GB2565631A

GB2565631A - Article storage apparatus and a method of manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2565631A
Application number: GB1810115.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robinson Darryl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-20
Filing date: 2018-06-20
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Also published as: GB201810115D0; GB201709823D0

Abstract

A curved channel to store and distribute products such as cans or bottles, where the articles are fed through U-shaped channel 3. An article input 5 is located at one end of the channel, and an article output 7 is located at the other, such that the input and output are located on the same side of the apparatus. The other side of the apparatus may have a curved wall 17. The input and output may be separated by a partition 15. Preferably the channel is sized for the articles and they travel along the channel in only one direction, in accord with indication means (9, figure 3). The channel may be inclined, extending downwardly from input to output. The input and output may have one-way gates (21, 21’, figure 2). Two or more of the apparatus may be connected. The apparatus is preferably attached within a refrigeration apparatus by a lip 23’. A method of manufacturing the apparatus is claimed.

Description

Article storage apparatus and a method of manufacture thereof

The invention to which this application relates is an article storage apparatus and its method of manufacture.

Although the following description refers exclusively to the receipt, storage and distribution of beverage containers, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention could also be used for the receipt storage and distribution of various types of article, not limited to beverages.

In commercial drinking establishments it is common for there to be provided, behind the bar, a number of fridges in which are located cans or bottles of chilled drinks or beverages. When the drinks are initially taken from stock, they will generally be at room temperature and will need to be cooled in a fridge to the ideal temperature before being sold to a customer. Currently, the standard practice when a user needs to restock the fridges is for that person to remove the cooled cans or bottles that are currently in the fridge, place the new, warmer cans or bottles in at the back of the fridge, and place the cooler ones back into the fridge, in front of the newly added stock. This is done so as to ensure when a member of staff comes to take one of these cans or bottle for a customer, they take an appropriately cooled item rather than one that has not yet had time to be brought down to the ideal temperature. However, a commonly occurring problem, especially in busier establishments where staff members are under pressure to serve customers more quickly, is that staff may simply place the new stock directly into the fridge, leaving the cooler items at the back of the fridge and the warmer ones at the front. This results in there being insufficient time for those items to be chilled appropriately before being taken out and sold to a customer, which is generally unacceptable.

This problem also exists, to a lesser extent, in the home, when a user simply takes a drink from a household fridge. It can become an inconvenience to have to remove a number of items before inserting newer, warmer items, before replacing the original, cooler items.

One solution to this problem that exists is the provision of front and rear opening fridges. In this case, a member of staff will simply stock the fridge with new items from the rear and only take items out to serve to customers from the front. However, such appliances require a large amount of space to be installed and used, which the majority of establishments simply do not have. In addition to this, the cost of such fridges can be prohibitive, especially for the smaller establishments.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes the aforementioned problems in the prior art in both private homes and commercial establishments.

It is yet a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an apparatus that overcomes the aforementioned problems in the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus suitable for the receipt, storage and distribution of a plurality of articles, said apparatus including: a channel member through which said articles are fed; an article input located at a first end of said channel member; and an article output located at a second end of said channel member, characterized in that said channel member is provided substantially as a U-shaped channel member, such that said input and output are located on the same side or face of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, said apparatus is provided for location within a refrigeration apparatus or device.

In one embodiment, said channel member is provided as a one way channel member. Typically, therefore, said articles may travel in only one direction along said channel member. Further typically, said articles enter the channel member via said input, and exit the channel member via said output.

In one embodiment, said channel member is provided with indication means in order to further define the input, output, and direction of travel or the articles along the channel member. Typically, said indication means are provided as any or any combination of written/word-based indication means; colour indication means; and/or arrow/director indication means.

In one embodiment, said plurality of articles is provided as beverage containers. Typically, said beverage containers are provided as cans or bottles or a particular beverage.

Typically, said channel member is sized to receive a predetermined type or style of beverage container.

In one embodiment, said apparatus further includes a base member, onto which said articles can be located and directed through the said channel member. Typically, said base member comprises a substantially smooth and/or low-resistance surface, in order to enable said articles to travel along the same, as required.

In one embodiment, said input and said output are located substantially adjacent each other. Typically, said input and output are separated by partition means. Further typically, said partition means forms at least a part of a wall of the channel member.

In one embodiment, said channel member is arranged such that the articles are urged along the same via the input of subsequent articles.

In one embodiment, said channel member is provided to be at least partially inclined. Typically, said incline is arranged such that the input is provided at a height above that of the output, relative to a base of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, said channel is inclined, extending in a substantially downward direction from the input to the output. Thus, the provision of an inclined channel facilitates easier movement of the articles within and along the channel member from the input to the output.

In one embodiment, an end of the apparatus opposite to that of the face at which the input and output are located is formed to have a substantially curved wall member, thereby permitting movement of the articles along the channel member.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first wall member, located substantially between the article input and the curved wall member. Typically, said first wall member defines an external wall of the channel member and apparatus.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a second wall member, located substantially between the article output and the curved wall member. Typically, said second wall member defines an external wall of the channel member and apparatus.

In one embodiment, a blocking member can be provided substantially at the input end of the channel member. Typically, said blocking member is provided to block movement of articles in one direction. Further typically, said blocking member is provided to permit the input of articles in ot on to the channel member at the input, but block outward movement of the same.

In one embodiment, said blocking member is provided as a oneway gate member.

In one embodiment, a blocking member can be provided substantially at the output end of the channel member. Typically, said blocking member is provided to block movement of articles in one direction. Further typically, said blocking member is provided to permit the output of articles from or out of the channel member at the output, but block inward movement of the same.

In one embodiment, said blocking member is provided as a oneway gate member.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may be formed from a metallic material. Typically, the apparatus is formed from any or any combination of aluminium, steel, copper (and alloys thereof), zinc (and alloys thereof). Further typically, said metallic material may be provided with a decorative or protective plating or coating, such as nickel or chromium plating.

In one embodiment, one or more blocking members may be formed from a non-metallic material.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may be formed from a plastics material.

In one embodiment, attachment means may be provided with the apparatus. Typically, said attachment means are provided to form a detachable attachment between the apparatus and a shelf or support surface in or on which the apparatus is located.

In another embodiment, the apparatus may include one or more lip portions, located at or along a front face of the apparatus and extending downwardly below the channel member. Typically, said one or more lip portions are provided to act as support means to prevent the apparatus from being moved too far back on a shelf or support surface on which it is located.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is further provided with connection means. Typically, said connection means are provided to connect two or more apparatus of the present invention to one another. Further typically, said connection means are provided to connect two or more apparatus adjacent one another.

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus that is easily locatable on a shelf or support surface of a refrigeration device, and provides a novel and effective means by which to refill stock without having first to remove remaining, cooler stock already present. New items or articles may simply be inserted via the input end of the channel, and the introduction of each new article urges the train of articles along and round the Ushaped channel. Consequently, at the output end of the channel, from which the user will take the required articles, those articles will always be the coolest available, thereby negating the problems previously encountered in the prior art.

Further features may be included in the apparatus in to order to enhance its functionality, such as indication means for a user, or blocking members in the form of, for example, one-way gates, which can physically prevent removal of an article from the apparatus via the input channel, if a user were inclined to try.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing and apparatus for the receipt, storage and distribution of a plurality of articles, the method including the steps of: forming a channel member through which said articles are to be fed; forming an article input at a first end of said channel member; and forming an article output at a second end of said channel member, characterized in that said channel member is formed substantially as a U-shaped channel member, such that said input and output are located on the same side or face of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, indication means are formed thereon in order to further define the input, output, and direction of travel or the articles along the channel member.

In one embodiment, said apparatus may be formed including a base member onto which said articles can be located and directed through the said channel member.

In one embodiment, said input and said output are formed to be substantially adjacent each other and separated by the provision of partition means. Typically, said partition means is provided so as to form at least a part of a wall of the channel member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figures 5a — b illustrate front and plan views, respectively, of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated an apparatus formed for the receipt, storage and distribution of a number of articles. The apparatus is provided, in this embodiment, as a fridge insert 1, which is designed primarily to receive and hold drinks containers in the form of cans and/or bottles. It will be understood that such an apparatus can be formed to receive alternative types of container or otherwise, however, the following description will refer solely to drinks containers such as cans and/or bottles.

The insert 1 is formed so as to have a channel 3 into which the drinks containers are fed. The containers are inserted into the channel 3 via an input portion in the form of the channel entrance 5 and, as subsequent containers are introduced to the channel 3, these arc urged along the channel 3 until the lead container reaches an output portion in the form of the channel exit 7. Exit 7 is located substantially adjacent the entrance 5, such that the channel 3 is provided as a U-shape. This allows the containers to be placed in and removed from the same face or end of the insert 1 without having to remove any containers already present in the fridge. This leads to a far more convenient means to restock a fridge with drinks as the numbers reduce, and ensures that the newer, warmer stock will not be removed and sold to a customer before any remaining and sufficiently chilled drinks can be removed, and also negate the need to remove and replace chilled drinks still present in the fridge. Importantly, the channel 3 is provided to act as a oneway channel, with containers being inserted at the entrance 5, following the path of the channel 3 around until they are subsequently removed at the exit 7. In order to aid a user or member of staff, indication means can be provided on the insert 1, as shown in various forms in Figures 2 and 3. Such indication means may be provided simply as a series of arrows 9 that clearly mark out the path along which the drinks containers should travel in the channel 3, therefore making a clear distinction between the entrance 5 and exit 7. As an alternative or even in addition, such indication means may be literally spelled out, as shown by word markings 11 in Figure 3. These markings 9, 11, may be formed on the insert 1 at any convenient location, such as on a base of the channel 3 or on one-way gates as shown in Figures 2 and 3, discussed in more detail below, or may be provided in other forms, such as indicators on channel walls or as colour indicators (for example, but not limited to, green for the entrance and red for the exit).

The insert 1 further includes a base portion 13, on which the containers are placed and move along the channel 3. In order to allow smooth movement of the containers along the channel 3, the base may be formed to be sufficiently smooth and/or of a low friction or low resistance. This is beneficial because it will enable a user to much more easily insert and urge multiple containers along the channel 3 — as the number of containers that are present and require moving around/along the channel 3 increases, it will become more difficult for a user to move them along, and so a base surface having a higher resistance or degree of friction will cause further problems; reducing this friction will make the task, and therefore the insert 1, more efficient. Various means may be employed to reduce the friction — the surface may be formed specifically from a material with a lower coefficient of friction, or physical features may be formed on the base. For example, serrations along the base 13 or similar etchings/formations will serve to reduce the surface area of the base 13 that contacts the containers and, hence, the friction between the two is subsequently reduced and movement along the same is improved.

As described above, the channel entrance 5 and exit 7 are located at the same end or face of the insert, and substantially adjacent one another. Consequently, the two are separated by a partition 15 that acts as an interior wall of the channel 3. At the opposing end of the insert 1, a curved wall member 17 is provided, which serves to form the bend in the “U” shape of the channel 3. It is this curved wall portion 17 that urges the containers to travel around the channel 3 and towards the exit portion 7. Between the curved wall portion 17 and the entrance 5, and between the curved wall portion 17 and the exit 7, further external wall members 19 are provided. Consequently, the wall members 17, 19 and the partition 15 serve to guide the containers along and around the channel 3 from the entrance 5 to the exit 7 as they are pushed through by a user. In some embodiments of the present invention, the channel 3 may be provided to be at least partially inclined such that the entrance 5 is provided at a height above that of the exit 7. In other words, the channel 3 may be inclined, extending in a substantially downward direction from the entrance 5, along and around the U-shaped bend, and to the exit 7, and this is shown best in Figures 4 and 5a. Thus, by providing an incline on the channel 5, this facilitates easier movement of the articles within and along the channel 3 from the entrance 5 to the exit 7.

As described above, in order for a user to distinguish between the entrance and exit of the insert 1, indication means in various forms may be provided. A further feature that may be provided, in particular to prevent either removal of a newly added, nonchilled drinks container, or inserting new stock in front of existing, chilled stock, blocking members may be provided at either or both of the entrance 5 and exit 7. These, as depicted in Figure 3, may be provided in the form of one-way gates 21, 21’. In the case of the “IN” gate 21, this functions simply by opening into the channel 3, and allowing the insertion of drinks containers to move therealong. However, the “IN” gate 21 will not open in the opposition direction, i.e., outward from the insert 1, thereby preventing removal of a container, and clearly indicating to a user that containers should not be removed from that channel end. The “OUT” gate 21’ is provided to function in the same fashion, but in the opposite way. That is to say, it will open outwardly to allow easy removal of a container, but will not open inwardly, thereby preventing insertion of a newer, warmer container in front of existing, cooler stock. The two gates 21, 21’ may be provided together on a particular insert or, in some examples, only one of the gates may be required. These may also be provided as an attachable accessory and can be attached or detached as required.

The apparatus of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material, however, metallic materials are preferable, although plastics are equally feasible. For higher end, more professional appearing forms of the insert 1, a metallic look may be mote desirable. Consequently, any or any combination of aluminium, steel, copper (and alloys thereof), zinc (and alloys thereof) may be used to form part or the entire insert 1. Additionally, a decorative or protective finish may also be applied in the form of coating or plating, such as nickel or chromium plating. While a metallic finish may be used for the bulk of the insert 1, the gates 21, 21’, for convenience, may still be formed from a non-metallic material. In alternative versions of the insert 1, a plastics material may be used to form the same. Such versions may be directed more at private users, as a convenient addition to a home refrigerator.

In order to ensure the insert 1 remains stable within the fridge in which it is placed, attachment means in the form of, for example, clamps, claws or a lip or lips 23, 23’ are provided at the base 13 of the insert 1. These are included so as to form a detachable attachment between the insert and a shelf or support surface in or on which it is to be located, or simply to act as a support to prevent the insert from moving too far back on the shelf or support surface on which it is located. A pair of clamps, claws or lips 23 may be provided, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or, in other embodiments, the insert may be provided with a single lip 23’, extending across the front face of the insert, and downwardly below the channel 3 and base 13. In addition, the insert may further include connection means, shown as clips 25 along one of the external walls 19, which can connect the insert 1, with a further insert, if required. The connecting insert may be provided with a complementary connecting portion for receipt of clips 25. It is also envisaged that while it will be possible to link two individual inserts to one another, the same may be provided as a modular system and the adjoining insert will not necessarily require one of its external walls — it will be able to share the existing one present on the original insert. This allows a simple but effective means to provide such functionality across a whole shelf or shelves of a fridge, and ultimately improves the stocking and restocking of such fridges with drinks, while ensuring the existing, cooler stock is always readily available for staff to remove and provide to customers.

Thus, the present invention provides an insert 1 that is easily locatable on a shelf or support surface of a fridge, on its own or as part of a series of inserts, and provides a novel and effective means by which to refill stock without having first to remove remaining, cooler stock already present. New drinks containers may simply be inserted at the entrance portion 5, and the introduction of each new drink urges the train of drinks containers along and round the U-shaped channel 3. Consequently, at the exit portion 7, from which the user will take the required drinks, those drinks will always be the coolest available, thereby negating the problems previously encountered in the prior art, as described above. Further features, as discussed, may be included in the insert 1 in to order to enhance its functionality and the convenience for users.

Claims

1. An apparatus arranged to receive, store and distribute a plurality of articles, said apparatus including:

a channel member through which said articles are fed, in use;

an article input located at a first end of said channel member; and an article output located at a second end of said channel member, characterized in that said channel member is provided substantially as a U-shaped channel member, such that said input and output are located on the same side or face of the apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is provided for location within a refrigeration apparatus or device.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said channel member is provided as a one way channel member, such that said articles may travel in only one direction along said channel member, in use.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said channel member is provided with indication means in order to further define the input, output, and direction of travel or the articles along the channel member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of articles is provided as beverage containers, and said channel member is sized to receive a predetermined type or style of beverage container.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a base member, onto which said articles are located and directed through the said channel member, in use.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input and said output are located substantially adjacent each other.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input and output are separated by partition means, said partition means forming at least a part of a wall of the channel member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said channel member is provided to be at least partially inclined, said incline arranged such that the input is provided at a height above that of the output, relative to a base portion of the apparatus.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said channel is inclined, extending in a substantially downward direction from the input to the output.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end of the apparatus opposite to that of the face at which the input and output are located is formed to have a substantially curved wall member, thereby permitting movement of the articles along and around the channel member, in use.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a blocking member is provided substantially at the input end of the channel member, provided to permit the input of articles in or on to the channel member at the input, but block outward movement of the same, in use.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a blocking member is provided substantially at the output end of the channel member, provided to permit the output of articles from or out of the channel member at the output, but block inward movement of the same, in use.

14. An apparatus according to claims 12 and/or 13, wherein said blocking member is provided as a one-way gate member.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein attachment means are provided with the apparatus to form a detachable attachment between the apparatus and a shelf or support surface in or on which the apparatus is located.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes one or more lip portions, located at or along a front face of the apparatus and extending downwardly below the channel member.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with connection means to connect two or more apparatus of the present invention to one another.

18. A method of manufacturing an apparatus arranged to receive, store and distribute a plurality of articles, the method including the steps of:

forming a channel member through which said articles are to be fed;

forming an article input at a first end of said channel member; and forming an article output at a second end of said channel member, characterized in that said channel member is formed substantially as a U-shaped channel member, such that said input and output are located on the same side or face of the apparatus.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein indication means are formed thereon in order to further define the input, output, and direction of travel or the articles along the channel member.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said apparatus is formed including a base member onto which said articles are located and directed through the said channel member, in use.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein said input and said output are formed to be substantially adjacent each other and separated by the provision of partition means.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said partition means is provided so as to form at least a part of a wall of the channel member.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein an end of the apparatus opposite to that of the face at which the input and output are located is formed to have a substantially curved wall member, thereby permitting movement of the articles along the channel member.