Vending machine

Abstract

A vending machine including a housing and a plurality of support members coupled to and positioned to support the housing. The housing includes a central cabinet having a central display portion, a central rear wall and opposing sidewalls coupled between the central display portion and central rear portion. The central display portion is configured to allow access to displayed items. At least one side cabinet has a rear wall coupled to one of the opposing sidewalls of the central cabinet. Each side cabinet has a frontal display portion opposing the rear wall of the end cabinet and is configured to access displayed items. The frontal display portion is positioned at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis extending through the opposing sidewalls of the central cabinet. The frontal portion of each end cabinet is positioned in a substantially forward direction with respect to the central rear wall of the central cabinet.

1 . A vending machine for the display of items to viewers moving along a path, the vending machine comprising: a central cabinet displaying items in a first direction towards the path, the central cabinet having two sides, a front surface and a longitudinal axis extending through the sides, and at least one side cabinet displaying items in a second direction, the side cabinet placed adjacent the central cabinet and angled with respect to the longitudinal axis towards the first direction.  
   
   
       2 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the central cabinet comprises a front display portion configured to allow access to displayed items.  
   
   
       3 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the side cabinet has a frontal display portion angled towards the path at an angle in a range of approximately 20 to 35 degrees, with respect to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       4 . The vending machine of  claim 3 , wherein the side cabinet frontal display portion is angled at an angle of approximately 27 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       5 . The vending machine of  claim 1  further comprising at least one support means interposed between the central cabinet and the side cabinet.  
   
   
       6 . The vending machine of  claim 5 , wherein the support means is triangular in vertical cross-section including two sides and an apex, with the apex positioned proximate the front display portion of the central cabinet.  
   
   
       7 . The vending machine of  claim 5 , wherein the cabinets are fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of sheet metal, tubular metal elements and molded plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The vending machine of  claim 5 , wherein each cabinet comprises a frame structure attached to an interior surface to support and secure vending units.  
   
   
       9 . The vending machine of  claim 8 , wherein the vending units are coupled to the frame structure.  
   
   
       10 . The vending machine of  claim 1  further comprising multiple cabinets, each side cabinet being angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       11 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein one of the side cabinets is angled towards the first direction and another of the side cabinets is angled away from the first direction.  
   
   
       12 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein two side cabinets are adjacent one side of the central cabinet, one side cabinet angled towards the first direction and another side cabinet angled away from the first direction.  
   
   
       13 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein the side cabinets include side walls and wherein the central cabinet includes a front portion, arcuate in shape, which comprises the display portion of the central cabinet and the side walls of the side cabinets.  
   
   
       14 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein each cabinet comprises a pair of vertically stacked vending units.  
   
   
       15 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the central cabinet comprises two pairs of vertically stacked display units.  
   
   
       16 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein each cabinet further comprises a top cover, the top cover being sloped downwardly away from the display portion of the cabinet.  
   
   
       17 . A vending machine for the display of items to viewers moving along a path, the vending machine comprising: a central cabinet displaying items in a first direction; at least one side cabinet displaying items in a second direction; and means for angling the side cabinet towards the first direction, the means for angling being coupled to the central cabinet and side cabinet.  
   
   
       18 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein an angle is formed the first direction and the second direction, the means for angling the side cabinet moveably coupling the central cabinet to the side cabinet to adjust the angle.  
   
   
       19 . The vending machine of  claim 17  further comprising multiple side cabinets, wherein one of the side cabinets is angled towards the first direction and another of the side cabinets is angled away from the first direction.  
   
   
       20 . The vending machine of  claim 19 , wherein two side cabinets are adjacent one side of the central cabinet, one side cabinet angled towards the first direction and another side cabinet angled away from the first direction.