Article dispensing – Miscellaneous – Magazine charging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-15
2001-06-19
Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Miscellaneous
Magazine charging
C221S001000, C221S31200B, C206S457000, C206S278000, C206S497000, C206S459500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247612
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing items upon receipt of payment, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for dispensing promotional and product items upon receipt of payment to promote sales of the product item. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a dispensible promotional item for a vending machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vending machines and methods of dispensing product items from vending machines are well-known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,948,416 and 4,702,392 disclose vending machines, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,287 and 5,505,332 disclose methods of dispensing product items from vending machines.
Although the prior art discloses vending apparatus that is generally useful for their limited purpose, i.e., dispensing product items upon receipt of payment, the prior art does not disclose a vending apparatus which efficiently and effectively markets the product items which it offers for sale.
The use of promotional items has proliferated in today's increasingly competitive marketplace, where companies are constantly seeking more effective and cost efficient ways to market their products to consumers. Effective marketing is oftentimes the determinative factor between failure and success for a product. The advantage to be proffered by a vending apparatus dispensing both promotional and product items is the increased sales of the product item resulting from the increased exposure created by the promotional item.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the parent application of the present application, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/869,028 for a “Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Promotional and Product Items,” discloses a promotional item that is substantially the same size and shape as the product item. The promotional item is a compressed fabric article, such as a T-shirt bearing a logo of the product, containing enough money so that an actual product item can be purchased from the vending machine after receipt of the promotional item. The promotional item is very suitable for, and easily dispensed from a vending machine dispensing product items having simple sizes and shapes, such as a cylindrical soda can or a box of laundry detergent for example.
Since fabric compression technology is generally limited to such simple sizes and shapes, however, the promotional item disclosed in the parent application may not be useable in a vending machine dispensing product items having more complex sizes and shapes, such as plastic soda bottles for example. Conventional vending machines typically have at least one storage compartment of a certain width and depth for holding a stack of product items. Since the items, whether promotional or product, are stacked in the vending machine, the items have to be at least strong enough to support the weight of a full stack. In addition, the machines may be sensitive to size variations in the items dispensed, such that the promotional item should also be the same size and shape of the product item even if the shape of the product item is relatively complex. Use of a promotional item that is not strong enough to support the weight of a stack in a vending machine, and that does not have the same size and shape as the product item could jam or otherwise disrupt operation of the vending machine.
What is still needed, therefore, is a promotional item that can be dispensed from a conventional vending machine dispensing product items having sizes and shapes that are relatively complex, without jamming or otherwise interrupting operation of the vending machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for dispensing both promotional and product items.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for dispensing promotional and product items that have substantially the same size and shape.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method for dispensing promotional and product items, where the promotional item contains a monetary amount.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for dispensing both promotional and product items, where the promotional item displays thereon the logo and/or trademark associated with the product item.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a promotional item that can be dispensed from a conventional vending machine dispensing product items having sizes and shapes that are relatively complex, without jamming or otherwise interrupting operation of the vending machine.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a promotional item for being dispensed in a vending machine that dispenses a product item having a product within a product container upon receipt of a predetermined payment amount. The promotional item includes a product container similar to the product container of the product item, and a compressed fabric article contained within the product container and having an exterior load bearing dimension substantially equal to an interior load bearing dimension of the container. Whereby, the promotional item will not collapse under the weight of a stack of product items within the vending machine. In addition, since the promotional item incorporates the product container, it will have the same size and shape of the product item regardless of the complexity of the size and shape.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the promotional item further includes a product label secured to the product container.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the compressed fabric article of the promotional item has a logo and/or trademark associated with the product.
According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a preselected monetary amount equal to the predetermined payment amount is included in the product container of the promotional item.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the product container comprises a plastic bottle cut into two pieces, and the interior load bearing dimension comprises an inner diameter of the bottle. In addition, the compressed fabric article is generally cylindrical and the exterior load bearing dimension comprises an outer diameter of the compressed article. The promotional item further comprises means for securing the two pieces of the bottle together with the compressed fabric article contained therein.
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3-Strikes Custom Design
Skaggs H. Grant
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC
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