Patent ID: 8191730

Claim:
A method of forming a bucket for a vending machine, said method comprising: forming a blank from a sheet of metal, said blank including a body wall extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends, a first end wall disposed along said first end of said body wall, a second end wall disposed along said second end of said body wall, a first connecting wall portion extending between and operatively interconnecting said body wall and said first end wall and a second connecting wall portion extending between and operatively interconnecting said body wall and said second end wall, said first end wall including a first peripheral edge portion and a first tab portion projecting outwardly beyond said first peripheral edge portion, said second end wall including a second peripheral edge portion and a second tab portion projecting outwardly beyond said second peripheral edge portion; forming said body wall of said blank into an elongated central wall portion, a first elongated wall portion disposed adjacent said elongated central wall portion and at a first non-zero angle relative thereto and a second elongated wall portion disposed adjacent said elongated central wall portion opposite said first elongated wall portion and at a second non-zero angle relative to said elongated central wall portion such that a longitudinal axis is at least partially defined along said body wall with said elongated central wall portion, said first elongated wall portion and said second elongated wall portion disposed about said longitudinal axis; forming said first end wall into a generally transverse orientation with respect to said longitudinal axis such that a first open interface is formed between said first end wall and said body wall; forming said second end wall into a generally transverse orientation with respect to said longitudinal axis such that a second open interface is formed between said second end wall and said body wall; forming said first tab portion into a generally transverse orientation with respect to said first end wall such that said first tab portion is disposed adjacent one of said first and second elongated wall portions of said body wall; forming said second tab portion into a generally transverse orientation with respect to said second end wall such that said second tab portion is disposed adjacent one of said first and second elongated wall portions of said body wall; attaching said first tab portion to said one of said first and second elongated wall portions of said body wall such that said first tab portion bridges said first open interface and at least partially prevents displacement of said first end wall with respect to said body wall; and, attaching said second tab portion to said one of said first and second elongated wall portions of said body wall such that said second tab portion bridges said second open interface and at least partially prevents displacement of said second end wall with respect to said body wall.