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. 23, 2001
Filed:
May. 19, 2000
William A. Edwards, Lavernia, TX (US);
Randeep S. Grewal, San Antonio, TX (US);
Samuel Durham, San Antonio, TX (US);
Lancer Partnership, Ltd., San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
A dispensing system includes an ice supply unit for increasing the ice availability of the dispensing system and a moveable ice gate assembly coupled with the ice supply unit for transporting ice from the ice supply unit about the dispensing system. The dispensing system includes a dispensing system ice storage unit coupled with the movable ice gate assembly of the ice supply unit for receiving ice therefrom. The ice supply unit includes an ice supply unit housing, an ice collection bin disposed in the ice supply unit housing for receiving ice, and an automatic ice maker assembly positioned within the collection bin for supplying ice thereto. The movable ice gate assembly is positioned substantially centrally within the ice collection bin and includes a post for channeling ice therethrough and a movable gate unit linked and in movable engagement with the post for discharging ice received from the post out the movable ice gate assembly.