Oscillating cooler

• US 6,309,034 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Credle, William S. Jr., Bardin, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fisher, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/439,830
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 622/54, 622/56, 622/55, 623/36, 622/75, 312/116, 312/125, 312/135, 312/139, 312/266, 312/270, 312/304, 312/305, 312/319.5, 312/319.7, 312/408, 312/410, 108/94, 108/21
• US Class Current: 312/116
• 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 oscillates said plurality of product shelves from a first position to a second position and back to said first position.

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 oscillatingly rotate first in a first direction and one or more shelve that oscillatingly 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 slopes about seven (7) degrees to about nine (9) degrees below 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 oscillate 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 first in a first direction and said second drive rotates first 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.