Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/341,111, filed Mar. 26, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is directed to a device which collects donations of paper currency by allowing a person to insert the currency and subsequently cause it to be floated through one or more tubes to a collection box by means of air flowing through the tubes. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to aspects of the present invention which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     In various types of public establishments, for example, museums and park facilities, it is common to feature a donation box that encourages patrons of the establishment to make donations for the benefit of the facility. Often, these devices are simply a receptacle with a slot for the insertion of cash or coins. It has been found that in order in increase the quantity of contributions, it is worthwhile to provide some entertainment to the potential donor in exchange for his or her donation. One known device is the “wishing well” type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,762,512 and 7,704,118 where a coin is sent down a ramp then travels in circles around a funnel shape before dropping into a receptacle at the bottom of the device. Another type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,636 where a coin is dropped into a tank filled with water or mineral oil and the user manipulates platforms to try to catch the coin as it drops. A fundamental principle of these devices is that an opportunity to play or be entertained encourages a donor to contribute coins to a worthy cause. 
     With ever-increasing operating costs, there is a need among many public establishments to further increase donations. As inflationary pressures cause coins to become increasingly less valuable, there is a need to encourage potential donors to donate the larger denominations available in paper currency instead of coins. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system constructed in accordance with the principles herein features an apparatus that can conveniently and flexibly move paper currency or any type of lightweight material of the same approximate size and shape from one location to another. Further, the apparatus provides an entertaining way to encourage patrons of a museum or other establishment to donate money to support the establishment or any other charitable organization using paper currency instead of coins. 
     The invention in one embodiment encompasses an apparatus. The apparatus comprises a donation box with an opening for the insertion of paper currency or other objects of a similar size and weight. The apparatus further comprises a length of tubing connecting an input of the donation box to an airflow device which generates an air flow through the donation box and into a second length of tubing. A diverter box has an input connected to the end of the second length of tubing and two outputs connected to third and fourth lengths of tubing. The diverter box also has an air diverter flap for selecting one of the two outputs. The third and fourth lengths end in collection boxes that receive the inserted paper currency. The apparatus further comprises a switch for activating the airflow device. 
     Another embodiment encompasses a method. The method includes the steps of inserting paper currency or objects of a similar weight or size into a donation box and activating an airflow device to generate an air flow which blows the paper currency through a tube into a collection box. The method further comprises the steps of providing a diverter box in the tubing between the donation box and two collection boxes and using an air diverter flap in the diverter box to select one of the collection boxes to receive the paper currency. 
     A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the subject invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overall view of the currency donation machine constructed in accordance with the principles herein. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C illustrate a detailed view of the diverter box of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a detailed view of one of the collection boxes of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C illustrate the air flow through the apparatus of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 5  illustrates an expanded version of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the figures, in which like numerals refer to like elements, the following generally describes an apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  for collecting paper currency donations. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is intended to collect paper currency donations but it may also be used in any situation where lightweight material of a similar size and shape needs to be moved from one location to another. Airflow device  12  provides an air flow through the entire apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, airflow device  12  is a squirrel cage fan but any suitable device for generating air flow may be used. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the entire apparatus is mounted to a wall using brackets as shown at  36  but it is also possible to provide a free-standing support structure for the apparatus. For example, a free-standing support structure could comprise a number of posts or a grid of support poles in a two- or three-dimensional arrangement. The inventive apparatus could also be wholly or partially suspended from the ceiling. 
     Airflow device  12  should be securely mounted at an appropriate distance from the rest of the apparatus. In  FIG. 1  it is shown as being mounted above the rest of the apparatus but it may also be mounted on any side or below the apparatus, as well as behind the wall or under the floor. The exact location of airflow device depends on site-specific requirements. Factors influencing the decision of where to place the fan are safety, secure mounting location, noise of the device, speed of air flow generated by the device and length of tubing. The location of the airflow device can be adjusted to maximize or minimize all of these factors as needed. 
     Air flow generated by airflow device  12  travels through tubing section  14  to donation box  16 . Tubing section  14  may be made of flexible or rigid tubing or a combination of both, depending on cost, availability and site-specific constraints. Tubing section  20  is connected to a side of donation box  16  directly opposite tubing section  14 . Donation box  16  includes a slot  18  for a patron to insert paper currency. Slot  18  is shown as a narrow rectangle but any preferred shape could be used. After inserting the paper currency into donation box  16 , the patron moves to diverter box  22  and uses handle  24  to set air diverter flap  26  in either a right or left position, then starts airflow device  12  using button  46 , which should be located in close proximity to diverter box  22 . When air diverter flap  26  is swung to the right, tube  32  is blocked causing the inserted paper currency to flow through tube  20  into the diverter box, through tube  28  and into collection box  30 . When air diverter flap  26  is swung to the left, tube  28  is blocked causing the inserted paper currency to flow through tube  20  into the diverter box, through tube  32  and into collection box  34 . It would also be possible to let airflow device  12  run continuously in which case the patron would select a position of air diverter flap  26  before inserting paper currency into slot  18 . In an embodiment, button  46 , in addition to activating airflow device  12 , lights up and, when activated, causes an audible indication that a donation has been made, for example a bell, whistle or siren. 
     Tubing sections  20 ,  28  and  32  may be made from transparent, flexible plastic with an internal wire coil. A transparent material is most advantageous for the purposes of the invention so that patrons can see the movement of their donated currency through the apparatus but the tubing could also be opaque. The sections of tubing may be curved or straight. As shown in  FIG. 1 , tubing section  28  is in a spiral shape while sections  20  and  32  are more of a freeform shape. The specific arrangement of the tubes and boxes  16 ,  22 ,  30  and  34  is flexible and depends on site-specific constraints. It is important that paper currency moving through the tubes can move freely and not get caught anywhere. A certain amount of experimentation is required during installation to determine the minimum curvature of the tubes that will provide free flowing paper currency. Tubing sections can be connected to each other and to all other components in a variety of ways that would be well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including PVC connectors, brackets or collars and thumb screws. Each tubing section may also be installed in multiple pieces, connected so as to provide a continuous air flow from one component to the next. 
     The last 1.5 to 2 feet of tubing sections  28  and  32  is made with rigid material that is vented with holes as shown at  38  and  40 . This rigid material may be a PVC pipe but other materials with equivalent characteristics may be used. As the donated currency moves into tubing section  38  or  40 , the air flow generated by airflow device  12  is vented through holes in the tubing sections. This allows the donated currency to drop down into collection boxes  30  and  34  with the aid of gravity. In an embodiment, optical sensors may be provided in tubing sections  38  and  40  or at the input of collection boxes  30  and  34  as shown in  FIG. 3  so as to detect when a piece of paper currency passes and trigger a visual or audible indication that a donation has been made. 
     Donation box  16  and collections boxes  30  and  34  are suitably made of clear or transparent acrylic glass, available commercially under a wide variety of trade names, so that patrons may see the movement of the donated currency. Boxes  30  and  34  are provided with a hinged cover so that donated currency may be removed, as explained in more detail in accordance with  FIG. 3 . Diverter box  22  may have a clear or transparent front cover with a fabricated aluminum back and sides as explained in more detail with regard to  FIG. 2 . 
     In an embodiment, apparatus  10  is mounted to a wall using brackets  36  and other suitable attachment devices for the various components. Decorations may be applied to the wall and various components of apparatus  10  to support the theme of the installation as shown by the cloud representations at  42  and  44 . Cloud shape  42  also provides a location for suitable signage. Other themes may be used as desired. Various components of apparatus  10  may also be colored so as to assist a patron to select which collection box would receive the donated currency. For example, tube  38  and the brackets attaching tube  28  to the wall may be one color, while tube  40  and the brackets attaching tube  32  to the wall may be another color. 
     In an embodiment, apparatus  10  may also include additional diverter boxes and collection boxes. For example, the input of an additional diverter box could be connected to one of the outputs of diverter box  22 . The outputs of the additional diverter box could then be connected to two collection boxes via additional tubing sections, providing the patron with a selection of three collection boxes. The number of diverter and collection boxes is limited only by the speed of airflow device  12  and site-specific constraints such as available space. 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C show more detailed views of diverter box  22 . In a preferred embodiment, diverter box  22  is triangular but any suitable shape that provides good air flow and suitable mounting surfaces for the tubing sections could be used. In  FIG. 2A , side panels  50  are made from fabricated aluminum but any sturdy material could be used, for example, wood or steel. A back triangular surface of diverter box  22  is also made of aluminum. Front cover  52  is suitably made from clear or transparent acrylic glass. Flanges  54  and  56  in side panels  50  are used to attach tubing to the box. There is an additional opening in the third side of the box, shown in more detail in  FIG. 2B . Air diverter flap  26  is made of rigid, machinable shatter-resistant plastic and is suspended from a rod that extends across the top of box  22  through the front cover and back surface of the box. Air diverter flap  26  has a handle  72  which a patron uses to move the air diverter flap into a desired position. Deflectors  58  in the bottom right and left corners of diverter box  22  are used to improve airflow in the diverter box and prevent paper currency from becoming trapped in one of the corners. They are preferably made of plastic but any suitable material may be used. 
       FIG. 2B  shows additional details of diverter box  22 . Flanges  54 ,  55  and  56  are suitably made of aluminum and welded to side panels  50 . In an embodiment, couplers  60  and  61  are used to attach tubing sections to diverter box  22  using thumbscrews. A similar coupler, not shown, is used to attach a tube to flange  56 . One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to devise a number of ways to attach tubing sections to the flanges for instance, by using clamps and PVC couplers. Front cover  52  is attached to side panels  50  using screws and holes  62  disposed around the front edge of side panels  50 . This allows easy access and maintenance of diverter box  22  and air diverter flap  26 . Gaskets  64  and  65  are made of a soft plastic, for example, neoprene, and are glued to the inside of side panels  50 . They provide a buffer and better air seal between air diverter flap  26  and side panels  50 . 
     Air diverter flap  26  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 2C . Flat portion  76  is attached to rod  78  and extends downward. Rod  78  extends through the front and back covers of diverter box  22 . Bearings  70  in the plane of the front and back covers provide for rotation of air diverter flap  26  so that openings  54  and  55  in diverter box  22  may be covered as desired by the patron. Rod  78  extends outward through the front cover  52 . A curved handle  72  ending in a plastic ball  74  is attached to the extending portion of rod  78 . In a preferred embodiment, handle  72  and ball  74  allow patrons, especially young children, to successfully grasp and move the air diverter flap but any equivalent handle shape may be used. Handle  72  is used by a patron to move air diverter flap  26  into a desired position. In a preferred embodiment, rod  78  is approximately 0.75 inches in diameter with 0.5 inch diameter projections extending through bearings  70 . 
     Collection box  30  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 . The following description also applies to collection box  34 . Collection box  30  includes four side panels and a back panel, generally shown at  90 . Collection box  30  also includes a front cover  92  which is connected to the rest of the box by hinges  96 . A lock  94  is provided to protect the contents of the box and allow controlled removal of donated currency. Although collection box  30  has been shown with a hinged cover, other embodiments, for example a cover that slides open, would be well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It would also be known to substitute other mechanisms for locking the box. In a preferred embodiment, collection boxes  30  and  34  are made with transparent acrylic glass but one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to make them our of any suitable material, including wood or metal. 
     Tubing section  38  extends upward from collection box  100 . Tubing section  38  can be made of PVC or any rigid material that can be connected to tubing section  28  shown in  FIG. 1 . In a preferred embodiment, venting holes  100  are drilled in an equidistant pattern along the length of the pipe as shown in  FIG. 3 . Venting holes  100  are approximately 0.5 inches in diameter and are also continue around the back portion of tubing section  38  not shown in the figure. Venting holes  100  are used to cut down the air pressure flowing through apparatus  10  and allow the paper currency to drop down into collection box  30 . Although the apparatus is shown with circular holes to vent the air flow, it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any shape or configuration could be used as long as the air flow was reduced adequately. 
     In an embodiment, collection box  30  may also include sensors  102  which detect when a piece of paper currency passes and trigger a visual or audible indication that a donation has been made. 
       FIG. 4A  shows the air flow through apparatus  10  when in operation. When a patron has inserted some paper currency into donation box  16 , the air diverter flap is set in diverter box  22  and airflow device  12  is activated using button  46 . In a preferred embodiment, button  46  lights up and, upon activation of the button, there is an audible indication that the button has been pressed, for example a bell, whistle or siren. After activation, airflow device  12  operates for a suitable amount of time required to move the paper currency to a collection box, approximately 15 seconds, then shuts off. The diameter of tubing  14  is reduced as it enters donation box  16  as shown in  FIG. 4B  so as to provide an appropriate pattern of air movement in the box and keep currency from becoming lodged in corners of the box. Air flow continues through tube  20  to diverter box  22 . Diverter box  22  is triangular shaped with deflectors in the bottom two corners as explained in further detail with regard to  FIG. 2A . This provides a circular air flow as shown in  FIG. 4C  which keeps the currency moving freely through the diverter box  22  and into either tube  28  or  32 , as chosen by the patron. Finally, air flow is vented through holes in tubing  38  or  40  as explained above with regard to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment including a second diverter box  104 . Air flow may be directed using an air diverter flap in diverter box  104  into tubing  106  and collection box  108 , or into tubing  110  and collection box  112 . One of ordinary skill in the art would understand how any number of diverter boxes and collections boxes could be combined to arrive at a desired configuration. 
     From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the subject invention has the advantages of, among other things, providing: an entertaining way to encourage patrons of an establishment like a museum to donate paper currency; a way to flexibly and conveniently move any type of lightweight material, for example, pieces of paper or envelopes, from one place to another. Furthermore, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, while specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 3