Apparatus and methods of improvement of vending machines
AssigneeKaren Benninghoff
InventorKaren Benninghoff
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to an improvement to vending machines and particularly gumball machines, and is equally applicable to vending machines of like design. A system and method are disclosed to convert a conventional gumball vending machine to a solar light fixture using an inner rod nut. A system and method are disclosed to convert a conventional vending machine to contain a rotary turntable.
Claims16
A system for converting a vending machine to a solar light fixture comprising:
- an inner rod, a rod nut and a solar light fixture;
- the inner rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the inner rod has screw threads and the second end of the inner rod has screw threads capable of removably coupling the inner rod to the vending machine;
- an inner rod nut having screw threads corresponding to inner rod screw threads that is capable of removably coupling to inner rod;
- the solar light fixture having a solar light bulb and housing extending from the solar light bulb;
- and,
- wherein the vending machine components are held in place by an inner rod, such that vending machine components are supported when the screw threads of the second end of inner rod are removably coupled to the vending machine and an inner rod nut is removably coupled to the first end of inner rod;
- and the housing of the solar light fixture is removably coupled to the vending machine.
A method for converting a vending machine to a solar light fixture comprising;
- removing a traditional cap and key;
- removing an inner rod to expose a base plate having a female screw thread in the base plate;
- providing a shorter inner rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the inner rod has a first screw thread and the second end of the inner rod has a second screw thread;
- providing an inner rod nut having a screw thread corresponding to the first screw thread and the second screw thread and is capable of removably coupling the inner rod nut to the inner rod;
- providing a solar light fixture having a solar light bulb and a housing extending from the solar light bulb;
- removably coupling the second screw thread of the inner rod to the female screw thread of the base plate of the vending machine;
- removably coupling the screw thread of inner rod nut to the first screw thread of the inner rod;
- and,
- removably coupling the solar light fixture to the vending machine.
A system for converting a vending machine to contain a rotary turntable comprising:
- a platform disc and a platform riser;
- the platform disc having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the platform disc has an inside opening and the second end of the platform disc has an outer rim;
- the platform riser having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the platform riser has an inside opening and the second end of the platform rise has an outer rim;
- and
- wherein, the platform riser is attached to an adjustable dispensing wheel of the vending machine and the platform disc is attached to a top portion of the platform riser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.