Transformable display counter

Abstract

 Described is a transformable display counter comprising a base (2) and a glass structure (3) applied above the base (2) for confining, between the base (2) and the glass structure (3), a containment compartment (4) for housing the products on sale, in which the glass structure (3) is at least partly movable vertically between a lowered operating position, corresponding to a minimum volume configuration of the containment compartment (4), and a raised operating position, corresponding to a maximum volume configuration of the containment compartment (4).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a transformable display counter, more specifically a chilled display counter for displaying food products such as ice creams, semifreddo or the like, which may be converted for displaying different products, for example cake and pastries or the like, which require different display conditions.

[0002] Even more specifically, the invention relates to display counters having one side normally accessible by an operator, and an opposite side facing the customer and generally equipped with a protective transparent wall.

[0003] The display counters commonly used for food products such as ice creams, semifreddo or the like comprise a structure having a lower base and a glass structure applied above the base for defining a containment compartment in which to place the food products to be supplied.

[0004] The base houses a cooling system for keeping the temperature of the containment compartment at a desired level, generally suitable for storing cold foods such as ice creams or semifreddo.

[0005] The base supports, on its top, a plurality of tubs or trays containing the product to be supplied. The tubs are accessibly by an operator who may reach the product contained therein through a rear opening formed on the glass structure and located on the opposite side to the customer.

[0006] The display counters described above, designed for storing ice creams, semifreddo or the like, have a mainly horizontal extension and have a low maximum height to allow the operator to deliver the product to the customer above the counter, if necessary using the upper surface of the glass structure as a supporting surface.

[0007] These display counters are used as chiller counters during the summer whilst in the winter this function is often not required due to the low attractiveness of cold products.

[0008] For this reason, these display counters are often set aside during the winter and reused during the following summer.

[0009] Moreover, these chiller counters do not lend themselves sufficiently to other uses, for example for displaying cake and pastries on sale, since their reduced height does not lend itself to the installation of work tops.

[0010] A variant embodiment of the chiller counters of the above-mentioned type is described in patent application W02008/087678, which describes a chiller counter that may be converted from "ice cream" serving mode to "cake and pastries" serving mode by controlled movement of shelves which are placed in a visible position in the "cake and pastries" mode whilst they are lifted, and concealed, in the "ice cream" mode.

[0011] However, also in this case, the space available for the "cake and pastries" mode is limited, as it is obtained simply by attributing a different use to the space initially planned for the "ice cream" mode and providing some supporting work tops. For this reason, the above-mentioned convertible system can, sometimes, be penalising with regard to the displaying of cake and pastry products and the like, in particular due to the reduced space available.

[0012] In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to provide a transformable display counter that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0013] As part of that technical purpose, the aim of this invention is to provide a transformable display counter which offers a high level of operational flexibility, and in particular which can be adapted without compromises for use both during the summer, as a counter for ice creams, and during the winter, as a counter for cakes and pastries.

[0014] The technical purpose indicated and the aim specified are substantially achieved by a transformable display counter with the features described in one or more of the appended claims.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a preferred non-limiting embodiment of a display counter illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is partly a view and partly a cross-section according to a vertical plane of a display counter according to this invention and in a first configuration suitable for use as an ice cream counter;
• Figures 2A, 3A and 4A show the counter of Figure 1 in three different operating configurations;
• Figures 2B, 3B and 4B are three front views corresponding the three cross-section views of Figures 2A, 3A and 4A;
• Figures 5-7 show three different configurations of the counter of Figure 1 during the conversion to glass cabinet for cakes and pastries.

[0016] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a transformable display counter according to this invention.

[0017] In the context of this invention, the term "display counter" is used to mean a generic counter used in commercial establishments for displaying food products on sale, and in particular equipped with cooling for displaying cold or frozen products such as ice creams, semifreddo, granitas or the like.

[0018] The term "transformable" means preparing the display counter for switching between at least two different operating configurations, in particular at least one configuration in which it is used as an ice cream chiller counter and a second configuration in which it is used for displaying food products such as, for example, cake and pastry products or ready meals.

[0019] The display counter 1 comprises mainly a base 2, forming a supporting base and equipped with a cooling circuit (not illustrated), and a glass structure 3 applied above the base 2 for confining, between the base 2 and the glass structure 3, a containment compartment 4 for housing the products on sale.

[0020] The base 2 forms an upper surface for supporting tubs of ice cream "V" (Figure 1).

[0021] The term "glass structure" is used to denote, in the context of this invention, the external frame applied above the base for maintaining a low ambient temperature inside the containment compartment and equipped with transparent portions for making the inside of the containment compartment visible from the outside, in particular by the customer. This term, therefore, does not specify which part of the surface is effectively transparent, as it is only necessary for the products positioned inside the containment compartment to be visible from the outside. This means that the glass structure might have a single transparent portion or, on the other hand, it could be made almost entirely from transparent panels.

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated, the glass structure 3 has a front wall 3a (at least partly transparent) facing towards the customer, a pair of side walls 3b which are opposite each other, and an upper wall 3c.

[0023] In a position opposite the front wall 3a, where an operator for distributing the products to the customer is generally positioned, a rear wall may be provided which is open or equipped with doors or closure curtains (not illustrated, for sake of simplicity, in the accompanying drawings) for allowing access to the containment compartment 4 by the operator and, if necessary, closure for maintaining the temperature in the containment compartment 4.

[0024] The glass structure 3 therefore forms a closure cap, which is substantially box-shaped, applied on the base 2 for enclosing below it the above-mentioned containment compartment.

[0025] Advantageously, at least a part of the glass structure 3 is movable vertically between a lowered operating position (Figures 2A, 2B), corresponding to a minimum volume configuration of the containment compartment 4, and a raised operating position (Figures 4A, 4B), corresponding to a maximum volume configuration of the containment compartment 4.

[0026] More preferably, the glass structure 3 may adopt a plurality of operating positions between the above-mentioned lowered and raised positions (for example, the intermediate position of Figures 3A, 3B).

[0027] In order to allow the movement of the glass structure 3, there are first guide means 5 designed to guide at least a part of the glass structure 3 along a first raising/lowering path "P1", preferably vertical.

[0028] Figures 2A, 3A and 4A show in detail the embodiment of the first guide means 5, which comprise at least two telescopic posts 6, extending along the first path "P1" and acting on opposite sides of the glass structure 3, preferably on the side walls 3b. Each telescopic post 6 has a first portion 6a, integral with the base 2 and therefore fixed, and a second portion 6b slidably connected to the first portion 6a and integral with the glass structure 3.

[0029] More preferably, the telescopic posts 6 are positioned inside the glass structure 3, in particular they are enclosed by the side walls 3b and they are therefore enclosed within the external dimensions of the glass structure 3.

[0030] In an embodiment not illustrated, the entire glass structure 3 forms a single block which can be moved along the above-mentioned first path "P1".

[0031] According to a different embodiment, which is preferred and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the front wall 3a and the remaining part of the glass structure 3 can be moved separately.

[0032] In accordance with this second embodiment, the movement of the glass structure 3 along the above-mentioned first path "P1" is achieved by the first motor-driven movement means 7, which raise and lower a part of the glass structure 3 along the above-mentioned first path "P1". The first movement means 7 may comprise one or more electric motors 8 acting on the telescopic posts 6 for determining an elongation or a lowering.

[0033] In order to move the front wall 3a separately from the remaining part of the glass structure 3, second guide means 9 are provided, associated with the front wall 3a for guiding it along a second raising/lowering path "P2", preferably parallel to the first path "P1" and even more preferably vertical.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2B, 3B and 4B, the second guide means 9 comprise a pair of lateral guides 10 on which the front wall 3a is slidably mounted. The raising and the lowering of the front wall 3a along the above-mentioned second path "P2" is achieved by second movement means 11 or, alternatively, it may be performed manually.

[0035] As can be seen in Figures 3B and 4B, in this embodiment, which is preferred, but does not limit the scope of the invention, the second movement means 11 comprise an articulated kinematic mechanism 12 of the pantograph type, positioned according to a vertical plane, and an actuator 13 for moving the articulated kinematic mechanism 12.

[0036] Preferably, the first and the second movement means 7, 11 may be driven independently from each other. To accomplish this, the display counter 1 may comprise a control unit (not illustrated) connected to the first and second movement means 7, 11 and designed to move them in a manner independent from each other.

[0037] Advantageously, the front wall 3a is also mounted on a support carriage 14 equipped with wheels for allowing the movement of the front wall 3a towards and away from the remaining part of the glass structure 3, preferably along a horizontal direction (arrow "F" of Figure 2A and 3A).

[0038] In this configuration, the above-mentioned second movement means 11 are located on the support carriage 14 and they are therefore translatable horizontally together with the front wall 3 a.

[0039] The display counter 1 also comprises third movement means 15 associated with the front wall 3a for moving the front wall 3a towards and away from the remaining part of the glass structure 3.

[0040] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 2A, 3A and 4A, the third movement means 15 comprise at least one telescopic arm 16 extending between the support carriage 14 and the base 2.

[0041] In an operating configuration (Figure 1), the display counter 1 has the front wall 3a positioned side by side with the side walls 3b and upper wall 3c, preferably with sealing gaskets for maintaining a low ambient temperature inside the containment compartment 4. In this configuration, the support carriage 14 is positioned alongside the base 2.

[0042] In a cleaning or maintenance configuration (Figures 2A, 3A and 4A), the front wall 3a is moved away from the remaining part of the glass structure 3 for allowing a front access to the containment compartment 4.

[0043] The raising of the glass structure 3 allows the containment compartment to be varied from a minimum to a maximum volume determined, respectively, by the minimum and maximum height reached by the glass structure 3 during its raising.

[0044] More specifically, in a specific embodiment of the display counter 1 according to this invention it is possible to reach a minimum height "H", measured between the supporting plane of the base 2 and the upper surface of the upper wall 3c, equal to 117 cm in such a way as to form a configuration suitable for use as an ice cream counter of the "low" type, and a maximum height "HG" equal to 150 cm, which is typical of a cake and pastries display case.

[0045] Moreover, it is also possible to obtain a height "H" equal to 135 cm, which is characteristic of an ice cream counter of the "standard" type.

[0046] The display counter 1 is also equipped with one or more work tops 17, insertable inside the containment compartment 4 and stably connectable to the above-mentioned fixed first portions 6a of the telescopic posts 6, for forming respective fixed work tops.

[0047] The fixed work tops 17 therefore remain in an unchanged position during the raising/lowering of the glass structure 3.

[0048] Preferably, the display counter 1 is also equipped with one or more work tops 18 which are also insertable inside the containment compartment 4 and stably connectable, in a removable manner, to the second portions 6b of the telescopic posts 6, for forming respective further work tops.

[0049] The work tops 18 are positioned above the fixed work tops 17.

[0050] Preferably, suitable connecting means 19, of known type, are provided on the telescopic posts 6, and in particular on the second portions 6b, for allowing the application and removal of one or more work tops 18 which may be positioned at different heights in such a way that a work top 18 can, if necessary, be removed and reapplied in a lower position (Figures 6 and 7).

[0051] The present invention achieves the aim set by overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0052] The possibility of moving the glass structure relative to the base allows the configuration of the display counter to be converted between a configuration suitable for forming an ice cream counter to a configuration suitable for forming a glass cabinet for cakes and pastries. These configurations are characterised by different heights of the glass structure and are obtained by raising/lowering the glass structure. For this reason, the display counter according to this invention can be converted between the different possible operating modes and can therefore be used during all periods of the year and/or according to different commercial requirements. In effect, in every configuration the counter adopts the most suitable height for the desired commercial operation, and in particular:

• lower height in the use as ice cream counter, for using the upper wall as a supporting surface (as there is no need to increase the height of the counter, since the tubs are rested on the base);
• upper height in the use as a glass cabinet for cakes and pastries or other food products, for increasing the space for displaying the products).

Claims

1. A transformable display counter, comprising a base (2) and a glass structure (3) applied above the base (2) for confining, between the base (2) and the glass structure (3), a containment compartment (4) for housing the products on sale; characterised in that glass structure (3) is at least partly movable vertically between a lowered operating position, corresponding to a minimum volume configuration of the containment compartment (4), and a raised operating position, corresponding to a maximum volume configuration of the containment compartment (5).

2. The display counter according to claim 1, comprising first guide means (5) acting on the glass structure (3) for guiding at least a part of the glass structure (3) along a first raising/lowering path (P1), and first motor-driven movement means (7), acting on the glass structure (3) for moving at least a part of the glass structure (3) along the first raising/lowering path (P1).

3. The display counter according to claim 2, where the first guide means (5) comprise at least two telescopic posts (6), extending along the first raising/lowering path (P1) acting on opposite sides of the glass structure (3).

4. The display counter according to claim 3, where the telescopic posts (6) are positioned inside the glass structure (3).

5. The display counter according to any of the foregoing claims from 2 to 4, where the glass structure (3) comprises at least a front wall (3a), a pair of side walls (3b) and an upper wall (3c), where at least the front wall (3a) is at least partly transparent, and where the display counter (1) also comprises second guide means (9), associated with the front wall (3a) for guiding the front wall (3a) along a second raising/lowering path (P2).

6. The display counter according to claim 5, also comprising second movement means (11) associated with the front wall (3a) for moving the front wall (3a) along the second raising/lowering path (P2).

7. The display counter according to claim 6, where the second movement means (11) comprise an articulated kinematic mechanism (12), positioned according to a vertical plane, and an actuator (13) for moving the articulated kinematic mechanism (12).

8. The display counter according to claim 7 or 8, where the second movement means (11) are motor-driven and where the first and second motor-driven movement means (7, 11) may be driven independently from each other.

9. The display counter according to any of the foregoing claims from 5 to 8, also comprising third movement means (15) associated with the front wall (3a) for moving the front wall (3a) towards and away from the side walls (3b) and upper wall (3c), preferably along a horizontal direction.

10. The display counter according to claim 9, comprising a carriage (14) for supporting the front wall (3a), where the second movement means (11) are positioned on the support carriage (14) and where the third movement means (15) comprise at least one telescopic arm (16) extending between the support carriage (14) and the base (2).

11. The display counter according to any of the foregoing claims, where each of the telescopic posts (6) comprise a first portion (6a) integral with the base and a second portion (6b) slidably connected to the first portion (6a) and integral with the glass structure (3), and where the display counter (1) also comprises at least one fixed work top (17), which can be inserted in the containment compartment (4) and stably connectable to the first portions (6a) of the telescopic posts (6).

12. The display counter according to claim 11, also comprising at least one work top (18), removably insertable inside the containment compartment (4) and stably connectable to the second portions (6b) of the telescopic posts (6) by connecting means (19).

Drawing