Patent ID: 7126474

Claim:
A vending machine comprising: an upright cabinet adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface, the cabinet comprising an interior for housing vending machine components and items to be vended; power supply means for supplying power; a door coupled to the cabinet that may be opened or closed by a proprietor to expose or close the interior; and, an alarm mounted within said cabinet interior for detecting attempted theft and vandalism, the alarm comprising: door sensor means for providing a signal in response to door opening; vibration sensor means for providing a signal in response to vibration or shock; audio transducer means for generating a loud audible sound; visual transducer means for providing a highly visible indication of the state of the alarm, said visual transducer means comprising at least two status lights of different colors; alarm circuit means for establishing an idle mode for machine servicing, an armed mode in which the alarm is set during normal operation, and a detected mode occurring when an act of vandalism or theft is properly detected, said circuit means comprising: means for receiving and analyzing the signals from said door sensor means and said vibration sensor means; and, means for activating said audio transducer means; and, means for activating said visual transducer means in response to a proper detection of intrusions comprising means for differently activating said lights of different colors according to the mode of the alarm.