U.S. patent application number 12/483760 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-17 for cooler/counter merchandising display unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to PRESENCE FROM INNOVATION, LLC. Invention is credited to Robert E. Kreutzer, Donald J. Miller, JR..
Application Number | 20090308084 12/483760 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41413503 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090308084 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kreutzer; Robert E. ; et
al. |
December 17, 2009 |
COOLER/COUNTER MERCHANDISING DISPLAY UNIT
Abstract
A cooler/counter merchandising display unit combination wherein
a merchandising cooler is integrated into various counter
arrangements, the cooler being substantially contained within the
footprint of the merchandising counter or check-out counter
arrangement. In one embodiment, a modular refrigerated cooler is
interfaced with a docking base unit which can be positioned,
secured or interfaced at the end of a particular service counter,
or between two counter portions. In another embodiment, the docking
base unit is integrally formed into the merchandising counter and
the modular refrigerated cooler is again interfaced with the
integrated docking base unit. In still another embodiment, the
service counter, docking base unit and refrigerated cooler are all
integrated into a one-piece counter arrangement. At least one
access door is provided on the cooler to allow consumers to
retrieve products therefrom and at least one of the walls forming
the cooler compartment includes a transparent window to allow
consumers to view the products positioned within the cooler
compartment.
Inventors: |
Kreutzer; Robert E.;
(Columbia, IL) ; Miller, JR.; Donald J.;
(Belleville, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HUSCH BLACKWELL SANDERS LLP
190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 600
ST. LOUIS
MO
63105
US
|
Assignee: |
PRESENCE FROM INNOVATION,
LLC
St. Louis
MO
|
Family ID: |
41413503 |
Appl. No.: |
12/483760 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61060958 |
Jun 12, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/62 ; 62/255;
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 9/04 20130101; F25D
31/007 20130101; A47F 3/0439 20130101; F25D 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/62 ; 62/255;
62/449 |
International
Class: |
F25D 31/00 20060101
F25D031/00; A47F 3/04 20060101 A47F003/04; F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02 |
Claims
1. A cooler/counter merchandising display unit comprising: a
counter having a customer side and an opposite attendant side; a
docking base unit interfaced with said counter; a modular
refrigerated cooler including a storage compartment having at least
one wall with a transparent window positioned therein for viewing
contents in said compartment by a person positioned on the customer
side of the counter, cooling means associated with said storage
compartment and operable to cool said compartment, and at least one
door forming at least a portion of a wall defming said storage
compartment, said at least one door being selectively movable
between open and closed positions for removing product from said
storage compartment; and said refrigerated cooler interfacing with
said docking base unit such that said refrigerated cooler is
operable as a portion of said counter.
2. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 wherein a front wall and a
top wall of said storage compartment each includes a transparent
window.
3. The cooler/counter unit of claim 2 wherein said front wall of
said storage compartment includes said door, and wherein said door
at least partially includes a said transparent window.
4. The cooler/counter unit of claim 3 wherein said door is hingedly
mounted to said front wall.
5. The cooler/counter unit of claim 3 wherein said door is slidably
mounted to said front wall.
6. The cooler/counter unit of claim 2 wherein the top wall of said
storage compartment includes said door, and wherein said door at
least partially includes said transparent window.
7. The cooler/counter unit of claim 6 wherein said door is hingedly
mounted to said top wall.
8. The cooler/counter unit of claim 6 wherein said door is slidably
mounted to said top wall.
9. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 wherein said counter has a
footprint, and wherein said docking base unit includes upper top
side portions and a recessed top front intermediate portion
extending between said upper top side portions, said upper top side
portions and said top front intermediate surface defining a
generally U-shape in plan form.
10. The cooler/counter unit of claim 9 wherein said storage
compartment is positioned within a recess formed by said U-shaped
docking base unit such that said compartment is at least
substantially circumscribed by the footprint of said counter.
11. The cooler/counter unit of claim 10 wherein said door is
mounted on a front vertical face of said storage compartment such
that said recessed top front intermediate portion of said docking
base unit is recessed at a height relative to said door such that
said door is hinged downwardly, with the top surface of said
recessed top front intermediate portion acting as a door stop.
12. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 including a rear door
forming at least a portion of a rear wall defining the back of said
storage compartment, said rear door being selectively movable
between open and closed positions for restocking product in said
storage compartment.
13. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one
door includes a return mechanism to close said door upon release by
a user.
14. The cooler/counter unit of claim 13 wherein said return
mechanism includes one of a spring or counterweight.
15. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 further including a cabinet
for housing said storage compartment and said cooling means.
16. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 wherein the cooling means
includes a refrigeration unit.
17. The cooler/counter unit of claim 16 further including a cabinet
for housing said storage compartment and said refrigeration unit,
said cabinet being vented for flow of air into and out of said
cabinet.
18. The cooler/counter unit of claim 1 wherein the cooling means
includes ice.
19. A cooler/counter display unit comprising: a counter having a
customer side and an opposite attendant side; a docking base unit
integral with said counter for receiving a modular refrigerated
cooler; said modular refrigerated cooler including a storage
compartment having at least one wall with a transparent window
positioned therein for viewing contents in the compartment by a
person positioned on the customer side of the counter, cooling
means associated with said storage compartment and operable to cool
said compartment, and at least one door forming at least a portion
of a wall defining said storage compartment, said at least one door
being selectively movable between open and closed positions for
removing product from the storage compartment; and said
refrigerated cooler interfacing with the docking base unit of said
counter such that said refrigerated cooler is operable as a portion
of said counter.
20. A cooler/counter display unit comprising: a counter having a
customer side and an opposite attendant side; a refrigerated cooler
integrated with said counter such that said refrigerated cooler is
operable as a portion of said counter, said refrigerated cooler
including a storage compartment having at least one wall with a
transparent window positioned for viewing contents in the
compartment by a person positioned on the customer side of said
counter, cooling means associated with said storage compartment and
operable to cool said compartment, and at least one door forming at
least a portion of a wall defining said storage compartment, said
at least one door being selectively movable between open and closed
positions for removing product from said storage compartment.
21. A method of distributing consumable items at a store comprising
the steps of: integrating a normally closed cooler into a customer
checkout counter so that the cooler is at least substantially
circumscribed by a footprint of the checkout counter; visually
displaying contents in the cooler to consumers; and making the
contents of the cooler available to consumers at the checkout
counter for purchase.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of making the contents
of the cooler available includes providing at least one door
forming at least a portion of a wall of said cooler, said door
being selectively movable between open and closed positions.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein said visually displaying step
includes providing a transparent window in at least one wall of
said cooler, said window positioned to allow viewing of the
contents by consumers.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein said integrating step includes
positioning said cooler within a recess in a docking base unit of
said counter, said docking base unit having upper top side portions
and a recessed top front intermediate portion extending between
said upper top side portions, said upper top side portions and said
top front intermediate surface defining a generally U-shape in plan
form.
25. The method of claim 21 further including cooling the contents
of said cooler with a refrigeration unit associated with said
cooler.
26. The method of claim 21 further including cooling the contents
of said cooler with ice.
27. The method of claim 22 further including restocking said cooler
through a door forming at least a portion of a rear wall of said
cooler, said door being selectively movable between open and closed
positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The merchandising of products at retail outlets can be
complicated and expensive. It oftentimes requires high visibility
as well as convenience to trigger a purchase, particularly purchase
of an impulse type product. This is particularly true in
convenience stores where people tend to spend less time making
purchasing decisions since they are typically only in need of a few
items and there is a perceived need to reduce the time spent in
such stores. In some areas of various convenience stores little
time can be spent by a customer, particularly at a service or
checkout counter, because of other people standing in line trying
to pay and leave the premises. It is well known that to merchandise
certain products, their physical location within the store can be
an important criteria. Stores are known to charge manufacturers for
shelf space in the store to display and sell product, charging a
premium for better locations. Additionally, not only is the
physical location on the store's floor plan important, but the
height at which the products are displayed can also be important to
further enhance visibility and focus attention on such products. In
this regard, end-of-isle displays and point of purchase displays
enhance sales and help to trigger impulse buying.
[0002] For certain items such as chilled beverages, it is highly
desirable to have those items displayed in a manner which will
focus attention on such products and which will generate more
convenient purchasing activities including impulse buying. One
primary location for impulse items is at the checkout counter.
Typically, display racks, end-of-isle displays and barrel type ice
coolers are provided at checkout counters for the merchandising of
certain items including chilled beverages and these point of
purchase displays are effective in selling products. In grocery
stores that utilize conveyor type checkout counters, it is
relatively easy to provide display shelf arrangements adjacent to
the entry of the checkout aisle because of the direction of
customer movement relative to the counter. However, at convenience
stores, the checkout counter is usually a counter arrangement that
can be L-shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, rounded or linear and the
ability to place display shelves at or adjacent to the counter is
limited because of the way pedestrian traffic flows to and away
from such counters. It is also important to keep such display
shelves and other point of purchase displays out of the normal
pathways of customer movement to prevent people from tripping over
or running into such displays. Traditionally, such point of
purchase displays at checkout areas are for dry goods or shelf
stable goods that require nothing more than shelf space, although
barrel type ice coolers are occasionally used adjacent to such
counters where space permits. Oftentimes, at convenience stores,
display racks are set on top of the checkout counter for the
display and merchandising of items at the display counter thereby
limiting such sales usually to dry goods only.
[0003] The ability to merchandise products utilizing refrigeration,
for example, chilled soft drinks and other chilled beverages, has
been traditionally relegated to an area of the store requiring a
customer to make a lengthy and time consuming trip to another
location in the store for obtaining such products, coming back to
the checkout counter, and then checking out. Such display cases are
typically walk-in type coolers and are relatively large and provide
access from a back side of the cooler for filling or restocking.
These coolers oftentimes have shelves inclined downwardly and
forwardly so that the products gravity feed from the back to the
front of the shelf allowing easy restocking from the back and easy
consumer access from the front. Stores are constructed to
accommodate such walk-in type coolers by having an entire room
located on the backside of such cooler display cases for storing
and restocking product thereby limiting their use to a wall area of
the store or building.
[0004] It is also recognized that over 50% of convenience store
consumers never make it passed the checkout counter. They are there
to pay for gas, or to purchase tobacco products or lottery tickets.
This is a target audience typically missed with respect to the sale
of impulse type items.
[0005] There is also a careful balance in positioning products
throughout the merchandising space of a store. If too much product
is located adjacent to a checkout area, people will come to the
checkout counter, spend time shopping thereby blocking effective
use of the checkout counter for people to pay and leave.
[0006] It would therefore be desirable to have high margin and high
sales items including impulse items such as chilled beverages
displayed at the checkout counter to increase impulse buying and to
provide another opportunity to sell product. It would also be
desirable to provide a checkout counter merchandising unit that is
integrated into the counter and that can be easily accessed for
both the sale of items and the replenishment of sold items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention involves the provision of a cooler
construction that is integrated into a counter at a retail outlet.
The counter has a customer side and an attendant side, and a
generally upwardly facing top surface. A storage compartment is
provided that has at least one wall defining the compartment with
at least one transparent window positioned for viewing contents in
the compartment by a person positioned on the customer side of the
counter. This transparent window can be associated with the top
surface of the counter, with the customer side of the counter, or
both. A refrigeration unit is associated with the storage
compartment and is operable to effect cooling of the compartment
and the contents therein, although the storage compartment could
likewise be adapted to hold ice or other cooling means. The cooler
construction includes at least one door forming at least a portion
of a wall defining the storage compartment. The door is selectively
movable between open and closed positions for removing product from
the storage compartment. The cooler is at least substantially
contained within the footprint of the counter and preferably at or
adjacent the checkout area of the counter.
[0008] The present invention also involves the provision of a
method of merchandising products at a retail outlet. The method
includes integrating a normally closed cooler into a customer
checkout counter. Product is visually displayed in the cooler to
consumers. The contents of the cooler are made available to
consumers for purchase at the checkout counter with the cooler
being positioned at least substantially within the footprint of the
counter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a counter
arrangement with a merchandising unit for use in a retail store
constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a
portion of the counter arrangement shown in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cooler portion of the
merchandising unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a counter
arrangement with an integral docking base and a modular
refrigerated cooler.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a counter
arrangement with an integrated refrigerated cooler.
[0014] Like numbers throughout the various figures designate like
or similar parts and/or construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The reference number 1 in FIG. 1 designates generally a
service counter arrangement with a merchandising unit 2 for use in
a retail outlet, for example, a grocery store or convenience store.
The counter 1 includes a base unit 3 having a footprint defined by
the outer perimeter of the base unit 3. A top of the counter 4 is
connected to the base 3 and provides an upwardly facing surface 5.
Items may be placed on the top surface 5, for example, a cash
register 6, display racks and the like. Business is normally
conducted on and across the counter top 4. The counter 1 has a
patron or customer side designated generally 7 and an attendant
side designated generally 8. The counter 1 can be any suitable size
and shape including linear, L-shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, rounded
or any other suitable shape as viewed in plan form.
[0016] As best seen in FIG. 2, the merchandising unit 2 includes a
docking base 11 that can be suitably secured or otherwise
positioned or interfaced to an end of the remainder of the counter
1, or it can be secured, positioned or interfaced between two
counter portions 3A, 3B of the base 3 as illustrated in FIG. 1. As
shown, the docking base 11 is generally U-shaped in plan form
having upper top end portions 14 with a recessed top intermediate
surface 15 extending therebetween. A refrigerated cooler 17 is
positioned within the space 16 between the front portion 18 and the
two side portions 19 such that the recess 20 provides space for
access into and product removal from the cooler 17. Preferably the
cooler 17 is power operated having an electrically powered
refrigeration unit 40, although it is also recognized that the
cooler 17 could likewise be adapted to hold ice or other cooling
means. An electrically powered refrigeration unit may be of the
type described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,825 to Miller, Jr. et al.,
and is preferably of a standard motor-compressor-condenser design,
as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The
depth D (FIG. 2) of the surface 15 and recess 20 is preferably
equal to or larger than the height H of a door 22 associated with
the cooler 17. The surfaces 14 are preferably co-planar with an
upper surface 25 of a top wall 24 of the cooler 17.
[0017] The cooler 17 includes at least one transparent wall or a
transparent portion of a wall to permit consumers or patrons to
view the contents within the cooler. In one embodiment, at least a
portion of the front wall, which is in the form of a door 22, and
at least a portion of the top wall 24 are both transparent. While
the front wall is shown as being in the form of a door, it is to be
understood that the top wall 24 could, instead or in addition,
likewise include a door. As illustrated, the door 22 is hinged and
may include a return mechanism to close the door 22 upon release by
a consumer such as by means of a counterweight mechanism, a spring,
a gas spring, or other biasing means. The door 22 could also be a
sliding door with a return mechanism. Preferably, the transparent
windows are made of a suitable break resistant plastic, glass or
other see-through material.
[0018] The cooler 17 is preferably modularized for installation,
exchange or service convenience and can fit into an opening in the
base unit 11. The cooler 17 can be held in place by frictional
engagement with the floor. Suitable fastening devices may be
provided to provide a releasable connection between the cooler 17
and the docking base unit 11. The cooler 17 has a lower portion of
a cabinet 26 that can contain the refrigeration unit (not shown).
The refrigeration unit can be any suitable electrically powered
refrigeration unit. The cabinet 26 can be vented at 27 for flow of
air into and out of the cabinet 26. The cooler 17 can be provided
with suitable internal organizing racks 28 (FIG. 3). The racks 28
preferably will slope forwardly and downwardly from the attendant
side 8 toward the customer side 7 so that the product 29 contained
therein can slide forward and present product at the face 30 of the
cooler 17 when a door 22 is provided at the front of the cooler 17.
The racks 28 can have upstanding dividers to provide product
directing channels as is well-known in the art. Preferably, the
cooler 17 is configured for the sale of chilled pre-containerized
beverages such as soda, fruit juice, tea, milk and the like.
[0019] In one embodiment, and as illustrated, the cooler 17 has a
door 22 mounted on the front vertical face 31 of the cooler
providing an opening into the cooler 17 through the recess 20 of
the base 11. The top surface 15 is positioned at a height relative
to the door 22 so that the door may be hinged downwardly with the
surface 15 acting as a door stop. In the event the door 22 is not
configured for automatic return, the door 22 can be released to
rest on the surface 15. Preferably, the door 22 is hinged at a
bottom edge 34 so that the door pivots downwardly. The height H of
the door 22 is preferably approximately equal to or less than the
depth D of the surface 15 so that the door 22 does not project
outwardly in front of the base 11 when open. In an alternate
embodiment, the wall or a portion of the wall 24 may include an
access door which could be either hingedly mounted or slidably
mounted for movement between open and closed positions. It is also
anticipated that the door 22 could be slidably mounted on the front
face 31 of the cabinet 26 so as to be accessible from the recessed
surface 15, or the recessed surface 15 could be eliminated and the
slidably mounted door could lie flush with the front wall 18 of the
counter. Other door configurations are likewise recognized and
anticipated.
[0020] The cooler 17 may be provided with a rear door 36 forming
one wall of the cooler storage compartment 37. A rear door 36 (FIG.
3) can provide access by an attendant to either retrieve product
for sale or to add additional product to the product storage
compartment 37. Preferably, the rear face 39 of the cooler 17 is
co-planar with the back face 40 of the base 11 to reduce catch and
trip points. The rear door 36 may also be provided with closing
devices such as a spring, a gas spring, a counterweight mechanism
or other biasing mechanisms for soft closing of the door. The rear
door 36 may also be hinged at the top to prevent attendants from
placing loads on the door and from possible breaking of the rear
doors 36, or it may be slidably mounted.
[0021] It is recognized and anticipated that the overall
configuration of the cooler 17 and its corresponding base 11 can
take on a wide variety of different sizes, shapes and
configurations, and the recess surface 15 and the cooler door 22
can likewise take on a wide variety of different shapes and
configurations including eliminating the recess surface 15. The
same is likewise true with respect to the interior organization of
the cooler compartment 37 including the positioning and location of
any internal organizing racks and dividers such as the racks 28
illustrated in FIG. 3. Still further, the cooler 17 may include one
or any plurality of doors for allowing access to the interior of
the compartment 37. This may include a single door located on the
front side of the cooler for access by a customer; a single door
located on the top side of the cooler for access by both a customer
and an attendant; a single door located on the rear side of the
cooler for access by an attendant; or any combination thereof.
Other modifications, arrangements and embodiments relating to the
positioning and locating of cooler unit 17 in a typical service
counter or checkout counter 1 such as the counter illustrated in
FIG. 1, or to the physical construction of the cooler itself, are
likewise envisioned and contemplated.
[0022] In addition, it is likewise recognized and anticipated that
the entire merchandising unit 2 as illustrated in FIG. 2 which
includes the cooler 17 and docking base 11 can be integrally formed
into any service counter or checkout counter arrangement such that
the entire checkout counter configuration 1 illustrated in FIG. 1
is fabricated as a one-piece unit, or such arrangement can be
fabricated in assemblies other than the assembly illustrated in
FIG. 2. For example, in another embodiment as shown in FIG. 4,
service counter arrangement 1' is integral with a merchandising
unit 2'. Thus, docking base 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is integral
with base unit 3, forming base unit 3' which now includes docking
base portion 11'. Similarly, top end portions 14 are integral with
counter top 4, forming counter top 4' which now includes top end
portions 14 and top surface 5'. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, integrated
docking base portion 11' includes recess 20' and a recessed top
intermediate surface 15'. Thus, a modularized refrigerated cooler
17 as discussed above is positioned within the footprint of the
counter arrangement 1', and is operable as discussed above.
[0023] In a third embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, service counter
1'' may include a non-modularized refrigerated cooler 17'' such
that refrigerated cooler 17'' is integrated into the service
counter 1''. Thus, top wall 24'' of cooler 17'' is connected to the
counter top 4'', forming a single top surface 5''. Similarly, front
vertical face 31'' of the cooler 17'' is connected to recessed top
intermediate surface 15'' and top wall 24''. At least a portion of
either or both of the top wall 24'' and front vertical face 31''
are preferably transparent and either or both may include a door as
explained above. Such doors may be hinged or sliding in nature, or
any other type of door.
[0024] Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments
of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description,
certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the
particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is
therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications,
or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The
terms "having" and "including" and similar terms as used in the
foregoing specification are used in the sense of "optional" or "may
include" and not as "required". Many changes, modifications,
variations and other uses and applications of the present invention
will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after
considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All
such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and
applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is
limited only by the claims which follow.
* * * * *