US 11,816,947 B2
Apparatus and method for sporting equipment stick vending
Broderick Zorick, Beaverton, OR (US); and Kevin Roudebush, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to V4Hockey LLC, Salem, OR (US)
Filed by Broderick Zorick, Beaverton, OR (US); and Kevin Roudebush, Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/700,636.
Application 17/700,636 is a continuation of application No. 17/464,353, filed on Sep. 1, 2021, granted, now 11,308,750.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/086,902, filed on Oct. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0215713 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G07F 17/00 (2006.01); G07F 5/26 (2006.01); G07F 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/0042 (2013.01) [G07F 5/26 (2013.01); G07F 17/32 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of dispensing sporting equipment sticks using a sporting equipment stick vending machine, wherein the sporting equipment stick vending machine has a stick guide system defined by a plurality of restraining apertures that are configured to receive a portion of a handle of the sporting equipment stick, and wherein a size of each restraining aperture is sized to receive a proximal end of the sporting equipment stick, the method comprising:
receiving a selection of a sporting equipment stick by a user;
generating a release signal by a controller, wherein the release signal is generated in response to the user completing a purchase of the selected sporting equipment stick that is secured within the sporting equipment stick vending machine; and
opening a first securing latch of a plurality of securing latches controllably coupled to the controller to release its respective sporting equipment stick that has been selected by the user in response to the release signal received from the controller,
wherein each securing latch defines a lockable compartment that is configured to receive a portion of a shaft of a sporting equipment stick,
wherein each securing latch is an electromechanical device that is configured to releasably secure the corresponding sporting equipment stick,
wherein the first securing latch and the corresponding restraining aperture of the stick guide system cooperatively secure the selected sporting equipment stick within the sporting equipment stick vending machine when the securing latch is closed, and
wherein the user is able to remove the selected sporting equipment stick from the sporting equipment stick vending machine after the securing latch releases the selected sporting equipment stick.