Push button assembly for a vending machine

• US 6,075,214 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KOHA Company Limited (Tamura Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KOHA Company Limited (Tamura Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Eiichi, Sato, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US08/992,217
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 200/308-317, 463/26
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2013/026 with two or more independent lighting elements located inside the push button switch that illuminate separate zones of push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/066 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/006 Bank automat; Cash register; Vending machine

Abstract

A push button for a vending machine. The push button includes a lens that is depressed by the customer. Under the lens is a transparent or semi-transparent flexible cover over a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The color and arrangement of the LEDs can be varied to provide a number of different indicating modes. The present invention does not require items in conventional push buttons, for example, a letter and symbol plate or a reflector case.

Claims

1. A push button assembly for a vending machine which indicates "on sale" and "sold out" for articles contained in said vending machine, said push button comprising:

a main body for providing a water-proof space inside thereof, said main body including a transparent or semitransparent portion to transmit a light, and mounted on a surface of a display chamber of said vending machine for displaying article samples; and

at least two LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), each of said LEDs emitting a light of a different color from other, placed on a bottom in said main body, said light emitted from said LED transmitting through said transparent or semitransparent portion;

wherein each of said LEDs is turned on or off to indicate "on sale" or "sold out".

2. The push button assembly for a vending machine, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said at least two LEDs includes a first LED for emitting a red color and a second LED for emitting a green or blue color;

said second LED, or said first and second LEDs is turned on to indicate said "on sale"; and

said first LED is turned on to indicate said "sold out".

3. The push button assembly for a vending machine, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said at least two LEDs includes a first LED for emitting a red color and a second LED for emitting a green or blue color;

said second LED is turned on to indicate said "on sale"; and

said first LED is tuned on to indicate said "sold out".

4. A push button assembly for a vending machine, comprising:

a base made by an insulating material;

a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), each of said LEDs emitting a light of a different color from other;

a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), mounted on said base, for fixing said LEDs on predetermined positions, said PCB including a wiring pattern for a switch circuit;

a connector mounted on a back surface of said PCB;

a flexible cover for covering said LEDs, said flexible cover including a conductive member and transparent portions;

a plurality of lenses, mounted on predetermined positions of said flexible cover, for transmitting a light; and

a case, mounted on said base, for exposing a surface of said lens, and covering said flexible cover and said PCB.

5. The push button assembly for a vending machine, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

said plurality of LEDs includes a LED for emitting a red color and a LED for emitting a green or blue color.

6. The push button assembly for a vending machine, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

said plurality of LEDs are of a surface-mounted type.

7. The push button assembly for a vending machine, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

said base includes a sealing material for sealing a periphery of a through-hole of a mounting plate of said vending machine.