Dispensing apparatus with directional LED lighting

• US 20020056287A1
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Inventors: Rudick, Arthur G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,550,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/440
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0404 Cases or cabinets of the closed type A47F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0426 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0486 for charging, displaying or discharging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/72 Auxiliary equipment, e.g. for lighting cigars, opening bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

A device for providing a number of products. The device may include an enclosure and a number of directional light emitting diodes positioned within the enclosure for illuminating the products.

Claims

1. A device for providing a number of products, comprising:

an enclosure; and

a plurality of directional light emitting diodes positioned within said enclosure for illuminating one or more of the number of products.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of directional light emitting diodes comprise a directivity of about twenty (20) degrees.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of directional light emitting diodes comprise a luminous intensity of about five (5) to six (6) Candela.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a plurality of shelves for the number of products.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein one or more of said plurality of directional light emitting diodes are positioned on one or more of said plurality of shelves.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a doorframe.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein one or more of said plurality of directional light emitting diodes are positioned on said doorframe.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises one or more mounting blocks.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein one or more of said plurality of directional light emitting diodes are positioned on said one or more mounting blocks.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the number of products each comprise an indication of source and wherein one or more of said plurality of directional light emitting diodes are directed at said indication of source of one or more of the number of products.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of directional light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of adjustable light emitting diodes.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned within said enclosure.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a florescent light source positioned within said enclosure.

15. The dispensing device of claim 14, wherein said heat transfer system comprises a Stirling cycle device.

16. The dispensing device of claim 14, wherein one or more of said plurality of light emitting diodes comprise one or more light emitting diode bundles.

17. The dispensing device of claim 14, wherein one or more of said plurality of light emitting diodes comprise a brightness of about 1000 to about 3000 Lumens.

18. The dispensing device of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of shelves positioned within said enclosure for the number of products.

19. The dispensing device of claim 18, wherein said plurality of shelves comprises gravity feed slides.

20. The dispensing device of claim 18, wherein said plurality of shelves comprises rotating coils.

21. The dispensing device of claim 18, wherein said plurality of shelves comprises a drop mechanism.

22. The dispensing device of claim 14, further comprising a fluorescent light source positioned within said enclosure.

24. The dispensing device of claim 23, wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a plurality of light emitting diode bundles.

25. The dispensing device of claim 23, wherein one or more of said plurality of light emitting diodes comprise a plurality of directional light emitting diodes so as to illuminate the number of products.

26. The dispensing device of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of shelves positioned within said enclosure for the number of products.

27. The dispensing device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of shelves comprises gravity feed slides.

28. The dispensing device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of shelves comprises rotating coils.

29. The dispensing device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of shelves comprises a drop mechanism.

30. The dispensing device of claim 23, wherein said vending mechanism comprises a selection device.

31. The dispensing device of claim 23, wherein said vending mechanism comprises a payment device.

14. A dispensing device for providing a number of products, comprising:

an enclosure;

a heat transfer system positioned in communication with said enclosure; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned in communication with said enclosure to illuminate the number of products.

23. A dispensing device for providing a number of products, comprising:

an enclosure;

said enclosure comprising a transparent panel;

a vending mechanism positioned in communication with said enclosure; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned within said enclosure to illuminate the number of products.