Ice and beverage dispensing apparatus
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Nov 27, 2001
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Jun 14, 1999
filing date -
Jun 14, 1999
priority date (Note) -
Expired
status (Latency Note)
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Importance

US Family Size
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Non-US Coverage
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Patent Longevity
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Forward Citations
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Abstract
An automatic ice and beverage dispensing machine having an ice dispensing chute assembly which is rotatable. As a rotating chute rotates rearward, a lifting motion first moves a locking device which locks a door in place and then elevates the door so that ice can freely flow from an ice storage bin. A switch is contacted which initiates the flow of ice from the ice storage bin. Releasing the rotating chute causes it to rotate (due to gravity) back to its initial, neutral position, disengaging the switch and stopping the flow of ice from the ice storage bin, reversing the lifting action on the door and the locking device, closing the door and locking the door in place to prevent further flow of ice from the ice storage bin.
First Claim
all claims..Other Claims data not available
Family
- No Family data available.
- 15 United States
- 10 France
- 8 Japan
- 7 China
- 5 Korea
- 2 Other
Patent Owner(s)
Patent Owner | Address | |
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SCOTSMAN GROUP LLC | 775 CORPORATE WOODS PARKWAY VERNON HILLS IL 60061 |
International Classification(s)

- 1999 Application Filing Year
- B65B Class
- 903 Applications Filed
- 349 Patents Issued To-Date
- 38.65 % Issued To-Date
Inventor(s)
Inventor Name | Address | # of filed Patents | Total Citations |
---|---|---|---|
Weeks, Robert J | Highland Village, TX | 1 | 35 |
# of filed Patents : 1 Total Citations : 35 | |||
Zalta, Michael J | Richardson, TX | 7 | 267 |
# of filed Patents : 7 Total Citations : 267 |
Cited Art Landscape
- No Cited Art to Display

Patent Citation Ranking
- 35 Citation Count
- B65B Class
- 90.66 % this patent is cited more than
- 24 Age
Forward Cite Landscape
- No Forward Cites to Display

Maintenance Fees
Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
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Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
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Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |
Full Text

Legal Events
Date | Code | Event | Description |
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Jul 31, 2023 | MAFP | MAINTENANCE FEE PAYMENT | free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY year of fee payment: 8 |
Aug 01, 2019 | MAFP | MAINTENANCE FEE PAYMENT | free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY year of fee payment: 4 |
Feb 02, 2016 | I | Issuance | |
Jan 13, 2016 | STCF | INFORMATION ON STATUS: PATENT GRANT | free format text: PATENTED CASE |
Dec 10, 2015 | AS | ASSIGNMENT | free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HOWLAND, CHARLES A;HOWLAND, VIRGINIA HOUSTON;REEL/FRAME:037349/0350 Owner name: WARWICK MILLS INC., NEW HAMPSHIRE Effective Date: Dec 10, 2015 |
Mar 26, 2015 | P | Published | |
Sep 26, 2014 | F | Filing | |
Sep 26, 2013 | PD | Priority Date |

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