US20190104847A1 - Vending system - Google Patents
Vending system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20190104847A1 US20190104847A1 US15/730,050 US201715730050A US2019104847A1 US 20190104847 A1 US20190104847 A1 US 20190104847A1 US 201715730050 A US201715730050 A US 201715730050A US 2019104847 A1 US2019104847 A1 US 2019104847A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- door
- support bracket
- products
- vending system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
- A47F5/08—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
- A47F5/0807—Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
- A47F5/0846—Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein
- A47F5/0853—Rail constructions; Brackets
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
- A47B96/06—Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B57/00—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions
- A47B57/06—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of the shelves
- A47B57/08—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of the shelves consisting of grooved or notched ledges, uprights or side walls
- A47B57/10—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of the shelves consisting of grooved or notched ledges, uprights or side walls the grooved or notched parts being the side walls or uprights themselves
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
- A47B96/14—Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like
- A47B96/1408—Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like regularly perforated
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
- A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
- A47F1/12—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack
- A47F1/125—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack with an article-pushing device
- A47F1/126—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack with an article-pushing device the pushing device being urged by spring means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
- A47F5/08—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
- A47F5/0807—Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
- A47F5/0815—Panel constructions with apertures for article supports, e.g. hooks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
- A47F5/10—Adjustable or foldable or dismountable display stands
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
- A47F5/10—Adjustable or foldable or dismountable display stands
- A47F5/101—Display racks with slotted uprights
- A47F5/103—Display shelving racks with the uprights aligned in only one plane
Definitions
- This invention is generally directed to systems for vending products. More particularly, the invention relates to cigarette vending systems. Specifically, the invention is directed to a vending system comprising a plurality of modules positioned one above the other on hanging brackets secured to a store wall. Each module includes a support bracket having a panel engaged therein; sensors provided in or on the panel and pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket for urging tobacco products on the panel towards a door. When closed, the door completely hides the tobacco products from the consumer.
- the present disclosure is directed to a vending system for tobacco products, such as cigarettes.
- the vending system is designed to be able to be placed behind a sales desk in a store and may be conveniently positioned on a standard retail slat wall system without any fasteners.
- the vending system allows the retailer to have quick and easy access to the product but at the same time does not allow any member of the public to actually view what is being retained in the vending system.
- the vending system includes one or more hanging brackets and a plurality of modules that are selectively engageable on the hanging brackets.
- the hanging brackets are engaged on a store wall, particularly a slat wall, by inserting flanges into recesses between the slats.
- Each module includes a support bracket that is securable to the hanging brackets; a panel that is engaged with the support bracket; one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket and extending across a portion of the panel and a door that extends across an opening to the module. When the door is closed none of the product inside the module is visible.
- a computer may be operatively engaged with the sensors and is provided with programming to track products stocked in the vending system and removed therefrom.
- the present disclosure may provide a vending system for products comprising a support bracket adapted to be engaged with a support surface a panel engageable with the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive one or more products thereon; and one or more sensors provided in or on the panel.
- the present disclosure may provide, in combination, a pair of hanger brackets adapted to be secured to a slatted wall; a plurality of modules engageable with the hanger brackets and adapted to retain a plurality of products therein, wherein each module comprises a support bracket defining an aperture therein; said support bracket being configured to be engaged on the pair of hanger brackets; a panel insertable into the aperture of the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive some of the plurality of products thereon; one or more pusher assemblies provided on an interior surface of the support bracket; each pusher assembly extending for a distance across the panel; and a door; wherein the plurality of modules are engaged at spaced intervals one above the other on the pair of hanger brackets.
- the combination may further provide that the door of each module is engaged with the support bracket of the module above it; wherein the door of each module is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and when the door is in the closed position, none of the product retained in the module is visible from in front of the closed door.
- the combination may further comprise one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; a remote computer operatively engaged with the one or more sensors; and programming provided in the computer to monitor an amount and brand of the plurality of products retained on the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules: and an amount and brand of the plurality of products removed from the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules.
- the plurality of products may be packages of tobacco products such as boxes of cigarettes.
- the present disclosure may provide a method of vending tobacco products comprising engaging a support bracket on a support surface; placing a panel into the support bracket to form a panel floor; arranging a plurality of tobacco products on an upper surface of the panel floor; contacting a rearmost one of the plurality of tobacco products on the panel with a pusher assembly; urging the tobacco products towards a forwardmost end of the panel floor using the pusher assembly; hiding all of the tobacco products behind a door positioned in front of a front wall of the support bracket so that none of the tobacco products are visible when the door is in a closed position.
- the method may further comprise opening the door; and removing one of the tobacco products when the door is opened.
- the method as defined may further comprise sensing, with a sensor provided in or on the panel, that a forwardmost tobacco product has been removed from off the panel floor.
- the method may further comprise operatively engaging the sensor with a remote computer; sending a signal from the sensor to the remote computer; providing programming in the computer that tracks the tobacco products loaded into the panel and removed from the panel; and tracking with the computer, based on the signals from the sensor, a number of tobacco products that remain on the panel and a number of tobacco products that have been removed from the panel; compiling tracked information into a database in the computer; and analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided in the computer.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, with the vending system shown mounted on a slatted wall;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vending system of FIG. 1 with a top wall and a side wall of the vending system removed and showing a plurality of products, specifically boxes of cigarettes, retained within the vending system;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the highlighted region of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of part of the vending system of FIG. 2 with the product removed therefrom and showing various components of the vending system engaged with the slatted wall;
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of a hanger bracket of the vending system shown on its own;
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the components shown in FIG. 4 assembled to form a top section of the vending system
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the highlighted region of FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged right side view of the highlighted region of FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the highlighted region of FIG. 2 that shows that some boxes of product have been removed from a first row of the uppermost module of the vending system.
- FIGS. 1-11 there is shown a retail vending system generally indicated at 10 .
- Vending system 10 is shown mounted to a wall 12 in such a way that a plurality of boxes of product 14 (such as boxes of cigarettes or other tobacco products) retained in vending system 10 is not visible to a consumer who may be standing facing wall 12 .
- wall 12 has a front surface 12 a that will face the consumer and vending system 10 is mounted on front surface 12 a in such a way that vending system 10 obscures product 14 from the view anyone facing front surface 12 a of wall 12 .
- FIG. 1 shows wall 12 having a front face 12 a comprised of slats 12 b that are positioned one-above-the-other.
- the slats 12 b may be formed only in the front face 12 a of wall 12 and slots 12 c may be defined between adjacent slats 12 b .
- slats 12 b may be individual sections of wall 12 that are positioned one above the other and are separated by slots 12 c.
- FIG. 1 shows vending system 10 mounted on front face 12 a of wall 12 .
- Vending system 10 may include a cabinet box that may be generally rectangular in shape and includes a top wall 10 a and a pair of opposing side walls 10 b (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1 ) that extend downwardly from opposite ends of top wall 10 a .
- the cabinet box may further comprise a bottom wall that is opposed to top wall 10 a .
- One or more of top wall 10 a , side walls 10 b and the bottom wall may be omitted from vending system 10 or the cabinet box may be replaced by thin frame members that will support or connect together the other components of vending system 10 .
- FIGS. 2-3 show vending machine 10 with top wall 10 a and side wall 10 of the cabinet box shown in phantom for the sake of clarity.
- FIG. 4 shows the cabinet box in phantom with other components of vending system 10 exploded away from each other so that they may be better seen.
- vending system 10 may comprise one or more hanger brackets 16 that are secured to front surface 12 a of wall 12 , one or more support brackets 20 ; one or more panels 22 , one or more pusher assemblies 24 ; and one or more doors 26 .
- Each module in vending system 10 may be comprised of a single support bracket 20 , a single support panel 22 , a plurality of pusher assemblies 24 and one or more doors 26 .
- FIG. 4 shows an exemplary single module of vending system 10 .
- the module comprises a single support bracket 20 , a single plate 22 , a plurality of pusher assemblies 24 and two doors 26 (although a single door or more than two doors could be utilized). It will be understood that the number of pusher assemblies 24 utilized in the module may be selected based on the number of products 14 to be retained on plate 22 of vending system 10 . Fifteen pusher assemblies 24 are shown in FIG. 4 but it will be understood that fewer than or more than fifteen pusher assemblies 24 may be utilized in each module.
- Support bracket 20 is illustrated as being engaged between two spaced apart hanger brackets 16 for stability. It will be understood that only a single hanger bracket 16 may be utilized or more than two hanger brackets 16 may be utilized to engage and secure support bracket 20 to wall 12 .
- Each recess 16 d may include a thinner, downwardly extending section 16 d ′ ( FIG. 10 ) that will be generally vertically oriented when hanger bracket 16 is secured to wall 12 as illustrated in FIG. 10 .
- Hanger bracket 16 is engaged with wall 12 by inserting flanges 16 b into slots 12 c ( FIG. 10 ) 0 defined by wall 12 .
- the rails 16 a of hanger bracket 16 rest against the front face 12 a of wall 12 .
- hanger bracket 16 When hanger bracket 16 is engaged with wall 12 in this manner, no fasteners are required to secure hanger bracket 16 to wall 12 . Because fasteners do not need to be used to secure hanger bracket 16 in place, hanger brackets 16 may be quickly and easily installed on wall 12 , moved along wall 12 , or removed therefrom. Flanges provided at a bottom end of hanger bracket 16 may be received into slots 12 c on wall 12 in a similar fashion. Because hanger brackets 16 each include a plurality of arms 16 c that are vertically spaced from each other, it is possible for the retailer to customize the vending system 10 by determining the vertical distance between adjacent support brackets 20 .
- hanger bracket 16 may be secured to walls that lack slots for receiving flanges 16 b .
- a hole may be drilled through each flange 16 b and a fastener may be inserted through each hole and subsequently into the non-slatted wall.
- each support bracket 20 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from above and may comprise a front wall 20 a , a rear wall 20 b , a left side wall 20 c and a right side wall 20 d .
- Front wall 20 a may be of a shorter height than rear wall 20 b .
- Front wall, rear wall, left and right side walls 20 a - 20 d may bound and define an aperture 20 e in support bracket 20 .
- a lip 20 f may be provided on an interior surface of each of the front wall 20 a , rear wall 20 b , left side wall 20 c and right side wall.
- Left side wall 20 c and right side wall 20 d of support bracket 20 may be of a generally truncated-triangular shape when viewed from the side as in FIG. 2 , for example.
- Each of the side walls 20 c , 20 d may be of a greater height (measured between a top edge and a bottom edge thereof) proximate rear wall 20 b and be of a lesser height proximate front wall 20 a .
- This generally triangular shape may strengthen the module as the left and right side walls 20 c , 20 d acts as bracing sections.
- each of the left and right side walls 20 c , 20 d may be fabricated from a smaller front section 21 a and a larger rear section 21 b that are configured to telescope relative to each other. This arrangement permits the distance between front wall 20 a and rear wall 20 b to be selectively adjusted by the retailer.
- the rear sections 21 b of each of the left and right side walls 20 c , 20 d may define a horizontal slot 20 j therein that originates and terminates a distance away from each of the front end and the rear end of rear section 21 b .
- One or more stops 20 k may extend outwardly from front section 21 and project through slot 20 j .
- the one or more stops 20 k may be provided to ensure smooth travel between front section 21 a and rear section 21 b . Stops 20 k also may limit the extent of telescoping travel that may be possible between the front and rear sections 21 a , 21 b . One or more stops may also be provided on rear section 21 b to limit travel of front section 21 a relative thereto (It should be note that front and rear walls 20 a , 20 b may also be similarly fabricated to telescope to some extent.) In other embodiments, the front wall 20 a , rear wall 20 b , lefts side wall 20 c and right side wall 20 c may be of fixed length.
- rear wall 20 b may be of the same height as the rearmost ends of left side wall 20 c and right side wall 20 d .
- An L-shaped hook 20 g may extend rearwardly from a top edge of rear wall 20 b .
- Hook 20 g may be integrally formed with rear wall 20 b so that rear wall 20 b and hook 20 g form a single unitary or monolithic member or hook 20 g may be secured to rear wall 20 b such as by welding.
- Hook 20 g may include a generally horizontal section that is oriented at right angles to the interior surface of rear wall 20 b that defines lip 20 f .
- Hook 20 g may also include a generally vertical section, numbered 20 g ′ ( FIG.
- hook 20 g that extends downwardly from the generally horizontal section of hook 20 g .
- the generally vertical section 20 g ′ may be spaced a distance rearwardly from an exterior surface of rear wall 20 g and be substantially parallel thereto.
- Hook 20 g and vertical section 20 g ′ thereof may be sized to be received into recess 16 d of hanger bracket 16 and particularly vertical section 20 g ′ may be sized to be received and engaged in thinner section 16 d ′ of recess 16 d .
- support bracket 20 may rest against the front surface 16 c ′ ( FIG. 8 ) of one or more arms 16 c on hanger bracket 16 . In this way, support bracket 20 is firmly engaged with hanger bracket 16 . It should be noted that no fasteners are required to secure support bracket 20 to hanger brackets 16 . It is therefore relatively quick and easy for a retailer to engage support bracket 20 with hanger bracket 16 , to change the vertical position or spacing of support bracket(s) 20 on hanger brackets 20 or to disassemble the vending system 10 .
- slots 20 h may be defined in rear wall 20 b of support bracket 20 . Slots 20 h may be located vertically above lip 20 f . The purpose of slots 20 h will be later described herein.
- Panel 22 is configured to be engaged with support bracket 20 .
- Panel 22 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from above ( FIG. 3 ) and may have an upper surface 22 a , a lower surface 22 b , a front edge 22 c , a rear edge 22 d , a left side edge 22 e and a right side edge 22 f .
- Panel 22 may be sized so that it will be able to be received in aperture 20 f of support bracket 20 and come to rest upon lip 20 f when so received.
- Panel 22 may comprise plastic layer that may be inserted into aperture 20 f .
- panel 22 may be fabricated from metal.
- panel 22 may be comprised of a metal frame shelf plus a plastic panel member. The plastic panel member may be connected to the metal frame shelf or may be placed on top of the metal frame shelf.
- One or more sensors 28 may be provided in or on panel 22 , particularly if the panel 22 is comprised of or includes a plastic layer. Sensors 28 may be utilized to detect product 14 that rests on panel 22 and/or is removed from panel 22 . During fabrication of panel 22 , sensors 28 may be enveloped by plastic material so that they are protected from potential damage. The metal may block the ability of the sensors 28 to sense product 14 located on the panel beneath the one from which product 14 is removed. The sensors 28 may therefore only sense the removal of product 14 from on top of specific panel 22 and may therefore not provide false readings. If desired, the system can be set up so that each sensor 28 may be able to monitor product 14 that is located above or below the panel 22 in which sensor 28 is located.
- the sensors 28 may be provided in a plastic layer that rests on top of a metal frame shelf.
- the shelf frame may be open at the bottom to permit radio frequency (RF) waves and waves of any kind to pass through the shelf insert and facilitate detection of items or item tags placed on the shelf, or placed on the items, or for sensing bare sections of the shelf.
- Shelf inserts may be constructed of any material suitable for any type of sensing, including metal for holding items when no item detection is required.
- An alternate embodiment includes a one piece shelf frame that is open on the bottom with a fixed depth.
- the one or more sensors 28 may be operatively engaged by appropriate circuitry with a cable 30 that extends outwardly from panel 22 and is operatively engaged with a remote computer 32 .
- FIG. 4 shows cable 30 extending outwardly from right side edge 22 f of panel 22 . It will be understood that cable 30 may extend, alternatively, outwardly from any of the other edges or the top or lower surface of panel 22 . Cable 30 may be threaded through one of the slots 20 h in support bracket 20 and be positioned adjacent one of the hanging brackets 16 of vending system 10 (as shown in FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, cable 30 may be inserted through a hole defined between front face 12 a and a rear face 12 d ( FIG. 7 ) of wall 12 .
- Computer 32 may be provided with programming to monitor the number of boxes of product 14 resting on upper surface 22 a of panel 22 .
- Sensors 28 may be positioned to align with one of the one or more of the pusher assemblies 24 and may therefore be used to monitor boxes of product 14 that are contacted by a particular pusher assembly 24 .
- One sensor 28 or more than one sensors 28 may be provided in a region of panel 28 that is aligned with each pusher assembly.
- Sensors 28 may be provided for substantially the entire depth of panel 22 from proximate front wall 20 a of support bracket 20 to proximate rear wall 20 b of support bracket 20 or may be located anywhere else in panel 22 that enables adequate monitoring of product 14 .
- a signal may be sent from the appropriate activated one of the one or more sensors 28 , via cable 30 to the remote computer 32 .
- the programming in computer 32 will utilize the received signal to compute and tally the amount of product 14 left in vending system 10 and/or the amount of product 14 that should be recorded as sold because it has been removed from vending system 10 .
- the computer 32 may therefore track and control sales of product 14 in real time and may also be programmed to automatically re-order product 14 from a vendor based on the monitored sales. If different brands of product 14 are stocked in different areas of vending system 10 , the relative sales of the different brands may also be recorded and tracked by the programming provided in computer 32 .
- a database may be compiled and stored in computer 32 and the programming may also permit various types of analysis of the data in the database to be undertaken and appropriate reports to be generated.
- the database stored in computer 32 may be accessed by selectively connecting other computing devices (such as a tablet or smartphone) to computer 32 .
- FIG. 8 shows the pusher assemblies 24 that may comprise part of each module of vending system 10 .
- Each pusher assembly 24 may comprise a first plate 24 a , a second plate 24 b and a coil spring 24 c .
- First and second plates 24 a , 24 b may be of generally the same size and be positioned generally parallel to each other.
- a first end of coil spring 24 c may be fixedly secured to a rear surface of first plate 24 a and a second end of coil spring 24 c may be fixedly secured to a front surface of second plate 24 b .
- a rear surface of second plate 24 b may be fixedly secured to an interior surface of rear wall 20 b of support bracket 20 by any suitable means, such as by an adhesive or by welding.
- Second plate 24 b may be secured to rear wall 20 b in a location that will result in second plate 24 b being located above an upper surface 22 a of panel 22 when panel 22 is engaged in support bracket 20 .
- a front surface of first plate 24 a will contact a rear wall of the rearmost product, indicated as 14 a in FIGS. 2 and 11 .
- Spring 24 c will maintain forward-directed pressure on the rearmost product 14 a and thereby on the entire row of product 14 that extends forwardly from a particular pusher assembly 24 .
- each pusher assembly 24 may push a single row of product 14 forwardly towards an inner surface of door 26 in the direction indicated by arrow “A” ( FIG. 8 ).
- Front wall 20 a of support bracket 20 may act as a stop that substantially prevents the pusher assembly 24 from pushing product 14 completely out of vending system 10 . It will be understood that other types of pusher assembly than pusher assembly 24 may be utilized in vending system 10 .
- one or more doors 26 may be provided on each module of vending system 10 .
- Doors 26 may be fabricated from a non-transparent or opaque material so that a consumer cannot see through them when door 26 is in a closed position.
- Each of the one or more doors 26 may be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position.
- Each door 26 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the front and may include a front surface 26 a , a rear surface 26 b ( FIG. 9 ), a top flange 26 c , a bottom flange 26 d , a left side edge 26 e and a right side edge 26 f .
- Top flange 26 e may be oriented at right angles to front surface 26 a and may defined one or more apertures 26 g defined therein. Apertures 26 g may be provided to receive fasteners therethrough, such as fasteners 10 c shown in FIG. 1 .
- Bottom flange 26 d may be generally U-shaped when viewed from one side, such as in FIG. 6 .
- a bracket 26 h may extend outwardly from door 26 proximate each of the left and right side edges 26 e , 26 f .
- Each bracket 26 h may define a hole 26 i therein.
- a shaft of a pivot pin 34 may be inserted through the hole 26 i of each bracket 26 h to secure door 26 to the support bracket 20 of a module located above each door 26 .
- Pivot pin 34 may comprise a pin that extends outwardly from the front wall 20 a or left or right side walls 20 c , 20 d of support bracket 20 .
- the pivot pin 34 may be inserted through an aperture in one of side walls 10 b of the vending system's cabinet box or may extend downwardly from the top wall 10 a of the vending system's cabinet box.
- a fastener (not shown) may be passed through the aligned holes 26 i of the brackets 26 h on the side edges 26 f , 26 e of the doors that are disposed adjacent each other. This ensures that the doors are connected together but are still able to pivot individually between open and closed positions.
- flange 26 c may be fixedly secured to front wall 20 a of the support bracket 20 of the module above door 26 and door 26 may be pivotally engaged with flange 26 c.
- Pivot pins 34 may permit door 26 to pivot about a horizontally-oriented axis between the open position and the closed position. (The horizontally-oriented axis may extend along the shafts of the pivot pins 34 .)
- vending system 10 when vending system 10 is used to hold a plurality of tobacco products 14 , the front surface 26 a of door 26 is intended to be free of any indicia or advertising that might indicate that type of product 14 that is retained within vending system 10 . It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that if it is permitted in any jurisdiction to advertise the products 14 retained within vending system 10 then advertising markings or other indicia may be provided on front surface 26 a or any other part of vending system 10 that will be visible to the consumer.
- top wall 10 a of cabinet box may, alternatively be connected to flange 26 c of door 26 by fasteners 10 c ( FIG. 1 ) and pivot rods 34 may be pivotally connected to flange 26 c or top wall 10 a or side walls 10 b.
- Each door 26 may be selectively rotated to the open position by a retailer grasping the bottom flange 26 d or one of the side edges 26 e , 26 f of plate 26 and rotating door 26 in the direction of arrow “B” ( FIG. 7 ).
- the retailer may be permitted access to an interior of an associated module of the vending system 10 .
- the retailer may then be able to remove a forwardmost package of product, such as the forwardmost box of product shown in FIG. 3 by the reference number 14 b .
- a signal is transmitted from one of the sensors that detects that part of panel 22 to the remote computer 32 .
- Moving door 26 back to a closed position may simply involve the retailer letting go of door 26 as the door 26 will then return to its original position under force of gravity.
- door 26 may, instead, be configured to slide laterally between open and closed positions or door 26 may be provided with pivot pins along one side edge 26 e , 26 f and may then pivot about a generally vertically-oriented axis.
- pivot pins may be provided on bottom flange 26 d of door 26 and door may then pivot about a horizontally-oriented axis. In this latter instance or when pivot pins are provided on side edges 26 e , 26 f , or if door 26 is configured to slide, a spring assembly may be provided on door 26 to ensure door will automatically return to the closed position.
- a method of vending products 14 such as boxes or packages of tobacco products from a vending system 10 may comprise engaging a support bracket 20 on a support surface; placing a panel 22 into support bracket 20 to form a panel floor; arranging a plurality of tobacco products 14 on an upper surface 22 a of the panel floor; contacting a rearmost one of the plurality of tobacco products 14 a on the panel floor with a pusher assembly 24 ; urging the tobacco products 14 towards a forwardmost end of the panel floor 22 a using pusher assembly 24 ; hiding all of the tobacco products 14 behind a door 26 positioned in front of a front wall 20 a of the support bracket 20 so that none of the tobacco products 14 are visible when door 26 is in a closed position.
- the method may further comprise opening door 26 ; and removing one of tobacco products 14 when door 26 is opened.
- the method may further comprise providing a slat wall 12 in a store as the support surface; engaging a hanger bracket 16 on slat wall 12 ; and engaging support bracket 20 on hanger bracket 16 .
- the method may further comprise sensing, with a sensor 28 provided in panel 22 , that a forwardmost tobacco product 14 b has been removed from off the panel floor 22 a.
- the method may further comprise operatively engaging sensor 28 with a remote computer 32 ; sending a signal from sensor 28 to remote computer 32 ; providing programming in computer 32 that tracks the tobacco products 14 loaded into the vending system 10 and removed from the vending system 10 ; and tracking with computer 32 , based on the signals from sensor 28 , a number of tobacco products 14 that remain on panel 22 and a number of tobacco products 14 that have been removed from panel 22 ; compiling tracked information into a database in computer 32 ; and analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided in computer 32 .
- a step of engaging hanging bracket 16 on wall 12 may be accomplished without using fasteners. Instead, the step of engaging hanging bracket 16 on wall 12 may comprise inserting a flange 16 b extending outwardly from hanging bracket 16 into a space 12 c defined between two slats 12 b on wall 12 .
- a step of engaging support bracket 20 on hanging bracket 16 may comprise inserting a hook 20 g extending outwardly from a rear wall 20 b of support bracket 20 into a recess 16 dd ′ defined in hanging bracket 16 .
- the method may further comprise positioning a second support bracket 20 a distance above support bracket 20 ; engaging the second support bracket 20 on hanging bracket 16 a distance above support bracket 20 ; placing a second panel 22 into second support bracket 20 to form a second panel floor 22 a ; arranging a second plurality products 14 in rows on top of the second panel floor 22 a ; engaging a rearmost one 14 b of the second plurality of products 14 in each row on second panel 22 with a second front plate 24 a of a second pusher assembly 24 ; urging each row products 14 on second panel 22 toward a second door 26 adjacent front 20 a of second support bracket 20 with an associated one of the second pusher assemblies 24 ; covering all of the products 14 on the second panel 22 with second door s 26 o that the products 14 are not visible to a consumer standing in front of vending system 10
- the step of covering all of product 14 on panel 20 with door 26 may comprise engaging door 26 with second support bracket 20 that is located a distance above support bracket 20 ; positioning a top flange 26 c of door 26 a distance adjacent a bottom end of front wall 20 a of second support bracket 20 ; positioning a bottom flange 26 d of door 26 adjacent a bottom end of the front wall 20 a of support bracket 20 ; positioning a left side edge 26 e of door 26 adjacent a left side wall 20 c of support bracket 20 ; and positioning a right side edge 26 f of door 26 adjacent a right side wall 20 d of support bracket 20 .
- vending system 10 has been disclosed as being suitable for retaining products 14 that are tobacco products such as cigarettes, it will be understood that any retail product may be retained and dispensed from vending system 10 .
Landscapes
- Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
- Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention is generally directed to systems for vending products. More particularly, the invention relates to cigarette vending systems. Specifically, the invention is directed to a vending system comprising a plurality of modules positioned one above the other on hanging brackets secured to a store wall. Each module includes a support bracket having a panel engaged therein; sensors provided in or on the panel and pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket for urging tobacco products on the panel towards a door. When closed, the door completely hides the tobacco products from the consumer.
- In Canada it is considered unlawful for a retailer to publically display cigarettes or other tobacco products for sale or to place advertising for tobacco products in a place in a store where that advertising might be seen by the public. As a result, tobacco products are typically located behind a sales desk in a store. It is needful that the retailer be able to quickly and easily locate a tobacco product requested by a customer in order to sell that product to the consumer.
- The present disclosure is directed to a vending system for tobacco products, such as cigarettes. The vending system is designed to be able to be placed behind a sales desk in a store and may be conveniently positioned on a standard retail slat wall system without any fasteners. The vending system allows the retailer to have quick and easy access to the product but at the same time does not allow any member of the public to actually view what is being retained in the vending system.
- The vending system includes one or more hanging brackets and a plurality of modules that are selectively engageable on the hanging brackets. The hanging brackets are engaged on a store wall, particularly a slat wall, by inserting flanges into recesses between the slats. Each module includes a support bracket that is securable to the hanging brackets; a panel that is engaged with the support bracket; one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket and extending across a portion of the panel and a door that extends across an opening to the module. When the door is closed none of the product inside the module is visible. A computer may be operatively engaged with the sensors and is provided with programming to track products stocked in the vending system and removed therefrom.
- In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a vending system for products comprising a support bracket adapted to be engaged with a support surface a panel engageable with the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive one or more products thereon; and one or more sensors provided in or on the panel.
- In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide, in combination, a pair of hanger brackets adapted to be secured to a slatted wall; a plurality of modules engageable with the hanger brackets and adapted to retain a plurality of products therein, wherein each module comprises a support bracket defining an aperture therein; said support bracket being configured to be engaged on the pair of hanger brackets; a panel insertable into the aperture of the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive some of the plurality of products thereon; one or more pusher assemblies provided on an interior surface of the support bracket; each pusher assembly extending for a distance across the panel; and a door; wherein the plurality of modules are engaged at spaced intervals one above the other on the pair of hanger brackets.
- The combination may further provide that the door of each module is engaged with the support bracket of the module above it; wherein the door of each module is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and when the door is in the closed position, none of the product retained in the module is visible from in front of the closed door.
- The combination may further comprise one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; a remote computer operatively engaged with the one or more sensors; and programming provided in the computer to monitor an amount and brand of the plurality of products retained on the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules: and an amount and brand of the plurality of products removed from the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules. The plurality of products may be packages of tobacco products such as boxes of cigarettes.
- In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a method of vending tobacco products comprising engaging a support bracket on a support surface; placing a panel into the support bracket to form a panel floor; arranging a plurality of tobacco products on an upper surface of the panel floor; contacting a rearmost one of the plurality of tobacco products on the panel with a pusher assembly; urging the tobacco products towards a forwardmost end of the panel floor using the pusher assembly; hiding all of the tobacco products behind a door positioned in front of a front wall of the support bracket so that none of the tobacco products are visible when the door is in a closed position. The method may further comprise opening the door; and removing one of the tobacco products when the door is opened.
- The method as defined may further comprise sensing, with a sensor provided in or on the panel, that a forwardmost tobacco product has been removed from off the panel floor. The method may further comprise operatively engaging the sensor with a remote computer; sending a signal from the sensor to the remote computer; providing programming in the computer that tracks the tobacco products loaded into the panel and removed from the panel; and tracking with the computer, based on the signals from the sensor, a number of tobacco products that remain on the panel and a number of tobacco products that have been removed from the panel; compiling tracked information into a database in the computer; and analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided in the computer.
- Sample embodiment of the disclosure are set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, with the vending system shown mounted on a slatted wall; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vending system ofFIG. 1 with a top wall and a side wall of the vending system removed and showing a plurality of products, specifically boxes of cigarettes, retained within the vending system; -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the highlighted region ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of part of the vending system ofFIG. 2 with the product removed therefrom and showing various components of the vending system engaged with the slatted wall; -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of a hanger bracket of the vending system shown on its own; -
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a door of the vending system shown on its own; -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the components shown inFIG. 4 assembled to form a top section of the vending system; -
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the highlighted region ofFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 9 is a right side view of the vending system ofFIG. 2 with all the product removed therefrom; -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged right side view of the highlighted region ofFIG. 9 ; and -
FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the highlighted region ofFIG. 2 that shows that some boxes of product have been removed from a first row of the uppermost module of the vending system. - Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
- Referring to
FIGS. 1-11 there is shown a retail vending system generally indicated at 10.Vending system 10 is shown mounted to awall 12 in such a way that a plurality of boxes of product 14 (such as boxes of cigarettes or other tobacco products) retained invending system 10 is not visible to a consumer who may be standing facingwall 12. In particular,wall 12 has afront surface 12 a that will face the consumer andvending system 10 is mounted onfront surface 12 a in such a way that vendingsystem 10obscures product 14 from the view anyone facingfront surface 12 a ofwall 12. -
Vending system 10 may comprise a modular unit made of a plurality of similar modules that may be positioned one above the other. Each module may be configured to hold one or more rows ofproduct 14. It will be understood thatvending system 10 may comprise only a single module orsystem 10 may comprisemultiple modules 10. Each module may be configured to hold a single row ofproduct 14 or multiple rows ofproduct 14.FIG. 1 showsvending system 10 configured to have seven modules located vertically one above each other.FIG. 2 shows that the uppermost module is configured to hold fifteen rows of product; and that each row may hold around nineproducts 14. It will be understood that the term “product” may represent a single box that itself is configured to hold multiple smaller products. For instance, the term “product” may represent a single box that holds multiple individual cigarettes. The term “product” 14 may also be used in this description to generally describe one or more articles offered for sale that are retained and dispensed fromvending system 10. -
FIG. 1 showswall 12 having afront face 12 a comprised ofslats 12 b that are positioned one-above-the-other. Theslats 12 b may be formed only in thefront face 12 a ofwall 12 andslots 12 c may be defined betweenadjacent slats 12 b. In other instances,slats 12 b may be individual sections ofwall 12 that are positioned one above the other and are separated byslots 12 c. -
FIG. 1 showsvending system 10 mounted onfront face 12 a ofwall 12.Vending system 10 may include a cabinet box that may be generally rectangular in shape and includes atop wall 10 a and a pair ofopposing side walls 10 b (only one of which is shown inFIG. 1 ) that extend downwardly from opposite ends oftop wall 10 a. The cabinet box may further comprise a bottom wall that is opposed totop wall 10 a. One or more oftop wall 10 a,side walls 10 b and the bottom wall may be omitted fromvending system 10 or the cabinet box may be replaced by thin frame members that will support or connect together the other components ofvending system 10. -
FIGS. 2-3 show vending machine 10 withtop wall 10 a andside wall 10 of the cabinet box shown in phantom for the sake of clarity.FIG. 4 shows the cabinet box in phantom with other components ofvending system 10 exploded away from each other so that they may be better seen. As shown inFIG. 4 ,vending system 10 may comprise one ormore hanger brackets 16 that are secured tofront surface 12 a ofwall 12, one ormore support brackets 20; one ormore panels 22, one ormore pusher assemblies 24; and one ormore doors 26. - Each module in
vending system 10 may be comprised of asingle support bracket 20, asingle support panel 22, a plurality ofpusher assemblies 24 and one ormore doors 26.FIG. 4 shows an exemplary single module ofvending system 10. The module comprises asingle support bracket 20, asingle plate 22, a plurality ofpusher assemblies 24 and two doors 26 (although a single door or more than two doors could be utilized). It will be understood that the number ofpusher assemblies 24 utilized in the module may be selected based on the number ofproducts 14 to be retained onplate 22 ofvending system 10. Fifteenpusher assemblies 24 are shown inFIG. 4 but it will be understood that fewer than or more than fifteenpusher assemblies 24 may be utilized in each module.Support bracket 20 is illustrated as being engaged between two spaced aparthanger brackets 16 for stability. It will be understood that only asingle hanger bracket 16 may be utilized or more than twohanger brackets 16 may be utilized to engage andsecure support bracket 20 to wall 12. -
FIG. 5 shows asingle hanger bracket 16 on its own.Hanger bracket 16 may comprise a pair of base rails 16 a that are laterally spaced apart. Eachrail 16 a may have aflange 16 b at a top end and a bottom end thereof.Hanger bracket 16 may further include a plurality ofarms 16 c that extend outwardly and forwardly from the two laterally spaced-apart rails 16 a. It will be understood thatrails 16 a, flanges 16 b andarms 16 c may be molded or otherwise formed as a unitary, monolithic component or may be assembled together such as by welding.Arms 16 c may be generally L-shaped when viewed from the side (such as inFIG. 10 ) and may be generally U-shaped when viewed from above (such as inFIG. 8 ).Arms 16 c may be vertically spaced apart from each other. Generally L-shapedrecesses 16 d may be defined betweenadjacent arms 16 c. Eachrecess 16 d may include a thinner, downwardly extendingsection 16 d′ (FIG. 10 ) that will be generally vertically oriented whenhanger bracket 16 is secured to wall 12 as illustrated inFIG. 10 .Hanger bracket 16 is engaged withwall 12 by insertingflanges 16 b intoslots 12 c (FIG. 10 )0 defined bywall 12. Therails 16 a ofhanger bracket 16 rest against thefront face 12 a ofwall 12. Whenhanger bracket 16 is engaged withwall 12 in this manner, no fasteners are required to securehanger bracket 16 to wall 12. Because fasteners do not need to be used to securehanger bracket 16 in place,hanger brackets 16 may be quickly and easily installed onwall 12, moved alongwall 12, or removed therefrom. Flanges provided at a bottom end ofhanger bracket 16 may be received intoslots 12 c onwall 12 in a similar fashion. Becausehanger brackets 16 each include a plurality ofarms 16 c that are vertically spaced from each other, it is possible for the retailer to customize thevending system 10 by determining the vertical distance betweenadjacent support brackets 20. - It will be understood that in other
instances hanger bracket 16 may be secured to walls that lack slots for receivingflanges 16 b. In these instances, a hole may be drilled through eachflange 16 b and a fastener may be inserted through each hole and subsequently into the non-slatted wall. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , eachsupport bracket 20 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from above and may comprise afront wall 20 a, arear wall 20 b, aleft side wall 20 c and aright side wall 20 d.Front wall 20 a may be of a shorter height thanrear wall 20 b. Front wall, rear wall, left andright side walls 20 a-20 d may bound and define anaperture 20 e insupport bracket 20. Alip 20 f may be provided on an interior surface of each of thefront wall 20 a,rear wall 20 b,left side wall 20 c and right side wall.Lip 20 f may jut outwardly for a distance intoaperture 20 e and may provide a place forpanel 22 to be seated upon whenpanel 22 is engaged withsupport bracket 20.Lip 20 f may be substantially continuous and unbroken around the interior surfaces of the front, rear, left side andright side walls 20 a-20 d or may comprises a series of smaller, spaced-apart sections that are provided on some or all of thewalls 20 a-20 d. -
Left side wall 20 c andright side wall 20 d ofsupport bracket 20 may be of a generally truncated-triangular shape when viewed from the side as inFIG. 2 , for example. Each of theside walls rear wall 20 b and be of a lesser height proximatefront wall 20 a. This generally triangular shape may strengthen the module as the left andright side walls - In some embodiments, and as shown in
FIG. 8 , each of the left andright side walls smaller front section 21 a and a largerrear section 21 b that are configured to telescope relative to each other. This arrangement permits the distance betweenfront wall 20 a andrear wall 20 b to be selectively adjusted by the retailer. Therear sections 21 b of each of the left andright side walls horizontal slot 20 j therein that originates and terminates a distance away from each of the front end and the rear end ofrear section 21 b. One ormore stops 20 k may extend outwardly from front section 21 and project throughslot 20 j. The one ormore stops 20 k may be provided to ensure smooth travel betweenfront section 21 a andrear section 21 b.Stops 20 k also may limit the extent of telescoping travel that may be possible between the front andrear sections rear section 21 b to limit travel offront section 21 a relative thereto (It should be note that front andrear walls front wall 20 a,rear wall 20 b,lefts side wall 20 c andright side wall 20 c may be of fixed length. - As best seen in
FIG. 8 ,rear wall 20 b may be of the same height as the rearmost ends ofleft side wall 20 c andright side wall 20 d. An L-shapedhook 20 g may extend rearwardly from a top edge ofrear wall 20 b.Hook 20 g may be integrally formed withrear wall 20 b so thatrear wall 20 b and hook 20 g form a single unitary or monolithic member or hook 20 g may be secured torear wall 20 b such as by welding.Hook 20 g may include a generally horizontal section that is oriented at right angles to the interior surface ofrear wall 20 b that defineslip 20 f.Hook 20 g may also include a generally vertical section, numbered 20 g′ (FIG. 10 ), that extends downwardly from the generally horizontal section ofhook 20 g. The generallyvertical section 20 g′ may be spaced a distance rearwardly from an exterior surface ofrear wall 20 g and be substantially parallel thereto.Hook 20 g andvertical section 20 g′ thereof may be sized to be received intorecess 16 d ofhanger bracket 16 and particularlyvertical section 20 g′ may be sized to be received and engaged inthinner section 16 d′ ofrecess 16 d. When hook 20 g is engaged inrecess 16 d ofhanger bracket 16 and particularly whenvertical section 20 g′ is received inthinner section 16 d′ ofrecess 16 d,support bracket 20 is suspended fromhanger bracket 16 as shown inFIG. 10 . The exterior surface ofrear wall 20 g ofsupport bracket 20 may rest against thefront surface 16 c′ (FIG. 8 ) of one ormore arms 16 c onhanger bracket 16. In this way,support bracket 20 is firmly engaged withhanger bracket 16. It should be noted that no fasteners are required to securesupport bracket 20 tohanger brackets 16. It is therefore relatively quick and easy for a retailer to engagesupport bracket 20 withhanger bracket 16, to change the vertical position or spacing of support bracket(s) 20 onhanger brackets 20 or to disassemble thevending system 10. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , one ormore slots 20 h may be defined inrear wall 20 b ofsupport bracket 20.Slots 20 h may be located vertically abovelip 20 f. The purpose ofslots 20 h will be later described herein. -
Panel 22 is configured to be engaged withsupport bracket 20.Panel 22 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from above (FIG. 3 ) and may have anupper surface 22 a, alower surface 22 b, afront edge 22 c, arear edge 22 d, aleft side edge 22 e and aright side edge 22 f.Panel 22 may be sized so that it will be able to be received inaperture 20 f ofsupport bracket 20 and come to rest uponlip 20 f when so received.Panel 22 may comprise plastic layer that may be inserted intoaperture 20 f. Alternativelypanel 22 may be fabricated from metal. Still further,panel 22 may be comprised of a metal frame shelf plus a plastic panel member. The plastic panel member may be connected to the metal frame shelf or may be placed on top of the metal frame shelf. - One or
more sensors 28 may be provided in or onpanel 22, particularly if thepanel 22 is comprised of or includes a plastic layer.Sensors 28 may be utilized to detectproduct 14 that rests onpanel 22 and/or is removed frompanel 22. During fabrication ofpanel 22,sensors 28 may be enveloped by plastic material so that they are protected from potential damage. The metal may block the ability of thesensors 28 tosense product 14 located on the panel beneath the one from whichproduct 14 is removed. Thesensors 28 may therefore only sense the removal ofproduct 14 from on top ofspecific panel 22 and may therefore not provide false readings. If desired, the system can be set up so that eachsensor 28 may be able to monitorproduct 14 that is located above or below thepanel 22 in whichsensor 28 is located. - In some embodiments, the
sensors 28 may be provided in a plastic layer that rests on top of a metal frame shelf. The shelf frame may be open at the bottom to permit radio frequency (RF) waves and waves of any kind to pass through the shelf insert and facilitate detection of items or item tags placed on the shelf, or placed on the items, or for sensing bare sections of the shelf. Shelf inserts may be constructed of any material suitable for any type of sensing, including metal for holding items when no item detection is required. An alternate embodiment includes a one piece shelf frame that is open on the bottom with a fixed depth. - The one or
more sensors 28 may be operatively engaged by appropriate circuitry with acable 30 that extends outwardly frompanel 22 and is operatively engaged with aremote computer 32.FIG. 4 showscable 30 extending outwardly fromright side edge 22 f ofpanel 22. It will be understood thatcable 30 may extend, alternatively, outwardly from any of the other edges or the top or lower surface ofpanel 22.Cable 30 may be threaded through one of theslots 20 h insupport bracket 20 and be positioned adjacent one of the hangingbrackets 16 of vending system 10 (as shown inFIG. 7 ). Alternatively,cable 30 may be inserted through a hole defined betweenfront face 12 a and arear face 12 d (FIG. 7 ) ofwall 12. In either event,cable 30 is preferably not visible to the consumer. Sincedoor 26 may be periodically opened to allow a sales clerk to accessproduct 14, the interior ofvending system 10 is preferably kept looking neat, orderly and clean. Runningcable 30 fromplate 22 throughslot 20 h and alongside one of hangingbrackets 20 keeps thecable 30 out of site and makes thesystem 10 look more aesthetically pleasing. In other embodiments,cable 30 may be completely omitted andsensors 28 may, instead, communicate wirelessly withcomputer 32. -
Computer 32 may be provided with programming to monitor the number of boxes ofproduct 14 resting onupper surface 22 a ofpanel 22.Sensors 28 may be positioned to align with one of the one or more of thepusher assemblies 24 and may therefore be used to monitor boxes ofproduct 14 that are contacted by aparticular pusher assembly 24. Onesensor 28 or more than onesensors 28 may be provided in a region ofpanel 28 that is aligned with each pusher assembly.Sensors 28 may be provided for substantially the entire depth ofpanel 22 from proximatefront wall 20 a ofsupport bracket 20 to proximaterear wall 20 b ofsupport bracket 20 or may be located anywhere else inpanel 22 that enables adequate monitoring ofproduct 14. When a single box ofproduct 14 is removed from its position resting onupper surface 22 a ofpanel 22, a signal may be sent from the appropriate activated one of the one ormore sensors 28, viacable 30 to theremote computer 32. The programming incomputer 32 will utilize the received signal to compute and tally the amount ofproduct 14 left invending system 10 and/or the amount ofproduct 14 that should be recorded as sold because it has been removed from vendingsystem 10. Thecomputer 32 may therefore track and control sales ofproduct 14 in real time and may also be programmed to automatically re-orderproduct 14 from a vendor based on the monitored sales. If different brands ofproduct 14 are stocked in different areas ofvending system 10, the relative sales of the different brands may also be recorded and tracked by the programming provided incomputer 32. A database may be compiled and stored incomputer 32 and the programming may also permit various types of analysis of the data in the database to be undertaken and appropriate reports to be generated. The database stored incomputer 32 may be accessed by selectively connecting other computing devices (such as a tablet or smartphone) tocomputer 32. -
FIG. 8 shows thepusher assemblies 24 that may comprise part of each module ofvending system 10. Eachpusher assembly 24 may comprise afirst plate 24 a, asecond plate 24 b and acoil spring 24 c. First andsecond plates coil spring 24 c may be fixedly secured to a rear surface offirst plate 24 a and a second end ofcoil spring 24 c may be fixedly secured to a front surface ofsecond plate 24 b. A rear surface ofsecond plate 24 b may be fixedly secured to an interior surface ofrear wall 20 b ofsupport bracket 20 by any suitable means, such as by an adhesive or by welding.Second plate 24 b may be secured torear wall 20 b in a location that will result insecond plate 24 b being located above anupper surface 22 a ofpanel 22 whenpanel 22 is engaged insupport bracket 20. Whenproducts 14 are placed onupper surface 22 a ofpanel 22, a front surface offirst plate 24 a will contact a rear wall of the rearmost product, indicated as 14 a inFIGS. 2 and 11 .Spring 24 c will maintain forward-directed pressure on therearmost product 14 a and thereby on the entire row ofproduct 14 that extends forwardly from aparticular pusher assembly 24. In other words, eachpusher assembly 24 may push a single row ofproduct 14 forwardly towards an inner surface ofdoor 26 in the direction indicated by arrow “A” (FIG. 8 ).Front wall 20 a ofsupport bracket 20 may act as a stop that substantially prevents thepusher assembly 24 from pushingproduct 14 completely out ofvending system 10. It will be understood that other types of pusher assembly thanpusher assembly 24 may be utilized invending system 10. - Referring to
FIGS. 4, 6 and 9 , one ormore doors 26 may be provided on each module ofvending system 10.Doors 26 may be fabricated from a non-transparent or opaque material so that a consumer cannot see through them whendoor 26 is in a closed position. Each of the one ormore doors 26 may be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position. - Each
door 26 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the front and may include afront surface 26 a, arear surface 26 b (FIG. 9 ), atop flange 26 c, abottom flange 26 d, aleft side edge 26 e and aright side edge 26 f.Top flange 26 e may be oriented at right angles tofront surface 26 a and may defined one ormore apertures 26 g defined therein.Apertures 26 g may be provided to receive fasteners therethrough, such asfasteners 10 c shown inFIG. 1 .Bottom flange 26 d may be generally U-shaped when viewed from one side, such as inFIG. 6 . One leg of theU-shaped flange 26 d may be utilized by a retailer to grasp ontodoor 26 when it is needful to movedoor 26 to the open position. Abracket 26 h may extend outwardly fromdoor 26 proximate each of the left and right side edges 26 e, 26 f. Eachbracket 26 h may define ahole 26 i therein. A shaft of apivot pin 34 may be inserted through thehole 26 i of eachbracket 26 h to securedoor 26 to thesupport bracket 20 of a module located above eachdoor 26.Pivot pin 34 may comprise a pin that extends outwardly from thefront wall 20 a or left orright side walls support bracket 20. Alternatively, thepivot pin 34 may be inserted through an aperture in one ofside walls 10 b of the vending system's cabinet box or may extend downwardly from thetop wall 10 a of the vending system's cabinet box. - Where two
doors 26 are provided side-by-side on one module of vending system 10 (such as is illustrated inFIG. 6 ), a fastener (not shown) may be passed through the alignedholes 26 i of thebrackets 26 h on the side edges 26 f, 26 e of the doors that are disposed adjacent each other. This ensures that the doors are connected together but are still able to pivot individually between open and closed positions. - It will be understood that other mechanisms for ensuring
doors 26 may pivot relative to supportbracket 20 may be employed. For example,flange 26 c may be fixedly secured tofront wall 20 a of thesupport bracket 20 of the module abovedoor 26 anddoor 26 may be pivotally engaged withflange 26 c. - Pivot pins 34 may permit
door 26 to pivot about a horizontally-oriented axis between the open position and the closed position. (The horizontally-oriented axis may extend along the shafts of the pivot pins 34.) - It should be noted that when vending
system 10 is used to hold a plurality oftobacco products 14, thefront surface 26 a ofdoor 26 is intended to be free of any indicia or advertising that might indicate that type ofproduct 14 that is retained withinvending system 10. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that if it is permitted in any jurisdiction to advertise theproducts 14 retained withinvending system 10 then advertising markings or other indicia may be provided onfront surface 26 a or any other part ofvending system 10 that will be visible to the consumer. - It should be noted that the
uppermost door 26 may be pivotally engaged with a portion oftop wall 10 a or withside walls 10 b of the cabinet box of vending system 10). This may be because there is nosupport bracket 20 proximate the top end of theuppermost door 26.Top wall 10 a of cabinet box may, alternatively be connected to flange 26 c ofdoor 26 byfasteners 10 c (FIG. 1 ) andpivot rods 34 may be pivotally connected to flange 26 c ortop wall 10 a orside walls 10 b. - Each
door 26 may be selectively rotated to the open position by a retailer grasping thebottom flange 26 d or one of the side edges 26 e, 26 f ofplate 26 and rotatingdoor 26 in the direction of arrow “B” (FIG. 7 ). Whendoor 26 is moved to the open position, the retailer may be permitted access to an interior of an associated module of thevending system 10. The retailer may then be able to remove a forwardmost package of product, such as the forwardmost box of product shown inFIG. 3 by thereference number 14 b. As indicated earlier, when theforwardmost box 14 b is lifted offupper surface 22 a ofpanel 22, a signal is transmitted from one of the sensors that detects that part ofpanel 22 to theremote computer 32. Movingdoor 26 back to a closed position may simply involve the retailer letting go ofdoor 26 as thedoor 26 will then return to its original position under force of gravity. - It will be understood that instead of pivoting
door 26 about a horizontal axis provided bypivot pins 34 that are engaged with thetop flange 26 c ofdoor 26;door 26 may, instead, be configured to slide laterally between open and closed positions ordoor 26 may be provided with pivot pins along oneside edge bottom flange 26 d ofdoor 26 and door may then pivot about a horizontally-oriented axis. In this latter instance or when pivot pins are provided on side edges 26 e, 26 f, or ifdoor 26 is configured to slide, a spring assembly may be provided ondoor 26 to ensure door will automatically return to the closed position. - A method of vending
products 14 such as boxes or packages of tobacco products from avending system 10 may comprise engaging asupport bracket 20 on a support surface; placing apanel 22 intosupport bracket 20 to form a panel floor; arranging a plurality oftobacco products 14 on anupper surface 22 a of the panel floor; contacting a rearmost one of the plurality oftobacco products 14 a on the panel floor with apusher assembly 24; urging thetobacco products 14 towards a forwardmost end of thepanel floor 22 a usingpusher assembly 24; hiding all of thetobacco products 14 behind adoor 26 positioned in front of afront wall 20 a of thesupport bracket 20 so that none of thetobacco products 14 are visible whendoor 26 is in a closed position. - The method may further comprise opening
door 26; and removing one oftobacco products 14 whendoor 26 is opened. The method may further comprise providing aslat wall 12 in a store as the support surface; engaging ahanger bracket 16 onslat wall 12; and engagingsupport bracket 20 onhanger bracket 16. The method may further comprise sensing, with asensor 28 provided inpanel 22, that aforwardmost tobacco product 14 b has been removed from off thepanel floor 22 a. - The method may further comprise operatively engaging
sensor 28 with aremote computer 32; sending a signal fromsensor 28 toremote computer 32; providing programming incomputer 32 that tracks thetobacco products 14 loaded into thevending system 10 and removed from thevending system 10; and tracking withcomputer 32, based on the signals fromsensor 28, a number oftobacco products 14 that remain onpanel 22 and a number oftobacco products 14 that have been removed frompanel 22; compiling tracked information into a database incomputer 32; and analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided incomputer 32. - A step of engaging hanging
bracket 16 onwall 12 may be accomplished without using fasteners. Instead, the step of engaging hangingbracket 16 onwall 12 may comprise inserting aflange 16 b extending outwardly from hangingbracket 16 into aspace 12 c defined between twoslats 12 b onwall 12. - A step of engaging
support bracket 20 on hangingbracket 16 may comprise inserting ahook 20 g extending outwardly from arear wall 20 b ofsupport bracket 20 into arecess 16 dd′ defined in hangingbracket 16. - The method may further comprise positioning a
second support bracket 20 a distance abovesupport bracket 20; engaging thesecond support bracket 20 on hangingbracket 16 a distance abovesupport bracket 20; placing asecond panel 22 intosecond support bracket 20 to form asecond panel floor 22 a; arranging asecond plurality products 14 in rows on top of thesecond panel floor 22 a; engaging a rearmost one 14 b of the second plurality ofproducts 14 in each row onsecond panel 22 with a secondfront plate 24 a of asecond pusher assembly 24; urging eachrow products 14 onsecond panel 22 toward asecond door 26adjacent front 20 a ofsecond support bracket 20 with an associated one of thesecond pusher assemblies 24; covering all of theproducts 14 on thesecond panel 22 with second door s26 o that theproducts 14 are not visible to a consumer standing in front ofvending system 10 - The step of covering all of
product 14 onpanel 20 withdoor 26 may comprise engagingdoor 26 withsecond support bracket 20 that is located a distance abovesupport bracket 20; positioning atop flange 26 c ofdoor 26 a distance adjacent a bottom end offront wall 20 a ofsecond support bracket 20; positioning abottom flange 26 d ofdoor 26 adjacent a bottom end of thefront wall 20 a ofsupport bracket 20; positioning aleft side edge 26 e ofdoor 26 adjacent aleft side wall 20 c ofsupport bracket 20; and positioning aright side edge 26 f ofdoor 26 adjacent aright side wall 20 d ofsupport bracket 20. - While vending
system 10 has been disclosed as being suitable for retainingproducts 14 that are tobacco products such as cigarettes, it will be understood that any retail product may be retained and dispensed from vendingsystem 10. - In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
- Moreover, the description and illustration of the preferred embodiment of the disclosure are an example and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Claims (26)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/730,050 US20190104847A1 (en) | 2017-10-11 | 2017-10-11 | Vending system |
CA3020495A CA3020495A1 (en) | 2017-10-11 | 2018-10-10 | Vending system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/730,050 US20190104847A1 (en) | 2017-10-11 | 2017-10-11 | Vending system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20190104847A1 true US20190104847A1 (en) | 2019-04-11 |
Family
ID=65992317
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/730,050 Abandoned US20190104847A1 (en) | 2017-10-11 | 2017-10-11 | Vending system |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20190104847A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3020495A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11317739B2 (en) * | 2020-01-29 | 2022-05-03 | Diam Uk Ltd | Modular pusher and hang display system |
USD1015769S1 (en) | 2020-01-29 | 2024-02-27 | Diam Uk Ltd. | Product display component |
-
2017
- 2017-10-11 US US15/730,050 patent/US20190104847A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2018
- 2018-10-10 CA CA3020495A patent/CA3020495A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11317739B2 (en) * | 2020-01-29 | 2022-05-03 | Diam Uk Ltd | Modular pusher and hang display system |
USD1015769S1 (en) | 2020-01-29 | 2024-02-27 | Diam Uk Ltd. | Product display component |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA3020495A1 (en) | 2019-04-11 |
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Owner name: NORRIZON SALES & MARKETING GROUP INC., CANADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AVENUE RFID INC.;REEL/FRAME:047278/0945 Effective date: 20181019 |
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