Abstract: A coin handling protection device is disclosed which prevents thieves from stuffing compressible material through the coin insert slot and into the coin return chute of coin-operated machines. The device prevents stuffing the coin return chute by incorporating a blocking plate across the top opening of the coin return chute such that compressible material stuffed into the coin insert slot is diverted into the open space within the payphone unit. The device is suitable for use in existing coin handling apparatus.

Abstract: Two embodiments are shown for protecting the pedestal of a public payphone against vandalism. Both employ a stainless steel plate. Both also employ techniques for protecting the stainless steel plate against vandalism. In one, a U-shaped structure and bar is utilized. In the other, internal bars and a cam control are employed.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods immediately alert a telephone company or other owner/host or operator of a payphone that a vandalizing stuffing has occurred, thereby enabling it or him or her promptly to dispatch a maintenance person to the particular payphone or station to fix it. Stuffing sensing switches are advantageously mounted in a coin return mechanism, and in electromechanical payphones electrically connected to the telephone company central office over one of the existing RING and TIP wires connecting the stuffed or compromised payphone with the central office. Conventional testing techniques periodically employed in the office by the telephone company over the existing wit. installation will then sense whether a payphone has been compromised or stuffed. In electronic payphones, a payphone computer monitors the sensing switches and calls the owner/host or operator to report a problem or gives a local alarm.

Abstract: An anti-stuffing device involves removing the floor at the end of the coin return chute to create a floor opening, placing a wall over the end of the chute to stop coins coming down the chute, pivotally mounting at the bottom end of the wall a compound lever so that its one leg closes-off the floor opening when in a first position towards which it is biased, and attaching one end of a compression spring to the other leg of the compound lever and its other end to the bottom of the pivoted door normally closing-off the front opening to the coin return bucket. The spring is of such length that when the bucket door is closing-off the front opening, it yieldably urges the compound lever to its first position closing-off the floor opening and when the lower end of the bucket door is pushed inward it pushes the compound lever so that its one leg moves away from the floor opening and allows the pay telephone user's coins for uncompleted calls to be retrieved by him. Methods defeat old and new stuffing techniques.

Abstract: A telephone is secured against vandalism involving inserting a bare electrically conductive wire through the slot in the MEDECO lock securing the upper housing to the main housing. The free end of the inserted wire is made to contact either the "12" or the "1" terminal on the key pad on the back of the dial housing, to place system ground on the relay controlling the coin switch at the bottom of the chute for inserted coins and neutralize it so that coins can not be released to the coin box if a call is completed nor to the coin return bucket if a call is not completed. An advantageously shaped and located and mounted wire guard prevents the vandalism. The thin guard includes a wire blocking portion, a flange mounting portion, and intermediate portion connecting the blocking and mounting portions, and an inturned portion on its free end for overlying the terminals.

Abstract: A telephone is secured against vandalism by a double layer face plate or assemblage of tough materials. The assemblage consists of an outer plate covering most of the front of a telephone upper housing or casing, and a second layer covering the housing casing in areas not covered by the outer layer. Two such areas are those which involve openings in the outer or first layer for mounting the standard information pads above and below the dial push buttons. The second layer is open in the area of the push buttons, but the outer layer is provided with a grid thereat for preventing the housing or casing pushbutton grid from being pried out. The outer plate may be provided with wings to also secure the sides and top of the housing or casing against drilling and the insertion of a wire to pin the coin switch vane or to ground the coin switch relay to hold up deposited coins. The outer plate may also be provided with depending portions to cover the telephone coin box and coin return bucket.

Abstract: A coin-operated pay telephone is made secure from the removal of the coin return mechanism by a vandalizing bar and the subsequent collection of returned coins by vandals. A security bar is inserted behind the coin chute and down through an opening in an intermediate strengthening plate to block rocking of the coin return mechanism by a vandalizing bar and its translation forward out of the casing through the opening in which a finger is normally inserted to retrieve coins for incompleted telephone calls. The security bar includes a shoulder which rest on top of the rear edge of the coin return mechanism. The rear of the security bar includes a horizontal slot which is received on the portion of the strengthening plate behind its opening to prevent displacement of the security bar.

Abstract: A change return protection device is disclosed which prevents thieves from stuffing flexible material into the change return chutes of coin-operated machines. The device prevents stuffing of the change return chute when the change return door is opened by incorporating a blocking flap and a swinging flap around which the flexible material cannot be inserted. The device also includes a reinforcement plate which more securely joins the blocking flap to the change return door and a flat plate having V-shaped notch with sharpened edges which further prevents stuffing. Finally, the device includes an adjustable screw which restricts the size of the coin return door opening. The device is suitable for use in existing change return mechanisms.

Abstract: An improvement in a coin operated device having coin return bucket and a bank box wherein the coin return bucket and the bank box are mounted within the device near a bottom wall of the device. The improvement relates to preventing tampering with and/or vandalization of the device by cutting or penetration of a bottom wall of the coin return bucket or the inner wall of the bank box. The improvement lies in the use of a bottom wall protection plate which prevents tampering and/or vandalization and which is inserted between the bottom wall of the device and the bottom of the coin return bucket and an inner side wall protection plate inserted between the inner wall of the coin return bucket and the inner wall of the bank box.