Snack dispenser

• US 7,494,000 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newco Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Newco Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Castleberry, Billy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick H.
• Application Number:
  US11/821,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 194/334, 194225-227, 194336-338, 221/69, 221/76, 221119-121
• US Class Current: 194/334
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes

Abstract

A snack dispenser comprises tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into transparent slots into which a snack may be placed. The troughs are mounted on a rotatable carousel having a transparent front shell with transparent locked doors therein. The doors are unlocked by a door control mechanism when coins of proper monetary value are inserted into a coin box. The coin box accepts and learns the value of different types of coins, or accepts personal identification numbers. Opening the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of other doors, and resets the credit of the coins inserted. When closed, the door locks all doors until additional coins are inserted. Servicing the dispenser includes removal of the front shell, removal of empty tiers, and replacement of replenished tiers. All segments can be removed and collapsed into a flat position.

Claims

1. A snack dispenser incorporating a coin box, the structure of the snack dispenser comprising a plurality of stacked circular display levels, each of said stacked circular levels being of smaller diameter than the level below, said stacked display levels when telescoped forming a tiered tray assembly, said tiered tray assembly comprising a plurality of arcuate segments, and each of said segments forming a portion of each stacked circular display level, each of said segments having an access door, said coin box for the snack dispenser including said series of tiered trays stacked upon a carousel and for dispensing a contained individual product at a select monetary value, said tiered trays having a central cavity formed therein for accepting the coin box partially therein, said coin box having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a contained internal control circuitry, said upper portion capable of accepting at least one coin into the snack coin box, said internal control circuitry capable of identifying the monetary value of the coin by the diameter of the coin and activating at least one plunger to operate at least one arm of a door control mechanism when the monetary value of the at least one coin equals a certain amount, said at least one arm thereby unlocking a door of the snack dispenser to allow a customer to obtain an individual product from one of the arcuate segments of the tiered trays, said internal control circuitry including a coin track, and at least one pair of light pipes transmitting and reflecting at least one infrared beam therethrough, said internal control circuitry calculating the diameter of the at least one coin by the time taken by the at least one coin rolling past said light pipes and then correlating a unique monetary value to the diameter of the measured at least one coin, said internal control circuitry having the capability to store coin box information, said coin box information including a set of personal identification numbers, the total monetary value of the at least one coin inserted into the coin box, and said coin box information capable of being downloaded and modified by a separate infrared communication device, the upper portion of said coin box including a keypad for the customer to enter alpha-numeric characters that communicate to said internal control circuitry, a display provided upon the upper portion of the coin box and provided for showing the total monetary value of the at least one coin inserted into said coin box and a maintenance code for servicing said coin box including said internal control circuitry, said internal control circuitry activates the said at least one plunger after the customer has entered a specified number of coins, said coin track includes a floor which is generally angled downwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the coin and is further inclined downwardly along the perimeter of the coin box, and wherein said coin is deposited in the lower portion of the coin box as it leaves the coin track for storage therein.

2. The coin box of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said coin box further comprising said pair of light pipes transmitting and reflecting the at least one infrared beam, and said infrared beam activating the presence of said at least one coin passing along the inclined track, to provide for a determination of the monetary value of the at least one coin passing thereby.

3. The coin box of claim 2 further comprising:

said internal control circuitry having a timer;

said at least one coin, upon passing one of said light pipes, activating said timer and, upon passing another of said light pipes, deactivating said timer.

4. The coin box of claim 3 further comprising:

said timer providing the duration of said at least one coin rolling past said light pipes; and

,

said internal control circuitry correlating the duration from said timer to the outside diameter of said coin and determining the monetary value of said coin.