Patent ID: 6125082
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: A24F,G07F

Abstract:
A timed cigarette dispenser, comprising:a housing having means defining a storage compartment for cigarettes therein;dispensing means in said housing for dispensing one cigarette at a time from the housing for access externally of the housing so that the cigarette may be grasped and withdrawn from the housing, said depensing means including a dispensing solenoid operative to extend a plunger to engage a cigarette in said dispenser to extend at least a portion of said cigarette outside of said housing where it may be grasped and withdrawn;timer means for timing the interval between cigarettes dispensed from the housing, said dispensing means being responsive to said timer means to dispense a cigarette at the end of predetermined time intervals set by the timer means;covering means covering and closing said storage compartment to prevent access to any cigarettes in said dispenser other than the single cigarette dispensed at the end of the predetermined time intervals;latch means engaged with said cover means to keep said cover means closed when cigarettes are present in said storage compartment;means to release said latch means to permit said cover means to be opened to gain access to said storage compartment when the storage compartment is empty of cigarettes, whereby the storage compartment may be refilled with cigarettes;said dispensing means, timer means, and latch means being electronically controlled.