Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing products including a mechanism for limiting the movement of multiple products within a housing to one direction, at least one product retaining structure for preventing access to multiple products in a given period of time, and at least one theft deterring mechanism.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/415,524 filed May 2, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/677,252, filed May 2, 2005, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to devices for dispensing products. More specifically, the invention relates to dispensing devices that incorporate theft deterrent measures, such as locks, time delays and sound. 
       GENERAL BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Theft in retail stores is an all too common problem. Items that are in high demand by thieves include over-the-counter (OTC) products such as analgesics and cough and cold medications, razor blades, camera film, batteries, videos, DVDs, smoking cessation products and infant formula. Theft of infant formula in particular raises unique concerns. In many cases, the infant formula is stolen by retail theft rings for resale. The infant formula may not be stored under proper conditions, which threatens the integrity of the product. The retail theft ring may create counterfeit labels for the infant formula that alter the expiration date or indicate that it is a more expensive or specialized formula. As a result, when these products make their way back into the legitimate distribution chain, parents may be feeding their babies unsafe or adulterated products. 
         [0004]    Typical store displays, such as placing items on a shelf, may lead to certain shoplifting techniques. For example, shelf sweeping, when individuals or groups remove all the shelf stock and exit the store, is a particularly effective and troublesome technique. 
         [0005]    Retailers are constantly challenged to balance the needs of legitimate consumers&#39; access to high theft items with measures to minimize the incidence of theft. Because theft has become so rampant in certain product categories, such as razors and infant formula, many retail stores are taking the products off the shelves and placing them behind the counter or under lock and key. Customers must request the products in order to make a purchase. This requires additional labor costs to provide individual service to customers who would normally not require it. It also makes it difficult for customers to compare products. Furthermore, it may be impossible where the space behind the counter is limited and is needed for prescription medications. 
         [0006]    It has long been known to place items such as cigarettes, sodas and newspapers in vending machines. Such machines require complete self-service by the customer. The customer places money into the vending machine and the machine dispenses the desired item. Typical vending machines, however, do not allow for variation in product size and can only vend the particular item that they were designed for. Additionally, typical vending machines may be inconsistent with the way that people currently purchase items; many people prefer to use credit or debit cards instead of cash. Vending machines also occupy a great deal of space. Finally, typical vending machines do not employ any mechanism to prevent a purchaser from quickly dispensing all the items in the vending machine. 
         [0007]    Thus, a device or dispensing apparatus that minimizes the likelihood of sweeping or unusually high numbers of multiple purchases is needed. Such a device or dispensing apparatus should be able to fit within common grocery, drug store or other retail environment shelves. It is also desirable that the device or dispensing apparatus effectively display the products so consumers can easily identify the products. It is also preferable that the dispensing apparatus be easy to use. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for dispensing products including a mechanism for limiting the movement of multiple products within a housing to one direction, at least one product retaining structure for preventing access to multiple products in a given period of time, and at least one theft deterring mechanism. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the mechanism for limiting the movement of the products to one direction includes an indexer wheel and pawl. 
         [0010]    In other embodiments, the at least one product retaining structure includes a pair of doors that open simultaneously, but close sequentially, thus blocking access to the products for a period of the time. In specific embodiments, the doors may be rotating doors that are controlled by an electromechanical mechanism. 
         [0011]    In still other embodiments, the theft deterring mechanism is a time delay between the dispensing of products. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an assembled dispenser according to certain embodiments of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the assembled dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an assembled dispenser according to certain embodiments of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a dispensing module of a dispenser according to certain embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear plan view of a dispensing module of a dispenser according to certain embodiments of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an assembled dispenser according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the assembled dispenser of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the drawings. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the dispenser  10  includes an outer housing  11 . The outer housing may be formed of any material suitable for holding the intended products, such as metal or molded plastic. The outer housing  11  may be a single part or may be formed from multiple parts. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in certain embodiments, the outer housing  11  may include a left case side  12 , a right case side  14  and a front case cover  38 . The left case side  12  and the right case  14  side may be formed of molded plastic. 
         [0022]    The dispenser  10  can be used to store and dispense a plurality of products  54  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Generally, the products  54  to be dispensed are located inside the outer housing  11  between the right case side  14  and the left case side  12 . An inner shelf  28  ( FIG. 2 ) may be used to divide the area inside the housing  11  into an upper area (not visible in the drawings and located behind front case door  40 ) and a lower area  26  ( FIG. 1 ) to allow additional products  54  to be stored within the dispenser  10 . In certain embodiments, the left case side  12  and the right case side  14  include slots or keyholes  52  in which the inner shelf  28  fits. 
         [0023]    The interior of the outer housing  11  includes an angled surface  56  in the lower area  26 . The angled surface  56  is shaped such that at least the ends of some of the products  54  rest on the angled surface  56 . Because the surface  56  is angled towards the dispensing opening  44  in the front case cover  38 , the products  54  move forward by gravity. The angled surface  56  may extend across the full width of the product  54  or may be two separate angled surfaces  56  located below each end of the product  54 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0024]    In certain embodiments, the products  54  or at least the packaging of the products  54  in the dispenser  10  are round so that the products  54  easily move forward by gravity on the angled surface  56 . In other embodiments, at least the ends of the product  54  or its packaging may be round to facilitate the movement of the products  54  forwardly. 
         [0025]    Multiple products may be located in the dispenser  10 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . However, only one product  54  is in the dispensing position and accessible to customers at any one time. 
         [0026]    To dispense products  54 , a consumer lifts an outer door  18  of the dispenser  10 . An inner door  16  may be connected to the outer door  18  so that when the outer door  18  is opened, the inner door  16  is also opened. In certain embodiments, a gear  20  facilitates this coordinated movement of the two doors  16 ,  18 . The gear  20  may include structure, such as an extension, arm or post, to engage the outer and inner doors  18 ,  16 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a post  58  fits into an opening  62  in the outer door  18 . On the opposite side of the gear  20 , additional structures, such as arms  60  fit into the openings  64  in the inner door  16 . When the outer door  18  is manually opened by a consumer, teeth  66  located on outer door  18  engage gear  20 . As the outer door  18  rotates, the gear  20  rotates. The gear  20  is directly connected to the inner door  16  by arms  60 . Thus, inner door  16  also rotates and opens with the outer door  18 . In other embodiments, inner door  16  and outer door  18  are not connected and the customer must lift the inner door  16  after lifting the outer door  18 . 
         [0027]    When both the inner and outer doors  16 ,  18  are open, they rotate, pivot, slide or otherwise move so that a single product  54  to be dispensed is accessible to the customer, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . When the inner and outer doors  16 ,  18  are open, the inner and outer doors  16 ,  18  are located between the product  54  to be dispensed and the next available product  55 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , springs  50  may be connected to the outer door  18 . As the outer door  18  rotates to open, the spring  50  extends and exerts pressure on the outer door  18  to close. Thus, the outer door  18  closes after the customer has removed the product  54  to be dispensed. To prevent the outer door  18  from closing too quickly or too forcefully, a damper  34  may be connected to the outer door  18 . 
         [0029]    The inner door  16  remains open for a period of time. While the inner door  16  is open, it physically blocks the next available product  55  from moving into the dispensing position. After the desired period of time has passed, the inner door  16  rotates closed. When the inner door  16  closes, the next available product  55  moves forward into the dispensing position. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the closing of the inner door  16  is controlled by a mechanical mechanism. For example, the gear  20  may have an extension  68 . This extension  68  can be connected to a motor  36 . When the desired period of time has passed, the motor  36  is activated and turns the gear  20 , closing inner door  16 . In some embodiments, the closing of the outer door  18  trips a switch that allows the inner door  16  to start closing. Springs  50  puts tension on inner door  16  to close; however, if the outer door  18  is left open or is reopened, the inner door  16  will not close and the next product will not move forward. 
         [0031]    The dispenser  10  according to the invention is also simple to stock and restock. According to some embodiments, products  54  are placed in the dispenser  10  by opening the case front door  40  and simply placing the products  54  one by one in the opening  42  onto the inner shelf  28 . The inner shelf  28  may be angled to facilitate the movement of products  54  toward the back of the dispenser  10  and into the lower area  26 . 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments of the invention, the dispenser  10  includes an additional theft deterrent mechanism that prevents would-be thieves from removing products  54  from the stocking area behind the front case door  40 . In certain embodiments, the additional theft deterrent mechanism is a lock on the case front door  40 . In these embodiments, a key is necessary to open the case front door  40  and stock the dispenser  10 . In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a pair of indexer wheels  32  is the additional theft deterrent mechanism. The indexer wheels  32  are joined by a hex shaft  30 . When the product  54  is placed in the stocking area  24 , the product  54  moves toward the back of the dispenser  10  because of the angled inner shelf  28 . As it moves backwards, the product  54  moves over the hex shaft  30  and the weight of the product  54  causes the indexer wheel  32  to rotate towards the back of the dispenser  10 . A pawl  46  may be used to insure that the indexer wheel  32  is unidirectional and thus, any thieves are prevented from pulling a product  54  out of the stocking opening  42  in the front case cover  38 . 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the dispenser  10  may be placed on a shelf or a counter. In other embodiments, the dispenser  10  may be attached to a standard store display. The dispenses may be attached directly to a shelf or may be attached with a secondary mounting bracket. 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment of this invention, shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , dispenser  100  includes left case side  102  and right case side  104 , which are joined at one end by top support  106  and at the rear end of the device by back cross supports  107 . Top support  106  provides support for an additional dispenser when the dispensers are stacked upon one another. In addition, locking ridge  108  accepts a locking element, such as locking element  110 , from another dispenser so that the units are secured together. Locking element  110  also elevates the dispenser unit  100  so that it rests at an angle and allows gravity to move product toward the front of the dispenser. 
         [0035]    Front door  112  is attached to control arms  114  and opens outward to expose a single product (not shown) resting on sloped surfaces  115  of feeding panels  116 . Control arms  114  attach to feeding panels  116  and lock when the door  112  is open, so that panels  116  are not able to accept another product from storage area  118 . Feeding shaft  121  connects feeding panels  116 . 
         [0036]    Spring  120  may be connected to the door  112 . As the front door  112  opens, spring  120  extends and exerts pressure on the door  112  to close. Thus, the front door  112  closes after the customer has removed a product to be dispensed. Both damper  122  and second spring  124  attach to the feeding panel  116 , so that spring  124  and damper  122  slow the return of the feeding panels  116  and create a time delay between dispensing products. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description is provided for describing various embodiments and structures relating to the invention. Various modifications, additions and deletions may be made to these embodiments and/or structures without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.