Patent Publication Number: US-4924994-A

Title: Chain deposit device for a shopping or baggage trolley

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a chain deposit device for a shopping or baggage trolley of the type comprising a key mounted on one extremity of a chain the other extremity of which is secured with a trolley, the key co-operating with a coin-operated lock of another trolley to liberate a deposit piece (coin) which it contains while locking the two trolleys to one another, unlocking being effected by introduction of a deposit coin which opens the lock and remains imprisoned therein. 
     Deposit devices for trolleys have received important application due to the advantages which they bring for stores, railway stations, airports, etc, including: the formation of rows of trolleys available to the users in consideration of a deposit coin which is returnable, clearance of gangways, car-parks and garages, and appreciable reduction of losses of and damage to trolleys. 
     STATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The known rigid apparatuses, where the key and the lock are in one piece, permit simple utilization but present drawbacks, mainly of bulk and difficulty of fitting. They adapt themselves poorly when the terrain is on a slope. 
     The known chain deposit devices are not very bulky since they can be mounted on the trolley handle-bar, fitting well on trolleys of different dimensions and their flexibility permits of their use on sloping terrains. However their use in unlocking is complicated by a precise positioning of the deposit coin, delicate introduction of the key and a supplementary operation of a maneuver element. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims at creating a new chain deposit device in which unlocking is effected by simple introduction of the coin, and which is furthermore simple and thus economical, light and of low bulk, reliable and strong. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To this end the deposit device according to the invention is characterized in that the deposit lock comprises two levers each pivoting about an intermediate spindle, one extremity of each lever co-operating with notches formed on a key and the opposite extremity of each lever co-operating with the deposit coin, the levers being subject to the action of a locking tumbler activated by a spring and co-operating with the key. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention will be clearly understood on reading of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a deposit device according to one embodiment of the invention, in the position locking upon another identical deposit device; 
     FIG. 2 is analogous with FIG. 1, for the unlocked position and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the deposit device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper part representing the locked position and the lower part the unlocked position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The deposit device comprises a coin lock comprising a body or casing 1 into which there can penetrate a key 2&#39; provided with a handle 3&#39; and pertaining to an identical deposit device. A spring 4 urges a locking tumbler 5 toward one end 6&#39; of a lever or feeler 6. The one end 6&#39; of the lever and also co-operates with the key 2&#39; and the other or extremity 6&#34; cooperates or deposit with a coin piece 7 acting as deposit. 
     The casing 1 is fixed on the handle-bar 8 of a trolley through the intermediary of a through-passing screw 9. A weld 10 connects a ring 11 to the casing 1 and a chain 12 is fixed on the ring 11 and carries at its extremity a key (not shown) identical with the key 2&#39;. The levers or feelers 6 each pivot about a spindle 13. 
     The manner of operation is as follows: 
     In the locked condition (FIG. 1 and top of FIG. 3), the key 2&#39; secured with the previous trolley (not shown) in a rank is held imprisoned by 6&#39; of the lever-feelers 6. 
     If a coin 7 is introduced into the lock, it actuates the lever-feelers 6 in rotation about the spindles 13, this action liberating the key 2&#39;. By a pull upon the handle-bar 8 of the trolley, the key 2&#39; emerges from the lock, freeing the tumbler 5 which moves into a locking position in alignment with the ends of the lever-feelers 6. The trolley is freed, the coin 7 being retained between the extremities of the levers 6 which are themselves locked by the tumbler 5 being thrust between the ends 6&#39; of the lever-feelers 6 by the spring 4. 
     It is seen that the device according to the invention, with a very simple structure, permits automatic locking and unlocking of the deposit device.