Multiple coin slot

A coin slide adapted to be secured to a vending machine for authorizing activation of the vending machine upon receipt of a predetermined plurality of smaller denomination coins of predetermined size and value or a larger denomination coin of predetermined size and value in lieu of the plurality of smaller denomination coins, the coin slide comprising:

• a body having a slide passageway and an integral mounting flange for securing the coin slide to the vending machine, the mounting flange having a plurality of coin receiving grooves;
• a slide moveable along the slide passageway in the body between a forward coin receiving position and a rearward vending position, the slide having a plurality of smaller denomination coin receiving openings configured to receive smaller denomination coins and a larger denomination coin receiving opening configured to accept a larger denomination coin, the coin receiving grooves of the mounting flange in alignment with the smaller denomination coin receiving openings and the larger denomination coin receiving opening such that coins disposed in the smaller denomination coin receiving openings and a coin disposed in the larger coin receiving opening pass through the coin receiving grooves as the slide is moved from the forward coin receiving position to the rearward vending position;
• a bridge secured to the body such that the slide is movable below the bridge, the bridge having a first interior shaped surface and a second interior shaped surface;
• a plurality of small denomination coin levers connected to the body and configured and positioned to be moved by smaller denomination coins as the smaller denomination coins pass under the first interior shaped surfaces of the bridge from a slide catch position to a slide release position, in the slide catch position at least one of the small denomination coin levers engages the slide so as to prevent the slide from passing to the vending position while in the slide release position each of the small denomination coin levers are positioned to permit the slide to pass to the vending position;
• and
• a large denomination coin lever connected to the body and configured and positioned to be moved by a larger denomination coin as the larger denomination coin passes under the second interior shaped surface of the bridge from a slide catch position to a slide release position, in the slide catch position of the large denomination coin lever at least one of the small denomination coin levers engages the slide so as to prevent the slide from passing to the vending position while in the slide release position of the large denomination coin lever the large denomination coin lever communicates with each of the small denomination coin levers causing each of the small denomination coin levers to be positioned to permit the slide to pass to the vending position as if the plurality of smaller denomination coins had been inserted into the smaller denomination coin openings of the slide such that the slide is permitted to be moved from the coin receiving position to the vending position by inserting the larger denomination coin into the slide in lieu of the plurality of smaller denomination coins.

A lever checking mechanism for use with a coin slide adapted to be secured to a vending machine for authorizing activation of the vending machine upon receipt of a predetermined plurality of smaller denomination coins of predetermined size and value or a larger denomination coin of predetermined size and value in lieu of the plurality of smaller denomination coins, the coin slide including a body adapted to be connected to the vending machine and a slide moveable along the body between a forward coin receiving position and a rearward vending position, the slide having a plurality of smaller denomination coin receiving openings configured to receive smaller denomination coins and a larger denomination coin receiving opening configured to accept a larger denomination coin, the lever checking mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of small denomination coin levers connectable to the body and configured so that smaller denomination coins positioned in the small denomination coin receiving openings of the slide move each of the small denomination levers from a slide catch position to a slide release position as the slide is moved toward the vending position from the coin receiving position, in the slide catch position at least one of the small denomination coin levers engages the slide so as to prevent the slide from passing to the vending position while in the slide release position each of the small denomination coin levers are positioned to permit the slide to pass to the vending position;
• and
• a large denomination coin lever connectable to the body and configured so that a larger denomination coin positioned in the large denomination coin receiving opening of the slide moves the large denomination lever from a slide catch position to a slide release position as the slide is moved toward the vending position from the coin receiving position, in the slide catch position of the large denomination coin lever at least one of the small denomination coin levers engages the slide so as to prevent the slide from passing to the vending position while in the slide release position of the large denomination coin lever the large denomination coin lever communicates with each of the small denomination coin levers causing each of the small denomination coin levers to be positioned to permit the slide to pass to the vending position as if the plurality of smaller denomination coins had been inserted into the smaller denomination coin openings of the slide such that the slide is permitted to be moved from the coin receiving position to the vending position by inserting the larger denomination coin into the slide in lieu of the plurality of smaller denomination coins.