Patent Abstract:
A currency bank includes a housing having an inlet and an opening. A shredded currency mechanism is located in the housing and selectively appears in the opening. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding associated currency into the housing at the inlet. A motor powers the shredded currency mechanism and the feed mechanism. A timing assembly is provided for activating the shredded currency mechanism when the feed mechanism is activated by an associated piece of currency so that it appears that the associated currency being fed into the housing is being shredded.

Full Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of design patent application Ser. No. 29/100,830 filed on Feb. 10, 1999 and still pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a currency bank. More particularly, the instant invention relates to a novelty type currency bank in which it appears as if currency that is being fed into the bank is shredded whereas, in reality, it is held in a currency compartment in the bank. 
     A need has existed for a novelty bank in which currency that is fed into the bank appears to be shredded but in reality is stored. 
     Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved currency bank which would meet the above-stated needs and others. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a currency bank. 
     More specifically, the instant invention comprises a currency bank having a housing with an inlet and an opening. A shredded currency mechanism is located in the housing and selectively appears in the opening. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding associated currency into the housing at the inlet. A timing assembly is provided for activating the shredded currency mechanism when the feed mechanism is activated so that it appears that the associated currency being fed into the housing is being shredded. 
     Preferably, the shredded currency mechanism comprises a motor, a gear train coupled to the motor and a belt assembly operatively connected to the gear train. Preferably, the belt assembly comprises a pair of belts and a plurality of gears around which the pair of belts is looped. If desired, the plurality of gears can comprise a spaced upper pair of gears mounted on a first common shaft and a spaced lower pair of gears mounted on a second common shaft. The shredded currency mechanism can further comprise a cross bar connected to the pair of belts and a shredded currency element secured at one end to the cross bar. 
     Preferably, the motor comprises an electric motor and there is also provided a source of electric power for the motor. If desired, the source of electric power can comprise batteries located in a battery compartment in the housing. 
     If desired, a speaker can be located in the housing wherein the timing mechanism also activates the speaker. Also, if desired, a photograph holder can be located on the housing. Preferably, a currency compartment is located in the housing for holding associated currency after it has passed through the feed mechanism. A door located on the housing provides access to the currency compartment. 
     Preferably, the timing assembly comprises a control circuit, a first timing element for actuating the feed mechanism and a second timing element for deactivating the shredded currency mechanism. If desired, the first timing element can comprise a finger located in a currency inlet slot of the housing. The second timing element can comprise a protrusion located on an element of the shredded currency mechanism. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating the currency bank is provided. 
     More particularly, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of providing a housing having an inlet in a currency compartment and feeding a piece of currency into the inlet. A shredded currency element is moved past the window in the housing. Thereafter, the piece of currency is deposited into the currency compartment. 
     One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novelty currency bank. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novelty currency bank in which currency that is pulled into the bank appears to be shredded but is, in reality, deposited into a currency compartment in the bank. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a timing mechanism in a currency bank which starts the motion of a piece of shredded currency past a window at the same time that a piece of currency is fed into an inlet slot of the currency bank. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novelty currency bank with a speaker and a voice chip so that an audible message is played when a piece of currency is fed into the bank. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a currency bank with a window in which a photograph can be displayed. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a currency bank which is digitally controlled so as to activate and deactivate an electric motor. The motor serves both to pull currency into the bank and to start the motion of a piece of shredded currency past a window in the bank. Preferably, switches are used to activate and deactivate the motor. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of average skill in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred 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 a perspective view of a currency bank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a part partially broken away for clarity; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of a currency bank of FIG. 1 with a part partially broken away for clarity; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the currency bank of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the currency bank of FIG. 1 with a part partially broken away for clarity; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the currency bank of FIG. 1 with a part partially broken away for clarity; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the currency bank of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the currency bank of FIG. 1 with a front housing half removed for clarity; 
     FIG. 8 is a left side cross sectional view of the currency bank of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the currency bank of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the control elements of the currency bank of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 11A is an enlarged side elevational view of the belt of the currency bank of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11B is a greatly enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the belt of FIG. 11A; and, 
     FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of another control assembly for the currency bank according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 illustrates a currency bank A having a housing  10  with a first half  12  and a second half  14 . A picture opening  20  is provided in the first half  12 . Also, spaced from the picture opening are a plurality of speaker apertures  22  which comprise a speaker grille. As shown in FIG. 8, a top indentation  24  is located on the first half along with a bottom indentation  26 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 6, the second half  14  comprises a currency compartment opening  30  which is covered by a selectively openable door  32 . Also provided is a top indentation  34  and a bottom indentation  36 . 
     Covering the picture opening  20  and the housing first half  12  is a window  40 . The window is selectively removable so that a user of the currency bank A can position a user selected picture  42  behind the window. To this end, a set of four corners  44  are provided on a first frame  50 . The four corners of the picture  42  can be tucked behind the corners  44  so as to secure the picture in place. 
     The front frame  50  is positioned adjacent a main frame  52 . These elements are secured together with the first and second housing halves  12  and  14 . To this end, a plurality of spaced ears  54  are provided on the front frame. These ears are aligned with spaced ears  56  located on the main frame and mounts  58  located on the second half. Aligned with all of the foregoing ears and mounts are mounts  60  (see FIG. 8) located on the first half. Suitable fasteners  62  (FIG. 2) secure the front frame  50 , main frame  52 , first half  12  and second half  14  to each other. 
     Positioned in the respective top indentations  24  and  34  of the first and second housing halves  12  and  14  is a currency entrance frame  70 . With reference now also to FIG. 3, a slot  72  is defined in the entrance frame  70 . The slot is sized so as to accommodate a variety of sizes of bills or currency such as U.S. dollars, British pounds, Mexican Pesos and the like. Extending into the slot  72  are a front finger  74  and a pair of rear fingers  76 . In the preferred embodiment, the front finger  74  is moveable, whereas the rear fingers  76  are stationary. However, it should be apparent to those of average skill in the art that all of the fingers can be moveable if so desired. Alternatively, the rear fingers  76  could be moveable with the front finger being stationary. With reference now also to FIG. 7, the front finger  74  is wired to a front switch  78 . Thus, when the front finger is depressed, the switch is activated. The signal from the front switch is transmitted via suitable wiring to a suitable digital control chip  80  (FIG. 10) located in the housing. 
     With reference again to FIG. 6, positioned adjacent the switch  78  are a pair of front rollers  82  mounted on a common shaft. The front rollers are rotatably mounted via the shaft on the front frame  50 . Located adjacent the front rollers are a pair of rear rollers  84  mounted on a common shaft. The shaft is rotatably mounted on a pusher plate  86 . As is evident from FIG. 3, the front and rear rollers  82  and  84  are aligned with each other. 
     The pusher plate  86  is resiliently biased forward by a spring (not visible) so that the rollers  82  and  84  normally contact each other. They form between them a nip for accommodating a piece of currency. 
     Positioned below the sets of rollers  82  and  84  is a pair of spaced upper belt gears  90  mounted on a common shaft. Spaced therefrom is a pair of spaced lower belt gears  92  also mounted on a common shaft. Looped around the upper and lower belt gears  90  and  92  are a left belt  94  and a right belt  96 . It is apparent that these belts are endless belts. With reference now also to FIG. 5, a cross bar  100  is mounted on the left and right belts  94  and  96 . A piece of shredded currency  102  is secured at a proximal end  104  to the cross bar  100 . The proximal end of the shredded currency is looped around the cross bar  100  so as to form a single element. However, a distal end  106  of the currency presents a shredded appearance. The distal end is not secured to the pair of spaced belts. 
     With reference now again to FIG. 8, a motor  110  is located in the housing  10 . The motor includes an output shaft  112  which is connected to a lower gear train  113 . The lower gear train  113  comprises a worm gear  114  which is mounted on the output shaft  112 , an intermediate gear  115  and a primary drive gear  116 . The drive gear  116  is coupled to the lower belt gears  92 . The lower gear train  113  drives the pair of belts  94 ,  96  and, hence, the shredded currency  102 . A positive drive is provided. To this end, there are teeth  118  located on the lower belt gears  92  and teeth  120  located on the upper belt gears  90 . These teeth engage corresponding teeth  122  on the belts  94  and  96 . 
     Coupled to the shaft of upper belt gears  90  is an upper gear train  126 . With reference again to FIG. 6, the upper gear train  126  drives the front rollers  82 . When the motor  110  rotates the lower gear train  113 , and hence, the left and right belts  94  and  96 , the upper gear train  126  is also rotated. In this way, the front rollers  82  are correspondingly rotated. The rear rollers  84  are freely rotatable and will move when they are in contact with the moving front rollers  82 . 
     Preferably, the motor  110  is an electric motor. Electricity is provided for the motor  110  via a battery compartment  130 . As is illustrated in FIG. 4, suitable batteries  132  are located in the battery compartment  130 . Preferably, a door  134  selectively closes the battery compartment. 
     With reference again to FIG. 8, a currency storage area  140  is located beneath the front and rear rollers  82  and  84  and somewhat behind them. With reference now to FIG. 5, when a piece of currency  142  is pulled into the housing  10  at the nip formed between the front and rear rollers  82  and  84 , the currency is deposited in the storage area  140 . At the same time, due to the coordinated movement of the shredded currency  102  via the cross bar  100 , when the belts  94  and  96  are actuated, it appears as if the currency  142  is being shredded. 
     With reference again to FIG. 7, a speaker  146  can be mounted on the housing  10 . The speaker  146  is located directly behind the speaker apertures  22  illustrated in FIG.  1 . Electrically connected to the speaker  146  is a voice chip  148  (FIG.  10 ). The control chip  80  selectively activates the voice chip  148 , and hence, the speaker. Alternatively, operation could be controlled more simply by an off switch and an on switch as illustrated in FIG.  12 . Preferably, the operation of the speaker is coordinated with the rotation of the belts  94  and  96 . The speaker can be actuated during the time when the currency is pulled into the housing and the shredded currency is moving past the window. In one embodiment, the speaker broadcasts the message: “ha, ha, ha . . . easy come, easy go.” It is evident that the speaker  146  could broadcast whatever message is encoded in the voice chip  148 . 
     With reference again to FIG. 6, a respective protrusion or bump  150 ,  152  is provided on each of the belts  94  and  96 . In one preferred embodiment, the bump  150  comprises a pair of spaced elements. With reference now particularly to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the bump  150  can comprise a first element  160  and, slightly spaced therefrom, a second element  162  and a third element  163 . The first element  160  serves a timing function and sends an initial signal to the control chip  80  when it activates a second switch  164  (FIG. 10) to stop rotation of the motor. The second and third elements  162  and  163  serve as a means for spacing the front and rear rollers  82  and  84  away from each other. This is done by the bumps pushing the pusher plate  86 , and hence the rear rollers  84 , away from the front rollers, against the bias of the spring which urges the upper end of the pusher plate  86  forward. Also, the second bump element  162  holds the bill shaft  100 . A plurality of slits  166  is cut into the underside of the several bump elements in order to allow the elements to flex as the belt  90  travels around the upper and lower gears  90 ,  92 . This is best shown in FIG.  11 B. It should be apparent to those in the art that a single long element bump could be employed instead of the two element design illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B. 
     As mentioned, the bumps serve a timing function. Also serving a timing function is the front finger  74  (FIG.  3 ). The front finger serves as a first timing element, whereas the bumps  150 ,  152  serve as a second timing element in controlling the operation of the motor, and hence, the currency bank. 
     With reference now to FIG. 9, the operation of the currency bank will now be described. Operation begins when a piece of currency, such as the bill  142 , is inserted into the housing  10 . A proximal edge of the bill activates the front switch  78  by a movement of the front finger  74 . When the front switch is activated, a signal is sent to the control chip  80  which then starts the motor  110  as is illustrated in block  204 . The belts  94  and  96  then begin to move past the window  40  as is illustrated in block  206 . The rollers  82  and  84 , since they form a nip, grab the currency  142  and pull it into the currency storage area  140 . At the same time, the shredded currency  102  travels past the window  40 . This coordinated movement simulates the shredding of the currency  142  to the observer whereas, in reality, the currency is being preserved. 
     During the time when the shredded currency  102  is moving past the window and the currency  142  is being taken into the housing  10 , an impulse is sent to the voice chip  148  on the circuit board thereby activating the speaker  146  as shown in box  212 . Subsequently, the currency is pulled entirely through the front and rear rollers  82  and  84  and is deposited into the storage area  140  as shown in block  214 . Thereafter, the front switch  78  turns off as shown in block  260 . At this time, the belts  94  and  96  with the shredded currency  102  return to their original position as shown in block  218 . The bumps  150  and  152  on the pair of belts  94  and  96  move the pusher  86  back, against the biasing of the spring, turning off the back switch  164  as shown in block  220 . More importantly, the bumps keep the front and rear rollers separated. Such separation is necessary in order that a nip is formed by the facing rollers when a piece of currency is inserted between the rollers and trips the front switch. This action brings the opposed rollers together grabbing the currency and preventing its removal. When the back switch is off, the motor  110  stops as shown in block  222 . This brings the process to an end. 
     The main housing  52  and the pusher plate  86  cooperate to define a screen behind the window  20 . In this way, the shredded currency  102  can not be seen as it is moved along the belts  94 ,  96  behind the picture  42  back to the start position of the shredded currency. 
     The invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0