The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1990
John A Hird, Dallas, TX (US);
Mark E Kerr, Wylie, TX (US);
Intellicall, Inc., Carrollton, TX (US);
Abstract
A coin handling system is provided to prevent the jamming of coin chutes used in coin operated machines and to keep foreign objects forced into coin chutes out of coin validators and other internal mechanisms of coin operated machines. The invention comprises a coin chute 15 for guiding coins into a coin validator 24 in which the exit end of coin chute 15 can be moved from a rest position above the entry to coin validator 24 to a position above a return chute 25. The coin chute can then be separated into two pieces, causing lodged coins and foreign matter to fall out of the coin chute. In another aspect of the invention, foreign objects like coat hangers that are pushed into coin chute 15 are forced out of coin chute 15 by slots 30 which are formed on the back edge of coin chute 15. Coat hangers or other objects are thus prevented from going further into coin chute 15 and coin validator 24. The same objective is accomplished by a bevelled edge 29 formed on an edge of chute piece 23, one of the two pieces forming coin chute 15. If a coat hanger or other object is pushed into coin chute 15, it impacts bevelled edge 29, causing coin chute 15 to separate into two chute pieces. As a result, the coat hanger is forced out of coin chute 15 and prevented from moving into coin validator 24. In another aspect of the present invention, ridges 28 are formed on the interior surfaces of coin chute 15 to reduce the surface area of coin chute 15 that comes into contact with coins. As a result, wet coins are prevented from sticking to coin chute 15.