Liquid diverting coin hopper

A liquid diverting coin hopper for vending machines comprising:

• a housing having side walls, top and bottom walls, and front and rear walls, said housing having an opening in the top and bottom thereof;
• said side walls having rearwardly downwardly slanting top edges, forwardly downwardly slanting front edges, horizontal bottom edges and downwardly slanting bottom edges extending from said horizontal bottom edges;
• said top wall secured to said slanted top edges, and said bottom wall secured to said bottom slanted edges;
• flange means integral with said side walls, said rear wall secured to said flange means, and said flange means and said rear wall secured to a panel within said vending machine;
• a first downwardly extending support surface within said housing;
• a second downwardly extending support surface within said housing below said first support surface;
• said first downwardly extending support surface having a semi-circular edge located a distance from said rear wall, the space between said semi-circular edge and said rear wall defining an opening through which coins and liquid may pass;
• said second downwardly extending support surface below said first downwardly extending support surface slanting downwardly in opposite directions from each other;
• perforations in said second downwardly extending support surface for the passage of liquid therethrough;
• said perforations having a diameter less than the diameter of said coins;
• said perforations countersunk acting to draw liquid therethrough in a syphen-like fashion;
• a compartment below said perforated support surface;
• drainage means for said compartment;
• plate means secured to the inside surface of a front panel of a vending machine, said plate means having an upwardly extending support surface the end of which lies adjacent said rounded edge of said front wall;
• said first and second downwardly extending support surfaces gravitationally supporting coins and liquid such that said coins descend through the bottom opening falling into a coin changer below said hopper and said liquid diverted through said countersunk perforations into said compartment, said perforations acting to prevent said liquid from entering said bottom opening and falling into said coin changer causing malfunction thereof.

A liquid diverting coin hopper for vending machines comprising:

• a hopper having openings in the top and bottom thereof;
• a front wall having an extension section;
• said extension section forming a first downwardly extending support surface within said hopper;
• a second downwardly extending support surface below said first downwardly extending support surface, said second downwardly extending support surface slanting in the opposite direction from the first support surface;
• said second downwardly extending support surface having a plurality of countersunk perforations on its surface and slots adjacent the edges of said second support surface, the peripheries of said perforations and said slots are substantially in contact with each other so as to present a substantially continuous barrier to the passage of liquid longitudinally of said second support surface, for the passage of liquid therethrough;
• a compartment below said countersunk-perforations, said compartment for collecting liquid passing though said perforations;
• and
• drainage means within said compartment for draining said liquid from within said compartment to the outside of said vending machine.