US 4,637,507 AGranted

Coin lock device for shopping trolleys

AssigneeRonis S.A.

InventorsJacques Ricouard, Claude Chappoux

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Abstract

The invention relates to a coin lock device having a housing, a protruding element extending from said housing and an aperture in the housing for the reception of a protruding element of an identical lock device. A key element is secured to one end of a slide piece which slides against the action of a spring, which slide piece is connected at the other end with a cylinder core having movable, transversely disposed tumblers. The cylinder core slides in an aperture in the housing and is movable under the action of the return spring of the slide piece to a rest position. In the rest position the tumblers engage apertures formed in the surface of the aperture receiving the cylinder core, out of which they can be pushed by the introduction of a key element of a second identical device into the cylinder core. An ejector movable against a spring is provided in the housing to effect release of the cylinder core and hence disengagement of locking device between the device and an adjacent identical device on insertion of a coin. The ejector also serves to release the coin on introduction of a key element of another device into the cylinder core.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A coin lock device comprising

(a) a housing formed with an aperture for the reception of a protruding element of an identical coin lock device,
(b) a protruding element extending from said housing serving to engage an aperture of an identical coin lock device,
(c) a locking mechanism within said housing having a locking member extending into the aperture of said lock device effecting locking together of said coin lock device and an identical coin lock device when said aperture of the coin lock device is in reception of the protruding element of the identical coin lock device,
(d) a coin operated mechanism for releasing said locking mechanism on insertion of an appropriate coin,
(e) means for releasing said coin on introduction of a protruding key element of an identical coin lock device,
(f) an elongated slide piece within said housing,
(g) a key element profiled with raised and recessed portions, secured to said slide piece at one end thereof and extending from within said housing into the aperture in said housing
(h) a spring urging said slide piece in one direction,
(i) a cylinder core slidably movable within a bore in said housing and secured to the other end of said slide piece, and
(j) tumblers disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the bore and engageable with apertures formed in the wall of the bore when said core is in a rest position, said tumblers being capable of being pushed out of engagement with said apertures by the introduction of a protruding key element of an identical coin lock device into the cylinder core, whereupon said core is movable against the influence of said spring to effect release of said locking mechanism.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.