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US5083391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display and dispensing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-11-06
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus which serves as both an advertising medium, for business cards as an example, and a means to dispense certain articles needed in a business establishment, comprises a multi-sided, substantially upright enclosure which includes walls upon which the business cards can be placed. In one embodiment, the enclosure is essentially a box with transparent sides, and the cards are placed against the inside surface of the walls. A supporting member for supporting the cards or other advertising media is inside and spaced from the enclosure to define a card receiving space. In another embodiment, a ledge is attached to the wall along with a bracing means to support it. The cards can be placed on the ledge where they are in view and from which then can be readily removed by an interested person. At the top of the enclosure in both embodiments is a receptacle where the articles, such as food products, are retained and from where they can be conveniently taken for use.
Inventors
- 👤 Arlene Kyler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:00
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F23/00; G09F23/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for displaying items having visual indicia thereon and also for containing articles available for selective removal therefrom, comprising: a substantially upright enclosure with substantially upright, substantially transparent side walls, and a top having an opening therein; a side wall surface of said enclosure adapted to retain and exhibit said items; an open-top receptacle accommodated in the top portion of said enclosure and extending downwardly from said opening, for holding said articles in a manner suitable for convenient removal of said articles therefrom by hand through said open top of said receptacle; means for removably securing said open-top receptacle to said enclosure without closing the open top of said receptacle; and a space defined between inner surfaces of said side walls and said receptacle, said items being at least partly received in said space and supported by at least one of said receptacle and an inner surface of said side walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for displaying items having visual indicia thereon and also for containing articles available for selective removal therefrom, comprising: a substantially upright enclosure with substantially upright, substantially transparent side walls, and a top having an opening therein; a side wall surface of said enclosure adapted to retain and exhibit said items; an open-top receptacle accommodated in the top portion of said enclosure and extending downwardly from said opening, for holding said articles in a manner suitable for convenient removal of said articles therefrom by hand through said open top of said receptacle; means for removably securing said open-top receptacle to said enclosure without closing the open top of said receptacle; and a space defined between inner surfaces of said side walls and said receptacle, said items being at least partly received in said space and supported by at least one of said receptacle and an inner surface of said side walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle is of a size to fit in said enclosure and has an upper rim sized to be fitted on the top of said side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotating means on which said enclosure is mounted, whereby said enclosure is rotatable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising support means on which said enclosure is mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support means includes rotatable means for mounting said enclosure so that said enclosure is rotatable relative to said support means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support means includes a holder for small containers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle extends only partly through the height of said enclosure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a support member mounted in said enclosure and below said receptacle for providing support for said receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said support member comprises a substantially cylindrical member of substantially the same peripheral shape as said receptacle, a space being defined between inner surfaces of said side walls of said enclosure and said support member, said items being at least partly received in said last mentioned space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said support member comprises a substantially rectangular member of substantially the same peripheral shape as said receptacle, a space being defined between inner surfaces of said side wall of said enclosure and said support member, said items being at least partly received in said last mentioned space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said support member comprises a generally X-shaped member extending between a lower surface of said receptacle and a lower surface of said enclosure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said X-shaped support member has substantially vertical edges spaced from inner surfaces of said side walls of said enclosure and defining spaces relative to said walls of said enclosure, said items being at least partly received in said last mentioned spaces and supported at least partly by at least one of said substantially vertical edges and said inner surfaces of said walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a base, said base including means defining a groove between the inner surfaces of said side walls and a portion of said base for receiving sheet-like items in said groove, thereby further supporting and retaining said sheet-like items.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upright substantially transparent side walls are downwardly and outwardly inclined from the top of the enclosure toward the bottom of the enclosure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising retaining means extending downwardly from said receptacle and spaced from at least a portion of respective side walls of said enclosure so as to define respective spaces between said retaining means and the inner surface of said side walls, said items being at least partly received in said last mentioned space and supported at least partly by at least one of said retaining means and said inner surfaces of said side walls.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for holding at least one item having indicia thereon and available for selective removal therefrom, and for visually displaying a member carrying indicia thereon corresponding to said at least one item, comprising: a substantially upright structure having a surface upon which said at least one item can be placed for selective removal; said structure including at least one wall, and said surface upon which said at least one item can be placed for selective removal thereof comprising at least one ledge connected to and extending outwardly from said at least one wall; and wherein said at least one wall is substantially transparent and wherein said structure further comprises means for removably retaining said member carrying said indicia corresponding to said at least one item adjacent an inner surface of said at least one wall and arranged behind said at least one ledge, whereby said indicia corresponding to said at least one item is viewable through said substantially transparent wall from the outside of said structure when all of said at least one item are removed from said at least one ledge, thereby providing a permanent display of said indicia corresponding to said at least one item even when all of said at least one item are removed from said at least one ledge.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for holding at least one item having indicia thereon and available for selective removal therefrom, and for visually displaying a member carrying indicia thereon corresponding to said at least one item, comprising: a substantially upright structure having a surface upon which said at least one item can be placed for selective removal; said structure including at least one wall, and said surface upon which said at least one item can be placed for selective removal thereof comprising at least one ledge connected to and extending outwardly from said at least one wall; and wherein said at least one wall is substantially transparent and wherein said structure further comprises means for removably retaining said member carrying said indicia corresponding to said at least one item adjacent an inner surface of said at least one wall and arranged behind said at least one ledge, whereby said indicia corresponding to said at least one item is viewable through said substantially transparent wall from the outside of said structure when all of said at least one item are removed from said at least one ledge, thereby providing a permanent display of said indicia corresponding to said at least one item even when all of said at least one item are removed from said at least one ledge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a pair of vertical bracing walls extending outwardly from said at least one wall, said at least one ledge being attached to and between said pair of bracing walls, a plurality of said ledges being attached to said bracing walls in the vertical direction, said ledges being spaced apart in said vertical direction, whereby said bracing walls secure said ledges in their respective positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said items are substantially flat, and said retaining means of said structure are slot-like.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said items are sheet-like.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |