LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking apparatus for introduction into a recess of a device to be locked, wherein the locking apparatus has an actuating pin and a bolt part which is rotationally fixedly connectable to the actuating pin and which can be locked and/or unlocked by rotating the actuating pin, wherein the bolt part can be fastened to the named actuating pin in different positions. The invention further relates to the use of such a locking apparatus as a transport lock of a carcass part to be locked such as a device housing door of a security-sensitive gambling device, betting device and/or entertainment device. In accordance with the invention, the actuating pin and the bolt part have releasable latching means having a plurality of latching positions for latching the bolt part to the actuating pin in a plurality of axial positions. The latching means in this respect comprise latch contours which engage into one another in a shape-matched manner, which can be pushed beyond one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin with elastic deformation and which can latch into one another transversely to the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin by elastic recoil so that the bolt part is held axially at the actuating pin in the respective latching position.

Claims

1. A locking apparatus for introduction into a recess of a device to be locked, the locking apparatus comprising: an actuating pin; and a bolt part rotatably fixedly connectable to the actuating pin, wherein the bolt part is configured to be locked or unlocked by rotating the actuating pin, wherein the bolt part is configured to be fastened in a plurality of positions at the actuating pin, such that the actuating pin and the bolt part have releasable latching means having a plurality of latching positions for latching the bolt part in a plurality of axial positions at the actuating pin, wherein the latching means have latch contours, wherein the latch contours are configured to engage into one another in a shape-matched manner, wherein the latch contours are configured to be pushed beyond one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin under elastic deformation, and whereon the latch contours are configured to latch into one another by elastically springing back transversely to the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin.

2. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the latch contours of the latching means comprise at least one latch projection configured to be elevated transversely to the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin and at least one latch depression sunk transversely to the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin, wherein the latch depression and the latch projection are configured to shape-match to one another, wherein the latch projection is lowered into the latch depression, and wherein the latch contours of the latching means are configured as undercuts in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin.

3. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the latch contours comprise a ribbed or grooved surface structure at the actuating pin and at the bolt part, wherein the surface structure is configured to be brought into shape-matched holding engagement with a counter-contour piece under elastic deformation of at least one of the surface structure and the counter-contour piece when the bolt part and the actuating pin axially plug onto one another.

4. The locking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ribbed surface structure comprises a plurality of holding ribs at the actuating pin, wherein the plurality of holding ribs are arranged staggered behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin at least partly at the periphery of the actuating pin, and wherein the counter-contour piece comprises at least one counter-contour holding rib at the bolt part.

5. The locking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one counter-contour holding rib of the counter-contour piece is provided at least partly at an inner peripheral side of the bolt part or in a passage recess of the bolt part, and wherein the at least one counter-contour holding rib is plugged onto the actuating pin.

6. The locking apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of holding ribs and the at least one counter-contour holding rib are configured in the form of saw teeth, and wherein the surface structure has a contour such that plug-on forces which are necessary for the axial plugging on of the bolt part and the actuating pin are smaller than removal forces which are necessary for the axial pulling of the bolt part from the actuating pin and for the release of the latch connection.

7. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuating pin comprises a rotary guide part, wherein the rotary guide part is configured to plug into the recess with an exact fit, and wherein the rotary guide part has rotary guide latching means configured to latch to a marginal contour surrounding the recess.

8. The locking apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rotary guide latching means of the rotary guide part comprise at least one rotary latch projection projecting radially at the peripheral side from the carcass of the rotary guide part, wherein the at least one rotary latch projection is configured to be radially elastically deformable during the axial plugging of the rotary guide part into the recess, and wherein the at least one rotary latch projection is configured to snap back radially after passing through the recess.

9. The locking apparatus of claim 7, wherein a plurality of rotary latch projections are provided at the rotary guide part, wherein the plurality of rotary latch projections are arranged staggered behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the rotary guide part such that the plurality of rotary latch projections are configured to be latched with an exact fit with marginal contours of the recess of different thicknesses.

10. The locking apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuating pin is configured to be rotatably received in the rotary guide part, and wherein the rotary guide part is configured to be rotationally fixedly latchable in the recess.

11. The locking apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuating pin or the rotary guide part have axial latching means for axial latching, wherein the axial latching means is configured to allow axial rotary movements of the actuating pin at the rotary guide part, and wherein the axial latching means are configured such that the actuating pin is movable elastically a little axially from the axial position latched and is urged back elastically by the axially latching means into the axial position latched.

12. The locking apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuating pin and the rotary guide part have two releasable latching means, and wherein the two releasable latching means are configured for the releasable rotary latching of the actuating pin in an unlocked rotary position or in a locked rotary position.

13. The locking apparatus of claim 12, wherein the two releasable latching means are provided at an axial support surface of the rotary guide part and of the actuating pin, and wherein the two releasable latching means comprise at least one transverse rib extending transversely to the axis of rotation of the actuating pin or one transverse groove extending transversely to the axis of rotation of the actuating pin.

14. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuating pin comprises an actuating head, wherein the actuating head is configured to be plugged from one side into the recess such that the actuating head comes to lie on a side of the recess, and wherein the bolt part is set onto the actuating pin from an oppositely disposed side of the recess.

15. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuating pin has a circular-cylindrical rotary guide section and a latch section, wherein the latch section has a cross-sectional contour different from the circular-cylindrical rotary guide section, and wherein the latch section lies within the contour of the circular-cylindrical rotary guide section viewed in the longitudinal direction of the pin.

16. The locking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the-latch section of the actuating pin comprises oppositely disposed flattened portions at which the latch means are provided.

17. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking apparatus is configured to be used as a provisional transport security of a lockable carcass part of a gaming or entertainment device, wherein the transport security is replaced by a final closing system.

18. A locking apparatus for introduction into a recess of a device to be locked, the locking apparatus comprising: an actuating pin; and a bolt part rotatably fixedly connectable to the actuating pin and configured to be fastened in a plurality of axial positions at the actuating pin, wherein the bolt part is configured to be locked and unlocked by rotating the actuating pin, wherein the actuating pin and the bolt part have releasable latching means having a plurality of latching positions for latching the bolt part in the plurality of axial positions at the actuating pin, wherein the latching means comprise at least one actuating pin latch contour and at least one bolt part latch contour, wherein one or more of the at least one actuating pin latch contour and one or more of the at least one bolt part latch contour are configured to engage one another, wherein the at least one actuating pin latch contour and the at least one bolt part latch contour are pushable beyond one another in a longitudinal direction of the actuating pin under elastic deformation, and wherein the at least one actuating pin latch contour and the at least one bolt part latch contour are configured to latch into one another by elastically springing back transversely to the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin.

19. The locking apparatus of claim 18, wherein the locking apparatus has a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein a different actuating pin latch contour is latched to the bolt part in the first configuration than in the second configuration.

20. A locking apparatus for introduction into a recess of a device to be locked, the locking apparatus comprising: an actuating pin comprising at least one actuating pin latch contour; and a rotatable bolt part fastenable to the actuating pin in a plurality of latched axial positions along the actuating pin, the bolt part comprising at least one bolt part latch contour latchable to the at least one actuating pin latch contour; wherein the locking apparatus has a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the actuating pin is latched to the bolt part in a different axial position in the first configuration than in the second configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to a preferred embodiment and to associated drawings. There are shown in the drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1: a longitudinal section through the locking apparatus as well as a side view of the locking apparatus in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention in an exploded representation which shows the actuating pin, the rotary guide part and the bolt part in a row behind one another along the rotary actuation axis of the locking apparatus;

[0028] FIG. 2: a perspective exploded representation of the locking apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIGS. 3A-3C: different views of the locking apparatus of the two preceding Figures in the assembled state in which the actuating pin is plugged through the rotary guide part and is latched to the bolt part, wherein FIG. 3A shows a perspective view, FIG. 3B shows a plan view in the direction of the rotary actuation axis and FIG. 3C shows a side view perpendicular to the named rotary actuation axis;

[0030] FIG. 4: a perspective exploded view of the locking apparatus of the preceding Figures, wherein different bolt parts latchable to the actuating pin are shown which are selectively latchable to the actuating pin to be able to match the locking apparatus to different devices to be locked:

[0031] FIG. 5: a perspective representation of the inner side of a device door to be locked, wherein the part of the locking apparatus, including the bolt part, the actuating pin and the rotary guide part, can be seen which projects on the inner side of the door;

[0032] FIGS. 6A-6B: a side view of the locking apparatus installed in the device door from FIG. 5 in a direction of view perpendicular to the rotary actuation axis, wherein FIG. 6A shows a plan view and FIG. 6B shows a sectional view; and

[0033] FIG. 7: a perspective representation of a gaming machine having a locking apparatus in accordance with the preceding Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] As the Figures show, the locking apparatus 1 can substantially comprise only three components, wherein a substantially mandrel-shaped actuating pin 6 can be plugged through a rotary guide part 8 so that the actuating pin 6 is rotatably received in the named rotary guide part 8 and can be rotationally connected at a pin section projecting, from the rotary guide part 8 to a, for example, plate-shaped bolt part which engages behind a contour piece of a bolt striker plate to be caught or releases it in dependence on the rotational position.

[0035] The named actuating pin 6 can, as FIGS. 1 and 2 show, comprise an at least approximately cylindrical guide section 6a which can be adjoined by a latch section 6b differing from the circular. The named latch section 6b cancf. FIG. 2approximately continue the contour of the guide section 6a, but in this respect have at least one, preferably two, oppositely disposed flattened portions at which latching means 10 are provided for latching with the bolt part 7. The cross-sectional contour of the actuating pin 6 in the named latch section 6 is advantageously dimensioned such that it lies within the cross-sectional contour defined by the guide section 6a viewed in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pill 6 so that the actuating pin 6 can be plugged without disturbance through the bearing borehole 23 in the rotary guide part 8.

[0036] At the side of the guide section 6a disposed opposite the named latch section 6b, the actuating pin 6 has an actuating head 17 which is considerably enlarged in diameter with respect to the guide section 6a in diameter and can in particular have the shape of an approximately plate-shaped widened portion. As FIG. 2 shows, the named actuating head 17 can comprise a passage recess 24, for example to be able to lock the actuating head 17 with a padlock or to be able to connect an actuating handle rotationally fixedly to the actuating head 17.

[0037] The end face of the actuating head 17 facing the rotary guide part 8 forms an axial bearing surface 19 which cooperates at the rotary guide part 8 with an axial bearing surface 20 which axial bearing surface 20 can be formed by an end face of the named rotary guide part 8. The named axial bearing surfaces 19 and 20 can contact one another to define the axial position of the actuating pin 6 relative to the rotary guide part 8. As FIGS. 1, 2 and also 6A show, second latching means 18 are provided at the named axial bearing surfaces 19 and 20 for rotary latching of the actuating pin 6 at the rotary guide part 8, which second latching means 18, on the one hand, comprise a projecting transverse rib 21 and a plurality of transverse grooves 22 which are matched to the transverse rib 21 and which extend in different rotary orientations. In the embodiment drawn, the transverse rib 21 is provided at the actuating head 17, whereas the transverse grooves 22, are provided in the rotary guide part 8. In principle, however, the transverse rib could also conversely be provided at the rotary guide part 8 and the transverse grooves at the actuating head 17, wherein, however, in particular with the approximately plate-like contouring of the actuating pin 17 shown in the Figures, the arrangement of the transverse rib 21 at the actuating head 17 shown in the Figures is preferred to achieve a more uniform support of the axial bearing surfaces 19 and 20 on one another over the total rotary region.

[0038] For example, transverse grooves 22 which are arranged at right angles to one another can be provided at the end face of the rotary guide part 8 to be able to latch the bolt part 7 in positions rotated at right angles to one another, which rotary positions can advantageously correspond to a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0039] The latch section 6b of the actuating pin 6 can be introduced in accordance with its intended purpose into a counter-contour piece 13 at the bolt part 7 matched thereto, wherein the named counter-contour piece 13 and the latch section 6b can advantageously be configured such that they can be pushed into the named counter-contour by an axial pushing in of the actuating pin 6 in the longitudinal direction of the named actuating pin 6. The named counter-contour piece 13 can in particular be formed by a passage recess of the bolt part 7 matched in diameter to the latch section 6b of the actuating pin 6.

[0040] The latching means 10 for latching the bolt part 7 and the actuating pin 6 are in this respect advantageously configured such that they automatically latch on the plugging onto one another of the bolt part 7 and the actuating pin 6. The latching means 10 in this respect comprise latch contours which are provided at the bolt part 7 and at the actuating pin 6, which are each formed as undercut in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin and which are shape-matched to one another such that an undercut pair disposed in engagement in a respective latch position can engage behind one another and overlap at least partly viewed in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin. Latch contours, for example in the form of a latch tongue and a latch depression, can in particular be formed at the bolt part 7 and at the actuating pin 6 as latch contours and can project or be depressed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pin, said latch tongue and latch depression being pushable beyond one another in the longitudinal direction of the pin under elastic deformation and/or deflection transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pin and thus being able to latch into one another by an elastic snapping back or springing back transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pin and thus being able to enter into shape-matched holding engagement by which the bolt part is axially fixed at the actuating pin.

[0041] As FIG. 1 shows, the latching means 10 can, on the one hand, comprise a grooved or ribbed surface structure 11 at the actuating pin 6, in particular at the flattened portions 6c of the latch section 6b of the actuating pin 6, the surface structure being able to comprise a plurality of holding ribs 12 which are of saw tooth shape and which are arranged staggered $ behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the actuating pin 6, cf. FIG. 1. The saw tooth profile of the holding ribs 12 is in this respect advantageously orientated such that the named surface structure 11 can be pushed into the passage recess of the bolt part 7 with relatively small forces, but can only be pulled out again in the opposite direction with increased forces, or sets increased forces against a pulling out.

[0042] The counter-contour piece 13 at the bolt part 7 can likewise have a surface structure ribbed or grooved in a similar manner. As the drawn embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 shows, the latching means 10 at the counter-contour piece 13 can, however, also have only a single holding rib 14. Depending on the design of the fit and depending on the material selection, such a holding rib could optionally be fully dispensed with, for example when the material of the counter-contour piece 13 is sufficiently soft so that the holding ribs 12 of saw tooth shape at the actuating pin 6 can dig into or hook at the named counter-contour piece 13. Conversely, it would also be conceivable to provide a corresponding, preferably saw tooth shaped and/or ribbed and/or grooved surface structure at the named counter-contour piece 13 and to configure the actuating pin 6 free of a grooved and/or ribbed surface structure, in particular when the pin is formed from a sufficiently soft and/or flowable material, for example thermoplastics, so that a surface structure at the counter-contour piece 13 can dig into or hook at the shaft of the, for example completely cylindrical latch section of the actuating pin.

[0043] However, the latch contour design shown in the Figures is preferred both at the actuating pin 6 and at the counter-contour piece 13 having mutually engaging latch contour projections or holding ribs 12 and 14 which can be pushed beyond one another under elastic deformation and can latch into one another by an elastic springing back.

[0044] The bolt part 7 can be latched to the actuating pin 6 at different axial positions due to the holding ribs 12 staggered behind one another, i.e. the bolt part 7 be plugged more or less far, as desired in each case, onto the actuating pin 6 and can be secured in the respective position by latching the latching means 10, wherein the holding rib 14 respectively comes into shape-matched engagement with another holding rib 12.

[0045] As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the rotary guide part 8 can comprise an at least approximately cylindrical plug-in section 25 as well as an adjoining contact or head section 26 which projects radially with respect to the plug-in section 25 and/or is configured much larger in diameter than the plug-in section 25. The named head section 26 can in particular form a contact shoulder with which the rotary guide part 8 can be set at an end-face marginal contour of the recess into which the locking apparatus 1 can be inserted. As FIGS. 5 and 6 show, a component to be locked such as the door 2 of a housing 3 of a gaming machine, but optionally also another carcass part such as a drawer, a flap or a cover, can comprise a recess 9 into which the locking apparatus 1 can be inserted. The named recess 9 can in this respect in particular be a passage recess which passes through a panel part of the device to be locked and which can, for example, be a cylindrical passage hole.

[0046] As FIG. 6B illustrates, the plug-in section 25 of the rotary guide part $ can be shape-matched to the named recess 9 such that the plug-in section 25 can be plugged into the recess 9 with an exact fit. The outer diameter of the plug-in section 25 can in particular be adapted to the inner diameter of the recess 9 or to its clearance so that a seat with an exact fit results. In this respect, the named plug-in section 25 of the rotary guide part 8 is advantageously axially longer than the depth of the recess 9 so that the plug-in section 25 projects a little from the recess 9 on a complete plugging in, cf FIG. 5 and FIG. 6B. In its intended position, the rotary guide part 8 contacts an outer side marginal contour of the recess 9, for example a flat outer side of the component to be locked, with the shoulder of the head section 26 and projects with an end section of the plug-in section 25 on a rear side or inner side of the component from the recess.

[0047] As FIG. 4 shows, third latching means 15 are provided at the rotary guide part 8 to latch the rotary guide part 8 to the named recess 9 and to fix it in the position in accordance with its intended purpose. The named latching means 15 can in particular comprise latch projections 16 which project at the periphery of the plug-in section 25 over it radially and which can be formed, for example, by integrally molded spring tongues.

[0048] In this respect, a plurality of such latch projections 16 are advantageously arranged staggered behind one another in an axial plug-in direction to be able to latch the rotary guide part 8 with an exact fit to carcass parts of different thickness or to recesses 9 of different depths. The named latch projections 16 are spaced apart from the shoulder of the head section 26 of the rotary guide part by different amounts for this purpose so that the different latch projections 16 define a different clearance from the named head section 26. Depending on how thick the marginal contour surrounding the recess 9 is, a different latch projection 16 latches, as is shown in FIG. 6B.

[0049] The named latch projections 16 are advantageously arranged group-wise distributed over the periphery of the rotary guide part 8, for example pair-wise on oppositely disposed sides so that at least two latch projections spaced apart from the shoulder of the head section 26 by the same amounts can always latch.

[0050] FIG. 4 furthermore shows different bolt parts 7 which can be latched with the actuating pin 6 and which can be selectively latched to the actuating pin 6 to be able to match the locking apparatus 1 to different devices to be locked. In a further embodiment (not shown in the Figures), a bolt part 7 can have a hook-shaped section which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding counter-piece in a locked position.

[0051] As can be seen, from example, from FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the locking apparatus 1 can be assembled as follows: First, the rotary guide part 8 is pushed from the outside into the recess 9 at the device 3 to be locked, for example the door 2 shown, so that the latch projections 16 latch and the rotary guide part 8 is held at the door 2 at an exact position.

[0052] The actuating pin 6 is then plugged into the rotary part 8. Optionally, the plugging-in of the actuating pin 6 can also already take place before the insertion of the rotary guide part 8. As FIG. 6B shows, latching means 27 can latch or hold the actuating pin 6 axially in the rotary guide part 8. Said latching means 27 can, for example, comprise an annular projection in the passage bore 23 of the rotary guide part 8 and an annular constriction at the actuating pin 6 which snap into the rotary guide part 8 on reaching the axial position of the actuating pin 6 according to its intended purpose to hold the actuating pin 6 axially fixedly, but rotatably about the axis of rotation 28 of the actuating pin 6. Alternatively, an annular latch projection which can latch into an annular, groove or into another latch contour at the rotary guide part 8 could also be provided at the actuating pin 6.

[0053] The bolt part 7 is then axially plugged onto the actuating pin 6 from the oppositely disposed side of the component to be locked, that is in particular from its inner side, and is pushed so far onto the pin until the bolt part 7 has reached the desired axial position which can be seen from FIG. 6A. In this respect, the latching means 10 move into latching engagement and fix the boll part 7 axially on the actuating pin 6.

[0054] The bolt part 7 is simultaneously rotationally fixedly connected to the actuating pin 6 by the contour shape of the latch section 6b differing from the circular and by a contour shape of the counter-contour piece 13 likewise different from the circular so that the bolt part 7 can be moved to and fro between a locking and a non-locking position by rotating the actuating pin 6. In this respect, the transverse rib 21 at the actuating head 17 and one of the transverse grooves 22 at the rotary guide part 8 respectively come into engagement to hold the actuating pin 6 and thus the bolt part 7 in a latching manner in the locked position and in the non-locked position.

[0055] To dismantle the locking apparatus 1, a procedure can generally be followed in the opposite order as in the assembly in order then, for example, to install the desired final lock into the recess 9 by the end customer.

[0056] The gaining device shown in FIG. 7 in the drawn embodiment is configured as a so-called upright device which comprises a closet-like device housing in which a display unit is provided in the form of two large screens and a display field disposed therebetween for displaying gaming information in a manner known per se. A projecting operating panel section which can comprise operating buttons for the game control is provided at the front side at the device housing in a lower half. Furthermore, a mouthpiece for introducing bills into a bill processing device is provided at the front side of the device housing for instance in the region of the named operating panel section. In the embodiment shown, a housing door is pivotally connected to the base housing carcass pivotable about an upright axis. The housing door has a recess 9 into which the locking apparatus 1 can be inserted.