US2834358A - Coin dispenser and permit holder - Google Patents

Description

y 1958 H. J. LORENCE 2,834,358

COIN DISPENSER AND' PERMIT HOLDER Filed June 21, 1954 5 INVENTOR 8 Han r yJl/arence CUHN DISPENSER AND PERMIT HOLDER Harry .1. Lorence, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,284

2 (Jlaims. (Cl. 133-6) This invention relates to a novel combination coin dispenser and permit holder for use by passengers of public conveyances such as buses and streetcars.

In many cities permits or passes are sold weekly to regular passengers of public conveyances, the holders of which pay a reduced fare for riding public conveyances. Thus, such holders of these permits or passes in boarding a public conveyance must display the permit or pass for inspection by the vehicle operator and must additionally deposit a coin representing the reduced fare in a coin box of the public conveyance. These two operations frequently present a considerable problem and inconvenience to a passenger who has one arm and hand occupied with packages or other items.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a combination permit holder and coin dispenser in which a permit or pass will be conveniently held in a position so that it can be readily inspected and which holder and dispenser is so constructed that one finger of the hand holding the dispenser and holder may be utilized to actuate an ejector element for ejecting one coin from the device, representing the reduced fare, into a coin box, above which the holder and dispenser is held for inspection of the permit or pass.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide such a holder and dispenser of extremely simple construction which may be very economically manufactured and sold and which, due to its unique construction, will effectively eject only a single coin therefrom when an ejector element thereof is actuated.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will. hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the holder and dispenser;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof, partly broken away, and with a permit or pass mounted therein; Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the holder and dispenser taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line li of Figure 3 and on a reduced scale relatively to Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the holder and dispenser, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the permit holder and coin dispenser in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 8 and includes a body portion designated generally 9 in the form of a relatively thick plate which may be of any suitable, relatively lightweight metal, and a cover, designated generally 10, which is preferably formed of a relatively thin gauge sheet metal. p

- The plate 9 has a recessed rear side or face 11 and a tes PatentO Patented May 13, 1958 substantially smooth front side or face 12. Said rear side 11 is provided with a coin receiving slot 13 including a substantially straight portion 14 which is disposed longitudinally of the plate 9 adjacent a longitudinal side edge 15 of said plate. The slot portion 14 has a closed end located adjacent the upper end 16 of the plate 9. The coin slot 13 also includes an inclined end portion 17 having an inner end communicating with the opposite inner end of the straight slot portion 14 and an opposite lower end opening outwardly of the lower end 18 of the plate 9. Said last mentioned coin discharge end 20 of the slot 13 also opens through the longitudinal side edge 19 at the lower end thereof.

The rear plate side 11 is also provided with a longitudinally extending recess 21 located adjacent said longitudinal side edge 19 which opens outwardly of the up-v per end 16 of the plate. The plate side 11 is also provided with a narrow longitudinally extending recess 22 having an inner end opening into the inner end of the recess 21, intermediate of the side edges of said recess 21, and an opposite end opening into the coin slot portion 17. Said last mentioned end of the recess 22 is enlarged on the side thereof remote from the longitudinal side edge 19 to provide a downwardly facing shoulder 23. The recess 22 is disposed substantially in alignment with the central part of the portion of the discharge opening 20, which opens through the lower plate end 13, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The rear plate side 11 between the lower portion of the recess 22 and the adjacent longitudinal edge 19 is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 24 having an enlarged inner end and an opposite lower end which opens into a part of the discharge opening 20 formed in the edge 19. A leaf spring 25 has an end portion seated in the recess 24 including an eye or enlargement 26 which is seated in the enlarged inner end of said recess 24 to prevent sliding movement of the spring 25 relatively to said recess. The other end of the spring 25 extends into the coin slot section 17 adjacent its discharge end and includes a downwardly and inwardly inclined portion 27 extending at an angle away from the longitudinal edge 19 and which terminates in an outwardly turned terminal portion 28 which is spaced a substantial distance from said longitudinal edge 19.

The upper portion of the plate side 11 is provided with a recess 29, similar to the recess 24 and which is disposed therein between the closed end of the slot portion 14 and the upper plate end 16. Said recess 29 extends substantially transverse of the plate 9 and has a closed end located adjacent the longitudinal edge 15 which is enlarged, and an opposite end which opens into the restricted end of a flared recess 31 in the plate side 11. The opposite end of said flared recess 3h opens into the side edge of the recess 21, which is disposed remote from said longitudinal edge 19. A leaf spring 31 has an end portion seated in the recess 29 including an enlargement'or terminal eye 32 which seats in the enlarged closed end of said recess 29 and which prevents sliding movement of the spring 31 in the recess 2). The other end of the spring 31 extends longitudinally through the flared recess 30 and has a terminal portion 33 extending substantially transversely into the recess 21.

A plunger, designated generally 34, includes an elongated head of a width to slidably fit in the recess 21 and which head 35 is of a length approximately equal to or slightly greater than the length of the recess 21. The plunger 34 includes an elongated stem 36 forming an extension of the inner end of the head 35 and which is of a width to slidably fit the recess 22 and of a length substantially greater than the length of said recess. The stem 36 at its lower free end terminates in a head 37 which isshaped to fit the flared lower end of said recess 22 and which includes a laterally projecting lug 38 which abuts against the downwardly facing shoulder 23 to limit upward movement of the stem 36 in the recess 22. When the lug 33 is in engagement with the shoulder 23 the head 3'7 is entirely contained in the flared end of the recess 22 and does not extend into any part of the coin slot 13. The plunger head 35 has a laterally extending notch 39 which opens outwardly of a side edge thereof toward the recess 30 and which is flared from its inner toward its outer end. The spring terminal 33 extends loosely into the notch 39. Said spring terminal is spring biased toward the upper plate end 16 and the notch 39 is so disposed in the head 35 that the plunger 34 is spring biased upwardly by the spring 31 relatively to the plate 9, so that the lug 33 is held by the spring 31 in engagement with the shoulder 23. With the parts thus disposed, as seen in Figure 3, the outer rounded end 40 of the plunger head 35 projects outwardly a substantial distance from the upper plate end 16 and the inner end of said head 35 is spaced a substantial distance from the inner end of the recess 21.

The cover 13 is formed from a strip of thin sheet metal having a part comprising a rear wall 41. Other parts of the cover it which project at substantially right angles from the plane of the rear wall 41 and in the same direction, define corresponding side walls 42 and 43 and a lower end wall 44. Said walls 42, 43 and 44 have relatively narrow inturned flanges or lips 42a, 43a and 44a, respectively, at their upper edges. Said walls are of a width greater than the thickness of the plate 9 so that the flanges or lips 42a, 43a and 44a are spaced from the rear wall 41 a distance greater than the thickness of the plate 9. The plate or body member 9 with the springs and plunger applied thereto is inserted into the cover through the open upper end 45 thereof, so that the rear side 11 of the plate will be disposed against the inner side of the rear wall 41 of the cover, to retain the plunger and springs properly seated in the recesses of the rear plate side 11. The plate 3 is of a length and Width substantially equal to the len th and width of the cover rear wall 41 so that the side edges and 19 of the plate 9 will be disposed against the inner surfaces of the cover side walls 42 and 43, respectively, and so that the lower end 18 of the plate will be disposed against the lower end wall 44 when the upper plate end 16 is substantially flush with the open end 45 of the cover, as seen in Figures 1 and 3.

The wall 41 and plate 9 have registering recesses 46 at the open end 45 of the cover for engaging an end of a card or permit to be removed from the holder 8, as will hereinafter become apparent. A fiat headed screw 47 extends through an opening in the rear wall 41 and engages a threaded opening 48 which extends through the plate 9, beneath the recess 30. The flat head of the screw 47 is countersunk flush with the rear wall 41.

As seen in Figure 1, the rear wall 41 is provided with a series of spaced openings 49 which open into the slot portions 14 and 17. The bottom wall 44 of the cover is provided with a discharge opening 50 which registers with the portion of the dischar e end of the coin slot 13 which opens through the bottom edge 18 of the plate 9.

With the plate or body 9 disposed in the cover 10 and connected thereto by the screw 47 so that rear wall 11 of the plate is disposed against the inner side of the rear cover wall 41, the flanges 42a, 43a and 44a are spaced from the front face 12 of the plate 9, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, so that a permit or pass 51 may be inserted into the holder 3 through the open end 45 of the cover and with edge portions of the permit or pass 51 disposed between the edge portions of said front face 12 and the flanges 42a, 43a and 44a. The pass or permit 51 will thus be detachably held in the holder 8 and is disposed with the printed side thereof outermost, as seen in Figure 2, so that the pertinent indicia of the pass may be read. Assuming that the pass 51 is a weekly pass or permit sold to passengers entitling the passenger to ride public conveyances for a reduced fare, for example for a fare of ten cents, the coin slot 13 is made of a width to accommodate dimes. The dimes 52 are inserted through the discharge openings 50 and 20 into the coin slot portion 17 and in entering said slot portion will strike the bend 53 of the spring 25 for forcing the spring end 27, 28 toward the cover wall 43 to permit the dime or coin 52 to pass upwardly into the slot portion 17 above the bend 53, after which the spring end 27, 28 springs back to its normal position of Figure 3. A plurality of dimes may thus be inserted-to fill the slot portions 14 and 17 and the number of dimes contained therein can be determined visually as portions of said dimes will be visible through the openings 49. Assuming that one or more dimes 52 are contained in the coin slot 13, as a passenger boards a public conveyance, he or she grasps the holder and dispenser 8 between the thumb and fingers which engage the cover walls 42 and 43. The holder and dispenser is held so that the pass 51 will be facing outwardly of the hand and the index finger is placed upon the rounded end 40 of the plunger head 35. The holder and dispenser is thus held over the coin box of the public conveyance and with the discharge openings 20, 50 facing downwardly and above said coin box. In this position, the vehicle operator can inspect the pass 51 at which time the user presses downwardly on the plunger end 40 with the index finger. As the lowermost dime 53 has assumed a position by gravity in the lower end of the coin slot portion 17 and directly below the stem end 37, when the plunger 34 is thus pressed downwardly by the index finger, said stem head 37 slides downwardly from its full line to its dotted line position of Figure 3, causing the dime disposed therebeneath in contact with the spring bend 53 to displace the spring end 27, 28 toward the wall 43 and so that the coin 52 will be discharged by gravity and by pressure of the stem head 37 outwardly through the discharge opening 20, 50. The stem head 37 in its dotted line position will prevent the next coin or dime 52 from moving downwardly from its position as illustrated in Figure 3, in dotted lines, until the head 37 has substantially returned to its full line position. Before this occurs, the spring end 27, 28 will return to its position of Figure 3 to prevent discharge of this second dime or coin until the plunger 34- is again displaced downwardly by finger pressure. After the coin has been discharged by the downward movement of the plunger 34, the user releases the pressure on the plunger head and the spring end 33 then returns the plunger 34 to its full line position of Figure 3 with the lug 38 abutting against the shoulder 23, in which position said plunger is normally retained by said lug and shoulder and by the spring 31.

It will thus be apparent that a combination permit or pass holder and coin dispenser of extremely simple construction has been provided which may be effectively used for displaying a permit or pass and for discharging a fare coin therefrom, both of which operations can be readily accomplished with the use of one hand, leaving the other hand free for holding packages or other items. It will also be apparent that the pass or permit 51 can be readily removed slidably from the holder and replaced by another pass after the expiration date of the first pass.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combination holder and dispenser of the character described comprising a relatively thick plate having a front side and a rear side, said plate being elongated and including an upper end and a lower end, said rear plate side being recessed to define a coin slot having a closed end located adjacent the upper end of the plate and an open end opening through the lower end of said plate, said rear plate side being provided with a longitudinally extending recess having one end opening outwardly of the upper end of the plate and an opposite end opening into a portion of said coin slot disposed opposite to and substantially in alignment with the open end-of said slot, a plunger slidably mounted in said longitudinal recess and having an end located adjacent the coin slot and displaceable into said coin slot toward the open end thereof for ejecting a coin from said slot through said open end, said rear plate side having spring end recesses, leaf springs having ends anchored in said spring end recesses and opposite free ends, one of said springs constituting a plunger retracting spring, said plunger being provided with a notch in which a free end of said plunger retracting spring is disposed, said plunger retracting spring urging the plunger upwardly to a retracted position, the lower end of said plunger being retracted out of engagement with the coin slot and the upper end of said plunger projecting outwardly from the upper end of said plate when the plunger is in a retracted position, the other spring constituting a coin retaining spring and having a free end located in the coin slot adjacent the open end thereof and coop-crating with the coin slot to retain coins contained within the slot against gravity movement outwardly of the slot through the open end thereof, said free end of the coin retaining spring yielding laterally of the plate when a coin engaged thereby is forcibly displaced toward and ejected outwardly through said open lower end of the coin slot, a cover member in which said plate is removably disposed having a rear wall disposed against said rear plate side, said cover member having a lower end wall provided with an opening registering with the open end of the coin slot through which coins are ejected by a downward displacement of the plunger, said coin slot including a lower portion disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the plate and at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said plunger and terminating at its lower end in said open end of the slot, and said free end portion of the coin retaining spring being provided with spaced portions disposed to be engaged by a coin being forced through said open slot end in either direction and being yieldable to a position to permit coins to be inserted into the slot through said open end or forcibly dispensed through said open end from the slot. f

2. A device of the character described comprising a plate having a rear side, a rear wall secured against said rear side of the plate, said rear wall and plate combining to form a housing including a lower end and an upper end, a coin slot formed in said housing having an open end opening outwardly of the lower end thereof and a closed upper end, a plunger slidably mounted in and disposed longitudinally of the housing and having a lower end displaceable into the coin slot in alignment with the open end thereof for ejecting a coin therethrough, said coin slot including a lower portion disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the plate and at an oblique angle to the direction of sliding movement of the plunger and terminating at its lower end in said open end of the slot, said plunger having an upper end projecting from the upper end of the housing when the plunger is in a retracted position, a plunger spring retained in said housing and engaging and urging the plunger to a retracted position, a coin retaining spring disposed in said housing including a free end extending into the coin slot adjacent the open end thereof and yieldable relative to the slot to permit the passage of coins in either direction through the open end of said coin slot, said rear side of the plate having a recess forming said coin slot, a recess for slidably receiving said plunger and recesses for receiving and anchoring opposite ends of said springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 515,920 Muth Mar. 6, 1894 1,509,861 Coleman Sept. 30, 1924 2,111,832 Bauer Mar. 22, 1938 2,625,925 Osborne Jan. 20, 1953 2,669,349 Silver Feb. 16, 1954 2,690,200 Page Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 285,407 Germany Apr. 12, 1914

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