Payment card receiver with selectably blockable slot
View Patent ↗A payment card receiver including at least one element defining a payment card receiving slot, a shutter, pivotably mounted with respect to the payment card receiving slot for selectably blocking the payment card receiving slot and a card-operated shutter movement restricting switch operative to retain the shutter in a shutter movement restricting operative orientation, in which the shutter blocks the payment card receiving slot, in the absence of at least partial insertion of a payment card in the payment card receiving slot.
1. A payment card receiver comprising:
at least one element defining a payment card receiving slot;
a shutter, pivotably mounted with respect to said payment card receiving slot for selectably blocking said payment card receiving slot, said shutter having a lower portion that extends beyond a lower extent of said card receiving slot; and
a card-operated shutter movement restricting switch operative to retain said shutter in a blocking orientation of said payment card receiving slot in the absence of at least partial insertion of a payment card in said payment card receiving slot.
2. The payment card receiver according to claim 1 , said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch comprising a unitary element comprising a generally planar portion defining a trigger portion configured to be engaged by said payment card when inserted to at least a predetermined extent into said payment card receiving slot.
3. The payment card receiver according to claim 2 , said generally planar portion further comprising an annular bearing surface surrounding an aperture configured to accommodate a protrusion that defines an axis of rotation for said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch.
4. The payment card receiver according to claim 3 , wherein said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch is rotatable relative to said at least one element about said axis of rotation from said blocking orientation to a non-blocking orientation of said payment card receiving slot.
5. The payment card receiver according to claim 3 , wherein said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch is spring loaded to normally be in said blocking orientation in the absence of engagement therewith by said payment card in said payment card receiving slot.
6. The payment card receiver according to claim 2 , wherein said trigger portion is configured to be rotated by insertion of said payment card into engagement with said trigger portion in said payment card receiving slot.
7. The payment card receiver according to claim 6 , wherein rotation of said trigger portion produces rotation of said shutter movement restricting switch from said blocking orientation to said non-blocking orientation.
8. The payment card receiver according to claim 1 , wherein said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch is spring loaded to normally be in said blocking orientation in the absence of engagement therewith by said payment card in said payment card receiving slot.
9. The payment card receiver according to claim 2 , wherein said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch is spring loaded to normally be in said blocking orientation in the absence of engagement therewith by said payment card in said payment card receiving slot.
10. The payment card receiver according to claim 1 , wherein said shutter comprises a unitary element.
11. The payment card receiver according to claim 1 , wherein said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch includes a sensible element whose position can be electronically sensed to provide an indication of its operative orientation.
12. The payment card receiver according to claim 1 , wherein said card-operated shutter movement restricting switch includes a conductor whose position can be electronically sensed to provide an indication of its operative orientation.
13. A payment card receiver comprising:
at least one element defining a payment card receiving slot;
a shutter, comprising a unitary element and pivotably mounted with respect to said payment card receiving slot for selectably blocking said payment card receiving slot, said shutter being formed by punching and bending a flat element of metal; and
a card-operated shutter movement restricting switch operative to retain said shutter in a blocking orientation of said payment card receiving slot in the absence of at least partial insertion of a payment card in said payment card receiving slot.
14. A payment card receiver comprising:
at least one element defining a payment card receiving slot;
a shutter, comprising a unitary element and pivotably mounted with respect to said payment card receiving slot for selectably blocking said payment card receiving slot, said shutter further comprising a forwardly bent hook portion that is configured to be engaged by a forward edge of said payment card upon insertion in said card receiving slot to at least a predetermined extent; and
a card-operated shutter movement restricting switch operative to retain said shutter in a blocking orientation of said payment card receiving slot in the absence of at least partial insertion of a payment card in said payment card receiving slot.
15. The payment card receiver according to claim 14 , wherein, when engaged by said forward edge of said payment card, said forward edge at least partially displaces said forwardly bent hook portion causing said shutter to rotate about an axis to at least a partially raised position.
16. The payment card receiver according to claim 14 , wherein said forwardly bend hook portion extends beyond a lower extent of said card receiving slot.