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:
Jun. 25, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 10, 2007
Jay F. Perkins, Pickerington, OH (US);
Michael T. Kopczewski, Grove City, OH (US);
Jeffrey T. Debord, Worthington, OH (US);
Douglas G. Schaefer, Columbus, OH (US);
Rainer B. Teufel, Worthington, OH (US);
Charles W. Percy, Aiken, SC (US);
Jay F. Perkins, Pickerington, OH (US);
Michael T. Kopczewski, Grove City, OH (US);
Jeffrey T. DeBord, Worthington, OH (US);
Douglas G. Schaefer, Columbus, OH (US);
Rainer B. Teufel, Worthington, OH (US);
Charles W. Percy, Aiken, SC (US);
Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc., Bridgeton, MO (US);
Abstract
A vending machine includes a cabinet having a product storage zone and a product delivery mechanism that transports a selected product to a consumer. The vending machine includes a door assembly pivotally mounted relative to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the product storage zone. The door assembly includes an outer, exposed surface and an inner surface that are spaced to define an inner door zone including a vertical drop zone that terminates in a delivery area. A portal is formed in the inner surface of the door assembly and leads from the product storage zone into the door zone. A discharge element is provided on the inner surface of the door assembly and cooperates with the product delivery mechanism to dispense the selected product through the portal as the product delivery mechanism moves past the portal.