Claims
- 1. A coin holder, comprising:
an elongate bar element having longitudinal sides, a plurality of pockets each dimensioned to hold a stack of the same predetermined number of coins, each of said pockets being defined by pairs of arm elements extending outwardly one pair from each longitudinal side of said bar element to upper parallel elongate elements parallel to the bar element, said arm elements and said upper bar elements being moveable between a first position wherein the distance between the upper bar elements is less than the diameter of the coins and a second position wherein the distance between said upper bar elements is at least the diameter of the coin to permit the coins to be inserted into or removed from the pockets, and means for resisting insertion or removal of coins into or from the pockets when said upper bar elements are in said first position.
- 2. The coin holder of claim 1 wherein said means for resisting insertion or removal of coins into or from the pockets comprising an upper closure element.
- 3. A coin holder, comprising:
an elongate bar having longitudinal sides, a plurality of pockets each dimensioned to hold a stack of the same predetermined number of coins, each of said pockets being defined by pairs of arm elements extending upwardly and outwardly one pair from each longitudinal side of said bar element to upper parallel elongate rail elements parallel to the bar element, said arm elements and said upper rail elements being resiliently flexible between a first position wherein the distance between the upper rail element is less than the diameter of the coins restraining coins from being inserted into or removed from the pockets and a second position wherein the distance between the upper rail elements is at least the diameter of the coin to permit the coin to be inserted into or removed from the pockets.
- 4. The coin holder of claim 3 which is stackable in multiples of said coin holders.
- 5. The coin holder of claim 4 wherein said arm elements are thickened adjacent said elongate bar to define a pair of shoulders, which shoulders provide support for the elongate bar of the next higher number of a stack of said coin holders to prevent jamming of coin holders one inside the other in the stack.
- 6. The coin holder of claim 3 having a pair of resiliently flexible elements provided one at each end of said coin holder and joining the arm elements adjacent the upper extremities thereof to provide a limitation to the distance said upper rail elements may be flexed apart and to prevent overstressing of the arm elements.
- 7. The coin holder of claim 3 having a notch at each end thereof to accommodate gripper arms of automatic handling equipment.
- 8. The coin holder of claim 3 which is formed by injection molding of resiliently-flexible plastic material.
- 9. The coin holder of claim 3 which is dimensioned so that, when coins are packaged in predetermined numbers in said pockets, said upper rail elements are resiliently flexed away from each other to maintain the coins under tension.
- 10. The coin holder of claim 3 which is dimensional so that, when coins are packaged in predetermined numbers in the pockets, downward pressure of inserting the coins cams open the upper rail elements, permitting entry of the coins into the pockets and subsequent maintenance of the coins in the pocket under tension.
- 11. The coin holder of claim 10 wherein said arm element terminates at the upper extremity in a taper in order to provide a directional ramping effect for the coins as they are downwardly inserted and guided into the pockets.
- 12. The coin holder of claim 3 wherein said elongate bar bears identifying information.
- 13. A coin collecting tray comprising:
i) an essentially planar base, ii) a plurality of coin-receiving troughs arranged in said base, and iii) a plurality of fins extending upwardly from said troughs wherein said fins define therebetween a space dimensioned to accommodate a predetermined number of coins.
- 14. The coin collecting tray of claim 13 further comprising a hollow depression for collection of loose change.
- 15. The coin collecting tray of claim 13 comprising at least one region for display of promotional material.
- 16. A coin collecting and packaging system comprising a coin clip according to claim 3 and a tray according to claim 13.
- 17. A method of collecting and packaging coins comprising the steps of:
i) providing a coin collecting tray having a series of troughs, said troughs having a plurality of fins extending upwardly therefrom, ii) providing a coin clip having an elongate bar and a plurality of pockets adapted to co-operate with spaces provided between said fins, iii) collecting a predetermined number of coins in a trough, iv) placing said clip over the coins, v) exerting downward pressure on said elongate bar such that said clip fits over and captures the coins, and vi) removing the clip containing the coins.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/898,009 effectively filed Jul. 25, 1997.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08898009 |
Jul 1997 |
US |
Child |
09283210 |
Apr 1999 |
US |