the storage compartments 10 as clearlyshown by Figures 1 and 3.

With respect :to the means .of supporting the bracket 11, it will be noted that the stud 14 is positioned toward the rear of ear 13 so that when the bracket is in its -normal operating position as shown by Figures 1 and 4,

the forward portion of the bracket is supported on an inwardly projecting indentation 17in each side of the housing 15 adjacent the slot 16. In order to hold bracket 11 in normal position a spring clip 18, whichis attached to the top of the housing 15, grips a cutout portion of bracket 11.

A dispensing lever 19 slidably placed beneath each coin storage compartment is the actuator for dispensing coins. A central aperture in lever 19 is normally positioned directly below the storage compartment 10 to receive a coin as shown by Figure 5. Section 12 of bracket 11 is provided with an aperture 20 also below each compartment 16, but offset with respect thereto so that a coin cannot fall directly through. With further reference to Figure 5 it will be readily understood that when lever 19 is moved rearwardly into dotted position X, the coin at the bottom of the stack will also move with the lever and become positioned directly above aperture 20 through which it will fall.

A spring 22 secured to bracket 11 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 projects into an aperture in lever 19 to return the lever to its normal position after a coin has been dispensed.

A hingedly mounted cover 23 encloses the open front of housing 15 and may be secured to the housing by locking means 24 as clearly shown in Figure 1 and Figure 4 respectively.

To operate the coin dispensing apparatus, the cover is first unlocked and swung open on its hinges 25 into a position limited by a projecting ear 26 which strikes against the underside of the housing, Figures 1 and 3. In this position the cover 23 serves as a receiving tray into which dispensed coins slide. If it is desired to obtain an one-cent coin the corresponding lever is pushed against the pressure of spring 22 and the coin will fall through its corresponding aperture 20 upon the forwardly sloping bottom 27 of the housing 15 from which, by virtue of the force of gravity, the coin slides forward into the receiving tray cover 23. If a second coin is required, the corresponding lever is manipulated in a similar manner. After pushing a lever 19, it must be released in order that the lever by virtue of its spring pressure returns to its normal position for receiving a new coin.

To refill the device with coins, the coin storage com- .partments are brought into refilling position (shown by Figure 3) by lifting the spring clip 18 and by grasping one of the levers 19, drawing the bracket 11 forwardly, thus exposing the open top of the coin storage compartments through which they are refilled.

The present coin dispensing device is particularly suited for use in automobiles where it may be attached to the dashboard by screws or magnets or any other suitable method or sunk into an opening and placed flush with the surface of the dashboard.

Still further it will be seen that this device is constructed with a minimum number of parts, most of which are designed to be made from sheet metal in order that the instant coin dispensing apparatus may be mass-produccd in an economical manner without requiring special production equipment.

. While there have been described certain features and a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and field of the invention which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A coin dispensing apparatus comprising a sheet metal bracket supporting a plurality of coin storage compartments; 'a lever associated with each compartment and being adapted to dispense coins in response to sliding motion applied to said levers; a sheet metal housing having an open front and being adapted to retractably 12,359,182

receive said compartments; the bottom side of said hous ing being constructed with a surface inclined toward the front thereby defining a space of substantially triangular cross section with the underside of said compartments through which coins when dispensed fall; means which include the combination of a stud supported in a slot of said housing to permit limited motion of said compartments into and out of said housing; supporting means including a stationary indentation in said housing slidably engaging said bracket to cause said compartments to assume a downwardly tilted position when said compartments are moved out of said housing for replenishing the supply of coins; a sheet metal cover plate hingedly connected to thebottom side of said housing and said cover plate being constructed to serve when in open position as a receiving tray for dispensed coins; an extension of said cover engaging the underside of said housing for maintaining said cover when in open position in an inclined position, and means to secure said cover against the housing when the cover is in its closed position thereby completely enclosing the storage compartments and levers within said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 189,482 McConnell Apr. 10, 1877 1,219,657 Melchert Mar. 20, 1917 1,242,358' McClenahan Oct. 9, 1917 Wilsey Sept. 26, 1944

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