Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to the field of food displays, and particularly to a shelving system for a point-of-purchase food display. 
     Point-of-purchase food displays commonly include a container having transparent side walls that facilitate viewing the food product by a customer. The container can be opened to facilitate insertion and removal of the food product. In general, racks or shelves are positioned within the container to further assist viewing of the food product. Such displays also commonly include a light for illuminating the food product, a heater for heating the air in the container, and a fan for circulating the heated air. These electrical components are typically positioned above the container and are covered by a hood for aesthetic reasons. 
     These food displays can also include adjustable racks or shelves that may be positioned in different positions within the container. For example, such shelves frequently are designed to be tilted so that the front of the shelf can be positioned lower than the rear of the shelf to facilitate improved viewing of the food product on the shelf. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a food storage device comprising a housing defining a volume for storing a food product, a shelf positioned at least partially within the volume and adapted to support a food product, and a coupling assembly coupling the shelf to the housing and adjustable (e.g., infinitely) to position the shelf in one of a plurality of different angles relative to the housing. Preferably, the housing comprises a frame creating a surface coupled to the magnetic assembly, and a translucent panel coupled to the frame to facilitate viewing food product positioned in the housing. 
     In one embodiment, the coupling assembly comprises a magnetic assembly including a magnet secured to the shelf and magnetically coupled to the housing. Preferably, the magnetic assembly further comprises a magnet holder secured to the shelf, wherein the magnet is secured to (e.g., positioned in) the holder. In this embodiment, the magnet can be secured to the magnet holder by an intermediate material (e.g., a plastic) positioned between the magnet and the magnet holder. 
     The coupling assembly preferably includes a bracket that is positioned in an opening in the shelf. For example, the bracket can include an upper protrusion that engages an upper surface of the shelf and a lower protrusion that engages a lower surface of the shelf. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a food storage device embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a shelf of the food storage device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial side view of the shelf of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a magnetic assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the magnetic assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the shelf of  FIG. 1  with a food retaining device removed. 
         FIG. 7  is the same view as  FIG. 6  with the food retaining device added. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the food retaining device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
       FIG. 1  shows a food storage device in the form of a heated food display  10 . The heated food display  10  includes a housing  14 , a shelf  18  positioned in the housing  14 , a magnetic assembly  22  that couples the shelf  18  to the housing  14 , and a food retaining device  26  coupled to the shelf  18 . The heated food display  10  is illustrated with two shelves  18 , although more than two shelves  18  or less than two shelves  18  can be used. 
     The housing  14  includes a frame  34 , a roof  38 , a floor  42 , and translucent panels  46  coupled to the frame  34 . The illustrated frame  34  is generally square-shaped and includes four vertical posts  50  at the corners that connect the roof  38  and the floor  42 . The four vertical posts  50  are constructed from a magnetically conductive material, such as steel. In other constructions, the posts  50  may be made of some other magnetically conductive material, a magnetic material, or may be coated with a protective finish or coating. In addition, other constructions may remove the roof  38  and the floor  42 . Furthermore, the frame  34  may include more than four posts  50  or less than four posts  50 . 
     The illustrated roof  38  includes lights (not shown) and a heating system (not shown). The lights may be turned on or off to better display a food product (not shown). The heating system circulates hot air through the heated food display  10  to maintain the temperature of the heated food product displayed on the shelves  18 . In other constructions, the heater may be in the floor  42 . In addition, the roof  38  may include a lighted sign or other display that indicates the contents of the heated food display  10 . The roof  38  is constructed of a molded plastic, although other constructions may use sheet metal or other materials. In still another construction, the food storage device is a cooled food display, wherein the roof  38  or floor  42  may contain a cooling unit to maintain a cool temperature within the housing  14 . 
     The illustrated floor  42  provides a base for the heated food display  10  and includes four feet (not shown) that the heated food display  10  rests on. One or more of the feet act as levelers to ensure the heated food display  10  is level and solidly positioned on a counter top (not shown) or other surface. 
     The illustrated translucent panels  46  are supported by the frame  34  and cooperate with the frame  34 , the floor  42 , and the roof  38  to define the inside of the heated food display  10 . One or more of the translucent panels  46  is movable (e.g., hinged) with respect to the frame  34  such that the translucent panel  46  provides access to the inside of the housing  14 . In other constructions, the housing  14  may include more than four translucent panels  46  or less than four translucent panels  46 . For example, one or more of the translucent panels  46  may be replaced with a mirror surface. In addition, the housing  14  may be different shapes and the proportions may be different than those illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the illustrated shelf  18  is constructed from welded metallic rods that are arranged to form a rectangular surface that supports food products inside the housing  14 . The plurality of metallic rods includes support members  54  and surface members  58  that are spaced a distance apart from each other to define spaces  62  such that air may circulate within the housing  14  through the shelves  18 . The shelf  18  defines a first side  66 , a second side  70 , a shelf front  74 , and a shelf back  78 . In other constructions, the shelves  18  may be formed as a single piece, or may be constructed from different materials, such as a plastic. In addition, the shelves  18  may be a different shape, have larger or smaller spaces  62 , or may be formed as a solid surface. 
     In the illustrated construction, four magnetic assemblies  22  are provided to support each shelf  18 . Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , each illustrated magnetic assembly  22  includes a bracket  82  and a magnet holder  86 . The bracket  82  includes an arm  90  and an upper portion  94 . The illustrated arm  90  and upper portion  94  are formed as a single piece and are oriented at 90 degrees with respect to each other. The 90 degree relation acts as a leveling mechanism for the shelf  18  such that the shelf  18  is level with respect to the first side  66  and the second side  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper portion  94  includes two upper protrusions  98  that engage the top of the surface members  58 , and four lower protrusions  102  that engage the bottom of the surface members  58  such that the bracket  82  is secured between the surface members  58 . In other constructions, the magnetic assembly  22  may be formed as multiple pieces and may attach to the shelf  18  in different ways or may be formed as part of the shelf  18 . In addition, the magnet holder  86  and the bracket  82  may be formed as a single piece. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the illustrated magnet holder  86  is attached to the arm  90  and secured with a first fastener  106 . A magnet  110  is held in the magnet holder  86  by an intermediate material  112 . In the illustrated construction, the intermediate material  112  is a plastic with thermal properties to match or exceed the maximum temperatures within the heated food display  10 . In other constructions the intermediate material  112  may be a glue, a rubber, an epoxy, or another material. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the magnetic assembly  22  in an exploded state wherein the intermediate material  112  is visible that secures the magnet  110  in the magnet holder  86 . The magnet holder  86  includes a second fastener  114  such as a threaded stud which is inserted through an aperture  118  in the arm  90  and fastened with the first fastener  106  such as an acorn nut. In addition, the second fastener  114  and the first fastener  106  may be different fasteners as is known by those skilled in the art. 
     Each magnetic assembly  22  engages the surface members  58  to secure the magnetic assembly  22  to the shelf  18 . Each magnetic assembly  22  is operable to magnetically couple the shelf  18  to one of the posts  50  of the housing  14 , thereby positioning the shelf  18  with respect to the housing  14 . In this way, the shelf  18  may be positioned inside the housing  14  at a number of angles with respect to the floor  42 . In other constructions, more than four magnetic assemblies  22  or less than four magnetic assemblies  22  may be secured to each shelf  18 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a distance d 1  that is defined as the vertical distance between a top surface  122  of the lower protrusion  102  and a bottom surface  126  of the upper protrusion  98 . The distance d 1  is slightly larger than the diameter of the surface members  58  such that when the surface members  58  are engaged with the bracket  82  the magnetic assembly  22  is secured to the shelf  18  and inadvertent disengagement is inhibited. In other constructions, the distance d 1  may be equal to the diameter of the surface members  58  or slightly less than the diameter of the surface members  58 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a width d 2  of a stabilizing portion  130  is sized to fit between two adjacent surface members  58  (see  FIG. 6 ). In the illustrated construction, the width d 2  is slightly smaller than the distance between the two adjacent surface members  58 . In other constructions, the width d 2  may be larger than the distance between the two adjacent surface members  58  or substantially equal to the distance between the two adjacent surface members  58 . 
     In operation of the illustrated construction, the magnetic assemblies  22  are secured to the shelves  18  by positioning the bracket  82 , while disengaged, below the shelf  18  between two adjacent surface members  58  at the midpoint of the space  62  defined by the adjacent surface members  58  and spaced from the sides  66 , 70 . The surface members  58  are then elastically deformed such that the space  62  is enlarged to the point where the upper portion  94  of the bracket  82  may be moved through the space  62 . When bracket  82  is positioned with the upper portion  94  positioned as shown in  FIG. 6 , the surface members  58  are released and return to the original position wherein the upper protrusions  98  may not move through the space  62  and the upper protrusions  98  engage the top of the surface members  58  and the lower protrusions  102  engage the bottom of the surface members  58  such that the magnetic assembly  22  is secured to the shelf  18 . 
     When the magnetic assemblies  22  are secured to the shelf  18  and still spaced from the sides  66 , 70 , the shelf  18  can be positioned within the housing  14 . After the shelf  18  is satisfactorily placed, the magnetic assemblies  22  are slid toward the corresponding side  66 , 70  into the positions shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 . The magnetic assemblies  22  are positioned along the posts  50  to couple the shelf  18  to the posts  50  of the housing  14  and hold it in a position with respect to the floor  42  such that the shelf  18  and posts  50  are arranged as shown in  FIG. 7 . This arrangement allows the positioning of the shelf at an infinitely variable range of angles while holding the shelf  18  level with respect to the first side  66  and the second side  70 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the illustrated food retaining device  26  is removably coupled to each shelf  18 . The illustrated food retaining device  26  is formed as a single piece and includes a front side  134 , a back side  138 , a bottom edge  142 , a first end  146 , a second end  150 , and two tabs  154  attached to each of the front side  134  and the back side  138  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     The first end  146  extends to the first side  66  of the shelf  18  and the second end  150  extends to the second side  70  of the shelf  18  such that the food retaining device  26  extends substantially between the first side  66  and the second side  70 . The food retaining device  26  inhibits food products from inadvertently falling off the shelf  18 . The food retaining device  26  may be removed from the shelf  18  by flexing the food retaining device  26  so the tabs  154  disengage the surface members  58 . In some situations, it is conceivable that removing the food retaining device  26  may be desirable. The food retaining device  26  may be formed from multiple pieces or may be constructed from a screen like material. 
     As is best seen in  FIG. 3 , the food retaining device  26  is positioned near the shelf front  74  and is secured to the shelf  18  by positioning the tabs  154  to engage the surface members  58  of the shelf  18  while the bottom edge  142  of the back side  138  is positioned on the support members  54  of the shelf  18 . The food retaining device  26  also defines cutouts  158  on the front side  134  that extend from the first end  146  to the tab  134  closest to the first end  146 , and from the second end  150  to the tab  134  closest to the second end  150 . The cutouts  158  are sized to provide clearance for the magnetic assemblies  22 . In other constructions, the cutouts  158  may be different sizes or shapes. 
     Once the magnetic assemblies  22  are positioned as shown in  FIG. 2 , the food retaining device  26  can be engaged with the shelf  18 . The food retaining device  26  is elastically deformed such that the tabs  154  fit in the space  62  defined between the surface members  58 . When in the position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the food retaining device  26  is released and returns to the original state and the tabs  154  engage the surface members  58  to attach the food retaining device  26  to the shelf  18 . Only one food retaining device  26  is preferred as the shelf  18  is substantially level with respect to the first side  66  and the second side  70  such that food product is inhibited from rolling side to side and falling from the shelf  18  off either the first side  66  or the second side  70 . In other constructions, the food retaining device  26  may be placed at different positions between the shelf front  74  and the shelf back  78 . In addition, more than one food retaining device  26  is conceivable. 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: a