The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 1985
Filed:
Jun. 14, 1983
Joseph A Lotspeich, Inver Grove Heights, MN (US);
Gross-Given Manufacturing Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The support apparatus (39) for rotatably supporting an elongated semi-rigid helical (22) having a center longitudinal axis (52), of the type used for dispensing articles (38) from a dispensing machine, above a substantially planar shelf surface (34) having a front edge (36) is disclosed. The support apparatus (39) comprises a first coil support member (40) and a second coil support member (42) each defining a generally planar upper surface (41) and (43) respectively to lie above and generally parallel to a shelf surface (34) and adjacent a front end (36) thereof. The first and second coil support members (40 and 42) are disposed in spaced, generally parallel relationship to one another, and wherein the first and second coil support members (40 and 42) are laterally spaced apart from one another a sufficient distance to cooperatively support a helical coil on and between the first and second upper surfaces (40 and 42). During the dispensing of the article, the distances from the axis (52) of the coil (22) to the inner edges (40a and 42a) of the first and second coil support members (40 and 42) proximate where the coil (22) is supported respectively are less than the distances from the axis (52) of the coil (22) to the inner edges (40a and 42a) of the first and second coil support members (40 and 42) proximate the forwardmost convolution of the coil (22) respectively. During the dispensing cycle the forwardmost convolution of the coil (22) is not supported by the first and second coil support members (40 and 42).