MXPA99002895A - Coin receptacle cover for pay telephones - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin receptacle cover for attachment to a coin receptacle box and subsequent use in a pay telephone comprising a panel, connectable to a coin receptacle box, which defines an opening therethrough for admitting coins into the coin receptacle box. The cover also comprises a movable door mounted for linear reciprocating movement between a closed position covering the opening and an open position uncovering the opening. An actuator arm is mounted for pivotal movement and includes a finger which is engageable by a pay telephone for pivoting the actuating arm upon installation of the coin receptacle cover in a pay telephone. Additionally, a pin and slot arrangement between the movable door and the actuator arm is provided for converting pivotal movement of the actuator arm into linear reciprocating movement of the movable door. The coin receptacle cover further comprises a linear track and the movable door has a guide pin slidable within the linear track. The opening has a substantially rectangular shape and the entirety of the opening is coverable and uncoverable by the movable door.

Description

COVER RECEPTACLE COVER FOR PRE-PAY TELEPHONES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to prepaid telephones and, more particularly, to a coin receptacle device for protecting pay phones prior to theft of collectors. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For many years, owners of pre-paid telephones have relied on employees or contractors to collect the money from their prepaid telephones, by switching to a plurality of pre-paid telephones, when emptying previously deposited coins. on pre-paid phones, and when transporting the coins back to their owners. Unfortunately, some of the "gatherers" have been less than honest and have stolen large amounts of money collected from the phone owners. Such theft has been allowed, in part, by the collectors' access to money without supervision and by the absence of any exact record as to the exact amount of money previously deposited in the prepaid phones. Without accurate records, the owner of a pre-paid telephone would not be able to determine if a collector has stolen some money or not. Such theft has also been allowed, in part, by the absence of coin handling devices designed to prevent theft of money by collectors. In some older pre-paid phones, deposited coins fall into open top hoppers within pre-paid phones to keep them until the coins are unloaded outside the hoppers and transported to the owners of pre-paid phones by the collectors. With access to the unmonitored hoppers, the collectors could brazenly steal all the coins from the hoppers or they could steal a portion of the coins from the hoppers, thus "diverting" the owner's money from a pre-paid telephone. In an attempt to contain this problem of theft, the manufacturers of newer pre-paid phones * have incorporated, in each pre-paid telephone, a coin receptacle box, with a security seal that is in a reinforced steel deposit inside. of the prepaid telephone and that receives coins accepted by the prepaid telephone. To collect money from the pre-paid phone, a collector removes the coin receptacle box from the phone's deposit, inserts an empty coin receptacle box in the phone's bin and transports the removed coin receptacle box to the owner of the phone. The coin receptacle box is typically manufactured from steel and has a fracture resistant cover with an opening that allows accepted coins to pass from the coin handling mechanism of the phone to the coin receptacle for temporary storage until the case is replaced by a collector. The cover has a pivotally mounted metal door, which automatically rotates to a first position to cover the opening when the coin receptacle box is not inside the pre-paid telephone container, and which automatically rotates to a second position. to discover the opening (that is, to allow accepted coins to pass through the opening) when the coin receptacle box is inside the pre-paid telephone store. By limiting access to the coins inside the coin receptacle box when the box is outside the pre-pay phone, the metal door makes it difficult, but not impossible, for a collector to access the coins inside the box, reducing so the opportunity to steal the coins. Although such prior art decks and their metal doors have had some impact in reducing theft by collectors, decks and metal doors have certain disadvantages and / or problems. First, the size of the metal door (and therefore, the size of the opening) in such a cover can not be made too large for the cover to allow coins from certain foreign countries to pass, which measure up to 35 millimeters in its maximum dimension. This disadvantage results from the manner in which the metallic door operates and the dimensional limitations in the size of the metal door. To realize the covering and discovery of the opening, the metal door is pivoted in relation to a pivot point, along a fixed arcuate path inside the cover. The metal door has a protruding member extending from the cover through a slot in the upper part of the cover, and which rotates between the first and second ends of the slot in response to the clutch with an internal component. of the pre-paid telephone. See, for example, the published application of EP No. EP-A-0394600. The amount (ie, angle) of rotational movement of the protruding member and, therefore, the amount of rotational movement of the metallic door is determined by and, therefore, is limited by the internal components of the prepaid telephone . Therefore, the rotation path and the amount of rotation are fixed by factors external to the cover and a larger metal door, if desired, to allow the passage of large coins, could be forced to pass along the same trajectory of rotation and through it amount of rotation. Unfortunately, because the maximum size and internal dimensions of a cover are determined by and, therefore, are limited by the size of the deposit within the prepaid telephone and by the dimensions of a coin receptacle, a metal door larger can not physically pass along the predetermined path of rotation through the predetermined amount of rotation within the predetermined internal dimensions of the cover and still completely covers and uncovers a larger aperture dimensioned cooperatively through the cover. In this way, the physical limitations make it possible to increase the size of the metal door and the opening of a cover, using the design of the prior art described above, to allow the passage of large coins from certain foreign countries. A second disadvantage of the prior art cover is that, often, the cover is accidentally operated by a collector, who drops the pocket receptacle and covers or in some way, subjects the cover to a mechanical shock before the insertion of the box and the cover inside -the deposit of a prepaid telephone. Such a drive prevents full rotation of the metal door and, therefore, prevents the door from opening completely when the box Coin receptacle and cover are inserted into a pre-paid telephone deposit and, in this way, prevents proper acceptance of coins by the cashier. Briefly described, the prior art cover includes a drive mechanism, which is assembled by a technician of a pre-paid telephone owner at a central site. Once assembled, the drive mechanism allows the metal cover door to rotate in order to discover the opening of the cover when the coin receptacle box and the cover are inserted into a pre-paid telephone by a collector. When operated (as is normally done in the insertion of the box and cover in a prepaid telephone), the drive mechanism allows the metal door to rotate into a position covering the opening when removing the coin receptacle box from the telephone of previous payment and to allow that the cover resists the forced re-opening of the metallic door by a collector that tries to steal the money of the box. In this way, if the drive mechanism is operated accidentally, the opening being already covered by the metal door (as is the case with an empty coin box intended for installation in a pre-paid telephone), the cover resists the who believes it is a forced re-opening of the metal door and attempted theft of money resident in the coin receptacle box. When such an accidental actuation or "false actuation" occurs, the collector must return the box and inform the technician at the central site to reassemble it before it is installed on a pre-paid telephone. Unfortunately, the prior art cover appears to be excessively prone to such accidental operation and, therefore, creates a great deal of inconvenience for the collectors and for the owners of the prepaid telephone. The prior art cover has a third problem which, perhaps, is associated with the drive mechanism and / or operation of the metal door. Through the use of the cover for some time, it has become evident that some collectors attempt to steal money from a coin-operated coin box, by locking the metal door of the cover during the removal of the box and the cover of a telephone pre-payment By introducing a locking object (ie, a bar, a pencil, etc.) into the opening of the cover, a collector is able to remove the coin receptacle box and the cover of a pre-paid telephone, while avoiding the covering total opening of the cover by the metal door. Then, once the box and the cover are outside the pre-pay phone, the collector removes the locking object and subsequently removes the coins from the coin receptacle box through the portion of the opening not covered by the metal door. A fourth problem of the prior art cover has also become apparent over time and includes the locking of the metal door and other components of the cover. During the normal operation of a prepaid telephone and the cover, the coins accepted by the telephone fall from the coin handling mechanism of the telephone and into the coin receptacle box that passes through the opening of the cover. Unfortunately, a space between the metal door and the cover panel allows some coins to be trapped in the space, thereby blocking the operation of the metal door and subsequently causing the accepted coins to be directed out of the cover opening or, possibly, they remain within the mechanism that handles the phone's coins causing it to malfunction. Such locking of the metal door by the coins also allows the coins to serve as a locking object, allowing the coins to be stolen from the coin receptacle box, as described above. In addition, the proper operation of various components of the prior art cover can be restricted or even limited by the coins that are in the coin receptacle box, rising from under the cover to a level sufficient to hinder the operation of the components. Previous efforts to resolve these disadvantages and / or problems have been proven to be ineffective or ineffective in some way. In accordance with the foregoing, there is still a need for a means to protect the owner of the telephone from previous theft by the collectors responsible for periodically collecting money from the phones, which does not cause the malfunction of a prepaid telephone. or cause excessive inconvenience to the collectors or the owner of the prepaid telephone. It is to the provision of such a device that the present invention is primarily directed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, in a first preferred form, the present invention comprises a coin receptacle cover for attachment to a coin receptacle box and its subsequent use in a pre-paid telephone. The cover of the coin receptacle comprises a panel, connectable to a coin receptacle box, which defines an opening therethrough to admit coins within the receptacle case of the coin receptacle. coins The cover also comprises a movable door mounted for linear reciprocating movement between a closed position covering the opening and an open position that discovers the opening. An actuator arm is mounted for pivotal movement and includes a means for engaging a pre-paid telephone to pivot the actuator arm after installation of the coin receptacle cover in a pre-paid telephone. further, the cover of the pre-paid receptacle comprises means for converting the pivotal movement of the actuator arm into linear reciprocating movement of the movable door. Preferably, the means for converting the pivotal movement comprises a bolt and slot installation between the movable door and the actuator arm. Also preferably, the cover of the coin receptacle further comprises a linear sliding guide and the movable door has a sliding guide pin within the linear sliding guide. In addition, the opening has a substantially rectangular shape and the entire opening is covered and discovered by the movable door. In a second preferred form, the cover of the coin receptacle of the present invention comprises a panel, connectable to a coin receptacle box, which defines an opening therethrough to admit coins inside the coin receptacle box. The cover also comprises a movable door mounted for movement between a closed position covering the opening and an open position that discovers the opening, and a means for preventing movement of the movable door in a direction toward the open position after movement still Partial cover of the coin receptacle of a pre-paid telephone. Preferably, the means for preventing movement includes a ratchet lock to prevent movement of the movable door of at least a partially closed position in a direction toward the open position. The means for preventing movement also preferably further includes a stop which cooperates with the ratchet lock to secure the movable door in the closed position. Also preferably, the cover of the coin receptacle includes a means for making the movement of the door moveable in a direction toward the closed position after removal of an obstruction from the opening. According to a third preferred form, the present invention comprises a coin receptacle cover having a movable panel and door substantially similar to those of the second preferred form of the invention. The coin receptacle cover further includes an actuator means to allow that the movable door moves in a direction towards the open position of the movable door during the installation of the coin receptacle cover in a pre-paid telephone and to allow the movable door to move in a direction towards the closed position of the movable door after the installation of the coin receptacle cover in the pre-paid telephone. The actuator preferably includes a means for preventing accidental actuation of the actuator means. Preferably, the means for preventing accidental actuation comprises a low volume fastener, which is guided exactly for its movement between an armed position and an actuated position. The coin receptacle cover further includes a latch, which cooperates with the low volume fastener and a means for preventing misalignment of the low volume fastener and latch. The present invention, in a fourth preferred form, comprises a cover of the coin receptacle having a movable panel and door * substantially similar to those of the third preferred form of the invention, and further includes a means for preventing the coins from lock between the panel and the movable door. Preferably, the means for preventing includes at least a portion of a wall substantially adjacent to the opening of the panel. Also preferably, the means to avoid includes a bolt reinforcement substantially adjacent to the opening of the panel. In addition, the coin receptacle cover comprises a means for preventing restricted movement of the movable door due to coins that reside within a coin receptacle box. The coin receptacle cover, according to the present invention, allows the coin opening in the cover to be uncovered and covered only once after the insertion and removal of the coin receptacle cover in a prepaid telephone, in order to avoid the re-opening and theft of the coins by a collector. The coin receptacle cover ensures that a coin receptacle box is closed and inaccessible as it is removed from the prepaid telephone. The re-establishment of the clamping mechanism can only be achieved from inside the cover of the coin receptacle, necessitating the breaking of an evident seal to the bill. The invention allows the acceptance of preferably large coins, up to 35 millimeters in diameter (ie, or another maximum dimension), because the combination of the linearly alternating door in conjunction with the pivoting actuator arm allows it to be provides a very large opening in the cover and still allows the opening to be covered and discovered by the preferably limited pivotal movement of the actuator arm (since the cover must be used in existing prepaid telephones, the range of motion available for the actuator arm is limited by the configuration of existing prepaid telephones). Also, the invention prevents the cover of the coin receptacle from being operated falsely, such as when the cover falls by accident. In addition, the translation movement of the movable door, effected by the pivoted actuating arm, results in extremely smooth operation of the apparatus without locking. In accordance with the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin receptacle cover for a coin receptacle case, which is capable of accepting preferably large coins. It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin receptacle cover for a coin receptacle case, which operates smoothly It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin receptacle cover for a coin receptacle case, which avoid _ accidental lock-in by coins.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin receptacle cover for a coin receptacle case, which prevents inadvertent actuation of its fastener mechanism. It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin receptacle cover for a coin receptacle box, which prevents fracture during the (or after) removal of a telephone coin receptacle - for prior payment. It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin receptacle cover for a coin receptacle case, which is durable in construction, economical to manufacture and simple to operate. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a cover of the coin receptacle, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, attached to a coin receptacle box. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top plan view, in FIG. partial cut of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 2, shown in a ready-to-install, assembled configuration. Figure 4 is a top plan view, partially cut away, of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 2, shown in an installed, actuated configuration. Figure 5 is a top plan view, partly cut away, of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 2, shown in an activated and secured (withdrawn) configuration. Figure 6 is a top plan view, partially cut away, of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 2, shown in an intermediate configuration. Figure 7 is a top plan view of an actuator arm of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 2. Figure 8 is a top plan view of a removable door of the coin receptacle cover of the Figure 2. Figure 9 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines of section 9-9 of Figure 3, showing a fastener mechanism and a cover lock of the coin receptacle of Figure 2. - Figure 10 is a perspective view, of a lower panel of the coin receptacle cover of Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, where like reference numbers represent similar parts throughout all the various views, Figure 1 shows a coin receptacle cover 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, coupled to a commercially available, conventional coin receptacle box 14 for use in a commercially available prepaid telephone. The coin receptacle box 14 has a cavity therein for storing the coins deposited in the pre-paid telephone and also has a substantially open upper part, through which the coins fall into the cavity. Because the design of the prepaid telephone and coin receptacle box 14 is well known to those reasonably skilled in the art, it is not necessary here to further describe the details of the prepaid telephone and the receptacle box. of coins 14. The cover 10, also seen in the top plan view of Figure 2, comprises an upper panel 11 which is located above the coin receptacle 14. The upper panel 11 is substantially square in its total configuration and is preferably manufactured from steel to withstand theft or possible fracture. The top panel 11 includes four mounting holes, 12a to 12d, near its corners to receive the rivets securing the top panel 11 to a bottom panel 51 (see Figure 9) of the cover 10, described below. The upper panel 11 also includes a large square coin opening 13 through it and a projection 15 extending around the perimeter of the coin opening 13. In the preferred commercial embodiment described herein, the coin opening 13 has a side length, "A", which measures 35 millimeters to allow large coins (including, but not limited to, those coins that have a diameter, or maximum dimension, measuring at least 35 millimeters), to easily pass through the coin opening 13 and through the cover 10. The top panel 11 has an arched slot 16 that receives a finger 17 extending therethrough. The finger 17 is part of a sealing device 20, described below, for covering and uncovering the opening for coins 13. The finger 17 engages a portion of the prepaid telephone (not shown), such that as the coin receptacle box 14 and cover 10 are inserted into the pre-paid telephone, a portion of the prior payment telephone engages the finger 17 to move it in the direction indicated by the direction arrow 18 to realize the discovery of the coin opening 13 by the movable door 22 (i.e., moving in an opening direction indicated by arrow 95) until the finger 17 reaches its "open position" (see Figure 4) at the end 96 of the slot 16, corresponding to the open position of the movable door 22 (described below). In contrast, since the coin receptacle box 14 and the cover 10 are removed from the prepaid telephone, the finger 17 is allowed to move backward in the direction indicated by the direction arrow 19 to cover the coin opening. 13 through the movable door 22 (i.e., move in a closing direction indicated by the arrow 97) until the finger 17 reaches its "closed position" (see Figure 5) at the end 98 of the slot 16, corresponding to the closed position of the movable door 22. Note ** that, as seen in Figure 6 , when the finger 17 has rotated towards an intermediate angular position (indicated by the angle, a3) equidistant between the ends 96, 98 of the slot 16, the movable door * has moved to an intermediate position equidistant between its positions, open and closed, thus ensuring a smooth operation, without locking the movable door 22.

Referring now to Figures 3-5, the cover 10 further comprises a sealing installation 20, of which the finger 17 is a part, for covering and uncovering the opening for coins 13. The sealing installation 20 includes an irregularly shaped actuator arm. 21 and a substantially rectangular movable door 22 (i.e. movable or slidable linearly) which are shown in isolation in Figures 7 and 8, respectively. As shown in Figure 7, the irregularly shaped actuator arm 21 includes the finger 17 and a pivoting end 23 having a pivot hole 25. (that is, to receive a pivot pin) through it. The actuator arm 21 further includes a rotation stop 24 for limiting the rotational movement in a clockwise direction of a latch 36, as described below. The actuator arm 21 also includes a surface that engages the latch 26 to cooperate with the latch 36 to prevent the actuator arm 21 from rotating counterclockwise around the center of the pivot hole 25 and, therefore, around of the end of the pivot 23 when the movable door 22 is in its closed position after the removal of the cover 10 from a pre-paid telephone. In addition, the actuator arm 21 includes a series of ratchet teeth 27 that also cooperate with the latch 36 for closing the actuator arm 21 in one of several positions, in which the movable door 22 almost closes. The actuator arm 21 also includes an elongated slot (or sliding guide) 28 formed therethrough and a curved channel 30 near the finger 17, which partially receives the rivet reinforcement 80 from the lower panel 51 (described below), as is seen in Figures 3 and 5. A notch 34, opposite the ratchet teeth 27, partially receives the rivet reinforcement 84 from the bottom panel 51 (described below) when the movable door 22 is in its closed position and a hole 47 receives an end of a spring 46 that also connects to the top panel 11. Further, the actuator arm 21 has an arcuate edge 35 located near the ratchet teeth 27, which engages a fastener mechanism 41 described below. According to the preferred embodiment, the movable door 22, shown in Figure 8, is substantially rectangular in its entirety and is substantially above the actuator arm 21 (see Figures 3-5). The movable door 22 is preferably made of steel to resist fractures. Near an edge portion thereof, the movable door 22 includes a connector bolt 29 slidably received within the elongated slot 28 of the actuator arm 21 (see Figures 3-5). The door Movable 22 also includes a pair of upper guide pins 31, 32, which cooperate with a linear, elongated sliding guide 33 (see Figures 3 and 5) to guide the movement of the movable door 22 and to restrict its movement to a type of alternating movement, linear. The guide pins 31, 32, the slide guide 33, the elongated slot 28 and the connector pin 29 (ie, the "engaging elements") cooperate to allow the pivoting or rotational movement of the actuator arm 21 to become movement alternating linear of the movable door 22. Note that the angle of rotation, a, of the actuator arm 21 (around the center of the pivot hole 25) has a maximum measurement between a first angle of rotation, aa, and a second angle of rotation , a2, which are predetermined (i.e., set) by the possible amount of movement of the finger 17 (ie, the predetermined stroke length by the internal components of the prepaid telephone) during the insertion and / or removal of the Coin receptacle box 14 and cover 10 in / from a pre-paid telephone. Also, note that the maximum dimensions of the cover 10 (and, therefore, the amount of space available to receive a door 22) are substantially fixed and / or restricted in order to allow the cover 10 to cooperate with the boxes receptacle of 14 coins and existing prepaid phones. By producing alternating, linear movement of a door 22 in place of the rotary movement of a door, as in the prior art, with the limited rotational movement of the actuator arm 21 and within the confined dimensions of a cover 10, the "cooperating elements" they allow the size of the door 22 and the coin opening 13 to be substantially greater than the doors and coin openings of the prior art devices, thus allowing the cover 10 of the present invention to accept coins of a larger maximum dimension than the devices of the prior art. The acceptance of larger currencies is important when cover 10 is used in pre-paid phones of foreign countries, which may have coins of a maximum size larger than the currencies of the United States. The "cooperating elements" also allow a relatively large coin opening 13 (i.e., larger than those possible with prior art devices) to be completely covered and uncovered, thereby making the complete coin opening 13 capable of passing a coin. coin that falls into the coin receptacle box 14. The movable door 22 also includes an edge 37 having a beveled portion 38 and a recessed portion The bevelled portion adjacent 39. 38 ensures that the fastener member 41, described below, is appropriately directed into contact with the arcuate edge 35 of actuator arm 21. The tapered portion 39 prevents substantial contact of various parts of the clamping mechanism 41 with the door movable 22 when the door 22 is placed, as seen in Figure 4, in the open position. Referring again to Figures 3-5, a secure clamping spring 36 is pivotally mounted for rotation between an armed position shown in Figure 3, an actuated position (but secure) shown in Figure 4 and an actuated position and secured shown in Figure 5. Further, from the view of Figure 5, one can easily observe that the latch 36 (and, therefore, the actuator arm 21 and the movable door 22) can be secured in some positions substantially further closed, by engaging the ratchet teeth 27 and the latch 36. The ratchet teeth 27 and the latch 36 cooperate to prevent an individual from obstructing the movable door 22 and, therefore, that the seal installation 20 completely closes (and leave the coin opening 13 partially or fully uncovered) as the coin receptacle box 14 and the cover 10 are removed from the prepaid telephone and then push subsequently the movable door 22 and, therefore, the sealing device 20 is reopened to gain access to the coins contained in the coin receptacle box 14. Through the interaction of the ratchet teeth 27 and the lock 36 shown and described in FIG. present, the movable door 22 and, therefore, the sealing installation 20 can be secured in an almost closed position, thus preventing the movable door 22 and, therefore, the sealing installation 20 from being forced open again. Once the obstruction is removed, the movable door 22 and the sealing installation 20 continue to the fully closed position shown in Figure 5, thereby making the cover 10 resistant to fracture. Note that, in order to help prevent an individual from opening by forcing the movable door 22 and the sealing installation 20 after the movable door 22 is in the closed position or in an almost closed position, the moment around the safety 36 it remains low and the spring tension of the safety remains high. The cover 10 further comprises a clamping mechanism 41 (ie, a drive mechanism) for driving the safe 36. The clamping mechanism 41 is pivotally mounted and includes a drive pawl 42 and a hook 43 to ensure safe 36. The clamping mechanism 41 and insurance 36 are in substantially the same plane, "F", as illustrated in Figure 9. A spring 44 is used to deflect the clamping mechanism 41 in the armed position (see Figure 3). The hook 43, as illustrated in Figure 3, retains the latch 36 in the armed position prior to the insertion of the coin receptacle case 14 and the cover 10 in a prepaid telephone. As shown in Figure 4, the actuating finger 42 engages the arched edge 35 of the actuator arm 21 as the coin receptacle 14 and the cover 10 are mounted within a pre-paid telephone (ie, because actuator arm 21 rotates in a counter-clockwise toward the clamping mechanism 41 during insertion into a- payphone) direction, thus causing the pawl actuator 42 to rotate slightly in a counterclockwise direction and clockwise release latch 36 for clockwise rotation against actuator arm 21. In order to reduce the likelihood of false actuation (i.e., premature release of latch 36 by fastener mechanism 41) if the receptacle box of coins 14 and / or cover 10 incur mechanical shock due to being dropped during transport to a pre-paid telephone or during installation in a tel prepaid phone, moments created by the latch 36 and the fastener mechanism 41, around their respective axes of rotation, are kept as low as possible for example, by keeping the relative volumes of the latch 36 and the latching mechanism 41 low. This is important because the collector that transports or installs the coin receptacle box 14 and the cover 10 can not rearm the fastener mechanism 41 and is forced to return the box 14 and the cover 10 to the owner of the prepaid telephone for reassembly. The risk of false actuation (i.e., accidental actuation) is also reduced by the presence of a lower panel 51, described below, which "intersperses" the clamping mechanism 41 and the latch 36 between the clamping mechanism 51 and the upper panel 11 and restricts relative non-plane movement between the clamping mechanism 41 and the safety 36 (see Figure 9). A washer 40, centered around the pivot point 45 of the clamping mechanism 41, is adjacent to the clamping mechanism 41 and a portion of the latch 36 (see Figures 3, 6 and 9). The washer 40, like the panels, lower and upper, 11, 51, serve to help maintain the flat alignment of the clamping mechanism 41 and the safety 36 when guiding its movement, thus further reducing the risk of false actuation. The spring 46 also helps to prevent the drive of the clamping mechanism 41.

Once the clamping mechanism 41 is actuated and, therefore, the latch 36 is released, the movable door 22 and the sealing installation 20 are urged to cover the coin opening 13, as illustrated in Figure 5. The latch 36, deflected by a spiral spring (not visible), rotates clockwise by contacting the actuator arm 21 as the actuator arm 21 rotates about the pivot end 23. The latch 36 typically continues its rotation until the rotation stop 24 of the actuator arm 21 engages. After the latch 36 engages the rotation stop 24, the actuator arm 21 can not rotate counter-clockwise and, therefore, the movable door 22 the linear alternating movement in the open direction, indicated by the arrow 95, which will be discovered by the coin opening 13. According to the preferred embodiment, the cover 10 includes a lower panel 51 (see Figure 10) mounted to and by from under the top panel 11. The bottom panel 51 is preferably made of molded plastic and secured to the outer panel 11 using rivets 52 and 53 (received by the rivet reinforcements 80, 84, respectively) to substantially protect the operating components (i.e., the sealing installation 20, the fastening mechanism 41 and the safety 36, residing between the panels, upper and lower, 11, 51) of the cover 10 of the coins residing inside the coin receptacle 14. Such protection prevents the potential locking of the operating components by the coins inside the box coin receptacle 14 if the number of coins is sufficient to hold the coins in close proximity with the cover 10. As shown in Figure 10, the lower panel 51 includes a large arcuate groove 54 (i.e., which is aligned with the slot 16 after installation) to receive the finger 17 through it. The lower panel 51 also includes a pivot stiffener 56, with an inner pivot surface 55 formed therethrough, to which the pivot end 23 of the actuator arm 21 is pivotally mounted. A large pivot inner surface 57 is formed in the lower panel 51 for pivotally mounting the latch 36. Note that the latch 36 has the slot 58 therein, to allow reception, for example, of a blade of the screwdriver for assembling the cover 10 (see Figure 3). The lower panel 51 further includes an inner pivot surface 61 and a pivoting stiffener 62 for pivotally mounting the fastening mechanism 41. Also, an elongated slot 63 (arcuately shaped) is formed in the lower panel 51 to allow movement of the spring 44 to follow_ to finger actuator 42 when it rotates. ' The lower panel 51 defines a large opening for square coins, 70 therethrough, which is oriented in alignment with the coin opening 13 of the upper panel 11. In the preferred commercial embodiment described herein, the coin opening 70 has a side length, "B", which measures 35 millimeters (i.e., as the opening for coins 13) to allow large coins (including, but not limited to, those coins having a diameter, or maximum dimension, which measures at least 35 millimeters) pass easily through the coin opening 70. The walls 72, 74, 76 reside adjacent to the coin opening 70 and extend partially around the perimeter of the coin opening 70. The wall 78 is located substantially adjacent the coin opening 70 and the wall 76. The lower panel 51 also includes a rivet reinforcement 80 adjacent to the coin opening 70 and separated from the wall 72 by a space 82 having an amplitude, "C". Another rivet reinforcement 84 extends from the wall 78 substantially adjacent to the coin opening 70 and between the upper and lower panels 11, 51. Note that in Figures 4 and 10 the arrows indicate a number of possible sites 86 in where a coin which passes through coin openings 13, 70 may attempt to enter the cover 10 between the upper and lower panels 11, 51 (i.e., when the movable door 22 is in its open position) and becomes wedged, thus restricting the translation of the movable door 22 and, perhaps, locking the movement of the door 22. For example, a coin may attempt to enter the space between the panels, upper and lower, 11, 51 at site 86a through the 82nd space However, the space 82a is limited by a wall 72 and a rivet reinforcement 80 that extend between the upper and lower panels 11, 51 and define the amplitude, "C", of the space 82a so that it is small enough to do not allow smaller coins to pass through * space 82a. Similarly, a coin attempting to enter deck 10 at site 86b is blocked from entering through wall 78. With respect to site 86c and site 86d, rivet reinforcements 80, 84 and edge 88 of the movable door 22 (and also the edge 90 of the actuator arm 21) define spaces 82c, 82d between them that have amplitudes "D", "E", respectively. Like the amplitude, "C" of space 82a, the amplitudes "D", "E" of spaces 82c, 82d are small enough to not allow smaller coins to pass through spaces 82c, 82d. Site 86e is blocked by the edge 88 of the movable door 22 and the edge 90 of the actuator arm 21- In this way, the various positions and sizes of the walls 72, 74, 76, 78, the rivet reinforcements 80, 84, the movable door 22 and the actuator arm 21, still prevent smaller coins from entering the cover 10 or wedging between the movable door 22 and one of the lower and upper panels 11, 51. The operation of the coin receptacle cover 10 is fast. In use, the internal clamping mechanism 41 is armed with the cover 10 removed from its associated coin receptacle case 14, at a central location, by placing a blade of the screwdriver into the slot 58 of the latch 36. Then, by rotating counter to the clock hands of the screwdriver blade (and, therefore, the anti-clockwise rotation of the lock 36), the latch 36 engages the hook 43 of the fastening mechanism 41 to place the cover 10 in the assembled configuration, as shown in Figure 3. The cover 10 is repositioned and then secured to the coin receptacle box 14 with an evident seal to the fracture. Once the cover 10 is armed and the cover 10 and the box 14 are secured, the coin receptacle case 14 and the cover 10 are provided to a responsible individual to install the coin receptacle case 14 and service a telephone receiver. pre-payment in the field. To collect eJ-money from a pre-paid telephone, a resident coin receptacle box 14 and a cover 10 are removed from the prepaid telephone (and replaced with an empty box and a cover installation). The act of withdrawal causes the finger 17 and therefore the actuator arm 21 of the removed cover 10 to rotate clockwise about the pivot end 23, which the latch 36 rotates in the clockwise direction of the clock in clutch with the rotation stopper 24, and that the movable door 22 moves towards the position shown in Figure 5. The lock clutch 36 and the actuator arm 21 with the safety 36 substantially adjacent to the rotation stop 24, securing the actuator arm 21 and, therefore, * the movable door 22 in a position covering the coin opening 13. The closed unit (i.e., the cover 10 and the coin receptacle case 14) is returned to a location central, keeping the evident seal to the fracture intact, thus ensuring that the theft of coins does not take place. The act of inserting the empty box and the cover unit in the pre-paid telephone causes the finger 17 and, therefore, the arched edge 35 of the actuator arm 21 to rotate counterclockwise, around the pivot end 23, in contact with the actuating finger 42 of the clamping mechanism 41.

After sufficient rotation of the finger 17 and sufficient counterclockwise rotation of the clamping mechanism 41, the hook 43 pivots and releases the latch 36 in contact with the actuator arm 21, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. rotation of the actuator arm 21 also causes the movable door 22 to move in the open direction indicated by the arrow 95 to the fully open position of Figure 4, where the coin openings 13, 70 are fully uncovered allowing the coins to fall through the cover 10 and in the coin receptacle box 14. The coin openings 13, 70 remain uncovered until the coin receptacle box 14 and the cover 10 are removed from the prepaid telephone.

Claims (22)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the property described in the following claims is claimed as property. 1.
2. A cover of the coin receptacle for attachment to a coin receptacle box and for use in a prepaid telephone, including the cover of the coin receptacle a panel connectable to a coin receptacle case, said panel defining an opening for through it to accept coins in the coin receptacle box, said coin receptacle cover including a movable door and characterized in that, the movable door movably mounts to said panel for the alternating linear movement of said movable door between a closed position covering said opening and an open position that discovers said opening.
3. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 1, further characterized in that an actuator arm is mounted for pivotal movement and includes a means engageable by a prepayment telephone to pivot said actuator arm after installation of said receptacle cover. of coins in a pre-paid telephone, and means are provided for converting the pivotal movement of said actuating arm into movement alternating linear of said movable door.
4. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said conversion means comprise a bolt and slot installation (28, 29) between said movable door and said actuator arm.
5. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said actuator arm is pivotable between a first angular position, a second angular position and an intermediate angular position located equidistant between said first and second angular positions, and said door movable is transferable to an intermediate position equidistant between said closed position and said open position, said intermediate position corresponding to said intermediate angular position of said actuator arm.
6. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 1, further characterized in that said opening is sufficiently large to allow measurement coins as large as 35 millimeters to pass through said opening.
7. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 1, further characterized in that said opening has a substantially rectangular shape and the entirety of said opening is covered and discovered by said movable door The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 6, further characterized in that the provision of an actuator arm having an end, said actuator arm being pivotally mounted at said end for rotation relative to said end between a first angular position and a second angular position predetermined by a pre-paid telephone, and means for moving said movable door between said closed position corresponding to said first angular position of said actuator arm and said open position corresponding to said second angular position of said actuator arm.
8. The coin receptacle cover according to claim 1, further characterized in that said coin receptacle cover comprises a linear slide guide, and said moveable door comprises a sliding guide pin within said linear slide guide.
9. 9. A cover of the coin receptacle for attachment to a coin receptacle box and its use in a pre-paid telephone, comprising: a panel connectable to a coin receptacle box, said panel defining an opening therethrough admit coins in the coin receptacle box; a movable door mounted for its movement between a closed position covering said opening and an open position that discovers said opening; and means for preventing movement of said movable door in one direction toward said open position after at least partial removal of said cover from the coin receptacle of a pre-paid telephone.
10. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 9, characterized in that said means for preventing movement comprise a ratchet lock to prevent movement of said movable door of at least one substantially closed position in a direction towards said open position.
11. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 10, characterized in that said means for preventing movement further comprises a cooperative stop with said ratchet lock to secure said movable door in said closed position.
12. The coin receptacle cover according to claim 9, characterized in that said coin receptacle cover further comprises a means for realizing the movement of said moveable door in a direction towards said closed position after removal of an obstruction of said opening.
13. 13. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 12, characterized in that said means for performing the movement comprises a diverter member.
14. 14. A coin receptacle cover for attachment to a coin receptacle case and for use in a prepaid telephone, said coin receptacle cover comprising: a panel connectable to a coin receptacle case, said panel defining an aperture through it to accept coins in a coin receptacle box; a movable door mounted for movement between a closed position covering said opening and an open position that discovers said opening; a secure; a fastener for cooperating with said latch to allow said movable door to move in a direction toward said open position during the installation of said coin receptacle cover in a pre-paid telephone and to allow said movable door to move in one direction towards said closed position after the installation of said coin receptacle cover in the prepaid telephone, said coin receptacle cover is characterized in that means are provided for maintaining said fastener and said securing substantially in one place in relation to each other, in spite of being dropped to prevent the actuation of said means, fastener and actuator.
15. 15. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 14, further characterized in that said fastener is guided exactly for its movement between an armed position and an actuated position.
16. The coin receptacle cover according to claim 15, further characterized in that said fastener comprises a hook cooperative with said latch and said means for preventing accidental actuation comprise means for preventing misalignment of said hook and said latch.
17. 17. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 16, further characterized in that said means for preventing misalignment comprise a washer positioned adjacent to both said fastener and said latch.
18. 18. A cover of the coin receptacle for attachment to a coin receptacle box and its use in a pre-paid telephone, comprising: a panel connectable to a coin receptacle box, said panel defining an opening therethrough to admit coins in the coin receptacle box; a movable door mounted for movement between a closed position covering said opening of said panel and an open position that discovers said opening of said panel; and a means for preventing coins from being wedged between said panel and said movable door
19. 19. The coin receptacle cover according to claim 18, characterized in that said means for preventing comprises at least a portion of a wall substantially adjacent to said opening of said panel. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 18, characterized in that said means for preventing comprises a bolt reinforcement substantially adjacent to said opening of said panel. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 18, characterized in that said coin receptacle cover further comprises a means for preventing restricted movement of said moveable door due to the coins residing inside the coin receptacle case. The cover of the coin receptacle according to claim 21, characterized in that said panel is a top panel, and said means for preventing restricted movement comprises a lower panel connected below said upper panel and defining an opening therethrough. to accept coins in the coin receptacle box, said opening of said bottom panel being aligned with said opening of said top panel