Abstract:
A portable currency storage device for securing paper currency and the like against immediate access includes a cover and base slideably joined and locked together. A thumbwheel is provided to assist paper currency and the like into an internal compartment of the device, but is unable to withdraw the same. The internal compartment and its contents are accessible only by separating the cover from the base using the key provided for such.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION GROUP 
     This invention relates generally to safes and currency storage devices, and more particularly to portable currency holders accessible by a unique device quite unlike a common key. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The rise in popularity of casinos in the United States has highlighted that many recreational gamblers lack the discipline to retain a portion of their winnings while they continue to gamble. Since the long term odds favor the house, it is a fundamental rule of gambling that at least a portion of any winnings be retained and not be put at risk on subsequent wagers. But modern casinos are designed to maintain an atmosphere of gambling excitement, testing the resolve of most recreational gamblers and causing them to continue to risk their winnings, to the casino&#39;s long term advantage. 
     The present invention is directed toward a solution for that lack of discipline. Although currency storage devices for securing paper currency and the like against immediate access by its user are known, there is a need for a device portable enough to be carried discretely in a gambler&#39;s pocket, and that is accessible only by a special key, which ideally the gambler leaves at home or at least in a remote location. This disclosure allows a gambler to put a portion of his winnings (converted into currency) into a box where his jackpot is inaccessible. If he should encounter a subsequent losing streak he will be unable to access the winnings secured in the storage device until he returns home. 
     While the casino application is the most obvious one, the present invention is useful for securing paper currency and the like from others, as well as from the user. Travelers may use it while away from home to hide their cash from hotel chambermaids unaware of the contents of the device. Purse snatchers may discard it with a purloined purse for the same reason, giving the victim a chance at recovering her cash if the purse is found. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a portable device for holding paper currency is provided, comprising a base and a cover being moveable relative to one other and defining an interior compartment, a locking mechanism to prevent movement of said base relative to said cover, and escapement means for receiving paper currency and the like into said interior compartment. Separate from the currency holding device but necessary to non-destructively access its contents is a multi-faceted key comprising a body and projections therefrom adapted to disengage said locking mechanism of said currency storage device by depressing retractable pins of said locking mechanism, thus allowing said base and cover to move relative to each other and expose said interior compartment. 
     In the preferred embodiment described in detail below, the locking mechanism comprises retractable pins in the cover or base, and complementary holes in the other of said cover or base that receive the retractable pins when the cover and base are slideably engaged. The escapement means is a manual thumbwheel and an inlet ramp, each partially extending into a slot, said slot being in communication with both said interior compartment and the exterior of the device. 
     The thumbwheel and the inlet ramp act in concert to facilitate putting paper currency into the interior compartment through the slot but inhibiting its removal therethrough. The multi-faceted key of the preferred embodiment comprises a body equipped with fixed pins extending therefrom and so positioned as to be received through the holes of the cover to simultaneously urge the retractable pins of the base toward a retracted position, allowing the base and the cover to be slideably disengaged. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be readily appreciated and better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the portable currency storage device. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cover and base of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 showing its interior. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a key used to access the preferred embodiment of the portable currency storage device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention, depicted in perspective view at FIG.  1  and designated generally as  20 , comprises a cover  22  having a cover top surface  24 , a cover front surface  26 , and projecting tabs  28 . A base  30  similarly has a base bottom surface  32 , a base front surface  34 , and projecting tabs  36 . The cover and base projecting tabs,  28  and  36  respectively, are complementary to each other, and interlock to enable the cover  24  and the base  30  to slideably engage each other. When so engaged, the cover and base define an interior compartment shown particularly in FIG.  2  and described below. The interior compartment is designed to accommodate folded currency so that the currency storage device may be discretely carried in a pocket. 
     The cover  22  and the base  30  define a slot  38  in communication with the interior compartment and the exterior of the currency storage device. Projecting partially through the cover top surface  24  is a thumbwheel  40  for drawing and assisting paper currency into an interior compartment of the portable currency storage device. The cover also defines holes  42  extending therethrough for a purpose to be described below. 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the cover  22  and base  30 , wherein the interior compartment, shown generally at  44 , is defined by the base top surface  46 , the sidewalls  48 , and the cover bottom surface  50 . Along the tops of the sidewalls are a plurality of retractable pins  52  that are biased to the extended position (as shown), said retractable pins being aligned with the holes  42  when said cover  22  and said base  30  are slideably engaged. When the cover  22  and the base  30  are fully engaged so that the front surfaces  26  and  34  are flush, the bias of the retractable pins  52  causes them to extend into the holes  42 , thus preventing the cover  22  and the base  30  from being slideably disengaged except when said pins  52  are retracted. This retraction is done by a key  54 , described below and shown in FIG.  4 . 
     The cover  22  is shown in isolation at FIG. 3, in a position inverted from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 to particularly expose the interior of said cover  22 . The interior compartment is shown generally at  44 . The thumbwheel  40  projects partially into the slot  38 . Between the thumbwheel  40  and the interior compartment  44  is an inlet ramp  56  having an inclined segment  58  adjacent to said thumbwheel  40 . Paper currency fed through the slot  38  passes over the thumbwheel  40  and over the inlet ramp  56  towards the interior compartment  44 . The inlet ramp  56  progressively restricts the size of the slot  38  so that paper currency may pass with relative ease toward the interior compartment. However, once inside the interior compartment  44 , folded currency will tend to expand, and the absence of an inclined segment adjacent to the interior compartment  44  serves to prevent said currency from passing out of the interior compartment  44  through the slot  38 . 
     A key  54  is provided as in FIG. 4, comprising a body  60  and a series of fixed pins  62  projecting therefrom. Operation of the key  54  is best understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 together, recognizing that FIG. 4 is oriented to expose the operable surface and must be mentally inverted to properly align with the depiction of FIG.  2 . The fixed pins  62  are oriented to simultaneously project into each of the holes  42  of the cover  22  when the body  60  is place flush against the cover top surface  24 . Assuming the holes  42  have a depth d, the fixed pins  62  project from the body  60  a similar length d, such that when the key  54  is placed against the cover top surface  24 , each fixed pin  62  depresses one retractable pin  52 . Since the depth of the holes  42  substantially equals the length that the fixed pins  62  extend from the body  60 , the retractable pins  52  are retracted enough to allow the cover  22  and base  30  to be slideably disengaged. 
     FIG. 4 shows an optional raised lip  64  on three sides of the body  60 . This raised lip  64  serves dual purposes. First, it aids in aligning the fixed pins  62  of the key  54  with the holes  42  of the cover  22 , by partially enveloping three sides of the cover  22 . Second, it protects the fixed pins  62  from being inadvertently bent, because the raised lip  64  extends slightly higher than the length d of the fixed pins  62 . 
     The preferred embodiment described above employs an aluminum cover, base, and key, with steel retractable pins. The above embodiment is illustrative rather than exhaustive. Various substitutions of components described herein will be obvious to skilled artisans in light of the above teaching, such as employing high impact plastic for several component parts, substituting an alternative locking mechanism for the retractable pin/hole arrangement, or employing a battery driven thumbwheel that may or may or penetrate the cover top surface. The preferred embodiment employs cylindrical shaped projections as the pins, but the term ‘pins’ as used herein includes projections having various cross sections (i.e. square, rectangular, ocatagonal, etc.). The scope of the following claims encompass such modifications and variations in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.