Self-contained vending structure

Abstract

A transportable self-contained vending unit is provided. The vending unit has a central housing, an upper support structure and a covering for the upper support structure. In one embodiment the upper support structure comprises a first support section and a second support section. In an alternate embodiment the upper support structure comprises only the second support section. Additionally, a collapsible signage structure may be provided on the top member of the central housing.

1 . A portable vending unit comprising: 
 a portable central housing having a plurality of side members, a plurality of end members, and a top member connecting the side members and the end members;    a cavity defined by the side members, end members and top member of the central housing;    a plurality of apertures in the portable central housing providing access to the cavity;    an openable and closable access member provided in the plurality of apertures;    a collapsible awning support extending about an exterior of the central housing;    a covering on the collapsible awning support; and,    collapsible signage panels positioned on the top member of the central housing.    
   
   
       2 . The portable vending unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the apertures in the central housing unit is in one of the end members.  
   
   
       3 . The portable vending unit of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the apertures in the central housing unit is in one of the side members.  
   
   
       4 . The portable vending unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures in the central housing unit are provided in the side members and end members.  
   
   
       5 . The portable vending unit of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible signage panels are supported by hingeable supports provided at varying heights.  
   
   
       6 . The portable vending unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an access port in the top member of the central housing to provide access to the signage panels.  
   
   
       7 . A vending structure comprising: 
 a portable central housing having a plurality of side members, and a top member connecting the side members;    at least one aperture extending through one of the side members of the portable central housing;    an openable access member extending in the at least one aperture;    a plurality of braces depending from the side members;    a collapsible awning support extending about a portion of an exterior of the central housing, the collapsible awning support having a plurality of support members pivotally connected to the braces, wherein the awning support is pivotally moveable between a second position adjacent the side members of the central housing, and a first position wherein the awning support is cantilevered outward from the side members; and, a covering on the collapsible awning support.    
   
   
       8 . The vending structure of  claim 7 , wherein the central housing has a bottom member.  
   
   
       9 . The vending structure of  claim 7 , wherein the central housing is a transportable container.  
   
   
       10 . The vending structure of  claim 7 , further comprising a valence on a front of the awning support.  
   
   
       11 . The vending structure of  claim 7 , further comprising a removable connector to join the support member to the brace at a second position thereof, thereby removably fixing the awning support in the first position.  
   
   
       12 . The vending structure of  claim 7 , wherein the portable central housing has four side members, and wherein two of the side members are opposing end members.  
   
   
       13 . The vending structure of  claim 12 , wherein the collapsible awning support extends on each of two opposing side members and two opposing end members.  
   
   
       14 . The vending structure of  claim 13 , further comprising corner awning supports extending between adjacent awning supports on the side and end members, and a covering on the corner awning supports.  
   
   
       15 . A portable vending structure comprising: 
 a portable central housing having a plurality of side members, a plurality of end members, and a top member connecting the side members and the end members; and,    a collapsible signage structure positioned on the top member of the central housing, the collapsible signage structure having a plurality of signage panels hingeably supported to the central housing and adapted to be repositioned from a first vertical position to a second substantially horizontal position, wherein a first of the signage panels is located a first plane in the second position, and wherein a second of the signage panels is located in a second plane generally parallel to the first plane in the second position.    
   
   
       16 . The portable vending unit of  claim 15 , wherein a third of the signage panels is positioned in a third plane distinct from the first and second planes.  
   
   
       17 . The portable vending unit of  claim 16 , wherein the third plane is generally parallel to the first and second planes.  
   
   
       18 . The portable vending unit of  claim 15 , further comprising hinges connected to the signage panels and extending from the central housing to pivot the signage panels from the first position to the second position on the top member of the central housing.  
   
   
       19 . A portable tent structure comprising: 
 a central housing unit having a cavity therein;    a first bracing structure extending from the central housing unit and defining a first tent section;    a second bracing structure adjacent the first bracing structure, the second bracing structure defining a second tent section; and,    a covering over the first bracing structure and the second bracing structure, wherein the second bracing structure is rotatable about a pivot member, and wherein the second bracing structure can be rotated from a first position, cantilevered away from the first tent section, to a second position, extending toward the first tent section, for disassembly of the tent structure.    
   
   
       20 . The portable tent structure of  claim 19 , wherein the covering is attached to the first bracing structure and the second bracing structure, and wherein the second bracing structure can be rotated to the second position when the covering is attached to the second bracing structure.  
   
   
       21 . The tent structure of  claim 19 , wherein the first bracing structure further comprises a vertical support for supporting the covering.  
   
   
       22 . A transportable self-contained vending structure comprising: 
 a central housing having a plurality of side members, and a top member connecting the side members, the side members of the central housing having a plurality of openable door members;    a plurality of linear awning supports extending about the side members of the central housing, the awning supports being rotatedly connected to the central housing unit for separately collapsing thereof;    a plurality of corner awning supports joining the linear awning supports in a cantilevered position; and,    a covering on the awning supports.    
   
   
       23 . The transportable self-contained vending structure of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of collapsible signage panels positioned on the top member of the central housing.  
   
   
       24 . The transportable self-contained vending structure of  claim 22 , wherein the awning supports are connected to the housing unit at a pivot member such that the awning supports can be rotated against the side members of the central housing unit for storage thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The transportable self-contained vending structure of  claim 23 , further comprising hinge members connected to the signage panels, wherein the hinge members support the signage panels, and wherein the hinge members allow the signage panels to be folded and sequentially stacked adjacent the top member of the central housing unit.  
   
   
       26 . A portable vending structure comprising: 
 a central housing unit having a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of connecting members;    a floor assembly connected to a proximal end of the vertical members;    an upper support structure depending from the vertical members;    a covering provided on the upper support structure; and,    a signage support assembly connected to a distal end of the vertical members.    
   
   
       27 . The portable vending structure of  claim 26 , wherein the vertical members and connecting members are joined with mating connection members without the use of fastening tools.