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:
Oct. 11, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1992
David J Tacke, Polson, MT (US);
Leslie Perhacs, Fallbrook, CA (US);
Binoptic International Systems, Inc., Polson, MT (US);
Abstract
A binocular vending apparatus for attachment to a structure, preferably a seat bottom, a seat back or a pedestal, is provided. The vending apparatus includes binoculars, a housing for removably retaining binoculars, and a mounting plate which is attachable to the structure, wherein the housing is mountable to the mounting plate when the mounting plate is attached to the structure. The vending apparatus preferably includes an elongated tether connected to the housing and also to the binoculars such that the binoculars are tethered to the housing. The vending apparatus preferably includes a binocular vending machine operated by magnetic tokens. The magnetic tokens have a magnetic code for actuating elements of the vending machine such that the vending machine will respond in a predetermined manner to the insertion of the vending token. Preferably, the vending token includes a plurality of magnetic regions having opposite magnetic pole orientations. A banking device for collecting vending apparatus operating tokens is also provided. Methods of vending binoculars, providing binoculars for patrons in spectator facilities, and collecting vending apparatus operating tokens are also provided.