VENDING SYSTEM
A vending system for products such as tobacco products. The vending system includes one or more hanging brackets and a plurality of modules that are selectively engageable on the hanging brackets. The hanging brackets are engaged on a store wall, particularly a slat wall, by inserting flanges into recesses between the slats. Each module includes a support bracket that is securable to the hanging brackets; a panel that is engaged with the support bracket; one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket and extending across a portion of the panel and a door that extends across an opening to the module. When the door is closed none of the product inside the module is visible. A computer may be operatively engaged with the sensors and is provided with programming to track products stocked in the vending system and removed therefrom.
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This invention is generally directed to systems for vending products. More particularly, the invention relates to cigarette vending systems. Specifically, the invention is directed to a vending system comprising a plurality of modules positioned one above the other on hanging brackets secured to a store wall. Each module includes a support bracket having a panel engaged therein; sensors provided in or on the panel and pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket for urging tobacco products on the panel towards a door. When closed, the door completely hides the tobacco products from the consumer.
Background InformationIn Canada it is considered unlawful for a retailer to publically display cigarettes or other tobacco products for sale or to place advertising for tobacco products in a place in a store where that advertising might be seen by the public. As a result, tobacco products are typically located behind a sales desk in a store. It is needful that the retailer be able to quickly and easily locate a tobacco product requested by a customer in order to sell that product to the consumer.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure is directed to a vending system for tobacco products, such as cigarettes. The vending system is designed to be able to be placed behind a sales desk in a store and may be conveniently positioned on a standard retail slat wall system without any fasteners. The vending system allows the retailer to have quick and easy access to the product but at the same time does not allow any member of the public to actually view what is being retained in the vending system.
The vending system includes one or more hanging brackets and a plurality of modules that are selectively engageable on the hanging brackets. The hanging brackets are engaged on a store wall, particularly a slat wall, by inserting flanges into recesses between the slats. Each module includes a support bracket that is securable to the hanging brackets; a panel that is engaged with the support bracket; one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; pusher assemblies provided on the support bracket and extending across a portion of the panel and a door that extends across an opening to the module. When the door is closed none of the product inside the module is visible. A computer may be operatively engaged with the sensors and is provided with programming to track products stocked in the vending system and removed therefrom.
In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a vending system for products comprising a support bracket adapted to be engaged with a support surface a panel engageable with the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive one or more products thereon; and one or more sensors provided in or on the panel.
In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide, in combination, a pair of hanger brackets adapted to be secured to a slatted wall; a plurality of modules engageable with the hanger brackets and adapted to retain a plurality of products therein, wherein each module comprises a support bracket defining an aperture therein; said support bracket being configured to be engaged on the pair of hanger brackets; a panel insertable into the aperture of the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive some of the plurality of products thereon; one or more pusher assemblies provided on an interior surface of the support bracket; each pusher assembly extending for a distance across the panel; and a door; wherein the plurality of modules are engaged at spaced intervals one above the other on the pair of hanger brackets.
The combination may further provide that the door of each module is engaged with the support bracket of the module above it; wherein the door of each module is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and when the door is in the closed position, none of the product retained in the module is visible from in front of the closed door.
The combination may further comprise one or more sensors provided in or on the panel; a remote computer operatively engaged with the one or more sensors; and programming provided in the computer to monitor an amount and brand of the plurality of products retained on the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules: and an amount and brand of the plurality of products removed from the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules. The plurality of products may be packages of tobacco products such as boxes of cigarettes.
In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a method of vending tobacco products comprising engaging a support bracket on a support surface; placing a panel into the support bracket to form a panel floor; arranging a plurality of tobacco products on an upper surface of the panel floor; contacting a rearmost one of the plurality of tobacco products on the panel with a pusher assembly; urging the tobacco products towards a forwardmost end of the panel floor using the pusher assembly; hiding all of the tobacco products behind a door positioned in front of a front wall of the support bracket so that none of the tobacco products are visible when the door is in a closed position. The method may further comprise opening the door; and removing one of the tobacco products when the door is opened.
The method as defined may further comprise sensing, with a sensor provided in or on the panel, that a forwardmost tobacco product has been removed from off the panel floor. The method may further comprise operatively engaging the sensor with a remote computer; sending a signal from the sensor to the remote computer; providing programming in the computer that tracks the tobacco products loaded into the panel and removed from the panel; and tracking with the computer, based on the signals from the sensor, a number of tobacco products that remain on the panel and a number of tobacco products that have been removed from the panel; compiling tracked information into a database in the computer; and analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided in the computer.
Sample embodiment of the disclosure are set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to
Vending system 10 may comprise a modular unit made of a plurality of similar modules that may be positioned one above the other. Each module may be configured to hold one or more rows of product 14. It will be understood that vending system 10 may comprise only a single module or system 10 may comprise multiple modules 10. Each module may be configured to hold a single row of product 14 or multiple rows of product 14.
Each module in vending system 10 may be comprised of a single support bracket 20, a single support panel 22, a plurality of pusher assemblies 24 and one or more doors 26.
It will be understood that in other instances hanger bracket 16 may be secured to walls that lack slots for receiving flanges 16b. In these instances, a hole may be drilled through each flange 16b and a fastener may be inserted through each hole and subsequently into the non-slatted wall.
Referring to
Left side wall 20c and right side wall 20d of support bracket 20 may be of a generally truncated-triangular shape when viewed from the side as in
In some embodiments, and as shown in
As best seen in
As shown in
Panel 22 is configured to be engaged with support bracket 20. Panel 22 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from above (
One or more sensors 28 may be provided in or on panel 22, particularly if the panel 22 is comprised of or includes a plastic layer. Sensors 28 may be utilized to detect product 14 that rests on panel 22 and/or is removed from panel 22. During fabrication of panel 22, sensors 28 may be enveloped by plastic material so that they are protected from potential damage. The metal may block the ability of the sensors 28 to sense product 14 located on the panel beneath the one from which product 14 is removed. The sensors 28 may therefore only sense the removal of product 14 from on top of specific panel 22 and may therefore not provide false readings. If desired, the system can be set up so that each sensor 28 may be able to monitor product 14 that is located above or below the panel 22 in which sensor 28 is located.
In some embodiments, the sensors 28 may be provided in a plastic layer that rests on top of a metal frame shelf. The shelf frame may be open at the bottom to permit radio frequency (RF) waves and waves of any kind to pass through the shelf insert and facilitate detection of items or item tags placed on the shelf, or placed on the items, or for sensing bare sections of the shelf. Shelf inserts may be constructed of any material suitable for any type of sensing, including metal for holding items when no item detection is required. An alternate embodiment includes a one piece shelf frame that is open on the bottom with a fixed depth.
The one or more sensors 28 may be operatively engaged by appropriate circuitry with a cable 30 that extends outwardly from panel 22 and is operatively engaged with a remote computer 32.
Computer 32 may be provided with programming to monitor the number of boxes of product 14 resting on upper surface 22a of panel 22. Sensors 28 may be positioned to align with one of the one or more of the pusher assemblies 24 and may therefore be used to monitor boxes of product 14 that are contacted by a particular pusher assembly 24. One sensor 28 or more than one sensors 28 may be provided in a region of panel 28 that is aligned with each pusher assembly. Sensors 28 may be provided for substantially the entire depth of panel 22 from proximate front wall 20a of support bracket 20 to proximate rear wall 20b of support bracket 20 or may be located anywhere else in panel 22 that enables adequate monitoring of product 14. When a single box of product 14 is removed from its position resting on upper surface 22a of panel 22, a signal may be sent from the appropriate activated one of the one or more sensors 28, via cable 30 to the remote computer 32. The programming in computer 32 will utilize the received signal to compute and tally the amount of product 14 left in vending system 10 and/or the amount of product 14 that should be recorded as sold because it has been removed from vending system 10. The computer 32 may therefore track and control sales of product 14 in real time and may also be programmed to automatically re-order product 14 from a vendor based on the monitored sales. If different brands of product 14 are stocked in different areas of vending system 10, the relative sales of the different brands may also be recorded and tracked by the programming provided in computer 32. A database may be compiled and stored in computer 32 and the programming may also permit various types of analysis of the data in the database to be undertaken and appropriate reports to be generated. The database stored in computer 32 may be accessed by selectively connecting other computing devices (such as a tablet or smartphone) to computer 32.
Referring to
Each door 26 may be generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the front and may include a front surface 26a, a rear surface 26b (
Where two doors 26 are provided side-by-side on one module of vending system 10 (such as is illustrated in
It will be understood that other mechanisms for ensuring doors 26 may pivot relative to support bracket 20 may be employed. For example, flange 26c may be fixedly secured to front wall 20a of the support bracket 20 of the module above door 26 and door 26 may be pivotally engaged with flange 26c.
Pivot pins 34 may permit door 26 to pivot about a horizontally-oriented axis between the open position and the closed position. (The horizontally-oriented axis may extend along the shafts of the pivot pins 34.)
It should be noted that when vending system 10 is used to hold a plurality of tobacco products 14, the front surface 26a of door 26 is intended to be free of any indicia or advertising that might indicate that type of product 14 that is retained within vending system 10. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that if it is permitted in any jurisdiction to advertise the products 14 retained within vending system 10 then advertising markings or other indicia may be provided on front surface 26a or any other part of vending system 10 that will be visible to the consumer.
It should be noted that the uppermost door 26 may be pivotally engaged with a portion of top wall 10a or with side walls 10b of the cabinet box of vending system 10). This may be because there is no support bracket 20 proximate the top end of the uppermost door 26. Top wall 10a of cabinet box may, alternatively be connected to flange 26c of door 26 by fasteners 10c (
Each door 26 may be selectively rotated to the open position by a retailer grasping the bottom flange 26d or one of the side edges 26e, 26f of plate 26 and rotating door 26 in the direction of arrow “B” (
It will be understood that instead of pivoting door 26 about a horizontal axis provided by pivot pins 34 that are engaged with the top flange 26c of door 26; door 26 may, instead, be configured to slide laterally between open and closed positions or door 26 may be provided with pivot pins along one side edge 26e, 26f and may then pivot about a generally vertically-oriented axis. Similarly, pivot pins may be provided on bottom flange 26d of door 26 and door may then pivot about a horizontally-oriented axis. In this latter instance or when pivot pins are provided on side edges 26e, 26f, or if door 26 is configured to slide, a spring assembly may be provided on door 26 to ensure door will automatically return to the closed position.
A method of vending products 14 such as boxes or packages of tobacco products from a vending system 10 may comprise engaging a support bracket 20 on a support surface; placing a panel 22 into support bracket 20 to form a panel floor; arranging a plurality of tobacco products 14 on an upper surface 22a of the panel floor; contacting a rearmost one of the plurality of tobacco products 14a on the panel floor with a pusher assembly 24; urging the tobacco products 14 towards a forwardmost end of the panel floor 22a using pusher assembly 24; hiding all of the tobacco products 14 behind a door 26 positioned in front of a front wall 20a of the support bracket 20 so that none of the tobacco products 14 are visible when door 26 is in a closed position.
The method may further comprise opening door 26; and removing one of tobacco products 14 when door 26 is opened. The method may further comprise providing a slat wall 12 in a store as the support surface; engaging a hanger bracket 16 on slat wall 12; and engaging support bracket 20 on hanger bracket 16. The method may further comprise sensing, with a sensor 28 provided in panel 22, that a forwardmost tobacco product 14b has been removed from off the panel floor 22a.
The method may further comprise operatively engaging sensor 28 with a remote computer 32; sending a signal from sensor 28 to remote computer 32; providing programming in computer 32 that tracks the tobacco products 14 loaded into the vending system 10 and removed from the vending system 10; and tracking with computer 32, based on the signals from sensor 28, a number of tobacco products 14 that remain on panel 22 and a number of tobacco products 14 that have been removed from panel 22; compiling tracked information into a database in computer 32; and analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided in computer 32.
A step of engaging hanging bracket 16 on wall 12 may be accomplished without using fasteners. Instead, the step of engaging hanging bracket 16 on wall 12 may comprise inserting a flange 16b extending outwardly from hanging bracket 16 into a space 12c defined between two slats 12b on wall 12.
A step of engaging support bracket 20 on hanging bracket 16 may comprise inserting a hook 20g extending outwardly from a rear wall 20b of support bracket 20 into a recess 16dd′ defined in hanging bracket 16.
The method may further comprise positioning a second support bracket 20 a distance above support bracket 20; engaging the second support bracket 20 on hanging bracket 16 a distance above support bracket 20; placing a second panel 22 into second support bracket 20 to form a second panel floor 22a; arranging a second plurality products 14 in rows on top of the second panel floor 22a; engaging a rearmost one 14b of the second plurality of products 14 in each row on second panel 22 with a second front plate 24a of a second pusher assembly 24; urging each row products 14 on second panel 22 toward a second door 26 adjacent front 20a of second support bracket 20 with an associated one of the second pusher assemblies 24; covering all of the products 14 on the second panel 22 with second door s26 o that the products 14 are not visible to a consumer standing in front of vending system 10
The step of covering all of product 14 on panel 20 with door 26 may comprise engaging door 26 with second support bracket 20 that is located a distance above support bracket 20; positioning a top flange 26c of door 26 a distance adjacent a bottom end of front wall 20a of second support bracket 20; positioning a bottom flange 26d of door 26 adjacent a bottom end of the front wall 20a of support bracket 20; positioning a left side edge 26e of door 26 adjacent a left side wall 20c of support bracket 20; and positioning a right side edge 26f of door 26 adjacent a right side wall 20d of support bracket 20.
While vending system 10 has been disclosed as being suitable for retaining products 14 that are tobacco products such as cigarettes, it will be understood that any retail product may be retained and dispensed from vending system 10.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the preferred embodiment of the disclosure are an example and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Claims
1. A vending system for products comprising:
- a support bracket adapted to be engaged with a support surface;
- a panel engageable with the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive one or more products thereon; and
- one or more sensors provided in or on the panel.
2. The vending system as defined in claim 1, wherein the panel includes a metal frame shelf and a plastic panel member; and wherein the one or more sensors are provided in or on the plastic panel member.
3. The vending system as defined in claim 1, wherein the support bracket includes a front wall and a portion of the front wall extends above the upper surface of the panel.
4. The vending system as defined in claim 1, further comprising one or more pusher assemblies provided on a rear wall of the support bracket; said one or more pusher assemblies being adapted to urge the one or more products on the panel toward a front wall of the support bracket.
5. The vending system as defined in claim 4, wherein each of the one or more sensors is aligned with one of the one or more pusher assemblies.
6. The vending system as defined in claim 5, wherein one or more sensors comprises a plurality of sensors and the one or more pusher assemblies comprises a plurality of pusher assemblies; wherein the plurality of pusher assemblies are spaced laterally apart from each other along a rear wall of the support bracket; and wherein one or more of the plurality of sensors is aligned with each one of the plurality of pusher assemblies.
7. The vending system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors extends from proximate a front edge of the panel to proximate a rear edge of the panel.
8. The vending system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a computer operatively engaged with the one or more sensors and configured to receive signals from the one or more sensors when the one or more sensors are activated; and
- wherein the computer is provided with programming designed to track a number of the one or more products retained on the panel or the number of the one or more products removed on the panel or track one or more brands of the one or more products that are retained on the panel or removed from the panel.
9. The vending system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
- a hanger bracket adapted to be engaged to the support surface; wherein the support bracket is selectively engageable with the hanger bracket.
10. The vending system as defined in claim 9, wherein the hanger bracket includes a base rail with a plurality of arms extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom at intervals from each other; and wherein adjacent arms of the plurality of arms define a recess therebetween.
11. The vending system as defined in claim 10, wherein the hanger bracket has a top end with a flange extending outwardly therefrom; and wherein the flange is adapted to be engaged with the support surface without a use of additional fasteners.
12. The vending system as defined in claim 10, wherein the support bracket has a rear wall with a hook extending outwardly therefrom; and wherein the hook is selectively receivable in the recess defined in the hanger bracket.
13. The vending system as defined in claim 12, wherein the support bracket engages the hanger bracket without a use of additional fasteners.
14. The vending system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
- a door movable between an open position and a closed position; wherein the door is positioned in front of a front wall of the support bracket when in the closed position; and wherein the door is configured such that when in the closed position and viewed from in front of the vending system, the one or more products on the panel is not visible above a top edge of the door, below a bottom edge of the door, to the right of a right side edge of the door and to the left of a left side edge of the door.
15. The vending system as defined in claim 14, wherein the door pivots between the open position and the closed position.
16. The vending system as defined in claim 14, wherein the door is non-transparent or opaque and when the door is in the closed position, the one or more products is not visible through the door.
17. In combination: wherein the plurality of modules are engaged at spaced intervals one above the other on the pair of hanger brackets.
- a pair of hanger brackets adapted to be secured to a slatted wall;
- a plurality of modules engageable with the hanger brackets and adapted to retain a plurality of products therein, wherein each module comprises: a support bracket defining an aperture therein; said support bracket being configured to be engaged on the pair of hanger brackets; a panel insertable into the aperture of the support bracket, said panel having an upper surface adapted to receive some of the plurality of products thereon; one or more pusher assemblies provided on an interior surface of the support bracket; each pusher assembly extending for a distance across the panel; and a door;
18. The combination as defined in claim 17, wherein the panel comprises a metal frame shelf, a plastic panel member; and one or more sensors; and wherein the one or more sensors are provided in or on the plastic panel member.
19. The combination as defined in claim 17, wherein the door of each module is engaged with the support bracket of the module above it; wherein the door of each module is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and when the door is in the closed position, none of the plurality of products retained in the module is visible from in front of the closed door.
20. The combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising:
- one or more sensors provided in or on the panel;
- a remote computer operatively engaged with the one or more sensors; and
- programming provided in the computer to monitor: an amount and brand of the plurality of products retained on the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules: and an amount and brand of the plurality of products removed from the upper surface of the panel of each of the plurality of modules.
21. The combination as defined in claim 19; further comprising a plurality of products; wherein the plurality of products are packages of tobacco products.
22. A method of vending tobacco products comprising:
- engaging a support bracket on a support surface;
- placing a panel into the support bracket to form a panel floor;
- arranging a plurality of tobacco products on an upper surface of the panel floor;
- contacting a rearmost one of the plurality of tobacco products on the panel with a pusher assembly;
- urging the tobacco products towards a forwardmost end of the panel floor using the pusher assembly
- hiding all of the tobacco products behind a door positioned in front of a front wall of the support bracket so that none of the tobacco products are visible when the door is in a closed position.
23. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising:
- opening the door; and
- removing one of the tobacco products when the door is opened.
24. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising:
- providing a slat wall in a store as the support surface;
- engaging a hanger bracket on the slat wall; and
- engaging the support bracket on the hanger bracket.
25. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising:
- sensing, with a sensor provided in or on the panel, that a forwardmost tobacco product has been removed from off the panel floor.
26. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising:
- operatively engaging the sensor with a remote computer;
- sending a signal from the sensor to the remote computer;
- providing programming in the computer that tracks the tobacco products loaded onto the panel and the tobacco products removed from the panel; and
- tracking with the computer, based on the signals from the sensor a number of tobacco products that remain on the panel and a number of tobacco products that have been removed from the panel;
- compiling tracked information into a database in the computer; and
- analyzing the compiled information in the database with the programming provided in the computer.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2017
Publication Date: Apr 11, 2019
Applicant:
Inventor: Giovanni Pellegrino (Mississauga)
Application Number: 15/730,050