Liquid rejecting coin chute

Claim 1

In a coin-operated dispensing machine having a coin chute and an electrical coin mechanism which is subject to malfunction when exposed to entry of liquid through the coin chute, the improvement for protecting the coin mechanism from such liquid, including a vertically oriented chute having a front face with a coin slot therethrough and walls which obstruct direct flow of liquid injected in said coin slot into said coin mechanism, said coin slot comprising a round hole through which coins are admitted to the chute while vertically oriented and said chute providing a gravity free fall zone for liquid and coins entering said coin slot, an opening for liquid at the bottom of the chute through which the liquid is discharged and a liquid pervious gate extending across the chute and offset below said coin opening and above the liquid opening for diverting coins from the path of liquid and for delivering the coins to the coin mechanism, said gate having a deflecting surface inclined at an angle relative to the chute to intercept free falling coins and guide the coins with the faces of the coins generally parallel to the deflecting surface toward a coin spout which is horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and for discharge into the coin mechanism