Coin bin having security feature for use with a coin processing device

• US 7,658,270 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Bochonok, Steve, Blake, John R., Munro, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro; Jeffrey A
• Application Number:
  US10/966,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 194/202, 194/203, 194/344, 194/349, 194/353, 232/12, 232/44, 232 55- 57, 232/4.R, 232 5- 7, 232 14- 16, 232/26, 232 58- 61, 446/8, 446/10, 446/118, 446168-170, 446/173, 193/DIG.1, 109/15, 453/63
• US Class Current: 194/350
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/02 giving change coin-actuated mechanisms in general G07F
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/00 Counting coins in combination with coin-sorting G07D3/16; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/04 Coin chutes

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a security grate for limiting access to a coin bin is disclosed. The security grate comprises a plurality of generally parallel upper slats and a plurality of generally parallel slats disposed below the upper slats. The plurality of first slats receives coins and directs coins moving under the force of gravity in a first direction. The plurality of lower slats receive coins from the upper slats and direct the coins moving under the force of gravity in a second direction.

Claims

1. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a first coin path defined by at least a first upper slat and a first lower slat, the first upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly first direction and the first lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly second direction;

a second coin path defined by at least a second upper slat and a second lower slat, the second upper slat being disposed in said generally downwardly first direction and the second lower slat being disposed in said generally downwardly second direction;

a third coin path defined by at least a third upper slat and a third lower slat, the third upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly third direction and the third lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly fourth direction,

wherein the first upper slat, second upper slat, and third upper slat are disposed to receive coins from a coin source and to facilitate movement of such coins downwardly to the respective first lower slat, second lower slat, and third lower slat,

wherein the gaps between adjacent slats are dimensioned slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin to be passed therethrough; and

wherein the first direction, second direction, third direction, and fourth direction are different from one another.

2. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 1, wherein said first upper slat and said first lower slat are disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel to a corresponding one of the second upper slat and the second lower slat to form a substantially constant gap therebetween.

3. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 2, wherein said third upper slat and said third lower slat are disposed substantially perpendicularly to said first upper slat, said first lower slat, said second upper slat, and said second lower slat.

4. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 1, wherein said third upper slat and said third lower slat are disposed substantially perpendicularly to said first upper slat, said first lower slat, said second upper slat, and said second lower slat.

5. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 2, wherein said fourth direction is substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction.

6. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin according to claim 2, wherein said fourth direction is at an angle to said first direction and said second direction.

7. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a coin path defined by at least an upper slat and a lower slat, the upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly first direction and the lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly second direction;

another coin path defined by another upper slat and another lower slat, said another upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly third direction and said another lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly fourth direction,

wherein the upper slat and said another upper slat are disposed to receive coins from a coin source and to facilitate movement of such coins downwardly to a respective one of said lower slat and said another lower slat,

wherein the gaps between each of said upper slat and lower slat and said another slat and said another lower slat are dimensioned slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin to be passed therethrough; and

wherein the first direction, second direction, third direction, and fourth direction are different from one another.

8. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a coin path defined by at least an upper slat and a lower slat, the upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly first direction and the lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly second direction;

another coin path defined by another upper slat and another lower slat, said another upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly third direction and said another lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly fourth direction,

wherein the upper slat and said another upper slat are disposed to receive coins from a coin source and to facilitate movement of such coins downwardly to a respective one of said lower slat and said another lower slat,

wherein the gaps between at least one of said upper slat and lower slat and said another upper slat and said another lower slat are dimensioned slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin to be passed therethrough; and

wherein the first direction, second direction, third direction, and fourth direction are different from one another.

9. A security grate for limiting access to a coin bin, comprising:

a coin path defined by at least an upper slat and a lower slat, the upper slat being disposed in a generally downwardly first direction and the lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly second direction;

another coin path defined by another upper slat and another lower slat, said another slat being disposed in a generally downwardly third direction and said another lower slat being disposed in a generally downwardly fourth direction,

wherein the upper slat and said another upper slat are disposed to receive coins from a coin source and to facilitate movement of such coins downwardly to a respective one of said lower slat and said another lower slat,

wherein the gaps between at least one of said upper slat and lower slat and said another upper slat and said another lower slat are dimensioned to prevent access to an interior of a coin bin therethrough by a human hand; and

wherein the first direction, second direction, third direction, and fourth direction are different from one another.