Vending machine face

• US 5,956,876 A
• Filed: 04/24/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Saunders, William James, Burdette, Crystal Gaye, King, Eddie Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US08/845,376
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 40/611, 40/568, 40/573, 40/575, 312/234.1, 312/321.5, 312/293.1, 312/293.2, 312/204, 52/38, 52/456
• US Class Current: 40/606.02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A vending machine face has a number of modules that are mechanically fastened to an underlying frame. These modules can be easily removed and replaced in the field so that the appearance of a vending machine can be changed with promotions, new interactive pieces can be added, the location of the vend selection buttons can be changed, recessed display compartments can be used and/or different light boxes with various graphics can be inserted and removed. This arrangement will provide for the ability to completely change the appearance of the vending machine on site. The vending machine can be customized for specific account location and can be switched from one promotion to another relatively easily. A frame for holding the modules is provided. The frame and modules be a door for the vending machine. This door can be flat or have a contoured, undulating outer face. Also, the door can be rectangular or have other shapes as desired.

Claims

1. A vending machine face comprising:

a frame having a front side and a rear side;

a plurality of modules, the modules being readily detachably mounted to the frame, the modules being detachable via the rear side of the frame, the modules when mounted on the frame and the frame forming the face of a vending machine, a major part of the face of the vending machine being formed by the modules, at least two of the modules having an electrical connection extending therefrom to supply power to the modules when the at least two modules are simultaneously mounted on the frame, the electrical connection being removable with the associated module.

2. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame has a plurality of outer side edges which each have an undulating outer surface and wherein the modules have an outer surface which is adjacent a portion of the outer surface of at least one outer side edge, the outer surface of the modules conforms to a shape of the outer surface of the at least one adjacent outer side edge.

3. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a central column, the central column being exposed between at least some of the modules when the modules are mounted on the frame.

4. The vending machine face as recited in claim 3, further comprising a delivery port provided in the central column.

5. The vending machine face as recited in claim 4, wherein the vending machine face has a top and a bottom and wherein the delivery port is located generally midway between the top and the bottom of the vending machine face.

6. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, further comprising a vault mounted on the frame and at least one of a secured coin area and a bill validator within the vault, the vault being exposed on the face of the vending machine and being at least partially surrounded by modules when the modules are mounted on the frame.

7. The vending machine face as recited in claim 6, wherein the vault is rigidly and nondetachably mounted on the frame.

8. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules includes a light box.

9. The vending machine face as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the modules includes vend selection buttons.

10. The vending machine face as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the modules includes one of an interactive touch screen and a video game.

11. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules includes an interactive touch screen.

12. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules includes at least one video game.

13. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules includes a dispenser.

14. The vending machine face as recited in claim 13, wherein the dispenser is for dispensing at least one of coupons and tickets and wherein the dispenser is mountable at a top of the vending machine face.

15. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules includes vend selection buttons.

16. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules includes a thermometer.

17. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, further comprising a delivery port provided in the vending machine face and wherein at least one of the modules includes a recessed compartment for displaying contents to be dispensed from the delivery port.

18. The vending machine face as recited in claim 17, further comprising a window in the module with the recessed compartment for closing the compartment while permitting viewing of an interior of the compartment.

19. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the modules has a front and a rear, the front of the modules being visible when the modules are mounted on the frame and the rear of the modules having an element for mounting the module to the frame.

20. The vending machine face as recited in claim 19, wherein the frame has a plurality of openings and wherein the element comprises a spring biased detente inserted into one of the openings in the frame.

21. The vending machine face as recited in claim 19, wherein the frame has a plurality of openings and wherein the element comprises a nut and bolt arrangement, the bolt being insertable into one of the openings in the frame and thereafter being locked to the frame by fastening the nut on the bolt.

22. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, further comprising a delivery port and vault, the delivery port and vault both being rigidly and nondetachably mounted on the frame and both being exposed when the modules are mounted on the frame, the face of the vending machine being entirely covered by the plurality of modules except for an area surrounding the delivery port, an area surrounding the vault, and exposed portions of the frame, all of the modules being readily detachable from the frame.

23. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a central column, the central column being exposed between at least two of the modules when the at least two modules are mounted on the frame, the at least two modules each including a plurality of vend selection buttons.

24. The vending machine face as recited in claim 23, further comprising a vault and a delivery port provided in the central column, one of the plurality of modules having a discharge opening mountable over the delivery port on the central column, at least one of a secured coin area and a bill validator being provided within the vault.

25. The vending machine face as recited in claim 23, wherein the delivery port is provided in the central column.

26. The vending machine face as recited in claim 23, wherein at least one of the modules is generally circular and wherein a portion of the frame surrounds and conforms with a periphery of the generally circular module whereby the vending machine face has a generally circular portion.

27. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame is a door to a vending machine.

28. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein the vending machine face has a top and a bottom and wherein at least one of the modules extends from the top to the bottom of the vending machine face.

29. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, further comprising an access door on the vending machine face for providing access to an interior of a module adjacent the access door without accessing a rear of the module.

30. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein at least half of the face of the vending machine is formed from the modules.

31. The vending machine face as recited in claim 1, wherein a majority of the face of the vending machine is formed from the modules.