Abstract:
Snack and drink dispensers include a lockable pivoting door that provides access to the interior for refilling dispensed items and for retrieving cash collected. A lockable T-handle having key operated locking lugs extending from the T-handle penetrably engage slots in an encircling sleeve to prevent partial withdrawal of the T-handle from a recess in the door and thereby prevent rotation of the T-handle to unlock the door. Inserts of steel or the like are located in the opposed arms of the T-handle to prevent destruction of the locking lugs by drilling through the arms into contact with the locking lugs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to locks for snack and drink dispensing machines and, more particularly, to a security device for preventing destruction of a lock for locking the door of the dispensing machine.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Snack and/or drink dispensing machines have been in use for decades. Typically, such a dispensing machine will dispense a selectable snack, drink or other item upon insertion of one or more coins into a coin slot followed by actuation of a selector for selecting the snack, drink or item desired. Some dispensing machines may also incorporate a bill changer. The coins and bills inserted to pay for the item selected are collected in a cashbox internal to the dispensing machine. Usually, a lockable pivotable door is opened to provide access to the cashbox and to permit refilling of items dispensed.  
           [0005]    Typically, a dispensing machine of the type described above includes a T-handle recessed within the door which is lockable in the recessed state. Upon unlocking the T-handle, the T-handle is withdrawn from the recess in an amount sufficient to clear the arms of the T-handle and permit rotation of the T-handle. Upon rotation of the T-handle, an engaged rod is turned to unlatch the door from a locked position. Thereafter, the door may be swung open to provide access to the interior of the dispensing machine.  
           [0006]    The T-handle incorporates a key operated lock in the base of the T-handle. By turning a key when the T-handle is in the recessed position, one or more lugs extend laterally therefrom into locking engagement with an aperture in a cylindrical element surrounding the base. Alternatively, a bar or the like located proximate the lug(s) may provide the locking engagement. The engagement of the lug with the aperture precludes withdrawal of the T-handle from within the recess. Variations of such lugs and apertures or latch plates are known.  
           [0007]    The T-handle is usually of a die cast zinc composition. This material is relatively soft and easy to drill with a drill bit secured in a conventional portable electric drill. Thieves have been known to drill through the arms of the T-handle into contact with a locking lug to destroy the locking lug(s) extending from the base of the T-handle. Upon such destruction, the T-handle is easily withdrawn from its recess and thereafter rotated to open the door of the dispensing machine. Because of the relative softness of the material of the T-handle and the locking lug(s), the destruction of the locking lug(s) can be accomplished in a minute or so. Such rapidity in destroying the lock of the door of a dispensing machine permits a thief very quick access to the contents of a dispensing machine and minimizes the exposure time of being caught in the act of robbing the dispensing machine.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to apparatus for thwarting destruction of the lock of a conventional snack and/or drink dispensing machine and thereby prevents theft of the cash and the contents of the dispensing machine. In particular, the present invention is directed to inserts that may be retrofitted in the arms of a conventional T-handle used to lock conventional dispensing machines. Such inserts are of hardened material to frustrate any attempt to drill through the arms for purposes of destroying a locking lug or lugs shielded from access by the arms.  
           [0009]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a restraint against breaking into a dispensing machine by drilling out the locking lugs.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a retrofit locking T-handle for a dispensing machine which effectively precludes destruction of the locking lugs securing the door of the dispensing machine.  
           [0011]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide hardened inserts for the arms of a locking T-handle used in conjunction with dispensing machines to prevent drilling through the arms of the T-handle.  
           [0012]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a T-handle having a security feature for use with a dispensing machine.  
           [0013]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive modification to a locking T-handle for a dispensing machine which will significantly impede destruction of the locking lugs maintaining the door of the dispensing machine locked.  
           [0014]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for reconstructing locking T-handles for dispensing machines which enhances the security of the dispensing machines.  
           [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The present invention will be described with specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a snack and/or drink dispensing machine incorporating a lockable T-handle constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the T-handle;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the T-handle;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4 , as shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating the T-handle in the extracted position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6 , as shown in FIG. 5; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7 , as shown in FIG. 5.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a part of a door  10  pivotally attached to a conventional snack and/or drink dispensing machine (not shown). Such a door includes a slot  12  for receiving coins in payment for the snack or drink to be dispensed. Some dispensing machines may include a bill changer to permit payment by inserting a bill rather than one or more coins. The money inserted is collected in a cashbox within the dispensing machine accessible by opening door  10 . A T-handle  14  is recessed within a recess  16  when in the locked position, as shown. The configuration of the recess may be generally commensurate with the planform of opposed arms  20 ,  22  of the T-handle. A conventional cylindrical lock  24  is disposed within base  26  of the T-handle. A key  28  is used to engage lock  24  and perform the conventional function of locking and unlocking the lock. A rod  30  is in axial alignment with base  26 . The distal end of the rod includes a latch  32  pivotally engagable with a latch plate  34  mounted in or attached to the body of the dispensing machine. Upon unlocking lock  24 , T-handle  14  may be withdrawn from within recess  16 . Upon such withdrawal, the T-handle may be rotated. Upon withdrawal of the T-handle it functionally engages rod  30  whereby the rod will rotate commensurate with rotation of the T-handle. Such rotation will bring latch  32  into and out of engagement with latch plate  34  attached to the body of the dispensing machine. Thereby, T-handle  14  and lock  24  control opening and unlocking of door  10  and closing of the door into a locked state.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, further details of the T-handle and its operation will be described. Base  26  of T-handle  14  is insertable within a cylindrical receiver  40  disposed in door  10 . One or more opposed apertures  42 ,  44  in the receiver accommodate penetration and withdrawal of one or more locking lugs  46 ,  48 , respectively. That is, upon turning key  26  in one direction, lugs  46 ,  48  will extend laterally into engagement with apertures  42 ,  44 , respectively. Alternatively, bars or the like for selective engagement by the locking lugs may be used in place of the apertures. Such engagement precludes withdrawal of handle  14  from within recess  16 . Typically, the recess is defined by a metal sheet  54  defining the exterior surface of door  10 . Furthermore, the locking lugs preclude rotation of handle  14 . Without such rotation, latch  32  is retained in engagement with latch plate  34 . As the latch plate is attached to an anchoring element within the dispensing machine, door  10  cannot be swung open while latch  32  is in engagement with latch plate  34 . Upon turning key  28  to unlock lock  24 , locking lugs  46 ,  48  are withdrawn from within apertures  42 ,  44 , respectively, in receiver  40 . Such withdrawal of the locking lugs permits drawing T-handle  14  out of recess  16 .  
         [0026]    As shown jointly in FIGS. 3, 4,  5 ,  6  and  7 , retraction of locking lugs  46 ,  48  permits rectilinear translation of the T-handle to withdraw the T-handle from the recess, as depicted by arrow  50  shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, the T-handle may be rotated, as depicted by arrow  52 , which results in rotation of rod  30 , as depicted by arrow  56 . The interior of casing  26  includes a pair of radially inwardly extending longitudinally oriented lands  60 ,  62  in diametrically opposed locations. Rod  30  includes a pin  64  extending radially in opposed directions. As shown in FIG. 3, the proximal end of lands  60 ,  62  terminate short of pin  64  when T-handle  14  is in the recessed position. As the T-handle is withdrawn, as shown in FIG. 5, lands  60 ,  62  comes into interfering engagement with pin  64 , as shown in FIG. 6. Upon rotation of the T-handle, lands  60 ,  62  will bear against opposed ends of pin  64  resulting in rotation of rod  30  commensurate with rotation of the T-handle. Such rotation will result in rotation of latch  32  out of interfering engagement with latch plate  34 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Upon a further pull of the T-handle, door  10  will swing open.  
         [0027]    By inspection, it becomes apparent that if locking lugs  46 ,  48  were destroyed in their extended position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, no impediment would exist to withdraw the T-handle from within recess  16  and thereafter permit rotation of rod  30  to unlatch and open the door.  
         [0028]    T-handle  14  is conventionally made of a die cast zinc material, which material is relatively easy to drill with a conventional drill bit mounted upon a portable electric drill. Thieves have learned that they can drill through arms  20 ,  22  quickly and with relative ease. The material of locking lugs  46 ,  48  used in conventional cylindrical locks  24  of the type shown and widely used, is also relatively easy to drill. Thus, a conventional portable hand drill with a suitably sized drill bit can be used to quickly drill through the arms of T-handle into contact with the locking lugs and destroy them. With such destruction of the locking lugs, no impediment exist to withdraw the T-handle and permit opening door  10  of the dispensing machine. Thus, the contents of the dispensing machine, particularly the cash in the cashbox, can be quickly stolen.  
         [0029]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an improvement to T-handle  14  which effectively precludes rapid and facile destruction of locking lugs  46 ,  48 . The inside of arm  20  is routed out to form a cavity  70 . A similar cavity  72  is formed in arm  22 . An insert  74  is located within cavity  70  and an insert  76  is located within cavity  72 . These inserts may be of steel or other hard material which is difficult and time consuming to penetrate with a drill bit of a conventional portable hand drill. The inserts may be wedged in their respective cavities. Alternatively, and to permit greater tolerance of the cavities formed commensurate with the planform of the insert, an adhesive or mastic of some type, such as a dab of epoxy, may be used to retain the inserts in place. The means for retaining the inserts in place is not critical since they are incapable of sliding sideways due to the walls of the respective cavities and expulsion of the inserts from within their cavities is precluded by interference with sheet metal  54  forming recess  16  in door  10 .  
         [0030]    With the inclusion of such inserts in a T-handle used in conjunction with conventional dispensing machines, it becomes essentially impossible to drill through arms  20 ,  22  to bring a drill bit into engagement with either of locking lugs  46 ,  48 . Thus, destruction of the locking lugs within a limited time period in which a thief has to act to reduce the probability of being caught is essentially precluded.  
         [0031]    Typically, the depth of cavities  70 ,  72  is on the order of ⅛ inch. Likewise, the thickness of inserts  74 ,  76  may be on the order of ⅛ inch if they are of steel. Other hard materials may be of greater or lesser thickness but generally commensurate with the depth of the cavities. As shown, the cavities are generally rectangular in planform. To minimize the risk of drilling through the arms in the space between inside edge  78 ,  80  of inserts  74 ,  76 , respectively, the cavities and inserts may be curved as shown to permit placing the inserts as close as possible to the exterior cylindrical surface of base  26 .  
         [0032]    While the invention has been described with reference to several particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make the various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all combinations of elements and steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same result are within the scope of the invention.