Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including specific check passageway
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-21
2001-08-07
Bartuska, F. J. (Department: 3652)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including specific check passageway
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269929
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates, generally, to coin operated machines such as telephones, vending machines, parking meters, laundry machines and other types of coin operated devices, more specifically, it relates to an improved coin receiving and delivery device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coin operated devices such as telephones and vending machines generally have a face plate containing an entrance or coin slot for receiving a coin. The face plate has a coin chute or channel behind the coin slot for allowing passage of the coins into the coin mechanism. The coin mechanism evaluates the entered coins and causes the coin operated device to operate as desired.
The coin chute must be open and clear enough to allow free and reliable passage of the deposited coins into the coin mechanism. This open, semi-straight coin path provides a reliable and easy to use face plate, however, it has also become an easy, open target susceptible to criminal activity.
Various methods are used to illegally remove coins from coin operated devices such as parking meters. The more popular theft techniques involve: a. the placement of stuffing material deep inside the coin passage for the collection of coins to be later picked out (retrieved) or pushed into the coin return chute, b. the placement of wire type devices into the coin slot to damage the coin mechanism and force coin removal; and c. the injection of glue and glue-like substances into the coin slot to store deposited coins for later removal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a coin guard and telephone face plate, which overcomes the herein-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type, which provides greater protection to the coin mechanism.
The unique configuration of the coin guard assists in preventing criminal activity and vandalism. First, the coin guard helps prevent the insertion of stuffing material deep inside the coin chute by making access to the chute of the coin mechanism more difficult than the prior art devices. Second, it makes the insertion of a wire-like device into the coin operated device more difficult as one now must overcome the indirect coin chute formed by the coin guard. Only discontinuous, round, coin-like objects having a maximum diameter of about 1 {fraction (3/32)}inches and a maximum thickness of about {fraction (3/32)} inches can negate the offset or indirect path of the coin chute in the coin guard. Continuous objects like wires, coat hangers or blades are prohibited by the combination of the lateral translation of the coin entrance and the forward translation needed to navigate the coin chute. In other words, only round, flat, limited diametered objects can freely travel within the coin guard. Third, the coin guard obstructs the injection of glue-like substances into the coin mechanism and thus prevents damage, malfunction or fraud of the coin mechanism. Fourth, the coin guard acts as a visual deterrent to those contemplating illegal activity relating to the coin operated device. Fifth, the coin guard reduces vandalism to the coin operated device as the internal mechanisms are harder to access. Sixth, the coin guard controls the insertion rate of coins into the coin mechanism by regulating the speed of coin insertion and thus prevents rapid coin insertion jamming techniques. Seventh, the coin guard acts as a visual positive advertisement to the user that this machine is protected and is more likely to be in proper working order than an unprotected coin operated machine.
The coin guard can be retrofitted into existing machines as the coin guard can be manufactured to be compatible with any face plate configuration.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a coin guard, including: a back plate; a body connected to the back plate, the body having a coin entry and a coin channel formed therein, the coin entry communicating with the coin channel; and the body having a first width in a region closest to the back plate and a second width in a region furthest from the back plate, the second width greater than the first width.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the coin entry is circular in shape.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the coin entry has a depth of at least ⅝ inches.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the body extends out substantially perpendicular from the back plate.
In accordance with a further added feature of the invention, there is a reinforcement disposed on the body for strengthening the body.
In accordance with a further additional feature of the invention, the body has a right-side face and a left-side face and the coin entry is disposed on either the right-side face or the left-side face.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the coin guard components are manufactured from materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, other metals, metal alloys, composites and plastics.
In accordance with yet another added feature of the invention, the coin channel has a length of at least ⅜ inches.
In accordance with yet another additional feature of the invention, the first width is at least {fraction (9/16)} of an inch and the second width is at least ¾ of an inch.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the body has a rounded front face.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the back plate has at least one hole formed therein.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, in combination with a telephone having a coin evaluating mechanism and a front surface, a face plate including: a face plate body dimensioned to fit over the front surface of the telephone; and a coin guard having a coin entry and a coin channel with a coin slot formed therein disposed on the face plate body and communicating with the coin evaluating mechanism.
The invention is a specially configured security device to prevent one from tampering with the coin operated device. More specifically, the coin guard is configured to prevent the insertion of a wire and similar continuous objects into the coin operated devices for committing fraud and/or damaging the coin operated devices having coin mechanisms. In this regard, the length of the coin travel path or coin channel has been increased, the depth of the coin entry has been increased, and the coin entry is formed in a tapered body resulting in an overhang over the coin entry. The combination of features is effective in preventing criminal wire action known as “wire rotation advancement”. First, the tapered body worsens the effective angle in which a wire must be inserted in order to access the coin mechanism. Second, the depth of the coin entry further increases the angle in which a wire-like device must be entered and the length of the travel path the wire must undergo in order to reach the coin mechanism. Third, the increased length of the coin channel further hampers the ability of inserting the wire through the coin guard and into the coin mechanism. In this manner, a straight wire is prevented from entry and a wire bent at various locations and rotationally advanced must overcome the various impediments presented by the coin guard.
Furthermore, a triangular reinforcement web is positioned on the wall of the coin path for preventing the distortion or widening of the coin channel to allow better access to the coin operated mechanism. The triangular reinforcement web is configured to withstand hammer blows and the like for opening up the coin guard to allow advancement to the coin mechanism.
No previous prior art device is believed to teach this level of protection to a coin operated device as provided by the unique features of the coin guard. Each mentioned feature has by itself a unique function (i.e. providing a greater angle, length, and/or strength) for preventing fraud or damage to the coin mechanis
Bartuska F. J.
Greenber Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Stemer Werner H.
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