GB2225098A

GB2225098A - Freezer accessories

Info

Publication number: GB2225098A
Application number: GB8825076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip James Dothie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-26
Filing date: 1988-10-26
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Also published as: GB8825076D0

Abstract

A spacer for separating two stacks of packages in a freezer has a base flange from which projects upwardly a separating wall, imparting an inverted T-shape to the spacer. In use, the base flange separates two stacks of packages in a freezer, the stacks rating on the base flange on respective sides of the wall. The wall and flange may be slidably interengageable separate parts so that each spacer can be packed flat. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Freezer Accessories Field of the invention This invention relates to freezer accessories.

Background to the invention Display freezers used in supermarkets are stocked with packets of foodstuffs arranged in stacks, ready to be picked up by a customer. Stacks of differing foodstuffs are frequently placed side by side and it has been found that the stacks tend to become disorganised with the result that packets of one stack get mixed up with packets of an adjacent stack. This makes orderly display of the goods difficult and the invention aims to overcome this problem.

Summary of the invention According to the invention there is provided a spacer for separating two stacks of packages in a freezer, the spacer being generally of inverted T shape in side view, by virtue of having a base flange and a separating wall projecting upwardly from the flange, in use the base wall separating the two stacks which rest on the flange on respective sides of the wall.

The spacer is preferably of a synthetic plastics material, and a preferred embodiment has a base flange between about 12 and 20 cm long, and a separating wall between 35 and 45 cm high.

The spacer may be formed in two relatively engageable parts, one of which provides the base flange and the other of which provides the separating wall, enabling the spacer to be supplied in a compact flat condition ready to be assembled by the user.

The base flange and the separating wall are preferably inter-engageable with a sliding motion, preferably with an interference fit which retains the two parts in their inter-engaged condition.

According to another aspect of the invention a freezer incorporates a plurality of spacers, each according to said one aspect.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a separating wall of a spacer according to the invention, Figures 2 and 3 are respectively side and plan views of the separating wall, Figure 4 is a front view of a base of the spacer, Figures 5 and 6 are respectively side and plan views of the base, Figure 7 is a plan view of a display freezer showiny a plurality of spacers in use, and Figure 8 is a schematic front view of the freezer.

Each spacer comprises a separating wall 10 (5 cm by 40 cm) shown in Figures 1 to 3 and a base flange 12 (5 cm by 16 cm) shown in Figures 4 to 6. The wall 10 and base flange 12 are moulded from a synthetic plastics material and are relatively inter-engangeable so that in their interengaged condition the spacer has the appearance of an inverted T in side view.

To enable the wall 10 and base flange 12 to inter-engage, the wall 10 is moulded along its lower edge with a rib 14 which is slidably engageable with a slot 16 spanning the base flange 12. One end of the rib 14 has a ridge 18 which makes an interference fit with the slot 16 in order to retain the wall 10 and the base flange 12 in their inter-engaged condition.

Figures 7 and 8 show a plurality of spacers, examples of which are indicated by the general reference numeral 20.

The spacers 20 separate adjacent stacks of frozen foodstuffs packages 22 which rest on the base flanges in order to retain each spacer in position and give it stability, even if the stack on one side of any separating wall has been exhausted.

It will be appreciated that in Figure 7 the gaps between the stacked packages are shown for ease of illustration: in practice there would be no apparent gaps between adjacent stacks, but the stacks will remain in neat piles by virtue of the separating action of the spacers, even as the stacks are depleted by the gradual removal of packages by customers.

Claims

Claims:

1. A spacer for separating two stacks of packages in a freezer, the spacer being generally of inverted T shape in side view, by virtue of having a base flange and a separating wall projecting upwardly from the flange, in use the base wall separating the two stacks which rest on the flange on respective sides of the wall.

2. A spacer according to claim 1 and made of a synthetic plastics material.

3. A spacer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base flange is between 12 and 20 cm wide and the separating wall is between 35 and 45 cm high.

4. A spacer according to any of the preceding claims and formed in two relatively engageable parts, one of which provides the base flange and the other of which provides the separating wall, enabling the spacer to be supplied in a compact flat condition ready to be assembled by the user.

5. A spacer according to claim 4, wherein the base flange and the separating wall are inter-engageable with a sliding motion, an interference fit retaining the two parts in their inter-engaged condition.

6. A spacer according to claim 5, wherein the wall is formed along its lower edge with a rib and the base flange is formed with a slot spanning the base flange, the rib being engaged in the slot.

7. A freezer incorporating a plurality of spacers, each according to any of the preceding claims.

8. A spacer for separating the two stacks of packages in a freezer, substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.