Universal Telescoping Locking Bar For Vending Machines

Abstract

In a vending machine which as a front access door such as particularily a pop vending machine and in which the door is normally locked by a key lock, a safety lock bar is provided which extends across the front access door of the vending machine and over the key lock and is releasably and pivotally attached to the sides of the vending machine; the attachment of the lock bar is provided with invisible fasteners secured to the inside of the vending machine so as not to be accessible from the outside; the attachments are provided with apertured flanges to provide a means to secure the locking bar by means of a padlock or the like; and the locking bar is adjustable in length intermediate its ends to accomodate various widths of vending machines.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers in general to antitheft devices and more in particular to a safety or locking bar for a vending machine such as a pop vending machine having a front access door.

Although the present invention is described herein in connection with a pop vending machine it is obvious, as will become apparent hereafter, that the lock bar device of the present invention is applicable to a variety of other containers such as lockers, chest-of-drawers, safes, etc., which have front access doors.

Vending machines having front access doors, as is known, can easily be pried open by means of a crow bar or the like to gain access to the money container. Although these front access doors are usually locked by individually different cylinder type key locks (similar to ignition locks of a car) the conventional cylinder lock, in most cases, does not withstand prying force applied between the access door and the body of the container or receptacle if sufficient leverage is applied, as for instance, by use of a crow bar.

Although keyless safe type locks which can only be opened by proper dialing of a certain sequence of numbers or letters have been proposed, these locks are expensive to install and, of course, time consuming to operate. Thus, these time locks or other safe type locks are economically unattractive for use on vending machines without considerably increasing the price of the products sold by the vending machines. Similarly, service time of these machines, if equipped with safe type locks will likewise be considerably increased. Therefore, these types of safety locks, in consideration of the relative small amount of currency involved has prevented manufacturers of the vending machines to install them although theft from these vending machines by prying the access door open has been on a considerably increasing scale.

Applicant's anti-theft safety device, not only effectively prevents the access door from being pried open, but simultaneously provides a covering shield for the cylinder key lock of the access door. The anti-theft safety device of the present invention is of such a nature as to prevent tampering therewith, by the provision of hidden fastening means, which are not accessible from the outside of the vending machine. The bolts and nuts used in fastening of the anti-theft safety lock bar, are hidden from view and fastened inside of the respective vending machine or other receptacle.

The present invention will be best understood and its advantages be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a vending machine or similar receptacle embodying one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged assembled view of this locking bar shown in FIG. 1 with portions of the vending machine indicated in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section through the locking bar shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another cross-section through the locking bar shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of one form of a hidden bolt attachment for the fastening plates of the locking bar;

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of another simplified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front illustration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section through the locking bar shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment similar to FIG. 6 showing a modified adjustable locking bar attachment to the receptacle;

FIG. 10 illustrates still another embodiment of an adjustable locking bar attachment to the receptacle;

FIG. 11 is a separate illustration of the attachment stud used in the attachment of the locking bar in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-section through one side of the attachment bracket of the locking bar shown in FIG. 10, as seen along line 12--12 thereof;

FIG. 13 illustrates still a further embodiment of locking bar attachment to the receptacle utilizing a key lock mechanism; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-section through the key lock mechanism utilized in the locking bar attachment in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a vending machine 10 (for example) which for instance may comprise a pop vending machine. The vending machine 10, as is known, is substantially in the form of an upright box having opposed side walls 12 and 14 respectively and a front access door 16. The front access door 16 has at least one or a plurality of article dispensing chute openings, article selector, currency, i.e., coin receiving slot or slots and coin return chute opening, all as is commonly known, and which need not to be shown or further described.

The front access door 16 of the vending machine or receptacle is hinged to one side wall 12 by means of a conventional hinge assembly (not shown) whereas the opposite side of the door 16 is provided with a cylinder lock mechanism 26 of known construction and which, of course, has internal tumblers of varying configurations as is known in cylinder lock mechanisms to fit only a particular cam shaped key. Although the latch of the cylinder type lock 26 is normally sufficient to retain the door 16 in closed position and resists ordinary opening force without using a key, the latch is not strong enough to withstand a shearing force applied by a separating force between the adjoining side wall 12 and the opening edge of the door 16, as for instance by application of a crow bar of suitable leverage, causing the latch member to shear or to be yanked out of its retaining aperture in the side wall 12.

As examplarily illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 by means of a simplified embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a longitudinally adjustable lock bar indicated at 30. The lock bar is composed of a first longitudinal member 32 which, as seen in cross-section in FIG. 8, comprises a channel of U-shaped cross-section, although it could be round or other tubular section. The first longitudinal channel 32 is adapted to receive a second longitudinal member 34 telescoped within the first channel member 32 for longitudinal adjustment of the members 32 and 34 relative to each other.

The outer end of the channel member 32 is attached to a hinge plate 36 by means of fasteners, welding or the like. One end of the hinge plate 36 forms a socket for a hinge assembly 40, the other end of which is attached to a securing plate 42. The securing plate 42 serves to attach one end of the lock bar 30 to the side wall 14 of the vending machine and is provided with a plurality of threaded studs 44, extending from the inside of the securing plate 42. The side wall 14 of the vending machine is provided with appropriately spaced apertures (not shown) to receive the threaded studs 44 for attachment of the securing plate 42 inside of the vending machine by means such as lock nuts 46. Thus, the fastening means 44-46 of the securing plate 42 are undetectable from the outside, the plate being fastened to the inside of the vending machine so that the fasteners cannot be tampered with from the outside.

A flange 50 is provided at the other end of the second longitudinal member 34 extending at a right angle there from and which is apertured for a reason to appear.

Another securing plate 52, similarly to plate 42, is attached to the other side of the vending machine by similar hidden fastening means such as threaded studs 54 and fasteners 56.

The securing plate 52 is aligned with the opposite securing plate 42 and has an extension or flange portion 58 which extends along the outside of the flange 50 of the longitudinal member 34 and in abutting relationship therewith when the lock bar is in assembled position on the vending machine. The flange portion 58 is similarly provided with an aperture to be aligned with the aperture in the flange 50 for the purpose of receiving a padlock 60 by which the longitudinal members 32-34 are locked to the securing plate 52.

As seen in the assembled position in FIGS. 6 and 7 the lock bar assembly 30 is adapted to span the entire width of the access door 16 of the vending machine, thus, preventing the door from being pried open and normally covering lock 26 as indicated.

In the instance that an open U-shaped channel type longitudinal outer member 32 is being utilized, as illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 8, a flat bar type telescoping member 34 extends longitudinally within the channel of the outer member 32 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. At spaced intervals, along the open side of the outer channel member 32, bridge portions 62 are provided across the opening of the channel member 32 to retain the inner longitudinal member 34. Thus, the members 32-34 are telescopically adjustable to accommodate varying widths of vending machines. Conversely as also shown in FIG. 8 the sides of the outer U-channel member 32 may be provided with inwardly extending flanges 33 in order to retain the inner member 34.

With reference now to a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, in this instance, an attachment bracket member 64 is provided on the side wall 14 which has a flat plate portion 66 for abutment against the outside of the side wall 14. The plate portion 66 is provided with threaded studs 68 for extension through appropriate apertures provided in the side wall 14 to secure the bracket 64 by means of lock nuts 70 or the like, internally of the vending machine. The bracket 64 has a protrusion 72 extending from the surface which forms an open cavity 74 into which extends an internal ridge or flange 76. The cavity 74 is adapted to receive one end of a link member 78 which has a flange 80 at one end adapted to hook over the ridge 76 within the cavity 74 so as to retain the link member 78 within the cavity 74 of the attachment bracket 64. The link member 78 extends along the side wall 14 of the vending machine, as shown, and around the outer edge of the access door 16. The opposite end of the link member 78 has a flange portion 82 extending in opposite direction to the flange portion 80. The flange portion 82 has a hook 84 at its end for a purpose to appear.

The adjustable lock bar assembly 86 is again comprised of an outer U-channel type member 88, as seen in cross-section in FIGS. 3 and 4, which is adapted to receive a telescoping inner member 90 longitudinally extending within the channel member 88. In order to retain the telescoping member 90 within the channel member 88, at least one bridge portion 92 is provided for extension across the open side of the channel member 88 to retain the telescoping member 90. Similarly, the U-channel outer member 88 may be constructed in the manner of U-channel 32 in FIG. 8 for retainment of the inner member 90.

One end of the outer channel member 88 is formed with a short tubular portion 94 of rectangular cross-section to receive the flange portion 82 and hook 84 which, in assembly, is adapted to engage behind the inner end of the short tubular portion 94, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, to secure the outer channel member 88 to the link member 78 and thereby likewise to the bracket 64.

The other side wall 12 of the vending machine is likewise provided with a similar bracket member 96 attached by threaded studs 98 and lock nuts 100 to the side wall 12 in a position to the rear of the bracket member 64. The cavity 102 of the bracket member 86 is similarly provided with an internal ridge or flange 104 to receive a retainer flange portion 106 provided at one end of another link 108.

The link member 108 is provided with another flange 110 at its other end extending in the same direction as flange 106, that is, away from the side wall 12. The flange 110 is apertured for a purpose to appear.

The inner telescoping lock bar member 90 is angled at 90.degree. to provide a portion 112 for extension around the edge of the vending machine and alongside the side wall 12 towards the link member 108. The end portion 112 of the inner telescoping member 90 is provided with a flange 114 extending away from the side wall 12 in parallel abutting relationship with the flange 110 of the link member 108. The flange 114 is similarly apertured to thus permit the attachment of a padlock 116 through both apertured flanges 110 and 114 to thereby lock the lock bar assembly 86 to the vending machine, around the access door 16.

Thus, it will be seen, particularly from FIG. 2, that the lock bar assembly 86 is composed of a plurality of individual link members interlocked one to each other to provide a continuous lock bar assembly extending along both sides of the vending machine, around the front edges and across the front access door 16, to be releasably locked together by means of a padlock 116. The opposite ends of the lock bar assembly 86 are securely and unaccessibly retained within brackets 64-96 attached to each side of the vending machine by means of outwardly unaccessible fasteners. Thus, the lock bar assembly, once assembled and secured by the padlock 116, cannot be tampered with unless portions of the bar are sawed through. Thus, the front access door 16 of the vending machine cannot be pried open by any force.

With reference to FIG. 5, there is illustrated an alternate form of hidden attachment of the side brackets to the vending machine which can be utilized instead of the threaded stud and nut fastening means.

In this embodiment, the abuttment plate of the securing bracket is provided with a stud 120 welded to the surface of the plate which faces the side wall of the vending machine. The stud 120 is adapted for extension into a bore 122 provided in the respective side wall 12 or 14.

The bore 122 is provided with a key member 124 partially extending into the bore in a direction transverse to the axis of the bore. The key member 124 is adapted to engage within a bayonet type slot 126 provided in the stud 120 and which has a blind end 128 at a right angle thereto.

In assembly of the side brackets to the respective side wall of the vending machine, the stud 120 is inserted into the bore 122 in a rotated position such that the axial slot portion 126 glides over the key member 124 up to the inner end. The bracket is then rotated in a direction to permit engagement of the key member 124 within the angled blind end 128 of the slot, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to thereby lock the side bracket securely to the side wall. This embodiment, likewise, once assembled shows no external fastening means so that the bracket cannot be removed by unauthorized persons.

Obviously, by installation of the lock bar assemblies 30 or 86 the front access door 16 need not to be locked separately by a key lock such as 26. However, if a key lock is provided for the front access door 16, either lock bar assembly 30 or 86 is adapted to be assembled such on the vending machine as to extend across the key lock 26 to prevent unauthorized access to the key lock.

FIGS. 9 to 14 illustrate various other modifications of attachment of the opposite ends of the locking bar assembly to the sides of the receptacle, such as a vending machine or the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates a locking bar assembly 30a similar to the locking bar assembly 30 in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this instance, however, instead of using threaded stud and nut fasteners 44-46 or 54-56 as in FIGS. 6 and 8, the respective side plates 42a and 52a are each provided with studs 130 which extend from the inside of the respective side attachment plates 42a and 52a. Each of the studs 130 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 132 which are selectively adaptable to be engaged by a locking key or pin 134. Thus, it is apparent that this embodiment of attachment of the opposite ends of the locking bar assembly is adaptable for variations in thickness of the side walls of the receptacle, such as a vending machine, by insertion of the locking pin 134 in a respective aperture 132 which is nearest to the inner surface of the respective side walls 12 or 14 of the vending machine. If necessary shims may be employed between the bracket 42a or 52a and the side wall of the receptacle to obtain a rigid securement of the side plates 42a-52a to the walls of the vending machine.

In the further modification shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the previous side attachment plates 42-52 are replaced by mounting brackets 136-138 respectively. The outer end of the outer telescoping member 32 of the lock bar assembly 30b is secured to hinge assembly 40 as in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the side plate of the hinge assembly 40 is welded or otherwise secured to a side attachment bracket 136. Similarly, a flange 140 is welded or otherwise secured to one end of the opposite side attachment bracket 138 to register with the flange 50 provided at the end of the inner telescoping member 34 for securement of the pad lock 60 as in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Each of the side attachment brackets 136-138 are of box-like structure having a solid outer wall 142. The opposite inner wall 144 of each of the brackets 136-138 is provided with a longitudinal slot 146 which, as shown in FIG. 12, has an enlarged end portion 149. To secure the side attachment brackets 136-138 to the respective side walls of the vending machine or the like, a separate fastening stud 148 is provided, which is separately shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, the fastening stud 148 has an enlarged head portion 150 which is joined by an intermediate portion 152 of square cross-section. The shank portion 154 of the fastening stud 148 is similarly provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 156 in axial direction of the stud to receive a locking pin or key 158 similar as in the embodiment in FIG. 9. The fastening stud 148 is assembled to the respective attachment side brackets 136-138 by inserting the head portion 150 through the enlarged portion 149 of the slot 146 and then sliding the fastening stud along the narrower portion of the slot 146 into position for alignment with the respective aperture in the side wall of the vending machine. When the fastening stud 148 is in position in the slot 146, the square portion 152 between the head and shank portion of the stud prevents the stud from turning within the slot, as shown in FIG. 12, to maintain the apertures 156 in proper vertical position for receipt of the locking key or pin 158.

This embodiment of attachment is adaptable for installations in which there are differences in the location of the apertures in the side wall of the vending machine relative to the front surface of the door, which, as explained, can be accommodated for by sliding the fastening studs 148 within the slot 146 into proper position. This embodiment in addition is likewise adaptable, as the embodiment in FIG. 9, for application to vending machines having side walls of different thicknesses by the provision of the plurality of apertures 156 for selective insertion of the locking pin 158. Similarly, shims may be employed to accommodate slight variations in the spacing between the apertures 156 and the side attachment brackets relative to the thickness of the side walls of the vending machine or similar receptacle.

Referring now to the embodiment in FIGS. 13 and 14, the locking bar assembly 30c, in this instance, instead of utilizing a padlock as in the previous embodiments, is attached to the side wall of the vending machine or the like by means of a key lock mechanism generally indicated at 160. The inner telescoping member 34a, in this instance, has been modified to include a right angled portion 162 which is not provided with an outwardly protruding flange as in FIGS. 6 to 10, but instead has a straight end which is apertured as shown at 164 in FIG. 14.

The apertured end of the right angle portion 162 is adapted to extend into the key mechanism 160 which is rigidly attached to the outside of the respective side wall of the vending machine or the like by means of welding or similar means.

The key lock mechanism 160 comprises a housing 166 which is open at one end as at 168 to permit the extension of the right angle portion 162 into the key lock mechanism. With reference to FIG. 14 internally of the key lock mechanism 160 a boss portion 170 is provided which is spaced a distance from the inner side wall of the key lock mechanism corresponding substantially to the thickness of the right angle portion 162.

The internal boss portion 170 is apertured as at 172 to permit the extension of a latch member 174 therethrough which is slidably supported in the housing 166 along a guide plate 176. The latch member 174, in the lock position, is adapted to extend into the aperture 164 provided in the right angle portion 162 of the lock bar assembly 30c to thereby lock the lock bar assembly within the key lock mechanism 160. The latch bar 174 is provided with two spaced ear portions 178 and 180 which receive a cam 182 in between them. The cam 182 is eccentrically pivoted as at 184 to permit clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the cam to thereby longitudinally move the latch member 174 out of or into locking engagement by exertion of a displacement force against the respective ear 178 or 180. The cam 182 is rotatable by means of a cylinder type lock 186 or the like, of any desired configuration and which is operable by insertion of a key.

The latch member 174, as is conventional practice, may be spring biased into locking position and, as also known in practice, the end of the latch member 174 may be chamfered to permit snap-in locking engagement with the angled portion 162 of the locking bar assembly 30c.

It is apparent from the foregoing description and in reference to the attached drawings, that the present invention provides an improved relatively simple and inexpensive safety locking bar arrangement for an upright receptacle having a front access door, such as vending machines or the like, and which primary feature consist in attachment of the opposite ends of the locking bar assembly to the receptacle by means of outwardly unaccessable fastening means.

The attachments accommodate variations in wall thicknesses of the receptacle and variations in hole distances relative to the front surface of the receptacle.

The invention further consists of longitudinally adjustable members to accommodate variations in overall widths of any one receptacle.

Although the present invention has been described and shown by way of exemplary embodiments, it will be obvious that various modifications in arrangement and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and essential characteristic of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An anti-theft locking device for an article dispensing receptacle having a front access door hinged to one side wall of the receptacle and normally locked to the opposite side wall of the receptacle; said anti-theft locking device comprising: a longitudinal telescoping lock bar assembly adapted for extension across said front access door; bracket means secured to said opposite side walls of said receptacle; one end of said telescoping lock bar assembly being pivotally attached to one of said bracket means and the other end of said telescoping lock bar assembly being releasably attached to the other of said bracket means and; means locking said other end of said telescoping lock bar assembly to said other of said bracket means.

2. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, said telescoping locking bar assembly comprising an outer channel type longitudinal member and a longitudinal inner member received within said channel member for adjustable longitudinal movement therein.

3. In the locking device as defined in claim 2, said channel type outer member of said telescoping lock bar assembly being attached to one of said bracket members by means of a hinge assembly so that upon release of said locking bar assembly said locking bar assembly can be swung out of the way to permit opening of said front access door.

4. In the locking device as defined in claim 2, said outer longitudinal channel type member of said locking bar assembly being releasably attached to the end of a connecting link, said connecting link extending around the marginal front edge of said receptable for releasable attachment within one of said bracket members in such position as to be hidden from view; said inner longitudinal telescoping member being extended around the other marginal front edge of said receptacle for releasable connection to a second link member; said second link member being releasably connected within said other bracket member, both of said bracket members being provided with enclosure means having a retaining member therein adapted to retain the ends of said first and said second link members within said enclosure means in such position as to be unaccessible from the outside.

5. In the locking device as defined in claim 4, said inner telescoping member and said second link member each being provided with flange means in abutting relationship; said flange means being apertured for the securement of a padlock therethrough.

6. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, each of said bracket means comprising a plate for abutment against the outside of said sidewalls of said receptacle, each of said plates being provided with fastening means comprising stud members secured to the side of said plates facing said side walls and adapted for extension through said side walls; and lock nuts adapted for engagement with said stud members inwardly of said receptacle to thereby prevent access to said fastening means from the outside of said receptacle.

7. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, each of said bracket means comprising a flat plate member adapted for abutment against the respective outside of said opposite side walls of said receptacle; each of said flat plate members having a stud member projecting therefrom for extension through an aperture provided in each of said side walls; each of said stud members being provided with a bayonet type slot extending from the outer end thereof and a keeper member secured within each of said side walls for engagement within said bayonet type slot upon insertion of said stud member into said aperture to thereby lock said plates to said side walls upon respective rotative movement of said plates.

8. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, said other end of said telescoping lock bar assembly being provided with a first flange means and said other of said bracket means being provided with a second flange means in abutting relationship with said first flange means, both of said flange means being provided with aligned apertures and a padlock secured through said aligned apertures.

9. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, each of the bracket means comprising a plate member for abutment against respective ones of said side walls of said receptacle, each of said plate members being provided with a stud member secured to the side of said plate members facing said side walls for extension through said side walls, each of said stud members having a plurality of apertures therein spaced in axial direction of said stud members, and lock means for engagement within a selected one of said apertures to thereby lock said bracket means to said side walls.

10. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, each of said bracket means comprising a box-like enclosure having an inner side attached to said side walls of said receptacle, each of said inner side of said enclosures being longitudinally slotted; a lock member disposed in each of the slots for adjustable sliding engagement therein; said lock member having a shank portion for extension through said side walls of said receptacle; said shank portion of each of said lock members being provided with a plurality of axially spaced apertures; and means comprising a locking pin for selective insertion in a selected one of said apertures to thereby lock said bracket means to said side walls.

11. In the locking device as defined in claim 10, said lock member being further provided with an enlarged head portion; each of said slots having portions of smaller widths than said enlarged head portion to prevent removal of said lock member out of said slot; each of said slots having a portion of larger width than the diameter of said head portion to permit insertion of said head portion therethrough for engagement of said shank portion within said smaller width slot portion.

12. In the locking device as defined in claim 11, said shank portion of each of said locking members having a portion of square cross-section adjacent said enlarged head portion for sliding engagement within said slot; said portion of square cross-section preventing rotation of said locking member within said slot.

13. In the locking device as defined in claim 1, said other of said bracket means defining an enclosed key lock assembly and said locking means comprising a latch bar slidingly disposed within said key lock assembly; said other end of said telescoping lock bar assembly being apertured and adapted to be received within said key lock assembly to permit locking engagement of said latch bar within said aperture; and a means to disengage said latch bar from said aperture.

14. In the locking device as defined in claim 13, said means comprising a rotatable cam; said latch bar being provided with spaced abutments disposed on both sides of said cam, and key means to rotate said cam in a selected direction into engagement with one or the other of said abutments to thereby longitudinally move said latch bar into or out of locking engagement with said aperture at the other end of said lock bar assembly.