Abstract:
A vending machine dispenses chemiluminescent necklaces upon payment of a fee. The machine has internal magazines which may be loaded with cartridges packaging the elongated necklaces. Elongated rotary dispensing mechanisms select one necklace for dispensing upon a correct payment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to vending machines for dispensing chemiluminescent novelty items, in particular necklaces or bracelets which can be illuminated.  
           [0002]    1. Background of the Invention  
           [0003]    Chemiluminescent devices have become quite popular for temporary use at sporting events, concerts and other activities. These devices may be in the form of light sticks or they may be worn as adornment, such as necklaces, bracelets or head dress. In addition to illumination in reduced visibility, the devices provide multicolored lighting for aesthetic value. Further, in regard to safety, the devices provide illumination without heat.  
           [0004]    The chemiluminescence is the result of mixing of the components a two component composition. The two components must be kept separated until the illumination is desired. Normally, this is accomplished by having two containers, one disposed within the other. For example, a necklace may be fabricated from an elongated flexible tube containing an activator. Within the tube is a smaller frangible container of the chemiluminescent component. Of course, the components may be reversed. By flexing or otherwise deforming the outer elongated tube, the inner container is ruptured. The two components mix initiating the illumination reaction. Clearly, it is important to protect the devices from inadvertent damage or rupture before illumination.  
           [0005]    By placing the devices within a housing, the chances of accidental activation by a vendor or a potential customer are significantly reduced.  
           [0006]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0007]    Vending machines are very common in today&#39;s commerce. They provide convenience for the consumer and reduced costs to the seller. Some of the common uses of vending machines are for dispensing food and drink.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,729 discloses a dispensing machine for storing medical ampules out of direct light. The ampules are dispensed by a rotary selector upon demand.  
           [0009]    The patent to Yuyama et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,942 is another ampule dispenser for dispensing single ampules from a connected series of ampules. The dispenser shows two storage areas and a rotary dispensing device.  
           [0010]    Guadagnino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,842, is directed to a vending machine for dispensing pencils upon payment of a fee.  
           [0011]    The Jones et al patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,464 teaches the use of a cartridge or storage container inside a refrigerated dispenser.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,980 to Laidlaw teaches a vending machine for dispensing an individual cigarette upon insertion of a coin. The cigarettes are loaded in the machine by a removable hopper and dispensed by a slotted rotary dispensing member that is rotated by the coin mechanism.  
           [0013]    The prior art does not show a vending machine capable of dispensing elongated flexible items without damage to the internal elements.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    Disclosed is a vending machine that dispenses chemiluminescent necklaces upon payment of a fee. The machine has internal cartridges loaded with the elongated necklaces. Elongated rotary dispensing mechanisms select the item to be dispensed, namely an elongated flexible chemiluminescent item, such as a necklace, for dispensing upon a correct payment.  
           [0015]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a vending machine to complete a sales transaction including collection of a fee and dispensing of the item.  
           [0016]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a vending machine for dispensing long flexible items having a frangible component without damage to the item.  
           [0017]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a protective cartridge containing a multiplicity of elongated flexible items. The cartridge cooperates with the vending machine to provide a replaceable source of the items.  
           [0018]    It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a vending machine for dispensing chemiluminescent tubes for illumination upon distortion.  
           [0019]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective of the cabinet housing of the vending machine of this invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective of the interior of the cabinet;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a cartridge;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the selector and ejector;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a cross section of the vending machine in the START position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a cross section of the cartridge, selector and ejector with the selector in an intermediate position; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a schematic of the operation of the vending machine. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    The housing for the vending machine  10  is a cabinet made of material to withstand normal usage, such as steel or other metals or polymeric materials. Preferably, the cabinet has a bubble display window  11  which is backlighted to illuminate the display. The vending machine  10  can be connected to a standard 110 volt, 60 cycle electrical circuit for all power requirements of the machine. As shown in FIG. 2, the front of the vending machine has a door  12  secured to the housing  13  by a hinge  14  and locks  15 ,  16  for security. The cabinet may be free standing or it may be attached to a support surface such as a wall, partition or stand.  
         [0028]    In FIG. 1, the vending machine  10  has a condition indicator  17  with a LED  18  to indicate whether the machine is operative or not. A currency slide  21  is provided for coin or payment accepted by the machine. The vending machine may be equipped with other payment devices including a bill changer or receipt reader, a credit/debit card reader and key pad and/or a voice activated or other electronic authorization system. The mechanism includes a validation feature to authenticate the type of payment used and assure proper payment. The Conlux USA Corp makes a model NBM 300 which is a bill changer-validator.  
         [0029]    A controller  19 , such as a computer, operates the vending machine  10  through operative connection to the payment device and the dispensing mechanism  20 . When proper payment has been validated by said payment device  17 , a signal is passed from the payment device to the controller  19 , shown in FIG. 7, and the controller  19  authorizes the dispensing mechanism  20  to dispense an item from the internal cartridges.  
         [0030]    The vending machine  10  is designed to dispense elongated flexible items, specifically chemiluminescent necklaces  22 , without distortion of the interior of the necklaces. The necklaces  22  have sufficient length to encircle the human head. At each end of the necklaces  22 , there are cooperating fastening devices to hold the necklaces in a closed circular configuration.  
         [0031]    The necklaces  22  are stored in cartridges  39  and  40  in the machine in flat parallel stacks. The cartridges are removably held in the cartridge holders  51  and  52  on shaft brackets  30  and  35 . A removable clip  50  closes the bottom of the cartridges. It is removed after they are loaded in the vending machine to permit dispensing through the cabinet opening. The dispensing mechanism  20  is of such dimensions to accommodate each necklace and it&#39;s fasteners as an elongated item.  
         [0032]    The cartridges, as shown in FIG. 3, are each an open framework of horizontal rods  53  and vertical rods  54  held by frame members A, B, C, and D. Within this framework, several necklaces are loaded parallel with members A and B. This protects the necklaces until they are dispensed by the vending machine. Further, the cartridges permit quick and safe filling of the vending machine by the operator.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing mechanism has a motor  23  controlled and powered by the controller  19 . The motor is mounted in the housing by a motor bracket  24 . The motor shaft extends through the motor bracket terminating in a drive gear  25 . The drive gear  25  engages spur gears  26  and  27  oriented about the drive gear to rotate in opposite directions. The spur gears are supported by the housing mounted gear bracket  28  which carries bearings  29  and shaft bracket  30  for each dispensing shaft  31  and  32 . The dispensing shafts  31  and  32  are rotatably fixed to the shaft bracket  30  by retaining rings  33  and  34 . The free ends of shafts  31  and  32  are rotatably fixed in another shaft bracket  35  by bearings  36 . The other shaft bracket is mounted to the housing for stabilization and support. The shafts  31  and  32  are mounted parallel to each other and each shaft carries a series of rollers  37  and  38 , respectively.  
         [0034]    Removably mounted in the vending machine  10 , above the shafts  31  and  32 , are cartridges  39  and  40 , each with a lower opening. The rollers  37  and  38  each rotate adjacent a cartridge opening. The rollers  37  and  38 , respectively, each have an interrupted slot  41  and  42  aligned along the length of the shaft. Each slot is approximately the depth of a chemiluminescent necklace so that as a shaft turns, a slot will register with the opening in the cartridge and only one necklace will be selected. As the shaft continues to turn, the necklace will be ejected from the slot by gravity. The necklace will fall onto the dispensing ramp  43 . As shown in FIG. 5, the ramp  43  delivers the ejected necklace to the cabinet opening  44 . The ramp  43  is disposed to prevent access to the necklaces within the machine.  
         [0035]    The rotary shafts  31  and  32  may be oriented to accept a necklace from each cartridge, alternatively. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the slots  41  and  42  are arranged at 90 degrees and 270 degrees from the magazine openings, respectively. As shown, the shafts  31  and  32  turn in opposite directions to register one slot at one opening, alternatively. While this is the preferred embodiment, the dispensing mechanism may operate with the shafts rotating in the same direction and/or the cartridges may be emptied in sequence rather than simultaneously. While two cartridges are shown, there may be more or less cartridges in the machine.  
         [0036]    In operation, the vending machine accepts coin, currency or other payment from the customer. Once the payment has been validated by mechanism  17 , the controller  19  authorizes the dispensing mechanism  20  to turn the shaft or shafts  31  and  32  a programmed arc to register a slot with an opening in the cartridge. An item falls into the registered slot, while at the same time the other slot is rotated to place it&#39;s slot in communication with the ramp  43  to deliver an item. This ends the programmed sequence. As mentioned, other programmed actions can be executed.  
         [0037]    The vending machine also may have a device to cease operation when the magazines are empty. For example, a simple counter in the controller could stop the payment mechanism  17  from accepting payment. The counter may be based on the number of revolutions of the shafts, microswitches tripped by the necklaces, interruptions in a light beam or other devices. Further, the vending machine may have the ability, through the controller, to signal a distributor of it&#39;s empty status. Microswitches may also be used to determine the presence of a necklace and signal the controller when the cartridges are empty. The controller can then signal the bill changer validator to not accept any more payments.  
         [0038]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.