US3197008A - Coin-controlled article-checking rack - Google Patents

Description

C. N. MOORE COIN-CONTROLLED ARTICLE-CHECKING RACK July 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1963 .L fA/V'A/TOB CARL M M0025 July 27, 1965 Filed Sept. 4, 1963 c. N. MOORE 3,197,008

COIN-CONTROLLED ARTICLE-CHECKING RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j/VL E/V TOE CAPL N, MOOEE United States Patent 3,197,068 CQHJ-QGNTROLLED ARTlCLE-CEECTGNG RACK arl N. Moore, tlhicagc, llll., assignor to lzines Engineering (30., The, Aurora, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Se t. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,425 13 tjiairns. (1. 1946l) This invention relates to coin-controlled article-check ing racks for use by the patrons of public places to temporarily check garments and/ or personal accessories.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved structuring of a coin-controlled article-checking rack for the temporary retention of personal accessories by patrons of public places; to provide an improved structure and arrangement of coin-controlled devices for a rack of this kind; to provide improved coin-controlled devices for racks of this kind operable only by the conjunctive use of a coin and a latch-member attached to the rack; to provide an improved arrangement of flexible elements suspending the latch-members; and to provide an improved coin-controlled article-checking rack of this kind which is especially adapted for use with garments so as to avoid the creasing of any parts thereof.

in the adaptation shown in the accompanying drawings;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved coincontrolled article-checking rack constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing how a suspended latch-member is arranged for coordinated use with a coin to effect the operation of a coirrcontrolled device, constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is an inside face view of the coin-operate mechanism ready to permit the turning of the coin-receiving component to discharge the coin and release a key;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the plane of the line 44 of FIG. 3 showing how the insertion of the latch-member has retracted a detent to permit the turning of the coin-receiving component;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to Fl-1G. 3 but showing the coin-receiving component turned to discharge the coin into the coin-housir1g and permit the removal of the key;

FIG. 6 is a view taken on the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 5, showing how the turning of the component has locked the latch-member in the coin device;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation taken'on the plane of the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the inserted position of the latch-member for initiating retraction of a locking-detent;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing how the turning of the coin-receiving component is checked by a detent in the absence of a coin in the component;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the disk-type structure of the coin-receiving component; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

The essential concept of this invention involves an open framework suspending from a cross-rod a plurality of flexible elements each terminating in a latch-member adapted for insertion in one of a plurality of key-actuated coin-devices, mounted on the framework, for coordinated action with an inserted coin to lock the latch-member in the respective device and release the corresponding key subject to a subsequent re-insertion or" the key into the device to rlease the latch-member and remove the checke article.

The hereinshown coin-controlled article-checking rack, embodying the foregoing concept, comprises a framework 12 suspending a plurality of flexible elements 13 each terminating in a latch-member 14 subject to inserted locking in one of a series of key-actuated coin-devices l5, arranged on the framework 12, to lock articles against removal from the respective flexible elements 13 pending a reverse actuation of the coin-device.

The framework 12, a herein shown, comprises a pair of inverted U-shaped ends 15 spanned by a top cross-rod 17, substantially medially of the base parts of these ends 1.6, a coindevice supportingbar it; and an opposed side brace 19 spanning the opposite legs of the U-shaped ends a predetermined distance above their respective termini. Transverse braces 2i extend across the legs of the respective Ushaped ends 16 in the plane of the bar 28 and the side brace 19. A shelf 21 here is shown supported on posts 22 above the cross-rod 1'7.

The flexible elements 13, as hereinshown, preferably, are chains. However, wire or cord, of a suitable flexible nature, could be used in place of chains. At their upper ends, the flexible elements 13 are attached permanent- 13/ to the cross-rod E7, in predeterminedly spaced relationship. Preferably, the length of these flexible elements 13 is somewhat greater than the vertical distance between the cross-rod 17 and the coin-device supportingbar 13, for a reason to be explained presently.

The latch members 14 here are shown as pieces of narrow strap-metal. The inner end of each such latch-member 14 has a pair of opposed notches 23 adjacent the free end which form a head 24. Each uch latc -member 14- is insertable into a slide 25, in a coin-device 15, to coact with a conjunctive insertion of a coin therein to eifect the locking of the latch-member lidin the device, as will be explained presently.

A series of coin-devices 15 are arranged along the su porting-bar 18 in number equal to that of the flexible elements 13 depending from the cross-rod 1'7. This provides a coin-device for each of suspended latch-members 14.

The hereinshown location of the coin-device supporting-bar 18, near the base of the framework, and the indicated length ofthe flexible element v3 permits the use of the checkingrack for coats suspended from hangers 26 with the flexible elements 13 extending down through the coat sleeves, as shown in PEG. in the event such a checking rack were to be used for other articles, as, for example, brief-cases and/ or small luggage, a platform could be arranged on the framework 12. The coin-device supporting-bar 18 could be located higher up on the legs is to permit elements 14 of suitable length to be extended through handles on such other articles with the latchmembers 14 inserted into the respective coin-devices 15.

Each of the coin devices 115, as hereinshown, comprises a coin housing 27 the top and front of which is in the nature of an angle plate 28 (FIG. 2) whereon is moun ed a shiftable coin-receiving component 29 so actuatable by a spring 3% and a key 31 that the conjunctive insertion of a coin C and a latch-member l4 inactivate a pair of detents 32 and 33 normally biased to restrict the shifting of the component 29. The spring 39 normally urges the coin-component 29 in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the front of a coin-device 15) to discharge a coin C into the coin housing 27 if a coin C previously has been inserted in a slot 36.

The angle plate 23 comprises a top part 34 and a front part 35 disposed at right angles. a coin-slot 36 inwardly depending from which is a coinchute 37. The front part 35 has a slot 38 at one side and, nearly centrally thereof, mounts a conventional, ro-

tatable, key-actuated, lock-cylinder 39 on the inner end of which is secured the coin-receiving component 29.

The key-actuated lock-cylinder 39 is rotatably mounted,

in the conventional manner, on a sleeve 41 secured to the front part 35, of the angle plate 23, by an internal nut 42 opposed to the exterior escutcheon ring 43 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

The top part 34 has The coin-receiving component 29, as hereinshown (FIG. 11-), is in the nature of a rotor comprising an intermediate disk 44 and a pair of superimposed exterior disks 45. The intermediate disk 4 is smaller in diameter than the exterior disks 45 and the three disks are secured together by rivets 46. The thusly-assernbled disks are centrally bored to fit over the end of the cylinder 39 to which they are'secured by a nut 47.

The intermediate disk .4 is recessed to form a coin pocket 43 between the two exterior disks The contour and depth of the pocket 43 is such as to conform to the coin C which is intended to be used to effect the functioning of the coin device 15. As hereinshown, that coin C is a dime. When the coin C is seated in the pocket 43 the most exposed peripheral portion of the coin is disposed in the circumference of the exterior disks 45, as indicated at 49 in FIG. 3.

The two exterior disks .5 have pairs of circumferentially-spaced peripheral slots 51 and 52. The slots 51 register with the pocket 48 and provide shoulders 53 which are engageable by the detent 32 to preclude a complete turning of the rotor-component 29 when no coin C is in the pocket 48 (FIG. 9). The peripheral section of the disks 45, between the slots 51 and 52, constitute a wing 55 which locks a latch-member 14 in the slide 25 by the coin-rotor 29 (FIG. 6) as will be explained presently. The other peripheral slots 52 in the exterior disks 45 provide shoulders 54 likewise for contact with the detent 32 and prevent an improper turning of the coinrotor 29, as will be explained presently.

The disks 44 and 45 also have a hole 55 (FIGS. 6 and drilled therethrough for the reception of the detent 33 to lock the coin-rotor 29 against operation pending the insertion of a latch-member 14 in the slide 25.

The detent 33 here is shown U-shape and slidably embracing a guide rail 57 forming a part of the slide 25. A. spring 58 normally biases the detent 33 to insert the end of the longer leg 59 into the aligned holes 56 in the coin-rotor 29 (FIG. 8). Thereby, the coin-rotor 29 is locked against rotation pending the insertion of a latchmember 14 into the slide 25. Such a full insertion of a latch-rnember 14 into the slide results in contact of the head 24 with the shorter leg 61 of the detent 33 and effects the retraction of the longer leg 59 from the holes 56 to free the coin-rotor 29 for rotation by the spring 39 in the direction of the arrow thereon. As shown in FIG.

7 the spring 58 is a leaf-type and is secured to bracket 7 the coin-rotor 29 for the operative functioning thereof,

as presently will be explained.

The use of the hereinshown and described coin-controlled article-checking rack is eflectedas follows:

A garment, such as a coat, shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1, is placed over a conventional hanger 26 which is hooked over the cross-rod 1?. One of the flexible elements 13 is threaded down through the garment sleeve. Thereupon, a coin C is dropped into the slot 36 in the respective coin-device 15. Such a coin C, if a proper one, will descend into the coin-pocket .8 in the coin-rotor 29. The corresponding latch-member 14 then is inserted into the slot 38 and pressed the full distance permitted by a pin 25 in the slide 25. In its inward movement the latch-member 14 will engage the short leg 61 of the detent 33 and press it back against the spring 58. The consequent withdrawal of the longer leg 59 of the detent 33 from the holes 56 in the coin-rotor 29 will perrnit the spring 35) to snap the coin-rotor 29 in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon. Because of the posi tion of the coin C in the coin-pocket 48, with the peripheral point 49 in the circumference of the coin-rotor 29 (FIG. 3), the detent 32 will ride over the coin to permit a full movement of the coin-rotor 29 to discharge the coin C into the coin housing 27 (FIG. 5). The resulting rotation of the coin-rotor 25 will set the lock cylinder 39 to permit the removal of the key 31.

The sudden turning of the coin-rotor 29 brings the wing section thereof into the facing slot 23 of the latch-member l4 and thereby locks the latch-member 14 in the slide 25 of the coin-device 15. The garment now is secure on the rack against removal until the key 31 is re-inserted into the lock cylinder 39 and turned counterclockwise to return the coin-rotor 29 to its coin-receiving position (PEG. 3). Such reverse turning of the coinrotor 25 brings the peripheral slot 52 into opposition of the notch 23 in the latch-member 14. Thereupon, the spring 53 snaps the detent 33 to reseat the long leg 59 in the holes 56 in the coin-rotor 29. The latch-member 14- is thereby free to be removed from the coin-device l5 and permit the withdrawal of the flexible element 13 from the garment.

It should be noted that other articles than garments may be checked on a rack of this kind. Brief-cases or pieces of small luggage could be suspended from the crossrod 17 much in the same manner as the illustrated garment. The handle on such other article could be inserted over the hook of the garment-hanger 26 and the flexible element 13 threaded through the handle. A large piece of luggage could be set on the floor within the framework 12 and flexible element 13 run through the handle and the latch-member 14 inserted into the coin-device 15, with the same results as just explained With a garment.

In the event one should insert the latch-member 14 into a slot 33 before a coin C is inserted into the slot 36, the coin-rotor 29 would be released to the action of the spring 36 with the retraction of the detent 33. However, the coin-rotor 29 would turn in the direction indicated by the arrow but only until free end of the detent 32 dropped into the peripheral slots 51 to strike against theshoulder 53 (FIG. 9). Meanwhile, the latch-member 14 would remain locked in the slide 25 by the wing section 55 of the coin-rotor 29. Thus, it would not be possible to remove the key 31 and secure a locking-in of an article. It would be necessary to return the coin-rotor 29 to its starting position and deposit a coin C in the slot 36 and A shown in FIG. 3 and eilect the release of the latch-member 14 and cause the detent 33 to lock the coin-rotor 29 in such coin-receiving position.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A coin-controlled article-checking rack comprising, a supporting framework, a coin-device supporting-bar on the framework, a plurality of flexible elements attached to a cross-bar associated with said framework and each terminating in a specially-formed latch-member, a series of coin-devices arranged on the supporting-bar, each coin device having a pair of slots one for the insertion of a coin and the other for the insertion of a latch-member, a keyretaining and key reversible component rotatably arranged in each device to allow the insertion of a coin through said slot and into said component and to allow the discharge of said coin from said component upon rotation of said component, means to retain said component in its coin accepting position until said latch-member has been fully inserted into its slot and latch means adapted to permit continuous clockwise rotation of said component to the key release position by passing over said coin in said component and adapted to engage a shoulder on the periphery of said component and arrest the rotation when no coin is in said component.

2. A coin-controlled article-checking rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coin-device supporting-bar is located along the lower portion of the framework and each of the lexible elements is of a length greater than the vertical distance between the cross-rod and the supportingbar to permit the insertion of a latch-member into a coindevice slot with the respective flexible element extending downward through a fully-depending sleeve of a coat on a hanger suspended on the cross-bar.

3. A coin-controlled article-checking rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coin-component is a rotor having a coin-seating pocket for registration with the one slot and the means for holding the component against shifting includes a pair of spring-biased detents one of which detents prevents the action of the rotor until the latchmember is inserted into the other slot to retract the detent and the other of which detents prevents action of the rotor until the coin inserted through the one slot is seated in the rotor ocket.

4, A coin-controlled article-checking rack asset forth in claim 3 wherein the rotor consists of an intermediate disk of predetermined diameter and two exterior disks of larger diameter secured together in superimposed concentric relationship, the intermediate disk being peripherally recessed to form a pocket to seat a coin with a peripheral portion of the coin concentric with the peripheries of the exterior disks, the exterior disks having aligned shallow peripheral slots registering with the coin pocket and forming a stop for contact by the other detent when the rotor is turned following the insertion of a latch-member with no coin in the coin pocket.

5. A coin-controlled article-checking rack as set forth in claim 3 wherein the latch-member is recessed adjacent its inner end to embrace the rotor, when the latch-member is fully pressed into the other slot, to retract the one detent and be retained in its detent-releasing position by the rotor pending the return of the rotor to its normal coin-receiving position.

6. A coin-controlled article-checking rack comprising,

(a) a supporting frame having a pair of end members spanned by an article-suspension cross-rod and a coindevice supporting-bar spaced apart vertically,

(h) a series of flexible elements fixed in predetermined spaced relationship along and depending from the cross-rod, each terminating in a specially-formed latch-member,

(c) a series of coin devices comparable in number to the flexible elements and fixed in juxtaposed relationship on the supporting-bar,

(d) each of the coin devices comprising,

(i) a righ-angle plate forming the top and front par LS of a housing,

(ii) a slot in the plate top part for the insertion of coins,

(iii) a slot in the plate front part for the insertion of a latch-member,

(-iv) a lock cylinder journaled on the plate front part and seating a key removable upon a redetermined rotation of the cylinder,

(v) a disk-shaped rotor fixed on the inner end of the cylinder .and having a coin-receiving pocket registering with the slot in the plate top-part, shaped to dispose the coin with the periphery concentric with the periphery of the rotor, and formed with peripheral radially-disposed shoulder adjacent the trailing portion of the coin pocket,

(vi) a first detent shiftable on the plate and springbiased to engage the periphery of the rotor and ride over the coin in the pocket to permit the full turning of the rotor to discharge the coin and release the key, and to engage the shoulder and arrest the turning of the rotor when no coin is deposited in the coin pocket (vii) a second detent shiftable on the plate and spring-biased to hold'the rotor with the coin pocket in registration with the coin slot, and retractable by the insertion of a latch-member in the slot in the plate front part to release the rotor for turning by the key.

i 7. A coin-controlled article-checking rack as set forth in claim 6 wherein the latch-member is recessed adjacent its inner end to embrace the rotor and be retained by the rotor in its detent-releasing position pending the return of the rotor to its normal coin-receiving position.

8. A coin-controlled device comprising a housing having a pair of slots one for the insertion of a coin and the other for the insertion of a latch-member, a key-retaining and key reversible component shifitably arranged in the housing for the sequential reception and discharge of a coin inserted through one of the slots, and means normally biased to retain said component in its coin accepting position until said latch-member has been fully insorted into its slot and latch and latch means adapted to permit shifting of said component to the key release position by passing over said coin in said component and adapted to engage a shoulder on the periphery of said component and arrest the shifting when no coin is in said component.

9. A coin-controlled device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the coin-component is a rotor having a coin-seating pocket for registration with the one slot and the means for holding the component against shifting includes a pair of spring-biased detents one of which detents prevents the action of the rotor until the latch-member is inserted into the other slot to retract the detent and the other of which detents revents action of the rotor until the coin inserted through the one slot is seated in the rotor pocket.

10. A coin-controlled device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the rotor consists of an intermediate disk of predetermined diameter and two exterior disks of larger diameter secured together in superimposed concentric relationship, the intermediate disk being peripherally recessed to form a pocket to seat a coin with a peripheral portion of the coin concentric with the peripheries of the exterior disks, the exterior disks having aligned shallow peripheral slots registering with the coin pocket and forming a stop for contact by the other detent when the rotor is turned following the insertion of a latch-member with no coin in the coin pocket.

11. A coin-controlled device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the latch mernber is recessed adjacent its inner end to embrace the rotor, when the latch member is fully pressed into the other slot, to retract the one detent and be retained in its detent-releasing position by the rotor pending the return of the rotor to its normal coin-receiving position.

12. A coin-controlled device comprising,

(a) a right-angle plate forming the top and front parts of a housing,

(b) a slot in the plate top part for the insertion of coins,

(c) a slot in the plate front part for the insertion of a latch-member,

(d) a lock-cylinder journaled on the plate front part and seating a key removable upon a predetermined rotation of the cylinder,

(e) a disk-shaped rotor fixed on the inner end of the cylinder and having a coin-receiving pocket registering with the slot in the plate top-part, shaped to dispose the coin with the periphery concentric with the periphery of the rotor, and formed with the peripheral radially-disposed shoulder adjacent the trailing portion of the coin pocket,

(f) a first detent shiftable on the plate and spring-biased to engage the periphery of the rotor and ride over the coin in the pockettto permit the full turning of the rotor to discharge the coin and release the key, and to engage the shoulder and arrest the turning of the rotor when no coin is deposited in the coin pocket,

(g) a second detent shiftable on the plate and springbiased to hold the rotor With the coin pocket in registration with the coin slot, and retractable by the insertion of a latch-member in the slot in the plate front part to release the rotor for turning by the key.

13. A coin-controlled device as set forth in claim 12 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,437,742 3/48 Hofmann' 19492 2,655,424 10/53 OConnor 312-351 2,707,043' 4/55 Garver 19454 3,133,619 5/64 Clemons et al 194-64 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A COIN-CONTROLLED ARTICLE-CHECKING RACK COMPRISING, A SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK, A COIN-DEVICE SUPPORTING-BAR ON THE FRAMEWORK, A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS ATTACHED A CROSS-BAR ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRAMEWORK AND EACH TERMINATING IN A SPECIALLY-FORMED LATCH-MEMBER, A SERIES OF COIN-DEVICES ARRANGED ON THE SUPPORTING BAR, EACH COIN DEVICE HAVING A PAIR OF SLOTS ONE FOR THE INSERTION OF A COIN AND THE OTHER FOR THE INSERTION OF A LATCH-MEMBER, A KEYRETAINING AND KEY REVERSIBLE COMPONENT ROTATABLY ARRANGED IN EACH DEVICE TO ALLOW THE INSERTION OF A COIN THROUGH SAID SLOT AND INTO SAID COMPONENT AND TO ALLOW THE DISCHARGE OF SAID COIN FROM SAID COMNPONENT UPON ROTATION OF SAID COMPONENT, MEANS TO RETAIN SAID COMPONENT IN ITS COIN ACCEPTING POSITION UNTIL SAID LATCH-MEMBER HAS BEEN FULLY INSERTED INTO ITS SLOT AND LATCH MEANS ADAPTED TO PERMIT CONTINUOUS CLOCKWISE ROTATION OF SAID COMPONENT TO THE

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