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.

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° C., more preferable down to about −18° 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° 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.

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.