Controlled coin portal

Abstract

A controlled coin inlet or portal is described that allows for improved alignment of a coin with the coin entry slot of a coin acceptor mechanism. A coin entry slot having at least an upper or lower edge is dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a desired maximum width in a substantially on-edge orientation. The coin portal may include at least one outwardly extending coin guide slot of substantially corresponding maximum width as the coin entry slot and positioned adjacent to the upper or lower edge of the coin entry slot.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a coin portal member having an opening formed therein, said opening having an interior surface comprising interior walls, outer edges and inner edges, said inner edges formed into a coin entry slot dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a selected maximum diameter and width into a coin race, said outer edges formed into an opening dimensioned to be wider than said slot and further dimensioned to allow at least two fingers to position a coin within said coin portal member, said interior walls angled inwardly from said outer edges to said slot, said inwardly angled interior walls dimensioned to inhibit the positioning of said fingers below the lower edge of the coin once the coin enters said coin race.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coin entry slot comprises an upper edge and a lower edge along said interior walls; and wherein at least one edge of said coin entry slot extends outwardly to form a guide slot.

3. An apparatus, comprising: a coin portal member comprising a protruding member having an opening formed therein, said opening having an interior surface comprising interior walls, outer edges and inner edges, said inner edges formed into a coin entry slot dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a selected maximum diameter and width into a coin race, said outer edges formed into an opening dimensioned to be wider than said slot and sufficient to allow at least two fingers to position a coin within said protruding member, said interior walls angled inwardly from said outer edges to said slot, said inwardly angled interior walls dimensioned to inhibit the positioning of said fingers below the lower edge of the coin once the coin enters said coin race, said coin entry slot further comprising an upper edge and a lower edge along said interior wall wherein at least one edge of said coin entry slot extends outwardly to form a guide slot.

4. An apparatus comprising: a coin acceptor/rejecter having a coin entry portal; said coin entry portal comprising a protruding member having an opening formed therein, said opening having an interior surface comprising interior walls, outer edges and inner edges, said inner edges formed into a coin entry slot dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a selected maximum diameter and width into a coin race, said outer edges formed into an opening dimensioned to be wider than said slot and sufficient to allow at least two fingers to position a coin within said protruding member, said interior walls angled inwardly from said outer edges to said coin entry slot, said inwardly angled interior walls dimensioned to inhibit the positioning of said fingers below the lower edge of the coin once the coin enters said coin race.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said coin entry slot comprises an upper edge and a lower edge along said interior wall; and wherein at least one edge of said entry slot extends outwardly to form a guide slot.

6. An apparatus, comprising: a protruding member having an exterior surface and an opening formed therein, said opening having an interior surface comprising interior walls, outer edges and inner edges, said inner edges formed into a coin entry slot dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a selected maximum diameter and width into a coin race, said outer edges formed into an opening dimensioned to be wider than said slot and sufficient to allow at least two fingers to position a coin within said protruding member, said interior walls angled inwardly from said outer edges to said slot, said inwardly angled interior walls dimensioned to inhibit the positioning of said fingers below the lower edge of the coin once the coin enters said coin race, said coin entry slot further comprising an upper edge and a lower edge along said interior wall wherein at least one edge of said coin entry slot extends outwardly to form a guide slot.

7. An apparatus comprising: a coin acceptor/rejecter having a coin entry portal having an interior surface comprising interior walls, outer edges and inner edges, said inner edges formed adjacent to a coin entry slot dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a selected maximum diameter and width into a coin race, the walls and outer edges of said coin entry portal dimensioned to inhibit the positioning of a finger below the lower edge of the coin once the coin enters said coin race.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a controlled coin portal of the present invention showing a coin entry slot, a coin guide slot and a curvilinear interior surface on each side of the coin entry slot.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the controlled coin portal of the present invention showing the coin entry slot, the coin guide slot, and a curvilinear interior service on each side of the coin entry slot.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the controlled coin inlet portal mounted on a coin acceptor/rejecter body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) As used herein, the terms comprises, comprising, includes, including, has, having, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, processes, methods, articles, or apparatuses that comprise a list of elements are not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, articles, or apparatuses. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, or refers to an inclusive or but not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

(6) Also, use of a or and are employed to describe the elements and components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the invention. This description includes one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

(7) Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods that are similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described herein. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

(8) In the following description, numerous specific details, such as the identification of various system components, are provided to understand the embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, ordinary methods, components, materials, etc. In still other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention.

(9) Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or work characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

(10) The present invention is directed to aligning and maintaining control of the orientation of coins as coins are inserted into a coin acceptor/rejecter. As discussed above, a typical coin entry portal is a slot dimensioned to accept coins of a desired maximum diameter and a desired maximum width into a primary coin race. Such coin races can be designed to maintain coins in an on-edge orientation and are downwardly inclined. Such coin entry portals are typically slots in flat plates on the outside of coin acceptor bodies. Flat coin entry portals have various disadvantages. People with handicaps can have difficulty locating or positioning the coins for entry into the coin race. In addition, machines can be located in areas where there is insufficient illumination to allow easy alignment with the coin with the coin entry slot.

(11) Another disadvantage of typical coin entry slots is the ability of some users to intentionally misalign the coin with the designed coin race pathway to evade the separation and rejection features of the accepter/rejecter. For example, some users have found that pennies, for example, can be flipped upwards into the primary coin race through the typical flat coin inlet portal. In this case, the user positions the coin partially in the coin inlet portal, places a finger under the lower edge of the partially exposed coin in the coin inlet portal and flicks the coin upward into the coin race. Given that modern coin acceptors are designed with small footprints and are required to quickly separate out and reject undesired coins, such as pennies, the flicking of the coin upwards into the primary coin race results in either triggering the coin accept feature or evading the initial rejection features for such coins, thereby allowing the coin to proceed down the race.

(12) The present invention is directed to a controlled coin portal that provides improved coin flow into a coin acceptor/rejecter. The design permits easy location and alignment of the coin for entry into the primary coin race. With the present invention, coins enter the coin race at a desired speed and angle. The design provides for easy insertion of coins into the coin race and inhibits the ability of users to evade the coin rejection features of modern coin acceptor/rejecters.

(13) In the embodiment illustrated, the controlled coin portal of the present invention is shown as a protrusion having a well therein designed for fingers holding a coin to be directed into the coin inlet well inside of the protrusion. Advantageously, the design allows for the blind insertion of a coin into the coin entry slot of a coin-operated machine.

(14) In one embodiment of the present invention, an outwardly extending coin guide is positioned above and adjacent to the upper edge of a coin entry slot that coincides with the entrance to the primary coin race. The width of the outwardly extending coin guide slot is dimensioned to be substantially the same as the coin entry portal. The upper edge of the coin is first engaged by the coin guide slot, which then aligns the coin with the coin entry slot.

(15) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2, a controlled coin portal member 1 is shown as a protruding member having an exterior surface 2 and an opening formed therein. The opening has an interior surface 3 composed of interior walls that have an outer edge 4 and an inner edge that forms a substantially vertical coin entry slot 5 dimensioned to allow entry of a coin of a selected maximum diameter and width. The outer edge 4 of the interior surface is formed into an opening dimensioned to be wider than the coin entry slot 5 and sufficient to allow at least two fingers to position a coin within the protruding member. A coin guide slot 6 is shown extending outwardly from the upper edge of the coin entry slot to the upper edge of the interior wall. The protruding member is mounted on attachment plate 7 with attachment points 8 for attaching the controlled coin inlet to the face of a coin acceptor/rejecter body.

(16) As shown more specifically in FIGS. 1 & 2, the controlled coin portal is shown having a coin entry slot that is dimensioned to correspond to the coin entry slot on a typical flat-faced coin acceptor/rejecter body. Both the coin entry slot of the coin acceptor/rejecter and the coin entry slot of the present invention are dimensioned to accept coins of a desired maximum diameter and width.

(17) Referring again to FIGS. 1 & 2, a coin guide slot is shown adjacent to the upper edge of the coin entry slot. The coin guide slot is dimensioned to correspond substantially to the width of the coin entry slot. However, the coin guide slots can vary in dimension. For example, the width of the slot may be wider at the outer edge of the slot, and then narrow to the dimension of the coin entry slot at the inner edge of the slot, thereby allowing easier insertion of the coin into the guide and then proper alignment of the coin with the coin entry portal.

(18) Again referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 & 2, the coin entry portal is illustrated with an inwardly inclined interior surface. The interior surface is angled such that the interior surface provides for a wider opening at the outside edge of the coin inlet portal that slopes inward to the coin entry slot. As illustrated, the inwardly sloping interior surface is a concave curvilinear surface that slopes toward the coin entry slot and the coin guide slot is positioned adjacent to the coin entry slot. Preferably, the size of the interior surface is such that it allows for the finger grasping a coin to engage the interior surface of the coin inlet portal, allowing the user to more precisely guide the coin into the coin entry slot. In addition, the inwardly sloping interior surface limits the movement of the fingers inside the coin inlet portal, thereby inhibiting a user from positioning fingers below the lower edge of the coin. Accordingly, a user is inhibited from being able to place a finger under the lower edge of the coin as it placed into the coin race in order to flick the coin upwards into the coin race.

(19) The embodiment illustrated is shown with one coin guide slot adjacent the upper edge of the coin entry slot. However, the coin entry portal can include upper and lower coin guide slots. In such an embodiment, the coin guide slots can engage both the upper and lower edges of a coin and can be designed to do so simultaneously.

(20) Controlled coin inlet portal can be designed as an add-on feature attachable to existing coin acceptor/rejecter bodies with flat-faced coin inlet slots. Referring to FIG. 3, the controlled coin portal is shown attached to an acceptor/rejecter body. The attachment plate 7 is illustrated in corresponding engagement with the flat-face of the acceptor/rejecter body 9 and attached to the acceptor/rejecter body at the attachment points with fasteners 10. The fasteners can be of any suitable type, such as screws, rivets and the like. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the type of fastener used should not be easily removable.

(21) Although the present invention is shown as attached to an acceptor/rejecter having a flat front, one of skill in the art will recognize that the coin entry portal of the present invention can be incorporated into a coin acceptor/rejecter to make a unitary device. In fact, as those of skill in the art will recognize, a unitary coin acceptor/rejecter can be designed wherein the controlled coin inlet or portal member can be recessed in the unitary device and the interior walls form an indentation. The outer edge of the indentation is formed into an opening dimensioned to be wider than the coin entry slot and sufficient to allow at least two fingers to position a coin within the indentation. Coin guide slots and other features as discussed above can be employed in such a unitary device.

(22) The materials used to make the controlled coin portal of the present invention can be of any suitable material. The device can be easily molded to form a single piece from, for example, plastic.

(23) The limitation on the movement of the fingers inside the well of the protruding coin portal provides for other anti-theft solutions. Thin wires, such as bra wires, are often inserted into coin races in order to attempt to manipulate the coin acceptance feature of the acceptor. The present invention limits the curve or angle of the wire, which inhibits the ability to manipulate the wire in such a way as to trigger the accept feature of the machine. In addition, liquids or debris are restricted from being inserted into the acceptor.

(24) Many acceptors turn the coin at least once inside the acceptor and can de-bounce an improper coin. However on models that have very small footprints, there is insufficient room to turn and de-bounce such coins. The coin return area is directly underneath the coin inlet area and is sloped downwards at about 13 degrees for accept race and then 13 degrees back for the return race. The present invention allows for the necessary control of the coin flow in the very limited space found in many modern coin acceptor/rejecters.

(25) This embodiment can be used on all machines that use coin acceptors. The best way to practice the invention is to keep the coin slot area of the protrusion substantially the same and change the outside or exterior of the coin portal to fit different applications or different machines.

(26) This invention improves the function of using a controlled insertion of coins on all coin acceptors and specifically roll-down or drop model acceptors. The anti-cheat features also significantly benefits all acceptors and specifically the roll-down or drop models.

(27) This disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While a full and complete disclosure is made of specific embodiments of this invention, the invention is not limited by the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, design options, changes and equivalents will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features and the like.