US3334953A - Mounting and locking means for gum vending machines and the like - Google Patents

Description

8, 1967 1.. M. BECKER 3,334,953

MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed June 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LYLE M. BECKER ATTORNEY s- 8, 1967 L. M. BECKER 3,334,953

MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed June 5, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I Z 7 20 l :1 l 5 INVENTOR I Uh, H LYLE M. BECKER 2" 5K? W 32) 32 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,334,953 MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Lyle M. Becker, 1803 Reid Drive, Appleton, Wis. 54911 Filed June 3, 1966, Ser. No. 555,090 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-253) This invention relates to mounting and locking means for gum vending machines and the like, and resides more specifically in means particularly suitable for multiple, stacked installations of such machines.

Multiple vending machine installations, for example with a number of machines on a single stand, are quite common, and it is often desirable to providea stacked multiple. installation where one machine or group of machines is disposed directly above another to make maximum use of available space. The means used to mount the machines in such an installation must fulfill several requirements. First, each machine must be securely mounted and should be locked in place to prevent tampering. Further, each individual machine should be quickly and easily removable by authorized persons for filling and collection, repair and/or replacement. Still further, the entire installation should be as compact and attractive as possible.

Present mounting arrangements do not meet the foregoing needs and thus are not entirely suitable for multiple installations. This is particularly true with regard to stacked installations in which providing for removability of the lower machines presents a special problem. In some present stacked installations, for example, it is necessary to remove the upper machines in order to gain access to those below, which is obviously undesirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide mounting and locking means particularly suitable for multiple, stacked installations wherein a machine may easily be removed and replaced by being slid off of and on to a mounting platform.

It is another object of the invention to provide means wherein the machine is securely locked to the mounting platform and can easily be locked and unlocked by authorized personnel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means in which a single 'bolt is used to lock the machine in place on the platform and to lock an access door of the machine.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of mounting and locking means that is highly effective while being simple and inexpensive to manufacture and use, and which allows for the provision of a compact, attractive installation.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, in which there is shown, by way of illustration and not of limitation, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective, partially broken ,away, of a vending machine and mounting platform illustrating mounting and locking means formed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front view, with parts shown broken away and in cross-section, showing the machine of FIG. 1 in place on the platform, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross-section taken through the plane 3-3 shown in FIG. 2.

The vending machine shown in the drawings is more or less conventional in overall configuration, and comprises a generally rectangular sheet metal cabinet 1 defined by "ice full side walls 2, a full rear wall 3, a partial front wall 4, a floor 5 and a removable cover 6, there being a large front access opening 7 below where the front wall 4 terminates. The cabinet lhouses a conventional dispensing mechanism 8 which is mounted on a horizontal plate 9 which is mounted on the walls 2, 3, 4 and divides the cabinet 1 into upper and lower portions.

The upper portion of the cabinet 1 serves as a receptacle for gum, trinkets and/or other items to be dispensed, filling being accomplished by removing the cover 6, and a display window 10 is provided in the front wall 4 for viewing such items. The lower portion constitutes a receptacle for coins introduced into the machine, and houses a discharge chute 11 for the items dispensed which leads from the upper portion to the opening 7.

The forward edges of the side walls 2 are bent back upon themselves and have peripheral portions in the area of the opening 7 which are turned inwardly to define side seating ledges 12 running along either side of the opening 7. The forward edge of the floor 5 is stepped to define a lower seating ledge 13 along the bottom of the opening 7. The forward edge of the plate 9 serves as a horizontal upper seating ledge running along the top of the opening 7.

The side walls 2 extend below the floor 5 where they are turned inwardly to define parallel mounting flanges 14 which run from the front to the rear of the cabinet 1 below the floor 5. The sheet forming the floor 5 extends downwardly in front of the ledge 13 to define a skirt [5 that extends to approximately the level of the flanges 14. The floor 5 is provided near its forward edge with a locking slot 16 that is approximately centrally located with respect to the opening 7. An offset, slotted plate 17 is attached to the underside of the floor 5 in alignment with the slot 16 to provide additional strength.

The opening 7 is normally closed off by a square metal door 18 which is provided with a rearwardly turned peripheral rim 19 which is received in the opening 7 and seats against the ledges 12, 13 and the forward edge of the plate 9. A pair of spaced lugs 20 are mounted or formed on the upper edge of the door 18 and these are hooked behind the lower edge of the front wall 4 when the door 18 is in place over the opening 7.

Mounted on the door 18 is a conventional operating mechanism including an outside operating handle 21 and an operating gear 22 that is on the inside of the door 18 to be operatively engageable with the dispensing mechanism 8 when the door 18 is in place. A coin slot 23 is provided on the outside of the door 18 above the handle 21. The door 18 is further provided with a discharge opening 24 that is in alignment with the chute 11 when the door 18 is in place, the opening 24 being covered by a hinged cover plate 25.

The operating and dispensing mechanisms of the vend-v ing machine have not been shown and will not be described in detail since their construction and operation are well known to those skilled in the art and since any of several well known arrangements may be used without departure from the invention. Sufiice it to say that the user inserts the proper coin in the slot 23 and turns the handle 21, which causes rotation of the gear 22 and actuation of the mechanism 8, all resulting in the dispensing of one or a selected number of items through the chute 11 and out the opening 24.

Mounted near the bottom of the door 18 is a lock 26 with an outwardly facing keyhole 27 and a pivotable bolt 28 of rectangular cross section which is directly over the slot 16 when the door 18 is in place. The door 18 is locked in place by inserting a key (not shown) in the keyhole 27 and rotating it to pivot the bolt 28 to a vertical or locked position, shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 3,

wherein it passes through the slot 16 and plate 17 and extends therebelow. Reverse rotation of the key moves the bolt 28 to a horizontal or unlocked position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, wherein it is removed from the slot 16, whereupon the lower edge of the door 18 can be pivoted outwardly to disengage the lugs 20 and the door 18 can be removed. To replace the door 18, the lugs 20 are first engaged and the door 18 is then pivoted into place and locked.

The reference numeral 29 designates a generally rectangular sheet metal mounting platform with turned down edges which can be constructed to mount one, two or more machines, and which may itself be mounted on a suitable stand or other support. For each machine to be mounted on the platform 29, there is a generally square sheet metal mounting plate 30 welded or otherwise securely attached to the upper surface of the platform 29, two such plates 30 being provided for the particular platform 29 shown. The side edges of the plates 30 are upwardly offset to define outwardly extending, opposite parallel flanges or rails 31, which are spaced above the surface of the platform 29'. The front outside corners of the rails 31 are preferably slightly upturned at 32. In its front central area, the plate 30 is slit and punched to form a curved, upstanding lock abutment 33 which has a substantial width from front to rear.

The machine is mounted on the platform 29 by lining up the rear edges of the flanges 14- with the forward edges of the rails 31 and then sliding the machine rearwardly onto the platform 29 to a mounted position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The upturned corners 32 minimize the possibility of a blocking engagement between the said edges of the flanges 14 and rails 31 and thus insure easy mounting. When the machine is mounted, the flanges 14 rest on the platform 29 so that the machine is adequately supported and the rails 31 interlock with the flanges 14 to prevent the machine from being lifted or moved from side to side. The machine can be dismounted simply by sliding it forwardly to disengage the rails 31 and flanges 14. It is unnecessary during either mounting or dismounting to raise the machine substantially above the platform 29, and essentially only forward or rearward sliding motion is required.

When the machine is being mounted, it is slid rearwardly until the rear surface of the skirt blockingly engages the forward surface of the abutment 33, and the skirt 15 thus serves as a stop limiting rearward movement of the machine and establishing its mounted position.

In mounted position, and as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, the abutment 33 is below and immediately forward of the bolt 28. When the bolt 28 is pivoted to its locked position, therefore, it is blockingly engageable with the rear surface of the abutment 33 to lock the machine against forward movement. Movement of the bolt 28 to its unlocked position removes it from behind the abutment 33 whereupon the machine can he slid forwardly off the platform 29. Thus, a single element, the bolt 28, is used to lock the door 18 in place and to lock the machine in place on the platform 29. Locking and unlocking are easily accomplished from the front of the machine. Both the machine and door are held securely in place and protected against tampering or theft. The slot 16 and abutment 33- provide eflective engagements for the bolt 28 but are simple and inexpensive to form, and the abutment 33 serves the additional purpose of engaging the skirt 15 to orient the machine on the platform 29.

Although only a single vending machine has been shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the mounting and locking means shown is readily adaptable to multiple, stacked installations. As indicated, two or any desired number of machines may be mounted side by side on the platform 29 by providing the appropriate number of plates 30. Two or more platforms 29 may then be stacked or mounted above one another supported by suitable side frames which could form a part of a floor stand or be mounted on a wall or other supporting structure.

The mounting and locking means shown is particularly suited for such multiple, stacked installations. Because only forward and backward sliding motion is required for mounting and dismounting, horizontal and vertical spacing between individual machines can be held to a minimum. Each machine will be readily, simply removable from the front of the installation. Locking and unlocking can be equally easily accomplished, also from the front.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it would be obvious that modification might be made without departure from the invention. The plate 17, for example, is not necessary as such and is only provided for additional mechanical strength, and other methods may be used to form the flanges 14, rails 31 and abutment 33. Because of the possible modifications, the invention is not to be limited by the showing herein or in any other manner except insofar as limitations appear specifically in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Mounting and locking means for gum vending machines and the like comprising a cabinet with a floor, said means comprising: a lock mounted on the machine that includes a bolt movable between a locked position wherein it extends below the floor and an unlocked position; laterally extending flange means on the machine below the floor; and a mounting platform, said platform being provided with laterally extending rail means adapted to slidably and interlockingly engage the flange means whereby the machine may be slid rearwardly to and forwardly from a mounted position on the platform but is held against vertical or lateral movement, said platform further being provided with a locking abutment that is forward of the bolt when the machine is in mounted position and is blockingly engageable therewith when the bolt is in locked position to hold the machine against forward movement with respect to the platform.

2. Means according to claim 1 wherein the machine cabinet is provided with an access opening and there is a removable door adapted to close off the access opening; and the floor is provided with a locking slot therethrough; and the lock is mounted on the door, the bolt being disposed inwardly of the door and being pivotable between its locked and unlocked positions, the bolt when in locked position being vertical and passing through the slot to lock the door in place and the bolt when in unlocked position being horizontal and above the floor to be removed from the slot.

3. Means according to claim 1 wherein the cabinet has opposite parallel sides and the flange means comprises a pair of inwardly extending flanges running along thebottorn edges of said sides; and the rail means comprises a pair of parallel outwardly extending rails spaced above the surface of the platform; and the abutment is located between the rails.

4. Means according to claim 3 wherein there is a mounting plate aflixed to the platform which has parallel side edges that are upwardly offset to form the rails, and a central portion of the plate is upwardly offset to define the abutment.

5. Means according to claim 3 wherein the machine cabinet is provided with an access opening and there is a removable door adapted to close off the access opening; and the floor is provided with a locking slot therethrough; and the lock is mounted on the door, the bolt being disposed inwardly of the door and being pivotable between its locked and unlocked positions, the bolt when in locked position being vertical and passing through the slot to lock the door in place and the bolt when in unlocked position being horizontal and above the floor to be removed from the slot.

6. Means according to claim 3 wherein the cabinet has a downwardly depending stop near its front that is blockingly engageable with the abutment to prevent the machine from being slid rearwardly past its mounted position.

7. Means according to claim 5 wherein the cabinet has a front wall with a lower edge which defines the top of the access opening; and there are seating ledge means about the opening; and the door is adapted to seat against the seating ledge means and is provided with rearwardly offset lug means adapted to be hooked behind the lower edge of the front wall; and the cabinet is provided with a downwardly depending stop that is engageable with the locking abutment to prevent the machine from being slid rearwardly past its mounted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Weiss 312-253 X Eagley 312-257 Hill 312-257 Shann 232116 Osborne 232-15 Lewis 312-311 X DAVID J. WILLLAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CABINET WITH A FLOOR, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A LOCK MOUNTED ON THE MACHINE THAT INCLUDES A BOLT MOVABLE BETWEEN A LOCKED POSITION WHEREIN IT EXTENDS BELOW THE FLOOR AND AN UNLOCKED POSITION; LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEANS ON THE MACHINE BELOW THE FLOOR; AND A MOUNTING PLATFORM, SAID PLATFORM BEING PROVIDED WITH LATERALLY EXTENDING RAIL MEANS ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY AND INTERLOCKINGLY ENGAGE THE FLANGE MEANS WHEREBY THE MACHINE MAY BE SLID REARWARDLY TO AND FORWARDLY FROM A MOUNTED POSITION ON THE PLATFORM BUT IS HELD

Images