Patent ID: 8550293
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: A47F,G07F

Abstract:
1. A shelf for storing and vending products, said shelf comprising a bottom having a front portion adapted to be located adjacent to a front portion of a vending machine and a rear portion adapted to be located adjacent to a rear wall of the vending machine, and a plurality of product receiving locations disposed on said shelf, each of said product receiving locations includes a helical coil which extends between the front and rear portions of said bottom, said helical coil being rotatable about its longitudinal central axis to move products engaged by said helical coil away from the rear portion of said bottom toward the front portion of said bottom, a first product support rail extending along and spaced apart from a first side of said helical coil, said first product support rail extending along said helical coil for a distance which is at least as great as the length of said helical coil to enable said first product support rail to engage lower portions of products throughout movement of products engaged by said helical coil away from the rear portion of said bottom toward the front portion of said bottom, and a second product support rail extending along and spaced apart from a second side of said helical coil, said second product support rail extending along said helical coil for a distance which is at least as great as the length of said helical coil to enable said second product support rail to engage lower portions of products throughout movement of products engaged by said helical coil away from the rear portion of said bottom toward the front portion of said bottom, said first and second product support rails being spaced apart by a distance which is greater than an outside diameter of said helical coil, said first and second product support rails being effective to support products with the products disposed above and spaced apart from said bottom throughout movement of products engaged by said helical coil away from the rear portion of said bottom toward the front portion of said bottom, said first product support rail has a lower edge portion which is connected with said bottom and extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said helical coil, an upper edge portion which is disposed above said lower edge portion and extends parallel to the longitudinal central axis of said helical coil, and major side surfaces which extend between said upper and lower edge portions of said first product support rail and extend transverse to said bottom, said second product support rail has a lower edge portion which is connected with said bottom and extends parallel to the longitudinal central axis of said helical coil, an upper edge portion which is disposed above said lower edge portion and extends parallel to the longitudinal central axis of said coil, and major side surfaces which extend between said upper and lower edge portions of said second product support rail and extend transverse to said bottom, said upper edge portions said first and second product rails being spaced apart by a distance which is greater than an outside diameter of said helical coil, said first product support rail includes a front end portion which extends beyond the front portion of said bottom said front end portion of said first product support rail is angled downwardly toward a delivery bin in the front portion of the vending machine to promote downward movement of products from the first product support rail toward the delivery bin, said second product support rail includes a front end portion which extends beyond the front portion of said bottom, said front end portion of said second product support rail is angled downwardly toward the delivery bin to promote downward movement of products from the second product support rail toward the delivery bin.