Vending machine access panel and method of formation
AssigneeCrane Co.
InventorsCharles W. Percy, Jack L. Osborn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Access panel and method of manufacture. The access panel is mounted on a vending machine for movement between open and closed positions and normally closes the opening to a product retrieval area. Advertising indicia is provided behind a front face of the access panel to prevent damage to the indicia. The access panel is also tamper resistant and may be changed only by authorized personnel. The advertising indicia is encapsulated between a front panel and back panel of the access panel.
Claims22
A vending machine for the dispensing of packaged products such as drinks, confections and food, said vending machine having a movable access panel providing access to an internal area of the machine by a person, the access panel being located such that a consumer is likely to view the access panel during operation of the machine, said vending machine comprising:
- an enclosure securely enclosing product to be selectively purchased by a consumer, said enclosure having a front portion;
- a plurality of feed mechanisms each operable to selectively dispense product to a product access area where the consumer can access the dispensed product for subsequent use;
- a product selection device associated with the feed mechanisms and usable by the consumer to select the product desired for dispensing;
- an access panel movable between closed and open positions adjacent said product access area, said panel having a portion visible in the closed position to a consumer, said panel having advertising indicia behind an outer disposed surface of the visible portion of the panel and viewable therethrough by a consumer when the panel is in its closed position, said access panel forming a minor portion of the front of the enclosure.
A method of forming an access panel for a vending machine, said vending machine including an enclosure having a front portion, comprising:
- forming an outer panel of material that allows viewing therethrough, said outer panel having an outer surface and an inner surface and a contour;
- applying advertising indicia to at least a portion of the inner surface;
- forming an inner panel and securing it in overlying relation to the advertising indicia thereby to have said advertising indicia between the inner and outer panels;
- positioning said outer and inner panels with respect to said front portion so that the access panel forms a minor portion of said front portion;
- and
- positioning said outer and inner panels for access to at least one dispensed product dispensed from a plurality of feed mechanisms.
An access panel for use with a vending machine and adapted for displaying advertising indicia to consumers, said vending machine including an enclosure having a front portion, said access panel comprising:
- a front panel with a viewing area having inner and outer surfaces, said viewing area being at least one of transparent and translucent;
- advertising indicia on said inner surface and visible through said viewing area;
- a back panel having an inner surface adjacent the inner surface of the front panel surface with the advertising indicia therebetween;
- and
- said access panel forming a minor portion of said front portion and in operable engagement with at least one dispensed product dispensed from a plurality of feed mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.