Device For Shooting Paper Currency

Abstract

A money gun shoots out paper currency and includes a receptacle for placing money and an exit slot from which the money is shot. The money gun may be used, for example, in clubs to allow customers to spend money faster while tipping dancers. By putting money into the money gun, it frees up the customer from using their hands and keeps count of all the money he or she is spending.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to currency dispensing devices and, more particularly, to a toy-like gun that shoots out real paper currency.

[0002] When visiting clubs, people often give paper currency as tips for dancers. They may take out a bill and hand-deliver it to the dancer. This takes time and effort on the club customer and tips may be limited not by what the club customer wants to tip the dancer, but by the time and effort needed to get and deliver the currency.

[0003] In some situations, the club customer may have a particular budget for tipping dancers in the club. However, without any way to track how much is being given out, the customer may find they have over spent beyond their tipping budget.

[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for an improved apparatus for delivering paper currency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a device for shooting paper currency therefrom comprises an outer gun casing; a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover storing paper currency thereunder; a conveyor operable to move currency stored under the cover out through a currency exit slot; and a tension plate providing a resilient force against the currency stored under the cover to press the currency against the conveyor.

[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a device for shooting paper currency therefrom comprises an outer gun casing; a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover storing paper currency thereunder; a conveyor operable to move currency stored under the cover out through a currency exit slot; an electric motor operable to turn the conveyor; at least one battery supplying power to the electric motor; a speed control switch operable to adjust an operation speed of the electric motor, thereby adjusting a currency eject speed at which currency exits the currency exit slot during operation of the device; and a tension plate providing a resilient force against the currency stored under the cover to press the currency against the conveyor.

[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a money gun, in use, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the money gun of FIG. 1, showing its dome cover open;

[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the money gun of FIG. 1, showing batteries removed from a battery compartment thereof; and

[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0013] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a money gun that shoots out paper currency. The money gun includes a receptacle for placing money and an exit slot from which the money is shot. The money gun may be used, for example, in clubs to allow customers to spend money faster while tipping dancers. By putting money into the money gun, it frees up the customer from using their hands and keeps count of all the money he or she is spending.

[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a money gun 10 (also referred to as gun 10) includes an outer gun casing 12 and a dome cover 14 under which currency 58 can be disposed. The dome cover 14 may be movable from an open position to a closed position via hinges 16, for example. A locking clip 18 on the dome cover 14 may fit into a locking notch 20 formed in the gun casing 12 to allow the dome cover 14 to be retained in the closed position. Other mechanisms to pivot and close the dome cover 14 are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

[0015] The dome cover 14 may include a currency tension plate 22 to apply a force onto a surface of the currency 58 stored under the dome cover 14 when it is in the closed position. Springs 24, for example, may be used to resiliently apply a force onto the tension plate 22.

[0016] A conveyor belt 50 may be disposed to contact at least a portion of the one side of the currency 58 disposed under the dome cover 14. The tension plate 22 may provide force on the currency 58 to hold it against the conveyor belt 50. The conveyor belt 50 may operate between two conveyor belt drive wheels 52, for example. When the conveyor belt 50 moves, it may be operable to force a sheet of the currency 58 out of a currency exit slot 26 of the gun 10. The conveyor belt 50 may be, for example a 9-inch by 2-inch flat, bed-like conveyor belt. A rubber mat (not shown) may be disposed on the outer periphery to provide a surface to help grip the currency 58. Other surface preparations may be used, or the conveyor belt 50 can be made of a material that will adequately grip the currency 58 when the conveyor belt 50 is activated.

[0017] An electric motor 54 may be disposed to move one of the conveyor belt drive wheels 52. An electric motor drive belt 54 may be used to transfer rotational energy from the electric motor 54 to the conveyor belt drive wheel 52. In some embodiments, the electric motor 54 may directly drive the conveyor belt drive wheel 52. Other mechanisms may be used to transfer the rotational energy from the electric motor 54 to drive the conveyor belt 50.

[0018] The electric motor 54 may be powered by one or more batteries 46 stored in a battery compartment 60. A battery cover 44 may cover the battery compartment 60 and allow the user to access and change the batteries 46 as may be needed. Battery contacts 48 may be used to electrically connect terminals of the batteries 46 with wires feeding the electric motor 54.

[0019] A hand grip 42 may be provided in the gun casing 12 to allow a user to handle the gun 10. A trigger/switch 28 may be provided and often protected by a trigger/finger guard 30 to prevent unintentional activation of the trigger/switch 28. The trigger/switch 28 may be used to control the power delivered from the batteries 46 to the electric motor 54. When the trigger/switch 28 is in a neutral, non-depressed position, power is disconnected to the electric motor 54. When the trigger/switch 28 is activated by the user, power is connected and the electric motor 54 is electrically connected with the batteries 46.

[0020] The gun 10 may include a high intensity aiming lamp 34, such as a light emitting diode (LED) lamp. This may provide a light in the direction where the currency 58 will exit the currency exit slot 26.

[0021] The gun 10 may also include gun activity lights 36. These may be, for example disposed on the front and sides of the conveyor belt 50 and visible through holes in the outer gun casing 12, for example. In some embodiments, the gun activity lights 36 may simply be disposed for view on the outer gun casing 12. Various positions, locations, number of lights, and action of the lights may be provided within the scope of the present invention. Internal wiring 32 may be used to interconnect the various electrical components inside the gun casing 12.

[0022] The gun 10 may be provided with a currency firing speed adjustment button 38 to adjust the speed of the conveyor belt 50 when the trigger/switch 28 is activated. The speed adjustment button 38 may allow a user to control the rate that currency 58 is shot out of the currency exit slot 26 when the trigger/switch 28 is activated and held in place.

[0023] The gun 10 may also be provided with a currency used display 40 to show how many pieces of paper currency 58 have been delivered out of the currency exit slot 26. This may help a user keep track of the currency 58 used. A reset button (not shown) may be used to reset the currency used display 40 back to zero. The currency used display 40 may be provided in various forms, such as an electronic form or a mechanical form, and may use various methods to count the currency 58 delivered from the currency exit slot 26. For example, the currency used display 40 may measure the distance traveled for the conveyor belt 50 and increase a counter on the currency used display 40 each time the distance traveled reaches a single cycle to distribute a single piece of currency 58.

[0024] The gun 10 may also be made with a speaker 62 formed therein. The speaker 62 may be used to, for example, generate a sound during operation of the gun 10.

[0025] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for shooting paper currency therefrom, comprising: an outer gun casing; a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover storing paper currency thereunder; a conveyor operable to move currency stored under the cover out through a currency exit slot; and a tension plate providing a resilient force against the currency stored under the cover to press the currency against the conveyor.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electric motor operable to turn the conveyor.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising at least one battery supplying power to the electric motor.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a trigger controlling power supplied to the electric motor from the at least one battery.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a trigger guard extended about a periphery of the trigger.

6. The device of claim 2, further comprising a speed control switch operable to adjust an operation speed of the electric motor, thereby adjusting a currency eject speed at which currency exits the currency exit slot during operation of the device.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lamp adjacent to the current exit slot.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a counter displaying a number of pieces of currency shot out of the currency exit slot.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker operable to make sounds during use of the device.

10. A device for shooting paper currency therefrom, comprising: an outer gun casing; a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover storing paper currency thereunder; a conveyor operable to move currency stored under the cover out through a currency exit slot; an electric motor operable to turn the conveyor; at least one battery supplying power to the electric motor; a speed control switch operable to adjust an operation speed of the electric motor, thereby adjusting a currency eject speed at which currency exits the currency exit slot during operation of the device; and a tension plate providing a resilient force against the currency stored under the cover to press the currency against the conveyor.