US3381121A - Merchandise display board illuminating means for coin-controlled vending machines - Google Patents

Description

Aprll 30, 1968 w. G. MCDONALD 3,381,121

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY BOARD ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Filed on 24 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WINFORD G. M DONALD BY W L '1 1.,

ATTORNEY April 1963 w cs. MCDONALD 3,381,121

MERCHANDISE DIS PLAY BOARD ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES I Filed Oct. 24, 1966 5 sheets-$11581. 2

38 {I I! [I ll L 62 Q 9e 10072 U 40 I03... 84: 188 42 36 5 1/ 56 April 30, 1968 w. G. MCDONALD 3,381,121

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY BOARD ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 24, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR WIN FORD G. M c DONALD ATTORNEY United States Patent 1 3,381,121 MERCHANDISE DISPLAY BOARD ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Winford' G. McDonald, 2623 W. Colorado Blvd.,

Dallas, Tex. 75208 Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 588,901 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE Vending machine apparatus having an upright merchandise display board and an opposed transparent window. The board and window define opposed sides of a cornpartment having an open upper end. A cover for the apparatus, including a portion spanning the open end of the compartment, and means suspended from the cover between the window and display board to illuminate merchandise supported on the latter.

This invention relates to the general field of illumination and, more specifically. the instant invention pertains to the provision of means for illuminating stock merchandisc of vending machines.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide electrical illuminating means for conventional coincontrolled merchandise vending machines wherein sample merchandise is mounted on a display board and is illuminated by the aforementioned means.

Another object of this invention is to provide, as an attachment for or as a permanent installation of the cover plate or hopper closure member for vending machines of the type described, means for illuminating sample or display merchandise subject to vending by the (machine, and wherein the illuminating means is interposed between a transparent window and a display board bearing the sample wares.

A further object of this invention is to provide illuminating lIl'lEZlnS of the type generally described supra, which may be assembled as an integral unit or may comprise individual components for subsequent assembly.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide means for releasably securing the illuminating means to the vending machine cover plate, the means including sep erable elements to permit interchange or replacement of the elements and wherein the interchange or replacement of the elements may involve the use of elements having larger or smaller dimensions, all within the physical limits of the inventive concept.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of illuminating means of the type generally described above, the means being noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is rugged and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from the consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional coincontrolled vending machine of the counter or portable type and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the coin-controlled vending machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the vending machine cover plate and showing the illuminating means according to this invention as installed thereon; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective veiw of the illuminating means of this invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 18 designates, in general, a coin-controlled merchandise vending machine constructed in accordance with the teaching of this invention. The machine 10, is generally speaking, of conventional construction to the extent that it includes a substantially rectangular hollow base 12 housing the usual coin-controlled vending mechanism 14. The latter is shown in conjunction with the usual coin receiving box 16 slidably received within the base 12 and which is releasably secured therein by key controlled lock means 18. The box 16 includes the conventional coin receiving slot 20 to receive a coin of the proper denomination whereby the vending machine article release mechanism may be operated through the actuation of the manually manipulated handle means 22, all in the usual and conventional manner. Also included in the base 12 is a mechandise dispensing chute 24 across the open discharge end of which extends the gravity operated pivotally mounted cover plate 26.

Superimposed on the base 12, also in the conventional manner is a merchandise receiving hopper 28 which includes the usual laterally spaced, confronting and sub stantially parallel upright side walls 30, 32 spanned at their back edges by a back wall 34 and at their respective front edges by an open continuous frame 36 (see FIG- URES l and 3). The frame 36 cants outwardly at its upper end and includes an upright outer continuous flange 38, an inwardly extending continuous bight 40 from which projects an open continuous inner window supporting flange 42 defining the substantially rectangular window opening 44. The hopper 28 includes a bottom wall 46 which supports the lower end of a transparent window 48, the latter spanning the opening 44 and being supported on the continuous flange 42. Any suitable back stop and window guide means, such as the L-shaped element 50 secured to the opposed side walls, 30, 32 may be used to prevent the accidental or inadvertent displacement of the window 44.

At 52 is indicated an upright flange which projects laterally (only one being shown) from each side wall 30, 32 and which serves as a backstop for a normally upright substantially rectangular merchandise display board 54, the latter having a side disposed in confronting and inwardly spaced relation relative to the window 44. As is seen in FIGURE 3, the window 48, the display board 54 and those portions of the side walls 30, 32 extending therebetween define a substantially hollow inverted pyramidal compartment 56 to which further reference will be made, infra.

The display board 54 is adapted to mount and support merchandise 58 (see FIGURE 1) comprising differing items which are capsuled in the usual manner and are inserted in the hopper 28. These are vended, by chance, upon insertion of the proper coin in the slot 20 followed by the operation of the handle means 22.

The upper open end of the hopper 28 is closed by a removable cover plate 68 having a substantially rectangular configuration and including a depending continuous guide flange 62 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) spaced inwardly from its peripheral marginal edge. As is seen in FIGURE 3, the guide flange 62 slidably engages behind the upper peripheral marginal edges of the side walls 30, 32, back wall 34- and the upper end of the flange 33.

The cover plate is formed with a normally horizontal continuous peripheral flange 64 at the outer marginal edge thereof, the flange 64 at its inned edge merging with front and back walls 65-, 68 which converge upwardly to join in a horizontal top wall 79, and normally upright side walls 72, 74, these walls cooperating to define a downwardly opening cavity 76.

At 78 is designated a conventional normally upright standard disposed within the hopper 28 and having its lower end fixedly secured within the machine 10 by conventional means not shown. The other or upper end of the standard 78 projects above the open upper end of hopper 28 to serve a function to be described.

All of the foregoing relates to conventional vending machine construction, well known in the art and which has been but briefly described herein to afford a suitable utili tarian background for the subject matter of this invention which is described immediately below.

It has been mentioned above that one of the primary objects of this invention is to provde illumination for the merchandise mounted on the display board 54 whereby attention is directed thereto. To this end this invention provides an elongated inverted opaque L-shaped hanger bracket means 8%) having an elongated horizontally extending foot portion 82 provided with an integrally formed depending leg section 84. Fixedly connected to the leg section 84 at each end thereof is an angle bracket 86 having an inwardly projecting arm 88, each of the latter providing mounting means for fluorescent light sockets 90 adapted to releasably receive and support the opposed ends of a conventional fluorescent light tube 88.

Projectin laterally from the foot portion 82 substantially centrally of its ends, is a reversed (as shown in FIGURE 3) Z-shaped resilient metal strap 92 (see FIG- URE having end tabs 94, 96 oflset laterally and extending in diverging directions from its bight 98. As is seen in FIGURE 3, the hanger bracket 80 extends transversely across the upper end of the window 44 with the foot portion 82. releasably clamped between the tab 94 and an adjacent portion of the underside of the flange 64, and the leg section 84 is interposed between the fluorescent light tube 88 and the adjacent end of the window 44 to reflect light rays away therefrom for dispersement inwardly in the direction of the display board 54 and to preclude a concentration thereof at the upper edge of the window 44.

The tab 96 is clamped between the top wall 70 and an elongated substantially rectangular cross-member 100 which engages against and extends parallel to the underside of the top wall 70, the cross-member 100 being detachably connected thereon by means of a jamb nut 102 threaded on a conventional lock housing 103 telescopicah ly received over the upper end of the standard 78. The lock housing 103 depends from the top wall 70 and the lower end thereof extends through a suitable opening 104 disposed centrally of the ends of the cross-member 100; the upper end of the lock housing 103 projects above the top Wall 70 to releasably receive a conventional key operated locknut 106 (see FIG. 1) which cooperates with the upper end of the standard 78 to releasably secure the cover plate 60 on the upper end of the hopper 28, all in the conventional manner. If desired, the crossmember 100 may be formed with an upwardly facing groove 108 to receive the tab 96 therein as shown in FIGURE 3.

For ease of shipment, the component elements 80, 92 and 100 may be knocked down as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIGURE 5, or two or more thereof may be rigidly connected together, at the option of the manufacturer, to form one or more units. The knocked down elements permit, of course, assembly of similar elements wherein the dimensions of the several elements may be changed in accordance with changes in size and configuration of the hopper 28 whereas a rigid assembly would somewhat limit the usage of the invention except in those instances wherein a plurality of devices constructed in accordance with this invention were to be made for installation in vending machines the hoppers of which would be of uniform size and construction.

The cross-member 100 is adapted to subtend the usual starter and ballast components 110, 112, respectively, which may be secured thereto by conventional fastening means 114. V

i The conventional circuitry 116 (see FIGURE 4) connects the electrical components, the electrical circuit 116 being connected to one end of a cable 118 that is carried in a bushing 120 which extends transversely through an opening 122 formed in the back wall 68. The other end of the cable 118 is connected to a suitable source of (not shown).

While the above description discloses a specific means for top lighting the compartment 56, it is contemplated that the bottom lighting thereof could be accomplished in an analogous manner. Additionally, it will be understood that the electrical components, depending upon the size of the display board 54 and window 48 may be standard or miniaturized; and it is to be recognized that if desired, and if the circumstances so warrant, the ballast 112 and starter could be located elsewhere internally or externally of the machine 10 without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vending machine having an upright hopper provided with an open end, a window at a side thereof, a merchandise display board disposed within said hopper in inwardly spaced confronting relation relative to said Window and defining a compartment therebeween, a cover plate mounted on said hopper and closing said open end thereof while spanning one end of said compartment, means for illuminating said compartment, said illuminating means including an elongated L- shaped opaque hanger bracket having a foot portion and a leg section, releasable clamping means connecting said foot portion to said cover plate with said leg section depending between said window and said board, said hanger bracket having opposed ends each having socket means thereon to releasably receive, electrically connect, and to support the opposed ends of a fluorescent tube therein with said tube extending transversely across and between adjacent ends of said window and said display board and being interposed between said display board and said depending leg section.

2. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said clamprng means of said support means comprises an elongated strap having one end thereof connected on said foot portion and having another end thereof fixedly connected to said cover plate.

3. In the combination of claim 2 wherein said strap is resilient and includes a tab at each said end thereof, and wherein the tab at said one end of said strap is biased for closing movement against an adjacent portion of said cover plate to releasably clamp said foot portion therebetween.

4. In the combination of claim 3 wherein said support means includes a cross-member connected to said cover plate and which extends transversely of the underside thereof to connect the other of said tabs thereto.

5. In the combination of claim 4 wherein said other of said tabs is engaged between said cover plate and said cross-member, and means to clamp said other of said tabs therebetween.

6. In the combination of claim 5 wherein said crossmember is provided with a groove to releasably receive said other of said tabs therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1942 Netting 240-5 1.11 8/1954 Neveroski 35-5 1

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