AU2012100698A4

AU2012100698A4 - Lighting System for Transparent Media Display

Info

Publication number: AU2012100698A4
Application number: AU2012100698A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Michael Mcnair
Original assignee: Coca Cola Amatil Aust Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Coca Cola Amatil Aust Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-17
Filing date: 2012-05-17
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-17
Also published as: AU2012100698B4

Abstract

A product container is disclosed in this specification. The container comprises a body with a compartment for 5 products and a transparent display screen. The transparent display screen is coupled to the body so that a display surface covers a portion of the container compartment, creating a light path through the transparent display screen to the enclosed compartment. A boundary lighting system is 10 disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent display screen. The boundary lighting system backlights the transparent display screen and directing light into the compartment to illuminate items within the compartment. 3335904_1 (GHMatters) P90321 .AU 17105/12 Fg e Figure 2

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant (s) Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Limited Invention Title: Lighting system for transparent media display The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: - 2 LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TRANSPARENT MEDIA DISPLAY FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to containers, 5 particularly refrigerated cabinets and beverage storage and dispensing systems, with displays and associated lighting systems. BACKGROUND TO THE DISCLOSURE 10 Containers such as refrigerated cabinets for storing and dispensing beverages for use in retail establishments are known to utilize display screens providing moving images of the products displayed within the container. is SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed in some forms is a product container comprising: a body that defines a compartment for items, a transparent display screen coupled to the container body, the transparent display screen having a display surface that 20 covers a portion of the container compartment so that there is a light path through the transparent display screen to the compartment, and a boundary lighting system disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent display screen, the boundary lighting system backlighting the 25 transparent display screen and directing light into the compartment from an extremity of the container body to illuminate items within the compartment. In some forms the container comprises a refrigerated 30 cabinet such as a beverage storage and dispensing system. The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described 3335904_1 (GHMatters) P9032 I AU 17/05/12 - 3 above, further aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product container in the form of a refrigerated cabinet; and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container illustrated 10 in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed is description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject 20 matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are 25 contemplated in this disclosure. This disclosure is directed generally to containers that are used at the 'point of sale' of a product. While the disclosure is described generally in the context of 30 refrigerated cabinets for storage and dispensing of a beverage or other product, it is not limited to such use, and may be used in other point of sale systems providing access 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321.AU 17/05112 to a food or drink products such as, for example, heated units or ambient temperature cabinets. Point of sale container systems using display screens to 5 advertise the product held therein are known. In retail applications point of sale container systems may incorporate an display screen showing images of the product in an effort to attract a customer to the product. These systems are usually located in secure locations (such as a merchant shop) io to reduce the possibility of vandalism. Disclosed are embodiments of a point of sale container system such as a refrigerated cabinet for storing and dispensing beverages. In some forms the system comprises a 15 container comprising: a body that defines an compartment for products, a transparent display screen coupled to the container body, the transparent display screen having a display surface that covers a portion of the container compartment so that there is a light path through the 20 transparent display screen to the compartment, and a boundary lighting system disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent display screen, the boundary lighting system backlighting the transparent display screen and directing light into the compartment from an extremity of 25 the container body to illuminate items within the compartment. The boundary lighting system may comprise a strip light disposed adjacent an edge of the transparent display screen, 30 the strip light may be orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent display screen display surface and into the compartment. The boundary lighting system may comprise a plurality of 3335904_1 (GHMatters) P9032 L AU 17/05112 - 5 strip lights that are disposed adjacent opposing edges of the transparent display screen, each strip light might be orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent display screen display surface and into 5 compartment. The boundary lighting system may comprise a diffuser disposed between the transparent display screen and the compartment, the diffuser may scatter light from within the 10 container body across the display surface of the transparent display screen, the strip light(s) may be oriented to direct light toward the diffuser. The diffuser may comprise a diffuser panel that is 15 generally commensurate in area with the display surface of the transparent display screen, the diffuser panel may be aligned with the transparent display screen so that the light path through the transparent display screen passes through the diffuser panel. 20 The strip light(s) may be disposed at a perimeter edge of the diffuser and direct light into the diffuser. The diffuser may scatter light transverse to the display 25 surface of the transparent display screen to illuminate items within the compartment and backlight the transparent display screen. The strip light(s) may comprise a strip of light 30 emitting diodes (LED's). The strip light(s) may be disposed at a perimeter edge(s) of a panel diffuser and direct light into the panel diffuser. 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321 AU 17/05112 - 6 Strip lights may extend only around one or more parts of the perimeter of the transparent screen or may extend around the entire perimeter of the screen. 5 The transparent display screen may be disposed in a door of the container, that provides access to the compartment. The container may be a refrigerator and the body may 10 have a refrigeration system that chills the product compartment. In some forms the refrigerated cabinet is configured for storing and/or dispensing beverages. 15 A reflective lip may be disposed adjacent the transparent display screen, the strip light(s) may be disposed between the reflective lip and the compartment so that the reflective lip shields the strip light(s) from the 20 exterior of the container body and redirects incident light into the compartment. A product container is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The container 1 has a body 25 that defines a compartment for 25 vendible products and other items. The illustrated container 1 is an upright refrigerator. The general principles explained in this specification may also be applied to other containers where it is desirable for a consumer to see the enclosed products. This is frequently the case with 30 refrigerated consumer goods, but is also applicable to vending machines and certain arcade systems (such as the crane claw game) among other applications. Similarly, these principles may be applied to different refrigerator 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321.AU 17/05/12 - 7 configurations, such as beer fridges and chest freezers. The illustrated refrigerator 1 has a generally rectangular cuboid body 25. The body 25 defines a s compartment where products (such a chilled drinks or food items) are positioned for sale. The refrigerator compartment is enclosed by the refrigerator body 25 so that stored products may be efficiently chilled. The body 25 may also house an integrated refrigeration system to chill the product 10 compartment. The illustrated refrigerator 1 has a single door 15 that provides access to the compartment. The door 15 forms part of the refrigerator body 25 and covers one of the elongated side of the refrigerator compartment. The remaining five sides of the refrigerator body 25 are formed 15 from fixed panels in the illustrated embodiment. The illustrated refrigerator door 15 is hinged to the remainder of the refrigerator body 25. A set of hinges (not shown) couple the door 15 along one of the elongate sides. 20 Other door arrangements (such as sliding door) may be substituted depending on installation requirement and merchant preferences. A handle 16 is disposed in a side of the door 15 opposite the hinges. The illustrated handle 16 is formed by a recess in an elongated edge of the door 15. 25 The recess allows a consumer or merchant to easily grasp the door and access the enclosed compartment. A transparent display screen is coupled to the illustrated container body. The screen 10 has a display 30 surface that covers a portion of the refrigerator compartment so that a light path is created through the transparent display screen 10 to the enclosed compartment. The transparent display screen 10 replaces the regular glass panel that is often encountered in conventional merchant 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321 .AU 17/05/12 -8 refrigerators, but still allows a consumer to see items within the refrigerator 1 in most circumstances. The transparent display screen 10 is mounted to the 5 refrigerator door 15 in the illustrated embodiment. The display surface of the screen 10 has a surface area that is generally commensurate with the frontal surface area of the door 15. Additional transparent display screens may be mounted to other parts of the refrigerator body (such as 10 replacing the touch screen display 20 illustrated on the side of the refrigerator shown in the figures). The door may not necessarily incorporate a display screen in all embodiments. The transparent display screen 10 is capable of 15 obscuring the contents of the refrigeration compartment by restricting or preventing the passage of light through the refrigerator door 15. This is typically accomplished by displaying an obstructive image on segments of the screen 10 that cover the items housed within the compartment. 20 Obstructive images generally comprise a black strip or block that occupy specific sections of the display surface. The images are black (or dark) as the transparent display screen is repressing backlighting from within the refrigerator body 25 that is responsible for illuminating the display screen. 25 The contents of the refrigerator 1 are generally visible through the transparent door screen 10 whenever the display surface is not occupied by an obstructing image. Colour images or images where only the image outline is obstructive 30 retain a light path through the door and allow items within the refrigeration compartment to remain visible from outside the refrigerator 1. A touch screen display 20 is disposed in a side of the 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321.AU 17/05/12 - 9 refrigerator body 25 in the figures. The touch screen display 20 allows a customer to interact with the refrigerator 1. The touch screen display 20 may also be transparent in some embodiments (although the illustrated 5 touch screen display 20 is not). An exploded view of a transparent display screen assembly is illustrated in Figure 2. The illustrated assembly comprises a boundary lighting system. The boundary 10 lighting system backlights the transparent display screen 10 and directs light into the refrigeration compartment to illuminate items positioned within the refrigerator 1. The boundary lighting system incorporates one or more 15 lights. Ideally, the lights are arranged to emit light uniformly across the display surface of the transparent display screen. The illustrated boundary lighting system 103 has two strip lights that are disposed adjacent opposing edges of the transparent display screen 10. A single strip 20 light may also be used and the strip light(s) may extend around the entire perimeter of the transparent display screen. Ideally, the strip lights 103 are orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent display screen display surface and into the refrigeration 25 compartment. The strip light may comprise a single continuous light source (such as a CCFL tube) or a plurality of discrete light sources regularly spaced along the strip (such as an LED 30 strip light). The illustrated strip lights 103 comprise a strip of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are housed in a common body. The strip lights may also comprise multiple individual light sources coupled directly to the refrigerator body 25 (ie strip lights without a integrated or 33359041 (GHMatters) P9032L AU 17/05/12 - 10 unitary body). Ideally, the selected strip lights provide an elongate light source that emits a uniform intensity of light along the length of the strip. 5 The boundary lighting system may also incorporate a diffuser to promote uniform backlighting. The illustrated refrigerator 1 incorporates a panel diffuser 102 that is disposed behind the transparent display screen 10. The illustrated diffuser 102 is generally commensurate in area 10 with the display surface of the transparent display screen 10. The strip lights 103 and the diffuser 102 are disposed within the refrigerated body 25 directly behind the transparent display screen 10 in the illustrated embodiment. 15 The strip lights 103 are disposed at a perimeter edge of the diffuser panel 102 and direct light into the diffuser. The diffuser 102 scatters light from the strip lights 103 transverse to the display surface of the transparent display screen 10 to illuminate items within the refrigerator 20 compartment and backlight the transparent display screen 10. The illustrated configuration of boundary lighting system illuminates the items within the refrigerator compartment from an extremity of the refrigerator body 25. 25 As the boundary lighting system is disposed between the items and the consumer, the consumer facing portion of the items is illuminated (the portion of the items closest to the transparent display screen). This lighting position illuminates the items so that they are easily identifiable 30 through the transparent display screen (as opposed to a lighting source disposed behind the items, which would create a silhouette). The diffuser panel 102 is generally aligned with the 33359041 (GHMatters) P9032LAU 17/05/12 - 11 transparent display screen 10 and disposed between the display screen 10 and the refrigeration compartment. This arrangement produces a light path through the transparent display screen 10 into the refrigeration compartment that 5 also passes through the diffuser panel 102. The illustrated boundary lighting system enables the diffuser to scatter light from within the refrigerator body 25 (including light emitted from the strip lights disposed at the edges of the diffuser panel 102) uniformly across the display surface 10 of the transparent display screen 10. Ideally, a reflective lip is disposed adjacent the display screen in front of the boundary lighting system 103 so that the strip lights are positioned between the 15 reflective lip and the refrigeration compartment. The reflective lip shields the strip lights from the exterior of the container body, redirecting incident light into the refrigeration compartment and isolating the consumer from the light source. 20 The illustrated refrigerator also has a touch screen display 20 mounted to one side of the refrigerator body 25. The touch screen display 20 provides an interactive interface for consumers. 25 The touch screen display 20 may be used for various applications, including accessing nutritional information for the products housed within the refrigerator 1, displaying reviews of the products placed by other consumers, selecting 30 images to be displayed on the transparent display screen 10 and watching promotional material. The touch screen display 20 may also be used by technicians for fault finding and maintenance analysis. 33359041 (GH Matlers) P9032L AU 17105/12 - 12 Both the touch screen display 20 and the transparent display screen 10 can be used to promote products displayed within the refrigerator 1 and generate interest by capturing the attention of potential consumers. The transparent s display screen 10 coupled to the refrigerator body door 15 may also incorporate touch screen capabilities to improve user interactions. To enable touch screen functionality, the toughened glass protective layer 101 disposed in front of the transparent display screen 10 may be replaced by a touch 10 sensitive overlay (similar to the overlay 202 disposed over the touch screen display 20). This functional alteration may be made without modifying the illustrated mounting frame 105 that the couples the transparent display screen assembly to the refrigerator body 25. 15 An electronics cooling system 17 is disposed adjacent the bottom edge of the refrigerator door 15. The cooling system 17 circulates chilled air across the boundary lighting system 103 and transparent display screen 10 to dissipate 20 heat generated by these components. The foregoing describes a container including embodiments thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be 25 incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context 30 requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321 AU 17/05/12 - 13 various embodiments of the invention. Thus, the described apparatus, substance or method may have other elements, substances or steps in various 5 embodiments of the invention. The purpose of the claims is to define the features which make up the invention and not necessarily all features which a working embodiment of the apparatus, substance or method, to which the invention defines, may have. The apparatus, substance or method 10 defined in the claims may therefore include other elements, steps or substances as well as the inventive elements, steps or substances which make up the invention and which are specifically recited in the claims. 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321 AU 17/05/12

Claims

1. A product container comprising: a body that defines an compartment for products, 5 a transparent display screen coupled to the container body, the transparent display screen having a display surface that covers a portion of the container compartment so that there is a light path through the transparent display screen to the compartment, and 10 a boundary lighting system disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent display screen, the boundary lighting system backlighting the transparent display screen and directing light into the compartment from an extremity is of the container body to illuminate items within the compartment.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the boundary lighting system comprises a strip light disposed adjacent an edge 20 of the transparent display screen, the strip light being orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent display screen display surface and into the compartment. 25 3. The container of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the boundary lighting system comprises a plurality of strip lights that are disposed adjacent opposing edges of the transparent display screen, each strip light being orientated to direct light toward the centre of the 30 transparent display screen display surface and into compartment.

4. The container of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the boundary lighting system comprises a diffuser disposed between 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321AU 17105112 - 15 the transparent display screen and the compartment, the diffuser scattering light from within the container body across the display surface of the transparent display screen, the strip light(s) being oriented to direct 5 light toward the diffuser.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the diffuser comprises a diffuser panel that is generally commensurate in area with the display surface of the 10 transparent display screen, the diffuser panel being aligned with the transparent display screen so that the light path through the transparent display screen passes through the diffuser panel. 615 The container of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the strip light(s) are disposed at a perimeter edge of the diffuser and direct light into the diffuser.

7. The container of any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein 20 the diffuser scatters light transverse to the display surface of the transparent display screen to illuminate items within the compartment and backlight the transparent display screen. 825 The container of any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the strip light(s) comprises a strip of light emitting diodes (LED's).

9. The container of any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein 30 the strip light(s) are disposed at a perimeter edge(s) of a panel diffuser and direct light into the panel diffuser. 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321AU 17105/12 - 16 10. The container of any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein strip lights extend around the entire perimeter of the transparent display screen. 5 11. The container of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the transparent display screen is disposed in a door of the container, the door providing access to the compartment.

12. The container of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the 1o container is a refrigerator and the body has a refrigeration system that chills the product compartment.

13. A point of sale system as defined in claim 6 wherein the is refrigerated cabinet is configured for storing or dispensing beverages.

14. The container of any one of claims 2 to 10 wherein a reflective lip is disposed adjacent the transparent 20 display screen, the strip light(s) being disposed between the reflective lip and the compartment so that the reflective lip shields the strip light(s) from the exterior of the container body and redirects incident light into the compartment. 25 33359041 (GHMatters) P90321.AU 17/05/12