GB1578415A - Bar equipment - Google Patents

Description

(54) BAR EQUIPMENT (71) We, RAFTCHIEF (REFRIGERATION) LIMITED, of Construction House, Grenfell Avenue, Hornchurch, Essex, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to bar equipment and in particular it relates to display cabinets for use in the bars of public houses, restaurants, cafes and other establishments.

Refrigerated display cabinets comprising a display cabinet mounted generally above a refrigeration unit are widely employed for displaying meat, cheese, salad and other comestibles prior to purchase. Similarly heated display cabinets are used for hot pies, sausage rolls, pasties and other foods.

Particularly in public houses and other sites where the public have access to the front of a cabinet open at the back, there are often stringent requirements which have to be met regarding hygiene. It is usually necessary to provide a "sneeze glass" at the front and to extend the cabinet up to a height of at least 4 feet i.e. higher than the normal serving bar in a public house. This disparity in eihght is a particular disadvantage when the cabinet is built in to a length of bar, especially when food is not being sold from the cabinet.

According to the present invention we provide bar equipment comprising a carriage mounted in a frame and carrying a display cabinet with a refrigeration unit or heating means, the carriage being vertically moveable with respect to the frame between a lowered position where the cabinet is not on display and a raised position where it is.

The bar equipment can be built in to a length of bar and it is then a simple matter to arrange that when the carriage is raised the display cabinet fulfils hygiene requirements regarding height and also to arrange that when the carriage is lowered a false top is fitted which is flush with the rest of the bar and hides the cabinet. Suitably the carriage is suspended from the frame and travels a vertical distance of about 12 inches, with the height of the equipment preferably being less than 4 feet when the carriage is lowered.

It is preferred that movement of the carriage between the lowered and raised positions is at least partially assisted, for example by employing a counterweight or, if desired, an electric motor or other lift mechanism. Vertical guides can be provided on the frame and/ or carriage to prevent sway or other horizontal movement of the carriage.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of bar equipment embodying the invention when incorporated in a length of bar and with its carriage in the raised position; Figure 2 is a perspective view akin to Figure 1 but with the carriage in its lowered position; and Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig 2.

Referring to all three Figures, bar equipment 10 embodying the invention is incorporated in a length of bar 11 of a public house.

The equipment 10 comprises a carriage 12 mounted in a frame 13 and carrying a display cabinet 14 which has a glass front 15 and an open back 16. The cabinet 14 has a tray 17 on which food is to be placed and a fluorescent striplight 18. Beneath the cabinet, but also mounted on the carriage is the condensorpump 19 of a refrigeration unit 20 which further comprises a cooling coil 21 for refrigerating food on the tray 17. Insulation 22 is provided to help prevent heat from the pump 19 and elsewhere reaching the tray 17 and coil 21.

A chain 23 (see Figure 3) is used at either end to suspend the carriage 12 from the frame 13. Each chain passes over an idler sprocket 24 and a rotatable sprocket 30 to a respective end of a counterweight 26 which may also be seen in Figures 1 and 2. The rotatable sprockets 30 are mounted on a common shaft 25 which can be manually rotated using a wheel 28 mounted at the rear of the equipment.

The carriage 12, and thus the display cabinet 14 and refrigeration unit 20 mounted thereon, are moveable vertically with respect to the frame between a lowered position (Figures 2 and 3) and a raised position (Figure 1). In the raised position the cabinet is on display and can thus function as a conventionally mounted refrigerated display cabinet, whereas in the lowered position it can be hidden from view by covering with a false bar-top 29 which fits flush with the rest of the bar. With the cabinet so hidden, the refrigeration unit 20 may be left running, or, if the food is removed the unit may be switched on; in either instance the cabinet no longer makes it difficult to sell drinks across the length of bar occupied by the equipment 10 and morcover the false bar-top 29 may be used by customers, in the same manner as the rest of the bar.

Movement of the carriage between the two positions (a distance of about 12 inches) is achieved by rotating the wheel 28; any tendency for the carriage to swing horizontally is prevented by engagement of pairs of pins 31 at each end of the carriage in respective tracks 32 fitted to the frame 13. A lock (not shown) can be provided for locking the carriage in its raised or lowered position for instance by engagement with one of the chains 23 at a position adjacent the respective rotatable sprocket 30.

The bar equipment 10 shown is a 3 foot module length, although other module lengths can be employed e.g. 4, 5 or 6 foot. Such equipment will be available under the Trade Mark "BAR-PAC". As shown in the drawings the frame 13 of the bar equipment 10 is clad with a front panel 33 which it shares with the rest of the bar and is also provided with side panels 34 and a wire mesh 35 at the rear.

Other panels can however be used e.g. for a free-standing system.

Notwithstanding that the invention has been exemplified with reference to the bar equipment shown in the drawings, it is to be realised that variations are possible. For example the movement of the carriage can be electrically assisted. Moreover the equipment can be free-standing and need not be incorporated within a length of a conventional bar. The display cabinet 14 and refrigeration unit 20 can be replaced by a heated display cabinet; the cabinet will usually be heated by appropriately arranged heating coils.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Bar equipment comprising a carriage mounted in a frame and carrying a display cabinet with a refrigeration unit or heating means, the carriage being vertically moveable with respect to the frame between a lowered position where the cabinet is not on display and a raised position where it is.

2. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 1 which has a refrigeration unit for the display cabinet.

3. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 1 which has heating means for the display cabinet.

4. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein movement of the carriage between the lowered and raised positions is assisted.

5. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the carriage is moveably suspended from the frame.

6. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the weight of the carriage, cabinet and unit is counterbalanced by a counterweight.

7. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein vertical guides are provided to prevent horizontal movement of the carriage.

8. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the vertical difference between the lowered and raised positions is about 12".

9. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim whose height when the carriage is in its lowered position is less than 4 feet.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. wheel 28 mounted at the rear of the equipment. The carriage 12, and thus the display cabinet 14 and refrigeration unit 20 mounted thereon, are moveable vertically with respect to the frame between a lowered position (Figures 2 and 3) and a raised position (Figure 1). In the raised position the cabinet is on display and can thus function as a conventionally mounted refrigerated display cabinet, whereas in the lowered position it can be hidden from view by covering with a false bar-top 29 which fits flush with the rest of the bar. With the cabinet so hidden, the refrigeration unit 20 may be left running, or, if the food is removed the unit may be switched on; in either instance the cabinet no longer makes it difficult to sell drinks across the length of bar occupied by the equipment 10 and morcover the false bar-top 29 may be used by customers, in the same manner as the rest of the bar. Movement of the carriage between the two positions (a distance of about 12 inches) is achieved by rotating the wheel 28; any tendency for the carriage to swing horizontally is prevented by engagement of pairs of pins 31 at each end of the carriage in respective tracks 32 fitted to the frame 13. A lock (not shown) can be provided for locking the carriage in its raised or lowered position for instance by engagement with one of the chains 23 at a position adjacent the respective rotatable sprocket 30. The bar equipment 10 shown is a 3 foot module length, although other module lengths can be employed e.g. 4, 5 or 6 foot. Such equipment will be available under the Trade Mark "BAR-PAC". As shown in the drawings the frame 13 of the bar equipment 10 is clad with a front panel 33 which it shares with the rest of the bar and is also provided with side panels 34 and a wire mesh 35 at the rear. Other panels can however be used e.g. for a free-standing system. Notwithstanding that the invention has been exemplified with reference to the bar equipment shown in the drawings, it is to be realised that variations are possible. For example the movement of the carriage can be electrically assisted. Moreover the equipment can be free-standing and need not be incorporated within a length of a conventional bar. The display cabinet 14 and refrigeration unit 20 can be replaced by a heated display cabinet; the cabinet will usually be heated by appropriately arranged heating coils. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Bar equipment comprising a carriage mounted in a frame and carrying a display cabinet with a refrigeration unit or heating means, the carriage being vertically moveable with respect to the frame between a lowered position where the cabinet is not on display and a raised position where it is.

2. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 1 which has a refrigeration unit for the display cabinet.

3. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 1 which has heating means for the display cabinet.

4. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein movement of the carriage between the lowered and raised positions is assisted.

5. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the carriage is moveably suspended from the frame.

6. Bar equipment as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the weight of the carriage, cabinet and unit is counterbalanced by a counterweight.

7. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein vertical guides are provided to prevent horizontal movement of the carriage.

8. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the vertical difference between the lowered and raised positions is about 12".

9. Bar equipment as claimed in any one preceding claim whose height when the carriage is in its lowered position is less than 4 feet.