Abstract:
A currency/credit card receiving unit is attachable to a vending machine or amusement device with first and second spaced apart flanges. None of the flanges is fixed relative to the unit. The other flange is moveable and is attachable to the unit in a secure region to clamp the unit to the respective vending machine or amusement device. With this configuration all of the retaining fasteners are located in a secure closed region.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/614,603 filed Sep. 30, 2004 and entitled “Unitary Coin/Credit Card Unit”. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention pertains to coin doors for vending devices or amusement devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to coin doors that provide a higher degree of security for the contents thereof.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Coin door assemblies are known for use on coin-operated machines. These include vending machines, amusement devices such as coin operated arcade games and the like.  
         [0004]     Security is always an important issue since such units are either associated with or include coin and/or bill receiving vaults. In this regard it has been known to incorporate heavy protruding bars or hasps and padlocks known to extend across known doors for added security.  
         [0005]     Given the importance of keeping such units secure, there is continuing need for improved structures which resist tampering, prying or the like in an attempt to obtain access to the vault. Preferably a higher level of security could be provided without detracting from the appearance of the respective vending machine or amusement device. Further, it would be desirable to be able to readily remove a defective unit, notwithstanding any structure which promotes and improves security, for maintenance purposes. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a credit establishing unit in accordance with the invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top elevational view of unit of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view with a vault illustrated in  FIG. 1  removed;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the unit of  FIG. 1  with an exterior security door removed;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the unit of  FIG. 1  with an interior security door opened;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view, in section, of the unit of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the sectional view of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a frame in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the frame of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.  
         [0016]     A secure coin door incorporates a generally rectangular frame which carries an interior and an exterior security door. A vault is removably coupled to the frame as well as locking members for locking the unit to a cabinet of a vending machine or amusement device. The locking members can only be accessed when both security doors have been opened.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  are overall views of a unit  10  in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 1  is an isometric view of unit  10  illustrating details of the front thereof as would be seen by a user of the unit or an associated amusement device or vending device.  FIG. 2  is a top elevational view of the unit  10 .  FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the unit  10  with an exterior cover or vault  12  removed to illustrate various of the details thereof.  
         [0018]     The unit  10  includes a generally rectangular, external frame  16  which is removably coupled to the vault  12 . An exterior security door  18  is pivotally attached to the frame  16  and recessed therein in a region  16 e bounded by the four sides  16   a  . . .  16   d  of the frame  16 .  
         [0019]     Since exterior security door  18  has been recessed within opening  16   e  of the frame  16  it is very difficult to pry open. Door  18  eliminates any need for exterior protruding bars, or hasps and padlocks which have been used in the prior art to secure coin doors or credit establishing units on vending machines or amusement devices.  
         [0020]     The exterior door  18  includes a variety of cutouts or openings through which extend a card reader  22 , a coin receiving mechanism  24 , a coin return  24 a, a bill receiving mechanism  26 , a lock  28  illustrated as an exemplary T-handle lock. An individual wishing to establish a credit with associated vending machine or amusement device can use a card with a magnetic strip, such as credit or debit card, coins or bills all of which are accepted by the unit  10 . Alternately, an identification card can be inserted into and read by reader  22 .  
         [0021]     As discussed in more detail subsequently, the unit  10  is clamped or attached to a cabinet C of the associated vending machine or amusement device by a combination of frame sides  16   a ,  16   c  and slidable assembly brackets  32   a  and  32   b , best seen in  FIG. 3 . Cabinet C has an opening O formed therein. The opening O is sized so that the unit  10  will substantially slide into the opening O until the sides  16   a  . . .  16   d  of frame  16  contact bounding regions C 1  of the cabinet C which stop further travel of the unit  10  into the opening O. The assembly brackets is  32   a, b  can then be moved into a locking position, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , to clamp the unit  10  securely to the cabinet C.  
         [0022]     The brackets  32   a,b  incorporate an angle  32   c  in a range of 90-95 degrees. The preferred angle is on the order of 92 degrees to clamp unit  10  to cabinet C with an increased level of force. In addition, the value of angle  32   c , in excess of ninety degrees, takes into account and minimizes any effects due to variations or tolerances in the thickness of the respective cabinet C.  
         [0023]     It will be understood that the cabinet C can house any desired variety of vending machine, amusement device or the like all without limitation. Unit  10  is usable with any device which requires the establishment of a pre-activity or pre-purchase credit.  
         [0024]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the vault  12  includes a slot  12   a  which receives a respective bracket  32   a . A similar slot  12   b  can be positioned for receipt of assembly bracket  32   b . With this configuration when the brackets  32   a, b  are extended to lock the unit  10  to the respective cabinet C, the vault  12  is simultaneously locked thereto and cannot be removed from the interior of the cabinet C. Rather, as discussed below, the vault  12  can only be released from within the unit  10 . This is particularly advantageous in that it provides a high degree of security for the funds which may have accumulated in the unit  10  over a period of time.  
         [0025]     It will also be understood that the security of the proceeds in the unit can be further increased by, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , providing an expansion C 2  (illustrated in phantom) to cabinet C such that the assembly brackets  32   a,b  extend into a slot therebetween. While  FIG. 3  illustrates the unit  10  in the absence of vault  12  it will be understood that the extension C 2  of cabinet C will overlie, in part, a portion of vault  12  adjacent to the assembly brackets  32   a,b  thereby making it even more difficult to remove the vault  12  from the unit  10 .  
         [0026]     Subsequent to unlocking the lock  28  and opening the door  18  an inner door  38  is exposed. The inner door  38  is also bounded by the four sides of the frame  16 , in the opening  16 e, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The interior door  38  is locked closed by a second lock  40  which can only be opened with a second, different key. Hence, two different levels of security can be provided.  
         [0027]     In one level, a key can be provided for the lock  28  so as to open door  18 . This can then make available for maintenance or operational purposes yet another key on hook  42   a  which could be used to provide access to other areas of cabinet C. An electrically actuated button or buttons, generally indicated at  42   b  could be provided for maintenance purposes. Finally, one or more meters  42   c  could be provided for recording machine or device cycles all without limitation.  
         [0028]     A second level of security is provided by door  38  and lock  40 . Thus, the ability to conduct maintenance in cabinet C can be separated from access to accumulated cash.  
         [0029]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the interior door  38  provides further security for cash proceeds such as coins received through slot  24  and accumulated in container  24   b  or bills received via bill accepter  26  and accumulated in container  26   a . Additionally, as discussed subsequently, door  38  provides additional security for fasteners for brackets or flanges  32   a,b.    
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates unit  10  when the inner security door  38  has been opened. In this condition the currency, the coins in container  24   b  and bills in container  26   a  can be accessed and removed. Further, in this state the unit  10  can be released from the associated cabinet C by releasing the locking brackets  32   a,b  and then withdrawing the unit  10  through the opening O.  
         [0031]     In a disclosed embodiment, coin and bill receivers  24 ,  26  are attached to and carried by door  38 . Card reader  22  can be carried by frame  16 . The plate  22 - 1  that carries card reader  22  can be attached to the frame  16  or to the locking brackets  32   a,b  without limitation. Alternately, it can also be carried on door  38 .  
         [0032]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate additional details of the unit  10 . As illustrated therein exterior door  18  overlays interior door  38 . Door  38  has a U-shaped cross-section for security and strength.  
         [0033]     When the interior door  38  is closed, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , fasteners  42   a,b , best seen in  FIG. 7 , which lock brackets  32   a,b  into a extended position are covered by ends  38   a,b  of the door  38 . Hence, fasteners  42   a,b  can only be removed when the door  38  has been opened.  
         [0034]     Unit  10  can not be removed where an individual only has access to an interior region of the cabinet C. Unit  10  can only be removed from cabinet C by releasing the fasteners  42   a,b  which are within the interior of that unit.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate additional details of frame  16 . Frame  16  incorporates slots  16 - 1 , - 2  which slidably receive the locking brackets  32   a,b , best seen in  FIG. 7 . Frame  16  also includes fastener receiving openings generally indicated at  44   a,b  and  46   a,b  for receipt of respective fasteners such as  42   a,b.    
         [0036]     Those of skill will understand that while the locking elements  32   a,b  have been illustrated as slidable brackets, rotatable, cam-like, locking members also come within the spirit and scope of the present invention for purposes of locking the unit  10  to the cabinet C as well as for locking the vault  12  thereto. All such variations come within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0037]     If desired, one or more sources of illumination  16 - 1 , - 2  can be incorporated into frame  16  to illuminate door  18 . Sources of illumination could include one or more light emitting diodes.  
         [0038]     Further, while not illustrated, it will be understood that the units  22 ,  24  and  26  could be electrically coupled to other control circuitry within the respective cabinet C. Such connections do not represent limitations of the present invention. It will also be understood that the unit  10  could be configured so as to be operable as a fully stand alone self-contained unit including its own power supply, if needed and providing only credit establishing outputs to adjacent control circuitry of the cabinet C. All such connection variations come within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0039]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.