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US 2010/0140286 A1Published application
Portable beverage machine
OwnerMichael Christopher Quinninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The beverage vending machine comprises a beverage storage area, a mechanism to dispense beverages, a solar photovoltaic panel, a battery, and a refrigeration unit. The energy gathered by the solar photovoltaic panel is stored within the battery, and a self-contained refrigeration unit is operable to cool the beverage storage area. The beverage vending machine operates without an external source of electricity.
Claims12
A beverage vending machine comprising:
- a beverage storage area;
- a dispensing mechanism to dispense beverages from the beverage storage area;
- a solar photovoltaic panel;
- a battery, wherein energy gathered by the solar photovoltaic panel is stored within the battery, the battery powering the dispensing mechanism and
- a refrigeration unit, wherein the refrigeration unit is operable to cool the beverage storage area without electricity.
2 more elements
A beverage vending machine comprising:
- a beverage storage area;
- a dispensing mechanism to dispense beverage from the beverage storage area;
- a solar photovoltaic panel;
- a battery, wherein energy gathered by the solar photovoltaic panel is stored within the battery;
- a refrigeration unit, wherein the refrigeration unit is operable to cool the beverage storage area;
- a computer, wherein the computer is powered by the battery, and wherein the computer controls the dispensing mechanism to dispense beverages and the refrigeration unit;
- a currency acceptor, wherein the currency acceptor is powered by the battery, and wherein the currency acceptor is controlled by the computer;
- and
- a selection panel for the selection of beverages, wherein the selection panel sends a user selection to the computer.
6 more elements
A method for dispensing beverage including the steps of:
- generating electricity from a solar cell;
- storing the electricity from the solar cell;
- powering a user input device for selecting a beverage;
- cooling a plurality of beverages in a storage area without electricity;
- and
- selectively dispensing at least one of the beverages from the storage area based upon an input from the user input device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.