The present invention relates to a device for displaying a perishable product, said device comprising a support and a container for the perishable product being arranged in the support and delimited by side walls.

The invention also relates to a method for such a device.

In particular, the invention relates to a device for displaying fruit to customers in a store.

A common problem with display racks for perishables, i.e. perishable products, for example fruit, is that older perishables end up under newer perishables when the displace rack is filled.

US 4,676,371 discloses a display rack having an inclined floor where new fruit is filled on top of old fruit, but where the buyer is forced to take out old fruit before the new fruit.

US 1,659,230 discloses a display rack for potatoes where the buyer is forced to take out old potatoes before new ones.

However, a problem with the racks according to US 4,676,371 and US 1,659,230 is that the customer can only choose from the perishable products present in the rack opening, something which the customer may perceive as negative.

The object of the present invention is to solve this problem, and to produce a device which offers the customer a large possibility of choice, but at the same time ensures in a simple way that older perishables always end up on top of newer perishables when the device is filled.

This object is achieved by a device which is characterized in that, on the one hand, the container comprises connecting means adapted for detachably attaching a first panel to one edge of the side walls and a second panel to the other edge of the side walls, and that, on the other hand, the container is pivotally arranged in the support to enable turning of the container so that said panels can alternately form the bottom of the container.

In the following, the invention will be described more closely with reference to accompanying patent drawings.

Figure 1 shows, in a perspective view, an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in a side view.

Figures 3-6 illustrate the use of the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 1 and 2 show a device 1 for displaying fruit, for example apples, to customers in a grocery store. The device comprises a support 2, a container 3, and a locking device 4 for releasably locking the container 3 to the support 2. The container 3 has the shape of a bin or a large box.

The support 2 comprises a front support portion 5 and a rear support portion 6, which project upward from a lower support portion 7, forming the base or foundation of the support 2. The front support portion 5 has the shape of a T and projects substantially vertically upward from the lower support portion 7. Also the rear support portion 6 initially projects substantially vertically upward from the lower support portion 7, but has an upper portion angled in a direction towards the front support portion 5.

The bin 3 comprises a first panel 8, side walls 9, 10, a frame 11, and a second panel 12 (see Figs. 4-6) . The side walls are straight and comprise parallel long sides 9 and short sides 10. Accordingly, the bin 3 has substantially the shape of a cuboid. In the circumferential direction, the frame 11 extends outside the side walls 9, 10. The panel 8 is arranged at one free edge 19 (see Figure 6) of the side walls 9, 10, and the panel 12 is arranged at the other free edge 20 (see Figure 20) of the side walls 9, 10, in order to form the bottom and cover of the bin 3.

The bin 3 comprises connecting means at each long side 9 adapted to form a detachable connection between the frame 11 and the panels 8, 12, so that the panels 8, 12 abut against the edges 19, 20. The connecting means comprise pegs or hooks 13 on the frame 11 and corresponding peg holes 14 in the panels 8, 12. The pegs 13 extend in the longitudinal direction of the bin 3, i.e. in parallel with the bottom and top plane of the bin 3. Accordingly, each panel 8, 12 can be detached from the frame 11 by displacing the panel 8, 12 in parallel with the pegs 13 until the peg holes 14 clear the pegs 13.

The frame 11 comprises projecting stub axles 15 at each short side 10 for cooperation with the upwardly projecting support portions 5 and 6. The stub axles 15 define a pivot axis of the bin 3, said pivot axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the bin 3. The stub axles 15 rest in axle supports 16 in the upper ends of the support portions 5 and 6, so that the bin 3 can be turned about its longitudinal axis when the locking device 4 allows it. In other words, the stub axles 15 are rotatably mounted in the support portions 5 and 6.

The locking device 4 comprises a detachable locking pin 17, which extends through a through-aperture in the front support portion 5 for cooperating with a corresponding aperture or recess in the frame 11. In the locked position of the locking device 4, when the locking pin 17 is in engagement with the frame 11, the bin 3 is locked into a position where the short sides 10 are horizontal. In the open position of the locking device 4, when the locking pin 17 is pulled out so that it clears the frame 11, the bin 3 is free to be turned about its pivot axis.

The rear support portion 6 is higher than the front support portion 5. Accordingly, the pivot axis of the bin 3 forms an angle relative to the horizontal plane. This angle is preferably within the interval 20-30 degrees, which is a suitable angle for display of fruit. The pegs 13 of the connecting means are so aligned that they extend toward the rear support portion 6. Thereby, it is ensured that the connection between the frame 11 and the panels 8, 12 is maintained through gravity, also when the bin 3 is turned about its pivot axis.

In the shown embodiment, the panels 8 and 12 can be mounted on or removed from the frame 11 only when the panel is in a top position. When a panel is in a bottom position, as for example the panel 8 in Figure 2, the rear support portion 6 prevents the panel 8 from being moved so that its peg holes 14 clear the pegs 13. Accordingly, the panels 8 and 12 are individually detachably attached to the frame 11, meaning that they are individually detachable from the side walls 9, 10.

In the following, the use of the device will be described with reference to Figs. 3-6. When the level in the bin 3 becomes low, store staff will fill the bin 3 by placing new fruit 18 on top of the one remaining in the bin 3 (see Figure 3) . When the bin 3 is full, the staff will attach a panel 12 to the bin 3 by bringing the peg holes 14 of the panel 12 into engagement with the pegs 13 of the frame 11 (see Figure 4) . Thereafter, the staff will release the locking device 4 by the staff pulling out the locking pin 17 so that it is detached from the frame 11. Thereafter, the staff will turn the bin 3 half a revolution so that the panel 8, which previously constituted the bottom of the bin 3, forms the cover of the bin and so that the most recently attached panel 12 forms the bottom of the bin 3 (see Figure 5) . Finally the staff will remove the panel 8, i.e. the panel which previously constituted the bottom of the bin 3, wherein the older fruit is displayed to customers while laying on top of the more recently added fruit (see Figure 6) .

Within the scope of the invention, it is of course possible to realize different types of turning bins. The side walls 9, 10 can be fixedly attached to the frame 11, for example with an adhesive joint. It is preferred, however, that the side walls 9, 10 only are supported by the frame 11, without being attached directly to it. In such an embodiment, the side walls 9, 10 are resting loosely on the panel which forms the bottom of the bin 3 at that moment. This embodiment is preferred, since the bin 3 in this case is easier to dismantle for cleaning.

The side walls of the container are preferably made of a polymer material, for example LEXAN, and the frame 11 of metal, for example aluminium. Other materials can of course be used.