Anti-fraud coin chute device
US5906260A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 25, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T83/8785
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A coin telephone instrument is provided with a string cutter positioned to intercept and cut the string of a tethered coin deposited by a fraudulent user. The deposited, tethered coin follows the usual serpentine path of the coin chute, along a coin chute guide. However, a "cusp" in the coin path facilitates the cutting of the string, when it is pulled back by the fraudulent user. Pulling back on the string causes it to leave the serpentine coin chute path and to enter a gap between the coin chute path and the door of the telephone instrument. The tethered coin remains in the coin chute. Once the string has entered the gap between the door of the telephone instrument it encounters the jaws of the string cutter where any further pulling of the string will cause it to be cut by a scissoring action of the jaws. The coin is then free to continue its normal drop through the coin path, being retained in the coin box safe if genuine or rejected if counterfeit but, in either event, preventing fraudulent use of the coin telephone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.