Newspaper display machine

Claim 2

A newspaper display machine comprising: a container for housing a supply of newspapers, an access door pivotably mounted at a front side of said container for rotation between open and closed positions about a generally horizontal axis disposed along a lower edge of said door, said door including a transparent window having a height and width substantially commensurate with the full height and full width dimensions of newspapers being sold from said machine, means on said container and door for locking said door to said container in said closed position of said door, and for unlocking said door in response to the depositing of preselected coinage, first closure spring means for biasing said door toward its closed position, at least one pressure plate mounted on an inner side of said door for swinging movement toward and away from said window between closed and open positions, respectively, second closure spring means for biasing said pressure plate toward its closed position to press a full-length display newspaper against an interior surface of said window, and retaining means on said container for engaging said plate when said plate and door are both in their open positions, to releasably retain said door and plate in their open positions against the closing biases of said first and second spring means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure plate is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis disposed adjacent an edge of said window.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a hole into which a portion of said pressure plate fits.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said portion of said plate comprises a lower, inner corner of said plate.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are two said pressure plates pivotably mounted along opposing vertical edges of said window, said retaining means retaining both of said pressure plates in their open positions.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of holes which receive portions of respective ones of said pressure plates.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said portions of said plates comprise lower, inner corners of said plates.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second spring means comprises a coil spring interconnecting said two pressure plates.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pressure plate includes an inner, generally vertical edge which contacts the display newspaper and is bent back to present a smooth contact surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said window has a height of at least nineteen inches.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said window has a height of at least twenty-two inches.

Claim 13

A newspaper display machine comprising: a container for housing a supply of newspapers, an access door pivotably mounted at a front side of said container for rotation between open and closed positions about a generally horizontal axis disposed along a lower edge of said door, said door including a transparent window having a height and width substantially commensurate with the full height and full width dimensions of newspapers being sold from said mechanism, means on said container and door for locking said door to said container in said closed position of said door, and for unlocking said door in response to the depositing of preselected coinage, first closure spring means for biasing said door toward its closed position, a pair of generally vertically oriented pressure plates each having generally vertical inner and outer edges, said outer edge of each pressure plate being pivotably mounted on an inner side of said door for movement about a substantially vertical axis toward and away from said window between closed and open positions, respectively, said vertical axes being situated along opposing vertical edges of said window, such that said inner edges of said plates move toward one another as said plates are being closed, second closure spring means for biasing said pressure plates toward their closed positions to press a display newspaper against an interior surface of said window, and a pair of holes in said container situated inwardly of said door and located such that lower ends of said inner edges of said pressure plates are receivable in respective ones of said holes when said plates and said door are all in their opened positions, to releasably retain said door and plates in their open positions against the closing biases of said first and second spring means.

Claim 14

A newspaper display machine comprising: a container for housing a supply of newspapers, an access door pivotably mounted at a front side of said container for rotation between open and closed positions about a generally horizontal axis disposed along a lower edge of said door, said door including a transparent window having a height and width substantially commensurate with the full height and full width dimensions of newspapers being sold from said mechanism, means on said container and door for locking said door to said container in said closed position of said door, and for unlocking said door in response to the depositing of preselected coinage, first closure spring means for biasing said door toward its closed position, a pair of generally vertically oriented pressure plates each having generally vertical inner and outer edges, said outer edge of each pressure plate being pivotably mounted on an inner side of said door for movement about a substantially vertical axis toward and away from said window between closed and open positions, respectively, said vertical axes being situated along opposing vertical edges of said window, such that said inner edges of said plates move toward one another as said plates are being closed, second closure spring means for biasing said pressure plates toward their closed positions to press a display newspaper against an interior surface of said window, and a pair of holes in said container situated inwardly of said door and located such that lower ends of said inner edges of said pressure plates are receivable in respective ones of said holes when said plates and said door are all in their opened positions, to releasably retain said door and plates in their open positions against the closing biases of said first and second spring means.

Claim 15

A newspaper display machine comprising: a container for housing a supply of newspapers, an access door pivotably mounted at a front side of said container for rotation between open and closed positions about a generally horizontal axis disposed along a lower edge of said door, said door including a transparent window, means on said container and door for locking said door to said container in said closed position of said door, and for unlocking said door in response to the depositing of preselected coinage, first closure spring means for biasing said door toward its closed position, at least one pressure plate mounted on an inner side of said door for swinging movement toward and away from said window between closed and open positions, respectively, second closure spring means for biasing said pressure plate toward its closed position to press a display newspaper against an interior surface of said window, and retaining means on said container for engaging said plate when said plate and door are both in their open positions, to releasably retain said door and plate in their open positions against the closing biases of said first and second spring means.

Claim 16

A newspaper display machine comprising: a container for housing a supply of newspapers, an access door pivotably mounted at a front side of said container for rotation between open and closed positions about a generally horizontal axis disposed along a lower edge of said door, said door including a transparent window, means on said container and door for locking said door to said container in said closed position of said door, and for unlocking said door in response to the depositing of preselected coinage, first closure spring means for biasing said door toward its closed position, at least one pressure plate mounted on an inner side of said door for swinging movement toward and away from said window between closed and open positions, respectively, second closure spring means for biasing said pressure plate toward its closed position to press a display newspaper against an interior surface of said window, and retaining means on said container for engaging said plate when said plate and door are both in their open positions, to releasably retain said door and plate in their open positions against the closing biases of said first and second spring means.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said pressure plate is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis disposed adjacent an edge of said window.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said retaining means comprises a hole into which a portion of said pressure plate fits.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said portion of said plate comprises a lower, inner corner of said plate.