Patent ID: 7131710

Claim:
A vending machine comprising: a cabinet frame including top, bottom, side and rear walls that collectively define a central cavity; a plurality of column walls defining various stack areas for receiving product containers to be dispensed from the vending machine; a door pivotally connected to the cabinet frame, said door being selectively movable between an open condition, wherein access to the central cavity is permitted for loading of product containers into the various stack areas of the vending machine, and a closed condition, wherein dispensing of product containers is permitted; a locking element attached to the door; and a lock assembly including a main body and a lock member, said main body having a first end portion secured to the cabinet frame, a second end portion attached to one of the plurality of column walls, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions, with said intermediate portion being provided with a first opening, said lock member being interconnected to the main body and including a second opening which is aligned with the first opening, wherein the locking element on the door extends into each of the first and second openings and engages the lock member to secure the door in the closed condition so as to prevent pilfering of the vending machine.