Abstract:
A coin receptacle includes a cup, a slot within the cup, a channel within the cup having one or more sides to direct coins placed in the cup into the slot, and one or more ledges located on the one or more sides of the channel. A method for providing singularized coins into a slot including depositing coins into a cup, directing the coins toward a channel within the cup, singularizing the coins at the channel, and providing singularized coins from the channel to a slot located within the cup.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to provisional U.S. patent application entitled, Coin Separating Apparatus and Method, filed Nov. 5, 2004, .having a Ser. No. 60/625,170, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a coin receptacle apparatus and method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coin receptacle apparatus and method for use with a coin counting and sorting machine.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Public transportation vehicles, such as buses, require a convenient and reliable way for passengers to pay their fare with tokens or coins. Coins with reeded edges—such as the U.S. dime, quarter, half dollar, and some dollar coins—can wedge with other coins when multiple coins are dropped at the same time into a coin receptacle.  
         [0004]     In some present coin receptacles, it is often difficult to loosen coins wedged together in coin receptacles. At the very least, it takes time for a public transportation patron to clear the jammed coins. A severe jam, however, could require the assistance of a public transportation system employee to clear the jam. If the coin receptacle is located on a bus, the likely public transportation system employee to clear the jam would be the bus driver. Clearing the jammed coins would take the bus driver&#39;s attention away from other duties. Thus, a jammed coin receptacle potentially could result in delays.  
         [0005]     Even in the best circumstance, when coins repeatedly jam in a coin receptacle and can be loosened by the public transportation patron, the average time it takes for a passenger to board the bus increases. Generally, as the average time necessary for a passenger to board a bus increases, the transportation authority must increase the time between scheduled stops to allow for all passengers to board the bus. This unnecessary waste of time needed to board a bus means either that people will have to wait longer at a bus stop for a bus than necessary, or that the transportation authority will have to put additional buses into service on each route in order to reduce the wait for a bus.  
         [0006]     The average number of passengers that use a bus on any given day is monitored by the transportation authority. By determining both the average number of passengers that frequent a particular bus line, and the average time for a passenger to board a bus, the transportation authority can create an accurate bus schedule. Any decrease in the average time for a passenger to board the bus would reduce the time needed for a bus to wait at any one stop. In addition, a substantial reduction in the average time needed to board a bus could result in a decrease in the number of busses needed on a route because busses could make a complete circuit faster than before. These unneeded busses could then be placed on other routes that may be presently underserved.  
         [0007]     During other high volume times at a particular stop—such as after a sporting event—the extra time needed for each passenger to board the bus could result in substantial departure delays. When a large number of people wish to board the bus at one particular stop, this departure delay could cause the bus to fall behind a schedule that did not take into account the increased volume of passengers.  
         [0008]     Waiting for a bus for an extended period of time in inclement weather is inconvenient to the public transportation patron, and purchasing additional vehicles in order to maintain a standard of service is costly for the transportation authority. It would simply be easier to reduce the average amount of time necessary for a person to board a public transportation vehicle.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and method that helps reduces coin jams and also provides for easy clearing of the coin receptacle in the event that coins do jam in it in order to decrease the average amount of time necessary for a person to board a public transportation vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The forgoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect it is provided that some embodiments help reduce coin jams and also provide for easy clearing of the coin receptacle in the event that coins do jam in it in order to decrease the average amount of time necessary for a person to board a public transportation vehicle.  
         [0011]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a coin receptacle includes a cup, a slot within the cup, a channel within the cup having one or more sides to direct coins placed in the cup into the slot, and one or more ledges located on the one or more sides of the channel. In some embodiments, the coin receptacle further includes one or more substantially angled surfaces proximate to said slot, wherein said one or more ledges meet said one or more substantially angled surfaces at an angle. In some other embodiments, the one or more ledges meet said one or more substantially angled surfaces at a right angle.  
         [0012]     In yet other embodiments, the coin receptacle further includes a shelf within the cup adjacent to the slot, wherein the shelf is positioned adjacent to the one of the sides of the channel. In some other embodiments, the width of the slot is sized such that only one coin of a largest width may pass through it at one time. In yet other embodiments, the width of the channel is determined by the width of the slot. In yet other embodiments, the one or more ledges are staggered on the one or more sides of the channel such that the one or more ledges are not directly opposite each other on facing one or more sides of the channel. In still other embodiments, the one or more ledges have a width sized up to seventy-five percent of the width of a narrowest coin. In yet other embodiments, the cup comprises one or more sides constructed and arranged to direct one or more coins toward the slot.  
         [0013]     In yet other embodiments, the shelf is located no more than the radius of a smallest coin from a top of the cup. In yet other embodiments, the distance between the one or more ledges located on the same one or more side of the channel is equal to two times the height of a ridge of a coin with tallest ridge. In still other embodiments, the one or more ledges have a width sized according to the width of a narrowest coin. In yet other embodiments, the channel is centered over the slot having a width identical to the slot. In yet other embodiments, the coin receptacle further comprises three ledges, each ledge having a width equal to seventy-five percent of the width of a United States dime, and the ledges are indented into the one or more sides of the channel, such that the narrowest part of the channel is equal to the width of the slot. In yet other embodiments, the one or more ledges are constructed and arranged to direct a coin toward the slot.  
         [0014]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a coin receptacle includes means for receiving coins, means for passing coins through the means for receiving coins, means for directing coins that are placed in the means for receiving coins to the means for passing coins through the means for receiving coins, and means for delaying coins placed in the means for receiving coins from moving toward the means for passing coins through the means for receiving coins. In some embodiments, the coin receptacle further comprises means for allowing a human finger access to the means for receiving coins. In some other embodiments, the means for delaying coins further comprises means for holding coins above the means for passing coins. In yet other embodiments, the means for delaying coins is constructed and arranged to hold coins long enough for the means for passing coins to pass any coins already located within the means for passing coins. In yet other embodiments, the means for passing coins is located within the means for directing coins, and the means for delaying coins is integral to the means for directing coins.  
         [0015]     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing singularized coins into a slot comprising depositing coins into a cup, directing the coins toward a channel within the cup, singularizing the coins at the channel, providing singularized coins from the channel to a slot located within the cup. In some other embodiments, the method further comprises holding the coins within the channel until a previous coin passes through the slot. In yet other embodiments, the method further comprises providing an access point for a human finger to dislodge coins jammed in the slot. In yet other embodiments, the coins are directed toward the channel by one or more walls of the cup, wherein the one or more walls of the cup are tapered toward the channel. In yet other embodiments, coins are held away from the slot along the channel wall until the slot is clear of singularized coins.  
         [0016]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
         [0017]     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0018]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a coin receptacle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view illustrating a coin receptacle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a coin receptacle as shown and described that helps prevent or reduce coin jams, and also provides easy clearing of jammed coins if the coin receptacle does jam. The coin receptacle has a coin slot, a coin channel designed to direct coins to the coin slot, walls designed to direct coins to the coin channel until coins closer to the slot pass through the slot, and a ledge for allowing a human finger to easily clear coins that jam in the slot or the channel. The coin slot leads to a coin counting and sorting mechanism. The walls of the channel include ledges that are constructed and arranged to hold coins away from the slot in order to allow one coin at a time (i.e. a singluated coin) to pass from the channel into the slot.  
         [0026]     An embodiment of the present inventive apparatus is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 .  FIG. 1  depicts a coin receptacle  10  comprising a hole  15  in a substantially planar structure  13 . The substantially planar structure  13  includes attachment portions  133  used for securing the coin receptacle to a change counting machine (not shown). The hole  15  has a generally rectangular shape. The hole  15  has a first hole side  17 , a second hole side  19 , and a third hole side  21  all oriented in a substantially parallel direction to each other. The hole  15  has a fourth hole side  23 , a fifth hole side  25 , and a sixth hole side  27  all oriented substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first hole side  17 , the second hole side  19 , and third hole side  21 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  depicts a slot  29  of a generally rectangular shape located within the hole  15  and below the substantially planar structure  13 . The slot  29  is sized such that only one of the largest coins may pass through it at one time, for example, in a typical application with U.S. coinage, the largest coin in a coin set may be a quarter-dollar coin, a half-dollar coin, or a dollar coin depending on the coins contemplated to be used. United States coinage is described as exemplary only. Other embodiments in accordance with the invention may use coinage of other countries or even tokens.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  also depicts the slot  29  having a first slot side  31  (see  FIG. 3 ) and a second slot side  33  (see  FIG. 4 ) that are oriented substantially parallel to each other. The slot  29  has a third slot side  35  and a fourth slot side  37  that are oriented substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first slot side  31  (see  FIG. 3 ) and the second slot side  33  (see  FIG. 4 ). In one embodiment of the invention, the slot  29  is centered within the hole  15  along the sixth hole side  27 , and the slot  29  is off-center within the hole  15  with respect to the first hole side  17 , with the fourth slot side  37  being flush with a first substantially perpendicular surface  39 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  also depicts a channel  41  centered within the hole  15  with respect to the sixth hole side  27 . According to some embodiments of the invention, the width of the channel  41  is determined by a largest coin to be accepted by the slot  29 . Coins centered on the channel  41  will be passed to the slot  29 . Coins that pass through the slot  29  will enter the coin counting and sorting device (not shown). The channel  41  is defined by the first substantially perpendicular surface  39 , a second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ), a first substantially angled surface  45 , and a third substantially perpendicular surface  47  (see  FIG. 3 ). The second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) is substantially parallel to the first hole side  17  and extends below the substantially planar structure  13  to form the second slot side  33  (see  FIG. 4 ). The third substantially perpendicular surface  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) is substantially parallel to the first hole side  17  and extends below the substantially planar structure  13  to form the first slot side  31  (see  FIG. 3 ). The first substantially angled surface  45  extends from the sixth hole side  27  to the third slot side  35 . The first substantially perpendicular surface  39  extends from the fourth hole side  23  below the substantially planar structure  13  to the fourth slot side  37 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  also depicts the first substantially perpendicular surface  39  extending from a first edge  49  to the right to meet at a substantially right angle the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) in an edge  48  (see  FIG. 3 ). The first substantially perpendicular surface  39  extends from the fourth hole side  23  below the substantially planar structure  13  and meets a first ledge  51  at a second edge  53 , and the first substantially perpendicular surface  39  meets at a substantially right angle the second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) at a third edge  55  (see  FIG. 4 ). The first ledge  51  allows a human finger access toward the channel  41  and the slot  29  to allow coins that jam in the channel  41  or the slot  29  to be cleared easily.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  also depicts the first ledge  51  substantially parallel to the substantially planar structure  13  and located a distance below the substantially planar structure  13  of no more than the radius of a smallest coin to be accepted by the slot  29 . The second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) meets the first ledge  51  at a fourth edge  57  (see  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  also depicts a second substantially angled surface  59  extending from a fifth edge  61  at an angle from the first ledge  51 . The second substantially angled surface  59  meets the second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) in an edge  60  (see  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  depicts the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  meeting at a substantially perpendicular angle with the substantially planar structure  13  (see  FIG. 1 ) at the second hole side  19  (see  FIG. 1 ). The third substantially perpendicular surface  47  extends so as to become the first slot side  31 .  
         [0034]     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) extends from the first substantially perpendicular surface  39  to the right to meet with a fourth substantially perpendicular surface  63  at a sixth edge  67  (see  FIG. 3 ); to meet with the third substantially angled surface  73  at a seventh edge  69  (see  FIG. 3 ); to meet with the first substantially angled surface  45  at a eighth edge  71 ; and to meet with the fourth substantially angled surface  77  at a fifteenth edge  95  (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  also depicts the fourth substantially perpendicular surface  63  meeting the substantially planar structure  13  at the fifth hole side  25  at a substantially perpendicular angle, and extends below the substantially planar structure  13  to meet the third substantially angled surface  73  at a ninth edge  75  substantially parallel to the fifth hole side  25 , the ninth edge  75  being a continuation of the fifth edge  61  formed by the meeting of the first ledge  51  and the second substantially angled surface  59 . The fourth substantially perpendicular surface  63  meets the fourth substantially angled surface  77  at an edge  74 .  
         [0036]     Returning to  FIG. 3 , the fourth substantially angled surface  77  extends from the third hole side  21  (see  FIG. 1 ) and meets a fifth substantially angled surface  79 . The fourth substantially angled surface  77  and the fifth substantially angled surface  79  meet at a tenth edge  81 . In one embodiment, the fifth substantially angled surface  79  is angled more steeply than the fourth substantially angled surface  77 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  depicts the fifth substantially angled surface  79  extending from the tenth edge  81  to meet a fifth substantially perpendicular surface  83  at an eleventh edge  85 . The fifth substantially perpendicular surface  83  extends from the eleventh edge  85  to meet a second ledge  87  (see  FIG. 2 ) at the sixth edge  67 . The fourth substantially angled surface  77  meets the fifth substantially perpendicular surface  83  at an edge  96 .  
         [0038]     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the second ledge  87  meets the third substantially angled surface  73 . The width of the second ledge  87  is determined by the width of the largest coin to be accepted by the slot  29 , such as a one dollar coin in U.S. coinage. The second ledge  87  is constructed and arranged to hold coins in the channel  41  and away from the slot  29  until other coins have passed through the slot  29 , while at the same time directing the same coins toward the third substantially angled surface  73 . The second ledge  87  is substantially parallel to the substantially planar structure  13  in a direction substantially parallel to the sixth hole side  27  and angles toward the third substantially angled surface  73  in a direction substantially parallel to the first hole side  17 , substantially parallel to the eleventh edge  85 . The second ledge  87  meets at a substantially right angle the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) at a twelfth edge  89 . The fifth substantially angled surface  79  (see  FIG. 3 ) meets the third substantially angled surface  73  in a thirteenth edge  91 . The fifth substantially angled surface  79  (see  FIG. 3 ) meets the fourth substantially perpendicular surface  63  in a fourteenth edge  93 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  depicts a seventh substantially angled surface  97  extending from the first hole side  17  (see  FIG. 1 ) to meet a sixth substantially angled surface  99  at a sixteenth edge  101 . The sixth substantially angled surface  99  extends from the sixteenth edge  101  to meet a sixth substantially perpendicular surface  103  at a seventeenth edge  105 . The sixth substantially perpendicular surface  103  extends from the seventeenth edge  105  to meet a third ledge  107  (see  FIG. 2 ) at an eighteenth edge  109 .  
         [0040]     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the third ledge  107  meets in a substantially right angle the second substantially angled surface  59 . The third ledge  107  is substantially parallel to the substantially planar structure  13  in the sixth hole side  27  and angles toward the second substantially angled surface  59  in a direction parallel to the first hole side  17 , substantially parallel to the seventeenth edge  105  (see  FIG. 4 ). The third ledge  107  is constructed and arranged to hold coins in the channel  41  and away from the slot  29  until other coins have passed through the slot  29 , while at the same time directing the same coins toward the second substantially angled surface  59 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  also depicts the third ledge  107  and a seventh substantially perpendicular surface  111  (see  FIG. 4 ) meeting at a twentieth edge  113 . The seventh substantially perpendicular surface  111  (see  FIG.4 ) extends from the twentieth edge  113  to meet a fourth ledge  117  at a twenty-first edge  115  (see  FIG. 4 ). The fourth ledge  117  meets in a substantially right angle the second substantially angled surface  59 . The fourth ledge  117  is substantially parallel to the substantially planar structure  13  in the sixth hole side  27  and angles toward the second substantially angled surface  59  in a direction substantially parallel to the first hole side  17  substantially parallel to the seventeenth edge  105  (see  FIG. 4 ). The fourth ledge  117  meets the second substantially angled surface  59  to form a substantially right angle. The fourth ledge  117  meets the second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) at a twenty-second edge  119 . The second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) extends below the substantially planar structure  13  to meet with the first-substantially angled surface in a twenty-eighth edge  131 . The fourth ledge  117  is constructed and arranged to hold coins in the channel  41  and away from the slot  29  until other coins have passed through the slot  29 , while at the same time directing the same coins toward the second substantially angled surface  59 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  also depicts the sixth substantially angled surface  99  meeting the second substantially angled surface  59  at a twenty-third edge  121 . The sixth substantially angled surface  99  meets the first substantially perpendicular surface  39  at a twenty-fourth edge  123 . The sixth substantially angled surface  99  meets the first ledge  51  at a twenty-fifth edge  125 . The seventh substantially angled surface  97  meets the first substantially perpendicular surface  39  at the first edge  49 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  also depicts the first substantially angled surface  45  meeting the fourth substantially angled surface  77  at a twenty-sixth edge  127 . The first substantially angled surface  45  meets a seventh substantially angled surface  97  (see  FIG. 4 ) at a twenty-seventh edge  129 . The second substantially perpendicular surface  43  (see  FIG. 4 ) meets the first substantially angled surface  45  at a twenty-eighth edge  131 . The third substantially perpendicular surface  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) meets the first substantially angled surface  45  at the eighth edge  71 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 2  also shows one embodiment of the invention where the ledge  87  is angled toward the third substantially angled surface  73  so that the ledge  87  and the third substantially angled surface meet at a right angle. Simiarly, the ledges  107  and  117  are angled toward the second substantially angled surface  59  so that the ledges  107  and  117  and the second substantially angled surface  59  meet at a right angle. The ledge  87  and the third substantially angled surface  73 , and ledges  107  and  117  and the second substantially angled surface  59  hold coins dropped in the hole  15  in place along the channel  41  without wedging multiple coins together. This allows a coin alligned with the slot  29  to pass through the slot unimpeded by other coins placed in the hole.  
         [0045]     In another embodiment of the invention, the total number of ledges (see, e.g., ledges  87 ,  107 , and  117  in  FIG. 2 ) placed on the channel walls (see, e.g., the second substantially perpendicular surface  43  in  FIG. 4 , and the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  in  FIG. 3 ) is determined by the number of different sized coins to be accepted by the coin slot. In a coin receptacle according to the present invention designed to accept U.S. nickels, dimes, and quarters, there would be a total of three ledges (see, e.g., ledges  87 ,  107 , and  117  in  FIG. 2 ) on the channel walls (see, e.g., the second substantially perpendicular surface  43  in  FIG. 4 , and the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  in  FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the three different sizes of coins. In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the ledges on the channel walls are about seventy-five percent of the width of the narrowest coin to be accepted by the slot. The ledges are placed on the opposing channel walls so that they are staggered.  
         [0046]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the substantially angled surfaces (see, e.g.,  45 ,  59 , and  73  in  FIG. 2, 77  and  79  in  FIG. 3 , and  97  and  99  in  FIG. 4 ) are flat faced and angled toward the channel. In another embodiment, however, the substantially angled surfaces can be curved for rounded so long as they are formed to allow the coins placed in the cup to be drawn by gravity toward the channel and ultimately into the slot.  
         [0047]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the spacing between each of the ledges (see, e.g., ledges  87 ,  107 , and  117  in  FIG. 2 ) on one channel wall (see, e.g., the second substantially perpendicular surface  43  in  FIG. 4 , or the third substantially perpendicular surface  47  in  FIG. 3 ) is equal to twice the width of the ridge (i.e. the width of the slightly raised boarder around edge of the face of a coin) of the coin in the coin set being used that has the tallest ridge. In the case of U.S. coinage, the Sacagawea dollar coin currently has the widest ridge.  
         [0048]     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, because numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.