VENDING MACHINE

Abstract

A vending machine includes an enclosure, a bracket, and two hangers. Each of the two brackets includes two rods and a plurality of cross bars connecting the two rods. Mounting slots for the hangers are defined in each of the two rods. The mounting portions of the two hangers are secured to the enclosure and to the rods, and provide locational and structural support for the brackets simply by virtue of gravity, avoiding the need for screws in assembling and disassembling the bracket.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particular to an enclosure and bracket of a vending machine.

2. Description of Related Art

A traditional vending machine includes an outer enclosure and a bracket mounted to the outer enclosure to carry merchandise. The bracket is usually mounted to two opposite sidewalls of the outer enclosure through screws, to provide vertical support and stability to the bracket. However, assembling the bracket is time-consuming in coordinating the holding screws to secure all components. Thus, there is a room to improve within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, schematic view of one embodiment of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a hanger of the vending machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a bracket of the vending machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially assembled view of the vending machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of vending machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a vending machine. The vending machine includes an enclosure and two brackets 30. The two brackets 30 are separate and can cooperatively carry a plurality of merchandise (not shown) inside the enclosure.

The enclosure includes a bottom wall 12, a rear wall 13, a first outer sidewall 17, a first inner sidewall 172, a second outer sidewall 18, a second inner sidewall 182 and a plurality of hangers 50 for hanging the two brackets 30 in the enclosure. A seal cover 15 is located on the bottom wall 12. The first inner sidewall 172 is attached and substantially parallel to the first outer sidewall 17. The second inner sidewall 182 is attached and substantially parallel to the second outer sidewall 18. The first outer sidewall 17 and the second outer sidewall 18 are located on opposite sides of the rear wall 13. The first outer sidewall 17 and the second outer sidewall 18 are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially perpendicular to the rear wall 13. Four first securing slots 1722 are defined in the first inner sidewall 172 for securing four of the plurality of hangers 50. Four second securing slots 1822 are defined in the second inner sidewall 182 for securing another four of the plurality of hangers 50. Each of the first securing slots 1722 and second securing slots 1822 extends horizontally.

FIG. 2 illustrates one of the plurality of hangers 50 in one embodiment. A cross section of each of the plurality of hangers 50 is substantially in the shape of a reverse “S”. Each of the plurality of hangers 50 includes a securing portion 51, a mounting portion 52, and a connecting portion 55 connecting the securing portion 51 to the mounting portion 52. A cross section of the securing portion 51 is substantially

L-shaped. A cross section of the mounting portion 52 is substantially L-shaped. Each of the plurality of hangers 50 can be made of metal sheet.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the two brackets 30 in one embodiment. The two brackets 30 may be substantially the same or symmetrical to each other. Each of the two brackets 30 includes two rods 31 and a plurality of cross bars 33. The two rods 31 are substantially parallel to each other. The plurality of cross bars 33 is substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the two rods 31. Two mounting slots 312 are defined in each of the two rods 31 for engaging with the plurality of hangers 50. The two mounting slots 312 are defined on opposite ends of each of the two rods 31.

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembled view of the enclosure in one embodiment. The first outer sidewall 17 is located on one side of the rear wall 13. The second outer sidewall 18 is located on an opposite side of the rear wall 13. The first inner sidewall 172 is secured to the first outer sidewall 17. The second inner sidewall 182 is secured to the second outer sidewall 18. Four of the plurality of hangers 50 extend into the four first securing slots 1722 and are secured to the first inner sidewall 172. Another four of the plurality of hangers 50 extend into the four second securing slots 1822 and are secured to the second inner sidewall 182. The seal cover 15 abuts the first inner sidewall 172 and the second inner sidewall 182.

FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled view of the enclosure and the two brackets 30 in one embodiment. When securing the two brackets 30 to the enclosure, the two brackets 30 are hung on the first inner sidewall 172 and the second inner sidewall 182, through the plurality of hangers 50. The mounting portion 52 of each of the four hangers 50 on the first inner sidewall 172 extends through each of the four mounting slots 312 of the bracket 30 and hooks on to the bracket 30. The mounting portion 52 of each of the four hangers 50 on the second inner sidewall 182 extends through each of the four mounting slots 312 of the bracket 30 and hooks on to the bracket 30. The two brackets 30 are then hung from the first inner sidewall 172 and the second inner sidewall 182. The seal cover 15 is located on bottom portions of the two brackets 30 to provide supplementary support for the two brackets 30.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A vending machine comprising:

an enclosure;

a bracket, comprising two rods and a plurality of cross bars connecting the two rods, and a mounting slot defined in each of the two rods; and

two hangers secured to the enclosure, each of the two hangers comprising a mounting portion,

wherein each of the two mounting portions is engaged with each of the two mounting slots to hang the bracket to the enclosure.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a seal cover located in the enclosure to support the bracket.

3. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall, and each of the two hangers is mounted to the inner sidewall.

4. The vending machine of claim 3, wherein each of the two hangers comprises a securing portion, and two securing slots are defined in the inner sidewall of the enclosure corresponding to the two securing portions.

5. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein a cross section of each of the two hangers is substantially in shape of reverse “S”.

6. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein a cross section of each of the two securing portions is substantially L-shaped, and each of the two securing portions extends through each of the two mounting slots and hooks each of the two rods.

7. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein each of the two hangers is made of metal sheet.

8. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the two rods are substantially parallel, and the plurality of cross bars is substantially perpendicular to the two rods.

9. A vending machine comprising:

an enclosure comprising two outer sidewalls and two inner sidewalls, and each of the two inner sidewalls attached to each of the two outer sidewalls;

two brackets, separated to each other, each of the two brackets comprising two rods and a plurality of cross bars connecting the two rods, and a mounting slot defined in each of the two rods; and

two hangers detachably secured to each of the two inner sidewalls, and each of the two hangers comprising a mounting portion,

wherein each of the two mounting portions is engaged with each of the two mounting slots to hang each of the two brackets to the enclosure.

10. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a seal cover located between the two inner sidewalls to support the two brackets.

11. The vending machine of claim 10, wherein each of the two hangers comprises a securing portion, and two securing slots are defined in each of the two inner sidewalls corresponding to the two securing portions.

12. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein a cross section of each of the two hangers is substantially in shape of reverse “S”.

13. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein a cross section of each of the two securing portions is substantially L-shaped, and each of the two securing portions extends through each of the two mounting slots and hooks each of the two rods.

14. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein each of the two hangers is made of metal sheet.

15. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein the two rods are substantially parallel, and the plurality of cross bars is substantially perpendicular to the two rods.

16. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein the two inner sidewalls and the two outer sidewalls are substantially parallel.

17. The vending machine of claim 16, wherein the two brackets are substantially symmetrical to each other.