Refrigerated merchandiser with pivotal shelf

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9782019-B2
Application number	US-201313797097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A merchandiser that includes a case defining a product display area and a base defining a compartment below the product display area. The merchandiser includes a shelf coupled to the case within the product display area adjacent the base. The shelf is disposed over the compartment and includes a first portion and a second portion. Each of the first portion and the second portion define a product support area to support food product. Also, the second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion to provide access to the compartment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A merchandiser comprising:
a case defining a product display area configured to present food product, the case including a base including a front face and defining a compartment below the product display area;
a drain positioned in the compartment;
a refrigeration system in communication with the case to condition the product display area, the refrigeration system including at least one refrigeration system component disposed in the compartment; and
a shelf defining a plane and coupled to the case within the product display area adjacent the base, the shelf disposed over an area of the compartment and including a first portion and a second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion defining a product support area configured to support and contact food product,
wherein the second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion between a first position configured to support and contact food product and a second position in which food product is removed from the second portion and an opening is exposed through the shelf and configured to provide access to the area of the compartment below the shelf and to expose one or both of the drain and the at least one refrigeration system component when the second portion is in the second position,
wherein the area of the compartment below the shelf is inaccessible from adjacent the product display area when the second portion is in the first position, and
wherein the front face of the base extends at least to the plane of the shelf.

2. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the shelf includes a telescopic frame and the first portion and the second portion are coupled to the frame.

3. The merchandiser of claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the base to at least partially enclose the compartment, and wherein the shelf is positioned above the cover.

4. The merchandiser of claim 3 , wherein the cover is slidable relative to the case to expose the compartment.

5. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the case defines an upright merchandiser and the shelf is coupled to a rear wall of the case and extends forward toward a front of the base, and wherein the second portion is disposed adjacent the front of the base.

6. The merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the shelf includes a frame having frame members and a pivot rod extending across the frame interior of the frame members, and wherein the first portion extends between one of the frame members and the pivot rod, and the second portion extends between another of the frame members opposite the one of the frame members and the pivot rod.

7. A merchandiser comprising:
a case defining a product display area configured to present food product, the case including a base including a front face and defining a compartment below the product display area;
a drain positioned in the compartment;
a refrigeration system in communication with the case to condition the product display area, the refrigeration system including at least one refrigeration system component disposed in the compartment; and
a shelf defining a plane and coupled to the case within the product display area adjacent the base, the shelf disposed over an area of the compartment and including a frame having a first portion and a second portion pivotable relative to the first portion between a first position in which the first portion and the second portion cooperatively define a product support area configured to support and contact food product and a second position in which only the first portion defines a product support area configured to support and contact food product and the second portion exposes an opening through the frame to provide access to the area of the compartment below the shelf and one or both of the drain and the at least one refrigeration system component,
wherein the area of the compartment below the shelf is inaccessible from adjacent the product display area when the second portion is in the first position, and
wherein the front face of the base extends at least to the plane of the shelf.

8. The merchandiser of claim 7 , wherein the first portion is movable relative to the second portion to selectively increase or decrease a size of the product support area.

9. The merchandiser of claim 7 , further comprising a cover coupled to the base to at least partially enclose the compartment, and wherein the shelf is positioned above the cover.

10. The merchandiser of claim 9 , wherein the cover is slidable relative to the case to expose the compartment.

11. The merchandiser of claim 7 , wherein the case defines an upright merchandiser and the shelf is coupled to a rear wall of the case and extends forward toward a front of the base, and wherein the second portion is disposed adjacent the front of the base.

12. The merchandiser of claim 7 , wherein the second portion is pivotable to expose one or both of the drain and the at least one refrigeration system component.

13. The merchandiser of claim 7 , wherein the frame has frame members and a pivot rod extending across the frame interior of the frame members, and wherein the first portion extends between one of the frame members and the pivot rod, and the second portion extends between another of the frame members opposite the one of the frame members and the pivot rod.

14. A shelf for a merchandiser, the shelf comprising:
a frame defining a plane of the shelf and including a first frame member and a second frame member opposite the first frame member, the frame further including a third frame member positioned between and spaced apart from the first frame member and the second frame member, each of the first frame member and the second frame member extending parallel to the third frame member;
a first portion coupled to the first frame member and to the third frame member, the first portion defining a portion of a product support area of the shelf configured to contact and support food product;
a second portion pivotably coupled to the third frame member and movable relative to the second frame member, the second portion movable relative to the first portion about a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the third frame member between a first position defining another portion of the product support area configured to contact and support food product and a second position in which only the first portion defines the product support area and the second portion exposes an opening to provide access through the shelf,
wherein the opening is partially defined by the second frame member and the third frame member,
wherein, in the first position and the second position of the second portion, the first frame member defines a first longitudinal edge of the shelf and the second frame member defines a second longitudinal edge of the shelf,
wherein the first and second longitudinal edges lie in the plane in the first position and the second position,
wherein the first frame member is translatable relative to the third frame member to selectively increase or decrease a size of the product support area, and
wherein the opening provides access through the shelf to an area of the merchandiser below the shelf and one or both of a drain and at least one refrigeration system component.

15. The shelf of claim 14 , wherein the frame further includes fourth frame members coupled to and extending between ends of the first frame member and ends of the third frame member, and wherein the first frame member is telescopically engaged with the fourth frame members.

16. The shelf of claim 14 , wherein the first portion is defined by the area between the

Assignees

• Hussmann Corp

Inventors

• Narayanachar Bhavya
• Bries William E
• Jones Michael L

Classifications

• A47F3/0426 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• A47F3/06

  with movable or removable shelves {or receptacles (A47F3/0486 takes precedence; display racks with movable parts A47F5/0081)} · CPC title

• F25D2325/021

  Shelves with several possible configurations · CPC title

• F25D2325/023

  Shelves made of wires · CPC title