Abstract:
A box for collecting ballots from an electronic ballot tabulating machine includes a base assembly, and front and rear support assemblies pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of the base assembly, the three assemblies are foldable into compact and generally parallel-spaced portions for transport and storage, in its storage state, the box is easily transformed from the storage state to an upright voting state wherein the ballot tabulating machine is positioned at a convenient height for the voter by unfolding the assemblies, in its set-up or voting state, the box receives ballots from the tabulating machine and stores them in one or more secure ballot compartments.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/072,093, filed on Feb. 8, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,144, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 60/275,375 filed Mar. 13, 2001, the complete disclosure thereof being incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a ballot box, and more particularly to a collapsible ballot box which may be utilized with electronic ballot scanning devices. 
   Voting systems—the procedures by which we cast votes and elect our public officials—are a crucial part of the democratic election process. Typically, marked ballot cards are deposited in sealed ballot boxes at the polling location. The sealed ballot boxes are then transported to a central location where the votes are tallied, either by hand counting or by use of an electronic tallying device. Because ballot collection takes place at a location different from the counting location, the possibility of tampering with ballots exists. For example, ballot cards can be removed from the ballot collection box while in transit to the counting location. 
   Thus, the need for a more secure voting system exists. One such improved system involves the use of an electronic ballot tabulator at the place of voting whose size is roughly close to that of a mechanical adding machine. This tabulator accepts printed ballots that have been marked by the voter, through an inlet slot. Then after tabulating the voter&#39;s selections, the machine ejects the ballot card through a discharge slot. In a more elaborate form, the ballot tabulating machine can be provided with one or more additional discharge slots, so that ballots of one category, such as write-in ballots, can be ejected through one slot, and ballots of another category, such as marked ballots, can be ejected through another slot, allowing for separate storage of the two ballot types. It is envisioned that many jurisdictions will promulgate regulations requiring that all tabulated ballots be retained in secure containers. It will, therefore, be necessary to provide ballot boxes capable of collecting the tabulated ballots of different categories directly from the tabulator machine and maintain them in separate and secure chambers. 
   It will further be necessary that such a ballot box provide a support for the tabulating machine such that the machine is at a convenient height for the voter to insert his ballot. It must be stable enough to support the weight of the machine and a leaning voter. Also, it must provide tamper proof ballot compartments. 
   It is also necessary that a ballot box be compact for convenience of transport and storage. Moreover, it must be economical to manufacture. 
   In view of the aforementioned needs and the shortcomings of the prior art, it is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a ballot box for use with an electronic ballot tabulator which will receive tabulated ballots directly from the ballot tabulating machine and retain the ballots in separate, secure compartments. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a ballot box that is collapsible for storage and transport. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a ballot box which has a separate auxiliary compartment that can receive ballots temporarily, if, for some reason, the ballot tabulating machine becomes inoperative. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a ballot box which is secure of tampering and fraud during the voting, counting and/or transporting of ballot cards. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible ballot box having a base assembly with a top surface including a slot for receiving a ballot. Front and rear support assemblies are pivotally attached to the base assembly. The rear support assembly further forms a compartment for receiving ballots. The support assemblies are positionable to positions generally parallel to the base assembly to form a compact unit for storage. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible ballot box constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in an assembled upright state for voting. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the collapsible ballot box of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the collapsible ballot box of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of collapsible ballot box of the invention in a storage or transport state. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the collapsible ballot box of FIG.  4 . 
       FIGS. 6A-6F  are frontal perspective views of the ballot box of  FIGS. 1-5  showing the steps involved in setting up the ballot box from a transportable or storage state to its voting state. 
       FIG. 6G  is a rear perspective view of the ballot box of FIG.  6 F. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the collapsible ballot box of  FIGS. 1-6  in a storage or transport state. 
       FIG. 8  is a semi-cross-sectional view of the collapsible ballot box of  FIG. 7  taken along lines  8 — 8 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  through  11 A and  11 B are top and side views, respectively, partially in section, of the collapsible ballot box of the invention depicting the relationship of the principal elements of the ballot compartments during set up. 
       FIGS. 12A-12E  are front perspective views of the base assembly of the collapsible ballot box of the invention depicting the installation of an electronic voting device on the ballot box. 
       FIGS. 13A and 13B  are side cross-sectional views illustrating the routing of the tabulated ballots discharged from the ballot tallying machine into appropriate ballot compartments in the collapsible ballot box of the invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the locking mechanism for the retaining member and top cover of the ballot box. 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  are perspective views of a preferred rod and seal security assembly utilized by the collapsible ballot box of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the Figures, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-3 , a collapsible ballot box  10  constructed in accordance with the principles of one embodiment of the present invention is shown set-up in its operable or voting state. In this preferred embodiment, the ballot box consists of three major components capable of folding or collapsing into a suitcase-like unit with wheels  12  and a handle  14 . These three components include an elongated base assembly  16  for housing and locking a ballot tabulating machine  18 , a front support assembly  20  and a rear support assembly  22 . 
   The top assembly  16  includes a receptacle or recess  24  for receiving an electronic vote tabulating device  18  and a lockable retaining member  26  for preventing removal of the device. Power and/or communication means (modem, cable, etc.) Can be supplied to voting device  18  via a tube  42 . A cover or shield  28  is pivotably attached to the housing  17  of base assembly  16  via piano-style hinges  30  or the like. Shield  28  serves a number of purposes. First, as a privacy shield by maintaining the voter&#39;s selections private as he or she feeds a marked ballot into ballot tally machine  18 . The shield  28  also acts as an equipment transport shield, preventing tampering with or removal of the vote tabulating machine  18 . For example, after set-up and during the election process, if the collapsible ballot box  10  is to be left unattended, the wings  32  of the shield can be folded inward and the locking tabs  34  utilized to secure the shield over the vote tabulator in conjunction with the pins of locking mechanism  26 . This lock-down status is also useful during transport as it serves to protect the ballot tabulator  18 . The base assembly  16  further includes a wheel recess  36  and a rib recess  38  to support and stabilize, via wheels  12  and ribs  40  respectively, the stacking of multiple units  10  during storage. 
   The front support assembly is preferably secured to the top housing  16  by a piano-type hinge  44  running the width of both assemblies. This front support assembly  20  also serves a number of functions. First, the wheels  12  and handle  14  enable the unit  10  to be rolled about in its voting and transport states. The front support assembly  20  is also an auxiliary storage container for ballots not processed by the ballot tally machine  18  if, for some reason, the machine  18  is inoperable or not available. In this event, the top slot access door  46  enables ballots to be deposited, while the bottom access door  48  allows ballots to be removed from the compartment for counting. Both doors  46  and  48  preferably include locking assemblies  50  to prevent tampering. 
   Like the front support assembly  20 , the rear support assembly  22  is preferably secured to the top housing  16  by a piano-type hinge  45  running the width of the assemblies. The rear support assembly  22  includes accordion-hinged side panels  52  which fold inward and the front panel  54  folds toward the back panel  56  to form a compact storage and transport unit. The ballot assembly has a folding divider panel that divides the assembly into, preferably, two compartments. One compartment can be used, for example, for marked ballots, while the other compartment can be used for write-in ballots. An access door  58  on the front panel  54  and an access door  60  on the back panel  56  of the rear support assembly provide access to each individual compartment. Like the front support assembly  20 , locking assemblies  50  are included on each door for security. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the collapsible ballot box unit  10  is shown in its collapsed transport or storage state. Here, the rear support assembly  22  is fully nested within the housing  17  of base assembly  16 . Side latches  62  lock the base assembly and front support assembly together for easy transport via handle  14  and wheels  12 . As previously discussed, the shield  28  is in its closed and locked-down position within locking assembly  26 . 
   The principal steps of the set-up procedure from the transport or storage state to the operably or voting state of ballot box  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-6G . After unit  10  is rolled to the desired set up area, it is positioned upright as shown in FIG.  5 . After the side latches  62  are unlatched, unit  10  is laid on its side and opened to approximately a 90° angle by extending the top housing  17  away from the front support assembly  20  via hinge  44 , as shown in FIG.  6 A.  FIGS. 6B and 6C  illustrate the swinging of the rear support assembly  22  out of the top housing  17  via hinge  44  until opened to approximately a 90° angle. Now, the rear support assembly  22  is unfolded by extending the front panel  54  away from the rear panel  56 . During this extension, as shown in  FIGS. 6D and 6E , the side panels  52  will unfold outward from their collapsed state. Also, as shown in  FIG. 6E , the compartment attachment plate  64  is folded into place from the front support assembly  20  and attached to the rear support assembly  22 , and the shield  28  is lifted from its lock-down transport state within the locking member  26  to an open position for voting. The attachment plate or support assembly can be pivotally attached to either one of the front or rear support assemblies and detachably attached to the other.  FIGS. 6F and 6G  show front and rear perspective views of the ballot box set-up in an operable or voting position above an underlying support surface. 
   The inner compartment elements of the rear support assembly  22  of the present embodiment are described in  FIGS. 7-11 . Referring first to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the collapsible ballot box  10  is shown in cross-section in its collapsed state. As such, the internal dimensions of the principal components of the rear support assembly  22  are more clearly illustrated. The back panel  56  of the assembly  22  is hinged to top housing  17  at hinge  45 . Thus, there is interior space within top housing  17  for receiving the assembly  22 . What will become the floor  66  of the ballot compartment of assembly  22  is pivotably attached to rear panel  56  at pivot  68 . Pivotably attached to the floor  66  at pivot  70  is what will become the ballot compartment divider  72 . What will become the side panels  52  of the assembly  22  are pivotably attached to their respective sides at pivot  74  and pivotably attached to the front  54  and rear  56  panels at pivot  76 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9-11 , the unfolding of the rear support assembly  22  is now shown through the semi-cross-sectional top and side views of these figures.  FIGS. 9A ,  10 A and  11 A illustrate the top view while  FIGS. 9B ,  10 B and  11 B illustrate the corresponding side view. These figures show the progression of the panels, floor and divider as the front panel  54  is extended away from the rear panel  56 . Note the attachment of the divider  72  with the rear panel  56  at  78  in FIG.  10 A. The preferred securement means is a pivotably attached elongated rigid member ( 78 ) that enables the divider  72  to settle at a perpendicular position with the floor  66  when the assembly  22  is in the operable state, thereby acting as a divider wall for the ballot compartments. It will be understood that the ballot assembly must inherently include means to prevent access to the internal compartments unless entered through the doors. In the preferred embodiment, all of the movable panels are locked in place when set-up is complete. Such locks are discussed herein (supra) with respect to the locking assembly  26 , but may also include a number of locking members or guards  80  (FIG.  11 B). 
   The base assembly  16  of the preferred embodiment will now be described in  FIGS. 12A-E  as it relates to the electronic ballot tabulating machine  18  to be used in conjunction with the present invention.  FIG. 12A  shows the shield  28  raised to provide access to the recess  24 , connection means  42  and the slot in the base assembly  16  by which ballots are fed from the ballot tabulating machine  18  through to the respective subcompartments of the rear support assembly  22 .  FIG. 12B  shows the electronic tabulating device  18  fitted within the recess  24  of the base assembly  16 . The locking assembly  26  then locks the device  18  within the recess of top housing  17  (FIG.  12 D). The wings  32  of shield  28  can be exposed and rested on the housing (FIG.  12 C), or the wings  32  can be folded into the shield  28  and the ballot tabulating device  18  will be locked thereunder when the locking tabs  34  receive the locking pins of locking assembly  26  (FIG.  12 E). 
   The present invention can incorporate a ballot sorting device or a ballot deflector device in communication with the ballot tabulating device  18 . Such a deflector is shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . As previously discussed, the rear support assembly  22  can be divided via divider  72  into two subcompartments, a front subcompartment  82  and a rear subcompartment  84 . The deflector  86 , in response to the ballot tabulating device&#39;s determination, for example, of a voted ballot or a write-in ballot (i.e. control effect), will route the ballot  88  into the respective compartment. 
   The locking assembly  26  of the preferred embodiment is more specifically described in FIG.  14 . The actuator thereof consists of a keylock  90  connected to locking pins  92 . These locking pins  92  are positioned via brackets  94  to extend through a hole  96  in the base housing  17 . This locking assembly  26  can, therefore, secure the unit  10  for transport/storage by locking down the shield  28 , and/or can secure the unit  10  during use by locking in the ballot tabulating device  18 . 
   For additional security, the locking assembly  26 , as well as the integral parts of the rear support assembly  22 , can utilize the pin and seal locking components shown in FIG.  15 . With respect to the locking assembly  26 , the locking pins  92  thereof pass through holes  96  in housing  17  and can be clasped with a one-time wire seal  98 . Similarly, the panels of the rear support assembly  22  may similarly utilize pins  100  in communication with holes  102  and can be sealed by similar one-time wire seals  98 . 
   The ballot box of the invention can be economically manufactured from a high-impact thermo plastic using conventional molding techniques. It will be appreciated that the ballot box can, in an alternate embodiment, be designed with a single ballot container in the rear support assembly, and that the auxiliary ballot compartment in the front support assembly can be omitted if not required. 
   While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.