WO2003000096A1

WO2003000096A1 - Fridge and freezer cabinets

Info

Publication number: WO2003000096A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/005982
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mervyn Roy Goddard; Alexander Hislop
Original assignee: Unilever N.V.; Unilever Plc; Hindustan Lever Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-06-25
Filing date: 2002-05-30
Publication date: 2003-01-03

Abstract

Cabinet for storing and/or displaying foodstuff at reduced temperatures relevant to the temperature of the environment, having : a first side which has a door which can be opened and closed. A second side opposite to the first side, the second side enabling a view on part of the contents of the cabinet and which second side does not have a door which can be opened or closed.

Description

FRIDGE AND FREEZER CABINETS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to fridge and freezer cabinets for storing and displaying food products.

Background of the invention

Many food products are sold in shops (e.g. supermarkets) which are to be kept either refrigerated or frozen. Such shops have therefore cooling and/or freezing cabinets that have two main purposes: keep the foodstuff concerned below a certain temperature, and to display the foodstuff in an attractive way to the consumer.

Although most conventional fridges and freezers do perform satisfactory on the first objective (keeping cool/frozen) the presentation of the foodstuff is usually unsatisfactory.

For example, standing cooling cabinets having glass front doors will usually have the doors collecting condensed water on the inside, which affects the visibility of the foodstuff and thus makes a poor impression. Well-known alternative cabinets are in the form of a large box or trunk with an open top end, through which the contents can be seen by the customers, the goods can be selected and picked, and also through which stock can be supplied. Although with such fridges there are no glass doors which may collect condensed water, display of goods is still rather poor, as one has to look downwards to see the foodstuff. Yet as a further alternative, fridges have been developed which are usually as high as the average person, and which are open on one vertical side which faces the consumer. Advantages include absence of a glass wall which can condense and thus block the view, and good display and visibility are guaranteed, but energy consumption is rather high, temperature control is low, and filling up with stock (like with the other cabinets) blocks the fridge from being available to consumers, thus reducing sales.

Hence, there is a need for a new design of fridges and freezers which reduces these problems, and thus allows premium visibility preferably by absence of condensed glass doors and products lined up a such that the customer has a side view rather than a top view of foodstuffs. Furthermore, there should be an opportunity to supply the cabinet with stock without hindering the customer.

Summary of the invention

It has now been found that the above may be achieved (at least in part) by a cabinet for storing and/or displaying foodstuff at reduced temperatures relevant to the temperature of the environment, having: a first side which has a door which can be opened and closed, a second side opposite to the first side, the second side enabling a view on part of the contents of the cabinet and which second side does not have a door which can be opened or closed.

It is preferred that the areas of the cabinet visible to the consumer (e.g. front side) when in use do not have transparent doors, which can be opened by the customer.

Advantage of the above cabinets is that they lack a glass door, which is seen in many conventional freezers and fridges, which has to be opened and closed by the customer to obtain the foodstuff. The repeated opening and closing in such conventional set up will lead to warm, humid air coming in from the environment, which may condense on the colder inner side of the glass door that is opened. Such condensation is undesired, for reasons as mentioned above.

There are two ways in which the cabinets according to the invention can suitably be effected, and which may both find application depending upon the environment where they are placed.

For example, for application of the fridge or freezer cabinets in which a shop assistant will help the customer, the second side is preferably mounted such that it is fixed and cannot be opened without tools, and which side has a transparent window enabling a view on part of the contents of the cabinet. This enables the customer on the side which is closed but which has a window to view the contents of the cabinet, so as to enable to decide what he or she wishes to purchase. The customer then orders the desired foodstuff with the shop assistant, who may then pick the required variety and quantity from the first side (e.g. the back side) and hand it over to the customer, optionally after additional treatment such as weighing, pricing, packaging, etcetera.

The alternative set up, wherein the second side has an opening enabling both a view on and purchase of at least part of the foodstuff contained in the cabinet, may find its application is self-service areas or shops. The second side of the cabinet is open to at least some extent, enabling a customer to view and select and pick the desired foodstuff. For both alternative it is preferred that both the back side as viewed by the customer (first side which has a door which can be opened and closed) , and the front side enabling a view on part of the contents of the cabinet (second side opposite to the first side) are mounted substantially vertical. As example, in figure 1 the first (back) side is in figure 1 referred to as "sliding doors to rear" and the second (front) side is referred to in that figure as fixed glazed panels to front". As these two walls are opposite to eachother (as mentioned before) , the result is that a cupboard or closet-like shape is obtained. Preferably, for maximum contents and maximum display space to customers, and to optimize energy consumption per article sold the fridge or freeze cabinets are (when put in position for use) at least 1.20 meters high, up to 2.20 meters. Preferably said height is from 1.50 to 2.00 meters. All this allows also optimum use of shop space.

As additional advantage of the cabinets according to the invention is that they allow stocking up from the backside (e.g. from a back room), this not hindering the customer by blocking the view or access. This may lead to enhanced sales of foodstuff.

As yet a further advantage, the cabinet with the closed second side will always have the foodstuff sitting close to the side facing the consumer, even if the cabinet is only half full, and this is also a favourable situation.

A further advantage of the alternative (open) version is that by putting stock in from one side, and allowing purchase from the other, the residence time of the foodstuff is kept within limits following the first in, first out principle, which is particularly favourable in view of limited shelf life. Detailed description of the invention

In the cabinets according to the invention, the door in the first side (e.g. the backside, usually not facing the consumer) is may be a sliding or hinged door, or any alternative known in the art of doors.

Depending e.g. on the size, variety and number of the foodstuffs to be stored and displayed, the area within the cabinet according to the invention may have the internal space divided by partitions. This may allow that each separate area so created contains one variety of foodstuff.

The cabinets according to the invention may be used for (individually packed) ice cream, finished (packed) meals such as salads, semi-finished meals such as fresh, refrigerated bake-off pizza or meals that require heating-up in e.g. a microwave oven. The cabinets are also suitable for keeping and presenting meal kits having a multitude of ingredients that need further treatment to be made into a dinner or supper. Such meal kits may contain a carbohydrate source, a protein source, a vegetable source and one or more flavouring ingredients such as sauces, cheese, etcetera.

The cabinets as described above may function satisfactorily as such in preventing the condensation at the glass side (for the closed version), as well as the other advantages, but it was found that the benefits are in particular achieved if the condenser (i.e. the element which cools the air inside the fridge) is mounted at the bottom of the cabinet. It may also be preferred when the condenser is mounted at the side which has a door which can be opened and closed (e.g. at the backside). Most preferred is a set up with the condenser in the corner of the backside/bottom, to combine the above two layouts.

Examples

Figure 1 contains a drawing of an example of a cabinet with a fixed glass front side, and a glass sliding door at the back side. Measures in mm.

Claims

1. Cabinet for storing and/or displaying foodstuff at reduced temperatures relevant to the temperature of the environment, having: a first side which has a door which can be opened and closed, a second side opposite to the first side, the second side enabling a view on part of the contents of the cabinet and which second side does not have a door which can be opened or closed.

2. Cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the second side is mounted such that it is fixed and cannot be opened without tools, and which side has a transparent window enabling a view on part of the contents of the cabinet.

3. Cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the second side has an opening enabling both a view on and purchase of at least part of the foodstuff contained in the cabinet.

4. Cabinet according to claim 1-3, wherein the door in the first side is either a sliding or hinged door.

5. Cabinet according to claim 1-4, having the internal space divided in partitions.

6. Cabinet according to claim 5, wherein each separate area contains one variety of foodstuff.

7. Cabinet according to claim 1-6, wherein the foodstuff comprises ice cream, finished meals, semi-finished meals, or meal kits containing ingredients which need to be assembled, cooked or backed.

8. Cabinet according to claim 1-7, wherein the condenser is mounted at the bottom of the cabinet.

9. Cabinet according to claim 1-8, wherein the condenser is mounted at the side which has a door which can be opened and closed.

10. Cabinet according to claim 1-9, wherein the first side and the second side are mounted substantially vertical.

11. Cabinet according to claim 1-10, the cabinets are at least 1.20 meters high.

12. Cabinet according to claim 11, wherein said height is from 1.50 to 2.00 meters.