Newspaper dispensing apparatus and method

A newspaper dispensing apparatus which may be operably positioned in the vicinity of volatile, flammable, or combustible materials, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a housing having a cavity for storing newspapers;
• said cavity defining an opening in a front surface of the housing;
• said opening presenting a plurality of outer contact surfaces;
• (b) a door pivotally attached to said housing and covering said opening;
• said door pivotable from a closed position generally covering said opening to an open position providing access to said cavity through said opening;
• said door presenting a plurality of contact surfaces in alignment with and cooperating with said opening contact surfaces;
• (c) a locking subassembly for releasably engaging said door in the closed position;
• said locking assembly including a hook having an outer surface and a latch having an outer surface;
• said hook outer surface engaging said latch outer surface when said door in is said closed position;
• and
• (d) said opening contact surfaces, said door contact surfaces, said hook outer surface and said latch outer surface covered with a non-corrosive, spark proof material.

A method for providing a paid newspaper from a location substantially adjacent to a gasoline dispensing apparatus, said method comprising:

• (a) constructing a newspaper dispensing apparatus to withstand deployment in the vicinity of volatile, flammable, or combustible materials, said apparatus having a housing being generally fabricated substantially from non-corrosive, spark proof materials;
• (b) placing the newspaper dispensing apparatus in a supervised location substantially adjacent to the gasoline dispensing apparatus;
• (c) storing newspapers in a selectively locked cavity in the newspaper dispensing apparatus;
• (d) receiving a adequate payment from a user;
• and
• (e) unlocking said cavity in response to receipt of the adequate payment from the user.

An automated payment method for allowing a user, in a single transaction through the use of a control device, to purchase gasoline from a gasoline dispensing apparatus and a newspaper from a newspaper dispensing apparatus;

• said gasoline dispensing apparatus positioned substantially adjacent said newspaper dispensing apparatus and said control device;
• said control device including a display, a keypad, a microprocessor, a reader, a changer and a dispenser;
• said method comprising:
• (a) said user inputting a transaction payment type at said keypad;
• (b) said user inputting a payment into a payment mechanism;
• (c) said microprocessor verifying said payment;
• (d) said microprocessor prompting said user to input at said keypad whether said user wants to purchase gasoline;
• (e) said microprocessor transmitting a control signal to said gasoline dispensing apparatus to dispense gasoline if said user inputs at said keypad that said user wants to purchase gasoline;
• (f) said microprocessor prompting said user to input at said keypad whether said user wants to purchase said newspaper;
• and
• (g) said microprocessor transmitting a control signal to said newspaper dispensing apparatus to dispense a newspaper if said user inputs at said keypad that said user wants to purchase said newspaper.