CA1171652A - Vending machine display panel with a utility module therein - Google Patents
Vending machine display panel with a utility module thereinInfo
- Publication number
- CA1171652A CA1171652A CA000404307A CA404307A CA1171652A CA 1171652 A CA1171652 A CA 1171652A CA 000404307 A CA000404307 A CA 000404307A CA 404307 A CA404307 A CA 404307A CA 1171652 A CA1171652 A CA 1171652A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- product
- display
- vending machine
- coin slot
- vending
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F23/00—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes
- G09F23/06—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes the advertising matter being combined with articles for restaurants, shops or offices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
- G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
- G07F9/10—Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F23/00—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes
- G09F2023/0025—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on containers
- G09F2023/0033—Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on containers on refrigerated containers
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A display panel for a vending machine including the capability of adding promotions, advertising, and special equipment such as electronic and video games to the existing vending machine. A utility module for containing one of these devices is located on the display panel of the vending machine and is so positioned so that it optimizes a combination of criteria including space, circuitry location, a prominent spot for display purposes and a location enabling easy retrofit of the utility module into a vending machine unit.
A display panel for a vending machine including the capability of adding promotions, advertising, and special equipment such as electronic and video games to the existing vending machine. A utility module for containing one of these devices is located on the display panel of the vending machine and is so positioned so that it optimizes a combination of criteria including space, circuitry location, a prominent spot for display purposes and a location enabling easy retrofit of the utility module into a vending machine unit.
Description
' 1716~2 -!l This application is a Continuation-ln-Part Or prior application Serial Number 244,818 filed March 17, 1981 by the ¦ same inventors, which is now U.S. Patent 4,380,130 issued April 19, 1983, and a divisional ~ereof which is now U.S.
Patent 4,414,768 issued November 15, 1983.
Field of the Inven~ion The present invention relates to display panels ~or vend-, ing machines and more particularly to improved configurations j for same in combination with suitable control panel configurations within said ~isplay panel.
.1 , , , Background o~ the Invention ,j In the vending of beverages Erom vending machines, par-ticularly those beverages packaged in cans, bottles, or gen-erally similar symmetrical containers, the display panels of the vending machines involved should perrorm certain point-, oE-purchase function.s. For example, the nature of the products I vended should be instantly apparent to a potential customer.
The identity of the source or orlgin (manu~acturer) of the products being vended should be~ either directly provided or ~! provided by means such as logos or other symbolic means suggestive thereof.
li !
,i ~urther, ir ~h~ere is 8 primary product for which the vending machine has more capacity or for which greater sales volume is I desired, the vending machine should be capable of encoura~in~
~i the selection of this product over the other products I (fiecondary produc-s) present in the machine.
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l'he display panel face should also be capable Or containing a u~ility module or area disposed in,an opti~um location for viewing and interfacing with the internal electrical controls Il o~ the vending machine.
'I It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and nove'l display panel configuration for vending machines.
' Another objec~ of'the present invention is to provlde a ! new and novel display panel for vending machines by combining the configuration and selective backlighting of panel sections on the obverse face of a vending machine to both direc~ly and symbolically identify the manufacturer (source or orgin) of the ¦ products being vended.
~l i! Still another object of che present invention is to provide I new and novel display panel for vendin~ machines which suggest to a potential customer the packaged configu~ation Or a product ~j to be vended.
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Yet another object of the present invention is to provide I a new and novel display pane~l configuration for vending ¦
,j machines'which, together with identifying products and the sources oE such products, provides an inducement to a customer to purchase a particu]ar primary one oE a plurality of products ¦~
made available by the vending machine bearing that display I panel.
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It is a further object of the present i~ention to provide a utiliLy modulelarea within the display pane-l of a vending -
Patent 4,414,768 issued November 15, 1983.
Field of the Inven~ion The present invention relates to display panels ~or vend-, ing machines and more particularly to improved configurations j for same in combination with suitable control panel configurations within said ~isplay panel.
.1 , , , Background o~ the Invention ,j In the vending of beverages Erom vending machines, par-ticularly those beverages packaged in cans, bottles, or gen-erally similar symmetrical containers, the display panels of the vending machines involved should perrorm certain point-, oE-purchase function.s. For example, the nature of the products I vended should be instantly apparent to a potential customer.
The identity of the source or orlgin (manu~acturer) of the products being vended should be~ either directly provided or ~! provided by means such as logos or other symbolic means suggestive thereof.
li !
,i ~urther, ir ~h~ere is 8 primary product for which the vending machine has more capacity or for which greater sales volume is I desired, the vending machine should be capable of encoura~in~
~i the selection of this product over the other products I (fiecondary produc-s) present in the machine.
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~ ' Ij ~
l'he display panel face should also be capable Or containing a u~ility module or area disposed in,an opti~um location for viewing and interfacing with the internal electrical controls Il o~ the vending machine.
'I It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and nove'l display panel configuration for vending machines.
' Another objec~ of'the present invention is to provlde a ! new and novel display panel for vending machines by combining the configuration and selective backlighting of panel sections on the obverse face of a vending machine to both direc~ly and symbolically identify the manufacturer (source or orgin) of the ¦ products being vended.
~l i! Still another object of che present invention is to provide I new and novel display panel for vendin~ machines which suggest to a potential customer the packaged configu~ation Or a product ~j to be vended.
` '`: . : , i, Ij I
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide I a new and novel display pane~l configuration for vending ¦
,j machines'which, together with identifying products and the sources oE such products, provides an inducement to a customer to purchase a particu]ar primary one oE a plurality of products ¦~
made available by the vending machine bearing that display I panel.
'~j I
It is a further object of the present i~ention to provide a utiliLy modulelarea within the display pane-l of a vending -
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machine making the module sui~able Lor use Lor point-of-sale I advertising, ~oice syn~hesized or recorded ~essages, electronic l or video games, coupon dispensers or other suitable equipment.
.il I
! These and other objects of the present invention will becom~ more fully apparent with reference to the following sp~cification and drawings which relate to several preerred embodiments of the display panel structure of the invention.
,i 1 ! Summary of the Invention Il The objects Or the present invention are fulfilled in part by providing a vending machine of the types described in applicant's prior U.S. patent appl.ication Serial Number 244,818 filed March 17, 1981 Thus in one embodiment the present invention provides a vending machine including a con~rol panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprIsing:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
fIrst and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon ~earing indicia representative of a given proauct to be vended;
utility module means disposed in sai.d control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communlcation with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;:
- a plurality of ~anel means adjacent said control panel defining a like plurality of display fields within a defined display area;
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~ 1~16S~' selected ones of said panel means being of contrasting surface characteristics to the remaining said panel means in the provision of selected display configurations in said display area;
one of said selected ones of said display panel means including logo means definitive of a primary product to be dispensed by said vending machine; and the remaining said selec~ed ones of said display panel means being so configured, in conjunction with said one of said selected panel means, as to suggest the representat;on by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of the said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abbreviation for said primary product.
In another embodiment the present invention provides a vending machine includ~ng a control panel with an array of product selector bu~tons for controlling the vending of primary and secondary products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given secondary product to be vended;
utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providiny interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;
display~panel means for presenting selected display con-figurations on an obverse face of said vending machine, said display panel means comprising;
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first panel means including discharge port means for pre-senting vended products defining a first display field disposed on said display panel means, second panel means including said control panel defining a second display field extending from one end of said first display field, third panel means mutually adjacent said first and second display fields defining a third display field subtending an area on said display panel means defined by the outer boundaries thereof and the said first and serond display fields, and fourth panel means defining a fourth display field beneath said first display field, substan~ially subtending an area defined by the latter and the outer boundaries of said display panel means, said third panel means including logo means thereon representative of primary product to ~e vended, and said fourth panel means being so configured in combination with the other said panel means as to suggest the representation of by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abb~eviation for said primary product.
In a further embodiment the present invention provides a vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said mc.chine comprising:
a) a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
b) first and second adjacent vertical co.l~nns of product selector buttons in said array dispo~ed below said coin slot, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia - 3b -'' . " ' ~ 17165~
representative of a given product to be vended;
c) utility module means disposed in said control panel adjacent said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons, said utility module means being a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or
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machine making the module sui~able Lor use Lor point-of-sale I advertising, ~oice syn~hesized or recorded ~essages, electronic l or video games, coupon dispensers or other suitable equipment.
.il I
! These and other objects of the present invention will becom~ more fully apparent with reference to the following sp~cification and drawings which relate to several preerred embodiments of the display panel structure of the invention.
,i 1 ! Summary of the Invention Il The objects Or the present invention are fulfilled in part by providing a vending machine of the types described in applicant's prior U.S. patent appl.ication Serial Number 244,818 filed March 17, 1981 Thus in one embodiment the present invention provides a vending machine including a con~rol panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprIsing:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
fIrst and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon ~earing indicia representative of a given proauct to be vended;
utility module means disposed in sai.d control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communlcation with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;:
- a plurality of ~anel means adjacent said control panel defining a like plurality of display fields within a defined display area;
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~ 1~16S~' selected ones of said panel means being of contrasting surface characteristics to the remaining said panel means in the provision of selected display configurations in said display area;
one of said selected ones of said display panel means including logo means definitive of a primary product to be dispensed by said vending machine; and the remaining said selec~ed ones of said display panel means being so configured, in conjunction with said one of said selected panel means, as to suggest the representat;on by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of the said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abbreviation for said primary product.
In another embodiment the present invention provides a vending machine includ~ng a control panel with an array of product selector bu~tons for controlling the vending of primary and secondary products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given secondary product to be vended;
utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providiny interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;
display~panel means for presenting selected display con-figurations on an obverse face of said vending machine, said display panel means comprising;
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first panel means including discharge port means for pre-senting vended products defining a first display field disposed on said display panel means, second panel means including said control panel defining a second display field extending from one end of said first display field, third panel means mutually adjacent said first and second display fields defining a third display field subtending an area on said display panel means defined by the outer boundaries thereof and the said first and serond display fields, and fourth panel means defining a fourth display field beneath said first display field, substan~ially subtending an area defined by the latter and the outer boundaries of said display panel means, said third panel means including logo means thereon representative of primary product to ~e vended, and said fourth panel means being so configured in combination with the other said panel means as to suggest the representation of by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abb~eviation for said primary product.
In a further embodiment the present invention provides a vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said mc.chine comprising:
a) a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
b) first and second adjacent vertical co.l~nns of product selector buttons in said array dispo~ed below said coin slot, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia - 3b -'' . " ' ~ 17165~
representative of a given product to be vended;
c) utility module means disposed in said control panel adjacent said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons, said utility module means being a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or
3) electronic game means to be played by said customer, or
4) coupon dispenser means for dispensing coupons to said customer; and d) utility area means in said control panel for int~rchange-ably accommodating a selected one of said utility module means in operative association with ~aid co~n slot and product selector buttons.
The presen~ invention is an improvement over the prior afore-mentioned application and is intended to add more utility to the display panel o ~he vending machine disclosed therein including the capa~ility of providing promotions, advertising, and special equipment such as elec~ronic and video games to the exisLing vending machine. To achieve this capability, it is necessary to selecL a location on the display panel Or ~he vending machine in which a utility module may ~e so positioned so that it optimizes a combination of criteria including space, circuitry location, a prominent spot for display purposes and a location ena~ling easy retrofit o a utility module into a vending machine uni~. App~icants' have discovered that this - 3c -7 1 ~ ~ 2 optimum location is just above the coin slot Or the vending ~I machine control panel in line with the vert.ical array of selector¦
~I buttons. This location achieves all of the afore-mentioned criteria.
BI~ DESCI~lPTlON OF l'HE DRAWINGS
The objects of the present invention and the attendant , advanta~es thereor will become more readily apparent by reEerence¦
.j to the accompany;ng drawings wherein like reLerence numerals 1, i refer to like parts and wherein: ¦
.. 1 1 .
Figure 1 is a Eront perspective view of a vending machine' in accordance wi~h ~he present invention including a point-of-¦ .sale advertising module disposed above the coin slot in the I control panel;
, :j Figure 2 is a fron~ elevational view of a vending machine '~ in accordance with the present invention inclu,ding a synthetic voice or recorded message module disposed above the coin slot ' of the vendin~ mnch~ne: ¦
. Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a vendin.g ~achine in accordance with the present invention including a coupon i dispen~ser disposed above the.coin slot of the vending machine;
and~
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Fi~ure 4 is a vending machine in accordance with the presen~
, inv~ention including an electronic game module disposed above ,¦ the coin slot o~ the vending machine.
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r ' I , Detailed Descrip~ion of the Drawings Referring to Figures 1 to 4 a vending machine 12 incorporatt ing the disp]ay panel 14 oE the present invention is illustrated as being a basically three dimensional rectangular structure il having vertical sides 16 joining horizontal top and bottom sides 18 and 20 respectively. The structure oE the vending machine 12 is completed by a flat planar rear surface and a front panel comprising a door 24 which includes the display panel 14 as the obverse Eace thereof.
The door 24 includes a sealing skirt 24A along one vertical edge thereof and is provided with hinges 24B at ~he top and bottom of the door on the opposite vertical sidetliereof Lo j permit access to Lhe interior oE the vending machine 12.
i The bottom surface 20 oE the vending machine 12 is illustrated as a load bearing pad or the like which extends outwardly from I the main body portion oE the machine 12 beneath the door !~ structure 24 and clisplay panel 14.
l A Eurther overla~ped sealing sl<irt structure 24C extends ¦ across the top of the door 24 and cooperates with the top surÇace 18 oE the vending machine 12.
i The clisplay panel 14 of the present invention includes a il first transversly disposed opaque Eield section 14A located bel~w the rnedian heigh~ of the panel 14 in the preferred em-I bodiment illustratecd, in which a c3ischarge port DP and a bottle I opener ~0 are positioned side by side.
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-- ~1716~2 ' l A second opaque Liel~ B comprising the selection cont~ast, Il portion of the disl~lay panel 14 is basically rectangular in 'I shape in the embodiment illustra~ed and ex~ends vertically from the upper right hand side o the transversly disposed Eirst " . I
,l opaque field 14A. The vertical extent o~ the second opaque ;l field (control panel) 14B is variable in the several preferred l I
~1 embodiments illustrated herein but in the preEerred embodiments oÇ Figures 1 and 2 extends Erom the upper edge of the transversely ,, I
disposed Eirst opaque field 14A to a point intermediate that edge and the uppermost edge oE the display panel 14 of the present invention.
The remaining area above the uppermos~ edge o~ the Eirst opaclue field 14A and the top of the display panel l4 n~ the present invention is oE an inverted L shape which is completely derined by a irst contrasting panel 14C which is translucent and is back-lighted in a manner well known in the art, such as Eor example, the backlighting arrangement illustrated in U.S.
Patent 4,245,73~ or Bachmann et al, for "Display Panel ror a Vending ~lachine" issued on January 20, 1981, The first contrasting panel 14C carries a logo 1 which is printed out ~or illustration and which in the embodiment shown serves to suggest, in combination-wiLh the manner Or positioning the lo~o L
thereon, a container shaped such as a can of the beverage "Coca-Cola," a Trademclrk o~ the (,oca-Cola Company o At~anta, Georgia. The logo illustratecl is Eor "Coke" which is also a well-known tra~emork of Lhe company. Thus, the rirst contrasting panel wlth its logo serves to suggest to a potential purchaser utilizing the vending machine 12, a can oE "Coke".
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Beneath the lower edge of the first opaque field 14A is a j transversely disposed second contrasting panel 14B which can be i of various configurations or contrasting color zones as desired, but which in the illustration of the preferred embodiment of i Figures 1 and 2 constitutes a transversely dispose~ rectangular field which in combination with the shape (inverted L) of the first contrasting panel 14C provides a suggestion of the letLer 'C' which is an abbreviation for CORE , the logo displayed on - ¦
the first contrasting panel.
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The presenta~ion of goods within the vending machine 12 i and the selection ~hereof for vending is accomplished by the I second opaque field (control panel) 14B which includes the j following componenLs:
At the upper most edge of the con~rol panel 14B is a coin-.! slot and return mechanism CS adjacent to which is a pricing I l¦ label PL which display a price for the various goods to be ! 1i dispensed by the vending machine 12.
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Beneath ~he coin slot mechanism CS is an enlarged primary product selector button BP which subtends two vertical columns o~ secondary product selec~or buttons BS1 through . ~S6, the secondary product selector buttons BSl---BS3 constitutin~ one column and the secondary product selector ¦ buL:tons BS4---B~6 constituting a second vertical column i parallel ~o the rirst.
All or the product selector buttons BP, BSl..., BS6 carry . I various logos or symbols idenLifying the products corres~onding Lhereto within ~he vending machine 12.
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In the case of the primary product selector button BP, the logo Ll thereo~ is identical to the logo L on the first contrasting panel 14C. This combination of the primary product logo L with its abstract suggestion oE a can Or the primary product beverage, in this specific example, toget~her with the identical logo Ll on the primary product selector button BP
provides a strong and effective inducement to a purchaser to purchase the primary product in the machine 12 in preference to all of the secondary products provided thereby.
`I i j This inducement to purchase is further enhanced by the combination of shapes presented by the first and second con-trasting panels 14C and 14D, respectively, which superimpose an additional efEect of a character which is an abbreviation for ! the primary product. This abbreviation for the primary ~roduct can also be an abbreviation for the manufacturer of the primary product depending upon the combined effect desired.
rhe control panel 14B (second opaque field) is completed by the provision oE an access locking mechanism AL at- the right hand edge thereof in a relaLively medial position and j, a coin return slot CR at the lowermost edge portion thereof.
;i Preferably, the selector buttons BP, BSl... ~S6 all are provided wi~h translucent indicia, and are back-lighted in a sui~able manner known in the art ~o further emphasize and present the purch nseable contents of the vending machine 12 to a potential customer. The backlighting oE the enlarged primary tl product selector button BP even Eurther augments the presence ! Or that primary yroduct selector button and provides it with ;~
- ';' even more dominance over the subtended secondàry product selector¦
buttons BSl...BS6 in the two vertical columns therebeneath.
The above description essentially describes the Figure 1 embodiment of the afore-mentioned U.s. Patent 4,380,130.
Figures l to 4 illustrates the various utility modules oE the present invention combined with that Figure l embodiment. It should be understood that the utility modules of Figures l to 4 may also be combined with all other embodimenLs of the vending machines in U.S. Patent 4,380,130 by placing those modules directly above the coin slots thereof.
Referring furttler to ligure 1 there is illustra~ed a point-of-sale advertising utility module UM-PS disposed just above li the coin slot of ~he vendIng machine within the control panel area. This area is covered by a polycarbonate lens which may be back-li~hted to illuminate the same. A suitable trans-, parent strip bearing advertislng indicia may be inserted in aslot provided in the polycarbonate lense. This Lransparent strip may be similar ~o those strip~ inserted into ~he primary and secondary product selector but~ons Bl' and BS. The visual area o~ point-of-.sales advertising lens may be approximately the same dimension as the enlarged primary product BP so as to geometricalIy match current alignment and stylin~ o~ Lhe selectlon panel of ~he vending machine described in the a~ore- ;
mentioned parent applicaLion. Self-udhesive labels can be used ¦ ;~ in place o~ a back-lighted display if the polycarbonatelense area is covered by a metal plate.
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1 ReEerring in detail to ~igure 2 there is illustrated a Il front elevational v-iew of a vending machine which is essentially 'I the same as that oE Figure 1 with the exception that the utility j module illustrated is a ta]king device U~l-T designed to audibly I transmit various speech messages to the user Or the vending ~ machine. It is particularly advantageous that the talking j module uM-r be disposed in this location because it is adjacent the suitable circui~ry Eor controlling the vending machine!and Eits nicely into the space just above the coin slot.
'I Referring in detail to Iigure 3 there is illustrated a front elevational of a view of a vending machine in accordance with the presen't invention including a utility module in the Eorm oE
'¦ a coupon dispenser UM-C above the coin slot. The other components ` illustrated i-n the vending ma~chine of Figure 3 correspond to the components described in connection with the Figure 1.
Again it is particularly advantageous to dispose the coupon module C directly above the coin slot in-line wi~h the vertic-al l .
selector buLton array because ;n this position it i~ easily interconnected w;tll the control electronics of the vend;ng machine and is po~itioned in a convenient space Eor other reasons`
described hereinberore.
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j ReEerring in cletail to Figure 4 there is illustrated a Eront elevational view of a vending machine in accordance with ¦ -he present invention including nn electronic game module UM-G
to be played by the user Or Lhe machine. ~'he game illustrated in ligure 4 is an electronlc roulette game but other electronic games such as video games may be inserted in the location oE
the game'module U~l-C in the embodimenL oE Figure'4. As in the ! ` ' '" `
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~ 17165~ 1 I' embodiments of ligures 1 to 3 the location of ~he game module in this particular location above the coin slot and in line j with the vertical array Or product selection buttons is an , optimum location for this module.
il ' , , ! Accordingly, each of the embodiments of ~igures 1 to 4 of the present invention provide a utility area just above the coin slot of the vellding machine. By extending the product selection and control panel approximately 10 inches vertically I and retaining the same horizontal width, an area is created il whereby point-of-sale advertising can be placed or so;me special equipment such as a talking module, game module, coupon dispenser or other special equipmenL.
i ~ It should be understood that the vending machine display ' panel and utility module therein descri~bed herein before may be I modified as would occur to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and sc:ope oE the present invention.
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The presen~ invention is an improvement over the prior afore-mentioned application and is intended to add more utility to the display panel o ~he vending machine disclosed therein including the capa~ility of providing promotions, advertising, and special equipment such as elec~ronic and video games to the exisLing vending machine. To achieve this capability, it is necessary to selecL a location on the display panel Or ~he vending machine in which a utility module may ~e so positioned so that it optimizes a combination of criteria including space, circuitry location, a prominent spot for display purposes and a location ena~ling easy retrofit o a utility module into a vending machine uni~. App~icants' have discovered that this - 3c -7 1 ~ ~ 2 optimum location is just above the coin slot Or the vending ~I machine control panel in line with the vert.ical array of selector¦
~I buttons. This location achieves all of the afore-mentioned criteria.
BI~ DESCI~lPTlON OF l'HE DRAWINGS
The objects of the present invention and the attendant , advanta~es thereor will become more readily apparent by reEerence¦
.j to the accompany;ng drawings wherein like reLerence numerals 1, i refer to like parts and wherein: ¦
.. 1 1 .
Figure 1 is a Eront perspective view of a vending machine' in accordance wi~h ~he present invention including a point-of-¦ .sale advertising module disposed above the coin slot in the I control panel;
, :j Figure 2 is a fron~ elevational view of a vending machine '~ in accordance with the present invention inclu,ding a synthetic voice or recorded message module disposed above the coin slot ' of the vendin~ mnch~ne: ¦
. Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a vendin.g ~achine in accordance with the present invention including a coupon i dispen~ser disposed above the.coin slot of the vending machine;
and~
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Fi~ure 4 is a vending machine in accordance with the presen~
, inv~ention including an electronic game module disposed above ,¦ the coin slot o~ the vending machine.
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r ' I , Detailed Descrip~ion of the Drawings Referring to Figures 1 to 4 a vending machine 12 incorporatt ing the disp]ay panel 14 oE the present invention is illustrated as being a basically three dimensional rectangular structure il having vertical sides 16 joining horizontal top and bottom sides 18 and 20 respectively. The structure oE the vending machine 12 is completed by a flat planar rear surface and a front panel comprising a door 24 which includes the display panel 14 as the obverse Eace thereof.
The door 24 includes a sealing skirt 24A along one vertical edge thereof and is provided with hinges 24B at ~he top and bottom of the door on the opposite vertical sidetliereof Lo j permit access to Lhe interior oE the vending machine 12.
i The bottom surface 20 oE the vending machine 12 is illustrated as a load bearing pad or the like which extends outwardly from I the main body portion oE the machine 12 beneath the door !~ structure 24 and clisplay panel 14.
l A Eurther overla~ped sealing sl<irt structure 24C extends ¦ across the top of the door 24 and cooperates with the top surÇace 18 oE the vending machine 12.
i The clisplay panel 14 of the present invention includes a il first transversly disposed opaque Eield section 14A located bel~w the rnedian heigh~ of the panel 14 in the preferred em-I bodiment illustratecd, in which a c3ischarge port DP and a bottle I opener ~0 are positioned side by side.
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-- ~1716~2 ' l A second opaque Liel~ B comprising the selection cont~ast, Il portion of the disl~lay panel 14 is basically rectangular in 'I shape in the embodiment illustra~ed and ex~ends vertically from the upper right hand side o the transversly disposed Eirst " . I
,l opaque field 14A. The vertical extent o~ the second opaque ;l field (control panel) 14B is variable in the several preferred l I
~1 embodiments illustrated herein but in the preEerred embodiments oÇ Figures 1 and 2 extends Erom the upper edge of the transversely ,, I
disposed Eirst opaque field 14A to a point intermediate that edge and the uppermost edge oE the display panel 14 of the present invention.
The remaining area above the uppermos~ edge o~ the Eirst opaclue field 14A and the top of the display panel l4 n~ the present invention is oE an inverted L shape which is completely derined by a irst contrasting panel 14C which is translucent and is back-lighted in a manner well known in the art, such as Eor example, the backlighting arrangement illustrated in U.S.
Patent 4,245,73~ or Bachmann et al, for "Display Panel ror a Vending ~lachine" issued on January 20, 1981, The first contrasting panel 14C carries a logo 1 which is printed out ~or illustration and which in the embodiment shown serves to suggest, in combination-wiLh the manner Or positioning the lo~o L
thereon, a container shaped such as a can of the beverage "Coca-Cola," a Trademclrk o~ the (,oca-Cola Company o At~anta, Georgia. The logo illustratecl is Eor "Coke" which is also a well-known tra~emork of Lhe company. Thus, the rirst contrasting panel wlth its logo serves to suggest to a potential purchaser utilizing the vending machine 12, a can oE "Coke".
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Beneath the lower edge of the first opaque field 14A is a j transversely disposed second contrasting panel 14B which can be i of various configurations or contrasting color zones as desired, but which in the illustration of the preferred embodiment of i Figures 1 and 2 constitutes a transversely dispose~ rectangular field which in combination with the shape (inverted L) of the first contrasting panel 14C provides a suggestion of the letLer 'C' which is an abbreviation for CORE , the logo displayed on - ¦
the first contrasting panel.
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The presenta~ion of goods within the vending machine 12 i and the selection ~hereof for vending is accomplished by the I second opaque field (control panel) 14B which includes the j following componenLs:
At the upper most edge of the con~rol panel 14B is a coin-.! slot and return mechanism CS adjacent to which is a pricing I l¦ label PL which display a price for the various goods to be ! 1i dispensed by the vending machine 12.
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Beneath ~he coin slot mechanism CS is an enlarged primary product selector button BP which subtends two vertical columns o~ secondary product selec~or buttons BS1 through . ~S6, the secondary product selector buttons BSl---BS3 constitutin~ one column and the secondary product selector ¦ buL:tons BS4---B~6 constituting a second vertical column i parallel ~o the rirst.
All or the product selector buttons BP, BSl..., BS6 carry . I various logos or symbols idenLifying the products corres~onding Lhereto within ~he vending machine 12.
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In the case of the primary product selector button BP, the logo Ll thereo~ is identical to the logo L on the first contrasting panel 14C. This combination of the primary product logo L with its abstract suggestion oE a can Or the primary product beverage, in this specific example, toget~her with the identical logo Ll on the primary product selector button BP
provides a strong and effective inducement to a purchaser to purchase the primary product in the machine 12 in preference to all of the secondary products provided thereby.
`I i j This inducement to purchase is further enhanced by the combination of shapes presented by the first and second con-trasting panels 14C and 14D, respectively, which superimpose an additional efEect of a character which is an abbreviation for ! the primary product. This abbreviation for the primary ~roduct can also be an abbreviation for the manufacturer of the primary product depending upon the combined effect desired.
rhe control panel 14B (second opaque field) is completed by the provision oE an access locking mechanism AL at- the right hand edge thereof in a relaLively medial position and j, a coin return slot CR at the lowermost edge portion thereof.
;i Preferably, the selector buttons BP, BSl... ~S6 all are provided wi~h translucent indicia, and are back-lighted in a sui~able manner known in the art ~o further emphasize and present the purch nseable contents of the vending machine 12 to a potential customer. The backlighting oE the enlarged primary tl product selector button BP even Eurther augments the presence ! Or that primary yroduct selector button and provides it with ;~
- ';' even more dominance over the subtended secondàry product selector¦
buttons BSl...BS6 in the two vertical columns therebeneath.
The above description essentially describes the Figure 1 embodiment of the afore-mentioned U.s. Patent 4,380,130.
Figures l to 4 illustrates the various utility modules oE the present invention combined with that Figure l embodiment. It should be understood that the utility modules of Figures l to 4 may also be combined with all other embodimenLs of the vending machines in U.S. Patent 4,380,130 by placing those modules directly above the coin slots thereof.
Referring furttler to ligure 1 there is illustra~ed a point-of-sale advertising utility module UM-PS disposed just above li the coin slot of ~he vendIng machine within the control panel area. This area is covered by a polycarbonate lens which may be back-li~hted to illuminate the same. A suitable trans-, parent strip bearing advertislng indicia may be inserted in aslot provided in the polycarbonate lense. This Lransparent strip may be similar ~o those strip~ inserted into ~he primary and secondary product selector but~ons Bl' and BS. The visual area o~ point-of-.sales advertising lens may be approximately the same dimension as the enlarged primary product BP so as to geometricalIy match current alignment and stylin~ o~ Lhe selectlon panel of ~he vending machine described in the a~ore- ;
mentioned parent applicaLion. Self-udhesive labels can be used ¦ ;~ in place o~ a back-lighted display if the polycarbonatelense area is covered by a metal plate.
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1 ReEerring in detail to ~igure 2 there is illustrated a Il front elevational v-iew of a vending machine which is essentially 'I the same as that oE Figure 1 with the exception that the utility j module illustrated is a ta]king device U~l-T designed to audibly I transmit various speech messages to the user Or the vending ~ machine. It is particularly advantageous that the talking j module uM-r be disposed in this location because it is adjacent the suitable circui~ry Eor controlling the vending machine!and Eits nicely into the space just above the coin slot.
'I Referring in detail to Iigure 3 there is illustrated a front elevational of a view of a vending machine in accordance with the presen't invention including a utility module in the Eorm oE
'¦ a coupon dispenser UM-C above the coin slot. The other components ` illustrated i-n the vending ma~chine of Figure 3 correspond to the components described in connection with the Figure 1.
Again it is particularly advantageous to dispose the coupon module C directly above the coin slot in-line wi~h the vertic-al l .
selector buLton array because ;n this position it i~ easily interconnected w;tll the control electronics of the vend;ng machine and is po~itioned in a convenient space Eor other reasons`
described hereinberore.
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j ReEerring in cletail to Figure 4 there is illustrated a Eront elevational view of a vending machine in accordance with ¦ -he present invention including nn electronic game module UM-G
to be played by the user Or Lhe machine. ~'he game illustrated in ligure 4 is an electronlc roulette game but other electronic games such as video games may be inserted in the location oE
the game'module U~l-C in the embodimenL oE Figure'4. As in the ! ` ' '" `
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~ 17165~ 1 I' embodiments of ligures 1 to 3 the location of ~he game module in this particular location above the coin slot and in line j with the vertical array Or product selection buttons is an , optimum location for this module.
il ' , , ! Accordingly, each of the embodiments of ~igures 1 to 4 of the present invention provide a utility area just above the coin slot of the vellding machine. By extending the product selection and control panel approximately 10 inches vertically I and retaining the same horizontal width, an area is created il whereby point-of-sale advertising can be placed or so;me special equipment such as a talking module, game module, coupon dispenser or other special equipmenL.
i ~ It should be understood that the vending machine display ' panel and utility module therein descri~bed herein before may be I modified as would occur to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and sc:ope oE the present invention.
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Claims (25)
1. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;
a plurality of panel means adjacent said control panel defining a like plurality of display fields within a defined display area;
selected ones of said panel means being of contrasting surface characteristics to the remaining said panel means in the provision of selected display configurations in said display area;
one of said selected ones of said display panel means including logo means definitive of a primary product to be dispensed by said vending machine; and the remaining said selected ones of said display panel means being so configured, in conjunction with said one of said selected panel means, as to suggest the representation by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of the said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abbreviation for said primary product.
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;
a plurality of panel means adjacent said control panel defining a like plurality of display fields within a defined display area;
selected ones of said panel means being of contrasting surface characteristics to the remaining said panel means in the provision of selected display configurations in said display area;
one of said selected ones of said display panel means including logo means definitive of a primary product to be dispensed by said vending machine; and the remaining said selected ones of said display panel means being so configured, in conjunction with said one of said selected panel means, as to suggest the representation by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of the said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abbreviation for said primary product.
2. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of primary and secondary products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given secondary product to be vended;
utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;
display panel means for presenting selected display con-figurations on an obverse face of said vending machine, said display panel means comprising;
first panel means including discharge port means for pre-senting vended products defining a first display field disposed on said display panel means, second panel means including said control panel defining a second display field extending from one end of said first display field, third panel means mutually adjacent said first and second display fields defining a third display field subtending an area on said display panel means defined by the outer boundaries thereof and the said first and second display fields, and fourth panel means defining a fourth display field beneath said first display field, substantially subtending an area defined by the latter and the outer boundaries of said display panel means, said third panel means including logo means thereon representative of primary product to be vended, and said fourth panel means being so configured in combination with the other said panel means as to suggest the representation of by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abbreviation for said primary product.
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given secondary product to be vended;
utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons;
display panel means for presenting selected display con-figurations on an obverse face of said vending machine, said display panel means comprising;
first panel means including discharge port means for pre-senting vended products defining a first display field disposed on said display panel means, second panel means including said control panel defining a second display field extending from one end of said first display field, third panel means mutually adjacent said first and second display fields defining a third display field subtending an area on said display panel means defined by the outer boundaries thereof and the said first and second display fields, and fourth panel means defining a fourth display field beneath said first display field, substantially subtending an area defined by the latter and the outer boundaries of said display panel means, said third panel means including logo means thereon representative of primary product to be vended, and said fourth panel means being so configured in combination with the other said panel means as to suggest the representation of by said display panel means of an alphanumeric character representative of said primary product in addition to said logo means, said alphanumeric character being an abbreviation for said primary product.
3. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein said contrasting surface characteristics comprise different colors.
4. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein said third and fourth panel means are the same color and are different in color from said first and second panel means.
5. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein at least said one of said selected ones of said display panel means is backlighted.
6. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein said third panel means is backlighted.
7. The vending machine of claim 1, further including at least one primary product selector button positioned between said first and second columns of product selector buttons and said coin slot and being so shaped and proportioned to overlie and extend across both said vertical columns of product selector buttons and present a display area thereon larger than the display area on the other product selector buttons.
8. The vending machine of claim 2, further including at least one primary product selector button positioned between said first and second columns of product selector buttons and said coin slot and being so shaped and proportioned to overlie and extend across both said vertical columns of product selector buttons and present a display area thereon larger than the display area on the other product selector buttons.
9. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein said utility module means is a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or 3) electronic game means to be played by said customer, or 4) coupon dispenser means for dispensing coupons to said customer, and further including utility area means in said control panel for interchangeably accommodating a selected one of said utility module means in operative association with said coin slot and product selection buttons.
10. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein said utility module means is a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or 3) electronic game means to be played by said customer, or 4) coupon dispenser means for dispensing coupons to said customer, and further including utility area means in said control panel for interchangeably accommodating at least one of said utility module means in operative association with said coin slot and product selection buttons.
11. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine comprising:
a) a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
b) first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons in said array disposed below said coin slot, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
c) utility module means disposed in said control panel adjacent said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons, said utility module means being a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or 3) electronic game means to be played by said customer, or 4) coupon dispenser means for dispensing coupons to said customer; and d) utility area means in said control panel for interchange-ably accommodating a selected one of said utility module means in operative association with said coin slot and product selector buttons.
a) a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
b) first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons in said array disposed below said coin slot, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
c) utility module means disposed in said control panel adjacent said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons, said utility module means being a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or 3) electronic game means to be played by said customer, or 4) coupon dispenser means for dispensing coupons to said customer; and d) utility area means in said control panel for interchange-ably accommodating a selected one of said utility module means in operative association with said coin slot and product selector buttons.
12. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein said utility area means overlies and extends across said first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons.
13. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein said utility area means is a rectangle with vertically disposed sides thereof substantially in vertical alignment with outside edges of said first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons.
14. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine comprising:
a) a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
b) first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
c) utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons; and d) at least one primary product selector button positioned between said first and second columns of product selector buttons and said coin slot and being so shaped and proportioned to overlie and extend across both said vertical columns of product selector buttons and present a display area thereon larger than the display area on the other product selector buttons.
a) a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
b) first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
c) utility module means disposed in said control panel above said coin slot for providing interactive communication with a customer using said machine, who inserts coins into said coin slot and actuates at least one of said product selector buttons; and d) at least one primary product selector button positioned between said first and second columns of product selector buttons and said coin slot and being so shaped and proportioned to overlie and extend across both said vertical columns of product selector buttons and present a display area thereon larger than the display area on the other product selector buttons.
15. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein said utility module means is a device which is either a, 1) point-of-sale display means for generating interchange-able advertising messages to said customer, or 2) voice synthesizer means for generating speech messages to said customer, or 3) electronic game means to be played by said customer, or 4) coupon dispenser means for dispensing coupons to said customer;
and further including utility area means in said control panel for interchangeably accommodating a selected one of said utility module means in operative association with said coin slot and product selection buttons.
and further including utility area means in said control panel for interchangeably accommodating a selected one of said utility module means in operative association with said coin slot and product selection buttons.
16. The vending machine of claim 15, wherein said utility area means overlies and extends across said first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons.
17. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein said utility area means is a rectangle with vertically disposed sides thereof substantially in vertical alignment with outside edges of said first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons.
18. The vending machine of claim 15, wherein said utility area means is substantially the same size as the display area on said primary product selector button.
19. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and point-of-sale display means disposed above said message display means in said control panel for supporting interchange-able advertising messages.
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and point-of-sale display means disposed above said message display means in said control panel for supporting interchange-able advertising messages.
20. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and means for generating speech messages disposed above said message display means in said control panel.
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and means for generating speech messages disposed above said message display means in said control panel.
21. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and electronic game means disposed above said message display means in said control panel.
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and electronic game means disposed above said message display means in said control panel.
22. A vending machine including a control panel with an array of product selector buttons for controlling the vending of products from said machine, comprising:
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and coupon dispenser means disposed above said message display means in said control panel.
a coin slot for receiving coins to initiate vending of products;
first and second adjacent vertical columns of product selector buttons, each having a product display area thereon bearing indicia representative of a given product to be vended;
message display means adjacent to said coin slot for displaying instructions related to the operation of said vending machine; and coupon dispenser means disposed above said message display means in said control panel.
23. The vending machine of claim 11, wherein said product selector buttons in said vertical columns are disposed in a plurality of parallel rows with two selector buttons per row.
24. The vending-machine of claim 23, wherein there are at least two of said rows.
25. The vending machine of claim 11, further comprising price display means on said control panel adjacent to said coin slot.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US327,461 | 1981-12-04 | ||
| US06/327,461 US4454670A (en) | 1981-03-17 | 1981-12-04 | Vending machine display panel with utility module therein |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1171652A true CA1171652A (en) | 1984-07-31 |
Family
ID=23276639
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000404307A Expired CA1171652A (en) | 1981-12-04 | 1982-06-02 | Vending machine display panel with a utility module therein |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4454670A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5897791A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1171652A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3222682A1 (en) |
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| WO2001088864A1 (en) * | 2000-05-18 | 2001-11-22 | Dean Peter Viglione | Vending machines |
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-
1981
- 1981-12-04 US US06/327,461 patent/US4454670A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1982
- 1982-06-02 CA CA000404307A patent/CA1171652A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-06-16 DE DE19823222682 patent/DE3222682A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1982-09-10 JP JP57156897A patent/JPS5897791A/en active Pending
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001088864A1 (en) * | 2000-05-18 | 2001-11-22 | Dean Peter Viglione | Vending machines |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4454670A (en) | 1984-06-19 |
| JPS5897791A (en) | 1983-06-10 |
| DE3222682A1 (en) | 1983-06-09 |
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