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US 5,806,652 AGranted
Tamper-resistant anti-theft guard for coin collection
AssigneeNew Jersey Highway Authority
InventorsElizabeth Johnson, Richard Richroath, Joseph Lentini, Robert Torode
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention involves a tamper-resistant guard for a coin-collection machine that receives coins and directs the coins toward a coin-collection machine, while the guard also protects the coin machine from pilfering. The tamper-resistant anti-theft guard has a cover which encloses the inlet opening of the coin-collection machine, and the cover has dual anti-theft coin guards, namely, a limited-access openings on its surface and baffles housed within it. The limited-access openings and the baffles prohibit or restrict the insertion of human hands, human fingers, or foreign objects into the cover or into the coin machine being protected.
Claims14
A tamper-resistant anti-theft coin guard for receiving coins and directing them toward the inlet opening of a coin-collection machine, comprising:
- (a) a covering means for enclosing said inlet opening of a coin-operated machine comprising a front coin receiving surface;
- (b) a limited-access means comprising:
- an opening in said front coin receiving surface;
- a first rectangular crossbar coupled to an inner surface of said front coin receiving surface on a first side of said opening, said first crossbar having a plurality of holes orientated across its length;
- a second rectangular crossbar coupled to said inner surface of said front coin receiving surface positioned on a second, opposite side of said opening from said first crossbar, said second crossbar having a plurality of holes orientated across its length;
- and,
- a plurality of rods having first and second ends, respectively;
- wherein each of said plurality of rods is passed through a hole selected from said plurality of holes in said first crossbar, and through a hole selected from said plurality of holes in said second crossbar, such that said first crossbar secures said first end of each of said plurality of rods to the inner surface of the front coin receiving surface, said second crossbar secures said second end of each of said plurality of rods to the inner surface of the front coin receiving surface, and said plurality of rods traverse said opening;
- wherein, said rods are positioned for allowing coins to, while preventing human fingers from, passing through said opening;
- and
- (c) a baffling means contained within said covering means for receiving coins from said limited access means and directing the coins along a tortuous path toward the inlet opening of the coin-collection machine so that said baffling means obstructs the coin path from said limited-access means to the coin-collection machine.
8 more elements
A tamper-resistant coin guard for receiving coins and directing them toward the inlet opening of a coin-collection machine, comprising:
- (a) a covering means having at least one vertical surface for enclosing the inlet opening of the coin-collection machine;
- (b) a plurality of limited-access means differentially disposed on the vertical surface of the covering means for enabling operators of vehicles having differing heights to access at least one of the limited-access means while seated in their vehicles;
- each of said plurality of limited access means comprising:
- an opening in said at least one vertical surface;
- a first rectangular crossbar coupled to an inner surface of said at least one vertical surface on a first side of said opening, said first crossbar having a plurality of holes orientated across its length;
- a second rectangular crossbar coupled to said inner surface of said at least one vertical surface positioned on a second, opposite side of said opening from said first crossbar, said second crossbar having a plurality of holes orientated across its length;
- and,
- a plurality of rods having first and second ends, respectively;
- wherein each of said plurality of rods is passed through a hole selected from said plurality of holes in said first crossbar, and through a hole selected from said plurality of holes in said second crossbar, such that said first crossbar secures said first end of each of said plurality of rods to the inner surface of said at least one vertical surface, said second crossbar secures said second end of each of said plurality of rods to the inner surface of said at least one vertical surface, and said plurality of rods traverse said opening;
- wherein, said rods are positioned for allowing coins to, while preventing human fingers from, passing through said opening;
- and,
- (c) a plurality of baffling means housed within the covering means for receiving coins from the plurality of limited-access means and directing the coins along a tortuous path within the covering means toward a coin-collection machine.
9 more elements
A tamper-resistant coin guard for receiving coins and directing them to a coin-collection machine, comprising:
- (a) a covering that extends above a coin-collection machine and encloses the inlet opening of the coin-collection machine, the covering having at least one front coin receiving surface;
- (b) a limited-access means comprising:
- an opening in said at least one front coin receiving surface;
- a first rectangular crossbar coupled to an inner surface of said at least one front coin receiving surface on a first side of said opening, said first crossbar having a plurality of holes orientated across its length;
- a second rectangular crossbar coupled to said inner surface of said at least one front coin receiving surface positioned on a second, opposite side of said opening from said first crossbar, said second crossbar having a plurality of holes orientated across its length;
- and,
- a plurality of rods having first and second ends, respectively wherein each of said plurality of rods is passed through a hole selected from said plurality of holes in said first crossbar, and through a hole selected from said plurality of holes in said second crossbar, such that said first crossbar secures said first end of each of said plurality of rods to said inner surface, said second crossbar secures said second end of each of said plurality of rods to said inner surface, and said plurality of rods traverse said opening;
- wherein, said rods are positioned for allowing coins to, while preventing human fingers from, passing through said opening;
- and,
- (c) at least one baffle housed within the covering and disposed beneath at least one coin slot, the at least one baffle having at least one inclined plane so that coins inserted into the covering through a coin slot fall to a baffle and slide downwardly along the baffle toward the coin-collection machine.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.