Gumball machine with lights and sound

• US 20120298685A1
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sweet N Fun Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sweet N Fun Ltd.
• Inventors: Fu, Hoi Wai
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/3
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk

Abstract

A gumball machine includes a gumball container that contains a plurality of gumballs, and a neck portion coupled to the gumball container. The gumball machine has an elongated transparent housing having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a base coupled to the lower end of the elongated housing. A speaker is positioned inside the base and is electrically coupled to a switch, a plurality of lighting elements are arranged inside the transparent housing and electrically coupled to the switch, and a power supply is housed inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch, the speaker and the lighting elements. When an actuator is actuated, the actuator turns on the switch to cause the lighting elements to flash, the speaker to broadcast sound and/or music, and a gumball to be dispensed from the gumball container.

Claims

1. A gumball machine, comprising:

a gumball container that contains a plurality of gumballs;

a neck portion coupled to the gumball container, the neck portion having a switch and gumball dispensing assembly that includes an actuator that is operatively coupled to a switch;

an elongated transparent housing having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a lower end;

a base coupled to the lower end of the elongated housing and having a bottom portion that is seated on a surface;

a plurality of lighting elements arranged inside the transparent housing and electrically coupled to the switch to produce flashing light when the switch is turned on, and

a power supply housed inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch and the lighting elements;

wherein actuation of the actuator turns on the switch and causes a gumball to be dispensed from the gumball container.

2. The machine of claim 1, further including a spiral ramp connected around the transparent housing for allowing a dispensed gumball to roll downwardly.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a knob, and the switch and gumball dispensing assembly comprises a gear coupled to the knob, and a rotating platform that is operatively coupled to the switch and the gear, such that turning of the knob causes the gear to engage a portion of the platform to rotate the platform, and wherein the platform has a bump that engages the switch to turn on the switch.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the platform further includes an opening that is aligned with the gumball container to allow a gumball to fall through the opening.

5. The machine of claim 3, further including a spiral ramp connected around the transparent housing for allowing a dispensed gumball to roll downwardly, and wherein the platform further includes an opening that is aligned with the gumball container to allow a gumball to fall through the opening and to the spiral ramp.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the lighting elements are arranged in series along a vertical section of the transparent housing.

7. A gumball machine, comprising:

a gumball container that contains a plurality of gumballs;

a neck portion coupled to the gumball container, the neck portion having a switch and gumball dispensing assembly that includes an actuator that is operatively coupled to a switch;

an elongated transparent housing having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a lower end;

a base coupled to the lower end of the elongated housing and having a bottom portion that is seated on a surface;

a speaker positioned inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch to produce sound or music when the switch is turned on; and

a power supply housed inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch and the speaker;

wherein actuation of the actuator turns on the switch and causes a gumball to be dispensed from the gumball container.

8. The machine of claim 7, further including a spiral ramp connected around the transparent housing for allowing a dispensed gumball to roll downwardly.

9. The machine of claim 7, wherein the actuator is a knob, and the switch and gumball dispensing assembly comprises a gear coupled to the knob, and a rotating platform that is operatively coupled to the switch and the gear, such that turning of the knob causes the gear to engage a portion of the platform to rotate the platform, and wherein the platform has a bump that engages the switch to turn on the switch.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the platform further includes an opening that is aligned with the gumball container to allow a gumball to fall through the opening.

11. The machine of claim 9, further including a spiral ramp connected around the transparent housing for allowing a dispensed gumball to roll downwardly, and wherein the platform further includes an opening that is aligned with the gumball container to allow a gumball to fall through the opening and to the spiral ramp.

12. A gumball machine, comprising:

a gumball container that contains a plurality of gumballs;

a neck portion coupled to the gumball container, the neck portion having a switch and gumball dispensing assembly that includes an actuator that is operatively coupled to a switch;

an elongated transparent housing having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a lower end;

a base coupled to the lower end of the elongated housing and having a bottom portion that is seated on a surface;

a speaker positioned inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch to produce sound when the switch is turned on;

a plurality of lighting elements arranged inside the transparent housing and electrically coupled to the switch to produce flashing light when the switch is turned on; and

a power supply housed inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch, the speaker and the lighting elements;

wherein actuation of the actuator turns on the switch and causes a gumball to be dispensed from the gumball container, such that flashing lights and sound are produced as a gumball is being dispensed.

13. The machine of claim 12, further including a spiral ramp connected around the transparent housing for allowing a dispensed gumball to roll downwardly.

14. The machine of claim 12, wherein the actuator is a knob, and the switch and gumball dispensing assembly comprises a gear coupled to the knob, and a rotating platform that is operatively coupled to the switch and the gear, such that turning of the knob causes the gear to engage a portion of the platform to rotate the platform, and wherein the platform has a bump that engages the switch to turn on the switch.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the platform further includes an opening that is aligned with the gumball container to allow a gumball to fall through the opening.

16. The machine of claim 14, further including a spiral ramp connected around the transparent housing for allowing a dispensed gumball to roll downwardly, and wherein the platform further includes an opening that is aligned with the gumball container to allow a gumball to fall through the opening and to the spiral ramp.

17. The machine of claim 12, wherein the lighting elements are arranged in series along a vertical section of the transparent housing.