Patent Publication Number: US-2015083523-A1

Title: Accessible check-out counter

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The supermarket and merchandising industries use a variety of different styles of check-out counters. In most jurisdictions, counters having cash registers that provide for the sales or distribution of goods or services should include at least one counter that complies with accessibility codes for the customer. Generally, accessibility codes require the counter to have a minimum length and a maximum height above the floor in combination with an accessible route for the customer. 
     However, many jurisdictions are now implementing more stringent requirements. For example, a jurisdiction may now require that an accessible counter not only have a minimum length and a maximum height, but also provide adequate knee space having a minimum counter width and minimum counter depth. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     A check-out counter includes an unload area that supports merchandise to be purchased, a bagging area that is located down stream from the unload area and used for supporting bags that receive the purchased merchandise and a deck area located down stream from the unload area and the bagging area. The deck area includes a base having a top, a stationary countertop and a slidable countertop. The stationary countertop has a top surface and is fixedly mounted to the top of the base. The slidable countertop has a top surface and is slidably mounted to the top of the base adjacent to the stationary countertop. The top surface of the stationary countertop is coplanar with the top surface of the slidable countertop. 
     In other embodiments, the check-out counter includes a base deck and a top deck. The base deck has a top surface and at least one recessed surface that is recessed from the top surface of the base deck. The top deck has a moveable portion coupled to the at least one recessed surface of the base deck with at least one slide. The at least one slide includes a base member coupled to the at least one recess surface of the base deck, a top member coupled to a bottom of the moveable top deck and a slide member for slidably engaging the base member to the top member. 
     A method of transitioning a check-out counter is also described. A base and a countertop mounted to the base are provided that are in a first position. The countertop includes a fixed section and a slidable section. The fixed section has a down stream end and a top surface. The slidable section has a down stream end and a top surface that is coplanar with the top surface of the fixed section. In the first position, the slidable section is located adjacent to the fixed section such that the down stream end of the slidable section is in alignment with the down stream end of the fixed section. The slidable section of the countertop is then moved to a second position that is different from the first position. In the second position, the down stream end of the slidable section is cantilevered from the base and is out-of-alignment from the down stream end of the fixed section. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a check-out counter according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an end perspective view of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1  in an accessible configuration according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the accessible configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a back view of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the accessible configuration. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a base deck of the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the base deck, a moveable top deck and a plurality of sliders coupling the base deck to the moveable top deck to allow the check-out counter illustrated in  FIG. 1  to transition into an accessible configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Retailers process transactions for goods or services at counters. In some jurisdictions, an accessible counter is one that is barrier free and has adequate knee space for the customer. As defined in these jurisdictions, a barrier free counter is one that is not more than 865 mm above the floor and has adequate knee space that is not less than 760 mm wide, 685 mm high and 485 mm deep. As described herein, a check-out counter is provided that can be transitioned into a customer accessible check-out counter when the need arises. More specifically, the check-out counter is described as being able to transition into a barrier free counter having adequate knee space for the customer. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a check-out counter  100  according to one embodiment.  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view,  FIG. 2  is a back perspective view,  FIG. 3  is a front view and  FIG. 4  is an end view of check-out counter  100 . Although check-out counter  100  is optimized for the supermarket or merchandising industry, it can be adapted for a variety of other retail, wholesale and/or warehouse applications. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , check-out counter  100  includes an unload area  102 , a point-of-sale area  104 , a bagging area  106  and a deck area  108 . 
     Merchandise is placed in unload area  102  and advanced along a processing path  110  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). More particularly, unload area  102  supports merchandise that is to be purchased by forwarding the merchandise along processing path  110  to point-of-sale area  104  where it is processed before being placed into a bag in bagging area  106 . In  FIGS. 1-4 , unload area  102  includes a conveyor belt  112 . Conveyor belt  112  includes a terminal end  114  ( FIG. 2 ) located adjacent point-of-sale area  104 . Merchandise placed on conveyor belt  112  by a customer is conveyed to terminal end  114 . In an alternate embodiment, unload area  102  is a static surface along which merchandise is manually advanced. In another embodiment, unload area  102  is relatively short such that a shopping cart containing merchandise can be positioned relatively near point-of-sale area  104 . 
     Point-of-sale area  104  includes a point-of-sale terminal (not illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 ) having various peripheral devices for processing a transaction. The point-of-sale terminal includes a controller that is located in work area  118  and is electrically coupled to the various peripheral devices. For example, the point-of-sale terminal can include an optical scanner or reader configured to read information from the merchandise when moved proximate the scanner. The scanner can read merchandise identification information and/or merchandise price information from a bar code or other type of identification badge secured to the merchandise. In one embodiment, the scanner can be integrally connected into point-of-sale area  104  in space  116 . In another embodiment or in addition to including an integrally connected scanner, the scanner can be a handheld device that is held on a scanner holder located in or near work area  118 . In further examples, the point-of-sale terminal can include a point-of-sale monitor coupled to a point-of-sale monitor stand  120 , data input devices, such as a keyboard, a touchpad and a cash drawer, a printer located in work area  118  and an electronic payment processing module that can be mounted to a check writer ledge  121 . 
     Bagging area  106  is located down stream from unload area  102  and point-of-sale area  104  and is used to support bags for receiving purchased merchandise. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and in one embodiment, bagging area  106  includes one or more upper bag racks  122  and one or more lower bag racks  124 . Each of upper bag rack  122  and lower bag rack  124  is configured to support a plurality of bags for subsequent loading of purchased merchandise. It should be realized that other configurations of bag racks can be located in bagging area  106  other than that which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . Upper and lower bag racks  122  and  124  are accessible by the cashier for ease of loading merchandise after it has been processed in point-of-sale area  104 . In addition, upper bag rack  122  is positioned within reach of a customer so that a customer can assist the cashier in loading purchased merchandise if so desired. 
     Each bag rack  122  and  124  has a pair of spaced apart elongated support rods that laterally extend from different walls in bagging area  106  and support a plurality of shopping bags located between each pair of support rods. It should be realized that other types of bag racks other than those illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  can be used in bagging area  106 . In addition, bagging area  106  includes a lower support shelf  126  positioned below lower bag rack  124  and an upper support shelf  128  located below upper bag rack  122 . Lower and upper support shelves  126  and  128  each include top surfaces that support the bags hanging from bag racks  122  and  124  when loaded with purchased merchandise. Furthermore, self-supporting bags, such as paper bags, can be supported on lower and upper support shelves  126  and  128  in an open configuration for loading purchased merchandise. 
     Deck area  108  is located down stream from unload area  102 , point-of-sale area  104  and bagging area  106  and is used to support loaded bags and used to provide further work surface areas. In one embodiment, after the cashier finishes loading purchased merchandise into bags located in bagging area  106 , the loaded bags are removed from upper or lower bag racks and/or removed from upper and lower support shelves  126  and  128  and placed in deck area  108 . The customer and/or the cashier can then pick up the loaded bags from deck area  108  for transport away from check-out counter  100 . In another embodiment and in addition to deck area  108  holding loaded bags, deck area  108  can be transitioned or converted to an accessible check-out counter space. As previously described, an accessible counter for the customer is one that is barrier free and has adequate knee space. As defined in some jurisdictions, a barrier free counter is one that is not more than 865 mm above the floor and a counter with adequate knee space is a counter that is not less than 760 mm wide, 685 mm high and 485 mm deep. 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate check-out counter  100  in an accessible configuration.  FIG. 5  is a back perspective view,  FIG. 6  is a top view and  FIG. 7  is a back view of check-out counter  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , deck area  108  includes a base or base deck  130  and a top deck or countertop  132 . To configure check-out counter  100  from a first position (illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  to a second position or accessible configuration ( FIGS. 5-7 ), top deck  132  includes a fixed portion or stationary countertop  134  coupled to base or base deck  130  and a moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  coupled to base or base deck  130 . Fixed portion or stationary countertop  134  includes a down stream end  170 , a first side end  171  and an opposing second side end  173 . Moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  includes an up stream end  174 , a down stream end  175 , a first side end  177  and an opposing second side end  178 . In the first position ( FIGS. 1-4 ), down stream end  170  of fixed portion or stationary countertop  134  is in alignment with down stream end  175  of moveable portion or slidable countertop  136 . In addition, second side end  173  of fixed portion or stationary countertop  134  is adjacent the first side end  177  of moveable portion or slidable countertop. 
     Moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  is moved into the second position or the accessible configuration by sliding moveable portion  136  in a first direction  137 . In the second position or accessible configuration ( FIGS. 5-7 ), moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  provides a barrier free counter that is not more than 865 mm above the floor and includes adequate knee space that is not less than 760 mm wide, 685 mm high and 485 mm deep. Further, moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  is cantilevered relative to base deck  130  and downstream end  175  of moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  is out-of-alignment with downstream end  170  of fixed portion or stationary countertop  134 . Likewise, moveable portion  136  of top deck  132  can be moved back into the first position by sliding moveable portion  136  in an opposing second direction  139 . 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of base or base deck  130  of check-out counter  100 . Base deck  130  includes a top or top surface  138  and at least one recessed surface  140 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , recessed surface  140  is recessed from top surface  138  and includes three pockets  142 ,  144  and  146 . However, it should be realized that recessed surface  140  can include any number of recesses depending on the type and amount of hardware pieces needed to couple moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  to base deck  130 . 
     Fixed portion or stationary countertop  134  of top deck  132  is fixedly mounted to top or top surface  138  of base or base deck  130 , while moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  is slidably mounted to recessed surface  140  of base or base deck  130 . A top surface  148  of fixed portion or stationary countertop  134  is substantially coplanar with a top surface  150  of moveable portion or slidable countertop  136 . In one embodiment and although not illustrated, top surface  148  of stationary countertop  134  and top surface  150  of slidable countertop  136  are substantially coplanar with upper support shelf  128  of bagging area  106  so that loaded bags can be easily slid down stream to deck area  108  from upper support shelf  128 . In another embodiment and although not illustrated, top surface  148  of stationary countertop  134  and top surface  150  of slidable countertop  136  are substantially coplanar with lower support shelf  126 . Directly sliding loaded bags from lower support shelf  126  or upper support shelf  128  to deck area  108  reduces the need for the cashier to lift and move heavily loaded bags. In yet another embodiment and as illustrated clearly in  FIG. 2 , top surface  148  of stationary countertop  134  and top surface  150  of slidable countertop  136  are coplanar with neither lower or upper support shelves  126  and  128 . Rather, lower bag rack  124  is aligned with or located below conveyor belt  112  and upper bag rack  122  is accordingly located above lower bag rack  124  so that the cashier can easily load bags with merchandise from conveyor belt  112 . 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of base deck  130 , moveable portion  136  of top deck  132  and a plurality of slides  152 ,  154  and  156  coupling base deck  130  to moveable portion  132  to allow check-out counter  100  to transition into the second position or the accessible configuration. As illustrated, each of the three slides  152 ,  154  and  156  are coupled to one of the pockets  142 ,  144  and  146  of recessed surface  140  by fasteners (not illustrated) and are coupled to a bottom of moveable portion  136  of top deck  132  by fasteners (not illustrated). More specifically, each slide  152 ,  154  and  156  is a ball bearing slide that provides moveable portion  136  with adequate load bearing and full extension in first direction  137 . Although three slides are illustrated, it should be understood that any number of slides could be used to move moveable portion  136  of top deck  132  and to support moveable portion  136  in the second position or the accessible configuration ( FIGS. 5-7 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  and  9 , each slide  152 ,  154  and  156  includes three components: a base member  158 ,  159  and  160 , respectively, a top member  161 ,  162  and  163 , respectively, and a slide member  164 ,  165  and  166 , respectively. Although each slide  152 ,  154  and  156  illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  and  9  includes three components, it should be realized that two component slides are also possible. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  and  9 , base member  158  of slide  152  is coupled to pocket  142  of recessed surface  140 , base member  159  of slide  154  is coupled to pocket  144  of recessed surface  140  and base member  160  of slide  156  is coupled to pocket  146  of recessed surface  140 . Further, top member  161  of slide  152  is coupled to the bottom of moveable portion  136  of top deck  132 , top member  162  of slide  154  is coupled to the bottom of moveable portion  136  of top deck  132  and top member  163  of slide  155  is coupled to the bottom of moveable portion  136  of top deck  132 . Still further, slide member  164  engages base member  158  with top member  161 , slide member  165  engages base member  159  with top member  162  and slide member  166  engages base member  160  with top member  163 . 
     Besides overcoming the frictional forces of slides  152 ,  154  and  156  to move moveable portion or slidable countertop  136  in first direction  137  to transition check-out counter  100  into the second position or the accessible configuration, the force provided by a detent  180  also needs to be overcome. Base deck  130  includes detent  180  that protrudes from top surface  138  of base deck  130  to releasably engage or lock with a recess (not illustrated) located on a bottom surface of moveable portion or slidable countertop  136 . Detent  180  is configured to prevent moveable portion or slidable component  136  from sliding or moving in first direction  137  until a threshold level or threshold amount of force is applied to moveable portion or slidable countertop  136 . Although detent  180  can be made from various components, detent  180  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8  is a ball detent that protrudes from top surface  138  of base deck  130  and is located between pocket  142  and pocket  144  of base deck  130 . It should be realized that detent can be placed in a variety of different locations on base deck  130  that are outside of recessed surface  140 . In addition, when moving the slidable section of the countertop back to the first position, a force that is greater than the threshold level or threshold amount of force is needed to lock the slidable section back into detent  180 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 - 7 , fixed portion  134  of top deck  132  includes a lip or buildup contour  168  located at a down stream end  170  of fixed portion  134 . Lip or build-up contour  168  protrudes upwards from top surface  148  of fixed portion  134 . Lip or build-up contour  168  can prevent loaded bags that are slid from bagging area  106  onto deck area  108  from sliding off the down stream end  170  of fixed portion  134 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 ,  5 - 7  and  9 , moveable portion  136  of top deck  132  includes a two lips or build-up contours. A first lip or build-up contour  172  is located at up stream end  174  of moveable portion  136  and a second lip or build-up contour  176  is located at second side end  178  of moveable portion  136 . First lip or build-up contour  172  and second lip or build-up contour  176  protrudes upwards from top surface  150  of moveable portion  136 . When converting check-out counter  100  into an accessible check- out counter by moving moveable portion  136  in direction  137 , moveable portion  136  becomes an accessible counter that can be used by the customer for completing a transaction. For example, the electronic payment processing module can be moved from check writer ledge  121  to moveable portion  136 . When moveable portion  136  is moved in direction  137 , first lip or build-up contour  172  and second lip or build-up contour  176  can prevent the electronic payment processing module or any other items, such as loaded bags, placed on moveable portion  136  from sliding off up stream end  174  of moveable portion  136  or side end  178  of moveable portion  136 . 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.