Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present invention relates to a cartl in particular a shopping
cart, which has a coin-operated lock and a key to join together
such wagons parked in a row, or to release the wagon that is
located, preferably, at the end of the column when a coin is
inserted into this coin-operated lock as a deposit, said coin-
operated lock then securing the coin so deposited when the cart
is released and subsequently releasing the coin when the cart is
once again joined to the row o~ carts.
Carts with such a deposit system are known, in principle, from
DE-A 25 54916 and have, in the meantime, appeared on the market
in various forms. In principle, each cart incorporates a coin-
operated lock and with a key that usually hangs on a chain. When
the wagons are connected, the key of the next to last cart or the
key that is hanging at a collection point fits in the coin-
operated lock of the cart whereas the key o~ the end cart is
available for joining up the next following cart.
In general, it is intended that the cart that is at the end of
the column be removed~ However, in the same way, it is also
possible to uncouple the cart that is at the beginning of the
column or, if the carts are to be moved around by service
personnel, to break the line of carts in the middle.
Since it is only possible to release a cart if a deposit coin is
inserted into the coin-operated lock, and the user only has this
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coin returned to him if he once again joins the cart to one of
the different collections points, the carts no longer stand
around ldle. It is possible to save personnel that are~otherwise
used to find, collect, and return the carts and it is also
possible to manage with a smaller number of carts because those
that are not in use are always concentrated where they are
neededO
In order to further promote the use of this cart with a deposit
system, it is a task o~ the present invention to reduce the costs
of the coin-operated lock, and, in particular, its dimensions.
This is intended to make it easier to integrate the coin-operated
lock into the cart more effectively, such that it does not
intrude into th~ interior of the cart or extend beyond the
outline of the cart. Not least of all, it is intended that the
coin-operated lock be characterized by ease of servicing and low
production costs.
According to the pres~nt invention, this task has been solved in
that, when the cart is released, the deposited coin moves
approximately in the direction of its axis of rotation. The
present invention proceeds from the following facts: all
formerly known deposit systems operate on the principle that the
coin has to be displaced in the plane of the coin, a slide that
projects from the coin~operated lock being used to do this in
most instances; the coin first has to be inserted into this slide
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and then, in order to release the key of the cart located in
front, the slide has to be moved through a relatively long path.
Even if the greatest efforts are made with regard to de~ign, this
travel J and thus the length of the slide that protrudes from the
coin-operated lock, can never be smaller than the diameter of the
coin that is used.
In contrast to this, in the system according to the pres~nt
invention, the coil that is deposited moves through its active
travel in ~he direction of the coin axis, and consequently its
travel and the dimensions of the coin-operated lock that depend
on this are significantly smaller than in known systems. For the
most part, it is possible to manage with travel that is of an
order of magnitude equal to the thickness of the coin. Depending
on the design configuration that is used, it is recommended that
this travel be approximately 1 mm to approximately 1 cm.
In order to implement this principle, it is recommended that at
least one actuator that can move in the direction of the coin
axis be installed in the coin-operated lock, this actuator being
functionally connected, on one side, with the coin, and on the
other with the key, and ~electively releasing the key when it
locks the coin and locking the key when it releases the coin.
The design configuration can be such that the coin-operated lock
has a coin holder that is preferably incorporated rigidly in the
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coin-operated lock and which has a cup or recess in the shape of
a coîn that accommodates the coin with very little free play; and
such that, protected by projections, the cross section af a
spring-loaded slide that moves approximately parallel to th~ axis
of the coin protrudes into the cross section of the coin holder
such that although it can be depressed by the deposit coin, it
cannot be depressed by the next smallest coin, in which
connection, when it is not pressed down, it engages in recesses
in the key that is slid into a space or chamber in the coin-
operated lock so as to lock it; howaver, when it is depressed, it
releases this and at the same time is, in its turn, prevent~d
from springing back by means that are brac~d against spring
pressure by the locked key, and thereby blocks the coin in the
coin holder.
It is expedient that the slide be configurled as a cylindrical pin
with two annular grooves, of which the upp~er serves to secure the
coin in the coin holder by a shaped fit, and the other serves
both to release the key and to lock itself by the means pro~ided
for this purpose. ~ecause o~ this, only very few parts that are
simple to produce are needed.
The means to lock the slide in its pushed-in position can be
~ormed by a bolt that is inserted into the above-discussed space
for the key, said bolt engaging in recesses in the slide as a
result of spring pressure when the key is withdrawn, but whlch
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releases the slide wh~n the key is inserted, so that it moves the
coin into its upper release position.
In order to preclude any abuse of the coin~operated system it is
recommended that it incorporate not one slide, but a plurality of
spatially separated slides which have to be depressed
simultaneously, in order that the key of the ad~acent wagon is
released. ~ditional features connected with this are set out in
claims 6 to 8.
A further development of the present invention is aimed at
allowing the user to chose between two different deposit coins
instead of being confined to one specific coin. This is
recommended, particularly, in districts close to a border, where
different currencies are used. To this end, according to the
present invention, two coin holders of different size are
incorporated in the coin-operated lock, and these work in
conjunction with the same slide. It is expedient that when this
is done, the coin holders are arranged on edge an~ on both sides
of the space for the key. In this case, the coins are inserted
into the coin-operated lock not from above, but either from the
left or from the right.
Because of the act that the slide must have appropriately offset
working surfaces for engag~ment with the coins if coins of
different si2es are used, for reasons of production technology it
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may be expedient to form the slide from three sections that
follow each other in the longitudinal direction, of which the
centre corresponds to the ksy and the two outer which c~rrespond
to a deposit coin, the sections being held together flexibly in
the axial direction by springs. Additional features and
advantages of the present invention are set out in the following
~escription of two embodiments that are shown in the drawings
appended hereto. These drawings show the following:
Figure 0: a row of shopping carts that are joined to each other;
Figure 1: a plan view of a ~irst structural form of the coin-
operated lock as viewed from ahove, with a partial
section on the line E in figure 8;
Figure 2: a cross section along the line ~ :in figure 6;Figure 3: a cross section along the line C :in figure 7;
Figure 4: a cross section along the line B :in figure 6;
Figuxe 5: a cross section along the line D in figure 7;
Figure 8: a cross section along the line F in figure l;
Figure 9: a view as in figure 7, but showing an unauthorized
attempt at unlocking the system;
igure 10: another structural version for two siæes of deposit
coins, in vertical section;
igure 11: the same view as in figure 10, although with the coin
locked;
igure 1~: a vertical cross section through figure 10, alcng the
line G;
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Figure 13: a side view of figure 11 in the direction indicated by
the arrow H.
It should be noted that figures 6, 7, and 9 are cross sections on
the plane of separation of the housing for the coin-operated lock
and that figures 1, 2, 4, and 6 and the left-hand half of figure
8 on the one hand, and figures 3, 5, and 7 and the right-hand
half of figure 8 on the other hand each represent identical
operating status.
Figure O illustrates the coupling principle. This drawing shows
a number of shopping carts A that have been pushed into each
other. Each of these carts has a coin-operated lock B and are
connected by a flexible element 5 to the adjacent cart or to a
fixed collection point C. If a cart--which is generally the one
at the end of the row--is to be uncoupled, a coin must be
deposited in its coin-operated lock whereupon the lock releases
the connection with the cart that is located in front of it. In
the same way, the user has his deposit coin returned to him when
the cart is returned and coupled to the row of carts once more.
The construction and working principles of a first embodiment of
the present invention are described on the basis of figures 1 to
9.
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A lower section ~ of the housing of the coin-operated lock B is
secured by rivets 2 to the upper section 3 of the housing and, in
its turn, is secured ~y means of a bolt 4 to the tubulaP handle 6
of a shopping cart in such a way as to ciamp a flat belt 5 in the
position shown. A key 8 is secured by means of rivets 7 to the
unattached end of the flat belt 5. This is not shown in the
drawing, although the drawing shows the same kind of key 8 that
is secured to the end of the ~lat belt 5' which belongs to the
next vehicle in the parked column as ~iewed in the direction of
movement.
Within the drillings 9 and 9', which terminate in the manner of
blind drillings beneath the projections 27 of the housing section
3 there are cylindrical pins lO and 10l which can move and which
are acted upon by the compression springs 11. The pins 10, 10'
incorporate annular grooves 12 and 13. Between the housing
sections 1 and 3 there is a space 14 which is high enough that
the key 8, which is of sheet metal of approximately the same
thickness as a coin, can he easily inserted. The space 14
contains two bolts 15 and 15' with lugs 16, as well as a bridge
piece 17 that i5 acted on by the compression spring 18.
Initially, the status of the system is as sho~n in figures 1, 2,
4, 6, and 8, left-hand half, in which the cart with the apparatus
installed on its tubular handle 6 is joined to the next cart by
way of the flat belt 5'.
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It can be seen from figure 6 that the key 8 cannot be removed
because the pins 10 and 10' are engaged partially in th~e recesses
19 that are part of said key 8. At the same time, the front edge
20 of the key holds the bridge piece 17 back against the action
of the spring 18, and keeps the bolts 1~ and 15' out of
engagement through their lugs 16.
On the top of section 2 of the housing there is a surface 21 in
which there is a cup like coin holder 22 in the area of the
projections 27. The dimensions of this are such that the coin
fits into it with vary little free play and its mid-line axis is
located approximately in the same plane as the axes o the pins
10 and 10'. The drillings 9, 9' are so arr,anged that their cross
section extends by somewhat less than the radial difference of
the d~posited coin from that of the next smallest coin into the
coin holder 22. In addition, there is a stop 23 on the edge of
the coin holder 22.
If a coin is now slid (in figure 1 from the left) across the
surface 21 until it is against the stop 23 the edge zone mov~s
into the annular grooves 13 of the pins 10 and 10', as is shown
in the left-hand half of figure 8.
When it is next pressed down into the coin holder 22 it
simultaneously moves the pins 10 and 10' against the acti.on of
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11
the spring 11 downwards by approximately its own thickness until
the pins take up a position as is shown in the right-hand part of
figure 8. When this is done, the annular grooves 12 mo~e up to
the level of the space 1~, so that, as can be seen in figure 7,
the key 8 can be removed, whereupon the cart equipped according
to the present invention is released ~or use. At the same time,
however, the spring 18 acts through the bridge piece 17 and the
lug 16 to move the bolts 15 and 15' partway into the annular
grooves 12, and does this before the key 8 has left these. Thus,
the pins 10, 10' can neither rise again under the action of the
spring 9 nor be raised from above in any ~ay and consequently the
coin, although visible in large part, remains held positively.
If, a~ter having been used, the cart is pus]t-ed back into the park
and the key 8 of the next cart in line is o:nce again inserted
into the space 14, the front edge 20 of the Xey 8 presses both
tha bridge piece 17 and, through the lug 16, the pins 15 and 15'
back into the starting position, whereupon the recesses 19 line
up with the drillings 9 with the cross section, so that the pins
10, 10' snap into the upper position under the action of the
springs 11. This means that, at the same time, they lock the key
8 against being pulled out and raise the coin 24 above the level
o~ the surface 21, so that it can be slid out to the left.
Figure 8 shows that one cannot touch the pins 10, 10' because of
the projections 27O In order to unlock the key~ one has to push
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the two pins simultaneously. Because the coin can be seen, the
incentive to cheat th~ system is not particularly great for the
normal user.
In contrast to this, it may be that once the cart has been used
the user will attempt to use an improvised tool in order to ~orce
the system ~o release the coin so that the cart does not have to
be pushed back. If such an improvised instrument is used and one
pushes the bridge piece 17 back, the bolts 15, 15' do not follow
and the coin remains blocked. If, in contrast to this, one
forces the bridge piece 17 to one side or if one applies the tool
in the approximate direction of the arrow 25 on the lug 16 of the
bolt 15, the parts 15, 17, 15' jam against the walls of the
recess 14 before the bolt 15 is pushed out of engagement. I~ one
uses a rectangular plate that is of the same width as the recess
14 in an attempt to move both bolts simultaneously and thus push
them out of engagement without tilting the bridge piece 17, this
plate itself will move into the annular grooves 12 and hold the
pins 10, 10' ~ast. Thus, it can be seen that an actual key will
be required in order to cheat the system.
The attachment screw 4 is pu~ in place when the apparatus is
assembled. It can be tightened through an opening 26 in the
upper section 3 of tha housing, to which end the bridge piece 17
must be pushed back with a suitable tool. Subsequently, access
to the screw is always denied, eith r by the coin 24 or by the
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key 8, so that the apparatus cannot be unscrewed by an
unauthorized person. Should it be necessary to do so, access to
the screw is best achieved by using a key 8 with an appropriate
drilling.
The usa of a flat belt 5 and the attachment of this by means of a
screw 4 under housing section 1 is not an essential feature of
the invention. Any flexible, partially flexible, or rigid
element can be used in place of the flat belt.
The following should also be discussed in order to ensuxe
complete understanding of the present invention. It is of course
understood, that such an apparatus should not be built in such a
way that the coin can be removed with the key that is located on
a particular apparatus. In apparatuses as :in the prior art,
because of their own size, the length of chain that is required
to join the carts to each other is so short that it will not
reach the apparatus~ In the object according to the present
invention, it may be necessary to incorporate rigid sections in
the flexible member by using any techni~ue familiar to the
practitioner skilled in the art.
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in figures
10 to 13. This version permits the selective USQ of two
different sizes of deposit coin.
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14
In the interest of clarity, insofar as this is possible, the
parts that correspond to each other ~ear the same reference
numbers as in the previous ~igures, with the reference numbers
that are associated with the smaller size of coin bearing the
suffix a and the reference nu~bers associated with the larger
coins kearing the suffix b.
As can be seen from figures lO and 11, on the left and on the
right of the space 14 for the insertion of the key there is in
each instance a coin holder ~2a or 22b in the coin-operated lock,
and each coin holder has on its edge a slide lOa or lOb that is
perpendicular to the plane of the coin, so that the coin-operated
lock can be operated from either coin holder.
The slides lOa or lOb function on the same principle as in the
embodiment described heretofore, the only difference being that
they are matched to the different diameters of the coins that are
used, and for this reason are offset relative to each other.
For reasons of production te.chnology, the slides lOa and lOb are
not configured in one piece as in the previous embodiment, but
are separated from each other by an intermediate piece lOc or
10c~o This intermediate piece lOc or lOcl is clamped by spring
action between the two slides lOa and lOb or lOa' and lOb' and,
if no coin has been inserted, engages in the recesses 19 of the
key 8, as shown in figure 12.
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In addition~ the intermediate pieces lOc and 10c' correspond to
the pr~viously dascribed bolts 15 and 15', are connected
functionally with the bridge piece 17 through ~he lugs 16.
If the cart is connected to the column of carts, the key 8 of the
cart in front is located in the coin-operated lock and the bolts
15, 15' ~ogether with their bridge piece 17 are pressed into the
housing of the coin-operated lock against the action of the
spring 18, and consequently the bolts 15, 1~' are no longer in
engagement with the i:ntermediate pieces lOb and lOb'. This state
is shown in figures 10 and 12.
I~ a coin 24 is now inserted into the coin-operated lock (in
figure 11, perpendicular to the plane of the. drawing) until it is
located above the coin holder 22b, it engage~s with the grooves 13
in the slides lOb and lOb'. The next active! displacement of the
coin, which i5 most expediently effected manually, although it
can be effected mechanically, then moves all the parts of the
slîde to the same degree and in the same direction as that in
which the coin is moved. This state is shown in figure 11.
During this displacement, the intermediate pieces lOc ~nd lOc' of
the slides are moved out of engagement with the key 8~ By this ..
means, the spring 18 can bring the bolts 15 and 15' into
engagement with the slide intermediate pieces lOc and lOc'. This
2951~5~
16
stage is shown in f igure 11. Here it can seen that the
intermediate pieces lOc and lOc' incorporate two rec~sses lOe and
lOf or lOe~ and lOf' that are displaced in the directio~ of
movement/ so that the intermediate pieces lOc and lOc' ar~ locked
both in the left-hand end position shown in figure ll and in the
right-hand end position (not shown herein) of the bolts 15. The
coin 24 is then secured against being removed, until, when the
cart is joined to the row of carts once again, the key 8 is
inserted into the space 14 and the bolt 15 is pushed hack.
Both of the embodiments described herein entail the advanta~e
that the active operating path of the coins lies in the dir~-ction
of the axis of the coin and as a consequence it has been possible
to achieve a very small travel and a particularly compact
instruction of the coin-operated lock.
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