Abstract: A spherical bearing comprising a generally spherical shaped inner ball, a fixed outer race having a seamless generally concave bearing surface, and a plurality of individual ball bearings disposed between the spherical inner ball and concave bearing surface to support universal movement of the spherical inner ball. The individual ball bearings are retained between the spherical inner ball and concave bearing surface of the fixed outer race by sealed retaining plates. A cylindrical bore may be provided through the inner ball in some embodiments of the invention for attaching a member such as a shaft to the inner ball.

Abstract: A coin operated dispensing apparatus for vending cylindrical items such as individually packaged cigarettes. Generally stated the dispensing apparatus comprises a vertically mounted storage magazine for storing a plurality of cylindrical items to be dispensed, a dispensing gate rotatably mounted across an outlet opening of the magazine for retaining or discharging the cylindrical items from the magazine, and a weighted balance beam coupled through a linkage to the dispensing gate for operating the gate. The balance beam is normally positioned by a counterweight to hold the dispensing gate in an outlet blocking position in which all the cylindrical items are retained in the magazine. In operation the balance beam can be shifted by the weight of a coin for rotating the dispensing gate from the outlet blocking position to a discharge position in which a single item is allowed to drop through the outlet opening of the magazine for dispensing the item.