Media-dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

A media-dispensing apparatus including a housing, a plurality of compartments and a locking structure is disclosed. The plurality of compartments is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing. Each compartment is configured to hold at least one unit at least partially therein. The access structure is disposed in movable relation with respect to the plurality of compartments. At least a portion of the locking structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the plurality of compartments. The locking structure is configured to inhibit movement between the access structure and the plurality of compartments. The media-dispensing apparatus is configured such that a user may only remove the contents from one compartment at a time.

1 . A media-dispensing apparatus, comprising: 
 a housing;    a plurality of compartments disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing, each compartment configured to hold at least one unit at least partially therein;    an access structure disposed in movable relation with respect to the plurality of compartments; and    a locking structure, at least a portion of the locking structure being disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the plurality of compartments, the locking structure configured to inhibit movement between the access structure and the plurality of compartments.    
   
   
       2 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking structure is configured to allow movement between the access structure and the plurality of compartments when each of the plurality of compartments includes a unit at least partially therein.  
   
   
       3 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking structure configured to inhibit movement between the access structure and the plurality of compartments when one compartment of the plurality of compartments does not include a unit at least partially therein.  
   
   
       4 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a chamber configured to house the plurality of compartments.  
   
   
       5 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the chamber is rotatable with respect to the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The media-dispensing apparatus of Claim I, wherein at least a portion of the locking structure is movable between a first position where the locking structure inhibits relative movement between the plurality of compartments and the access structure and a second position where the locking structure permits relative movement between the plurality of compartments and the access structure.  
   
   
       7 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein insertion of a unit causes the at least a portion of the locking structure to move from its first position towards its second position.  
   
   
       8 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein removal of a unit causes the at least a portion of the locking structure to move from its second position towards its first position.  
   
   
       9 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access structure includes a door movable between a first position where the door blocks access to the plurality of compartments and a second position where the door permits access to one compartment.  
   
   
       10 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of sleeves, wherein each of the plurality of compartments includes a sleeve disposed in mechanical cooperation therewith.  
   
   
       11 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of sleeves is translatable with respect to its associated compartment.  
   
   
       12 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access structure is translatable with respect to the plurality of compartments.  
   
   
       13 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of sleeves includes a groove for accepting a portion of the access structure therein.  
   
   
       14 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein substantial alignment of adjacent grooves forms a path for the portion of the access structure translate along.  
   
   
       15 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of sleeves is movable between a first position where the sleeve blocks access to its associated compartment and a second position where the sleeve permits access to its associated compartment.  
   
   
       16 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein insertion of a unit at least partially into the compartment enables the sleeve to move from its second position towards its first position.  
   
   
       17 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein movement of the access structure with respect to its associated compartment causes the sleeve to move from its first position towards its second position.  
   
   
       18 . The media-dispensing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking structure includes a at least one boss, the at least one boss being disposed in mechanical cooperation with an associated compartment and configured to engage a holding structure of a corresponding sleeve.  
   
   
       19 . A media-dispensing apparatus, comprising: 
 a housing;    a plurality of compartments disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing, each of the plurality of compartments configured to hold at least one media unit therein;    a locking structure disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the plurality of compartments, the locking structure configured to inhibit access to a media unit disposed in a compartment when a single compartment does not include a media unit therein.    
   
   
       20 . A method of dispensing media, comprising: 
 providing a media-dispensing apparatus, including: 
 a plurality of compartments, each compartment being configured to hold a unit at least partially therein;  
   removing a unit from a first compartment;    returning a unit to the first compartment; and    moving at least a portion of the media-dispensing apparatus to allow access to a second compartment,    wherein each of the plurality of compartments must have a unit at least partially therein to allow access to the second compartment.