Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Multiple grapples for multiple objects
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-11-06
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Multiple grapples for multiple objects
C294S033000, C294S099100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312032
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein pertains to devices for manually grasping containers, and particularly pertains to a device for grasping a plurality of beverage cans from an open carton for use in loading a vending machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
Machines which dispense beverages in cans such as soft drinks, beer, tea, fruit juices and other products have become commonplace in recent years. These vending machines are often serviced on a daily basis to insure that ample beverages are present for public consumption. Servicemen usually transport cartons containing twenty-four cans by hand truck to the vending machine where the cartons are opened and the beverage cans are loaded into the vending machines, one at a time until the capacity of the vending machine is reached. Such hand loading is laborious and time consuming. However, beverage cans within vending machines are arranged in multiple rows and servicemen must often fill vending machines which are several rows wide and deep.
While many types of beverage can grasping devices have been developed in the past such as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,889,245; 4,911,288 and 5,551,565, such devices are generally not suitable for use in loading vending machines due to their size and configuration.
Thus, with the problems and disadvantages experienced with conventional can holding, handling devices and manual methods, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide a manually operated can grip which can grasp a plurality of beverage cans simultaneously in linear alignment.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a hand held can grip which allows the user to securely hold a series of beverage cans and which allows the user to selectively release the cans therefrom as needed.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a can grip which is narrow in width and which has relatively few moving parts for use in loading vending machines.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a can grip and method of use to permit the device to easily fit within the spacial constraints of a vending machine for convenience in loading.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a manually operable can grip and method of use for beverage cans such as when loading vending machines. The can grip includes a handle rigidly attached to an apertured frame member. A plunger is resiliently attached to the handle and includes a finger bar. Coil springs are located between the finger bar and the handle whereby manually squeezing the handle and finger bar with the user's hand causes ram members of the plunger to lift as the springs compress for subsequent spring release action and can ejection although manual force could be employed in lieu of springs, though such is not preferred. Beverage cans are urged through guides on the frame member into a gripped position where they are held by a series of distortable or flexible retainers within the frame member. Beverage cans are held in linear alignment for easy placement within the narrow constraints of a vending machine. Upon release of the plunger, the springs relax and expand thus driving the ram members past the can retainers to urge the cans into a selected location within the vending machine.
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