US4491213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coin mechanism for vending machine
Assignee: LOS ANGELES TIMES COMMUNICATIONS LLC
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Filing: 1982-02-22
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Granted: 1985-01-01
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Expires: 2002-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A single leaf spring serves to bias a coin chute and an actuating lever of a coin mechanism. The coin mechanism has a stationary frame. A pair of coin chutes are pivotally mounted on the frame so the chutes open in one direction and close in the other direction. An actuating lever is pivotally mounted on the frame such that it pivots in one direction to engage and open the chutes and pivots in the other direction to disengage the chutes. One spring biases one of the chutes in the other direction to urge the one chute to close. Another spring extends between the other chute and the actuating lever to bias the other chute in the other direction and to bias the actuating lever in the other direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian J. Marcroft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:25
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/045; G07F5/00; G07F5/02; G07F5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A coin mechanism comprising: a stationary frame; a pair of coin chutes pivotally mounted on the frame, the chutes pivoting open in one direction and closed in the other direction; an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the frame such that it pivots in one direction to engage and open the chutes and pivots in the other direction to disengage the chutes; means for spring biasing one of the chutes in the other direction to urge the one chute closed; and a spring extending between the other chute and the actuating lever to bias the other chute in the other direction and to bias the actuating lever in the other direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A coin mechanism comprising: a stationary frame; a pair of coin chutes pivotally mounted on the frame, the chutes pivoting open in one direction and closed in the other direction; an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the frame such that it pivots in one direction to engage and open the chutes and pivots in the other direction to disengage the chutes; means for spring biasing one of the chutes in the other direction to urge the one chute closed; and a spring extending between the other chute and the actuating lever to bias the other chute in the other direction and to bias the actuating lever in the other direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The coin mechanism of claim 1, in which the spring is a leaf spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The coin mechanism of claim 2, in which the spring biasing means is a leaf spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The coin mechanism of claim 1, in which the frame is formed from a piece of sheet metal bent at right angles to form first and second panels, the chutes pivot into abutment with opposite surfaces of the first panel when closed, each coin chute has a bracket with an extremity extending transversely from the first panel, and the actuating lever pivots about an axis transverse to the first panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The coin mechanism of claim 4, in which the spring is a leaf spring deformed in a plane parallel to the first panel, one of the ends of the leaf spring bears against the actuating lever and the other end of the leaf spring bears against the extremity of the bracket for the other chute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The coin mechanism of claim 5, in which the actuating lever has a rigid angled plate and the end of the leaf spring bearing against the actuating lever is fixedly secured to the angled plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The coin mechanism of claim 6, in which the spring biasing means is a leaf spring deformed in a plane parallel to the first panel, one end of the last named leaf spring bearing against the second panel and the other end thereof bearing against the extremity of the bracket for the one chute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The coin mechanism of claim 7, additionally comprising a rigid angled plate fixed to the second panel, the end of the last named leaf spring bearing against the second panel being fixedly secured to the last named angled plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The coin mechanism of claim 4, in which the spring biasing means is a leaf spring deformed in a plane parallel to the first panel, one end of the leaf spring bearing against the second panel and the other end of the leaf spring bearing against the extremity of the bracket for the one chute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The coin mechanism of claim 9, additionally comprising a rigid angled plate fixed to the second panel, the end of the leaf spring bearing against the second panel being fixedly secured to the angled plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
A coin mechanism comprising: a stationary frame; a pair of coin chutes pivotally mounted on the frame, the chutes pivoting open in one direction and closed in the other direction; first and second brackets formed at the respective ends of one of the chutes; an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the frame such that it pivots in one direction to engage the first bracket and open the one chute and pivots in the other direction to disengage the first bracket; a leaf spring; means for securing the leaf spring to the actuating lever at a point between its ends such that one end of the leaf spring bears against the first bracket and the other end of the leaf spring bears against the second bracket to bias the one chute in the other direction to urge the one chute closed; and means for spring biasing the other chute in the other direction to urge the other chute closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A coin mechanism comprising: a stationary frame; a pair of coin chutes pivotally mounted on the frame, the chutes pivoting open in one direction and closed in the other direction; first and second brackets formed at the respective ends of one of the chutes; an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the frame such that it pivots in one direction to engage the first bracket and open the one chute and pivots in the other direction to disengage the first bracket; a leaf spring; means for securing the leaf spring to the actuating lever at a point between its ends such that one end of the leaf spring bears against the first bracket and the other end of the leaf spring bears against the second bracket to bias the one chute in the other direction to urge the one chute closed; and means for spring biasing the other chute in the other direction to urge the other chute closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The coin mechanism of claim 11, in which the biasing means comprises third and fourth brackets formed at the respective ends of the other coin chute, an additional leaf spring, and means for securing the additional leaf spring at a point between its ends such that one end bears against the third bracket and the other end bears against the second bracket to bias the other chute in the other direction to urge the other chute closed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The coin mechanism of claim 12, in which the actuating lever also engages the third bracket when it pivots in the one direction and disengages the third bracket when it pivots in the other direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coin mechanism of claim 13, in which the additional leaf spring is secured to the frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-01 | 1988-07-02 | 1989-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-01 | 1992-07-02 | 1993-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-01 | 1996-07-02 | 1997-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |