Patent ID: 8479909

Claim:
A coin validation unit that is suitable for use in a coin-operated device, the unit including a housing that is configured to be received within a cavity of the coin-operated device, the housing comprising; a front face having an upper angled portion including an entrance opening configured to receive coins, and a lower substantially vertical planar portion on which is located an electrical connector; a rear face disposed opposite the front face and including a substantially planar surface having a left rear button recess disposed on a left portion and a right rear button recess disposed on a right portion, wherein the left and right rear button recesses are configured to accommodate left and right buttons, respectively; a right plane having a substantially planar surface with a rear portion, having a right plane recess configured to accommodate the right button and a right clip formation that is disposed on the right plane rear portion above the right plane recess, the right plane further having a trapezoidal depression and a rectangular depression; and a left plane disposed opposite the right plane having a substantially planar surface with a rear portion having a left plane recess configured to accommodate the left button and a left clip formation that is disposed on the left plane rear portion above the left plane recess; wherein the left and right buttons actuate the left and right clip formations, respectively, such that the left and right clip formations are released from an extended position when the left and right buttons are pressed toward each other; wherein the entrance opening is configured to be aligned with a coin entrance slot of the coin-operated device when the coin validation unit is received within the cavity of the coin-operated device; and wherein a pair of flanges on opposite bottom edges of the housing are dimensioned and configured to be received within corresponding grooves of the coin-operated device when the coin validation unit is received within the cavity of the coin-operated device.