Electronic lock for coin telephones

• US 5,802,172 A
• Filed: 12/05/1994
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Independent Technologies Inc (DataOnline LLC)
• Original Assignee: Independent Technologies Inc (DataOnline LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Henry L., Ingalsbe, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/349,431
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 379/451, 379/437, 379/102, 379/445, 379/453, 379/145, 70/277, 70/278, 70/279, 70/283, 194/350, 453/5
• US Class Current: 379/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features

Abstract

An electronically controlled locking system for use with coin telephones. The system is preferably utilized in conjunction with and controlled by the Wesroc® Coin Phone Monitoring System. Existing coin phone lock mechanisms consist of a primary lock and a secondary lock. The primary lock actually physically secures the coin vault door in position. The secondary lock locks the primary lock in a locked position. Both locks are mechanical systems which are actuated by mechanical key devices of a common type and structure. This mechanical system is prone to fraud and theft. The present invention provides an electronically controlled latching mechanism for controlling the operation of the existing locking mechanisms.

Claims

1. A coin box vault door lock for a coin telephone, comprising an electrically actuatable latch including a solenoid, a locking plate having a predetermined configuration and being for locking engagement with the coin box vault door, and a biased connector connecting said locking plate to said solenoid;

a latch connection bracket for connecting said latch to the coin telephone; and

a latch control circuit connected to said solenoid and to a telephone line connected to the coin telephone, said latch control circuit storing charge from the telephone line and combining stored voltage with direct telephone line voltage for solenoid actuation, whereby said solenoid removes said locking plate from locking engagement with the coin box vault door.

2. A coin box vault door lock for coin telephones including a mechanical primary vault door lock including a rotary cam disk and a plurality of communicatively connected radially oriented locking bars, the cam disk having a connection member, the locking bars securing said vault door to a body of the coin phone in a locked mode, comprising:

(a) an electrically actuatable latch including a solenoid, a locking plate having a predetermined configuration and being for locking engagement with the coin box vault door connection member, and a biased connector connecting said locking plate to said solenoid, said locking plate having a rectangular body structure with a beveled first end and a notched first side, said notched first side being for locking mating with said cam disk connection member, said beveled first end permitting rotational passage of the cam disk connection member thereover for re-locking mating with the disk cam connection member;

(b) a latch connection bracket for connecting said latch to the coin telephone; and

(c) latch control circuit connected to said solenoid and to a telephone line connected to the coin telephone, said latch control circuit comprising a digital logic chip connected to the telephone line, to control signal input means, and to the solenoid, said latch control circuit storing charge from the telephone line and combining stored voltage with voltage directly from the telephone line to actuate said solenoid to remove said locking plate from locking engagement with the coin box vault door, said latch control circuit deriving power exclusively from the telephone line.

3. A coin box vault door lock for coin telephones type including a T-Bar actuated mechanical primary vault door lock and a mechanical key actuated secondary vault door lock, the primary vault door lock including a rotary cam disk and a plurality of communicatively connected radially oriented locking bars, the cam disk having a connection member, the locking bars securing said vault door to a body of the coin phone in a locked mode, the secondary vault door lock including a locking bar for locking engagement with the cam disk connection member to lock the primary lock in the locked mode, comprising:

(a) an electrically actuatable latch including a solenoid, a locking plate having a predetermined configuration and being for locking engagement with the coin box vault door cam disk connection member, and a biased connector connecting said locking plate to said solenoid, said solenoid being solely telephone line powered and being in a normally unactuated mode, and said solenoid being actuated for a predetermined short time period, said biased connector including a reciprocatingly movable shaft extending from said solenoid and being connected to said locking plate, a concentric bushing disposed about said shaft for setting a reciprocating retraction stroke distance of said shaft upon actuation of said solenoid, and a concentric spring disposed about said shaft and said bushing, and urging said locking plate away from said solenoid whereby said normally unactuated solenoid and said biased connector maintain said locking plate in a normally extended position, and wherein said locking plate is for blocking opening rotation of said primary vault door lock rotary cam disk, said locking plate having a rectangular body structure which permits mating and release from said cam disk connection member, said rectangular body structure having a beveled first end, and a notched first side, said notched first side being for locking mating with said cam disk connection member in said unactuated mode, said locking plate further abutting an interior surface of the telephone on a second side opposite said first side in said unactuated mode to strengthen said blocking opening rotation of the cam disk, said beveled first end contacting and permitting unassisted rotational passage of said cam disk connection member thereover in said unactuated mode;

(b) a latch connection bracket for connecting said latch to the coin telephone; and

(c) a latch control circuit connected to said solenoid and to a telephone line connected to the coin telephone, said latch control circuit comprising a digital logic chip connected to the telephone line, to a control signal input means, and to the solenoid, said latch control circuit storing charge for and controlling actuation of said solenoid, whereby said latch control circuit derives power exclusively from the telephone line and actuates said solenoid by combining stored charge and direct line current from the telephone line to remove said locking plate from locking engagement with said coin box vault door.