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An interactive vending machine which enables a consumer to view customized products before they are purchased and thereafter enables the consumer to purchase the customized products. The machine also keeps track of inventory so that if a particular item or accessory is out of stock, it will not be d

An interactive vending machine which enables a consumer to view customized products before they are purchased and thereafter enables the consumer to purchase the customized products. The machine also keeps track of inventory so that if a particular item or accessory is out of stock, it will not be displayed on the screen for purchase.

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1. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a stuffed plush bear and/or other item, comprising:a. an attractor mode location where an animation of the bear is displayed on the screen;b. an initial options location to enable the consumer to select an initial opt

1. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a stuffed plush bear and/or other item, comprising:a. an attractor mode location where an animation of the bear is displayed on the screen;b. an initial options location to enable the consumer to select an initial option for the type of bear desired;c. a select bear location where the consumer can select a desired bear from a multiplicity of bears displayed on the screen;d. a naked bear location where the bear selected by the consumer appears in animated form and is naked;e. a choose path location where the consumer selects various display items locations to go to;f. a theme shop location where the bear selected by the consumer is displayed in various themes;g. a chosen theme location where the consumer is able to select a specific theme for the selected bear;h. a top/bottom shop location where various garments in which to dress the selected bear are listed;i. a display tops location where various garment tops are displayed on the screen;j. a choose top location where the consumer selects one or more tops in which to dress the selected bear;k. a display bottoms location where various garment bottoms are displayed on the screen;l. a choose bottom location where the consumer selects one or more bottoms in which to dress the selected bear;m. an upsell location where various upsell accessories to embellish the selected bear are listed;n. a display upsell items location where the various upsell accessories are displayed on screen;o. a display prices location where the price of the various bears, tops, bottoms and upsell accessories items is displayed;p. a select items location where the consumer makes a final choice as to which bear, top or tops, bottom or bottoms and various upsell accessory items the consumer wishes to purchase;q. a checkout location where various prompts instruct the consumer to select a bear only location, an outfit top and/or bottom location, an outfit top and/or bottom and upsell accessory location, an upsell accessory only location, a bear plus outfit top and/or bottom location, and a bear plus outfit top and/or bottom plus upsell accessory location so the consumer can select which combination the consumer wishes to purchase;r. means whereby the consumer can visually see each specific item at a specific location and see a visual representation of a selected bear combined with one or more tops, bottoms, and upsell accessories so the consumer can see an animation on screen which displays a completed bear wearing each selected item;s. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected bear and selected items; andt. means to dispense the selected bear and selected items from the vending machine.2. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a bear or a wearing item for the bear.3. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the bear or items displayed at the location.4. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each bear and other items displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given bear or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given bear or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock bear or item cannot be displayed.5. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 1, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected bear.6. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a bear and/or other item, comprising:a. screen locations depicting pictures of a selection of bears for the consumer to choose and providing means to enable the consumer to choose at least one bear for purchase;b. screen locations depicting garments which may be worn by the bear and means to depict the bear wearing any combination of garments to enable the consumer to see how the bear will look with any selected combination of garments;c. screen locations depicting upsell accessory items which may be worn by the bear and means to depict the bear wearing any one or combination of accessory items with or without any combination of garments to enable the consumer to see how the bear will look with any selected combination of upsell accessory items;d. screen locations which set forth the prices of each bear, garment and accessory items and screen locations to enable a consumer to select the specific items the consumer wishes to purchase;e. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected item; andf. means to dispense each of the items selected by the consumer from the vending machine.7. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 6, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a bear or a wearing item for the bear.8. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 6, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the bear or items displayed at the location.9. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 6, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each bear and other item displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given bear or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given bear or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock bear or item cannot be displayed.10. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 6, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected bear.11. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a bear and/or other item, comprising:a. a multiplicity of screen locations to which a consumer can go depicting a multiplicity of bears with means to enable the consumer to select at least one bear, the screen locations including a multiplicity of screens depicting garments to be worn by the bear and upsell accessory items to be worn by a bear, and means to visually display at given locations how a bear will appear with any one or more selected wearing accessories so that a consumer can interact with the vending machine to view any combination of bear and accessory items so that the consumer can see how the bear and items to be purchase will appear before a purchase is made;b. screen locations setting forth the prices of each bear and additional items and means to enable a consumer to select specific items the consumer wishes to purchase;c. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected items; andd. means to dispense each item selected by the consumer from the vending machine.12. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 11, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a bear or a wearing item for the bear.13. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 11, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the bear or items displayed at the location.14. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 11, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each bear and other items displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given bear or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given bear or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock bear or item cannot be displayed.15. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 11, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected bear.16. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a bear and/or other item, comprising:a. a multiplicity of screen locations to which the consumer can go depicting at least one bear and at least one wearing item to be worn by the bear so that the consumer can see a visual representation on the screen as to how the at least one bear will appear with the at least one item before the consumer makes a purchase;b. at least one screen location setting forth the prices of the at least one bear and at least one wearing item and means to enable the consumer to select chosen items;c. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected items; andd. means to dispense each item selected by the consumer from the vending machine.17. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 16, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a bear or a wearing item for the bear.18. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 16, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the at least one bear or at least one item displayed at the location.19. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 16, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each bear and other items displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given bear or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given bear or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock bear or item cannot be displayed.20. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 16, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the at least one bear.21. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a toy and/or other item, comprising:a. an attractor mode location where an animation of the toy is displayed on the screen;b. an initial options location to enable the consumer to select an initial option for the type of toy desired;c. a select toy location where the consumer can select a desired toy from a multiplicity of toys displayed on the screen;d. a naked toy location where the toy selected by the consumer appears in animated form and is naked;e. a choose path location where the consumer selects various display items locations to go to;f. a theme shop location where the toy selected by the consumer is displayed in various themes;g. a chosen theme location where the consumer is able to select a specific theme for the selected toy;h. a top/bottom shop location where various garments in which to dress the selected toy are listed;i. a display tops location where various garment tops are displayed on the screen;j. a choose top location where the consumer selects one or more tops in which to dress the selected toy;k. a display bottoms location where various garment bottoms are displayed on the screen;l. a choose bottom location where the consumer selects one or more bottoms in which to dress the selected toy;m. an upsell location where various upsell accessories to embellish the selected toy are listed;n. a display upsell items location where the various upsell accessories are displayed on screen;o. a display prices location where the price of the various toys, tops, bottoms and upsell accessories items is displayed;p. a select items location where the consumer makes a final choice as to which toy, top or tops, bottom or bottoms and various upsell accessory items the consumer wishes to purchase;q. a checkout location where various prompts instruct the consumer to select a toy only location, an outfit top and/or bottom location, an outfit top and/or bottom and upsell accessory location, an upsell accessory only location, a toy plus outfit top and/or bottom location, and a toy plus outfit top and/or bottom plus upsell accessory location so the consumer can select which combination the consumer wishes to purchase;r. means whereby the consumer can visually see each specific item at a specific location and see a visual representation of a selected toy combined with one or more tops, bottoms, and upsell accessories so the consumer can see an animation on screen which displays a completed toy wearing each selected item;s. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected toy and selected items; andt. means to dispense the selected toy and selected items from the vending machine.22. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 21, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a toy or a wearing item for the toy.23. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 21, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the toy or items displayed at the location.24. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 21, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each toy and other items displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given toy or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given toy or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock toy or item cannot be displayed.25. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 21, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected toy.26. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a toy and/or other item, comprising:a. screen locations depicting pictures of a selection of toys for the consumer to choose and providing means to enable the consumer to choose at least one toy for purchase;b. screen locations depicting garments which may be worn by the toy and means to depict the toy wearing any combination of garments to enable the consumer to see how the toy will look with any selected combination of garments;c. screen locations depicting upsell accessory items which may be worn by the toy and means to depict the toy wearing any one or combination of accessory items with or without any combination of garments to enable the consumer to see how the toy will look with any selected combination of upsell accessory items;d. screen locations which set forth the prices of each toy, garment and accessory items and screen locations to enable a consumer to select the specific items the consumer wishes to purchase;e. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected item; andf. means to dispense each of the items selected by the consumer from the vending machine.27. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 26, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a toy or a wearing item for the toy.28. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 26, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the toy or items displayed at the location.29. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 26, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each toy and other item displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given toy or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given toy or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock toy or item cannot be displayed.30. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 26, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected toy.31. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a toy and/or other item, comprising:a. a multiplicity of screen locations to which a consumer can go depicting a multiplicity of toys with means to enable the consumer to select at least one toy, the screen locations including a multiplicity of screens depicting garments to be worn by the toy and upsell accessory items to be worn by a toy, and means to visually display at given locations how a toy will appear with any one or more selected wearing accessories so that a consumer can interact with the vending machine to view any combination of toy and accessory items so that the consumer can see how the toy and items to be purchase will appear before a purchase is made;b. screen locations setting forth the prices of each toy and additional items and means to enable a consumer to select specific items the consumer wishes to purchase;c. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected items; andd. means to dispense each item selected by the consumer from the vending machine.32. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 31, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a toy or a wearing item for the toy.33. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 31, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the toy or items displayed at the location.34. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 31, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each toy and other items displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given toy or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given toy or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock toy or item cannot be displayed.35. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 31, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected toy.36. An interactive vending machine having a screen to enable a consumer to purchase a toy and/or other item, comprising:a. a multiplicity of screen locations to which the consumer can go depicting at least one toy and at least one wearing item to be worn by the toy so that the consumer can see a visual representation on the screen as to how the at least one toy will appear with the at least one item before the consumer makes a purchase;b. at least one screen location setting forth the prices of the at least one toy and at least one wearing item and means to enable the consumer to select chosen items;c. means to enable the consumer to pay for the selected items; andd. means to dispense each item selected by the consumer from the vending machine.37. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 36, wherein each location further comprises a touch screen enabling the consumer to make a selection of a toy or a wearing item for the toy.38. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 36, wherein each location further comprises a visual animation and an audio of the toy or items displayed at the location.39. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 36, further comprising an inventory management system which keeps track of each toy and other item displayed for sale through the interactive vending machine and if a given toy or other item is out of stock, generates a command to remove the given toy or other item from the display screen selection so that an out of stock toy or item cannot be displayed.40. An interactive vending machine in accordance with claim 36, further comprising screen locations to enable the consumer to play at least one game with the selected toy.