Coin validation unit with clip feature

• US 8,479,909 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: King, David William, Schwarz, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFREY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/059,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,926 Days
• Field of Search: 194/352, 194/206, 194/207, 194/302, 194/350, 194/353, 361/679.02, 361/679.01, 36167931-67933, 36167937-67939, 361724-735, 361/740, 361/741, 361/747, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 209/534
• US Class Current: 194/302
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters

Abstract

A separate removable and replaceable coin validation unit for use in a coin-operated device has a housing and clip formations by means of which the housing is releasably held in a cavity in the coin-operated device. The coin validation unit is electrically operable and has electrical connectors which connect with complementary connectors in the cavity. The coin operated device is particularly a single bay parking meter.

Claims

1. A coin validation unit that is suitable for use in a coin-operated device, the unit including

a housing that is configured to be received within a cavity of the coin-operated device, the housing comprising;

a front face having an upper angled portion including an entrance opening configured to receive coins, and a lower substantially vertical planar portion on which is located an electrical connector;

a rear face disposed opposite the front face and including a substantially planar surface having a left rear button recess disposed on a left portion and a right rear button recess disposed on a right portion, wherein the left and right rear button recesses are configured to accommodate left and right buttons, respectively;

a right plane having a substantially planar surface with a rear portion, having a right plane recess configured to accommodate the right button and a right clip formation that is disposed on the right plane rear portion above the right plane recess, the right plane further having a trapezoidal depression and a rectangular depression; and

a left plane disposed opposite the right plane having a substantially planar surface with a rear portion having a left plane recess configured to accommodate the left button and a left clip formation that is disposed on the left plane rear portion above the left plane recess;

wherein the left and right buttons actuate the left and right clip formations, respectively, such that the left and right clip formations are released from an extended position when the left and right buttons are pressed toward each other;

wherein the entrance opening is configured to be aligned with a coin entrance slot of the coin-operated device when the coin validation unit is received within the cavity of the coin-operated device; and

wherein a pair of flanges on opposite bottom edges of the housing are dimensioned and configured to be received within corresponding grooves of the coin-operated device when the coin validation unit is received within the cavity of the coin-operated device.

2. A coin validation unit as claimed in claim 1, which is electrically operable and which has a connector that is electrically connectable to a complementary connector in the coin operated device.

3. A coin operated device which includes a coin validation unit as claimed in claim 1.

4. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 3, which has a body with a cavity in which the coin validation unit is received.

5. A coin operated device which includes a coin validation unit as claimed in claim 3, and which has a complementary connector to the connector of the coin validation unit.

6. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 5, which has a body with a cavity in which the coin validation unit is received.

9. A coin operated device as in one of claims 3-8, which is a parking meter.

10. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 9, which is a single bay parking meter.

11. A coin validation unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring configured to urge the clip formations outward from the housing.

14. A coin validation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buttons are dimensioned and configured to align with semi-spherical recesses of the coin-operated device when the coin validation unit is received within the cavity of the coin-operated device.

16. A coin validation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein two protruding bosses are located on the lower substantially vertical planar portion, and wherein the upper angled portion transitions to the lower planar portion via an undercut portion.

7. A coin operated device which includes

a body having a cavity in which a removable coin validation unit is receivable;

a pair of semi-spherical recesses disposed on either side of the cavity configured to provide access to the removable coin validation unit;

a removable coin validation unit in the cavity;

the coin validation unit having a housing comprising;

a front face having an upper angled portion including a coin entrance slot configured to receive coins, and a lower planar portion including an electrical connector;

a rear face disposed opposite the front face and including a planar surface having a left recess disposed on the left portion and a right recess disposed on the right portion wherein the left and right recesses are configured to accommodate left and right buttons, respectively;

a right plane having a planar surface with a left portion having a recess configured to accommodate the right button and a right clip formation disposed on the planar surface above the recess, the planar surface further comprising a trapezoidal and a rectangular depression;

a left plane disposed opposite the right plane having a planar surface with a right portion having a recess configured to accommodate the left button and a left clip formation disposed on the planar surface above the recess; and

wherein the left and right buttons are configured to actuate the left and right clip formations, respectively.

8. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 7, in which the coin validation unit is electrically operable and the coin validation unit and the body have complementary connectable connectors.

12. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a spring configured to urge the clip formations outward from the coin validation unit.

13. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the body includes recesses configured to receive and engage the clip formations when the coin validation unit is received in the cavity.

15. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the buttons of the coin validation unit are dimensioned and configured to align with the semi-spherical recesses of the coin operated device body when the coin validation unit is received within the cavity of the coin operated device.

17. A coin operated device as claimed in claim 7, wherein two protruding bosses are located on the lower substantially vertical planar portion, and wherein the upper angled portion transitions to the lower planar portion via an undercut portion.