The present invention relates to apparatus for storing or displaying at least one beverage container and/or foodstuff.

It is known to display and store beverages and foodstuffs that are for sale in refrigerators in bars, shops and the like. Most conventional refrigerators are utilitarian in design and are not particularly appealing to customers. Further, conventional refrigerators and the like use significant amounts of energy.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to address at least some of the problems discussed above. Embodiments of the present invention provide storage/display apparatus that include a flowing fluid arrangement that can be used to provide a visual effect as well as cool/heat beverage containers or other items placed in/on the apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus adapted to store or display at least one beverage container and/or foodstuff, the apparatus including:

at least one support;

an at least partially transparent body mounted on the support, the body including at least one channel or space, in use, the body being configured to, directly or indirectly, store or display at least one beverage container and/or foodstuff, and

a device for, in use, transferring fluid through the at least one channel or space of the body.

The support may comprise a framework including a set of uprights. The at least partially transparent body may be removably mounted on/within the framework to form a shelf. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a plurality of said partially transparent bodies, providing a plurality of removable shelves. A connection or conduit between the body and the fluid transfer device may comprise a dry-break connector for convenient mounting and de-mounting of the shelf. A flat rigid member may at least partially cover an upper surface of a said shelf. The apparatus may be provided with at least one panel situated at a front, side, back, top and/or bottom plane of the framework. In some cases, the body may at least partially form the panel. The panel may act as an openable door or lid for the apparatus.

A said body may have a plurality of said channels or spaces and different types of fluids, e.g. ones having different colours, may be provided within different ones of the channels or spaces. A plurality of said fluid transfer devices may be provided for the plurality of channels or spaces, which may pump the fluids at different rates. The fluid may include air bubbles or suspended particles. The apparatus may further include a device for aerating a said fluid. A said channel may be shaped as a letter, number, word or logo.

The apparatus may include at least one device for heating or cooling a said fluid. The apparatus may be configured so that the heated/cooled fluid heats/cools a said beverage container and/or said foodstuff placed on the body. In cases where the fluid is cooled, the fluid within the apparatus may be chosen so as to remain in a flowable liquid state within an expected operating temperature range of the apparatus. In some embodiments the bodies and the heating devices are configured to provide different temperature zones within/on the apparatus. The body may form a table top.

The body may form a surface of a drinks bar.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example apparatus;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus, and

Figure 3 is a front view of a panel that can be attached to the apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1 to 2, an example apparatus for storing/displaying beverage containers, such as bottles or cans, is shown. The apparatus comprises a support, in the form of a framework 100, for a set of shelves 102. The framework comprises four upright struts 104 that include means for mounting the shelves horizontally. The framework may be formed of any suitable rigid material(s), e.g. tubular steel, and it will be appreciated that the design and dimensions of the framework, or any other type of support, can be varied.

At least one of the shelves 102 comprises a square or rectangular member 106 formed fully or partially of transparent (or semi-transparent) material, such as plastic or glass, which may be clear or coloured. The member can either be fully or partially hollow, or may include one or more channel, e.g. tube. The space(s)/channel(s) inside the member can be filled with one or more fluid. Any suitable fluid can be used, such as dyed water with an anti-freeze component, or liquids with ultra-violet or fluorescent components.

A pump, shown schematically at 108, causes the fluid to flow within the space(s)/channel(s), creating an interesting visual effect, particularly if the fluid contains bubbles or particles, such as glitter. In some cases, a device, shown schematically at 109, may be provided to aerate the fluid. Light sources, including UV, may also be provided. In some cases, the temperature of the fluid may be controlled by a cooling/heating device, shown schematically at 1 10. Thus, the flowing fluid can also provide a cooling/heating effect for articles, such as drinks containers or foodstuffs, placed on the shelves. Power for the devices may be taken from a mains supply or from an onboard battery.

The cooling/heating effect may be provided by conventional devices, or by apparatus substantially as described in British patent application no. 1 105753.6, filed on 5 ^th April 2010, and British Patent Application No. 1 108492.8, filed on 20 ^th May 2010. The cooling/heating effect may be provided by devices as described in those applications, e.g a removeable cassette-like temperature controlling device, being fitted within the framework (and possibly integrated with the fluid pumps described herein), or by various elements of the apparatus (e.g. top, back, front, side and/or back panels) being formed of the cooling/heating plates described in the abovementioned applications. In cases where the apparatus is cooled, the fluid(s) within the apparatus may be chosen so as to remain in a flowable liquid state within the expected operating temperature of the apparatus, e.g. down to around -20°C.

The upper surface of the shelf member 106 may be at least partially covered by a rigid, flat member 1 12, which may be formed of metal alloy or the like and is intended to protect the partially hollow member 106. From at least the front, back and/or sides, the semi/fully transparent members 106 and the flowing fluid within can be viewed.

The shelf members 106 (and in some cases the shelf tops 1 12) may be detachable from the framework 100. Dry-break connections may be provided for convenient demounting from the pump. Connections between the detachable shelves and any other devices, e.g. heating devices, may be in the form of plug/socket arrangements for ease of connection and disconnection. Having the shelves detachable in a convenient manner assists with maintenance, cleaning, replacement, etc.

At least one of the top, bottom, front, side and/or front planes of the framework 100 may be provided with a panel. Such a panel may function as an openable door/lid, or as a wall. Such a panel may be formed of a solid piece or material, a cooling plate as described above, or may be a body at least partially fluid filled, as shown in the example of Figure 3. The panel 300 of Figure 3 includes a square/rectangular member that is formed of fully or semi-transparent material, and can be attached to a front plane of the framework 100 by a hinge or the like to function as a door. The panel has an inner space that contains a set of fluid channels 301 - 305, which are rectangular loops in the example. In alternative embodiments, the channels may be fitted on top of, or behind, a semi/fully transparent panel. Each channel can be filled with the same, or a different type, of fluid, e.g. the fluid in at least one of the channels may be of a different colour to the fluid(s) of the other channel(s). Again, the fluids in the channels may be made to flow around the loop by one or more pump device. If several pump devices are used (or a single pump with several variable outputs) then they may, for example, pump the various fluids at different rates. Also, cooling/heating devices and/or aerating devices may be provided to treat the flowing fluids.

It will be understood that instead of the closed rectangular loops shown in Figure 3, channels within the apparatus can be of any number/shape/design and in some cases may form letters, numbers, words or logos, such as those associated with beverage companies/brands. In other cases, instead of including one or more channels as in Figure 3, the panels forming the top, front, back and/or sides of the apparatus may be fully/partially filled with fluid, or may include at least one partition defining spaces (of any desired shape), each of which may be fully/partially filled with fluid.

The embodiment shown in the Figures can be used as a cool cabinet or refrigerator, and is typically used to store drink bottles/cans in a bar, restaurant or the like. Alternative embodiments can have several temperature control devices or thermostats in order to provide different temperature zones, e.g. one for keeping certain drinks below room temperate, others around room temperature and others still at a higher temperature. The cabinet may be open fronted or may have at least one door/lid.

In other embodiments, the apparatus can take the form of a table or bar. For instance, supports in the form of coffee-table like legs can be provided with at least one semi/fully transparent fluid-containing shelf member, similar to member 106 of the illustrated embodiment, mounted on top. The flowing fluid within can be viewed from above and/or from the sides. A flat rigid member may fully or partially cover the fluid-containing member for safety, or the upper surface of the fluid-containing may be reinforced. In some cases, the table may include at least one cooling and/or heating device in order to keep drinks containers placed upon it cool or warm. Additionally, or alternatively, the flowing fluid within the fully/semi-transparent member may be cooled or heated to provide a heating/warming effect. Markings may be provided to indicate areas having different temperatures.

In another embodiment, the apparatus may form an upper surface of a drinks bar, which may be supported by a conventional or bespoke bar structure formed of wood, metal or the like. Again, the flowing fluid within the fully/semi- transparent member (and/or other devices) may provide a cooling/warming effect for drinks containers placed on the member.

The embodiments described above provide an array of attractive storage/display devices. They are easy to manufacture and require little maintenance. In some cases, the flowing fluid can be used to both heat/cool beverages/food as well as provide a pleasing aesthetic effect.