The present invention relates to a currency bank.

More particularly, the instant invention relates to a novelty type currency bank in which it appears as if currency that is being fed into the bank is shredded whereas, in reality, it is held in a currency compartment in the bank.

A need has existed for a novelty bank in which currency that is fed into the bank appears to be shredded but in reality is stored.

Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved currency bank which would meet the above-stated needs and others.

Brief Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a currency bank.

More specifically, the instant invention comprises a currency bank having a housing with an inlet and an opening. A shredded currency mechanism is located in the housing and selectively appears in the opening. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding associated currency into the housing at the inlet. A timing assembly is provided for activating the shredded currency mechanism when the feed mechanism is activated so that it appears that the associated currency being fed into the housing is being shredded.

Preferably, the shredded currency mechanism comprises a motor, a gear train coupled to the motor and a belt assembly operatively connected to the gear train.

Preferably, the belt assembly comprises a pair of belts and a plurality of gears around which the pair of belts is looped. If desired, the plurality of gears can comprise a

spaced upper pair of gears mounted on a first common shaft and a spaced lower pair of gears mounted on a second common shaft. The shredded currency mechanism can further comprise a cross bar connected to the pair of belts and a shredded currency element secured at one end to the cross bar.

Preferably, the motor comprises an electric motor and there is also provided a source of electric power for the motor. If desired, the source of electric power can comprise batteries located in a battery compartment in the housing.

If desired, a speaker can be located in the housing wherein the timing mechanism also activates the speaker.

Also, if desired, a photograph holder can be located on the housing. Preferably, a currency compartment is located in the housing for holding associated currency after it has passed through the feed mechanism. A door located on the housing provides access to the currency compartment.

Preferably, the timing assembly comprises a control circuit, a first timing element for actuating the feed mechanism and a second timing element for deactivating the shredded currency mechanism. If desired, the first timing element can comprise a finger located in a currency inlet slot of the housing. The second timing element can comprise a protrusion located on an element of the shredded currency mechanism.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating the currency bank is provided.

More particularly, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of providing a housing having an inlet in a currency compartment and feeding a piece of currency into the inlet. A shredded currency element is moved past the window in the housing.

Thereafter, the piece of currency is deposited into the currency compartment.

One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novelty currency bank.

Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novelty currency bank in which currency that is pulled into the bank appears to be shredded but is, in reality, deposited into a currency compartment in the bank.

Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a timing mechanism in a currency bank which starts the motion of a piece of shredded currency past a window at the same time that a piece of currency is fed into an inlet slot of the currency bank.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novelty currency bank with a speaker and a voice chip so that an audible message is played when a piece of currency is fed into the bank.

A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a currency bank with a window in which a photograph can be displayed.

A still further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a currency bank which is digitally controlled so as to activate and deactivate an electric motor. The motor serves both to pull currency into the bank and to start the motion of a piece of shredded currency past a window in the bank. Preferably, switches are used to activate and deactivate the motor.

Still other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of average skill in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs The invention may take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a currency bank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a part partially broken away for clarity;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of a currency bank of Figure 1 with a part partially broken away for clarity; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the currency bank of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the currency bank of Figure 1 with a part partially broken away for clarity; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the currency bank of Figure 1 with a part partially broken away for clarity; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the currency bank of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the currency bank of Figure 1 with a front housing half removed for clarity; Figure 8 is a left side cross sectional view of the currency bank of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the currency bank of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the control elements of the currency bank of Figure 1; Figure 11A is an enlarged side elevational view of the belt of the currency bank of Figure 6; Figure 11B is a greatly enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the belt of Figure 11A; and, Figure 12 is a circuit diagram of another control assembly for the currency bank according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, Figure 1 illustrates a currency bank A having a housing 10 with a first half 12 and a second half 14. A picture opening 20 is provided in the first half 12. Also, spaced from the picture opening are a plurality of speaker apertures 22 which comprise a speaker grille. As shown in

Figure 8, a top indentation 24 is located on the first half along with a bottom indentation 26.

With reference now to Figure 6, the second half 14 comprises a currency compartment opening 30 which is covered by a selectively openable door 32. Also provided is a top indentation 34 and a bottom indentation 36.

Covering the picture opening 20 and the housing first half 12 is a window 40. The window is selectively removable so that a user of the currency bank A can position a user selected picture 42 behind the window. To this end, a set of four corners 44 are provided on a first frame 50. The four corners of the picture 42 can be tucked behind the corners 44 so as to secure the picture in place.

The front frame 50 is positioned adjacent a main frame 52. These elements are secured together with the first and second housing halves 12 and 14. To this end, a plurality of spaced ears 54 are provided on the front frame. These ears are aligned with spaced ears 56 located on the main frame and mounts 58 located on the second half. Aligned with all of the foregoing ears and mounts are mounts 60 (see Figure 8) located on the first half. Suitable fasteners 62 (Figure 2) secure the front frame 50, main frame 52, first half 12 and second half 14 to each other.

Positioned in the respective top indentations 24 and 34 of the first and second housing halves 12 and 14 is a currency entrance frame 70. With reference now also to Figure 3, a slot 72 is defined in the entrance frame 70.

The slot is sized so as to accommodate a variety of sizes of bills or currency such as U. S. dollars, British pounds, Mexican Pesos and the like. Extending into the slot 72 are a front finger 74 and a pair of rear fingers 76. In the preferred embodiment, the front finger 74 is moveable, whereas the rear fingers 76 are stationary. However, it should be apparent to those of average skill in the art that all of the fingers can be moveable if so desired.

Alternatively, the rear fingers 76 could be moveable with

the front finger being stationary. With reference now also to Figure 7, the front finger 74 is wired to a front switch 78. Thus, when the front finger is depressed, the switch is activated. The signal from the front switch is transmitted via suitable wiring to a suitable digital control chip 80 (Figure 10) located in the housing.

With reference again to Figure 6, positioned adjacent the switch 78 are a pair of front rollers 82 mounted on a common shaft. The front rollers are rotatably mounted via the shaft on the front frame 50. Located adjacent the front rollers are a pair of rear rollers 84 mounted on a common shaft. The shaft is rotatably mounted on a pusher plate 86. As is evident from Figure 3, the front and rear rollers 82 and 84 are aligned with each other.

The pusher plate 86 is resiliently biased forward by a spring (not visible) so that the rollers 82 and 84 normally contact each other. They form between them a nip for accommodating a piece of currency.

Positioned below the sets of rollers 82 and 84 is a pair of spaced upper belt gears 90 mounted on a common shaft. Spaced therefrom is a pair of spaced lower belt gears 92 also mounted on a common shaft. Looped around the upper and lower belt gears 90 and 92 are a left belt 94 and a right belt 96. It is apparent that these belts are endless belts. With reference now also to Figure 5, a cross bar 100 is mounted on the left and right belts 94 and 96. A piece of shredded currency 102 is secured at a proximal end 104 to the cross bar 100. The proximal end of the shredded currency is looped around the cross bar 100 so as to form a single element. However, a distal end 106 of the currency presents a shredded appearance. The distal end is not secured to the pair of spaced belts.

With reference now again to Figure 8, a motor 110 is located in the housing 10. The motor includes an output shaft 112 which is connected to a lower gear train 113.

The lower gear train 113 comprises a worm gear 114 which is mounted on the output shaft 112, an intermediate gear 115

and a primary drive gear 116. The drive gear 116 is coupled to the lower belt gears 92. The lower gear train 113 drives the pair of belts 94,96 and, hence, the shredded currency 102. A positive drive is provided. To this end, there are teeth 118 located on the lower belt gears 92 and teeth 120 located on the upper belt gears 90.

These teeth engage corresponding teeth 122 on the belts 94 and 96.

Coupled to the shaft of upper belt gears 90 is an upper gear train 126. With reference again to Figure 6, the upper gear train 126 drives the front rollers 82. When the motor 110 rotates the lower gear train 113, and hence, the left and right belts 94 and 96, the upper gear train 126 is also rotated. In this way, the front rollers 82 are correspondingly rotated. The rear rollers 84 are freely rotatable and will move when they are in contact with the moving front rollers 82.

Preferably, the motor 110 is an electric motor.

Electricity is provided for the motor 110 via a battery compartment 130. As is illustrated in Figure 4, suitable batteries 132 are located in the battery compartment 130.

Preferably, a door 134 selectively closes the battery compartment.

With reference again to Figure 8, a currency storage area 140 is located beneath the front and rear rollers 82 and 84 and somewhat behind them. With reference now to Figure 5, when a piece of currency 142 is pulled into the housing 10 at the nip formed between the front and rear rollers 82 and 84, the currency is deposited in the storage area 140. At the same time, due to the coordinated movement of the shredded currency 102 via the cross bar 100, when the belts 94 and 96 are actuated, it appears as if the currency 142 is being shredded.

With reference again to Figure 7, a speaker 146 can be mounted on the housing 10. The speaker 146 is located directly behind the speaker apertures 22 illustrated in Figure 1. Electrically connected to the speaker 146 is a

voice chip 148 (Figure 10). The control chip 80 selectively activates the voice chip 148, and hence, the speaker. Alternatively, operation could be controlled more simply by an off switch and an on switch as illustrated in Figure 12. Preferably, the operation of the speaker is coordinated with the rotation of the belts 94 and 96. The speaker can be actuated during the time when the currency is pulled into the housing and the shredded currency is moving past the window. In one embodiment, the speaker broadcasts the message:"ha, ha, ha... easy come, easy go." It is evident that the speaker 146 could broadcast whatever message is encoded in the voice chip 148.

With reference again to Figure 6, a respective protrusion or bump 150,152 is provided on each of the belts 94 and 96. In one preferred embodiment, the bump 150 comprises a pair of spaced elements. With reference now particularly to Figures 11A and 11B, the bump 150 can comprise a first element 160 and, slightly spaced therefrom, a second element 162 and a third element 163.

The first element 160 serves a timing function and sends an initial signal to the control chip 80 when it activates a second switch 164 (Figure 10) to stop rotation of the motor. The second and third elements 162 and 163 serve as a means for spacing the front and rear rollers 82 and 84 away from each other. This is done by the bumps pushing the pusher plate 86, and hence the rear rollers 84, away from the front rollers, against the bias of the spring which urges the upper end of the pusher plate 86 forward.

Also, the second bump element 162 holds the bill shaft 100.

A plurality of slits 166 is cut into the underside of the several bump elements in order to allow the elements to flex as the belt 90 travels around the upper and lower gears 90,92. This is best shown in Figure 11B. It should be apparent to those in the art that a single long element bump could be employed instead of the two element design illustrated in Figures 11A and 11B.

As mentioned, the bumps serve a timing function. Also serving a timing function is the front finger 74 (Figure 3). The front finger serves as a first timing element, whereas the bumps 150,152 serve as a second timing element in controlling the operation of the motor, and hence, the currency bank.

With reference now to Figure 9, the operation of the currency bank will now be described. Operation begins when a piece of currency, such as the bill 142, is inserted into the housing 10. A proximal edge of the bill activates the front switch 78 by a movement of the front finger 74. When the front switch is activated, a signal is sent to the control chip 80 which then starts the motor 110 as is illustrated in block 204. The belts 94 and 96 then begin to move past the window 40 as is illustrated in block 206.

The rollers 82 and 84, since they form a nip, grab the currency 142 and pull it into the currency storage area 140. At the same time, the shredded currency 102 travels past the window 40. This coordinated movement simulates the shredding of the currency 142 to the observer whereas, in reality, the currency is being preserved.

During the time when the shredded currency 102 is moving past the window and the currency 142 is being taken into the housing 10, an impulse is sent to the voice chip 148 on the circuit board thereby activating the speaker 146 as shown in box 212. Subsequently, the currency is pulled entirely through the front and rear rollers 82 and 84 and is deposited into the storage area 140 as shown in block 214. Thereafter, the front switch 78 turns off as shown in block 260. At this time, the belts 94 and 96 with the shredded currency 102 return to their original position as shown in block 218. The bumps 150 and 152 on the pair of belts 94 and 96 move the pusher 86 back, against the biasing of the spring, turning off the back switch 164 as shown in block 220. More importantly, the bumps keep the front and rear rollers separated. Such separation is necessary in order that a nip is formed by the facing

rollers when a piece of currency is inserted between the rollers and trips the front switch. This action brings the opposed rollers together grabbing the currency and preventing its removal. When the back switch is off, the motor 110 stops as shown in block 222. This brings the process to an end.

The main housing 52 and the pusher plate 86 cooperate to define a screen behind the window 20. In this way, the shredded currency 102 can not be seen as it is moved along the belts 94,96 behind the picture 42 back to the start position of the shredded currency.

The invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.