U.S. patent application number 09/996104 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for display apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream, Division of Conopco, Inc.. Invention is credited to Di Rosa, Vincenzo.
Application Number | 20020062653 09/996104 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9904185 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020062653 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Di Rosa, Vincenzo |
May 30, 2002 |
Display apparatus
Abstract
A refrigerated display apparatus comprising a product display
unit and a refrigeration unit, the product display unit including a
housing defining a chamber arranged to receive therewithin one or
more products, a base adapted to overlie a counter top, and a
projecting portion projecting beyond the base, wherein the
refrigeration unit depends from the projecting portion, whereby the
refrigeration unit is arrangeable below the level of the counter
top.
Inventors: |
Di Rosa, Vincenzo; (Rome,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
UNILEVER
PATENT DEPARTMENT
45 RIVER ROAD
EDGEWATER
NJ
07020
US
|
Assignee: |
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream,
Division of Conopco, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
9904185 |
Appl. No.: |
09/996104 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/246 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 3/0408
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/246 |
International
Class: |
A47F 003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2000 |
GB |
0029227.6 |
Claims
1. A refrigerated display apparatus comprising a product display
unit and a refrigeration unit, the product display unit including a
housing defining a chamber arranged to receive therewithin one or
more products, a base adapted to overlie a counter top, and a
projecting portion projecting beyond the base, wherein the
refrigeration unit depends from the projecting portion, whereby the
refrigeration unit is arrangeable below the level of the counter
top.
2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projecting
portion projects horizontally from the base.
3. A display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the
refrigeration unit includes a vent for venting heated air, the vent
being located within a housing which houses the refrigeration
unit.
4. A display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the vent is
located in a lower portion of the housing.
5. A display apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the
refrigeration unit is housed within a pedestal which includes a
foot portion capable of contacting and being supported by a
floor.
6. A display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pedestal
is height adjustable.
7. A display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the foot is
telescopically slidable within the pedestal to achieve the desired
height.
8. A display apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein
the apparatus is configured generally in the form of an inverted L,
wherein the display unit is arranged horizontally in use and the
refrigeration unit depends vertically therefrom.
9. A display apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein
the display unit includes an evaporator in fluid connection with a
compressor and a condenser, the compressor and condenser forming
part of the refrigeration unit.
10. A counter top including a refrigerated display apparatus
according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
11. A refrigerated display apparatus substantially as herein
described with reference to the drawings.
12. A counter top substantially as herein described with reference
to the drawings.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerated display
apparatus capable of being arranged at least partly on a counter
top and also to a counter top including such a refrigerated display
apparatus.
[0002] Many different examples of refrigerated display apparatus
capable of being arranged on a counter are known. These typically
are relatively large cuboid structures comprising a refrigeration
unit located on and supported by a counter top, and a product
display unit carried by the refrigeration unit. However, there are
a number of problems associated with this type of apparatus.
Firstly, the size of the components, all of which are arranged on
the counter, results in an apparatus which is relatively large in
terms of the footprint it must occupy on the counter and its height
above the counter, which is undesirable.
[0003] Secondly, the refrigeration unit generates a significant
amount of hot air, resulting from the cooling of the compressed
refrigerant gas. This warm or hot air is typically vented or
exhausted from the refrigeration unit at a height which is about
equal to that of the head or torso of the counter attendant and/or
customers waiting by the counter. This flow of warm or hot air can
be very unpleasant for those near to the display apparatus,
especially when the ambient temperature is relatively high.
[0004] Thirdly, the refrigeration unit is typically a somewhat
noisy component and the noise emitted by it can be objectionable,
especially where people, such as the counter attendant(s) are
subject to this noise pollution for prolonged periods of time.
[0005] Thus, there is a desire for a refrigerated display apparatus
which is capable of occupying a relatively small area of the
counter top, where the vented warm or hot air as well as the noise
generated by the refrigeration unit are such that they do not
disturb people in the vicinity of the apparatus.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a refrigerated display apparatus comprising a product
display unit and a refrigeration unit, the product display unit
including a housing defining a chamber arranged to receive
therewithin one or more products, a base adapted to overlie and be
supported by a counter top and a projecting portion projecting
beyond the base, wherein the refrigeration unit depends from the
projecting portion, whereby the refrigeration unit is arrangeable
below the level of the counter top. In a particularly preferred
embodiment, the projecting portion projects horizontally in use
from the base.
[0007] The present apparatus permits the product display unit to be
arranged directly onto the counter top (i.e. without the
refrigeration unit being located therebetween) with a part of the
display unit projecting beyond the counter top, which therefore
results in the apparatus occupying a smaller area of the counter
than conventional apparatus which are located wholly upon the
counter.
[0008] Additionally, by having the refrigeration apparatus
arrangeable below the level of the counter top, the warm or hot air
from the present apparatus may be vented or exhausted at, or just
above ground level, where it is less noticeable and thus less
objectionable, thereby ameliorating the problem of the warm or hot
air being vented from the refrigeration unit at or about torso
height.
[0009] Furthermore, since the refrigeration unit may be arranged at
a height lower than alternative refrigeration display apparatus,
the noise generated by the refrigeration apparatus is emitted at a
lower height and therefore becomes less audible and hence less of a
nuisance to people in close proximity to the display apparatus.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the refrigeration unit includes a
vent for venting warm or hot air generated by the refrigeration
apparatus, in particular the condenser, wherein the vent is located
within a housing enclosing the refrigeration apparatus. More
preferably, the vent is located in a lower portion of the housing.
The term "lower portion" is used herein to define an area between
the bottom of the housing and a point halfway up the housing (i.e.
h/2, where h represents the height of the housing).
[0011] The apparatus is preferably mains powered and is desirably a
self-contained unit. That is to say it requires no additional
display or refrigeration apparatus in order to operate effectively
as intended.
[0012] The refrigeration unit may be housed within a pedestal which
includes a height adjustable foot portion capable of contacting
(and being supported by) a floor for a wide variety of different
counter top heights. To this end, the foot portion may be capable
of telescopically sliding in and out of the pedestal (or vice
versa) to achieve the desired height.
[0013] The apparatus is preferably configured generally in the form
of an inverted "L" shape, wherein the display unit is arranged
horizontally in use and the refrigeration unit depends vertically
downwards therefrom beyond the edge of a counter on which in use it
is rested. In this type of an arrangement, part of the display unit
overlies and is supported by the counter top and a part of the
display unit projects beyond the counter top and is supported by
the refrigeration unit, preferably by the housing or pedestal which
encloses the refrigeration unit. Thus, the present display
apparatus preferably occupies a smaller area on the counter (i.e.
has a smaller footprint) than an equivalent display apparatus
having the same area when viewed in plan.
[0014] The apparatus, preferably includes a means for transporting
a cooling medium from the refrigeration unit to the display unit.
The cooling medium may be chilled air or other chilled cooling
fluid, or, alternatively, the cooling medium may be a cooled
compressed (preferably liquid) refrigerant gas (e.g. Freon), where
the apparatus comprises an evaporator located within the display
unit, to cool the air within the display unit.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the refrigeration unit includes a
cooling medium outlet and a cooling medium return. In embodiments
where the cooling medium is a chilled gas, the refrigeration unit
may include a fan for circulating the gas to and from the
refrigeration unit. Alternatively, in embodiments where the cooling
medium is a compressed refrigeration gas, the refrigeration unit
preferably includes a pump for circulating the refrigerant gas
around a closed refrigerant circuit.
[0016] The display unit preferably includes channels, ducts or
apertures to permit circulation of chilled or cooled air around the
display unit and the product or products housed therein.
[0017] The display apparatus may include an opening, preferably
closable by a lid to enable a consumer to access the or each
product within the display unit chamber.
[0018] The refrigeration unit is in communication with the display
unit and is preferably capable of maintaining the display unit at a
temperature down to about -20.degree. C., more preferable down to
about -18.degree. C. In such embodiments, the display apparatus may
be use to display frozen products, such as ice creams and the like.
Alternatively, the display apparatus may be used to display
refrigerated products, where the temperature is preferably
maintained at about 2 to 6.degree. C.
[0019] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a counter top including a refrigerated display
apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Preferably, the projecting portion of the display unit projects
beyond a side edge portion of the counter top and the refrigeration
unit is arranged below the counter top.
[0020] An embodiment of the present invention will not be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present
invention located in position on a counter top.
[0022] For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that in the
following description, references to "horizontal", "vertical",
"Up", "down", and to related terms, refer to the orientation that
the components of the apparatus adopt when installed for normal
use, as they are shown in the figures.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerated display apparatus 2, comprising
a product display unit 4 and a pedestal 6.
[0024] The product display unit 4 comprises a body 3 and a base 5
comprising a first base portion 20 which overlies and is supported
by a portion of a counter top 30, and a projecting portion in the
form of a second base portion 21 which projects horizontally from
the counter 30. A main body portion 8 of the pedestal 6 depends
from the second base portion 21 of the product display unit base
element 5.
[0025] A lower portion of the main pedestal body 8 defines an
aperture 18 into which is telescopically slideable a foot element
10 of the pedestal 6. The bottom 11 of the foot 10 contacts the
floor 32 and is supported thereby. The foot is capable of being
locked in position whereby the main body 8 of the pedestal 6 and a
portion of the display unit 4 are supported by the foot.
[0026] The main body 8 of the pedestal 6 includes a compressor and
a condenser (both not shown) as part of a well know closed
refrigerant gas circuit. The compressor compresses a refrigerant
gas and the compressed refrigerant gas is then transported via a
conduit to the condenser where it is cooled. The compressed
refrigerant gas is cooled by virtue of a heat exchanger-type
arrangement where air at ambient temperature is drawn into the
pedestal through an air inlet 12, passed over the condenser and
exhausted from the pedestal 6 via a warm air vent 14 in the foot 10
of the pedestal 6. The airflow in and the airflow out are indicated
in FIG. 1 with appropriate arrows indicating the direction of
airflow. The cooled compressed refrigerant gas is then pumped via a
second conduit to an evaporator located within the product display
unit 4. In the evaporator, the compressed cooled gas is allowed to
expand whereupon it absorbs heat energy from within the product
display unit 4, thus refrigerating it. The expanded refrigerant gas
completes the closed refrigerant cycle by being pumped back to an
inlet side of the compressor via a third conduit.
[0027] The above-described refrigerant circuit will be well know to
those skilled in the art, the difference with the present invention
being that the compressor and the condenser, together with
additional ancillary components commonly used with this type of
apparatus, are located within the main body 8 of the pedestal 6, to
allow a greater volume for the product display unit 4 and to allow
the heated air that has passed over the condenser to be vented from
vent 14 which is located in the foot 10 of the pedestal 6 adjacent
to the floor 32, whereas the evaporator is located within the
display unit 4.
[0028] As well as the evaporator, the product display unit 4 also
includes a product chamber for receiving therein one or more
products. The product chamber is accessed by a user via a
transparent lid 22 which may be opened via a handle 24. The lid 22
is hingedly connected to the display unit body 3 via hinges (not
shown) which connect the main body 3 of the display unit 4 to lid
22 at respective side edge portions opposite to the handle 24.
* * * * *