Modular refrigerated merchandise display system

• US 9,532,661 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Jafa, Emad
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSWALD, KIRSTIN U
• Application Number:
  US13/660,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20130047646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 622/46, 622/52, 622/51, 62/77, 623/26, 622/64, 622/98, 624/11, 624/48, 624/49, 623/02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0404 Cases or cabinets of the closed type A47F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/10 Adjustable or foldable or dismountable display stands foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/06 Walls F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators

Abstract

A merchandise display system including one or more display units is described. The merchandise display system may include a base unit having a refrigeration unit that cools one or more display units. The refrigeration unit may be removable from the base unit. The one or more display units may attach to another display unit or a base unit. The display units may be stackable on top of one another. The display units may also be configured to attach to the base unit. The one or more display units may include one or more doors, which allow access to display units. The display units may include a C-shaped panel that forms the side walls and back wall of each of the display units.

Claims

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a display unit including a door and a C-shaped panel that forms a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;

a first C-shaped horizontal thermal breaker attached to a top surface of the back wall, a top surface of the first side wall, and a top surface of the second side wall;

a second C-shaped horizontal thermal breaker attached to a bottom surface of the back wall, a bottom surface of the first side wall, and a bottom surface of the second side wall; and

a first vertically extending thermal breaker attached to an interior surface of the first side wall and extending from the bottom surface of the first side wall to the top surface of the first side wall;

a second vertically extending thermal breaker attached to an interior surface of the second side wall and extending from the bottom surface of the second side wall to the top surface of the second side wall; and

a removable base unit having a top and a bottom, the removable base unit including a cooling system to cool the display unit and a sensor system to sense environmental parameters within the display unit;

wherein the display unit is configured to engage the top of the base unit.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped panel includes an inner portion and an outer portion.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 2, wherein the inner portion and outer portion are made of metal.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped panel is of unitary construction.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 4, further comprising:

a cover attached to the top surface of the C-shaped panel.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped panel is made of plastic.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising a gasket positioned between the second C-shaped horizontal thermal breaker and the top of the base unit.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 7, wherein the gasket is compressed between the C-shaped panel and the base unit.

9. A merchandise display system comprising:

a first display unit including a door and a C-shaped panel that forms a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, each of the back wall, first side wall, and second side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a second display unit including a door and a C-shaped panel that forms a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, each of the back wall, first side wall, and second side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a locking mechanism to engage the first display unit with a top of the second display unit, the locking mechanism having;

a top portion positioned between the interior surface and the exterior surface of one of the first side wall and the second side wall, the top portion extending to a depth within the one of the first side wall and the second side wall from a bottom surface of the first display unit C-shaped panel, and-a bottom surface between an interior surface and an exterior surface of the first display unit and

a bottom portion positioned between the interior surface and the exterior surface of one of the first side wall and the second side wall, the top portion extending to a depth within the one of the first side wall and the second side wall from a top surface of the second display unit,

wherein the top portion of the lock and the bottom portion of the lock engage to fasten the first display unit to the second display unit;

a gasket compressed between the first display unit and the second display unit when the locking mechanism engages the first display unit and the second display unit;

at least two horizontal thermal breakers, each configured to attach to only one of the side walls on one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the second display unit;

a pair of vertically extending thermal breakers, each configured to attach to one of the side walls proximate a front of the second display unit; and

a removable base unit having a top and a bottom, the removable base unit including a cooling system to cool the first display unit and the second display unit and a sensor system to sense environmental parameters within the first display unit and the second display unit,

wherein the second display unit is configured to engage the top of the base unit.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 9, wherein the at least one locking mechanism is a cam lock.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 9, wherein the gasket is compressed between the first display unit and the second display unit when the locking mechanism engages the first display unit to the second display unit.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 9, wherein the interior surface and the exterior surface are metal plates.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 9, wherein the C-shaped panel is of unitary construction.

14. A merchandise display system comprising:

a first display unit including a C-shaped panel that forms a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the first display unit having an interior area enclosed by the C-shaped panel;

a second display unit including a C-shaped panel that forms a back wall, a first side wall, and a second wall, the first display unit having an interior area enclosed by the C-shaped panel;

a door extending across the first display unit and the second display unit;

a compressible gasket;

a locking mechanism having a top portion positioned within a bottom surface between an interior surface and an exterior surface of the first display unit and a bottom portion positioned within a top surface between an interior surface and an exterior surface of the second display unit,

wherein the top portion of the lock and the bottom portion of the lock engage to fasten the first display unit to the second display unit such that the interior area of the first display unit is fluidly connected to the interior area of the second display unit; and

a first C-shaped horizontal thermal breaker attached to a top surface of the first display unit C-panel;

a second C-shaped horizontal thermal breaker attached to a bottom surface of the first display unit C-panel; and

a third C-shaped horizontal thermal breaker attached to a bottom surface of the second display unit C-panel;

a first vertically extending thermal breaker attached to an interior surface of the first display unit first side wall;

a second vertically extending thermal breaker attached to an interior surface of the first display unit second side wall,

wherein the first display unit is configured to engage a top of the second display unit

a removable base unit having a top and a bottom, the removable base unit including a cooling system to cool the first display unit and the second display unit and a sensor system to sense environmental parameters within the first display unit and the second display unit,

wherein the second display unit engages the top of the base unit,

wherein the gasket is positioned between the first display unit and the second display unit,

wherein a portion of the locking mechanism is attached to the first display unit and a second portion of the locking mechanism is attached to the second display unit, and

wherein the gasket is compressed between the first display unit and the second display unit when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism is a cam lock.

16. The merchandise display system of claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of locking mechanisms.