Circuit-closing device actuated by a plurality of coins
AssigneeMonarch Tool & Manufacturing Company
InventorMitchell A. Hall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coin-actuated circuit-closing device includes a coin chute into which a predetermined number of like coins must be inserted to initiate the closing of a normally-open electrical control circuit. The device is responsive to introduction of a predetermined number of like coins into a coin-receptive chute to close the normally-open electrical control circuit, and is operable upon closing of the control circuit to reopen same.
Claims22
A coin-actuated mechanism of the type requiring a predetermined number of coins to initiate closing of a normally open control circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of coin chutes each having a coin receptive slot at an upper end thereof and coin intercepting, retaining and accumulating means at a lower end thereof;
- a trip element associated with each chute and movable from a normal, coin-intercepting position to a non-intercepting position upon being struck by a coin passing through the chute;
- said coin accumulating means including means to retain and accumulate, on edge, a total of one less than a predetermined number of coins required to operate the trip element associated with the chute, whereby the next coin leaving the lower end of the chute after one coin less than the predetermined number of coins required to operate the trip element have been retained and accumulated in said coin accumulating means, is diverted past said accumulating means and strikes the trip elementt and moves it to its non-intercepting position;
- normally open switch means operable in response to the movement aforesaid of the trip element to close the switch means, all of the switch means of the plurality of chutes connected in series in said control circuit whereby when the predetermined number of coins required in each chute have been supplied thereto, and all of the series-connected switch means closed, closing of the control circuit is initiated;
- and reset means operable in response to closing of the control circuit to release all accumulated coins and to reset the trip elements to their coin-intercepting position.
A coin-actuated circuit-closing device of the type which includes a coin chute into which a predetermined number of like coins must be inserted to close a normally-open electrical control circuit, said device comprising:
- a coin chute having a coin receptive slot at an upper end thereof adapted to sequentially receive a plurality of like coins;
- means at a lower end of said chute in a position to intercept, retain, and accumulate a total of one less than the predetermined number of coins required to actuate the device;
- a trip element disposed beneath said means and mounted for movement from a normal, advanced, coin-intercepting position to a retracted, non-intercepting position when struck by the next coin leaving the lower end of the chute after one coin less than the predetermined number of coins required to actuate the device have been retained and accumulated by said means;
- a normally-open contact member in said control circuit movable with said trip element to close the control circuit when the trip element is in retracted position;
- said trip element including a coin-intercepting and diverting member disposed above said means for movement from a normal, non-intercepting position to an advanced, coin-intercepting position for diverting coins from said chute when said trip member is in a retracted position and said intercepting member is in an advanced position;
- and
- reset means in association with said coin intercepting and accumulating means operable in response to closing of the control circuit to release and remove the coins accumulated therein and to simultaneously return said trip element and said coin-intercepting member to their respective normal positions.
A coin-actuated circuit-closing device of the type which includes a plurality of coin chutes into each of which a predetermined number of like coins must be inserted to close a multi-portion normally-open control circuit, the device comprising a plurality of series-connected, normally-open contact members in said control circuit, one in association with each of said coin chutes;
- first means in association with each of said coin chutes to releasably retain and accumulate one less than the predetermined number of coins required to actuate the device;
- second means in association with each of said coin chutes operable in response to the presence in each chute of one coin more than the number of coins retained and accumulated therein to close the contact member associated therewith whereupon the normally-open control circuit is closed when all of said series-connected, normally-open contact members are closed, said means retaining and accumulating at least one coin in each of at least two chutes;
- means operable in response to closing the control circuit for releasing the retained and accumulated coins in each of said chutes and for simultaneously opening each of the contact members.
A coin-actuated circuit-closing device of the type which includes a coin chute into which a predetermined number of like coins must be inserted to close a normally-open electrical control circuit, said device comprising:
- an inclined coin slide having upper and lower ends;
- a coin-receptive slot at the upper end of said coin slide adapted to sequentially receive a plurality of edge-inserted like coins;
- a coin bypass intermediate the upper and lower ends of said slide;
- an abutment disposed below the lower end of said slide in a position to intercept, retain, and accumulate, on edge, a total of one less than the predetermined number of coins required to actuate the device;
- a trip element disposed beneath said abutment and mounted for movement from a normal, advanced, coin-intercepting position to a retracted, non-intercepting position when struck by the next coin leaving the lower end of the slide after one coin less than the predetermined number of coins required to actuate the device have been retained and accumulated on said abutment;
- a normally-open contact member in said control circuit movable with said trip element to close the control circuit when the trip element is in retracted position;
- said trip element including a coin-intercepting and diverting member disposed above and adjacent said bypass for movement from a normal, non-intercepting position to an advanced, coin-intercepting position for diverting coins passing down said coin slide into said bypass when said trip member is in a retracted position and said intercepting member is in an advanced position;
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- means in association with said abutment operable in response to closing of the control circuit to release and remove the coins accumulated therein and to simultaneously return said trip element and said coin-intercepting member to their respective normal positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.