Anti-condensation product viewing window for a vending machine

• US 5,374,116 A
• Filed: 04/28/1993
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inland Finance Company (8040 Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fawn Engineering
• Inventors: Borgen, Arden L., Rockwell, Damon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US08/054,390
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 312/114, 312/221, 312/222, 312/223.5, 312/116, 312/138.1, 62/248, 62/250
• US Class Current: 312/116
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/04 Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• 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 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A vending machine with an anti-condensation product viewing window. The product viewing window has two window sections. The first window section is typically a wall or portion of a wall of the product storage chamber. A second window section is spaced outwardly a distance from the first window section to form the face of the viewing window. An illumination device is placed between the first and second window section. The heat from the illumination device prevents a build up of condensation on the window sections. Substantially sealing the two window sections further reduces the condensation build up. One or more small openings in the sealings between the two window sections into a cooler area allow for the escape of any moisture which does accumulate between the two window sections. The illumination device can also be used to illuminate the products to be vended, back light a sign on the machine or both.

Claims

1. A vending machine for dispensing products, comprising:

housing chamber means for storing said products to be dispensed;

a first transparent wall portion;

means for cooling said housing chamber means;

a second transparent wall portion spaced from said first transparent wall portion wherein a spaced is formed between said first transparent wall portion and said second transparent wall portion; and

means for warming the space between said first transparent wall portion and said second transparent wall portion wherein said warming means includes an illumination device.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said illumination device comprises a fluorescent light.

3. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said illumination device comprises a fluorescent light and a ballast.

4. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said illumination device includes means for illuminating the products to be dispensed are illuminated.

5. The vending machine of claim 1 including a sign visible to a user of said vending machine and wherein said illumination device includes means for illuminating said sign.

6. The vending machine of claim 3 including means for substantially sealing the space between said first and said second transparent wall portions.

7. The vending machine of claim 6 including at least one opening disposed in said sealing means and including a passage way connecting said at least one opening and said housing chamber means whereby moisture accumulation in the space between said first and said second transparent wall portions may pass through said passage way into said housing chamber means.

8. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said warming means is disposed between said first and said second transparent wall portions.

9. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said illumination device is disposed between said first and said second transparent wall portions.

10. The vending machine of claim 1 further including a door movable between portions opening and closing said housing chamber means, said door including said first and said second transparent wall portions.

11. The vending machine of claim 10 including means for pivoting said door with respect to said housing chamber means.

12. The vending machine of claim 11 including means for pivoting said first transparent wall portion with respect to said second transparent wall portion.

15. The vending machine of claim 3 wherein said first transparent wall portion comprises more than one pane of glass.

13. A vending machine for dispensing products, comprising:

housing means forming a chamber for storing products to be dispensed, said housing means having a first transparent wall portion;

means for cooling said housing chamber means;

said housing chamber means having a second transparent wall portion spaced from said first transparent wall portion wherein a space is formed between said first and said second transparent wall portions; and

means for warming the space between said first and said second transparent wall portions wherein said warming means includes an illumination device.

14. The vending machine of claim 13 wherein said warming means is disposed between said first and said second transparent wall portions.