Method and apparatus for remote sales of vended products

• US 6,540,100 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Credle, William S. Jr., Watson, James Michael, Giles, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/800,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20020125263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/119, 221/120, 221/121, 221/122, 221/130, 221/133, 221/129, 221/24, 221/185, 221/199, 221/192, 221/79, 221/81, 221/88
• US Class Current: 221/2
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0076 Remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A mobile vending machine for transporting and vending a number of products. The mobile vending machine includes a storage compartment for storing the products, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the products, and a drive mechanism. The storage compartment is positioned about the drive mechanism for movement therewith.

Claims

1. A mobile vending machine for vending a plurality of products, comprising:

a storage compartment for storing said plurality of products;

a dispensing mechanism associated with said storage compartment for dispensing said plurality of products to a vending area; and

an electric drive mechanism;

said storage compartment positioned about said electric drive mechanism for movement therewith.

2. The mobile vendor of claim 1, wherein said storage compartment comprises a plurality of storage rows.

3. The mobile vendor of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of storage rows comprises a wall and a floor.

4. The mobile vendor of claim 3, wherein said floor comprises an elevator port for use with said dispensing mechanism.

5. The mobile vendor of claim 4, wherein said elevator port comprises a plurality of apertures surrounding a support flange.

6. The mobile vendor of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of storage rows comprises a collar for rotation within said wall and said floor.

7. The mobile vendor of claim 6, wherein said collar comprises a plurality of partitions therein, said plurality of partitions comprising a plurality of product compartments.

8. The mobile vendor of claim 7, wherein said dispensing mechanism comprises a collar motor so as to rotate said collar.

9. The mobile vendor of claim 8, wherein said dispensing mechanism comprises an access port for dispensing one of said plurality of products at a time.

10. The mobile vendor of claim 9, wherein said dispensing mechanism comprises an elevator so as to transport said one of said plurality of products from said storage compartment to said access port.

11. The mobile vendor of claim 10, wherein said elevator comprises a pair of elevator arms, said pair of elevator arms positioned so as to pass through said plurality of apertures of said elevator port.

12. The mobile vendor of claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a plurality of wheels.

13. The mobile vendor of claim 12, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive motor so as to power one or more of said plurality of wheels.

14. The mobile vendor of claim 13, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a battery.

15. The mobile vendor of claim 1, further comprising an internal control device for controlling said storage compartment, said dispensing mechanism, and said drive mechanism.

16. The mobile vendor of claim 15, further comprising a remote control device in communication with said internal control device such that said remote control device can control said drive mechanism.

17. The mobile vendor of claim 15, further comprising a remote control device in communication with said internal control device such that said remote control device can control said storage compartment and said dispensing mechanism.

18. The mobile vendor of claim 15, further comprising a first speaker and a first microphone.

19. The mobile vendor of claim 18, further comprising a second speaker and a second microphone, said second speaker and said second microphone positioned on said remote control device for communication with said first speaker and said first microphone.

20. The mobile vendor of claim 1, wherein said storage compartment comprises an outer shell with advertising indicia thereon.

21. A dispensing system for dispensing a plurality of products from a vending machine, comprising:

an elevator; and

a plurality of storage rows;

said plurality of storage rows comprising a wall and a floor;

said plurality of storage rows comprising an elevator port for use with said elevator; and

said plurality of storage rows comprising a collar for rotation within said wall and said floor;

said collar comprising a plurality of partitions therein, said plurality of partitions comprising a plurality of products compartments for rotating said plurality of products along said floor to said elevator port for transport by said elevator.

22. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein said elevator port comprises a plurality of apertures surrounding a product support flange.

23. The dispensing system of claim 22, wherein said elevator comprises a pair of elevator arms, said pair of elevator arms positioned to pass through said plurality of apertures of said elevator port and to pick up one of said plurality of products.

24. The dispensing system of claim 23, further comprising a product dispenser positioned adjacent to said storage row and in communication with said elevator.

25. The dispensing system of claim 24, wherein said product dispenser comprises a product platter positioned for rotation therein.

26. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein said product platter comprises a plurality of apertures positioned therein.

27. The dispensing system of claim 26, wherein said plurality of apertures each comprise a product support rotatably positioned therein, said product support sized to allow said elevator arms to pass through said aperture and to support said one of said plurality of products.

28. The dispensing system of claim 27, wherein said product support comprises a hinge attached to said product platter such that said product support will rotate upward when said elevator lifts said one of said plurality of products through said aperture and rotate downward after said one of said plurality of products passes therethrough.

29. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein said product dispenser comprises a platter motor so as to rotate said product platter.

30. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein said product dispenser comprises a vending cone positioned on top of the product platter, said vending cone comprising a transparent material.

31. The dispensing system of claim 21, further comprising an outer shell positioned around said storage row and further comprising one or more storage racks positioned on said outer shell.

32. A mobile vending machine for vending a plurality of products, comprising:

a storage compartment for storing said plurality of products;

an electric dispensing mechanism associated with said storage compartment for dispensing said plurality of products to a vending area; and

a drive mechanism;

said storage compartment positioned about said electric drive mechanism for movement therewith.