Patent ID: 7007789

Claim:
In combination, a vending machine having a bill validator and a security cover for protecting the bill validator comprising: a vending machine having a housing; a bill validator carried in said housing having a bill slot accessible to the public for receiving and returning bills; a security cover carried by said housing overlying said bill validator; a mask portion of said security cover covering said bill slot of said bill validator and having an entrance aligned with said bill slot for receiving and returning bills; a bill passageway aligned with said bill slot and said entrance of said mask portion defined by a first guide flange and a second guide flange spaced apart and carried between said bill slot and said entrance; and, said guide flanges terminating at a mouth portion of said bill validator around said bill slot and being constructed and arranged relative to said bill slot so that bills may reliably pass from said entrance through said bill passageway into said bill slot, and from said bill slot outwardly through said bill passageway to said entrance during bill rejection; whereby said bill validator is protected from vandalism and theft by said security cover and allows for continued operation of the bill validator.