Patent ID: 6666317
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A coin slide adapted to be secured to a vending machine for authorizing activation of the vending machine upon receipt of a predetermined plurality of smaller denomination coins of predetermined size and value or a larger denomination coin of predetermined size and value in lieu of the plurality of smaller denomination coins, the coin slide comprising:a body adapted to be connected to the vending machine, the body having a slide passageway; a slide moveable along the slide passageway of the body between a forward coin accepting position and a rearward vending position, the slide having a plurality of smaller denomination coin receiving openings configured to receive smaller denomination coins and a larger denomination coin receiving opening configured to accept a larger denomination coin; a plurality of small denomination coin levers connected to the body and configured and positioned to be moved by smaller denomination coins positioned in the smaller denomination coin receiving opening of the slide as the slide is moved toward the vending position from the coin receiving position from a slide catch position to a slide release position, in the slide catch position at least one of the small denomination coin levers engages the slide so as to prevent the slide from passing to the vending position while in the slide release position each of the small denomination coin levers are positioned to permit the slide to pass to the vending position; and a large denomination coin lever connected to the body and configured and positioned to be moved by a larger denomination coin positioned in the large denomination coin receiving opening of the slide as the slide is moved toward the vending position from the coin receiving position from a slide catch position to a slide release position, in the slide catch position of the large denomination coin lever at least one of the small denomination coin levers engages the slide so as to prevent the slide from passing to the vending position while in the slide release position of the large denomination coin lever the large denomination coin lever communicates with each of the small denomination coin levers causing each of the small denomination coin levers to be positioned to permit the slide to pass to the vending position as if the plurality of smaller denomination coins had been inserted into the smaller denomination coin openings of the slide such that the slide is permitted to be moved from the coin receiving position to the vending position by inserting the larger denomination coin into the slide in lieu of the plurality of smaller denomination coins.