WO2000010906A1

WO2000010906A1 - Interchangeable merchandising apparatus and method of use

Info

Publication number: WO2000010906A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/019006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nichlos Mohat
Original assignee: Lancer Partnership, Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-08-18
Filing date: 1999-08-18
Publication date: 2000-03-02
Also published as: AU5780499A

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying merchandising information. The apparatus includes a beverage dispenser (1) and an indicator assembly (2) mounted on the beverage dispenser (1). The indicator assembly (2) allows for easy installation with and removal from the beverage dispenser (1) so that merchandising information can be changed periodically by interchanging with another indicator assembly (2). Specifically, the indicator assembly (2) includes a back surface (5) for displaying merchandising information, a front surface (4) for displaying merchandising information, and an indicator mount assembly (10). The indicator assembly (2) further includes a light source mounted with the back surface to illuminate merchandising information displayed by the indicator assembly (2) and an electrical wire (13) operatively connected with the light source. The beverage dispenser includes a housing assembly (3), an electrical wire (13) disposed within the housing assembly (3), and a power source connectable with the electrical wire (13) of the indicator assembly via the electrical wire contained within the housing assembly (3). Moreover, the housing assembly (3) defines an aperture (14) that receives the indicator mount assembly (10) thereby securing the indicator assembly (10) with the beverage dispenser (1).

Description

INTERCHANGEABLE MERCHANDISING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to beverage dispensers and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a beverage dispenser having a housing assembly coupled with an illuminated, interchangeable indicator assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Soft drink beverage dispensers are growing in popularity and availability. In the past, beverage dispensers were kept by restaurants in the restricted domain of the kitchen and, thus, were kept far away from the customer. Now, from fast-food restaurants to multiplex movie theaters, the use of soft drink beverage dispensers is expanding into many, once unimaginable, new commercial markets. As a result, more people than ever before enjoy today's convenience of selecting a beverage of choice from an array of different drink flavors. Typically, a beverage dispenser features several dispensing valves whereby each dispensing valve is assigned a single drink flavor. By placing a cup under a dispensing valve and activating its nozzle, the valve dispenses the desired flavored drink into the cup at a preset rate and temperature.

In such new commercial settings, however, two new consumer demands have been imposed on self-service beverage dispensers. First, there is a demand to design a beverage dispenser that can sufficiently indicate merchandising information to a large number of customers. Specifically, today's beverage dispensers only feature indicators that display the availability of drink flavors on every valve housing so that the operator, by looking at a specific indicator, can access the appropriate valve to obtain the desired flavored drink. As such, today's beverage dispensers are not configured to convey merchandising information to a large number of customers. Furthermore, in situations where a beverage dispenser is placed between an operator and a large gathering of customers, it is very difficult for a customer to readily determine any form of information conveyed by the beverage dispenser because current indicators are discreetly situated so that only an operator can best see them.

Beverage dispensers are also placed on counter tops between the operator and the customers where they compete with other products for limited counter space. Furthermore, the indicators are often obscured by the other products, which may be cluttered around and/or on the beverage dispenser, thus, limiting the beverage dispenser's ability to convey information, especially merchandising information. Manufacturers of beverage dispensers have attempted to rectify the above problems by reconfiguring some of today's beverage dispensers to feature drink flavor indicators on both sides of each individual valve housing. In this manner, a customer can determine the drink flavors offered by a beverage dispenser without having to ask the operator. However, such indicators are not configured to sufficiently convey merchandising information to a large number of customers because these indicators are confined to a very small space on each valve housing so that only drink flavor availability may be displayed for those customers at the front of a line.

Second, there is a demand to design a beverage dispenser indicator that is effective in all lighting conditions. In addition to unsuccessfully configuring an indicator on a valve housing in the manner described above, today's beverage dispensers also lack the ability to sufficiently indicate merchandising information in all lighting conditions. In particular, current indicators, which, again, only indicate drink flavor availability due to their small size and limited placement on a beverage dispenser, do not account for conditions of low lighting or smoke. For example, beverage dispensers are used by multiplex theaters whereby such theaters often employ very low lighting for aesthetic effect. Beverage dispensers are also used in music concerts or in entertainment events where the host establishment often welcomes smoke, whether it be from dry ice or otherwise, for purposes of affect. In both instances, it is difficult for a customer to see merchandising information depicted on a beverage dispenser.

Accordingly, a beverage dispenser that clearly indicates merchandising information in all lighting conditions to a large number of customers is highly desirable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a device for displaying merchandising information includes a beverage dispenser and an indicator assembly mounted on the beverage dispenser, where the indicator assembly is removable from the beverage dispenser. The indicator assembly allows for easy installation and removal so that merchandising information can be changed periodically. The indicator assembly includes a back surface, a front surface, and an indicator mount assembly having at least two opposingly positioned spring clamps. The front surface and the back surface of the indicator assembly each provide sufficient space to display merchandising information to a large number of customers.

The indicator assembly further includes a light source mounted with the back surface and an electrical wire operatively connected with the light source. The light source is provided to illuminate merchandising information displayed by the indicator assembly so that merchandising information can be seen under all lighting conditions. The indicator assembly can be composed of either translucent or transparent material so as to be sufficiently illuminated by the light source. Moreover, a reflective or opaque coating can be placed along the back surface to enhance illumination of the front surface by the light source.

The beverage dispenser includes a housing assembly, an electrical wire disposed within the housing assembly, and a power source connectable with the electrical wire of the indicator assembly via the electrical wire contained within the housing assembly. The housing assembly defines an aperture that receives the indicator mount assembly thereby securing the indicator assembly with the beverage dispenser. In particular, the opposingly positioned spring clamps of the indicator mount assembly mount engage with an interior portion of the housing assembly thereby securing the indicator assembly with the beverage dispenser. The device for displaying merchandising information may further include operator indicators to allow a beverage dispenser operator to effectively access those drink flavors provided by a particular beverage dispenser. The operator indicators may be illuminated to enhance visibility.

In accordance with the present invention, a method for interchanging indicator assemblies with respect to a beverage dispenser includes providing a beverage dispenser having a housing assembly and two indicator assemblies, a first indicator assembly mounted on the beverage dispenser and a second indicator assembly featuring different merchandising information from the first indicator assembly. As disclosed above, an electrical wire of a light source for the first indicator assembly is operatively connected with a power source via an electrical wire of the housing assembly. The method includes the step of removing an indicator mount assembly of the first indicator assembly from an aperture defined by the housing assembly. The electrical wire of the light source for the first indicator assembly is disconnected from the electrical wire of the housing assembly. An electrical wire of a light source for the second indicator assembly is connected to the electrical wire of the housing assembly. An indicator mount assembly of the second indicator assembly is mounted through the aperture of the housing assembly thereby securing the second indicator assembly with the beverage dispenser.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a beverage dispenser that clearly indicates merchandising information in all lighting conditions to a large number of customers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage dispenser having a housing assembly coupled with an illuminated, interchangeable indicator assembly which sufficiently displays merchandising information thereon.

Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art in light of the following. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a beverage dispenser.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an illuminated, interchangeable indicator assembly being connected with a housing assembly of the beverage dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the beverage dispenser and the indicator assembly. FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating the beverage dispenser and the indicator assembly.

FIG. 5 is a top elevation view illustrating the beverage dispenser and the indicator assembly.

FIG. 6 is a bottom elevation view illustrating the beverage dispenser and the indicator assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components or steps. As illustrated in FIG.s 1-6, beverage dispenser 1, which is of a type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, includes an indicator assembly 2 that mounts with the beverage dispenser 1 to display merchandising information, and a housing assembly 3. In general, an indicator assembly clearly provides a space for advertising, such as the display of a trademark (e.g. COCA-COLA), to indicate the availability of a corporation's products on a particular beverage dispenser. Moreover, an indicator assembly allows for easy installation and removal so that advertising information can be changed periodically, such as, for example, displaying promotional material associated with a particular motion picture being featured within a particular multiplex movie theater. In particular, indicator assembly 2 includes a front surface 4 that is sufficient enough to clearly display merchandising information to a large number of customers under all lighting conditions, a back surface 5, and an indicator mount 10 that is located on the back surface 5 and allows for the indicator assembly 2 to be coupled with the housing assembly 3. In this preferred embodiment, the indicator assembly 2 is composed of translucent or transparent material so as to be sufficiently illuminated by a light source (not shown) that is also included within the indicator assembly 2.

Furthermore, the back surface 5 of the indicator assembly 2, in this preferred embodiment, is sufficient enough to clearly display merchandising information to a large number of customers under all lighting conditions. In effect, front surface 4 and back surface 5 act, in combination, to clearly display merchandising for all customers and under all lighting conditions, especially in low light and in smoke.

As such, indicator mount 10 is secured along the back surface 5 using any suitable fixing means. In this preferred embodiment, indicator mount 10 is a rectangular member having a spring clamp 12 on each of the two widthwise ends of the indicator mount 10 so as to, ultimately, fasten the indicator assembly 2 onto the housing assembly 3. The indicator mount 10 forms, along its center, an aperture 11 to allow electrical wire 13 for the light source to pass from the housing assembly 3 to the indicator assembly 2. Electrical wire 13 connects to a power source (not shown) used by the beverage dispenser 1 to provide power for indicator assembly 2. The light source, in turn, is set within a recess (not shown) formed by the back surface 5 of the indicator assembly 2 such that the opposing front surface 4 of the indicator assembly 2 is optimally illuminated. Accordingly, a reflective or opaque coating can be placed along the back surface 5, near the light source, to enhance the illumination of the front surface 4 of the indicator assembly 2.

The housing assembly 3 includes a post 6, a support member 7 set atop the post 6 using any securing means, an array of beverage dispensing valves 9 positioned along the length and at one side of the support member 7, and a drip tray 8 fixed to the base of the post 6 using any securing means. In this preferred embodiment, support member 7 is rectangular and includes an aperture 14 formed along one side of the support member 7. The aperture 14 is large enough to receive indicator mount 10 and, ultimately, the indicator assembly 2. Each spring clamp 12 of indicator mount 10 is constructed from materials having resilient properties. The spring clamps 12 each are one contiguous piece having a hooked portion and an elongated resilient portion, whereby both portions cooperate to couple the indicator assembly 2 with the housing assembly 3 or support member 7. As such, each resilient portion contacts and exerts a compressive force on a surface formed by the thickness of aperture 14 of the support member 7, thereby creating a coupling between the support member 7, and the indicator assembly 2. Moreover, the hooked portion of each spring clamp 12 abuts against the interior surface of the support member 7 thereby creating an anchoring effect that allows the indicator assembly 2 to be firmly secured to the support member 7. It must also be emphasized that electrical wire 13 passes through the aperture 14 of support member 7, across the aperture 11 of indicator mount 10, and on to the light source set within the indicator assembly 2.

On the side opposite to indicator assembly 2, the support member 7 supports beverage dispensing valves 9 using any securing means. As such, in addition to the indicator assembly 2, beverage dispensing valves 9, in this preferred embodiment, feature operator indicators 15 to better allow the operator to effectively access those drink flavors provided by the beverage dispenser. Operator indicators 15 may be illuminated as well.

Drip tray 8, in this preferred embodiment, is a rectangular member sufficiently long, wide, and deep to collect residual beverage drippings emitted during the operation of the beverage dispensing valves 9 which are positioned directly above the drip tray 8. Drip tray 8 includes an angled upper surface 22 which is configured to receive beverage drippings about the expanse of its exposed surface area and channel the collected drippings to a centralized area at the lower portion of drip tray 8. (See FIG.s 2 and 5). The collected drippings, in turn, are allowed to escape from the beverage dispenser housing apparatus 1 through a drainage hole 25 formed by the bottom surface of drip tray 8. (See FIG. 6). Therefore, the angled upper surface 22 and the drainage hole 25 act in communication with one another to allow drippings to collect and then exit the beverage dispenser housing apparatus 1. Drip tray 8 further includes a grated plate 20, which is fitted within the top portion of drip tray 8, so that it is set just above the angled upper surface 22. The grated plate 20 performs three distinct operations. First, the grated plate 20 allows drippings to pass from the beverage dispensing valves 9 to the angled upper surface 22. Second, the grated plate 20 acts as a support platform for a cup while a beverage is being dispensed from the above beverage dispensing valves 9. Third, the grated plate 20 acts to protect the operator and/or cup from unwanted contact with the beverage drippings collected on the angled upper surface 22 below.

The preferred method for interchanging an indicator assembly 2 with respect to the housing assembly 3, thereby establishing a modular approach for indicating merchandising information, is as follows. The resilient portions of each of the two spring clamps 12 must be sufficiently depressed so that there is a resulting absence of compressive forces exerted against the surface of the support member 7 formed by the thickness of aperture 14. In the absence of compression, each of the two spring clamps 12, as well as the entire indicator assembly 2, can be readily removed from the housing assembly 3, provided that the electrical connection formed between the indicator assembly 2 and the housing assembly 3 by the electrical wire 13 has been disengaged.

Accordingly, an indicator assembly 2 may be substituted so that different merchandising information can be placed on the same indicator assembly 2 or may be substituted for another indicator assembly with different merchandising information. Upon the reconfiguration of the indicator assembly 2, the resilient portions of each of the two spring clamps 12 must again be sufficiently depressed to allow for the spring clamps 12 to be positioned through aperture 14 and within housing assembly 3 to secure the entire indicator assembly 2 thereto. Once the hook portions of each of the two spring clamps 12 are anchored to the interior surface of the housing assembly 3, each resilient portion should be released so as to, once again, contact and exert a compressive force on the surface of the support member 7. It should also be emphasized that electrical wire 13 for the light source should be reinserted into the housing assembly 7, via aperture 14, before inserting the reconfigured indicator assembly 2. As such, the electrical connection for the light source should be engaged before coupling the indicator assembly 2 with the support member 7. Thus, the indicator assembly 2 is effectively interchanged with respect to the housing assembly 3. Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing description, rather, it is defined only by the claims which follow.

Claims

CLAIMS I claim:

1. An apparatus for displaying merchandising information, comprising: a beverage dispenser; and an indicator assembly mounted on the beverage dispenser.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicator assembly is removable from the beverage dispenser.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the indicator assembly includes an indicator mount assembly attached thereto.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the indicator mount assembly comprises at least two opposingly positioned spring clamps.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the indicator assembly comprises a front surface and a back surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the back surface includes a light source mounted thereto.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the light source includes an electrical wire connected thereto.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the indicator assembly is formed from a translucent material for illumination by the light source.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the indicator assembly is formed from a transparent material for illumination by the light source.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the back surface includes a reflective material that enhances the illumination of the front surface by the light source.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the back surface includes an opaque material that enhances the illumination of the front surface by the light source.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicator assembly comprises operator indicators.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the operator indicators are illuminated.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the beverage dispenser comprises a housing assembly.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the housing assembly defines an aperture that receives the indicator mount assembly thereby securing the indicator assembly with the housing assembly.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the indicator mount assembly comprises at least two opposingly positioned spring clamps that engage an interior portion of the housing assembly thereby securing the indicator assembly with the housing assembly.

17. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the beverage dispenser includes a power source connectable to the electrical wire of the indicator assembly via an electrical wire contained within the housing assembly.

18. A method for interchanging indicator assemblies with respect to a beverage dispenser, comprising the steps of: providing a beverage dispenser comprising a housing having an aperture to receive an indicator mount assembly of an indicator assembly and an electrical wire coupled to a power source and connectable to an electrical wire of a light source for an indicator assembly; providing a first and second indicator assembly each having an indicator mount assembly, a light source, and an electrical wire coupled to the light source, wherein the electrical wire of the first indicator assembly is connected to the electrical wire of the housing assembly and the indicator mount assembly of the first indicator assembly is mounted through the aperture of the housing assembly thereby securing the first indicator assembly with the beverage dispenser; removing the indicator mount assembly of the first indicator assembly from the aperture of the housing assembly; disconnecting the electrical wire of the first indicator assembly from the electrical wire of the housing assembly; connecting the electrical wire of the second indicator assembly to the electrical wire of the housing assembly; and mounting the indicator mount assembly of the second indicator assembly through the aperture of the housing assembly thereby securing the second indicator assembly to the beverage dispenser.