Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6817938
-
Patent Number
6,817,938
-
Date Filed
Friday, September 12, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 16, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Walsh; Donald P.
- Shapiro; Jeffrey
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A coin holder and dispenser holds coins for use with a slot machine and is used to easily and efficiently dispense coins directly into the coin slot of the slot machine.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of coin handling, and to the particular field of coin holders for dispensing single coins.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Many people enjoy playing slot machines. In most cases, the player is required to store coins for use with the slot machines. Such coin storage can be cumbersome and inconvenient.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine in a convenient manner.
Many slot machines require the player to deposit a coin into the coin slot of the machine. Since many players tend to play a slot machine for great lengths of time, the repeated movement of removing a coin from a storage container and then placing the coin into the slot of the machine may be tiring and difficult, especially if the person is disabled.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine and which can be used in an easy and convenient manner.
While the art contains devices which can hold and dispense coins, many of these known devices do not automatically dispense coins in a manner which is convenient and efficient for use with a slot machine.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine and which can efficiently store coins for use and which can easily and efficiently dispense those coins directly into the coin slot of the slot machine whereby long use of a slot machine, even for a disabled person, is facilitated.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine in a convenient manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine and which can be used in an easy and convenient manner.
It is specific object of the present invention to provide a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine and which can efficiently store coins for use and which can easily and efficiently dispense those coins directly into the coin slot of the slot machine whereby long use of a slot machine, even for a disabled person, is facilitated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by a coin holder and dispenser for use in conjunction with a coin-operated slot machine which comprises a coin holder unit which includes a cylindrical base element having a first end, a second end, an axial dimension, an inner surface, an outer surface, a cylindrical wall connecting the first end to the second end, a coin-dispensing slot defined through the wall near the second end of the base element, the coin-dispensing slot having a first edge extending radially of the cylindrical wall, and a second edge which extends at an oblique angle with respect to the first edge and with respect to the axial dimension; a plunger slidably located inside the coin holder unit; an outer shell unit which accommodates the wall of the coin holder unit when in use, the outer shell unit including a handle having a distal end, the distal end of the handle being movable between a retracted position and a coin-dispensing position; a spring element located insde the wall of the coin holder unit and inside the outer shell unit, the spring element having one end abutting the outer shell unit and one end abutting the plunger and biasing the plunger toward the second end of the base element in the direction of the axial dimension of the base element; a coin-dispensing plunger slidably mounted on the outer shell unit, the coin-dispensing plunger including a hole which is located to releasably accommodate the distal end of the handle of the outer shell unit to releasably lock the coin-dispensing plunger to the handle of the outer shell unit to move therewith, the plunger being slidable between a retracted position and a coin-dispensing position when the distal end of the handle is moved between the retracted position and the coin-despensing position; a lock unit releasably locking the outer shell unit to the coin holder unit when the lock unit is engaged, the lock unit including a groove defined in the base element, a lever element pivotally mounted on the outer shell unit, and a tooth on the lever element; and the coin holder unit being adapted to accommodate a plurality of coins in engaging contact with the plunger and having one coin located adjacent to the coin-dispensing slot to be deposited in a coin-accepting slot of a coin-operated slot machine under the influence of the spring element and under the influence of the coin-dispensing plunger as the distal end of the handle is moved from the retracted position of the distal end to the coin-dispensing position of the handle.
The device embodying the present invention provides a means to store and dispense coins that can be used for a slot machine and which can efficiently store coins for use and which can easily and efficiently dispense those coins directly into the coin slot of the slot machine whereby long use of a slot machine, even for a disabled person, is facilitated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a coin holder and dispenser embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded elevational view of the coin holder and dispenser embodying the present invention.
FIG. 3
is an elevational view taken along line
3
—
3
of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4A
is a perspective view of a coin holder unit which is included in the coin holder and dispenser embodying the present invention.
FIG. 4B
is a view of a dispensing slot which is included in the coin holder and dispenser embodying the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of a plunger which is included in the coin holder and dispenser embodying the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of an outer shell unit which is included in the coin holder and dispenser embodying the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a coin holder and dispenser
10
which is adapted for use in conjunction with a coin-operated slot machine. The holder and dispenser
10
comprises a coin holder unit
12
which is shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4A
and which includes a base element
14
. Base element
14
includes a hollow cylindrical base portion
16
having a first end
18
, a second end
20
, and an axial dimension
22
which extends between the first end
18
of the base portion
14
and the second end
20
of the base portion
14
. The base portion
14
further includes an outer dimension
24
and a cylindrical side wall
26
connecting the first end
18
of the base portion
14
to the second end
20
of the base portion
16
. A coin-dispensing slot
30
is defined through the side wall
26
of the base portion
14
near the first end
18
of the base portion
14
. As best shown in
FIG. 4B
, the coin-dispensing slot
30
extends radially of the cylindrical base portion
16
. Coin-dispensing slot
30
includes a first edge
32
which extends radially of the cylindrical base portion
16
and a second edge
34
. Second edge
34
is spaced apart from the first edge
32
in the direction of the axial dimension
22
of the base portion
16
. The second edge
34
extends at an oblique angle, θ, with respect to the first edge
32
and with respect to the axial dimension
22
of the base portion
14
. The second edge
34
includes a first end
36
and a second end
38
with the second end
38
of the second edge
34
being located closer to the second end
20
of the base portion
16
than the first end
36
of the second edge
34
.
A hollow cylindrical body portion
50
has a first end
52
, a second end
54
, and a longitudinal axis
56
which extends between the first end
52
of the body portion
50
and the second end
54
of the body portion
50
. The body portion
50
further includes an inner surface
58
, an outer surface
60
, an outer dimension
62
, and an inner dimension
64
. The outer dimension
24
of the base portion
16
is larger than the outer dimension
62
of the body portion
50
. The hollow cylindrical body portion
50
is adapted to accommodate a plurality of coins.
The base portion
16
is unitary with the body portion
50
and is located adjacent to the first end
52
of the body portion
50
. The body portion
50
has an access opening
66
defined therein adjacent to the second end
54
of the body portion
50
.
A cylindrical plunger
70
is shown in FIG.
5
and has an arcuate outer circumference
72
which is slightly smaller than inner dimension
64
of the body portion
50
. The plunger
70
has a first surface
74
and a second surface
76
. In use, the plunger
70
is slidably received in the body portion
50
to move along the longitudinal axis
56
of the body portion
50
between a first position adjacent to the second end
54
of the body portion
50
and a second position adjacent to the first end
52
of the body portion
50
. The first position of the plunger
70
is shown in FIG.
3
.
An outer shell unit
90
is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
and includes a hollow cylindrical body element
92
which has a closed first end
94
, a second end
96
, and a longitudinal axis
98
which extends between the first end
94
of the outer shell unit
90
and the second end
96
of the outer shell unit
90
. The shell unit
90
further includes an outer surface
100
having an outer dimension
102
and an inner surface
104
having an inner dimension
106
. The inner dimension
106
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
is larger than the outer dimension
62
of the body portion
50
of the coin holder unit
12
so the coin holder unit
12
can be accommodated inside the outer shell unit
90
as shown in FIG.
3
. The body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
further includes an access opening
110
defined in the second end
96
of the body element
92
of the shell unit
90
. A spring seat element
112
is located on the closed first end
94
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
.
An outer clip
120
is on the outer surface
100
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
. The outer clip
120
includes a proximal end
121
connected to the outer shell unit
90
and a distal end
122
, and has a triangular projection
123
on the outer clip
120
adjacent to the distal end
122
. As indicated by double-headed arrow DHA, the outer clip
120
is movably mounted on the outer shell unit
90
to move between a coin-dispensing position indicated in dotted lines in
FIG. 2
, with the distal end
122
of the outer clip
120
located adjacent to the outer shell unit
90
and a retracted position shown in solid lines in
FIG. 2
, with the distal end
122
of the outer clip
120
spaced apart from the outer shell unit
90
.
In use, the body portion
50
of the coin holder unit
12
is slidably received in the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
, as shown in FIG.
3
.
A coin-moving plunger
124
is slidably mounted on hollow cylindrical body portion
50
to move as indicated by double-headed arrow MD between a coin-dispensing position shown in dotted lines in
FIG. 3 and a
retracted position shown in solid lines in FIG.
3
. Plunger
124
includes a distal end
125
, which is located to abut a coin located adjacent to dispensing slot
30
and force that coin out of the slot
30
when the outer clip
120
is moved into the coin-dispensing position, and a proximal end
126
. A hole
127
is defined through plunger
124
and accommodates the distal end
122
of the outer clip
120
to connect the outer clip
120
to the plunger
124
. The triangular shape of projection
123
permits the outer clip
120
to be attached to the plunger
124
and to be released from the plunger
124
by holding the plunger
124
while moving the outer clip
120
to release the projection
123
from the plunger
124
. The release of the outer clip
120
from the plunger
124
permits the outer shell
90
to be removed from the body portion
50
so the device
10
can be opened to load coins therein to. The coin-moving plunger
124
can be plate-like in shape.
A lock unit
130
releasably locks the coin holder unit
12
to the outer shell unit
90
when the lock
130
is engaged as shown in FIG.
3
. The lock unit
130
includes a base section
132
on the outer surface
60
of the cylindrical body portion
50
of the coin holder. Unit
12
adjacent to the slot
30
, a catch groove
134
defined in the base section
132
of the lock unit
130
, and a shoulder
136
on the base section
132
.
A catch element
138
is mounted on the outer surface
100
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
adjacent to the second end
96
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
. Catch element
138
includes a pivot element
140
, mounted on the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
, and a lever element
142
. Lever
142
has a first end
144
and a second end
146
, and is connected to the pivot element
140
. As can be understood from the foregoing, lever element
138
is a first class lever. The lever element
138
forms a cylinder with an inner dimension
148
that is larger than the outer dimension
102
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
. The lever element
138
is in surrounding relation with the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
.
A catch tooth
150
is on the second end
144
of the lever element
142
. The catch tooth
150
includes a leading shoulder
152
that is adapted to engage shoulder
136
on the base section
132
when the lock element
130
is being engaged to releasably lock the coin holder unit
12
to the outer shell unit
90
.
The lever element
142
is mounted on the outer surface
100
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
by the pivot element
140
to pivotally move between a first orientation, shown in
FIG. 3
, with the catch tooth
150
located adjacent to a location which is in a surface containing the outer surface
100
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
and a second orientation with the catch element
138
in a location spaced apart from the location which is in a surface containing the outer surface
100
of the body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
.
As can be understood from
FIG. 3
, the second end
146
of the lever element
142
moves between a first location adjacent to the outer surface
100
of the body
92
of the outer shell unit
90
when the lever element
142
is in the second position thereof.
As can be understood from the foregoing, the leading shoulder
152
of the catch tooth
150
is located to slidingly abut the shoulder
136
of the lock unit
130
to move the lever element
142
toward the second orientation thereof as the lock unit
130
is moved into a position to releasably lock the coin holder unit
12
to the outer shell unit
90
from a position in which the coin holder unit
12
is unlocked from the outer shell unit
90
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the catch tooth
150
is located in the catch groove
134
when the lever element
142
is in the first orientation thereof and the lock element
130
is engaged. The catch tooth
150
is spaced apart from the catch groove
134
when the lever element
142
is in the second orientation thereof.
A spring element
160
is located inside the hollow cylindrical body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
. Spring element
160
includes a first end
162
which is in abutting contact with the inner surface
104
of the hollow body element
92
of the outer shell unit adjacent to the spring seat element
112
on the hollow body element
92
of the outer shell unit
90
when the spring element
160
is in a use condition as shown in FIG.
3
. Spring element
160
further is includes a second end
164
which is in abutting contact with the first surface
74
of the plunger
70
in a use condition of the spring element
160
. The spring element
160
biases the plunger
70
towards the second position of the plunger
70
.
The coin holder unit
12
is sized and adapted to slidingly contain a plurality of coins, such as quarters Q shown in
FIG. 2
, with one coin Q
1
of the plurality of coins in abutting contact with the second surface
76
of the plunger
70
and at least one coin Q
2
of the plurality of coins located adjacent to the coin-dispensing slot
30
defined through the side wall
26
of the base portion
16
of the coin holder unit
12
. Coin-dispensing slot
30
is sized and adapted to have the at least one coin slide through the slot
30
along the second edge
34
of coin-dispensing slot
30
into a coin-accepting slot of a coin-operated slot machine under the influence of the bias of the spring element
160
when the handle is moved into the coin-dispensing position and the plunger
70
abuts the one coin to move the one coin through the coin-dispensing slot
30
when the handle is moved into the coin-dispensing position.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
Claims
- 1. A coin holder and dispenser for use in conjunction with a coin-operated slot machine comprising:a) a coin holder unit which includes (1) a base element which includes a hollow cylindrical base portion having a first end, a second end, an axial dimension which extends between the first end of the base portion and the second end of the base portion, an oute dimension, a cylindrical side wall connecting the first end of the base portion to the second end of the base portion, a coin-dispensing slot defined through the side wall of the base portion near the first end of the base portion, the coin-dispensing slot extending radially of the cylindrical base portion and including (A) a first edge which extends radially of the cylindrical base portion, and (B) a second edge, the second edge being spaced apart from the first edge in the direction of the axial dimension of the base portion, the second edge extending at an oblique angle with respect to the first edge and with respect to the axial dimension of the base portion, the second edge including a first end and a second end with the second end of the second edge being located closer to the second end of the base portion than the first end of the second edge, (2) a hollow cylindrical body portion having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the body portion and the second end of the body portion, an inner surface, an outer surface, an outer dimension, and an inner dimension, the hollow cylindrical body portion being adapted to accommodate a plurality of coins, (3) the outer dimension of the base portion being larger than the outer dimension of the body portion, (4) the base portion being unitary with the body portion and being located adjacent to he first end of the body portion, and (5) the body portion having an access opening defined therein adjacent to the second end of the body portion; b) a cylindrical plunger which has an arcuate outer circumference, the outer circumference of the plunger being slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the body portion, the plunger having a first surface and a second surface and in use being slidably received in the body portion to move along the longitudinal axis of the body portion between a first position adjacent to the second end of the body portion and a second position adjacent to the first end of the body portion; c) an outer shell unit which includes (1) a hollow cylindrical body element which has a closed first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of said outer shell unit and the second end of said outer shell unit, an outer surface having an outer dimension and an inner surface having an inner dimension, the inner dimension of the body element of said outer shell unit being larger than the outer dimension of the body portion of said coin holder unit, the body element of said outer shell unit further including an access opening defined in the second end of the body element of said shell unit, and a spring seat element on the closed first end of the body element of said outer shell unit, (2) an outer clip on the outer surface of the body element of said outer shell unit, the outer clip including a proximal end connected to the outer shell unit, a distal end and having a triangular shaped projection on the outer clip adjacent to the distal end, the outer clip being movably mounted on the outer shell unit to move between a coin-dispensing position with the distal end of the outer clip located adjacent to the outer shell unit and a retracted position with the distal end of the outer clip located spaced apart from the outer shell unit, and (3) the body portion of said coin holder unit being slidably received in the body element of said outer shell unit in use; d) a coin-moving plunger slidably mounted on the hollow cylindrical body portion to move between a coin-dispensing position and a retracted position, the coin-dispensing plunger including a distal end which is located to abut a coin located adjacent to the dispensing slot and force that coin out of the coin-dispensing slot when the outer clip is moved into the coin-dispensing position, the handle further including a proximal end, a hole defined through the plunger and sized to accommodate the distal end of the outer clip to connect the outer clip to the plunger, the projection being triangular in shape and sized to permit the outer clip to be attached to the plunger and to be released from the plunger; e) a lock unit releasably locking said coin holder unit to said outer shell unit when said lock is engaged, said lock unit including (1) a base section on the outer surface of the cylindrical body portion of said coin holder unit adjacent to the slot, (2) a catch groove defined in the base section of said lock unit, (3) a shoulder on the base section, (4) a catch element mounted on the outer surface of the body element of said outer shell unit adjacent to the second end of the body element of said outer shell unit, the catch element including (A) a pivot element mounted on the body element of said outer shell unit, (B) a lever element having a first end and a second end and being connected to the pivot element, the lever element forming a cylinder with an inner dimension that is larger than the outer dimension of the body element of said outer shell unit, the lever element being in surrounding relation with the body element of said outer shell unit, (C) a catch tooth on the first end of the lever element, the catch tooth including a leading shoulder that is adapted to engage the shoulder on the base section when said lock element is being engaged to releasably lock said coin holder unit to said outer shell unit, (D) the lever element being mounted on the outer surface of the body element of said outer shell unit by the pivot element to pivotally move between a first orientation with the catch tooth being located adjacent to a location which is in a surface containing the outer surface of the body element of said outer shell unit and a second orientation with the catch element being in a location spaced apart from the location which is in a surface containing the outer surface of the body element of said outer shell unit (E) the second end of the lever element moving between a first location adjacent to the outer surface of the body of said outer shell unit when the lever element is in the second position thereof, (F) the leading shoulder of the catch tooth being located to slidingly abut the shoulder of said lock unit to move the lever element toward the second orientation thereof as said lock unit is moved into a position to releasably lock said coin holder unit to said outer shell unit from a position in which said coin holder unit is unlocked from said outer shell unit, and (G) the catch tooth being located in the catch groove when the lever element is in the first orientation thereof and said lock element is engaged, the catch tooth being spaced apart from the catch groove when the lever element is in the second orientation thereof; f) a spring element located inside the hollow cylindrical body element of said outer shell unit and including a first end in abutting contact with the inner surface of the hollow body element of said outer shell unit adjacent to the spring seat element on the hollow body element of said outer shell unit and a second end which is in abutting contact with the first surface of said plunger in a use condition of said spring element, said spring element biasing said plunger towards the second position of said plunger; and g) said coin holder unit being sized and adapted to, in use, slidingly contain a plurality of coins with one of the plurality of coins being in abutting contact with the second surface of said plunger and at least one coin of said plurality of coins being located adjacent to the coin-dispensing slot defined through the side wall of the base portion of said coin holder unit, the coin-dispensing slot being sized and adapted to have the at least one coin slide through the coin-dispensing slot along the second edge of the coin-dispensing slot into a coin-accepting slot of a coin-operated slot machine under the influence of the bias of said spring element when the handle is moved into the coin-dispensing position and the plunger abuts the one coin to move the one coin through the coin-dispensing slot when the handle is moved into the coin-dispensing position.
- 2. A coin holder and dispenser for use in conjunction with a coin-operated slot machine comprising:a) a coin holder unit which includes (1) a cylindrical base element having a first end, a second end, an axial dimension, an inner surface, an outer surface, a cylindrical wall connecting the first end to the second end, a coin-dispensing slot defined through the wall near the second end of said base element, the coin-dispensing slot having (A) a first edge extending radially of the cylindrical wall, and (B) a second edge which extends at an oblique angle with respect to the first edge and with respect to the axial dimension; b) a plunger slidably located inside said coin holder unit; c) an outer shell unit which accommodates the wall of said coin holder unit when in use, said outer shell unit including a handle having a distal end, the distal end of the handle being movable between a retracted position and a coin-dispensing position; d) a spring element located inside the wall of said coin holder unit and inside the outer shell unit, said spring element having one end abutting said outer shell unit and one end abutting said plunger and biasing said plunger toward the second end of said base element in the direction of the axial dimension of the base element; e) a coin-dispensing plunger slidably mounted on said outer shell unit, said coin-dispensing plunger including a hole which is located to releasably accommodate the distal end of the handle of said outer shell unit to releasably lock said coin-dispensing plunger to the handle of said outer shell unit to move therewith, said plunger being slidable between a retracted position and a coin dispensing position when the distal end of the handle is moved between the retracted position and the coin-dispensing position; f) a lock unit releasably locking said outer shell unit to said coin holder unit when said lock unit is engaged, said lock unit including a groove defined in the base element, a lever element pivotally mounted on said outer shell unit, and a tooth on the lever element; and g) said coin holder unit being adapted to accommodate a plurality of coins in engaging contact with said plunger and having one coin located adjacent to the coin-dispensing slot to be deposited in a coin-accepting slot of a coin-operated slot machine under the influence of said spring element and under the influence of said coin-dispensing plunger as the distal end of the handle is moved from the retracted position of the distal end to the coin-dispensing position of the handle.
US Referenced Citations (11)
