Two-part apparatus and method for protecting coin-operated telephones
AssigneeRenault Metal Products, Ltd.
InventorDavid Ohayon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention described herein provides a protective cover assembly for a coin-operated telephone having a coinbox-containing region which includes a protective cover plate dimensioned and configured for removable attachment adjacent the coinbox-containing region of the telephone, and a removable access plate associated with the protective cover plate for gaining access to the coinbox disposed within the coinbox-containing region of the telephone. The two-part construction eliminates the need for removal of the full protective cover assembly in order to gain access to the coinbox of the telephone.
Claims18
A protective cover assembly for a coin-operated telephone having a coinbox-containing region, which comprises:
- a) a first plate dimensioned and configured for attachment adjacent the coinbox-containing region of the telephone, said first plate defining a generally planar front face portion including means for gaining authorized access to the coinbox of the telephone, and an underturned flange which depends therefrom to protect an undersurface portion of the telephone;
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- b) a second plate associated with and complementary to said first plate for protecting said means for gaining authorized access to said coinbox, said second plate having a generally planar front face portion, said generally planar front face portion of said first plate and said generally planar front face portion of said second plate are in generally planar alignment when said second plate is in a position to prevent unwanted insertion of a foreign object between said first plate and said second plate and thereby inhibit unauthorized access through said coinbox access means.
A protective cover assembly for a coin-operated telephone having a coinbox-containing region, which comprises:
- a) a protective cover plate dimensioned and configured for permanent attachment adjacent the coinbox-containing region of the telephone, said protective cover plate having an access port formed in a front face portion thereof for gaining authorized access to the coinbox of the telephone, said front face portion having a generally planar outer surface portion at least in an area surrounding said access port, and including a depending flange portion for covering at least a portion of the undersurface of the telephone;
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- b) a removable access plate associated with and complementary to said protective cover plate for protecting said access port, said access plate having a generally planar outer surface portion at least adjacent the periphery, said generally planar outer surface portion of said access plate and said generally planar outer surface portion of said front face portion of said cover plate being in adjacent relationship and in generally planar alignment with each other when said access plate is positioned within said access port to define a substantially continuous frontal surface region with said protective cover plate to prevent unwanted insertion of a foreign object between said access plate and said cover plate and thereby inhibit unauthorized access to said coinbox.
A method of protecting a coin-operated telephone from unauthorized removal of user deposited coins, the telephone containing a coinbox for reception of the user deposited coins, the coinbox having an entry door which includes a lock for removal of the user deposited coins, comprising:
- a) providing a protective cover plate dimensioned and configured for attachment to the telephone so as to extend across the width of the telephone in the coinbox-containing region and defining an access port in a front face portion for gaining access to the coinbox of the telephone, said front face portion having a generally planar outer surface portion at least in an area surrounding said access port, and including an underturned flange configured to protect an undersurface portion of the telephone;
- b) providing a removable access plate for protecting said access port in said protective cover plate, said access plate having a generally planar outer surface portion at least adjacent the periphery;
- c) mounting the entry door of the coinbox adjacent an internal surface of said removable access plate;
- d) positioning said removable access plate in said access port of said protective cover plate such that said generally planar outer surface portion of said access plate and said generally planar outer surface portion of said front face portion of said protective cover plate are in adjacent relationship and in generally planar alignment with each other to define a substantially continuous frontal surface region;
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- e) securing the entry door of the coinbox to prevent unauthorized removal of the user deposited coins from the telephone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.