Patent Publication Number: US-2016240032-A1

Title: Modular outdoor large item vending system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/117,317 filed Feb. 17, 2015 which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to vending systems. More particularly, the invention is related to a vending system for dispensing items outside a storefront or in a campsite, park or similar venue. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of self-service vending machines to dispense food, beverage(s), movies and other items is well-known in the art. A majority of these vending machines are generally located outside a storefront to save retail space within the interior of the store. Large, bulky items such as ice and firewood require special vending systems that can accommodate the individual sizes of these items. In the case of items such as firewood, charcoal, deer corn and other such large and bulky items, the general practice in the past has been to load these items on palettes and store them on those palettes in front of stores for the customers to pick up. However, the customer has to go inside the store to make a payment for these items before they can pick them up from the palettes outside the store, which is an inconvenience. Storing products in the open outside the store also makes it possible for some to carry away the items without paying for them. 
     If the large items are stored in locked containers outside the store to deter theft, the customer may have to wait a period of time for the store personnel to come out and unlock the containers to access the items. This inconvenience of waiting for assistance from store personal to access these bulky items and pay for them is magnified if the store is closed for the day and the customer has to make another trip to the store when it is open to purchase the items. Additionally, having the products locked up and inaccessible to customers when the store is closed precludes the efficient sale and profitability of these items. 
     Vending machines for dispensing large items are known, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,194 (Blong) which describes a system for dispensing a plurality of pressurized propane tanks, U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. 2014/0103062 (Rose JR. et al.) which describes a combination vending/return apparatus for storing and dispensing unfilled and filled large volume water-containing bottles and U.S. Pat. No. 8,936,173 (Fleishman) which describes a vending machine for holding bulk goods. U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,159 (Snyder et al.) describes a portable wood dispenser with individual compartments for storing firewood and dispensing the wood through tokens, slugs or a purchased key and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. 2007/0151981 (Halsey, S R, et al.) describes a firewood vending machine. However, none of these vending systems for dispensing bulk items uses a modular system that has the capability to add-on and efficiently integrate additional modules to the main systems, such as by connecting a wiring harness from the existing module&#39;s computing hardware to the new module&#39;s computing hardware and attaching the new module to the system using module attachment hardware. Prior art vending systems generally use voltage regulators that convert AC to a 24 volt DC and do not use DC batteries. As a result, current electronic vending systems are unable to operate when the AC (Alternating Current) is interrupted, degraded, or otherwise unavailable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,712,585 (Bruck et al.) describes a vending apparatus and system that includes the use of optional modules and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2015/0102051 (Shimmerlik et al.) describes a modular vending machine system with re-loadable vertical product dispensing modules. These prior art vending systems are meant for use within a store to dispense consumable products and not for dispensing large and bulky items such as firewood, grill wood, charcoal and other such items. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a modular outdoor vending system for storing and dispensing large bulky items outside a store front, or in remote areas such as state parks and camping sites. There is a further need for a vending system that does not require continuous AC power for its operation. The vending system can ideally be operated using DC batteries which can be continuously charged by AC power or a solar power so that the system continues to operate during power interruptions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the modular outdoor vending system of the present invention substantially meet the need for an all-weather outdoor vending system for dispensing, large, bulky items such as firewood, grill wood, charcoal, deer corn, cases of water and other items. In an embodiment, the invention dispenses such products from modular units that are connected to and controlled by a master unit. The modularity of the invention allows it to be scaled in accordance with the needs of the retailer, i.e., additional modular units can be attached to the master unit to accommodate available space and demand. The master unit immediately integrates and controls as many add-on modules as are desired. 
     In an embodiment, the vending system has a modular feature that allows it to be sized to available space by connecting one or more add-on modules in line with the existing modules. An add-on module can be added to the master module by clamping the modules together and connecting the wiring harness of the add-on module to the wiring of the existing add-on module. In accordance with this embodiment, the master module can electronically acquire the new add-on module and assimilate it into the system so that it is substantially immediately ready for vending. Thus, the system can be quickly scaled to use as many additional add-on modules as required or desired. Each module can be set with different pricing to assure that multiple types of products can be dispensed from one system. 
     A system of the present invention thus allows retailers to carry and sell large or otherwise bulky items that might take up considerable floor space within retail premises, or that might be stored outside retail premises in an unsecured and unprotected environment. In an embodiment, the system enables customers to purchase such items by credit or debit cards without any assistance from store personnel and without the need to enter the store to pay for the items. Retailers can thus stock and sell large or otherwise bulky items in a fully secure and unsupervised manner both within and outside of normal operating hours. Accordingly, the invention frees retailers from having to move, restack, or re-arrange large items to avoid obstructions or unsightly displays, or from having to constantly monitor the premises to prevent thefts of large items stored outside. 
     In an embodiment, the vending system of present invention is DC (Direct Current) powered and continuously recharged using either AC (Alternate Current) power or solar power using an optional onboard mounted, commercially available solar panel(s) to charge the primary DC batteries via a solar charge controller. The feature of having AC power recharge the DC batteries allows system operation during power interruptions of up to 24 hours. In addition, the ability to use solar energy to power the system allows the vending system of the invention to be placed away from the store front and positioned in a parking lot or in remote areas such as state parks, camping sites and other recreational areas where AC power is not available, thereby substantially eliminating the need for AC power to power the system and the expenditure involved in using AC power. The ability to use solar power to operate the DC batteries allows the system to operate for up to four days without access to power. With solar capabilities, convenient, access to camping items such as wood, charcoal and cases of water 24 hours per day, seven days per week is now possible with the system of the present invention. In sum, various embodiments of the present invention can save time, money, and storage space and provide a convenient, secure and reliable way to make large and bulky items available to the consumer all day, every day, without the need for retailer assistance or supervision. 
     In an embodiment, the vending system of the present invention has a master module control box with a product selection display and a key pad with item prices indicated next to the products and a credit card reader interface to execute payments for the product purchase using a credit or debit card. Once payment is accepted by the system, the door of the compartment holding the firewood or other large item is electronically unlocked and can be opened, thereby allowing the user to remove the item and subsequently close the door. In various embodiments the door can be opened automatically by the system or manually opened by the user. Once the door is closed, it is automatically locked. The compartment will generally not vend again until an item is restocked in the compartment and the system is reset by the operator. 
     In an embodiment, software programming of the vending system assures that when the last item in a module or compartment is vended, the display will indicate that the item is sold out and prompt the user to make another selection. The system will not charge the customer until they select an item that is available. Once the software receives a selection from the customer, it prompts the customer to swipe a credit/debit card via an LCD display and by flashing three blue lights on the card reader. Once the card is swiped, the card reader checks for available funds through an onboard cellular data uplink. If funds are not available, the display prompts the customer to try another card. If funds are available, the software then communicates with the master module, which determines which module will vend that particular item and the next available door with that selection will open. Master module control software generally allows the operator to open all doors in any module (main module software sends a signal to each lock in that module and they all unlock and open) to facilitate restocking. The display also allows the operator to determine that all modules have been found and assimilated, and set prices for each individual module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a modular vending system illustrating the master module assembly of the invention attached to an add-on module assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the modular frame of a single module assembly structure of an embodiment of a modular vending system; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the modular frame of a single module assembly structure of an embodiment of a modular vending system illustrating module exterior coverings and module compartment floor coverings; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of a modular vending system; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular vending system illustrating two modules aligned next to each other and module interlocking hardware of the system securing device; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the module door assembly of an embodiment of the modular vending system; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the master module control compartment face of an embodiment of the modular vending system; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the master module computing system of an embodiment of the modular vending system; 
         FIG. 9  is an illustration of a perspective view of a plurality of add-on module computing and hardware of an embodiment of the modular vending system; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a manual module assembly an embodiment of the modular vending system; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of an embodiment of the modular vending system illustrating a master module assembly and four add-on module assemblies; and 
         FIG. 12  is an illustration of an embodiment of the modular vending system in a parking space setup. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular vending system is generally depicted in  FIGS. 1-12 . Although the modular vending system can be used for any number of purposes, the illustrated embodiments are especially suitable for vending large and otherwise bulky items such as firewood, grill wood, charcoal, deer corn, and cases of water, among others. The modular design and features of the vending system of the present invention allow it to occupy less space in a store front as compared to other vending systems, thereby increasing store front aesthetics by eliminating the pile-up of bulk items on palettes in front of the store. In an embodiment of the modular vending system of the present invention, the master module can be electronically connected to additional modules to enhance the storage space for the items to be dispensed. 
     A power management system for modular vending system of the present invention may include DC batteries with AC power to continuously charge the batteries so that the system can operate for up to 24 hours in the case of power disruptions, or alternately on solar power which allows the DC batteries of the system to operate for up to four days. The invention can thus be operated even in remote locations that do not have access to electricity such as, parks, camping grounds and other recreational areas. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like components in the several views presented and discussed, and more particularly referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of modular outdoor vending system  70  according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Modular vending system  70  is generally comprised of a master module assembly  20  juxtaposed next to an add-on module assembly  22 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , among others, master module assembly  20  can be attached to add-on module  22  with interlocking hardware  8 . The master module assembly  20  has a master module control compartment interface  30  which is connected internally to a master module control box that also controls the functions of the compartments in the master module assembly  20  and add-on module assemblies  22 . The add-on module assemblies  22  are typically of similar construction and materials as the master module assembly  20 . 
     In an embodiment, add-on module assemblies  22  do not have battery or battery tender requirements so that items can be dispensed from all module compartments of the add-on module assemblies  22  through the master module control compartment interface  30 . The master module assembly  20  and the add-on module assemblies  22  may be fitted with their own shed style roof  24  made of metal. Certain structural components of both master module assembly  20  and add-on modules assemblies  22  may be hot-dip galvanized prior to installing additional parts and equipment. In some embodiments, solar panels are installed on the roof  24  of the master module assembly  20  and add-on module assemblies  22  to charge the DC batteries. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , modular frame  25  of a single module assembly structure may include metal iron channel  1 , angle irons  2  and square metal tubing  3 . Each module compartment generally has a door light  4  to provide the necessary illumination when removing items from the compartments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , modular frame  25  of a single module assembly may also include module exterior coverings  5 , compartment dividers  6  and module compartment floor coverings  7 . These parts are generally constructed from expanded mesh metal. Add-on module assemblies  22  generally do not have expanded metal covering on the left facing sidewall so that when they are attached together there are no double walls. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a top module compartment is depicted with the module exterior covering  5  and a view of solar panel  60  on the roof  24  of the module. Solar panels  60  are generally placed on the add-on module assembly roofs  24  in a similar manner 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , two modules are aligned next to each other showing the positioning of the module interlocking hardware  8  and an example of the system securing device  9 . According to this embodiment, master module assembly  20  is juxtaposed next to an add-on module assembly  22 . The add-on module  22  has the add-on module hardware case  59  positioned on the top module compartment. The add-on module assembly  22  is attached to the master module assembly  20  using the module interlocking hardware  8 . Additional add-on module assemblies  22  may be linked together using the module interlocking hardware  8  to form a plurality of configurations. System securing devices  9  are attached to each module assembly and the ground and/or wall next to the module assemblies to assure that the system is properly secured and will not topple and injure potential customers trying to access the module compartments to retrieve items. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the module compartment door assembly of the present invention is depicted. Each door assembly generally has a door frame  26  with a door covering  27  constructed of expanded mesh metal and hinges  28 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the master module control compartment interface  30  may be constructed of plate steel door covering  27  mounted to a door frame  26  and hinges  28 . The master module control compartment interface  30  may be housed within the doorframe  26  and secured with a key operated padlock  29 . The master module control compartment face  31  has a credit card reader interface  32 , a product selection keypad  33  and a product selection LCD display window  34  connected to the credit card reader interface  32  via a card reader/keypad wiring (not shown) and securely mounted on the master module control compartment face  31  and also has an item/price placard display  35  that provides the user with information to select the desired item via the product selection keypad  33  and the product selection LCD display window  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the master module computing system and associated hardware are shown. The master module control box  38  is housed within the upper right hand compartment of the master module assembly and consists of the master module control compartment interface  30 . Within the master module control box  38  may reside an AC power cord  42  that connects AC power directly to a battery tender  41  which charges and maintains two wired-in series 12v (volt) DC batteries  40  creating a 24 Volt system. The batteries  40  generally connect to two voltage transformers  45  via battery wiring  44 . One voltage transformer  45  sets up a 7 volt DC current to power the master module computing hardware  55  and add-on module computing hardware (not shown here) as well as the controller side of the relays  47  in the master and add-on modules. The second voltage transformer  45  sets up a 24 volt DC current to power the duty side of the relays  47  to open doors in the master and the add-on units via relay wiring  46 . The relays  47  provide power to the electronic locking devices  10  and  11  and the door lights  4  (not shown here) via electronic locking device wiring  12  and keeps them open for a predetermined period of time and simultaneously powers the appropriate door lights  4  so that the associated module compartment can be accessed and the contents removed by the user. The master computing hardware  55 , the relays  47  and the dual voltage transformers  45  are housed within the master computing hardware case  50  which is waterproof. The master control data entry keypad  51  and the master control data and diagnostic LCD display  52  are connected through the keypad and diagnostic display wiring  53  and to the master computing hardware  55  through the master control wiring  54 . The master computing hardware  55  is connected in series to each additional add-on module through the module interconnecting wires  56  consisting of two wires for a 24 Volt DC circuit, two wires for a 7 Volt DC circuit and three wires for a data communication circuit that runs between all modules. 
     A modular vending system according to an embodiment of the present invention is powered by DC batteries  40  that can be continuously re-charged and maintained using a battery tender connected to a 110 VAC power source. The batteries allow for the system&#39;s operation if there is an AC power interruption. Alternately, the system can be operated using solar power. To that end, commercially available solar panels  60  can be installed on the roof of the master and add-on module assemblies to charge the DC batteries  40  via a solar power charge controller  61  connected to the solar panels  60  through solar collector wiring  62 . The solar power charge controller  61  relays the solar energy collected through the solar panels to the DC batteries  40  through the battery wiring  43 . The optional capability of using solar panels  60  for powering the DC batteries of the vending system allows the system to be placed at a distance away from the store front, in a parking lot, or in other remote areas such as state parks and camping sites where AC power may not be available. Besides eliminating the need for AC power requirement to operate the vending system of the invention, the use of solar power can also lower the energy required to operate the system while increasing functionality. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a plurality of add-on module computing and associated hardware are shown connected to the master module control box. Each of the add-on module computing hardware  57  is connected to the respective relays  47  through the add-on module controlling wiring  58  and housed within an add-on module hardware case  59 . The module interconnecting wires  56  lead to the master computing hardware  55 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . As in the master module, the appropriate relay  47  will power the appropriate add-on module compartment locking device  10  through the electronic locking device wiring  12  and unlocks the locking device  10  from the key  11  when selection is made by the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , manual module assembly  80  may have larger module compartments, which can be useful for storing a large number of products in one compartment. Each compartment of the manual module assembly  80  can have physical padlocks  81 , with the keys for those padlocks maintained by both onsite store personnel and vending personnel. A significant advantage of having the manual module assembly  80  is that the items held in the compartments can be accessed in the event of an electronic system failure or equipment failure of the master module assembly and the add-on module assemblies. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a five-module setup of the modular vending system  70  of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the master module assembly  21  is connected to a series of add-on module assemblies  22  with the last add-on module assemblies  22  connected to a manual module assembly  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , modular vending system  70  is configured in a parking space setup  90 . The parking space setup  90  can be in the parking lot of a store front, park, or campground. 
     Having thus described the various embodiments of the present invention, various methods of operating the modular vending system  70  will be described. In an embodiment, a user wishing to purchase a large item such as firewood approaches the modular vending system  70  and, facing the master module control compartment interface  30 , can select an item. The user may optionally refer to the item/price list placard display  35  on the module compartment face  31 . If the items in that module are sold out, the display will prompt the user to make another selection. 
     Once the item selection is made, the user presses the corresponding key on the product selection key pad  33 . The product selection LCD display window  34  displays the price and item number and prompts the user to swipe their credit/debit card. The card reader interface  32  makes a wireless connection to the credit card verification company and determines the validity of the credit/debit card and whether the user has sufficient funds to purchase the item. Once the credit/debit card is confirmed, the product selection display window  34  will show that the sale has been authorized and also show from which compartment the item will be dispensed. Master computing hardware  55  can then determine if that item is in the master module assembly  20 . If it is in the master module assembly  20 , the master computing hardware will send a signal to the relay  47  controlling the first door containing the item. The relay  47  will in turn provide voltage to the appropriate electronic locking device  10  and door light  4  for a predetermined period of time. This unlocks the device  10  from the key  11  and the door will spring open. The door can still be reopened while voltage is applied in case the user accidently closes door prior to removal of the item. The door light  4  provides the necessary visibility in locating the correct item. The computing software is set in a manner that it only signals the relay  47  once and after the item is dispensed, the next selection of that item type will activate the next relay  47  until all items in that module are dispensed. Any further selections of that item type will may display a message, such as “sold out, make another selection”, on the card reader/interface  35  until the module is restocked and the master computing hardware  55  reset. Once the user removes the item from the compartment, the transaction is complete. 
     When an add-on module assembly  22  is connected to the master module assembly  20  or to another add-on module assembly  22  already in the system via add-on module interconnection wiring  56 , the master computing hardware  55  will communicate with each add-on module computing hardware  57  and acquire the add-on module  22  via proprietary software and assimilate it into the system so that items can be dispensed from that particular add-on module  22 . The number of add-on module assemblies  22  is generally unlimited with respect to the system requirements of modular vending system  70 . 
     When the master computing hardware  55  determines the item is not in the master module assembly  20  it sends a signal to the appropriate add-on module computing hardware  57  containing the selected item. That add-on module computing hardware  57  will send a signal to the relay  47  controlling the first door in that module containing an item. The relay  47  will activate the door light  4  and the appropriate electronic locking device  10  in the same manner as described previously for the master module  20 . Once the user removes the item from the add-on module assembly  22 , the transaction is complete. 
     The master module computing hardware  55  and the related software can be used to set the price for the items in each module, determine when the module is empty and allows the user to select another item in another module, reset the modules when items are refilled, and run diagnostics to determine component failure. This is accomplished using the master control data entry keypad  51  and master control data and diagnostic display  52  to make inputs and view information. 
     In yet other embodiments of the modular vending system of the present invention, the modules can be made out of any metal or other sturdy material and the compartments can be of any size to accommodate intended items. The shapes of the compartments can also differ from those depicted in the figures to facilitate stocking and removal of items. Modules can also be arranged in multiple configurations that are not depicted in the common configuration drawings shown in the figures. In lieu of a cashless system, any sort of payment device may be substituted. The time that power is applied to the electronic locking devices can also vary. In this modular vending system of the present invention, two 12v DC batteries are provided that are continuously recharged by either AC power or solar power using a battery tender to maintain the batteries of the system although; however, one skilled in the art will recognize any power source may be used to power the vending system so that DC batteries are not required. 
     The various embodiments a modular vending system described herein should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention as described herein do not limit any application or scope of the invention and that the invention can be carried out and practiced in various ways and implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above. One skilled in the art will recognize that alternatives, modifications, and variations of the embodiments of the present invention may be construed as being within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims.