Spring-loaded slot door latching bar

With the advent of this new and unique spring-loaded slot door latching bar the individuals involved in the operation of removing the contents of the moneyboxes and the like will have at their disposal a device that by inserting and pushing down on the bar handgrip, the latching mechanism will be set and then, by turning the three separate keys the latches will be relocated in place holding the door mechanism. This rapid and safe operation will easily speed up the operation and eliminate a lot of skinned knuckles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of moneyboxes used at gaming tables or other facilities where an individual is required to insert currency into one or more compartments within a box unit whereby the currency cannot be retrieved without removing the box and unlocking the compartments to remove the contents. This invention provides a spring-loaded slot door latching bar whereby an individual, after removing the contents, can easily re-latch the spring-loaded door mechanisms by simply pushing straight down on the unique moneybox spring-loaded slot door-latching bar and turning the latching mechanism keys into their respective locked positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At gaming tables and the like, when a player desires to purchase playing chips, they give the dealer currency, normally bills to pay for the chips. The bills are then placed over a slot in a concealed container and then the dealer uses a blade tool to insert the bill through a slot into the container, hereinafter referred to as the “moneybox.” The moneybox typically has three compartments with a slot formed in each compartment for each of the three shifts of the working day. At the start of the first shift, the first dealer releases the first slot door by turning the first dealer key on the first latching mechanism. When the shift change takes place, the second dealer releases the second slot door by turning the second dealer key on the second latching mechanism. The third dealer performs the same task of turning the third dealer key to open the third slot door. At the end of the third shift a shift supervisor replaces the moneybox and the full moneybox is taken to a safe room to be emptied. To empty the moneybox it must be turned up side down to reveal three separate doors, each door having separate locking mechanisms which may be unlocked using a single universal or “supervisor” key. After the compartments have been emptied the slot doors must be re-latched prior to re-use. The act of latching the mechanism has in the past required that an individual first insert their hand down into the central compartment, then push a pressure plate on the spring-loaded door mechanism while at the same time turning the three dealer keys so as to latch the mechanism into position. The inside of these central compartments are comprised of sheared metal with some relatively sharp edges. Further, the spring-loaded mechanism is at the opposite end of the compartment from the door and at a difficult angle to get enough leverage on to conveniently push the pressure plate thereby latching the mechanism.

Thus this invention describes a new and unique moneybox spring-loaded slot door-latching bar that simplifies the arduous task of latching the spring-loaded slot doors on this style of moneyboxes or other similar containers using similar spring-loaded latching mechanisms where currency or other similar material have been stored.

REFERENCES CITED

U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,375 B1 of Eric George Heil et al. describes a demolition-leverage tool including a straight tube or pipe handle connecting at the base of the tube or pipe to a prying member attached at a right angle to the handle, a pivot bar attached at the base of the pipe handle where it intersects with the prying bar, disposed crosswise thereof, is a pivot bar being in operative juxtaposition to the prying member to serve as an off-center pivot point in relation to the prying member when a force is applied to the handle portion of the tool. The demolition-leverage tool also has a detachable pad that connects to the pivot point of the tool, therefore allowing the tool not to sink into soft earth while the prying bar in underneath an object and sufficient force is applied to the handle as to raise the item underneath the prying bar.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,389 of Elmer D. Scherrinsky teaches a setting tool for animal traps having a pair of jaws acted on by spring-loaded actuating levers, in which the setting tool includes a trap orienting base, a pair of cam arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected together on the base and extending outwardly therefrom, a pair of cam hook members rigidly connected to the outer ends of the cam arms to extend upwardly in an angular relationship and having actuating lever engaging means on the upper end thereof, and a pair of handles rigidly connected to the cam arms intermediate to the ends thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,488 of Arthur Schellas discloses an improved, versatile, lever bar, which may be used as a crowbar, pry bar, sledgehammer, pickax, wedge, etc. The lever bar has a long handle with a thick base plate chamfered at one end and secured perpendicular to the axis of the handle at one end thereof. A thick footplate has a sharp end from which diverge edges defining an acute angle for entering under or behind boards to be pried. A massive, flat, triangular or trapezoidal anvil plate is secured to the base plate and handle. The base plate and anvil plate can serve as hammerheads while the tool is used as sledgehammer. The base plate and footplate can serve as splitting wedges and as heads of a pickax.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,945 of Jay A. Hearn et al. additionally describes a pry bar wedge member adapted for use in the removal of forms, such as wooden forms from poured concrete, or the like. The wedge member includes a striking surface thereon for aiding in forcing the member between the form and the poured and hardened concrete, and also includes ratchet means adapted for co-action with a breaker bar lever, for applying leverage force to the wedge member in the operation of prying the forms loose from the poured concrete. An advantage of the pry bar wedge member is that it is useable in restricted space environments so that leverage force can be effectively applied even though the applicable space available is restricted.

Although these patents all describe a tool that uses a bar, lever and/or cam to perform a task, they have no similarities to the spring-loaded slot door latching bar and in no way could it be adapted to perform the same or similar tasks as the present invention.

Consequently there exists a need for an apparatus, which easily will perform the task of latching the spring-loaded door mechanisms on moneyboxes and like storage containers without forcing the users hand or arm down into the compartments with the risk of possible injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of a spring-loaded slot door latching bar comprised of a handgrip on one end of a central bar member with a pivot pin located in the opposite end whereby a pressure arm and an engagement arm pivot in unison when the spring-loaded slot door latching bar is pushed in a downward direction against the spring-loaded door mechanism and the inside wall section of the moneybox. The pressure arm is composed of a straight section and an angled portion. The pressure arm has a bent tab adjacent to the pivot pin limiting the pivoting travel and keeping the pressure arm within the operational position. The engagement arm has a straight section with a relieved area that has a rounded distal end. The relieved area of the pressure arm maintains clearance for the rounded distal end to pass under the latching members and the latching mechanisms on the spring loaded door mechanism of a moneybox or similar container. The rounded distal end may be coated with a smooth material or covered with a Teflon cap to produce a smooth wearing surface and still remain within the scope of this patent. The engagement arm has a bent tab adjacent to the pivot pin limiting the pivoting travel and keeping the engagement arm within the operational position. By the introduction of the bent tabs on the spring-loaded slot door-latching bar, the device is maintained in a vertical position when placed into a moneybox or similar container. When the spring-loaded slot door latching bar is pushed in a downward direction there is enough spacing in the bent tabs, and enough mechanical advantage to allow the pressure arm and the engagement arm to easily spread in a scissor-like action to successfully compress the springs in the spring-loaded door mechanism.

The object of this invention is to create a means of latching a spring-loaded mechanism in a hard-to-reach area such as the bottom of a compartment.

Another object of this invention is to protect a user from injuring his or her hand or arm by contact with the sharp metal edges of a confined compartment space.

Yet another object of this invention is to perform the task of latching the spring-loaded door mechanism simply and easily by pushing down on the spring-loaded slot door-latching bar.

A further object of this invention is to speed up the time involved to change over the moneyboxes at establishments using these types of devices.

A final object of this invention is to refine and improve the operation and use of containers using these spring-loaded locking mechanisms.

These together with other objects and advantages, which become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen inFIG. 1a perspective view of the spring-loaded slot door latching bar or tool10comprised of a handgrip12and a central bar member14. At the distal end of the central bar member14is located a pivot pin16whereby a pressure arm18and an engagement arm20pivot in unison when the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10is pushed in a downward direction. The pressure arm18is composed of a pressure arm straight section22with an angled portion24. The pressure arm18has a bent tab26adjacent to the pivot pin16limiting the pivoting travel and keeping the pressure arm18within the operational position. The engagement arm20has an engagement arm straight section28with a relieved area30that has a rounded distal end32. The rounded distal end32may be coated with a smooth material or covered with a Teflon cap to produce a smooth wearing surface and still remain within the scope of this patent. The engagement arm20has a bent tab34adjacent to the pivot pin16limiting the pivoting travel and keeping the engagement arm20within the operational position. Without the bent tabs26and34the pressure arm and the engagement arm20would swing in a random fashion. By the introduction of the bent tabs26and34on the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10, the device is maintained in a vertical position when placed into a moneybox36or similar container. When the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10is pushed in a downward direction there is enough spacing in the bent tabs26and34to allow the pressure arm18and the engagement arm20to spread in a scissor-like action to successfully compress the springs in the spring-loaded door mechanism38.

FIG. 2depicts an inverted moneybox36with the sides broken away to reveal the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10within the center compartment40of the moneybox36prior to activation against the pressure plate42on the spring-loaded door mechanism38. The engagement arm20of the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10is shown with the rounded distal end32against the pressure plate42adjacent to the three latching mechanisms44,46and48with the latching members50,52and54in the unlatched position. Also displayed is the angle portion24of the pressure arm18resting against the inside wall section56. The spring loaded door mechanism38covers the slots58in the top of the moneybox36where the currency is deposited.

The action of the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10is further clarified inFIG. 3where the inverted moneybox36is shown with the sides broken away to reveal the spring-loaded slot door-latching bar10after being activated by pressing in the downward direction indicated by arrow60.FIG. 3also displays the three latching mechanisms44,46and48with the latching members50,52and54rotated down to restrain the pressure plate42on the spring-loaded door mechanism38. When the spring-loaded slot door latching bar10is pressed as shown by the downward direction arrow60the pressure arm18exerts a pressure against the inside wall section56which intern transfers that pressure back to the engagement arm20in a scissor-like action to push the pressure plate42into the latching position. With the pressure plate42in the latching position, the latching members50,52and54of the latching mechanisms44,46and48are rotated, by turning the mechanism keys on the exterior of the moneybox36. The relieved area30on the pressure arm18maintains clearance for the rounded distal end32to pass under the latching members50,52and54and the latching mechanisms44,46, and48.

Other applications, variations and ramifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure, which are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.