A convenient and safe drive-up vending machine is provided including a housing with a front face, a rear face, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space. A dispensing chute is situated on the front face of the housing. Also included is a money exchanger situated on the front face of the housing. The money exchanger serves to accept and account for money in the form of bills and coins and further dispense change in the form of coins. A selection panel is situated on the front face of the housing and includes a plurality of buttons each having indicia indicative of a consumable product. The selection panel is adapted to effect the delivery of one of the consumable products upon the acceptance and accounting for a proper amount of money and subsequent depression of one of the buttons which correspond to one of the consumable products. Finally, a dispensing pan is coupled to the front face of the housing below the chute.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to vending machines and more particularly 
pertains to a new convenient and safe drive-up vending machine for 
providing a convenient and safe drive-up vending machine for dispensing 
food or beverage products. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of vending machines is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
vending machines heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist 
basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, 
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art 
which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and 
requirements. 
Known prior art vending machines include U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,319; U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,042,146; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 354,083; U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,515; U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,111,282; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 332,469. 
In these respects, the convenient and safe drive-up vending machine 
according to the present invention substantially departs from the 
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing 
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a 
drive up vending machine for dispensing food or beverage products. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
vending machines now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a new convenient and safe drive-up vending machine construction 
wherein the same can be utilized for providing a drive up vending machine 
for dispensing food or beverage products. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new convenient and safe 
drive-up vending machine apparatus and method which has many of the 
advantages of the vending machines mentioned heretofore and many novel 
features that result in a new convenient and safe drive-up vending machine 
which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by 
any of the prior art vending machines, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a housing with a 
generally rectangular configuration. The housing has a front face, a rear 
face, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of side faces formed 
therebetween defining an interior space. Next provided is a base 
comprising a concrete slab onto which the housing is mounted. It should be 
noted that a top face of the base has a surface area greater than that of 
the bottom face of the housing. This is important in order for a curb to 
be defined. Mounted within the base adjacent to the front face and one of 
the side faces of the housing is a vertically oriented cylindrical post. 
As best shown in FIGS. 3 & 4, a dispensing chute is situated on the front 
face of the housing at a central elevation thereof. Preferably, the 
dispensing chute is situated adjacent one of the side faces opposite that 
which is located adjacent the cylindrical post. The dispensing chute has a 
base plate coupled along an inboard edge thereof beneath an opening in the 
front face of the housing and extending forwardly and downwardly 
therefrom. Coupled to sides edges of the base plate are a pair side faces 
extending upwardly therefrom. Also included is a transparent dispensing 
pan having a vertical rear face and a bottom face integrally coupled to a 
bottom edge of the vertical rear face and extending forwardly and 
downwardly therefrom. Note FIGS. 3 & 4. The transparent dispensing pan 
further includes an arcuate front face and a pair of side face coupled 
between the front face, bottom face, and rear face for defining an 
interior space with an open top. So that the dispensing chute may be 
situated therethrough, the rear face of the dispensing pan has a 
rectangular cut out formed therein. The rear face is coupled to the front 
face of the housing via a plurality of springs. By this structure, the 
dispensing chute extends through the rectangular cutout and resides within 
the interior space thereof. Also included is a money exchanger. In use, 
the money exchanger serves to accept and account for money in the form of 
bills and coins and further dispense change in the form of coins. 
Associated therewith is a selection panel is situated on a central extent 
of the front face adjacent the dispensing chute. As shown in FIG. 2, the 
dispensing chute, money exchanger, and selection panel are all spaced at a 
common elevation in linear alignment. The selection panel includes a 
plurality of buttons each having indicia indicative of a food or beverage 
product. During operation, the selection panel effects the delivery of one 
of the food or beverage products via the dispensing chute and pan upon the 
acceptance and accounting for a proper amount of money and subsequent 
depression of one of the buttons which correspond to one of the food or 
beverage products. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature an essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
convenient and safe drive-up vending machine apparatus and method which 
has many of the advantages of the vending machines mentioned heretofore 
and many novel features that result in a new convenient and safe drive-up 
vending machine which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or 
even implied by any of the prior art vending machines, either alone or in 
any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new convenient 
and safe drive-up vending machine which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new convenient 
and safe drive-up vending machine which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
convenient and safe drive-up vending machine which is susceptible of a low 
cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such convenient and safe drive-up vending machine 
economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
convenient and safe drive-up vending machine which provides in the 
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, 
while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally 
associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
convenient and safe drive-up vending machine for providing a drive up 
vending machine for dispensing food or beverage products. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
convenient and safe drive-up vending machine that includes a housing with 
a front face, a rear face, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of 
side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space. A dispensing 
chute is situated on the front face of the housing. Also included is a 
money exchanger situated on the front face of the housing. The money 
exchanger serves to accept and account for money in the form of bills and 
coins and further dispense change in the form of coins. A selection panel 
is situated on the front face of the housing and includes a plurality of 
buttons each having indicia indicative of a food or beverage product. The 
selection panel is adapted to effect the delivery of one of the food or 
beverage products upon the acceptance and accounting for a proper amount 
of money and subsequent depression of one of the buttons which correspond 
to one of the food or beverage products. Finally, a transparent dispensing 
pan is coupled to the front face of the housing below the chute. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, a new convenient and safe drive-up vending machine embodying the 
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated 
by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, a housing 12 is provided with a generally 
rectangular configuration. The housing has a front face, a rear face, a 
top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of side faces formed 
therebetween defining an interior space. In the preferred embodiment, the 
housing has a height and depth similar to that of a conventional soda pop 
vending machine. Also, a lighted transparent panel 14 is preferably 
located on the front face of the housing adjacent the top face thereof for 
advertising purposes and the like. 
Next provided is a base 16 comprising a concrete slab onto which the 
housing is mounted. It should be noted that a top face of the base has a 
surface area greater than that of the bottom face of the housing. This is 
important in order for a curb 18 to be afforded. 
Mounted within the base adjacent to the front face and one of the side 
faces of the housing is a vertically oriented cylindrical post 20. The 
post serves to prevent damage from being inflicted on the housing by a 
vehicle 22. 
As best shown in FIGS. 3 & 4, a dispensing chute 24 is situated on the 
front face of the housing at a central elevation thereof. Preferably, the 
dispensing chute is situated adjacent one of the side faces opposite that 
which is located adjacent the cylindrical post. The dispensing chute has a 
base plate 26 coupled along an inboard edge thereof beneath an opening in 
the front face of the housing and extended forwardly and downwardly 
therefrom. Coupled to sides edges of the base plate is a pair side faces 
28 extending upwardly therefrom. 
Also included is a transparent dispensing pan 30 having a vertical rear 
face 32 and a bottom face 34 integrally coupled to a bottom edge of the 
vertical rear face and extended forwardly and downwardly therefrom. Note 
FIGS. 3 & 4. The transparent dispensing pan further includes an arcuate 
front face 36 and a pair of side face coupled between the front face, 
bottom face, and rear face for defining an interior space with an open 
top. So that the dispensing chute may be situated therethrough, the rear 
face of the dispensing pan has a rectangular cut out 38 formed therein. 
The rear face is coupled to the front face of the housing via a plurality 
of springs 40. By this structure, the dispensing chute extends through the 
rectangular cutout and resides within the interior space thereof. In use, 
after being struck by a vehicle, the dispensing chute is adapted to return 
to its normal position. 
In the alternative, the dispensing pan may be adapted to be slidably 
situated within the housing. In use, the dispensing pan is adapted to 
automatically extend outwards upon the dispensing of an item. In yet 
another alternate embodiment, the dispensing pan is constructed of metal 
such as aluminum or the like. 
A money exchanger 42 is situated on the front face of the housing at a 
central elevation thereof adjacent the side face which is located adjacent 
the cylindrical post. In use, the money exchanger serves to accept and 
account for money in the form of bills and coins and further dispense 
change in the form of coins. A front face of the money exchanger 
preferably extends a distance equal to that which the dispensing chute and 
other mechanical components of the present invention extend to afford a 
more conveniently accessible device. In the alternative, the front face of 
the money exchanger may be recessed depending on the specific needs of the 
user. 
Situated on a central extent of the front face adjacent the dispensing 
chute is a selection panel 44. The elevation of the dispensing chute is 
preferably the height of a vehicle window. As shown in FIG. 2, the 
dispensing chute, money exchanger, and selection panel are all spaced at a 
common elevation in linear alignment. A front face of the selection panel 
ideally extends a distance from the front face of the housing a distance 
equal to that which the dispensing chute or money exchanger extends. 
The selection panel includes a plurality of buttons, designated as numeral 
46, each having indicia indicative of a food or beverage product. It 
should be noted that the beverage product may consist of soda pop, juice 
or any other contained liquid. During operation, the selection panel 
effects the delivery of one of the food or beverage products via the 
dispensing chute and pan upon the acceptance and accounting for a proper 
amount of money and subsequent depression of one of the buttons which 
correspond to one of the food or beverage products, as is common in the 
art of vending machines. The dispensing pan precludes the food or beverage 
product from being projected to the ground and further affords a user 
convenient access thereto. As an option, a large rectangular padded bumper 
may be situated on the front face of the housing below the dispensing pan, 
money exchanger, and selection panel for protecting the housing from 
damage. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.