SELECTION BUTTON FOR AN AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE The present invention relates to a selection button, to an automatic vending machine with a selection button and to a method using the selection button including a selection button having at least one shape three-dimensional that suggests a product for sale. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, automatic vending machines have had selection buttons. Graphic illustrations that indicate the product for sale can be placed in a
• Adjacent or directly on these radio buttons.
The buttons themselves, usually, are either rectangular or circular but generally the only indication that this product is for sale is through the graphic illustration associated with the selection button. Therefore, a consumer must stop and read the selections or at least view the associated graphic illustrations before selecting a product. In order to quickly indicate to a consumer the product that is being sold, a better selection button arrangement is required. This selection button can increase the opportunity for impulsive acquisition by the consumer. In particular, the consumer can quickly see the products that are on sale and therefore can quickly make a selection of those products. In addition, international travelers or people who do not speak a given language may have some difficulty operating traditional vending machines in foreign countries. For example, an international traveler may recognize that an automatic vending machine supplies certain brands of drinks, but may not know whether the drinks are in cans or bottles unless that traveler is familiar with the language of the text displayed on a vending machine. automatic given. Accordingly, there is a need for a universally recognized arrangement to provide information regarding a product sold through an automatic vending machine. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide at least one selection button in the automatic vending machine that quickly provides information to the consumer as to a product sold. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a selection button that has a three-dimensional shape that suggests the product for sale. This button may include graphic illustrations that make the selection button look like the product being sold. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for informing the customer of the product for sale thus avoiding possible confusion on the part of the customer, providing a visual message to the consumer of what is being sold, helping the consumer to make a selection. Fast and encouraging impulse purchases. It is also an object of the present invention to offer universal information regarding a product for sale that can be easily recognized throughout the world. These and other objects of the present invention are fulfilled through a button of. selection for an automatic vending machine whose selection button has a three-dimensional shape that suggests a product for sale. These and other objects of the present invention are also met through an automatic vending machine comprising an automatic vending machine cover, and at least one selection button on the automatic vending machine cover, the at least one vending button. selection includes a device to inform the consumer about a product for sale when the button is activated, the information device includes a three-dimensional form of the button that suggests the product for sale. In addition, these and other objects of the present invention are met through a method of consumer information regarding a product for sale in an automatic vending machine., the method comprises the steps of supplying at least one selection button in the automatic vending machine, supplying the at least one selection button in a three-dimensional form suggesting the product for sale in the automatic vending machine, and displaying graphic illustrations In at least one selection button said graphic illustrations simulate the product for sale so the three-dimensional shape and the graphic illustrations in at least one selection button simulate the product for sale which consequently gives a visual information to the customer in Regarding the product for sale. Additional scope of application of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description that is offered below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are provided for illustrative purposes only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to experts in the art. the matter from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and from the annexed drawings that provide it by way of illustration only and that are not intended to limit the present invention, and where:
The figure is a front perspective view of an automatic vending machine with several selection buttons of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the selection buttons of the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of a selection button shown in Figure 2 with the graphic illustrations omitted for clarity; Figure 4 is a top view of the selection button of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is an example of a type of product sold in an automatic vending machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to details to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1, an automatic vending machine 10 is shown. While the automatic vending machine of the present invention has a profiled front face or wavy type, the Principles of the present invention can equally be applied to automatic vending machines of various shapes and sizes. For example, a conventional rectangular automatic vending machine may employ the principles of the present invention. In the automatic vending machine 10 as shown in Figure 1, several selection buttons 12 are presented. While displaying three rows and four columns of selection buttons and an additional selection button 12 ', the configuration and the number of these 12, 12 'selection buttons can be modified. In addition, while the selection button 12 'is shown with a shape similar to the array of buttons 12, the additional selection button 12' may have a different shape from the buttons 12. The particular shape of the selection buttons 12 will be discussed with more details later. Adjacent to the selection button 12 'is a bill validator 14 or a coin slot 16. When a bill is inserted in the validator 14 or coins in the slot 16, the automatic vending machine 10 can be activated in order to allow the downloading a product from the sales stand 18 by selecting one of the buttons 12, 12 '. This sale arrangement is well known in the art. A control device 20 is generically known in Figure 1. This control device 20 responds to a signal from the bill validator 14 or currency slot 16 indicating receipt of sufficient funds to issue an item. By activating one of the selection buttons 12, 12 ', the control device 20 causes the release of the product from the sales port 18. This arrangement of the control device 20 is well known in the art as noted above. In addition, on the front of the automatic vending machine 10, a video display device 22 and a coin return 24 are shown. The video display device can be replaced by a light box with graphic illustrations as is conventionally employed. in the automatic vending machine or with a coupon dispenser, video game or any other suitable arrangement. In addition, the return of coins 24 is shown located in the port of sale 18. This allows the consumer to reach a general location to remove both the selected sold product and the eventual change returned. This arrangement is very convenient for a consumer and can accelerate the total time of the transaction since the consumer does not have to recover his change first and then recover the selected product. In this case, on the contrary, both the recovery of the change and the recovery of the product can be carried out in a series of continuous steps. While the coin return 24 is illustrated in the port of sale 18, this coin return 24 can be located in any other suitable position in the automatic vending machine 10. In fact, the selection buttons 12, 12 ', the bill validator 14, the coin sorter 16, the sales port 18, the video device 22 and the coin return 24 can be moved in the front part of the automatic vending machine.
Turning to Figure 2, one of the selection buttons 12 is shown in greater detail. This selection button 12 has an external surface 26 which can be hooked by the customer. This external surface 26 has a shape that represents a product for sale. Particularly, a beverage can 34 as illustrated in Figure 5 is contemplated for sale when the selection buttons 12 are used. This can illustrated in Figure 5 has an appearance similar to the selection button 12 and consequently the button 12 suggests the product for sale. The three-dimensional shape and the associated graphic illustrations of the selection button 12 form a connection in the mind of the consumer with the product sold. The external surface 26 of the selection button 12 has two opposite sides 28 and 30 generally parallel. These opposite sides 28 and 30 form the upper part and the lower part of the beverage can representing the button 12. The outer surface of the button also has a curved side 32 having a semi-cylindrical shape. Instead of being a complete cylinder similar to a can 34, this selection button 12 is contemplated as only a part, such as for example the half of the cylinder forming a typical beverage can. Figure 3 shows a side view of a selection button 12 while figure 4 shows a top view with one of the opposite sides 28 visible. From these views in Figures 3 and 4, the semi-cylindrical shape of the selection button 12 can be observed. It is noted that the beverage can 46 illustrated in FIG. 5 typically has a tapered upper surface 38 and a pressure tab 46, for example. The selection button 12 is not an exact reproduction of all these characteristics of the beverage can 34. In other words, the tapered upper surface 38 and the tab 36 are omitted from the simulation on the button 12 as shown in Figure 2 Obviously, these features could be included in button 12 if desired. However, the three-dimensional shape of the selection button 12 together with the associated graphic illustrations 40 sufficiently resemble the beverage can 36 to thereby suggest the product for sale in the automatic vending machine 10. Accordingly, the button selection 12 with at least its three-dimensional configuration acts as a means of informing the consumer of the product for sale by activating the button 12. In addition to the three-dimensional shape of the button 12, the graphic illustrations 40 also suggest the product for sale. Figure 2 shows the trademark "Coca-Cola Classic" ™, the Contour Bottle ™ as well as slogans for the beverage can 36. The graphic illustrations 40 presented in Figure 2 are not intended to be limited to the particular graphic illustrations employed. in the radio button. On the contrary, Figure 2 simply illustrates the degree to which the selection button 12 resembles the can 36, the product for sale. If desired, additional graphic illustrations such as the size of the product or any other additional slogan can be included in the selection button 12. Likewise, not only Coca-Cola Classic TM but also Sprite TM Diet Coke TM or other brands of The product for sale can be illustrated through the graphic illustrations 40 shown in Figure 2. While Figure 2 includes certain graphic illustrations, these graphic illustrations have been omitted from the selection buttons 12, 12 'in Figures 1, 3 and 4 for more clarity. It is contemplated that the selection buttons 12, 12 'will include appropriate graphic illustrations for the products on sale. In addition, while a beverage can 34 is for sale from a machine 10, it is also possible to sell other types of products such as drinks in bottles. The three-dimensional shape and the graphic illustrations associated with the selection buttons 12 may vary in order to correspond to the products for sale. The principles of the present invention can be applied, therefore, to many different types of automatic vending machines. In fact, these principles can be applied to automatic vending machines that do not require activation through coins, or that have their selection buttons arranged in any desired configuration on the machine. In addition, with brand recognition, a consumer can select a product for sale without having to read the text in the automatic vending machine. Thus, the principles of the present invention offer universal information regarding a product for sale. As can be seen in figure 2, the graphic illustrations 40 include both text and pictorial material. It is possible to include only pictorial material or text and it is contemplated that these graphic illustrations in association with the three-dimensional shape of the selection button 12 will provide information means to the customer regarding the product on sale by activating the 12 button. of the automatic vending machine 10, the selection button 12 or 12 'would have the shape of the bottle. Obviously, with the shape of the bottle, the associated graphic illustrations for the sold bottle can be included in the selection button in a manner similar to the graphic illustrations that are included when selling beverage cans 34. The present invention offers a method for informing you quickly to a customer of a product for sale from an automatic vending machine 10. The method further comprises the steps of providing at least one selection button 12 in the automatic vending machine 10. Likewise, the at least one button selection is provided with a three-dimensional shape representing the shape of a product on sale as for example the beverage can 34. The graphic illustrations 40 are displayed on at least one selection button, said graphic illustrations simulate the product for sale by what the three-dimensional shape and the graphic illustrations 40 in at least one selection button 12 simulate the product for sale. Therefore, a consumer is visually informed of the item for sale. By activating the button 12, the selected item such as a beverage can 34 is sold from the machine 10 through the station 18. "Coke", "Coca-Cola Classic" ™, "Sprite" ™, "Diet Coke "™ and Contour Bottle" ™ are all registered trademarks of Coca-Cola Company Based on the invention thus described, it will be apparent that said invention may present variations of many types, such variations are not considered to be outside the spirit and scope of the invention. invention and all obvious modifications to a person skilled in the art are included within the scope of the following claims.