Patent Application
20060059934
The present invention relates to an adjustable shelf system. The present invention more specifically relates to an adjustable shelf for use in a refrigerated case for storing and displaying objects such as food products.
It is known to provide for a refrigerated case for storage and presentation of food products (such as meat, etc.). Such known refrigerated cases may include those of a type typically having an open front to permit consumers to reach in and select products from shelves within the case (e.g. “self service” type cases, etc.). Open-front refrigerated cases often have an “air curtain” extending across the front of the case and is made of one or more layers of refrigerated air that flow downwardly from a discharge along a top front portion of the case and is drawn into a return along a lower front portion of the case. The air curtain is intended to minimize “mixing” of surrounding ambient-temperature air with the chilled air within the case and behind the air-curtain.
Such cases often have shelves that are fixed in a generally horizontal orientation. Such cases may also have shelves that are configured to be adjustable between a horizontal and a “sloped” or “inclined” orientation. However, such known adjustable shelves have certain disadvantages. For example, typical horizontal shelves in an open-front refrigerated case often have a front end that is positioned in close proximity to the air curtain. However, such known adjustable shelves typically pivot about a connection point at the rear of the case so that the front end of the shelf rotates inwardly and away from the air curtain as the angle of inclination of the shelf is increased. As the front end of the shelf moves inwardly and away from the air curtain, the air curtain tends to degrade and to draw more external ambient air into the case and tending to decrease performance of the case and to increase product temperatures and energy consumption by the case.
It would be desirable to provide an adjustable shelf for a refrigerated case or the like of a type disclosed in the present Application that includes any one or more of these or other advantageous features:
The present invention relates to a refrigerated case of a type having an open front and an air curtain circulating across the open front. At least one shelf member is configured for adjustment between a first position and a second position. An adjustment device is coupled to an interior of the case and configured to engage the shelf member so that a distance between a front end of the shelf member and the air curtain remains substantially constant between the first position and the second position.
The present invention also relates to a adjustable shelving system for an open-front refrigerated display case of a type having an air-curtain at least partially across a front of the display case and shelves within the display case configured to hold products to be displayed. A first bracket and a second bracket are coupled to an interior panel of the display case. Each bracket includes at least a first travel stop and a spaced-apart second travel stop. The shelves have pin members configured to interface with the brackets and to selectively engage the travel stops. The pin members are configured to engage the first travel stop for retaining at least one of the shelves in a first position and to engage the second travel stop for retaining at least one of the shelves in a second position having an angle of inclination relative to the first position so that a distance from a front edge of the at least one of the shelves and the air curtain is substantially constant between the first position and the second position.
The present invention also relates to a adjustable shelf apparatus for a refrigerated display case. The apparatus includes a first stationary portion and a second stationary portion configured for attachment to an rear panel of the display case at a substantially common elevation. At least one channel is formed in the first stationary portion and the second stationary portion. A movable portion having a generally planar shelf surface is configured for storage of the products thereon. At least one projection extends from opposite sides of the movable portion and is configured to engage the channel on the stationary portions for adjustably supporting the movable portion relative to the stationary portion, so that the shelf surface moves away from the rear panel of the display case as an angle of inclination of the shelf surface is increased and the shelf surface moves toward the rear panel of the display case an the angle of inclination of the shelf surface is decreased.
The present invention also relates to a case having a cabinet with an open front portion for storage of products therein. At least one adjustable shelf member is mounted within the interior portion of the cabinet for storage of the products thereon. The adjustable shelf member includes at least one bracket for attachment to the interior portion and a platform portion movably is coupled to the bracket for movement between a horizontal position and one or more tilted positions. As the platform rotates between the horizontal position and the tilted positions, the platform translates fore and aft so that a distance between a front end of the platform and a rear portion of the cabinet remains substantially constant.
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However, the adjustable shelf system is suitable for use with any type of refrigerated display case. For example, according to another embodiment, the adjustable shelf system is adapted for use with a rear-loading, open-front type case, where a rear portion of the case is at least partially “open” or “exposed” to a refrigerated enclosure (e.g. walk-in cooler, cold-room, cooler box, etc.) so that the case may be restocked from a rear portion by a person within the refrigerated enclosure by reaching through the open rear of the case for placement of products on the shelves. Use of the shelf system with a rear-loading case is intended to further minimize disturbance or disruption of the air curtain and further avoids inconvenience to consumers accessing products from the front of the case. According to other embodiments, the adjustable shelf system may be used with other type of cases such as service cases, closed-front cases, etc.
According to further embodiments, the shelf may be used with non-refrigerated cases such as produce type cases for display of produce and the like. For produce type cases, the shelf may also include misting devices or sprayers integrated into an underside of the shelf for misting of produce stored beneath the shelf (not shown).
The adjustable shelf system 10 is shown to include a “movable” shelf section 30 (e.g. shelf, platform, etc.) and a “stationary” bracket section 50 (e.g. bracket, holder, support, adjustment device, etc.). The shelf 30 and the bracket 50 are configured to interface in a manner that permits the shelf 30 to rotate between a first position (e.g. “horizontal” as shown to be zero degrees) and a variety of second positions (e.g. angled, tilted, inclined, sloped, etc.) that may generally include an angle of inclination α of up to about 35 degrees. The shelf 30 and the bracket 50 also interact to permit the shelf 30 to translate forwardly and rearwardly (e.g. reciprocate, move fore and aft, move backward and forward, etc.) relative to a front 16 and a rear 18 of the case 12 so that a distance between a front edge 32 of the shelf 30 and the air curtain 14 remains generally constant as the position of the shelf 30 is rotatably adjusted between various angles of inclination α (e.g. from horizontal to various inclined positions, etc.).
Note that the adjustable shelf system is also suitable for use with any type of refrigerated case intended for use in displaying objects such as food products in facilities (such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, delis, etc.) so that disruption or degradation of an air curtain or the like is minimized with the shelf positioned at any one of a variety of angles of inclination. Further, according to other alternative embodiments, the shelf system may be configured for use within any desired angle of inclination.
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Shelf 30 includes support members 34 shown coupled along an underside of the shelf 30 near opposite sides of the shelf. Support members 34 are shown as generally triangular shaped members and may be integrally formed with the shelf 30, or attached to the shelf 30 using suitable assembly techniques (e.g. solder, brazing, interference fit, tab and slot connectors, rivets or the like). Projections 36 (e.g. posts, pins, bolts, runners, etc.) are shown extending outwardly from the support members 34 and are configured to engage channels 54 when the shelf 30 is coupled to the bracket(s) 50. Projections 36 may also include retainers 38 configured to retain the projection 36 within the channel 54 after the adjustable shelf system 10 has been assembled. According to a preferred embodiment, the projection 36 is a ¼ inch diameter threaded bolt and the retainer 38 is a locking nut and a flat washer. The projections 36 on the shelf support member 34 are configured to travel within the channels 54 of the bracket 50. The spacing and curvature of the channels 54 is configured to impart a rotational and translational movement on the shelf 30 as the projections 36 on the shelf support member 34 travel within the channels 56. The travel stops 56 (shown as thee travel stops in
According to another alternative embodiment, the brackets may include separate pockets (e.g. cups, U-shaped holders, etc.—not shown) located along an arcuate path so that the projections from the shelf support member may be placed in a particular set of pockets (e.g. “seated”, etc.) corresponding to a desired angle of inclination of the shelf (e.g. 0, 17 or 30 degrees or the like). According to another alternative embodiment, the channels may comprise grooves (not shown) formed in the brackets and the projections may be spring-biased pins configured to travel along the grooves as the angle of inclination of the shelf is adjusted.
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According to any preferred embodiment, the adjustable shelf system provides one or more shelf members that may be adjusted in a rotational and translational manner from a horizontal position to a position having any suitable angle of inclination for a desirable display of products within the case, and so that a distance between the front edge of the shelf member and an air curtain extending across an open front of the case remains generally constant. The adjustable shelf system is configured for use with a wide variety of refrigerated case type, such as front-loading and rear-loading display cases having an open-front with an air curtain, closed front cases, service-type cases, etc.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the adjustable shelf as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the operation of the interfaces between the brackets and the shelf may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, the angle of inclination of the adjustable shelf may be varied (e.g. upward or downward), side-to-side, etc.) to suit any desired application. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the adjustable shelf may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. It should also be noted that the adjustable shelf may be used in association with other refrigeration devices, or any of a wide variety of other equipment in any of a wide variety of other applications. For example, the shelves may include additional features such as lighting devices for illuminating the products, misting devices or sprayers for maintaining a desired moisture level of the products, brackets for displaying information relating to the products, etc. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions.
The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions as expressed in the appended claims.
