WO1996034369A1

WO1996034369A1 - A coin-operated lock

Info

Publication number: WO1996034369A1
Application number: PCT/DE1996/000715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Fuchs
Original assignee: Peter Fuchs
Priority date: 1995-04-28
Filing date: 1996-04-18
Publication date: 1996-10-31
Also published as: AU5495596A

Abstract

A coin-operated lock for use on shopping trolleys has functional components which, together with a control bolt, block or release either the lock or a coin alternately. According to the invention, the operational component to block or release the coin is a single, rotary bracket (3) which can rotate between two extreme positions by means of pins and grooves. The use of only one control bolt and only one bracket as the operational component in the coin chamber proved the simplest fitting of the coin-operated lock without spindle bearings, clamps or screws. In addition, the production of such a coin-operated lock is extremely easy, since the bracket, the spring component and the control bolt simply have to be fitted in two casing components which can be assembled together. In addition, the functional components to block and release the key (16) are at least one ball or roller to which are applied mutually overlapping end regions of the control bolt and the key (16), to which end the control bolt and the key have matching end sections acting with and moving the balls. The use of these balls has the advantage that they too can be easily produced and, together with the bracket (3), simply need to be placed in their recesses during the assembly of the coin-operated lock.

Description

Coin deposit lock

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a coin deposit system, in particular a coin deposit lock for use in shopping trolleys.

To secure and properly store shopping carts, for example in the parking lot in front of a supermarket, it has become increasingly common in recent years to equip shopping carts with coin-operated locks. The function of such coin-operated locks is that the removal of an empty shopping cart at the start of shopping, for example from a row of parked shopping carts, is only possible if a key is released in the coin-operated lock by inserting a coin into the coin-operated lock , which is usually connected to the next shopping trolley by a chain. During the purchase, the inserted coin is therefore within the coin lock and cannot be removed from the outside.

If, after shopping, the empty shopping trolley is brought to the designated shopping trolley row and inserted into this row, the key that is firmly connected to the next shopping trolley can be re-entered into the coin deposit lock in reverse order and the inserted coin becomes again released for removal.

If all shopping trolleys in the area of a supermarket, for example, are equipped with such coin-operated locks of this type, this generally achieves or at least encourages theft of shopping trolleys to be avoided or minimized and that after the purchase has been made, the buyers return the empty shopping trolleys to the designated places in order to receive the deposit coin again.

Such coin deposit systems consequently reduce the expenses for the procurement of new shopping carts and personnel expenses for the operator of the respective supermarket in order to find the shopping carts which are otherwise usually widely scattered over the customer car park.

State of the art

The design of such coin-operated locks places relatively high demands on the robustness and mechanical stability of the structural design, since the coin-operated deposit systems are exposed to all weather influences, gentle use by customers cannot be expected, repair and replacement expenses must be reduced as much as possible, so as not to incur any additional costs.

Known systems according to the preamble of claim 1 (for example EP-A-468 088) have functional parts for carrying out the above-described processes, which, when a coin is inserted into a coin chamber, contains the key held in a key, which is the connection to the next shopping cart manufactures, releases and vice versa.

In these known systems (for example also according to AU-B-606514), the formation of the functional parts and their anchoring in the coin-operated lock is very complex and requires a great deal of space, since a large number of axes of rotation, bearing rollers, molded parts and the like are provided in order to to achieve the described function.

Another system (WO 94/19775) already achieves considerable simplifications by globally dispensing with such components, but requires a total of four functional parts and a control latch for proper function. Finally, EP 0468088 AI shows a securing device for transport trolleys, in which a control bolt ("movable part 3") on the coin side interacts with a swivel bracket ("coin test lever! 4") mounted in a fixed axis, further components being used to establish contact with the coin ("Stylus 6" and "Münzprükkugel 46") are provided. The coin-side structure is therefore quite complex.

Objective of the invention

It is therefore an essential object of the invention to design a coin-operated lock in such a way that it can be manufactured using the simplest structural measures, is extremely economical and robust in manufacture and use, and thus manufacturing and operating costs are minimized.

Furthermore, it is to be ensured that a limited number of specified coins with a certain value can be used as the deposit coin.

Features of the invention

The objects described above are achieved and further advantages are achieved by the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

The use of only one control bolt and only one bracket as a function point in the coin holder allows for the simplest assembly without axes, bearings, clamps or screw connections, since all functional sequences for locking or releasing the coin can only be done by moving the control bolt and the bracket (if necessary, under Cooperation of a spring element) can be effected. The manufacture of a coin deposit lock constructed in this way is also extremely simple, since the bracket, a spring element and the control bolt must simply be inserted into two housing layers which can be mounted on one another, and the housing cover can then be attached.

Minimal manufacturing effort due to the possibility of simple plastic molded parts or metal castings on the one hand and minimal effort for assembly by assembling these components in a kit-like manner on the other hand guarantee minimal equipment costs with the greatest possible robustness in daily use.

Further advantageous configurations and advantages emerge from the following description and the subclaims.

Description of features

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the coin-operated lock according to the invention is explained with reference to figures, which show:

FIG. 1: a top view of the coin deposit lock with the upper part of the housing removed and with the key inserted and locked,

FIG. 2: a top view of the coin deposit lock corresponding to FIG. 1 when a coin is inserted,

FIG. 2A: a longitudinal section through the coin deposit lock in the plane a-a of FIG. 2,

FIG. 2B: a first cross section through the coin deposit lock in the plane b-b of FIG. 2,

FIG. 2C: a second cross section through the coin deposit lock in the plane cc of FIG. 2, FIG. 3: a top view of the coin deposit lock corresponding to FIG. 1 when a coin is further introduced,

FIG. 4: a top view of the coin deposit lock corresponding to FIG. 1 with the coin fully inserted and the key removed,

FIG. 5: a top view of the coin deposit lock with the upper housing part removed when a coin is inserted,

6 shows a longitudinal section through a modified variant of the coin deposit lock in the plane a-a of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7: schematic front view of the coin deposit lock with plug-in cards for specifying different maximum diameters of the deposit coins.

Figures 1 to 4 show the structure and function of the coin deposit lock in several sections to illustrate its functions based on the positions of the essential components, namely a coin deposit housing made up of lower housing part 1A, central housing part IC and upper housing part 1B, and function point 3 positioned and guided between these housing parts , 5, 6, and a control bolt 2, which is in mutual engagement with the functional parts 3, 5, 6, guide grooves 9, 11 of the housing middle part IC, the coin 15 and the key 16.

To clarify the illustration, partial areas which relate to the respective function-determining regions are hatched in the illustration in FIGS. 1 to 4, the base area on which the control latch 2 and bracket 3 move is shown in dotted lines in FIG . Upper part IB and lower part 1A are largely identical in shape and close the other components tightly up and down. Upper part IB and lower part 1A thus enclose a space between them, which is divided into a coin chamber M and a key lock S by the central part IC and in which the control bolt 2 and the functional parts 3, 5, 6 are formed by depressions, grooves or coin 15 and key 16 are positively guided, as will be explained in detail below:

The middle part IC is an insert, the longitudinal cross section of which can best be seen from FIG. 2A. Its rear area lies on the lower part 1A and forms and defines a trough-like depression in which the key-side end section of the control bolt 2 can be displaced. The front area divides the coin chamber M into an upper part M2 and a lower part Ml, each of which is provided for receiving a coin of a defined size.

The control bolt 2 is in the preferred embodiment an essentially V-shaped, with legs 21, 22 lying to the coin opening. To guide the control bolt 2, the latter has pins Z9.Z11 on its underside, which engage in guide grooves 9, 11 of the central part IC. The shape of the groove 9 and the groove 11 is predetermined so that the control bolt 2 can assume the positions shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, for which purpose it performs a rotary-sliding movement when it is acted upon by the coin 15 or the key 16 travels its predetermined path, ie when its pins Z9.Z11 are shifted in their associated groove 9, 11 from one end position to the other end position, in each of which one end or end wall of the associated groove makes a stop forms, which limits a further displacement of the control bolt 2.

The control bolt 2 is formed in a step-like manner in its central region (FIG. 2A), corresponding to the above-mentioned, step-like configuration of the central part IC. This will make a Another stop formed by the opposite end walls Sl (of the central part IC) and S2 (the control bolt 2), which limits the longitudinal displacement of the control bolt 2 in the direction of the coin opening. In addition, this creates the prerequisite for the control bolt 2 and the key 16 (not shown in FIG. 2A) to be guided in an overlapping manner in their respective end regions, while at the same time forming a further stop, consisting of an upper end wall S3 of the control bolt 2 and the end face S16 of the key 16, via which these two parts interact, as will be explained further below.

The movement of the control bolt 2 is defined by the measures described above so that alternately when the key 16 is inserted, the latter moves the control bolt 2 into its one end position (where the coin 15 is released) or vice versa, when a coin 15 is inserted, the control bolt 2 in its other end position is shifted where the key 16 is released.

So that the rotary movement of the control bolt 2 can only take place under the two conditions just mentioned (with the simultaneous participation of both the coin and the key), function points 3, 5, 6 are provided, which in turn can be moved between two end positions, for which purpose several recesses in the central area IC are provided, in which the functional parts can be moved. The mechanisms of locking on the coin side and the key side are technically different, first the detailed structure on the coin side is described:

The (in the plane of the drawing of Figures 1-4) the upper leg 21 engages in the central recess of the functional part designed as a C-bracket 3, such that a block (Fig. 1) against a (in the plane of the drawing) to the right shifting the Control bar 2 is reached (hatched partial areas), which can only be canceled by inserting a coin of the correct size (Fig. 2,3). In order to enable the control bar 2 to be pivoted downward for this purpose, the grooves 9, 11 in the central part IC have corresponding initial widenings in which the pins Z9.Z11 of the control bar 2 can slide downward (in the plane of the drawing). The bracket 3 is guided via pins 31, 32, 33, which are held displaceably in grooves N1, N2, N3 of the central part IC (FIG. 2C).

On the key side, the key-side end section of the control bolt has cuts 24A.24B on both sides, as does the control-bolt end section of the key 16, namely cuts 16A.16B. The front edges of the key 16 and the control bolt 2 are at least partially roof-like (or possibly mushroom-shaped), so that there is an overall substantially symmetrical structure of the end regions of these components (with a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a-a). These two components 2, 16 are guided in a 1 m housing such that their incisions 16A.16B; 24A.24B can sweep over or reach recesses VA.VB in the central part IC, in which functional parts 5,6 are held, which cause the control bolt 2 and key to be locked when they are in mutual engagement with their incisions.

It is essential here that the recesses VA, VB are swept by the incisions 16A ... 24B of the control bolt 2 and the key 16 during their movement, the roof-like front edges removing the functional parts within the recesses. In order to simplify such a "take-along" of the function point as much as possible, the functional parts 5 and 6 are designed as balls (for example steel balls) or at least ball-like structures (ElUpsolde, rollers or the like), which are forced upon movement by the control bolt 2 or Keys 16 have only a minimal resistance along a certain path, but act as a full blocking or blocking element when they strike an end wall or a similar limitation by the incisions 16A ... 24B. These balls have the advantage that they are extremely easy to manufacture from a manufacturing point of view and, together with the bracket 3 when the coin deposit lock is installed, simply into their associated recesses VA.VB or recesses for the pins 31, 32, 33 of the central part IC must be inserted; Clamps, screw connections, definition of axes and similar complex work steps when installing conventional coin-operated locks are completely eliminated here.

The formation of the function points 5 and 6 as balls enables, as an additional advantage, a certain "automation" of the movement sequence within the coin deposit lock, as will be explained in the following:

The depressions VA.VB are designed such that their bottom B (compare in particular FIG. 2B) is inclined inwards. This bottom of the recesses therefore represents an inclined plane for the ball in each case, with the effect that the ball assumes its lowest position (shown in FIGS. 1 to 4) under the action of gravity, if this is the case allow the respective positions of the associated incisions 24A.24B of the control bolt 2 or 16A, 16B of the key 16.

In its central area, the trough-like central part IC forms a channel K, in which the key-side end of the control bolt 2 is guided, with sufficient lateral play KS remaining for the pivoting movement mentioned.

The function of these components described above will be briefly explained using the figures:

FIG. 1 shows the coin lock in the coupled state of the shopping trolley, ie the key 16 is located in the key chamber S and is only released (and allows the shopping trolley to be removed) when the coin 15 is pressed into the coin chamber M. The decisive factor here is that without the introduction of the coin 15, the key 16 cannot be pulled out of the coin deposit lock: if this were attempted, the rear flank of the incisions 16A.16B presses the balls 5, 6 against the opposite wall of the recesses VA. VB in the central part IC and blocks a further shift of the key 16 from the coin deposit lock. The balls 5 and 6 thus ultimately act directly as a "blocking switch" for the key 16, without "participation" of the other components.

If this consideration is followed up, one can also see the only way according to the invention to remove this blockage by the balls 5 and 6, namely by inserting a coin 15, as is shown successively in FIGS. 1 to 4:

The front, rare flanks of the coin 15 "translate" the movement (arrow A) of the coin 15 in the longitudinal axis of the coin deposit lock into a movement directed perpendicularly thereto, which means that the bracket 3 is upward (arrow C in FIG. 3) and the control bolt 2 is downward are pushed (arrow B in Figure 2), whereby the coin 15 can pass into the coin combs M. It can be seen in FIG. 3 in particular that the blockage of the control bolt 2 is removed by the bracket 3, since these two components are pushed apart from one another in their shaded alternating action areas.

If the coin 15 is now inserted more, it immediately acts on the opposite end face of the control bolt (hatched contact area) and now shifts the control lever 2 backwards (arrow D in FIG. 3), its pin Z9 and CLOSED in its grooves 9, 11 slide to the right and the leg 21 on the opposite edge of the bracket 3 so. On the right, the bracket slides in a counterclockwise direction (arrow E in FIG. 4) and its section facing the coin insertion opening narrows the coin opening to such an extent that it is no longer possible to remove the coin 15 because a pivoting of the bracket 3 clockwise from the "clamped" right bracket section is prevented. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the coin 15 has reached its end position, from which it can no longer be removed without inserting the key 16 (with regard to different coin sizes, the dimensions of the components in the parts M1 and M2 of the coin chamber M can differ from one another ¬ give way).

Simultaneously with this movement of the bracket 3, the key-side end section of the control bolt 2 slides to the right under the overlapping end region of the key 16, so that initially the position shown in FIG. 2 results, in which the hatched contact surfaces through the end walls S3 and S16 are formed, close together! In this position (FIG. 2), the roof-shaped end section of the control bolt 2 reaches the depressions VA.VB, in which the balls 5, 6 are located. When the control bolt 2 is pushed further into its end position (FIG. 4), the end edges of its end section lift the balls 5 and 6 from their blocking position into the upper position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2C within the depressions VA, VB. The mutually pointing sections of control bolt 2 and key are dimensioned such that the end walls S3 and S16 are in contact when the roof-like inclines of the end regions connect to one another (FIG. 2). As a result, the balls 5, 6 finally reach these cuts from the cuts 16A.16B of the key into the cuts 24A, 24B of the control bolt 2, which is to be illustrated in FIG. 4 by the curved arrows. The key 16 has thus been unlocked and ejected at the same time and the shopping cart can now be removed from the row to which it was coupled.

It can be seen that in this position of the control bolt 2, as described above, the balls 5 and 6 are rolled onto the bottom of their associated recesses VA and VB and assume their locked position there. This has the consequence that even when trying to insert the coin 15 without inserting the specifically provided key 16 (for example with the aid of a similarly shaped flat Object in the key slot) again from the coin deposit lock, the two locking edges of the control bolt 2 on their assigned balls 5 and 6 "get caught", so that a shift of the control bolt 2 to the left, which would be required to remove the coin 15, does not is possible. In this sense, the balls 5 and 6 also act as a "blocking switch" for the coin 15.

It is easy to understand how the coin 15 can then be removed properly:

If the key 16 is reinserted into the coin deposit lock, its two lateral end flanks press the balls 5 and 6 back up into the area where the control bolt 2 can be moved to the left again, since this movement is caused by a corresponding movement of the balls 5 and 6 is released in its associated recess. Then the processes described in the introduction run in reverse order, which then leads to the release and ejection of the coin 15.

It does not need to be particularly emphasized that the proper functioning of these processes naturally also depends on the shape, in particular, of the recesses in the bracket 3, the guide grooves 9, 11 and in particular the legs 21, 22 of the control bolt 2 and their relative positioning to one another; the measures required for this, however, unless they are expressly mentioned at the beginning, are apparent to the person skilled in the art from the drawings and are within the scope of the usual professional skill. In particular, it is readily possible, using the principle according to the invention of alternately blocking by means of gravity-actuated balls on the one hand and a bracket on the other hand, to conceive structurally different designs as functional elements, which differ in terms of their dimensions and their movements from the preferred exemplary embodiment shown like, without leaving its basic concept. For example, it is conceivable to use spring elements in a conventional manner (as indicated by "F" in FIG. 2) in order to support or effect the movement sequences of the control bolt 2 and the bracket 3. It is also possible to use two more or less symmetrically constructed control bolt halves instead of a single control bolt 2, which are guided independently and can be controlled independently of one another by the key 16 or the coin 15 if special spatial or structural requirements make this appear reasonable.

It is also possible to assign only one ball to the key chamber S as a "blocking switch" if safe control of the control bolt and key is ensured, which ensure both reliable release and reliable blocking of the coin or key.

All components of the coin deposit lock can be formed from uniform materials, for example metal or plastic, or also from different materials; it is crucial that the parts production and in particular the assembly is extremely simple, because all functional parts and the control latch need only be inserted into the lower part 1A with the central part IC and this is then closed with the upper part IB.

To illustrate an advantageous embodiment, FIG. 5 again shows the coin-operated lock with its essential components, namely the housing 1 with the housing central part IC, and in this housing 1 positioned and guided functional parts 3 (shackle), 5 and 6 (balls), and the Control bolt 2, which interacts with these functional parts 3,5,6 and is in interaction with coin 15 and key 16 1m housing. The basic dynamic function of these components is that described in detail above, so that only the additional special features are referred to below. In order to clarify the illustration, those partial areas which relate to the contact areas between the functional parts which determine the function of the invention are also hatched in FIG. 5. These are essentially the contact areas between the leg 21 of the control bolt 2 and the opposite end edges of the bracket 3, and between the leg 22 and the front of the coin 15, and between the corner area of the bracket 3 on the coin slot side and the side flank of the coin 15 as shown in Figure 5. The coin chamber M formed in the housing is here also divided into an upper part M2 and a lower part M1, which are each provided for receiving a coin in the admissibility window defined according to the invention.

The dimensioning and thus the assignment of the interactions, for example of the control bolt 2 with the coin 15, can now be set up in such a way that the shape of the corresponding peripheral edges of the control bolt 2 in the hatched contact areas ensures that the function is ready shaft of the coin deposit lock is only reached (release of the key 16 when the coin 15 is fully inserted into the coin chamber M) if the coin has a certain minimum diameter. The shape of the control bolt 2 is expediently chosen such that different coin diameters are defined in the two coin chambers M1, M2 one above the other, for example 23.0 mm in the upper coin chamber M2 and 26.0 mm in the lower coin chamber M1 (see are the values shown in the dimensions on the left in FIG. 3). The diameter D of the coin 15 must therefore have a minimum value differently defined in both coin chambers M1, M2 in order to be able to bring about the intended function of the coin deposit lock.

To define a maximum allowable coin diameter D in the two tliπzkammern M1.M2 is provided according to the invention that in the area of the front coin insertion slots MS1, MS2, which lead to the associated coin chambers M1, M2, slots SF1, SF2 are made in the housing 1, which in essentially perpendicular to the plane of the coin chambers M, M1, M2 run and are open to the coin insertion slots MS1, MS2. Insert parts similar to plug-in cards F1.F2 can be introduced into this contactor, as is shown in particular in FIG. 7 using four concrete examples:

At the upper edge of FIG. 7, two molded parts F1, F2 are shown in your view, the first molded part F1 being an essentially rectangular plug-in card with diagonally opposite rectangular cutouts, the second molded part being a plug-in card of a corresponding size, but only with one cutout a corner.

The slots SF1, SF2 are now positioned in the housing 1 such that the effective width Bl (coin slot MSI) or B2 (coin slot M2) can be reduced depending on the orientation of the molded part F1.F2 and thus the upper limit of the "admissibility window" "is clearly definable for the deposit coin. Figure 7 shows four exemplary alternatives A ... 0, which are briefly explained in detail:

In variant A, the molded parts F1.F2 are not used, ie the effective widths B1.B2 are the widths specified by the housing 1 itself, ie 29.0 mm for the lower coin slot MSI or 26.0 mm for the upper coin slot MS2, as shown in the table on the right edge of FIG. 3. Together with the minimum diameters (as described above) of 23.0 and 26.0 mm specified for both coin slots, the "standard design" of the coin deposit lock results in a first admissibility window between 23.0 and 26.0 mm and a second admissibility window between 26.0 and 29.0 mm, depending on the coin slot.

In variant B, the first molded part F1 is inserted into the slot SF1 in such a way that its corner recess in the area of the upper coin slot MS2 springs back behind the contour of the housing 1 which defines the width B2, so that there is no effect here with regard to this coin slot slot MS2. the first admissibility window of 23.0 to 26.0 mm remains. On the other hand the molded part Fl reduces the width of the coin slot MSI by one millimeter, in that the relevant section of the molded part Fl protrudes beyond the contour of the housing 1 into the coin slot MSI and reduces the effective width B1 to 28.0 mm, as a result of which the permissible window of the lower coin slot MSI is reduced to 26.0 to 28.0 mm.

Variant C in turn only uses the first molded part F1, but in a position rotated by 180 ° about an axis running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. As a result, the lower coin slot MSI now remains unchanged (here again an admissibility window of 26.0 to 29.0 mm is specified, in accordance with variant A), whereas the effective width B2 of the upper coin slot MS2 is now set to 24 .0 mm is reduced, the admissibility window now valid there is therefore 23.0 to 24.0 mm.

Finally, variant D shows the use of two molded parts F1, F2, by means of which the upper coin slot MS2 is further restricted to 23.0 mm compared to variant C; In this example, the "admissibility window" therefore has the "width" 0 due to the correspondence between the minimum size and maximum size of the coin diameter, i.e., only deposit coins with the exact diameter of 23.0 mm can trigger the function of the coin deposit lock.

In this variant, the lower coin slot MSI has an effective width Bl of 29.0 mm, slightly below the value for example A.

Only these four examples show the multitude of possible combinations simply by selecting and orienting two plug-in card-like molded parts F1, F2 to the manufacturer or the user of the coin deposit lock in order to make a specific selection of such deposit coins that function of the coin deposit lock. A further embodiment of the invention can be found in the cross-sectional illustration in FIG. 6:

The front underside of the control bolt 2 dips into a recess V of the housing 1, so that the rear edge KS of the control bolt 2, which points toward the key (not shown), forms a stop together with the cooperating locking shoulder SR in the housing 1. In the position in which no coin is inserted into one of the coin slots (which is not shown here), the control bolt 2 is seated with its front, lower part in the depression V. It is immediately apparent that the movement required to eject the key of the control bolt 2 (in the plane of FIG. 2 to the right) can only take place if the control bolt 2 is raised so far that the rear edge KS and the locking shoulder SR disengage. This locking mechanism is used to specify a further dimension of the coin admissibility window, namely a minimum thickness for the used coins:

For this purpose, the coin-side end face of the control bolt 2 is provided with control surfaces S1.S2 which are inclined so that they convert the insertion movement of a coin 15 into a vertical movement of the front side of the control bolt 2. The positioning and inclination of these control surfaces S1.S2 is selected such that a certain minimum thickness of the coin 15 is required in order to raise the control bolt on the front side as far as shown in FIG. 2 in such a way that the blocking mentioned is released. It is easy to see from FIG. 6 that with a coin 15 with only half the thickness shown, the stroke of the control bolt 2 would not be sufficient to disengage the locking shoulder SR and the edge KS, so that the result would be that a such a thin object, in particular, for example, a plastic coin set, such as is used occasionally, could not clear the blocking of the coin deposit lock, even if the deposit coin set used would meet the criteria of the permissible window with regard to minimum diameter and maximum diameter. So here is an additional possibility created to prevent misuse of the coin deposit lock by non-coin items.

The main advantage of this further development is thus to be seen in the fact that the coin deposit lock can be optionally equipped with the simplest structural measures so that as a deposit coin only such a coin can produce the intended function of the coin deposit lock, the diameter of which lies in a variable and easily specifiable window of admissibility; The "admissibility window" is to be understood here as the permissible diameter range between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter of the usable coin.

With the help of the easily plug-in molded parts as a lateral boundary of the two coin slots, preferably molded parts with different outer contours being used, the widths of the two coin shells and thus the maximum diameter of the deposit coins that can be used can be easily combined by twisting or optionally assigning different molded parts in the simplest way.

This measure is supplemented by the fact that the structural inner parts of the coin deposit lock are matched to one another in such a way that a minimum diameter of the deposit coin that can be used can be easily defined, two different minimum diameters being expediently defined for the two coin slots lying one above the other, as are preferably provided , which is possible, for example, simply through the shape of the end face of the control bolt.

By combining these two permissible minimum diameters with a large number of plug positions of the molded parts, a spectrum of "permissibility windows" can be covered, by means of which practically all internationally customary coins can be recorded in the value range of interest here. This means that a coin deposit lock can be adapted to national by simply retrofitting deposit coins required in each case, whereby improper use of the coin deposit lock can be prevented with a high degree of security.

This idea thus creates a problem solution that becomes more and more important with increasing internationality, for example with regard to the use of shopping trolley systems in airports and train stations. It is readily possible to use the combinatorics mentioned above between the "inner workings" of the coin deposit system to define the minimum diameter of the coin and molded parts to define the maximum permissible outside diameter of the usable deposit coins, to provide a spectrum of allowable deposit coins via which a large number of currencies, For example, European currencies with more or less varying coin diameters are reliably recognized as "permissible". It is conceivable, for example, to design the coin deposit lock with these means so that a coin deposit slot is designed to hold a 1 DM coin and the other coin deposit slot is designed to hold a 1 Franc coin, the same applies to future euro coins, which Format these may always have.

Depending on regional requirements, the individual provision of such coin-operated locks can be factory-made or, if necessary, converted to new coin sizes on-site with just a few hand movements, so that the manufacturer is considerably relieved with regard to storage and transport, since only a small number of Shaped parts must be kept available, which can be designed, for example, as inexpensive, plug-in card-like plastic plates.

In particular, it is possible to detect only one coin value through a correspondingly precisely defined, "narrow" admissibility window, or to allow a certain number of additional coins by correspondingly "widening" the admissibility window. As always, such a combination of different coin types and currency Varieties may look like, it is always possible to achieve a quick and easy changeover of the coin deposit lock using simple molded parts, which takes into account the respective requirements for the deposit coins to be used.

The design of the control bar also enables the coins used to be monitored for their coin thickness, i.e. that only coins with a certain minimum thickness can make the coin lock operational. This significantly increases the security of use of the coin deposit lock, for example against the use of thin commercially available metal or plastic washers as a "deposit replacement". In this sense, a "three-dimensional" admissibility window can be defined with this solution, the "dimensions" of which are the maximum coin diameter, the minimum coin diameter and the minimum thickness of the deposit coin.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Coin deposit lock for use in shopping trolleys, with functional parts which, when a coin is inserted into a chamber, release the key held there, which establishes the connection with the next shopping trolley, and vice versa, with a control bolt (2) inside the chamber between two End positions is held displaceably, which in cooperation with the functional parts key (16) and coin (15) alternately locks or releases, characterized in that as a functional part for locking / unlocking the coin (15), a single, rotatable bracket (3 ) of the control bolt (2) and the coin (15) by means of pins (31,32,33) and grooves (N1, N2, N3) in the housing between its end positions is rotatably guided.

2. Coin deposit lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the control bolt (2) is a substantially V-shaped molded part, one leg lying in the coin direction (21) in the inward-facing incision (210) of the C-shaped bracket (3rd ) intervenes.

3. Coin deposit lock according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that for guiding the bracket (3), the housing includes a central part designed as an insert (IC), which has the grooves (N1, N2, N3) into which the pin (31 , 32, 33) of the bracket (3) engage in such a way that when the control bolt (2) is moved or a coin (15) is inserted, the bracket (3) runs through the predetermined path, which is determined by the arrangement and course of the grooves (N1, N2, N3) is determined.

4. coin deposit lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the control bolt (2) has two pins (Z9.Z11) which engage in Füh¬ grooves (9,11) of the housing middle part (IC).

5. coin deposit lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide grooves (9, 11) have a substantially L-shaped shape, and whose leg pointing to the coin opening is parallel to the direction of displacement and points towards the shackle (3), so that the guide grooves (9,11) for the control bolt (2) cause a rotary displacement of the control bolt (2).

6. coin deposit lock according to claim 1, characterized in that for the relative positioning of the control bolt (2) and bracket (3) at least one spring element (F) between one of the pins (32) of the bracket (3) and a pin (Z9) of the control bolt (2) is arranged and biased.

7. coin deposit lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional parts for locking / releasing the key (16) is / are at least one ball or roller (5, 6), the overlapping end regions of the control bolt (2) and the key ( 16) is / are acted upon, for which purpose the control bolt (2) and the key (16) are formed in their overlapping end sections, which interact with the balls (5, 6), essentially roof-shaped or with oblique front edges, and incisions pointing inwards (16A, 16B; 24A, 24B), in which the balls (5, 6) engage alternately in the blocking position and into which they are conveyed from the respective other end section.

8. coin deposit lock according to claim 7, characterized in that for guiding the balls (5, 6) the housing has recesses (VA, VB) which receive the balls (5, 6), and of the front edges and the incisions (16A ... 24B) of the control bar (2) and the key (16) are at least partially covered, so that when the key (16) is inserted and the control bar (2) is shifted accordingly, the balls (5,6) are reversed. run through a predetermined path in the recesses (VA, VB).

9. coin deposit lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the end portions of the key (16) and control bolt (2) can be pushed over each other until they meet a stop (S3, S16) of the other part and this by solving the blocking by move the balls (5,6).

10. Coin deposit lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the recesses (VA.VB) are formed as part of the key chamber (S) within a central part (IC) of the housing.

11. coin deposit lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the movement of the balls (5,6) takes place at least partially directly under the action of additional external forces, in particular gravity.

12. coin deposit lock according to claim 7 to 11, characterized in that the bottom (B) of the recesses (VA, VB) drops towards the inside of the housing (1) such that the balls (5,6) when reaching the incisions ( 16A, 16B; 24A, 24B) of the key (16) or control bolt (2) roll towards the center into their blocking position, whereas the roof-shaped end sections lift them outwards from the blocking position against the force of gravity and the displacement of the key (16) and allow control bolts (2).

13. Coin deposit lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber contains at least one coin chamber (M, M1, M2) which is / are accessible via a coin slot (MS, MS1, MS2), and in that the width (B1, B2) of the coin slot (MS) or the coin slots (MS1.MS2) for defining the maximum coin diameter (D) of at least one separate molded part (F1, F2) that can be detachably or exchangeably positioned in the housing (1) of the coin deposit lock.

14. Coin deposit lock according to claim 13, characterized in that two superposed coin chambers (M1, M2) are provided, each with an associated coin slot (MS1, MS2), the widths (B1.B2) of at least one common shape (F1, F2) are given.

15. coin deposit lock according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a molded part (F1, F2) is provided on both sides of the coin slot (MS1, MS2).

16. Coin deposit lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the molded parts (F1.F2) are designed as plug-in cards or plug-in plates which can be plugged into slots (SF1.SF2) which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the coin compartments (M.M1 .M2) and are open to the coin slots (MS1.MS2).

17. coin deposit lock according to claim 16, characterized in that the shaped parts (F1.F2) are substantially rectangular card-like plastic parts, with at least one recess at each corner.

18. A coin deposit lock according to claim 13, wherein the control bolt is a substantially V-shaped molded part, one of which has a leg (21) which extends in the direction of the coin engages in the incision (210) of the C-shaped bracket (3) pointing inwards, thereby characterized in that the leg (21) and incision (210) of the bracket (3) are shaped such that a functional intervention for ejecting the key (16) only takes place if the coin used has a minimal coin diameter.

19. Coin deposit lock according to claim 13, characterized in that the control bolt (2) of the face of the coin facing control surfaces (S1.S2), that 1m housing (1) has a locking shoulder (SR) is inserted into which a rear edge (KS) of the Control bolt (2) engages and the displacement of the control bolt (2) to eject the key (16), and that the control surfaces (S1, S2) are designed so that movement of the control bolt (2) transversely to the coin insertion direction to overcome the locking shoulder (SR) is only possible if a minimum thickness of Coin (15) or the inserted coin-like object is given.