Patents by Inventor Thomas Robert Lauer

Thomas Robert Lauer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20020079323
    Abstract: A machine for dispensing containers such as bottles and cans which are supported in an upright position includes a vending rack in which the can or bottles are supported. The vending rack is rotatable about a vertical axis at least 180° to enable the back of the vending rack to be rotated to a position in which the back of the vending rack is located adjacent the front of the machine to facilitate loading of containers to be vended in the vending rack. The containers can be vended in a first in first out fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Vendcraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Robert Lauer
  • Patent number: 6409045
    Abstract: A vending machine for vending a plurality of bottles each of which are supported in an upright position only at a top portion of each of the bottles include a planar dispensing rack having a plurality of elongated slots therein for storing and dispensing bottles. The elongated slots each include a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart side walls which are spaced apart a distance less than a diameter of the top portion of the bottle to be supported in the slots. The distance between the side walls of the slot is adjustable to enable the slot to support bottles having various diameters. The side walls of each of the slots terminate in an opening at one end of each of the slots which opening has a diameter larger than the diameter of the top portion of the bottles supported by the slots to enable bottles which move from the slot to the opening to drop through the opening from the planar dispensing rack to a dispensing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Robert Lauer