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US 2003/0146239 A1Published application
Vending machine for dispensing cans & bottles with stop member
AssigneeThomas Plastics, Inc.
InventorRonald H. Beauregard
Life of this patent
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AssigneeThomas Plastics, Inc.
InventorRonald H. Beauregard
Estimating the term…
An improved vending machine having a plurality of vertically inclined racks therein for dispensing products is disclosed. Each rack within such vending machine has an open end and closed end, wherein the open end thereof is provided with a mechanical stop or gate having essentially no mechanical moving parts, for control of the dispensing of products from such racks in response to customer demand for product from such rack. In the preferred embodiments of this invention, the mechanical stop or gate is formed of a resilient deformable material (e.g. natural or synthetic rubber or an equivalent elastomer), and includes means for engagement of a complimentary recess or slot at the end of the product dispensing rack. In the preferred embodiments of this invention, more than one stop or gate is provided at the open end of each rack within the vending machine, so as to provide equal pressure to each side of the container within the rack and thus assist in maintaining the proper orientation of the containers within the rack.
In a vending machine for dispensing product from a plurality of vertically disposed product racks housed therein, each of said product racks having an open end and a closed end, wherein said closed end includes a movable platform for support and movement of product within a vertical channel defined within said rack, wherein the improvement comprises:
In a vending machine for dispensing product from a plurality of vertical product racks housed therein, each of said vertical product racks having an open end and a closed end, wherein said closed end includes a movable platform for support of product within a channel defined within said rack, and an open end for dispensing product from said open end of said channel of said rack, means for upward movement of said movable platform within said channel from said closed end toward said open end of said rack and restrictive means for preventing release of said product from said open end of said channel of said rack until consumer access thereto is desired, the improvement comprising:
A stop suitable for placement on a panel of a rack in a vending machine to define a restrictive opening of a channel comprising a tubular body having an exterior wall, a channel air space running the length of said tubular body to permit access to said channel through said tubular body wall, said channel having features defining coupling means for engagement of complimentary coupling means in said panel so as to permit mounting of said stop on said panel so as to restrict an opening of a channel defined by said panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.