Patent ID: 8640915

Claim:
A gumball machine, comprising: a gumball container that holds a plurality of gumballs; a neck portion coupled to the gumball container, the neck portion having an actuator, and a gumball dispensing assembly that is coupled to the actuator for simultaneously releasing a plurality of gumballs from the gumball container when the actuator is actuated; a plurality of cylindrical supports, each having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a lower end having a side opening, with a novelty item secured inside at least one cylindrical support; a base coupled to the lower end of each cylindrical support and having a bottom portion that is seated on a surface, the base further including a ramp, wherein each side opening of each cylindrical support is positioned adjacent the ramp such that a gumball travelling through the cylindrical support is dispensed via the side opening to the ramp; and wherein the gumball dispensing assembly includes: a turntable having a plurality of openings, the turntable coupled to the actuator; a plate having a plurality of openings, with an upper end of each cylindrical support aligned with one of the openings of the plate; and wherein rotation of the turntable causes the openings of the turntable to be aligned with corresponding openings of the plate.