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:
Nov. 13, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1999
Thomas S. Paczkowski, Wildwood, MO (US);
Coin Acceptors, Inc., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
This impact dampening system for a vending machine chute includes a resilient sheet disposed above a fixed support and a cushioning arrangement disposed between the resilient sheet and the fixed support. In one embodiment, a sheet metal chute provides the fixed support and a sheet plastic chute having a similar configuration to the sheet metal chute provides the resilient sheet, and foam pads between the two chutes providing the cushioning arrangement for containers received by the plastic sheet. In another embodiment, a sheet plastic chute only is used which is suspended by hangers or attached by brackets to the vending machine and may be provided with a diverter to direct containers away from direct travel to the vending machine access port.