Abstract:
An electronic coin bank comprises a coin bank, a coin-throwing device and a circuit structure, which changed the single function of saving money of a conventional coin bank into an electronic coin bank, wherein a coin-throwing device is provided for setting the values of the coins and throwing the coins, a circuit structure is provided for setting the stored values, the preparedly stored values, the saving progress, the rewarding music, time and alarm clock, and a transmission connector is connected to a computer. Since the diversifying of the functions and by using the finance-managing software installed in the computer, the children will form a good habit of saving.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a coin bank, and more particularly to an electronic coin bank which changed the single function of saving money of a conventional coin bank into an electronic coin bank, wherein a coin-throwing device is provided for setting the values of the coins and throwing the coins, a circuit structure is provided for setting the stored values, the preparedly stored values, the saving progress, the rewarding music, time and alarm clock, and a transmission connector is connected to a computer. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A conventional coin bank is hollow-shaped, a suitable position of the coin bank is formed with a coin-entering hole, and another suitable position of the coin bank is formed with a coin-taking hole so as to store the coins in the coin bank and form a good habit of saving. However, for a long time, the manufacturers mainly focus on the shape of the coin bank, which has some disadvantages described as follows: 
         [0005]    Firstly, the conventional coin bank is unable to know the total of the stored coins at any time. 
         [0006]    Secondly, if you want to know the total of the stored coins in the coin bank, you must take out all the coins in the coin bank and count artificially, so every time the user have to repeat such action. 
         [0007]    Thirdly, since the kinds of the coins are different and the numbers of the coins are too many, the accuracy of counting will be reduced, and the process of counting will cost a lot of time. 
         [0008]    Fourthly, the pure changing of the shape of the coin bank is unable to produce user&#39;s interests, and after a long time, the user will throw the coin bank away. 
         [0009]    The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic coin bank, wherein a coin-throwing device is provided for distinguishing the values of the coins and throwing the coins, a circuit structure is provided for setting the kinds of the coins, the numbers of the coins, the stored values, the preparedly stored values, the saving progress, the rewarding music, time and alarm clock, and a transmission connector is connected to a computer. 
         [0011]    The second primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic coin bank, wherein the transmission connector of the circuit structure is connected to the computer, so that the user can program and manage the coins stored in the coin bank and show the value of each coin by the finance-managing software installed in the computer and compatible with the circuit structure of the coin bank. 
         [0012]    The third primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic coin bank, wherein the user can know the total of the coins stored in the coin bank, the number of each coin and the saving progress at any time without counting artificially. Thereby the present invention can save manpower and time. 
         [0013]    The further primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic coin bank which can set the saving goal according to the capability of the user, and implement the saving progress according to the saving goal set by the user. Once reaching a saving progress, the system will provide the rewarding music to the user, in addition to increase the saving interests of the user, the present invention has the effects of rewarding and entertainment. 
         [0014]    The present invention is characterized in that: the electronic coin bank comprises a coin bank, a coin-throwing device and a circuit structure. The coin bank is provided for collecting the coins, and the coin-throwing device is mounted in the coin bank that is located correspondingly to a hole, such that the circuit structure can receive the signals of the coin-throwing device. A displaying panel and a plurality of setting buttons are disposed adjacent to the hole of the coin bank so as to show the set functions and the operation of the set functions of the circuit structure. The bottom of the coin bank is formed with another hole having a cover, a battery container and a transmission hole, such that the power and part of the functions of the circuit structure will return to zero. Since the transmission connector of the circuit structure is connected to the transmission hole, the user can communicate with the computer by means of substantial transmission lines or wireless transmission. The circuit structure is provided for setting the kinds of the coins, the numbers of the coins, the stored values, saving goal (the preparedly stored values), the saving progress, the rewarding music, time and alarm clock, and the transmission connector is connected to the computer. 
         [0015]    The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic coin bank in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the electronic coin bank in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the electronic coin bank in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an illustrative view of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the electronic coin bank in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is an illustrative view of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a circuit structure of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a displaying panel and setting buttons of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic coin bank in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a coin bank  10 , a coin-throwing device  20  (not shown) and a circuit structure  30  (not shown). The coin bank  10  is provided for collecting coins  40  (not shown), an upper surface of the coin bank  10  is defined with a hole  11 , a displaying panel  12  and a plurality of setting buttons  13  are disposed adjacent to the hole  11 , and the bottom of the coin bank  10  is formed with a hole  141  (not shown) having a cover  14 , a battery container  15  and a transmission hole  16 . The coin-throwing device  20  (not shown) and the circuit structure  30  (not shown) are mounted in the coin bank  10  that are located correspondingly to the hole  11 , and the coin-throwing device  20  is electrically connected to the circuit structure  30 , such that the circuit structure  30  can receive the signals of the coin-throwing device  20 . The displaying panel  12  and the setting buttons  13  of the coin bank  10  are electrically connected to the circuit structure  30  so as to show the set functions and the operation of the set functions of the circuit structure  30 , and the battery container  15  is provided for supplying power to the circuit structure  30 . The cover  14  is electrically connected to the circuit structure  30 , so that when the user opens the cover  14  to take the coins  40  of the coin bank  10  out of the hole  141 , part of the functions will return to zero (described in detail later). The transmission hole  16  of the coin bank  10  is electrically connected to a transmission connector  34  provided by the circuit structure  30 , such that the user can communicate with the computer by means of substantial transmission lines or wireless transmission (such as infrared ray, wireless electric wave and bluetooth). By such arrangements, the user can program and manage the coins stored in the coin bank  10  and show the value of each coin  40  by the finance-managing software installed in the computer and compatible with the circuit structure  30  of the coin bank  10 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , one side of the coin-throwing device  20  is repeatedly disposed with a circuit structure  30  and is provided for measuring and throwing the coin  40  (not shown), and the coin-throwing device  20  includes a front and a rear plates  21 , a left and a right sliding blocks  22 , a sensing assembly  23  and an elastic element  24 . The front and rear plates  21  are combined to form a coin-entering hole  211  located correspondingly to the hole  11  of the coin bank  10 , and both sides of the plate  21  are disposed with a sliding block  22  that can moved outward. Between the front and the rear plates  21  is formed two protruded points  221  that are located correspondingly to each other, and the distance between the protruded points  221  is smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest coin  40 . At least one outer side of the plate  21  is disposed with one elastic element  24 , and since both ends of the elastic element  24  are combined to the sides of the sliding blocks  22 , the sliding blocks  22  can be repositioned after being moved outward which is equal to one surface of the elastic element  24 . The bottom of the sliding block  22  is disposed with the sensing assembly  23  having an electronic brush connecting foot  231  and a brush piece  232 , the electronic brush connecting foot  231  is combined to one sliding block  22 , and the brush piece  232  is combined to another sliding block  22 . The electronic brush connecting foot  231  and the brush piece  232  are made of metal and are electrically connected to the circuit structure  30 , thus forming the structure of the coin-throwing device  20 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the coin-throwing device  20  is in a normal condition, the distance between the protruded points of the sliding blocks  22  is smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest coin  40  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). When the coin  40  is thrown into the hole  11  of the coin bank  10  and via the coin-entering hole  211  of the coin-throwing device  20 , the sliding blocks  22  will be moved outward by the biggest outer diameter of the coin  40 . When the distance between the protruded points  221  of the sliding blocks  22  is the same as the biggest outer diameter of the coin  40 , it is the biggest moving distance of the sliding blocks  22 . The sliding blocks  22  are not moved equally, with respect to the change of the reinforcing point when throwing the coin  40 , so the total distance of the moving distance of the sliding blocks  22  and the distance between the sliding blocks  22  in the normal condition is the moving distance of the sliding blocks  22 . At that time, by the connecting method of the electronic brush connecting foot  231  and the brush piece  232 , and according to the actual moving distance of the sliding blocks  22 , the circuit structure  30  will receive a signal. When the coin  40  is thrown into the coin bank  10  via the coin-throwing device  20 , by the function of repositioning simultaneously of the sliding blocks  22  and the sensing assembly  23  by the elastic element  24 , the coin can be thrown and measured to fix the value of the coin  40 . 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , an electronic coin bank in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein one side of the coin-throwing device  20  is disposed with the circuit structure  30 , and the position and the shape of the sensing assembly  23  of the coin-throwing device  20  of  FIG. 6  is different from that of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The sensing assembly  23  is disposed at the side of the bottom of the sliding blocks  22  relative to the surface of the circuit structure  30 , and having two electronic brush connecting feet  231  and a brush piece  232 , the electronic brush connecting feet  231  are combined to the sliding blocks  22  respectively, and the brush piece  232  is combined to the surface of the circuit structure  30 . The electronic brush connecting feet  231  and the brush piece  232  are made of metal and are electrically connected to the circuit structure  30 , thus forming the structure of the coin-throwing device  20 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an electronic coin bank in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, when the coin-throwing device  20  is in a normal condition, the distance between the protruded points of the sliding blocks  22  is smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest coin  40  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). When the coin  40  is thrown into the hole  11  of the coin bank  10  and via the coin-entering hole  211  of the coin-throwing device  20 , the sliding blocks  22  will be moved outward by the biggest outer diameter of the coin  4 . The sliding blocks  22  are not moved equally, with respect to the change of the reinforcing point when throwing the coin  40 , so the total distance of the moving distance of the sliding blocks  22  and the distance between the sliding blocks  22  in the normal condition is the actual moving distance of the sliding blocks  22 . At that time, by the connecting method of the electronic brush connecting foot  231  and the brush piece  232 , and according to the moving distance of the sliding blocks  22 , the circuit structure  30  will receive a signal. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an electronic coin bank in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein one side of the coin-throwing device  20  is disposed with the circuit structure  30 , and the position and the shape of the sensing assembly  23  of the coin-throwing device  20  of  FIG. 9  is different from that of FIGS.  4 - 8 . The sensing assembly  23  is disposed at the bottom of the sliding blocks  22  correspondingly to a lower portion of the plate  21  and the relative surface of the circuit structure  30 , and having a raster plate  231 ′ and infrared rays  232 ′ that combined to the surface of the circuit structure  30 . The infrared rays  232 ′ are electrically connected to the circuit structure  30 , thus forming the structure of the coin-throwing device  20 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an electronic coin bank in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown, when the coin-throwing device  20  is in a normal condition, the distance between the protruded points of the sliding blocks  22  is smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest coin  40  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). When the coin  40  is thrown into the hole  11  of the coin bank  10  and via the coin-entering hole  211  of the coin-throwing device  20 , the sliding blocks  22  will be moved outward by the biggest outer diameter of the coin  4 . The sliding blocks  22  are not moved equally, with respect to the change of the reinforcing point when throwing the coin  40 , so the total distance of the moving distance of the sliding blocks  22  and the distance between the sliding blocks  22  in the normal condition is the actual moving distance of the sliding blocks  22 . At that time, by the raster plate  231 ′ and the infrared rays  232 ′ combined to the circuit structure  30  to form the pulse of the infrared rays  232 ′ by the simultaneous moving of the sliding blocks  22 , and according to the pulse times to obtain the diameter of the coin  40 , and transmit a signal to the circuit structure  30 . 
         [0036]    Referring further to  FIGS. 2 ,  12  and  13 , wherein a memory  31  of the circuit structure  30  is stored with plural values correspondingly to the diameters of the coins and the forms of sound effects (for example, 19.05 mm=one cent/21.21 mm=five cents/17.91 mm=one dime/24.26 mm=quarter dollar/30.61 mm=half dollar/26.50 mm=one dollar). If there is no setting, the diameters of the coins are unable to distinguish. The displaying panel  12  is provided for showing the saving values or amounts  121 , the saving progress  122 , value displaying lights  123  and time  124  via a microprocessor  32 . The setting buttons  13  includes goal setting  131 , goal adjusting  132 , saving content  133 , time setting  134 , hour setting  135  and minute setting  136 . When the circuit structure  30  is operated, there are five conditions: saving counting (normal mode), saving goal setting, time setting, alarm clock setting and saving content inquiry. 
         [0037]    With regard to the condition of saving goal setting, when the user presses the goal setting  131  of the setting button  13 , the lights  123  of the system will be lighted from the second light from upper to lower, and the number of the saving values or the amounts  121  will be glittered. When the user presses the button of the goal adjusting  132 , the microprocessor  32  will receive the signals from the goal setting  131  and the goal adjusting  132 , and the progression of a suitable value (such as 1000 or 2000) serves as a saving goal and shows on the column of the saving values or the amounts  121  of the displaying panel  12 . When reaching the required value, the user presses the button of the goal setting  131  again to send a signal to the microprocessor  32 , and one saving goal will be stored in the memory  31  when the number of the column of the saving values or the amounts  121  are not glittered. 
         [0038]    The biggest value of the saving goal is USD500, and then returned to zero. When entering the condition of saving goal setting, if there has no input information and exceeded the suitable time, the system will return to the condition of saving counting (normal mode). 
         [0039]    With regard to the condition of saving counting, when the user throws the coins of one cent, five cents, one dime, quarter dollar, half dollar or one dollar via the coin-throwing device  20 , the coin-throwing device  20  will send a signal to the microprocessor  32 , and the microprocessor  32  will show the value of the coin by the diameter of the coin obtained from the signal corresponded to that of the memory  31  on the column of the time  124  of the displaying panel  12 . Furthermore, the microprocessor  32  will add up the present values and show on the fields of the saving values or the amounts  121  of the displaying panel  12 , store the accumulation of several values in the memory  31 , and broadcast the music via a loudspeaker  33  by intercepting the corresponding form of the sound effects in the memory  31 . At the same time, the displaying panel  12  will produce glittering effects. When the saving value reaches one-fifth of the set saving goal, the microprocessor  32  will send a signal to the displaying panel  12  and a first light of the column of the saving progress  122  of the displaying panel  12  will glitter, and will broadcast the music via the loudspeaker  33  by intercepting the corresponding form of the sound effects in the memory  31 . At the same time, the displaying panel  12  will produce glittering effects, and a second light and a third light will glitter and broadcast the corresponding music orderly in turns. 
         [0040]    Referring to the condition of saving counting, the displaying panel  12  will show the time on the column of the time  124  (the value of the coin will be showed only when the user throws the coin), the fields of the saving values or the amounts  121  will show the accumulated total of the present savings, and the saving progress  122  will show the reached condition of the saving goal. 
         [0041]    Referring to saving content inquiry, when the user presses the button of the saving content  133  of the setting buttons  13 , the lights  123  of the system will be lighted from the first light from upper to lower, and the microprocessor  32  will receive a signal. At the same time, the column of the saving values and the amounts  121  of the displaying panel  12  will show the amount of the copper coin of one cent, and the field of the time  124  of the displaying panel  12  will show 00:01. When the user presses the button of the saving content  133  of the setting buttons  13  again, the column of the saving values and the amounts  121  will show the amount of the copper coin of five cents, and the field of the time  124  of the displaying panel  12  will show 00:05. After a suitable time, if the system didn&#39;t implement those functions, the system will return to the normal mode of the saving counting. 
         [0042]    Referring to the condition of time setting, when the user presses the button of the time setting  134  of the setting buttons  13 , the lights  123  of the system will be lighted from the third light from upper to lower, and choose the button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136 . At that time, the microprocessor  32  will receive a signal, and the number of the chosen button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136  will be showed on the fields of the time  124  of the displaying panel  12 . Then presses the button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136  to adjust the time, and then presses the button of the time setting  134  again, the microprocessor  32  will receive the set signal. 
         [0043]    Referring to the condition of alarm clock setting, after the condition of time setting, the system will enter the condition of alarm clock setting automatically, and the lights  123  of the system will be lighted from the fourth light from upper to lower. And chooses the button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136 , at that time, the microprocessor  32  will receive a signal, and the number of the chosen button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136  will be showed on the fields of the time  124  of the displaying panel  12 . Then presses the button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136  again to adjust the time, and then presses the button of the time setting  134  again, the microprocessor  32  will receive the set signal and enter the condition of setting the music of the alarm clock. At that time, the microprocessor  32  will intercept and broadcast the stored form of the sound effects in the memory  31 , and adjust the music by the button of the hour setting  135  or minute setting  136 . Then presses the button of the time setting again, the microprocessor  32  will receive the signal and return to the normal mode of the condition of saving counting. 
         [0044]    When the voltage is insufficient, the microprocessor  32  will send a warning information, namely, the columns of the saving values, the amounts  121  and the saving progress  122  will be glittered continuously, and when changing the battery, the microprocessor  32  will store all the data in the memory  31 . 
         [0045]    When the user opens the cover  14  of the coin bank  10 , the microprocessor  32  will receive a signal, namely, all the data except the time setting will return to zero, and the thrown coins must be set again. 
         [0046]    When the transmission hole  16  of the coin bank  10  is electrically connected to the transmission connector  34  of the circuit structure  30 , the user can communicate with the computer by means of substantial transmission lines or wireless transmission (such as infrared ray, wireless electric wave and bluetooth). By such arrangements, the user can program and manage the coins stored in the coin bank  10  and show the value of each coin  40  by the finance-managing software installed in the computer and compatible with the circuit structure  30  of the coin bank  10 . 
         [0047]    In addition, the above-mentioned form of sound effects of the circuit structure  30  can be stored by music IC 35 , and the music will be broadcasted by the loudspeaker  33  via the music return route by the microprocessor  32 . 
         [0048]    One of the sliding blocks  22  of the coin-throwing device  20  can be fixed to one side of the front and rear plates  21 , and the other sliding block  22  can be moved outward, and the moving distance of the other sliding block  22  plus the distance formed in the normal condition is the actual moving distance of the other sliding block  22 . 
         [0049]    While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.