Door control system

• US 20010054297A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James R. Bardin, William S. Credle Jr
• Original Assignee: James R. Bardin, William S. Credle Jr
• Inventors: Bardin, James R., Credle, William S. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US09/932,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/378
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/08 with arrangements for continuously or intermittently moving the merchandise

Abstract

A cooler with a number of product shelves and an oscillating drive mechanism. The oscillating drive mechanism is connected to the product shelves so as to rotate the product shelves in an oscillating manner.

Claims

1. A cooler, comprising:

a plurality of product shelves; and

an oscillating drive mechanism connected to said plurality of product shelves such that said oscillating drive mechanism rotates said plurality of product shelves.

2. The cooler of

claim 1

, further comprising an outer door.

3. The cooler of

claim 2

, wherein said outer door comprises a transparent panel such that said plurality of product shelves may be seen.

4. The cooler of

claim 2

, wherein said outer door comprises a door switch in communication with said oscillating drive mechanism such that said door switch turns said oscillating drive mechanism off when said outer door is opened.

5. The cooler of

claim 1

, further comprising an outer shell.

6. The cooler of

claim 5

, wherein said outer shell comprises a substantially circular shape.

7. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprises stainless steel, aluminum, or thermoplastics.

8. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprise a substantially circular shape.

9. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprises a speed of about one-eighth (⅛

) to about two (2) feet per second.

10. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprises one or more shelves that rotate first in a first direction and one or more shelve that rotate first in a second direction.

11. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves may oscillate from a central point by about five degrees (5°

) to about thirty degrees (30°

).

12. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprises an angled shape.

13. The cooler of

claim 12

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprise a first end and a second end and wherein said second end extends about seven (7) degrees to about nine (9) degrees beyond said first end.

14. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprises gravity feed organizers.

15. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of product shelves comprises a plurality of product channels positioned thereon.

16. The cooler of

claim 15

, wherein each of said plurality of product shelves comprises a first product channel positioned on a first side of said product shelf and a second product channel positioned on a second side of said product shelf.

17. The cooler of

claim 16

, wherein said plurality of product shelves oscillates in a first direction such that said first product channel is accessible and then oscillates in a second direction such that said second product channel is accessible.

18. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said plurality of products shelves comprises a plurality of rollers.

19. The cooler of

claim 1

, wherein said oscillating drive mechanism comprises an electrical motor.

20. The cooler of

claim 19

, wherein said oscillating drive mechanism comprises one or more drive shafts powered by said electrical motor so as to rotate said plurality of product shelves.

21. The cooler of

claim 20

, wherein said one or more drive shafts and said plurality of product shelves comprise a set of drive gears for rotation therewith.

22. The cooler of

claim 19

, wherein said oscillating drive mechanism comprises a first drive shaft and a second drive shaft and wherein said first drive shaft is powered by said electrical motor.

23. The cooler of

claim 22

, wherein said first and said second drive shafts are connected by a set of rotation gears such that said first drive shaft rotates in a first direction and said second drive rotates in a second direction.

24. The cooler of

claim 23

, wherein a first one of said plurality of product shelves is connected to said first drive shaft and a second one of said plurality of product shelves is connected to said second drive shaft.

25. The cooler of

claim 1

, further comprising a reload switch in communication with said oscillating drive mechanism such that said reload switch causes said oscillating drive mechanism to rotate said plurality of product shelves about one hundred and eighty degrees.

26. The cooler of

claim 1

, further comprising a plurality of products positioned on said plurality of product shelves.

27. The cooler of

claim 26

, wherein said plurality of product shelves each comprises an upper end and a lower end such that said plurality of products slide towards said lower end.

28. The cooler of

claim 1

, further comprises a door control system.

29. The cooler of

claim 28

, wherein said door control system comprises an outer door.

30. The cooler of

claim 29

, wherein said outer door comprises a curved shape.

31. The cooler of

claim 29

, wherein said door control system comprises a drive motor connected to said outer door.

32. The cooler of

claim 31

, wherein said door control system comprise a sensor to detect the presence of a consumer such that said sensor activates said drive motor to open said door when a consumer is present.

33. The cooler of

claim 32

, wherein said sensor activates said drive motor to close said door when a consumer is no longer present.

34. The cooler of

claim 32

, wherein said sensor comprises a touch sensor.

35. A method for reloading a cooler, said cooler having a door and a plurality of product shelves, the plurality of product shelves each have a first end facing the door and a second end facing away from the door, said method comprising the steps of:

opening said door;

rotating said plurality of product shelves such that said second end of each of said plurality of product shelves faces said door;

loading said plurality of products onto said plurality of product shelves via said second end of each of said plurality of product shelves; and

rotating said plurality of product shelves such that said first end of each of said plurality of product shelves faces said door.

36. An improved cooler, comprising:

an outer shell with an aperture therein;

a door;

said door positioned adjacent to said aperture; and

a door control system;

said door control system comprising a drive motor and a sensor such that said sensor causes said drive motor to operate said door when said sensor is triggered.

37. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said outer door comprises a curved shape.

38. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said door is positioned within said cooler.

39. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein sensor activates said drive motor to open said door when a consumer is present.

40. The cooler of

claim 39

, wherein said sensor activates said drive motor to close said door when a consumer is no longer present.

41. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said sensor comprises a touch sensor.

42. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said sensor comprises a light detector.

43. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said sensor comprises a thermal detector.

44. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said sensor comprises a sound detector.

45. The cooler of

claim 36

, wherein said door control system further comprises control means so as to delay the opening or closing of said door.