Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including noncontacting – relatively movable parts connected...
Patent
1982-07-15
1984-10-02
Tollberg, Stanley H.
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including noncontacting, relatively movable parts connected...
194 4D, G07F 702
Patent
active
044742827
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a coin-operated lock adapted for installation on a trolley being part of a system of such trolleys, especially shopping and luggage trolleys. The coin-operated lock is arranged for release of a secured trolley by insertion of a coin, and for repayment of the amount deposited when the trolley is returned, the lock having two blockable keyholes for accepting separate keys, one of which is anchored to the trolley on which the lock is mounted. The lock is further arranged so that when a coin is inserted, one keyhole is released for accepting and securing the said key anchored to the same trolley, so that the other keyhole secures a key belonging to another trolley or a coupling unit, so that the other keyhole--when the said key anchored to the same trolley is inserted in the former keyhole--is released for release of the said key secured therein and anchored to the same trolley and for repayment of the coin when the other key is inserted in the other keyhole.
Release and anchoring of the trolley is thus done by simple insertion and withdrawal of a key into and from a keyhole. The keys are suitably fixed to the trolleys by a chain. Interlocking of trolleys is not dependent on their completely correct alignment mutually or with the coupling unit.
The key system also permits a special simple embodiment since at any rate the keys belonging to the trolleys can be arranged as a carrier for the coin, and the said former keyhole can be arranged for only accepting a key carrying a coin. It means that payment and insertion of the key belonging to the same trolley can be combined.
In cases where several enterprises, e.g. supermarkets using trolleys of the above mentioned kind, are situated close to each other, possibly with access to the same parking lot for customer cars, undesirable mixing of abandoned empty trolleys often takes place which means sorting work and difficulty in separating the trolleys of each enterprise.
The object of the invention is to show how a group of trolleys can be gathered separately in an easy way without being mixed with trolleys from one or more other groups.
This object has according to the invention been achieved in the way that the keys designed for insertion in the keyholes have interacting blocking means adapted as codification units which only permit insertion and withdrawal respectively of a key if the code of this key is the same as that of another key so that only keys fitting together can be moved relative to each other for insertion or withdrawal purposes.
The result is that the above mentioned interaction between the keys is only permitted between pairs of keys whose codes allow the movements of keys relative to each other which are necessary to make the lock work. The use of different codes for the trolleys of different enterprises will thus prevent trolleys from different enterprises being coupled together.
According to the invention a simple embodiment of the keys is that they are made as insertion units and that the blocking means are shaped as projections. A very simple embodiment is according to the invention that the projections are shaped as ribs having projections and recesses at their free outer edge. It means that the keys can be standardized with a standard rib, and the codification is then produced e.g. by the rib top being provided with cut notches so that a code is formed which consists of projections and notches.
Another expedient embodiment of the keys is according to the invention that the blocking means are also shaped as handling devices for operation of the keys so that they can be handled easily and safely.
For this purpose the blocking means can according to the invention be embossed so that they form a grooved rib.
In what follows, the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawing in which
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of four shopping trolleys, each provided with an embodiment of the coin-operated lock, according to the invention, so that two of the trolleys are mutually anchored, the third trolley is anchored
REFERENCES:
patent: 3197008 (1965-07-01), Moore
Catena-Locks A/S
Tollberg Stanley H.
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