Abstract:
A maze-type coin bank includes a housing having a wall, an inlet opening and an exit door. A lock is mounted to one of the wall and the exit door for selectively opening the exit door. A three-dimensional track construction is held in the housing and includes a plurality of sections extending along different axes which accommodate an associated coin for movement along the track construction. The track construction includes a coin entrance portion communicating with the inlet opening and a maze solution portion. Solving the maze involves placing a coin in the maze solution portion of the track construction in order to facilitate the opening of the exit door.

Description:
This application claims priority from the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/604,302 filed on Feb. 28, 2012, the subject matter of which is incorporated hereinto in its entirety. 
    
    
     The present disclosure relates to banks, and more particularly to coin banks which have a multiplicity of maze-type coin paths connecting a coin inlet to a maze solution portion if successful and to a coin storage reservoir if unsuccessful. The disclosure also relates to a puzzle where players maneuver the coin on various paths, providing a three dimensional experience. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There have been a variety of banks designed to provide an extended viewable path along which coins travel before reaching a storage reservoir. Also known are puzzles in which players maneuver a marble or the like object in three dimensional space to guide the marble along a chosen path before the marble reaches its destination. However, it would be advantageous to provide a three-dimensional maze-type coin bank in which multiple viewable coin paths extend in three-dimensional space and connect a coin inlet to at least one of a coin storage reservoir and a coin receiving member. It would also be desirable to allow opening of the coin storage reservoir only if the player successfully maneuvers the coin to the coin receiving member in order to solve the puzzle. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a maze-type coin bank comprising a housing including a wall, an inlet opening and an exit door. A lock is mounted to one of the wall and the exit door for selectively opening the exit door. A three-dimensional track construction is held in the housing. It includes a plurality of sections extending along different axes, which accommodate an associated coin for movement along the track construction. The track construction includes a coin entrance portion communicating with the inlet opening and a maze solution portion. Solving the maze involves placing a coin in the maze solution portion of the track construction in order to facilitate an opening of the exit door. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a maze-type coin bank comprises a housing, including a coin entrance opening and a door mounted to the housing. A coin storage area is defined in the door or between the housing and the door. A lock is mounted to one of the door and the housing. A coin track is accommodated in the housing. The coin track includes a plurality of sections extending along different axes, a coin entrance portion and a maze solving portion. An associated coin is movable along the coin track from the coin entrance portion to the maze solving portion in order to facilitate an actuation of the lock. 
     A method is provided for minimizing a curvature of a coin track on which coins can travel. The method comprises providing a coin track including a base wall and a pair of opposed side walls and determining a diameter of the largest diameter coin meant to be handled on the coin track. A desired curvature of the coin track is then determined. A width of the base wall of the track or a height of one of the opposed side walls of the track is adjusted in order to accommodate the largest diameter coin meant to be handled on the coin track having the desired curvature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, an embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a coin bank puzzle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of an outer spherical housing portion of the coin bank puzzle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective view of a track portion of the coin bank puzzle of  FIG. 1 , the track portion being held within the outer spherical housing portion shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is side elevational view of the track portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view, partially broken away, of the coin bank puzzle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a bottom half of the coin bank puzzle housing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view, partially broken away, for clarity illustrating a coin which has just entered the maze of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic top plan view of a track section according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8B  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the track of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a schematic top plan view of a track section according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8D  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the track of  FIG. 8C ; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of a track section according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the track section of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIGS. 11 a -11 e    are cross-sectional views of selected portions of the track section of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the maze of  FIG. 5 , partially broken away for clarity, illustrating a coin adjacent a puzzle solving location of the maze; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of a lock mechanism of the puzzle of  FIG. 1  in a first position; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the lock mechanism of  FIG. 13  in a second position; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the lock mechanism of  FIG. 13  in a third position; and 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the maze of  FIG. 12  after the door has been opened because the puzzle has been solved. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the disclosure only and not for purposes of limiting same,  FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a maze-type coin bank according to the instant disclosure. The disclosed coin bank A ( FIG. 5 ) includes an outer shell or housing which, in this embodiment, comprises a hemispherical top half  10 . The top half includes an outwardly extending flange  12  located at the maximum diameter of the top half, defined at its open end. Several apertures  14  are provided in the flange  12 . Suitable fasteners  16  can extend through the apertures  14 . Depending from the flange  12  is an annular shoulder  18 . Cooperating with the top half  10  is a shell or housing bottom half  20  which can comprise another hemispherical housing member. The bottom half includes a flange  22  located at its upper open end. Bosses  24  are located on the flange. These cooperate with the openings  14  and fasteners  16  of the top half so that the fasteners are accommodated in suitable apertures defined in the bosses. The fasteners can be threaded, and can for example, include self-tapping screws. In this way, the top and bottom halves can be selectively assembled and secured to each other. A skirt  26  extends from adjacent an outer periphery of the flange  22 . In one embodiment, the skirt  26  encircles the shoulder  18  provided on the top half flange  12 . 
     A door  40  is pivotally connected to the bottom half  20  of the housing. In this embodiment, the door includes at least one pivot member, which can be termed a hinge section  42  and at least one catch member  44 . 
     Contained within the pair of hemispherical housing members  10  and  20  is a track construction. The track construction comprises a maze-type arrangement or labyrinth with multiple paths on which the coin can travel. One or more of these paths can lead to an exit or correct destination. Other paths can lead to dead ends, wrong turns, pitfalls or incorrect destinations. A three-dimensional track construction is provided so that a coin travelling down the track construction needs to be maneuvered along the multiple tracks by suitably manipulating, rotating or reorienting the housing. To solve the puzzle, the coin needs to remain on the selected coin path as the coin moves or travels from an inlet location to a puzzle solving location. 
     In one embodiment, the coin can roll on the track construction, such as in the design illustrated herein. In another embodiment, not shown, the coin could slide on a face down the track construction by suitably maneuvering the housing. Solving the puzzle requires a high level of dexterity to manipulate the coin through the track construction. The user has multiple choices of paths on which to move the coin in an attempt to solve the puzzle. Put another way, there are several paths or routes for the coin to travel in an attempt to reach the puzzle solving location. Manual dexterity is a requirement for solving the puzzle and for maneuvering the coin from the inlet location to the puzzle solving location. 
     If the puzzle is not solved, the coin will end up in a coin storage location. As will be discussed below, the coin storage location holds a reservoir of coins in the coin bank. The coin solving location will allow the reservoir to be accessed by the player of the puzzle, but only upon solving the puzzle or maze. The track construction includes a main track  50 , as well as a number of track sections, including an initial or first track section  70 , another track section  72  and still other track sections  74 - 86 . At least one movable coin transfer element  32  communicating with one or more track sections can also be provided. The track sections can be of differing shapes, sizes, lengths and configurations. It should be appreciated that the track sections can be connected to each other at a variety of locations along the length of a track section, as may be desired in order to design a particular track configuration for the maze. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 12 , the track construction also includes a coin entrance portion  92  that communicates with an inlet opening of the housing A, as well as a maze solution portion  94 . The maze solution portion communicates with a coin receptacle. 
     It should be appreciated that the track can have sections which are oriented generally perpendicular to each other. Alternatively, one or more track sections can be connected to each other at any given acute or obtuse angle as may be desirable for a particular maze configuration. 
     One or more of the track sections can be double sided. Such a construction adds visual interest to the maze and may perhaps lead a participant attempting to solve the maze down an incorrect path. Moreover, the frequent manipulations of the housing may ultimately lead to a coin being located on an opposite side of a track portion that has already been used. As mentioned, the track construction can further include a coin transfer element or moving member  32  which can communicate with track section  82 . In the disclosed embodiment, the coin transfer member pivots from one side of track section  82  to the other so that the coin can then travel via another track section such as  76  or  79  and eventually reach a coin receptacle, receiving member, or coin catcher  34 . The coin catcher  34  communicates with the track construction via the maze solution portion  94  of the track. The track construction allows a coin to move from a horizontal path to a vertical path and vice versa as several track sections have end portions that are oriented generally perpendicular to each other. The track construction runs in three-dimensions, obligating the player to maneuver the coin traveling down the track in an attempt to reach the maze solution portion. As mentioned, solving of the puzzle will require manual dexterity by the user. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , provided on the hemispherical top half  10  of the housing is a coin slot  100  allowing coins to enter the track construction. With reference now to  FIG. 3 , the coin slot cooperates with a guide  102  which is defined in the first track section  70 . Once the coin has entered track section  70 , it is then guided by the player so that the coin travels along the remaining track sections  72 - 86 , the transfer element  32 , as well as the main track section  50 . If the player has been successful in solving the maze, the coin eventually reaches the coin catcher  34 . Otherwise, if the coin leaves the track construction, the coin will fall onto the bottom wall  30 . 
     With reference now also to  FIG. 6 , the bottom half  20  of the housing, which in this embodiment is generally hemispherical in shape, includes a central opening  110  defined in the wall  30  through which coins can drop into a coin reservoir area that is defined between the wall  30  and the door  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the door  40  is bowl-shaped so as to hold the coins. Also provided is at least one aperture  112  spaced from the opening  110 . Selectively housed in the aperture  112  is a pivot member or element  42  of the door  40 . The pivot member  42  allows the door to selectively pivot in relation to the remainder of the housing of the coin bank puzzle. Also provided is a latch mechanism  120 . The latch mechanism includes a latch member  124  that cooperates with the catch member  44  so as to selectively lock the door  40  in place. 
     Held on a bottom wall  30  of the bottom half is the transfer element or coin spinner  32  and the coin receiving member or coin catcher  34 . Movably mounted to the bottom wall  30  is a push rod  36  which can be manually actuated. The push rod  36  can activate the lock mechanism when a coin correctly lands in the receiving member  34 . When that happens, the player can move the push rod  36  so as to actuate the latch mechanism  120 . When the rod is pushed, the latch  124  can be opened thereby allowing the door  40  to pivot away from the remainder of the housing bottom half  20 . This movement allows the coins, held in the coin storage compartment defined in the door, to be retrieved by the player. On the other hand, if the player is unsuccessful in landing the coin in the receiving member  34 , the coin will, instead, fall onto the bottom wall  30  and eventually slide through the opening  110  in the wall  30  and thence into the coin storage container defined by or in the door. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , illustrated is a coin B that has recently entered the coin bank A via the coin slot  100  and guide  102 . It is apparent that the coin B is immediately turned on its side, thus necessitating that the person playing the maze rotate the housing 90° in order to ensure that the coin does not fall off the track. It is also apparent that should the coin continue towards the left, it will enter another section of the track obligating the player to again rotate the housing in order to keep the coin on the track. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 12 , the coin B is there shown as approaching the coin receiving member  34 . In other words, the person playing the maze is close to solving the puzzle by depositing the coin B in the coin receiving member  34 . Due to the convoluted nature of the track between the entrance point of the maze, i.e., the coin slot  100 , and the location of the coin receiving member  34 , the person playing the maze needs to reorient the housing of the coin bank a number of times in order to keep the coin B on the track. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 13 , the latch mechanism  120  is there illustrated in detail. The latch mechanism includes a pair of latch members  124  which protrude from one side of a base  126 . The pair of latch members  124  cooperate with a pair of catch members  44 . In this embodiment, the catch members are located on the door  40  as is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The base is guided for sliding movement via guides  128 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , located in the coin receiving member or coin catcher  34  is a coin receiving slot  132  which is defined between the first and second end walls  134  and  136 . Disposed in the two end walls are first and second openings  138  and  140 . These can be aligned. Two side walls  142  and  144  connect the two end walls, thus forming a generally rectangular coin receiving member  34 . It is apparent from  FIG. 13  that a distal end of the push rod  36  can selectively extend through the aligned openings  138  and  140 . When this occurs, the latch mechanism is not moved. Put another way, a person cannot open the door  40  if there is not a coin held in the receiving member  34  because a distal end of the push rod  36  will simply move through the aligned openings  138  and  140 . One may push the push rod  36 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , but it will have no effect on the latch mechanism  120 , as long as there is no coin located in the receiving member  34 . 
     When a coin does land in the receiving member  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the push rod  36  can be maneuvered so as to move the latch mechanism  120 . The reason for this is that the distal end of the push rod will now contact the coin held in the coin receiving slot  132  of the receiving member  34 . Any further movement of the push rod  36  will move the latch mechanism itself from the position shown in  FIG. 14 , i.e., the closed position, to the position shown in  FIG. 15 , i.e., the open position. When in the closed position, the latches  124  engage the catch members  44 . In contrast, in the open position shown in  FIG. 15 , the latches  124  are spaced from the catches  44  thereby enabling the door  40  to pivot away from the housing bottom half  20  as shown in  FIG. 16 . Once the door  40  is opened, coins B held in the coin storage area defined between the door  40  and the bottom wall  30  or held in the bowl-shaped door can be accessed and retrieved. It should be appreciated that a single latch and catch assembly could be provided instead of multiple latches and catches as is illustrated in the embodiment disclosed. 
     A first biasing member such as a spring  150  biases the latch mechanism  120  towards the closed position as is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The push rod acts against the bias of the first spring  150 . In order to control the movement of the push rod, a guide  156  is provided for it. In this embodiment, the guide is mounted to the bottom wall  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Biasing the push rod to a first end position is a second biasing member such as a spring  160 . Thus, the push rod  36  needs to be urged against the bias of the second spring  160  in order to move it towards the receiving member  34 . 
     The latch mechanism  120  has a first end position which is illustrated in  FIG. 13 , such that the latches  124  engage the catch members  44 . A second end position of the latch mechanism  120  is defined by a stop  152  illustrated in  FIG. 14 . A second end position of the push rod is defined by a stop  162 . When the stop  162  contacts the guide  156  as shown in  FIG. 14 , the spring  170  cannot urge the push rod any further out of the housing. 
     In this embodiment, the spring  160  is trapped between an enlarged diameter section  168  of the push rod and the guide  156 . The spring encircles a reduced diameter section  170  of the push rod. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 8A-8D , there are limits on the design of the track, since it must accommodate a movement of a coin B, B′ such as by rolling. To this end, the first and second side walls  192  and  194  of the track  190  need to be spaced apart far enough that the largest diameter coin meant to be used in the maze is accommodated for movement along the base wall  196  such as by rolling down the track and is not hampered in its rolling motion by either side wall of the track because the two walls of the track are too close to each other, especially in a curved portion of the track. With reference now to  FIG. 8B , it can be seen that the coin B is tilted when it travels on the track, with the tilt of the coin being to the extent permitted by the track width defined between the track side walls  192  and  194  and the height of the side walls. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8C , another track according to the current disclosure is there illustrated. It can be seen that this track  190 ′ is wider than is the track  190 . More particularly, a pair of side walls  192 ′ and  194 ′ are spaced further apart in this embodiment, such that a base wall  196 ′ is wider. Accordingly, a coin B′ has an easier time of rolling along the track. Due to the greater spacing of the side walls from each other, the coin B′ assumes a more tilted configuration than does the coin B illustrated in  FIG. 8B . It should be appreciated that the tightness of track curvature is limited by the diameter of the largest coin used in the play of the maze. 
     A change in the height of the side walls and a change in the distance between the side walls impacts the ability of coins to move along the track. The present disclosure teaches that one is able to keep a coin of a given diameter in play on the track when tightening a curve of the track by at the same time widening the distance between the two side walls or by making the side walls higher so that the coin stands more upright and rolls on edge, or a combination of the two. By changing either or both of these dimensions, one is able to control the movement of the coin. 
     Thus, one can determine a minimum curvature of a coin track on which coins can travel. First, one needs to determine the diameter of the largest diameter coin which is meant to be handled on the coin track. Then, one needs to adjust at least one of the width of the base wall of the track and a height of at least one of the pair of opposed side walls of the track. In this way, the minimum curvature that a coin track can take while still accommodating a given diameter of coin can be determined. Minimizing the radius needed for curving tracks is advantageous in order to fit curving tracks into housings that are not overly large, which could negatively impact the marketability of a maze-type coin bank. In other words, smaller size housings are desirable and difficult to achieve. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 9 , a track section  200  is there illustrated. The track section includes first and second side walls  202  and  204 , as well as a base wall  206  (see  FIG. 10 ). It is apparent from  FIG. 9 , as well as the cross-sections of  FIGS. 11A-11E , that the two sidewalls  202  and  204  of the track can be of varying heights so that along one section of the track the first side wall  202  is higher than is the second side wall, as shown in  FIG. 11B , whereas in another section of the track, the second side wall  204  is higher than is the first side wall, as shown in  FIG. 11D . The track  200  can also include a first end wall  212 , extending from which are one or more clips  214 , and a second end wall  216 , extending from which are one or more clips  218 . In this way, the track sections can be joined to each other. Also located on the track can be a tab section  222  which enables the track to be fastened to adjacent components of the coin bank. An enlarged section  226  can also be provided on the track. The enlarged section can be used to connect the track section  200  to another section of track in a generally perpendicular orientation to the track section  200 . 
     While the track elements disclosed herein can be of a generally constant width, that is not a requirement. In other words, a width of the track can vary along the length of the track, if so desired. The track can have a width ranging, in one embodiment, between 0.180 and 0.220 inches. Of course, depending on the type of coin being handled in the maze, the width of the track may need to be adjusted in order to accommodate particularly thick or thin coins meant to be handled by the maze. What is necessary is that the track base wall have a width large enough to accommodate the thickest coin which is capable of being inserted into the maze. 
     Disclosed has been a coin bank puzzle or maze where players maneuver a coin on one of several tracks or paths inside a housing that can be transparent. In one embodiment, the housing can be in the form of a regular sphere. However, in other embodiments, the housing can be in the form of a generally spherical object made up of a multiplicity of planar hexagonal and pentagonal sections, such as a soccer ball. Other such configurations are also possible. So, too, are non-spherical configurations, such as cylinders, rectangles, cubes and the like. A three-dimensional experience is provided as the players need to turn, rotate and pivot the housing in order to keep or maintain a coin, entering the coin bank puzzle through the coin slot  100 , on one of the several track sections  50  and  70 - 86  contained therein. Players work with gravity and rotate and/or reorient the puzzle in order to guide the coin along the track. Success is achieved when the coin lands in the coin receiver  34 . When it does, movement of the push rod  36  can open the door  40  by separation of the latch from the catch. Opening the door allows coins held in the coin container at the base of the coin bank puzzle to be retrieved. However, if the coin departs the track construction, it will eventually drop onto the bottom wall  30  and can then be slid into and through the opening  110  in the bottom wall so as to fall into the coin holder or storage area. If this occurs, another coin will need to be fed into slot  100  in order to try to solve the three dimensional puzzle or maze and access the coin storage area. 
     The serpentine maze-type track construction illustrated herein is composed of a variety of track segments of varying shapes, sizes and lengths, as is evident from  FIG. 1 . A lengthy maze-like track construction is provided with numerous options which allow variations in the play of the maze or puzzle. The track configuration set forth and illustrated herein shows one particular example of a track construction, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that numerous other track configurations could be devised with a variety of shapes for the several track sections. For example, an easier track layout could be designed for a child&#39;s version of the puzzle while a more difficult track layout could be designed for expert players. Disclosed has been a maze or labyrinth-type coin bank which requires manual dexterity of the user along with puzzle solving skills. Further, the maze-type coin bank combines play value with money saving or coin saving opportunities. 
     The disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.