Vending machine advertising apparatus and method

• US 20030150146A1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C-M Glo, LLC
• Original Assignee: C-M Glo, LLC
• Inventors: Martin, Michael L., Martin, John D., Kohlhoff, Dave M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,834,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/544
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

In some embodiments of the present invention, a vending machine display apparatus and method includes a controller, an electroluminescent display electrically coupled to the controller and adapted to be coupled to the vending machine in a location externally visible on the vending machine, and a power line coupled to the electroluminescent display and adapted to supply power to the electroluminescent display. The electroluminescent display can be associated with the user-manipulatable control and/or with a product in the vending machine dispensed by operation of the user-manipulatable control. In some embodiments, the electroluminescent display is responsive to the controller by changing graphics and/or text displayed by the display.

Claims

1. A vending machine display apparatus for a vending machine having a user-manipulatable control for dispensing a product, the vending machine display apparatus comprising:

a controller;

an electroluminescent display electrically coupled to the controller and adapted to be coupled to the vending machine in a location externally visible on the vending machine; and

a power line coupled to the electroluminescent display and adapted to supply power to the electroluminescent display;

the electroluminescent display associated with the user-manipulatable control and with a product in the vending machine dispensed by operation of the user-manipulatable control, the electroluminescent display responsive to the controller by changing at least one of graphics and text displayed by the display.

2. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent display is releasably coupled to the controller.

3. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent display is coupled to the user-manipulatable control.

4. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electroluminescent display is releasably coupled to user-manipulatable control.

5. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the user-manipulatable control is a button, and wherein the electroluminescent display is adapted to be coupled to one of a location within the button and behind the button.

6. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electroluminescent display is responsive to operation of the user-manipulatable control to change at least one of graphics and text displayed by the electroluminescent display.

7. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent display is interchangeable with other electroluminescent displays displaying different advertisements.

8. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent display is flexible and substantially planar.

9. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller controls the electroluminescent display to generate animation in one manner prior to operation of the user-manipulatable control and in another manner after operation of the user-manipulatable control.

10. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent display displays information regarding the product associated with the user-manipulatable control.

11. A vending machine display apparatus for a vending machine having a plurality of user-manipulatable controls, each user-manipulatable control operable to generate dispense of a product associated with the user-manipulatable control, the vending machine display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electroluminescent displays adapted to be coupled to the vending machine proximate the user-manipulatable controls;

at least one controller coupled to the plurality of electroluminescent displays, the at least one controller operable to generate animation upon the plurality of electroluminescent displays; and

a plurality of power lines electrically coupled to the plurality of electroluminescent displays.

12. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is releasably coupled to the at least one controller.

13. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is coupled to at least one of the plurality of user-manipulatable controls.

14. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is releasably coupled to at least one of the plurality of user-manipulatable controls.

15. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of user-manipulatable controls is a button, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is adapted to be coupled to one of a location within the button and a location behind the button.

16. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is responsive to operation of at least one of the plurality of user-manipulatable controls to change at least one of graphics and text displayed by the at least one electroluminescent display.

17. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is interchangeable with other electroluminescent displays displaying different advertisements.

18. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays is flexible and substantially planar.

19. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of controllers controls at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays to generate animation in one manner prior to operation of at least one of the plurality of user-manipulatable controls and in another manner after operation of the at least one user-manipulatable control.

20. The vending machine display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent displays information regarding the product associated with at least one of the plurality of user-manipulatable controls.

21. A method of advertising products in a vending machine, the method comprising:

supplying power to an electroluminescent display coupled to the vending machine, the electroluminescent display associated with a user-manipulatable control on the vending machine;

controlling a supply of power to the electroluminescent display via a controller; and

generating animation on the electroluminescent display by controlling the supply of power thereto, the animation including an advertisement for a product dispensed by operation of the user-manipulatable control.