Coin box

• US 8,540,300 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Merkel, Nicholas Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US13/435,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.9, 296/37.12, 296/37.13, 296/37.8, 312/321.5, 312/328, 16/82
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/12 of receptacles for cigarettes or the like

Abstract

A coin box assembly having an anti jamming feature for a vehicle. The coin box assembly can have a coin box with a back wall with a top end, a front wall, and a pair of side walls extending between the back wall and the front wall. The coin box assembly can also have a cover that encloses the coin box when box is in a closed position. The back wall is dimensioned such that the top end is a predefined distance from the cover, the predefined distance providing a clearance. The clearance allows the coin box to pivot between the closed position and an open position, and yet prevents a small object such as a coin from being located between the back wall top end and the cover and thereby preventing the coin box from pivoting.

Claims

1. A coin box assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a coin box having a back wall having a top end, a front wall, a back side, and a pair of side walls extending between said back wall and said front wall;

a catch flange oriented at an acute angle to said back wall, said catch flange having a catch tab and at least one aperture between said back side and said catch tab;

a cover having a top wall with a stop face;

said catch flange dimensioned such that said catch tab contacts said stop face when said coin box pivots into said open position;

said top end of said back wall spaced apart from said cover a predefined distance to provide a clearance, said clearance allowing said coin box to pivot between a closed position and an open position, said clearance also preventing a coin from fitting between said top end and said cover when said coin box is in said closed position;

said at least one aperture dimensioned for an injection molding die to fit therethrough and allow a two-piece die to be used to manufacture said coin box without die lock.

2. The coin box assembly of claim 1, wherein said back wall, said front wall and said pair of side walls provide a compartment with an opening.

3. The coin box assembly of claim 2, wherein said top wall of said cover has a bottom surface over said opening that encloses said compartment when said coin box is in said closed position.

4. The coin box assembly of claim 3, wherein said opening pivots out from under said bottom surface when said coin box pivots from said closed position to said open position.

5. The coin box assembly of claim 1, wherein said catch flange and said back wall form a y-shaped member when viewed from a side view.

6. The coin box assembly of claim 5, further comprising a first support wall extending normal to and between said back side of said back wall and said catch flange.

7. The coin box assembly of claim 6, wherein said catch flange has a bottom end spaced apart from a back side of said back wall.

8. The coin box assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one aperture is located between said back side of said back wall and said bottom end of said catch flange.

9. The coin box assembly of claim 8, further comprising a second support wall extending normal to and between said back side of said back wall and said catch flange, said second support wall spaced apart from said first support wall.

10. The coin box assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one aperture is located between said first support wall and said second support wall.

11. The coin box assembly of claim 10, further comprising a third support wall extending normal to and between said back side of said back wall and said catch flange, said third support wall located between and spaced apart from said first support wall and said second support wall.

12. The coin box assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one aperture is a first aperture and a second aperture, said first aperture located between said first support wall and said third support wall, said second aperture located between said second support wall and said third support wall.

13. The coin box assembly of claim 12, wherein said catch flange has a bottom end bounding said first aperture and said second aperture.

14. The coin box assembly of claim 13, wherein said bottom end has a stiffening ridge extending at an angle from said catch flange.

15. The coin box assembly of claim 14, wherein said catch flange has a top end and said catch tab extends beyond said top end.

16. The coin box assembly of claim 15, wherein said top wall has a channel, said catch tab located at least partially within said channel.

17. The coin box assembly of claim 16, wherein said channel has a front end with said stop face and a back end, said catch tab contacting said stop face when said coin box is in said open position.

18. The coin box assembly of claim 17, wherein said channel has a channel aperture between said front end and said back end.

19. The coin box assembly of claim 15, wherein said catch flange has three spaced apart catch tabs and said top wall has three spaced apart channels with each of said three spaced apart catch tabs located at least partially within one of said three spaced apart channels.

20. The coin box assembly of claim 19, wherein each of said three spaced apart channels has a channel aperture located between a front end and a back end, each of said front ends having with a stop face and a ledge overhanging said stop face and extending into said channel aperture.