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(11) | EP 3 067 868 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | REUSABLE CONTAINER FOR STORING AND CHANGING COINS |
| (57) The present invention relates to a reusable container made from a hollow cylinder
(1) comprising: a section (2) according to its longitudinal axis on its upper part;
a cut (3) on the side opposite section (2); notches (7) to hold each coin (8) arranged
in the inner part of the cylinder (1) on both sides of the cylinder and close to section
(2), and bases (4) and (5) which have a series of semi-circumferences (6) along the
perimeter of said bases (4) and (5). As a result of these features of the container,
counting coins is not necessary, any defective coin can be identified, the container
is suitable for being reused, coins cannot come out of the inside until they are manually
ejected, and it has a low manufacturing cost.
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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of the present invention is a reusable container for storing and changing coins, with notches to hold and separate each coin.
[0002] The invention described below is a reusable container which can be used both for storing and counting coins, and will be very useful in establishments where coins are continuously used, as well as for private use, in which it will speed up coin-counting process and subsequent changing of such coins.
[0004] Although throughout the entire description of the invention the term "coins" is used, the container can also be used for any type of token shaped similarly to a coin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Until now, systems for storing and changing fixed numbers of coins have been non-reusable paper, cardboard and plastic rolls, in which the coins are wrapped after being manually counted. Plastic containers equipped with a spring are also being used, in which coins are introduced according to size.
[0006] These proposals have drawbacks insofar as the lack of speed and ease in handling to carry out a count and thereby enable a more effective form of changing; these improvements are achieved with the described invention and utility model.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Due to the methods that have been used for counting, storing and changing fixed numbers of coins, two problems have been posed.
[0008] On one hand, the first step that must be taken to be able to change a series of coins either in a banking entity or anywhere else where this is common practice is to count them. Since this step must be done in an almost manual way, it implies tedious work since the containers used by banking entities for changing often give rise to mistakes. On the other hand, the coin packets are not reusable, and if they are not formed mechanically they are usually not very attractive and can cause losses of the contents thereof. It must also be noted that they are not resistant to being dropped.
[0009] The present invention easily solves these problems. With this container it is not necessary to count the coins, since it is not possible to introduce more than the predetermined number therein (the dimensions of each container will depend on the number of coins of the same type to be stored), so once the container is full, the number and amount therein will be known, in addition to identifying any defective coin. On the other hand, once the container is used, it is suitable for being reused under the same conditions as at the beginning and as many times as desired. Due to the physical features of the invention and since the coins are held by the walls of the container and the indentations holding each coin inside the cylinder, the coins cannot come out of the inside until they are manually ejected. The low manufacturing cost of the coin container will help make its use be much more widespread.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The attached drawings only show a few of the many appearances that can be given to the container.
Figure 1 is a view of one of the bases of the container, where the shapes of the bases, the sides and the inner grooves for preventing movement of the coin within the container can be seen. Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the container.
Figure 2 shows a side view of the container filled with coins. The upper cut parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and along the entire height of the cylinder can be seen, as well as the cut made in the lower wall, the shape of which would be that of an eclipse assuming an entirely open cylinder.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The aspect of the invention is as follows:
It is a hollow cylinder (1), in which a section (2) has been made according to its longitudinal axis, at a sufficient height in order to assure holding the coins. A preferably elliptical cut (3) having non-predefined dimensions is made in the cylinder wall on the side opposite the section, the purpose of which is to be able to eject the coins easily by applying slight pressure using the entire finger through the cut (3).
[0012] On the inner part of the cylinder (1) there are notches (7) to hold each coin (8) and therefore avoid the turning, movement and falling thereof within the cylinder as shown in Figure 1. These notches (7) or indentations will be fixed on both sides of the cylinder, and they do not need to cover the entirety thereof, rather only a small part, being able to be located in the upper portion or at mid-height. Their size will be the minimum size and the minimum width necessary to assure the holding of the coins.
[0013] The easiest and most inexpensive method for their mass manufacture will be by plastic injection.
[0014] What will be described below is the manufacture of the positive part needed to make a mould of the container.
[0015] The reusable coin container will consist of a single piece. The material to be used for its manufacture is either a plastic or any other material which, due to its physical characteristics or the treatments to which it has been subjected, allows flexibility and subsequent recovery.
[0016] The outer surface must not have any special feature and can have any type of advertisement printed thereon, as well as the numbers and/or prices the container has or marks showing the number of coins already introduced.
[0017] The dimensions of the cylinder are determined by the number of coins of the same type that are to be stored. Therefore, there are containers of very different sizes having the same shape depending on each type of coin and the predetermined number thereof. The thickness of the container is enough to provide it with the necessary consistency to enable using the same container repeatedly and to easily remove and introduce the coins; therefore, it will depend on the final material used.
[0018] It is considered that the initial part used to manufacture this container is a hollow cylinder (1).
[0019] A section (2) will be made in the cylinder parallel to its longitudinal axis at an opening at about the halfway point along the radius, so that upon introducing the coin by slightly opening the cylinder, the coin is held by the parts and cannot come out of the container. The part of the cylinder wall opposite aforementioned section (2) must have a cut (3) in order to be able to push the coins housed in the container in order to eject them therefrom using slight pressure.
[0020] A series of non-continuous shapes are arranged along the entire perimeter of bases (4) and (5) which prevent them from breaking and help them recover their original shape. The fact that the element used to attain this result does not occupy the largest part of the base allows seeing the type of coin which is inside the container.
[0021] The bases (4) and (5) of the cylinder prevent the coins (8) from coming out, but the structure thereof must help the cylinder be able to bend in order to introduce and remove coins while at the same time having a design which prevents the material from breaking in this area when bent: therefore, along the perimeter of bases (4) and (5), a series of semi-circumferences (6) are arranged which grant the cylinder these qualities.
[0022] Given all of these features, the reusable coin container is a very advantageous means for handling, facilitating the counting of and moving coins due to the simplicity of use thereof. A full container allows one to know the number of coins without any need to count them, and this container can be reused repeatedly.
1. A reusable container for the storage and changing of coins, characterised in that it is made from a hollow cylinder (1) comprising:
- a section (2) according to its longitudinal axis in its upper part,
- a cut (3) is made in the cylinder wall on the side opposite section (2),
- notches (7) to hold each coin (8) arranged in the inner part of the cylinder (1) on both sides of the cylinder and close to section (2),
- bases (4) and (5) which have a series of semi-circumferences (6) along the perimeter of said bases (4) and (5).
2. The reusable container for storing and changing coins according to claim 1, characterised in that the cut (3) is an elliptical cut.