GB2307086A

GB2307086A - Coin lock

Info

Publication number: GB2307086A
Application number: GB9522973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Blanco Gonzales Victor Man Del; Viyuela Jose Antonio Alvarez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-06
Filing date: 1995-11-09
Publication date: 1997-05-14
Also published as: BE1009725A6; GB9522973D0; DE19542891A1; NL1001619C1

Description

2307086 1 COIN LOCK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coin lock for stowed articles, particularly although not exclusively articles with a clampable part, such as a bar. The invention is particularly applicable to supermarket carts, or the like.

Various types of locks of this type are known, for example, for stowing supermarket carts. Most of these locks have a plastic housing, which can easily be deformed. Further, the system of attachment to the handlebar of the cart does not provide great security. Also, the mechanism of the lock is complicated with respect to the number of its parts and their relationship, so that present locks are not very competitive. These and other characteristics cause present locks to present problems both in manufacture and in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a coin operated lock securable to an object, comprising: a lock body with a cover closing the body; the lock having a first opening and a second opening spaced from the first opening; a closure locking member receivable in the first opening to be secured therein until released by introduction of a coin into the second opening; a latching mechanism comprising a swing lever and a displaceable latch member; the swing lever being supported for swinging in the body and having a profiled edge engageable by the coin; the latch member having an engaging position at which it engages and holds the closure locking member and having a

2 releasing position at which it releases the closure locking member for extraction from the first opening and also at which it permits introduction of the closure locking member into the first opening; the swing lever being connected to the latch member so that upon swinging of the swing lever between engaging and releasing positions thereof, the latch member is moved between the respective engaging and releasing positions thereof; the swing lever and the latch member being so positioned and movable with respect to the closure locking member that upon the coin contacting and swinging the swing lever, the swing lever moves the latch member to the releasing position; a movable stop having a part engageable with the latching mechanism for holding the lever in the releasing position, the stop being movable by insertion of the closure locking member into the first opening so as to disengage the latching mechanism and permit the lever to move to the engaging position such movement of the swing lever also permitting release of the coin from the second opening.

A preferred coin lock according to the invention has been devised for stowing an article with a clampable part, like a bar, e.g. a supermarket cart. The preferred lock has the following advantages over known locks. Moving parts within the lock, for example the part which blocks and frees the closure hook or closure locking member of the lock, as well as the parts on which the hook or closure locking member itself slides, the coins and other moving parts are all seated on surfaces of minimum contact, for example being provided with depressions which decrease the friction.

The lock housing, cover and clamps are made of aluminium. The mechanism is simple and does not require skilled labour to make it.

The lock is secured to the handlebar of the cart by two 3 part circular clamping shells or parts. Each clamping part includes a pointed protrusion, and the protrusions clamp on the surface of the handlebar of the cart to prevent rotation of the lock on the bar. In order to remove the coin collector or detach it, it is necessary to remove the clamping parts. The attachment of a chain to the lock is effected by a pin.

The preferred coin lock for stowing supermarket carts is formed from a prismatic block shaped body having a lateral offset around its perimeter on which the closure cover fits and is fastened by screws. The block has a chain, which is attached by a pin to the block. At its free end, the chain carries the coupling and closure locking member of the lock. On its upper face, the block has a series of recesses and offsets to position two swing levers which are urged into a lock activated position at all times by the elastic action of individual springs. Each swing lever engages in a respective latch member or plate which is guided in a respective channel for laterally inward and outward motion as the levers swing.

Each swing lever has in the region of its rotation axis a curved edge profile, so that when a coin is introduced through a lateral opening in the block,, the coin swings the levers around their respective pivots, which displaces the latch plates laterally. The two levers can be held in this turned position by two respective stop bars which are swingable in the direction perpendicular to the path of movement of the levers. The bars each have straight end faces which fasten the swing levers in their separated apart positions to which the levers are turned by the insertion of the coin. The bars are swung under the action of two springs.

opposite the opening into the block where the coin is introduced, the block has another opening into which the 4 closure locking member, e.g. from an adjacent cart, is introduced. This attaches the two carts together. Upon being introduced into the respective lateral opening, the closure locking member moves the two swingable bars out of engagement with the levers which turn toward the inside, releasing the coin.

The closure locking member is secured in the lock body by the latch plates and is freed when those plates are moved outward. The closure locking member, in turn, presses against a compression spring, which normally pushes the closure locking member out of its opening when the latch plates free it to so move.

In order more easily to understand the construction and operation of the coin lock of the invention, a practical embodiment is described below which is merely illustrative and is not limiting.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred coin lock according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the two positions of actuation of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view through the coupling of the coin lock to a handlebar of a supermarket cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the coin lock 1 may be fastened to the handlebar 2 of a supermarket cart (not shown). It may also be clamped to other clampable objects. The lock 1 is formed of a body or block 3 and a cover 4 over the open side of the body. The block 3 has a recess or ledge 8 around its perimeter which facilitates the attachment of the cover 4 on the block.

Two clamps 5 are attached on the block to mount the lock on the cart by means of screws 6, or the like attachment means. The clamps 5 have a pointed protrusion 7 which presses into the handlebar, as seen in Figure 3. They also obscure the heads of cover mounting screws 8a.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the clamp may comprise a f irst bar engaging element in the body 1 and a second bar engaging element in the cover 4, the screws 6 securing the cover to the body also clamping the clamp elements on the bar. The lock is intended to remain secured on the handlebar.

A chain 9 is fastened on the block. A closure lock member or plate 10 is firmly secured to the free end of the chain.

Figure 2 shows the mechanism of the coin lock in two positions. The position of rest is indicated in solid line and the position of actuation in dashed line.

The block 3 has two oppositely facing lateral openings 11 and 12. A coin 13 is introduced into one opening 11. This causes a pair of swing levers 14 to swing around pivot pins 15 when the coin presses against curved edge profiles 16 at opposing sides of the levers. The curved edge profiles 16 are shaped first such that the insertion of a coin swings the arms of the levers 14 outward and secondly such that with those arms swung outward, the levers hold the inserted coin so as to prevent its removal from the opening 11. This 6 swinging of the levers 14 displaces separate, f lat, latch plates 17 toward both outside lateral sides of the block and against the action of a pair of springs 18. The closure locking plate 10, which is now freed from previous restraint by the latch plates 17, is expelled from the opening 12 by the action of a compression spring 21, which at its other side may be pressed upon by the inserted coin 13. This releases the chain 9 from the neighbouring lock and, for example, frees the cart for its use.

There are stop bars 19 which are swingably mounted on respective pins 20 located generally centrally between the levers 14. The bars 19 and pins 20 may for example be mounted in the cover 4, but as shown are mounted in the body 3. The bars 19 swing perpendicularly to the swing path of the levers 14 in a plane parallel to the direction of extension and movement of the latch plates 17. Springs at the pins 20 normally urge the bars 19 upward toward the levers 14 and closure locking plate 10. When the closure locking plate 10 has been removed the bars 19 swing upward between the separated levers to hold them apart and thereby prevent withdrawal of the coin from opening 11.

Reinsertion of the closure locking plate 10 depresses the bars 19 against the spring force on them so that when the enlarged head of that plate 10 has passed the latch plates 17 the latch plates 17 return to their positions locked into the recessed neck of the closure locking plate 10, the levers 14 swing back to their rest position under the influence of their springs 18, and the coin 13 can be extracted.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to a particular embodiment thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A coin operated lock securable to an object, comprising:

a lock body with a cover closing the body; the lock having a f irst opening and a second opening spaced from the first opening; a closure locking member receivable in the first opening to be secured therein until released by introduction of a coin into the second opening; a latching mechanism comprising a swing lever and a displaceable latch member; the swing lever being supported for swinging in the body and having a profiled edge engageable by the coin; the latch member having an engaging position at which it engages and holds the closure locking member and having a releasing position at which it releases the closure locking member for extraction from the first opening and also at which it permits introduction of the closure locking member into the first opening; the swing lever being connected to the latch member so that upon swinging of the swing lever between engaging and releasing positions thereof, the latch member is moved between the respective engaging and releasing positions thereof; the swing lever and the latch member being so positioned and movable with respect to the closure locking member that upon the coin contacting and swinging the swing lever, the swing lever moves the latch member to the releasing position; a movable stop having a part engageable with the latching mechanism for holding the lever in the releasing position, the stop being movable by insertion of the closure locking member into the first opening so as to disengage the latching mechanism and permit the lever to move to the engaging position, such movement of the swing lever also permitting release of the coin from the second opening.

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2. A lock as defined in claim 1 comprising means for clamping the lock to the object.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein the clamping means comprise clamp elements engageable with the object, the clamp elements including a point of protrusion intended for pressing into the object for preventing the lock from turning.

4. The lock of claim 3, wherein the clamping means comprise a f irst object engaging clamp element in the body and a second object engaging clamp element in the cover; and means securing the cover to the body f or also clamping the clamp elements on the object.

5. The lock of any preceding claim, wherein the stop has an end face which engages the lever and holds it in the releasing position.

6. The lock of any preceding claim, wherein there are two of the swing levers, which swing in opposite directions with respect to each other and there is a respective one of the latch members for each of the levers, wherein the levers have respective opposed surfaces for engagement by a coin disposed between those surfaces, and there is a respective one of the movable stops for each of the levers.

7. The lock of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second openings are on opposite sides of the lock body.

8. The lock of any preceding claim, further comprising a spring normally urging the latching mechanism to the closure locking member engaging position, whereby a coin inserted into the second opening swings the lever against the bias of the spring.

9 9. The lock of any preceding claim, further comprising a spring communicating between the region within the lock in which a coin is received through the second opening and the region within the lock in which the closure locking member is received, such that upon insertion of a coin through the second opening, the communicating spring is engaged by the coin, and in turn presses on the closure locking member for urging the closure locking member out of the first opening when the lever is moved to the releasing position.

10. The lock of any preceding claim, further comprising means connecting the closure locking member with the remainder of the lock such that the closure locking member may be inserted into and removed from the body, and when removed from the body, the closure locking member will nonetheless remain connected with the remainder of the lock.

11. A lock as defined in any preceding claim wherein moving parts within the body are seated on surfaces of minimum contact.

12. A lock as defined in any preceding claim wherein the latch member is separate from and engaged by the swing lever.

13. A coin operated lock substantially as described with reference to or as shown in the drawings.