Title of Invention

A CONDOM VENDING MACHINE

Abstract

A condom vending machine comprising a housing provided with a lockable door, the housing accommodating a shelf provided for storage of condom packs thereon ; characterized by a tumahle knob, located on the exterior of the housing and having a slit on its body for insertion of a coin of the desired size therein, the said body also incorporating a catch which normally arrests any movement of the knob, but which is actuated by the coin, when inserted in the slit, to release the knob; a push arm connected to the body of the knob such that whenever the knob, in its released state, is turned, the coin in the slit falls, through a gap in the body of the knob, into the housing, while, simultaneously, the push arm is constrained to push the bottom most pack off the shelf to Ml on to the floor of the housing, for manually being removed there from through an outlet, the arm, along with the knob reverting to normal state thereafter. (Figure 5)

Full Text

This invention relates to a condom vending machine. The machine proposed herein does not require power for operating it. It is manually operable; at the same time it enables condom packs to be dispensed without requiring the services of a storage attendant. The operation involves the insertion of a coin and the turning of a knob. While the machine is simple in construction, it is effective in operation. The condom vending machine, according to this invention, comprises a housing provided with a loclabk door, the housing accommodating a shelf provided for storage of a stack of condom packs thereon; characterized by a tumabJe knob, located on the exterior of the housing and having a slit on its body for insertion of a coin of the desired size therein, the said body also incorporating a catch which nonnally attests any movement of the knob, but which is actuated by the coin, when inserted in the slit, to release the knob, a push aim connected to the body of the knob such that whenever the knob, in its released state, is turned, the coin in the sht falls, through a gap in the body of the knob, into the housing, while, simultaneously, the push arm is constrained to push the bottom most pack of the shelf to fall on to the floor of the housing, for manually being removed therefrom though an outlet, the ami aiong with the knob, reverting to noniial state thereafter. The invention will now be described in furftier detail by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example one of possible embodiments of the machine proposed herein. Fig. J jJJustrating the embodiment in front elevation. Fig. 2 illustrating the said embodiment in side elevation. Fig. 3 illustrating, schematically, the shelf and the push arm within the housing Fig. 4 ilkstrating a separate view of the bent portion of the push arm. And Fig. 5 illustratiug a view of the embodiment in perspective. The housing H is provided with a lockable door D and accommodates a shelf S for stacking packs P of condoms thereon. A mem throught window W in the housing H, adjacent tb« ehuftlf S, affords visual indication of the stock po«itjon of the packs P. A turnable knob K is i ocatwcl on the exterior of the housing H. The b«?dy of t-he knob K has a pe¬ripheral slit S in it for insertion of a coin of the desired size. The body of the knob also incor¬porates a catch which, novmally, arrests any turning movement of t\\n knob However, the catch is released only when actuated by a coin of the desired size inserted Into thw slit S. The knob K is linked t& a plvotably disposed push arm A (shown in broken line), the free end of which rests against the bottommost pack of the stack on the shelf S. Thus, when the catch is released by insertion of the coin in the slit, the knob can be manually turned. The turning of the knob K results, first¬ly, in the coin fallini;! through a gap in the body of the knob into the housing H and, secondly, in the push arm A being constrained to move pivotably against the bottommosl pack In the stack (indicat¬ed by the arrow Z) and( puali It off the shelf S. This pack lands on the floor f of the housing H, whence it can be picked Up manuilly, by the opera¬tor, through the outlet 0, Th« free end of the push arm A is bent at E" ( f ItS .. ) the bent portion serving to push the bottommost (jack off the shelf The arm A and knob K thi»reaft«ir revert to normal state, the knob K being once again arrested in position by the catcli, until a fresh coin is inserted. Whenever the stock of pnoks P Is to be replenished and the coins to be collected or the housing is to be cleaned, the door D is unlocked a«rid opened; thereafter, it is closed and locked once again. The condom vending machine proposed herein can also be used with equfll facility for vending/dispensing othet merchandise as well e.g. packs of supari, cigarette®, chewing gum and so on, so much so that th* US€» of the expression "condom vending machine" is not to be construed as limited to the vending of condoms alone. The terms and expressleina In this specification are of description and liot of limitation. there being no intention in fhe Use of such terms and , expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features illustrated and described, but it is understood tbat various other embodiments of the machia proposed herein are possible without departing &om the scope and ambit of this invention. I Claim: 1, A. condom vending machine comprising a housing provided with a lockable door, the housing accommodating a shelf provided for storage of a stack of condom packs thereon; characteiized by a tumable knob, located on the extenor of the housing and having a slit on its body for insertion of a coin of the desired size therein, the said body also incorporating a catch which normally arrests any movement of the knob, but which is actuated by the coin, when inserted in the slit, to release the knob; a push arm connected to the body of the knob such that whenever the knob, in its released state, is tnmed, the coin in the slit falls, through a gap in the body of the knob, into the housing, while, simuJtaneousJy, the push arm is constrained to push the bottom most pack off the shelf to fall on to the floor of the holeing, for manually being removed therefrom through an outlet, the arm, along with the knob reverling to normal state thereafter. 2.A condom vending machine as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the housing has A see through window adjacent the shelf for visually indicating the stock of the packs. 3.A condom vending machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the push arm is pivotably diposed within the housing. 4.A condom vending machine as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the free end of the push arm is bent. 5.A condom vending machine substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.

Documents:

0118-mas-1996 abstract.jpg

0118-mas-1996 abstract.pdf

0118-mas-1996 claims-duplicate.pdf

0118-mas-1996 claims.pdf

0118-mas-1996 correspondence others.pdf

0118-mas-1996 correspondence po.pdf

0118-mas-1996 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

0118-mas-1996 description (complete).pdf

0118-mas-1996 drawing.pdf

0118-mas-1996 drawings-duplicate.pdf

0118-mas-1996 form-1.pdf

0118-mas-1996 form-26.pdf