Patent US4042146A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4042146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Map vending machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-03-15
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1996-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A machine for vending folded paper items, such as maps, including a housing having forward amd rear walls, at least one channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, the chute being adapted to contain the folded paper items to be vended, a sliding ejector at the bottom of the chute supporting the items and having teeth to engage one of the items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of the housing for discharging the said one item as a result of the forward sliding movement of the ejector, a drive device in the housing to slide the ejector rearwardly from a forward position to a rearward position, and a tension spring connected to the chute and the ejector to return the ejector from the rearward position to the forward position, the one item being engaged for said forward movement when the ejector is adjacent the rearward position and being positioned for removal from the housing when the ejector has returned to the forward position. The invention also includes an antitheft device, a novel weight for depressing the folded items, a device to prevent exit jamming, and ejector teeth in tapering rows.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack W. Nutter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:00
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/045; B; B65; B65H; B65H1/00; B65H1/04; B65H1/06; B65H3/00; B65H3/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
402 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal of one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position, said means to engage on said slide means being upwardly and forwardly directed teeth for engaging said one item while said slide means is being returned from the rearward position to the forward position, said teeth being arranged in non-parallel rows extending in the generally forwardly direction, said slide means being secured to the channel bottom of said chute, a forwardly-rearwardly directed slot in said channel bottom, said slide means having means attached thereto adapted to slide in said slot, and a tang extending downwardly from said slide means below said bottom for driving engagement by said drive means, said drive means being secured to said forward wall and being adapted to drive in the rearward direction, said drive means having a handle exteriorly of said housing and being adapted to be manually moved in the forward and rearward directions by said handle, said forward wall being hinged to said housing for opening and closing said housing, said drive means being moved out of said housing when said wall is moved on the hinge to open the housing, said chute being accessible for filling with said items when said housing is opened.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
402 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal of one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position, said means to engage on said slide means being upwardly and forwardly directed teeth for engaging said one item while said slide means is being returned from the rearward position to the forward position, said teeth being arranged in non-parallel rows extending in the generally forwardly direction, said slide means being secured to the channel bottom of said chute, a forwardly-rearwardly directed slot in said channel bottom, said slide means having means attached thereto adapted to slide in said slot, and a tang extending downwardly from said slide means below said bottom for driving engagement by said drive means, said drive means being secured to said forward wall and being adapted to drive in the rearward direction, said drive means having a handle exteriorly of said housing and being adapted to be manually moved in the forward and rearward directions by said handle, said forward wall being hinged to said housing for opening and closing said housing, said drive means being moved out of said housing when said wall is moved on the hinge to open the housing, said chute being accessible for filling with said items when said housing is opened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which: said chute is slidably removable when said housing is open.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
350 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal of one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position, and slot guard means associated with said chute adjacent said forward wall and said exit slot to prevent removal of the items through the slot from the exterior of the housing and to permit positioning of said one item into position for removal when said slide means has returned to said forward position, said slot guard means being pivotally secured to a forward edge of said channel bottom and extends in transverse direction with respect to the channel, said exit slot being elongated in said transverse direction and being in register with said slot guard means, said slot guard means being biased to be in register with said exit slot and being movable downwardly substantially out of register from said exit slot when said one item is positioned for removal when said slide means has returned to said forward position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
350 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal of one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position, and slot guard means associated with said chute adjacent said forward wall and said exit slot to prevent removal of the items through the slot from the exterior of the housing and to permit positioning of said one item into position for removal when said slide means has returned to said forward position, said slot guard means being pivotally secured to a forward edge of said channel bottom and extends in transverse direction with respect to the channel, said exit slot being elongated in said transverse direction and being in register with said slot guard means, said slot guard means being biased to be in register with said exit slot and being movable downwardly substantially out of register from said exit slot when said one item is positioned for removal when said slide means has returned to said forward position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
364 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal on one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position, said exit slot being offset from said means to engage on said slide means, said means to engage on said slide means being upwardly and forwardly directed teeth for engaging said one item while said slide means is being returned from the rearward position to the forward position, said teeth being arranged in non-parallel rows extending in the generally forwardly direction, said drive means being secured to said forward wall and being adapted to drive in the rearward direction, said drive means having a handle exteriorly of said housing and being adapted to be manually moved in the forward and rearward directions by said handle, said forward wall being hinged to said housing for opening and closing said housing, said drive means being moved out of said housing when said wall is moved on the hinge to open the housing, said chute being accessible for filling with said items when said housing is opened.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
364 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal on one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position, said exit slot being offset from said means to engage on said slide means, said means to engage on said slide means being upwardly and forwardly directed teeth for engaging said one item while said slide means is being returned from the rearward position to the forward position, said teeth being arranged in non-parallel rows extending in the generally forwardly direction, said drive means being secured to said forward wall and being adapted to drive in the rearward direction, said drive means having a handle exteriorly of said housing and being adapted to be manually moved in the forward and rearward directions by said handle, said forward wall being hinged to said housing for opening and closing said housing, said drive means being moved out of said housing when said wall is moved on the hinge to open the housing, said chute being accessible for filling with said items when said housing is opened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 4, in which: said chute is slidably removably when said housing is open.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
371 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal of one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position. said exit slot being offset from said means to engage on said slide means, said means to engage on said slide means being upwardly and forwardly directed teeth for engaging said one item while said slide means is being returned from the rearward position to the forward position, said teeth being arranged in non-parallel rows extending in the generally forwardly direction, said slide means being secured to the channel bottom of said chute, a forwardly-rearwardly directed slot in said channel bottom, said slide means having means attached thereto adapted to slide in said slot, and a tang extending downwardly from said slide means below said bottom for driving engagement by said drive means, said biasing means associated with said chute being a tension spring under said channel bottom, and means on said chute adjacent a forward end thereof having one end of said spring connected thereto, the other end of said spring being connected to said tang adjacent a forward end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
371 words
In a machine for vending folded paper items, a housing having forward and rear walls, a channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, said chute being adapted to contain said items for vending, said chute having a bottom and said items being adapted to extend upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the chute, slide means adjacent the bottom of said chute and associated therewith to support said items, said slide means being adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly relative to said chute and having means to engage one of said items sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of said housing to permit the removal of one of said items as the result of said forward sliding movement, drive means in said housing to slide said slide means rearwardly in said housing from a forward position to a rearward position, the improvement comprising: biasing means associated with said chute and said slide means to return said slide means from the rearward position to the forward position, said one item being engaged for said forward movement adjacent said rearward position by said means to engage and being positioned after said forward movement for removal from the housing when said slide means has returned to said forward position. said exit slot being offset from said means to engage on said slide means, said means to engage on said slide means being upwardly and forwardly directed teeth for engaging said one item while said slide means is being returned from the rearward position to the forward position, said teeth being arranged in non-parallel rows extending in the generally forwardly direction, said slide means being secured to the channel bottom of said chute, a forwardly-rearwardly directed slot in said channel bottom, said slide means having means attached thereto adapted to slide in said slot, and a tang extending downwardly from said slide means below said bottom for driving engagement by said drive means, said biasing means associated with said chute being a tension spring under said channel bottom, and means on said chute adjacent a forward end thereof having one end of said spring connected thereto, the other end of said spring being connected to said tang adjacent a forward end thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-15 | 1981-02-14 | 1981-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-15 | 1985-02-14 | 1985-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-15 | 1989-02-14 | 1989-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |