Banknote dispenser protector

Abstract

 Protector which consists of two parts, on the one hand a casing (1) and on the other hand a flat part (2) fixed to the structure of an arcade game that acts as a support for the casing, wherein casing (1) has a frontally open prismatic configuration, having a prismatic protrusionat one of its sides which in turn has an opening (3) to dispense the banknotes, casing (1) is further provided with flaps (4) and (5) atits edges, and at the bottom of the casing and at its outer face a closure means with the flat part protrudes, while the flat part is provided with linking means to the casing, either by means of borings and anchorage protrusions, or by means of hinges. The protector allows protecting the banknote dispenser in a simple and effective manner as well as allowing its ventilation and power supply.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] It is the object of the present invention, as the title of the invention states, a banknote dispenser protector, mainly used in arcade games for the payment of prizes, which can be also applied to tobacco vending machines, vending, or the like. Banknote dispensers in the arcade game industry are known as recyclers, where both terms can be alternatively used throughout the present application.

[0002] The banknote dispenser protector is characterized by its special configuration and design, which not only allows performing protection functions, but also allows the recycler or dispenser to be sufficiently ventilated, as well as allowing banknote delivery, and access to power and control cables.

[0003] Therefore, the present invention lies within the ambit of vending machines, mainly within the ambit of prize vending machines, preferably arcade games, and particularly among protection means used in banknote dispensers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Currently, arcade games are equipped with a banknote dispensing device used for the payment of prizes, exchange of banknotes by coins, and similar functions. This device has a housing for banknotes in its interior, so the amount of money can be quite considerable. These devices are supported on a structure which in turn is supported on a wooden body located inside the machine. The mouth of the device through which banknotes are dispensed is located at the machines' front panel, usually made of methacrylate and easily breakable.

[0005] Therefore, once the front of the machine is broken there is free access to the dispenser or recycler, which can be broken, and banknotes stolen or the whole dispenser taken away.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks of easy access to banknote dispensers or recyclers, by protecting them properly, avoiding that even in case the front part of the machines where they are accommodated was broken, they cannot be easily stolen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In order to achieve the above objectives of protecting the banknote dispensers and recyclers, a protector as the one described below has been developed and it is contained in its essence in the first claim.

[0008] The protector is basically provided with a casing and a flat part fixed to thestructure of the machine and which closes the access to the interior of the casing, both sides being linked by linking means and the flat part and casingassembly being closed by closure means.

[0009] The linking means of the flat part and casing, in a possible embodiment, could be complementary anchors and borings arranged on the flat part and the casing, while closure means could be by means of a padlock.

[0010] The linking means of the flat part and casing, in a second embodiment could consist of a hinge or several hinges arranged at the upper edge of the casing and the flat part.

[0011] The casing is provided with an essentially prismatic rectangular or parallelepiped shape, with a protrusionat one of its sides, and having an opening through which the banknotes are dispensed.

[0012] The casing is frontally open and closed by means of a flat part, having a size covering the access to the interior of the casing, the casing and the flat part being linked by anchors, suitably arranged on the flat part or at the casing itself.

[0013] The closure of the casing and the flat part are fastened by means of a padlock closure or the like, which closure in a possible embodimentcould be performed by means of protrusions arranged on the casing and the flat part and which are provided with a hole such that said protrusions, once arranged in parallel, face the holes through which a padlock or the like can be threaded.

[0014] The casing is designed in such a way that it not only allows to safely accommodate a dispenser inside, but it also allows banknote delivery, for which it is provided with a dispensing opening, as well as ventilation meansfor the interior of the casing.

[0015] Ventilation can be achieved by setting back the upper part of the casing with respect to the flaps in which the flat part anchors are fit, such separation providing a space through which the interior of the casing is evacuated and ventilated.

[0016] On the other hand, in order to avoid the removal of the protector, it cannot be disassociated from the surface where it is supported, as the fixing means are accommodated in its interior.

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] In order to complement the present description and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings isattached as an integral part of said description, in which the following is depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner.

[0018] In figure 1, a perspective exploded view can be observed in which the casing along with the flat part can be seen, as well as its main constructive details.

[0019] In figure 2, one of the anchors used to fasten the flat part to the housing is shown in detail.

[0020] In figure 3, an alternative embodiment of the linkage between the flat part and the casing is shown.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In view of the figures a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is now described.

[0022] In figure 1, the protector object of the invention consisting of two main parts can be observed, on the one hand a casing (1) and on the other hand a flat part (2) fixed to the structure of a machine, and which serves as a support for the casing.

[0023] Casing (1) has a frontally open prismatic configuration, having a prismatic protrusionat one of its sides and which in turn has an opening (3) through which a possible dispenser accommodated inside the protector dispenses banknotes.

[0024] Frontally, casing (1) is provided atits edges with a first flap (4), having two borings (4.1) and (4.2), and with a second shorter flap (5) having a boring (5.1).

[0025] At the bottom of the casing and at its outer face a protrusion (7) having a hole protrudes, which will be used for the padlock closure of flat part (2) with casing (1).

[0026] Flat part (2) covers the front access to the interior of the casing, except for the prismatic protrusion of the casing on which opening (3) is provided.

[0027] Flat part (2), in a possible embodimentis provided with anchors (2.1), (2.2) and (2.3) arranged such that they face borings (4.1), (4.2) and (5.1) performed upon flaps (4) and (5).

[0028] In addition, flat part (2) is also provided with a protrusion (8) similar in size and dimensions to protrusion (7) of the casing, being located such that once the flat part is coupled to the casing, protrusion (7) of casing (1) and protrusion (8) of flat part (2) are in parallel with their respective opposing holes, through which a padlock to access the protector from the outside is threaded.

[0029] The flat part, in order to link it to the rest of the machine is provided with a number of holes (12), and once anchored it is intended as a support of casing (1).

[0030] As can be seen in Figure 1, casing (1) is set back at its upper part with respect to the level of flaps (4) and (5) so there is a space left between the flat part and the casing which is intended for inner ventilation. On the other hand, also on the prismatic protrusion having opening (3) for banknote delivery, there is a space (11). All these spaces facilitate inner ventilation avoiding the accumulation of heat inside the protector without reducing the protection function.

[0031] In Figure 2, the shape of any of the anchors is observed more in detail, which might be located at the flaps of the casing or at the inner face of the flat part.

[0032] Said anchors have a total height which allows them to pass through the openings performed on the flaps. To link flat part (2) to casing (1) in a coupling manner, anchors are faced to the borings and fitted by facing the holes of protrusions(7) and (8), which makes casing (1) slightly descend, until anchors' surface (9) comes into contact with the upper edge of the borings. On the other hand, anchors' surface (10) prevents that once the flat part and the casing are locked, the flat part can be separated from the casing.

[0033] In figure 3, an alternative embodiment for linking flat part (2) and casing (1) is shown, noting that the linkage is performed by a hinge (13) fixed on the one hand to the upper edgeof the casing, and on the other hand tothe edge of flat part (2), as casing (2) is slightly set back at its upper edge with respect to the plane defined by flaps (4) and (5), hinge (13) can be provided with a connection supplement (13.1) with the upper edge of the casing.

[0034] The flat part similarly maintains anchor borings (12) to the structure of the machine, and on the other hand protruding part (8) for the casing closure on flat part (2). However, the flat part is not provided with anchoring protrusions (2.1), (2.2) and (2.3), nor the casing with borings (4.1) and (4.2) of flap (4), nor boring (5.1) of flap (5), flaps (4) and (5) remainingas stop means of the casing on flat part (2).

[0035] Sufficiently described the nature of the present invention as well as the way to implement it, it is noted that, in its essence, it can be put into practice in other embodiments differing in detail from the one shown by way of example, and to which the protection claimed will also reach, provided they do not alter, change or modify its fundamental principle.

Claims

1. Banknote dispenser protector, characterized in that it consists of two parts, on the one hand a casing (1) and on the other hand a flat part (2) fixed to the structure of a machine and which acts as a supportfor the casing, wherein casing (1) has a frontally open prismatic configuration, having a prismatic protrusionatone of its sides which in turn has an opening (3) through which a possible dispenser accommodated inside the protector dispenses the banknotes, casing (1) further provided on its edges with a first flap (4), and with a second flap (5), and at the bottom partof the casing and at its outer face a closure means with the flat part protrudes, while flat part (2) is provided with linking means to the casing.

2. Banknote dispenser protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that the linking means of the flat part to the casing consist of borings (4.1) and (4.2) performed on first flap (4) and a boring (5.1) performed on a second flap (5), while on the flat part anchors (2.1), (2.2) and (2.3)are arranged in a facing manner with the previous borings.

3. Banknote dispenser protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that the linking means of the flat part to the casing consist of one or more hinges (13) fixed on the one hand to upper edge of the casing, and on the other hand to the upper edge of flat part (2), the hingebeing provided with a connection supplement (13.1) with the upper edge of the casing.

4. Banknote dispenser protector, according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the closure means of the flat part and the casingconsist of a protrusion (7) arranged at the bottom of the casing at its outer face and having a hole, while the flat part is also provided with a protrusion (8) similar in size and dimensions to protrusion (7) and having a hole, such that once the holes are faced a padlock is allowed to pass.

5. Banknote dispenser protector, according to claim 2, characterized in that anchors (2.1), (2.2) and (2.3) have a surface (9) limiting the vertical displacement of the flat part with respect to the casing and a surface (10) which prevents separation of the flat part with respect to the casing.

6. Banknote dispenser protector, according to claim 2, characterized in that casing (1) is set back at its upper part with respect to the level of flaps (4) and (5), while in the prismatic protrusion having an opening (3) for banknote delivery, there is a space (11).

7. Banknote dispenser protector, according to claim 2, characterized in that the flat part is provided with holes (12) in order to be fixed to the structureof the machine.

Drawing