Description Background of the invention

The display boxes or stands for the display of articles are known and commonly used, typically in events like fairs, conventions and regional festivals, and in places such as shopping malls and supermarkets. In order to best represent the displayed articles, such boxes are generally decorated. In order to attract the attention of potential buyers, video and audio playing devices are often used. The display boxes for the display of food products, in particular fresh products, are often provided with common refrigerators, whose internal temperature can be regulated within pre-established intervals. If one wishes to display food products of different nature, and which therefore require different preservation temperatures, generally either several refrigerators are used, set at different temperatures, or one or more two-zone refrigerators, i.e. provided with two distinct and separate zones adapted for the refrigeration of foods, whose internal temperature can be independently regulated. The display boxes of the prior art are adapted to present the products in the most attractive way possible, seeking to capture the attention of potential clients by substantially stimulating only the sight and in some cases also the hearing senses of such clients. The inventor of the finding described hereinbelow in the present invention patent application has instead found that stimulating at least four senses, i.e. sight, hearing, smell and taste, by means of a single station is particularly advantageous for attracting the attention of potential clients. In particular, by stimulating the smell sense in the best possible way, e.g. with the aromas of food products placed in a heated zone and possibly by making use of a common air fan, one is able to elicit greater interest in buying in people. In addition, in this way it is possible to elicit the interest of passers-by who are situated in the vicinity of the display box, but who are unable to see the latter, which could for example be covered by a multitude of other people or situated in a space that is not visible. The display boxes of the prior art are however not provided with devices adapted to optimize the diffusion of the aromas in a manner so that they are intense, even at a considerable distance from the display box. According to the inventor, it is also particularly advantageous that the display box comprises a plurality of refrigerated compartments whose internal temperature can be independently regulated, in a manner so as to be able to preserve a wide variety of food products within the box. According to the inventor, it is also particularly advantageous that the display box comprises a personalizable display trolley divided into at least four zones with regulatable temperature, including at least one zone that is heated, particularly useful for allowing the sampling of dishes whose taste is enhanced when heated, and also useful for diffusing the aromas of the goods due to the flow of heat. The display boxes of the prior art do not possess such advantageous characteristics; for such grounds, an innovative multisensory display box, object of the present invention, will be described hereinbelow that is capable of stimulating at least four senses in an optimal manner, advantageously attracting the attention of potential clients, said box being further provided with other particularly advantageous devices, for example for the purchase of the products.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 is an overall view of the display box 1 in which one observes the shelving 2 provided with a plurality of compartments 4, constituted by two vertical structures 13, 14 and by an upper transverse structure 15. The shelving 2 surrounds the display trolley 3 provided with two lockable wheels 16, 17 and whose bed is divided into four zones, i.e. a refrigerated zone 5, a ventilated zone 6, a zone at room temperature 7 and a heated zone 8. Also observed are the speaker 9, the artificial lights 10, the multimedia station 1 1 for playing films with audio and the station 12 for sampling food products (not shown).

Figure 2 is an overall view of the display box 1 according to the preceding figure, in which one also observes that each compartment 4 of the shelving 2 and each zone 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the display trolley 3 is provided with an opening 18 connected with the temperature regulation plant (not shown) and with a thermostat 19. Also observed is the air diffuser 22, the station 23 in which the electronic device 24 for making purchases is incorporated, and the display trolley 3 is observed constrained to the shelving 2 by means of a common locking means 21 and that two compartments 4 are provided with a common transparent door 20.

Description of the invention

The display box, object of the present invention, in its simplest embodiment comprises: a shelving 2 provided with a plurality of compartments 4, essentially constituted by two vertical structures 13, 14 and by an upper transverse structure 15 placed above said vertical structures 13, 14;

a display trolley 3 provided with at least two lockable wheels 16, 17;

- at least one speaker 9;

- artificial lights 10;

a temperature regulation plant (not shown);

a multimedia station 1 1 for playing films with audio;

at least one station 12 adapted to allow the tasting and sampling of the food products. The bed of the display trolley 3 is divided into four separate zones, including a refrigerated zone 5, a ventilated zone 6, a zone at room temperature 7 and a heated zone 8, and the internal temperature of each zone can be independently regulated with respect to the other zones due to said temperature regulation plant. In addition the internal temperature of each compartment 4 of the shelving 2 can be independently regulated with respect to the other compartments due to said plant.

The display box 1 , object of the present invention, is defined "multi sensory" because overall it is capable of stimulating at least four of the five senses of a customer, e.g. sight, hearing, smell and taste. In particular, sight is stimulated by the preparation/design of the same display box 1 as well as by the multimedia station 1 1 for playing visual films with audio. Hearing is stimulated by at least one speaker 9, playing typical music and songs of the region of origin of the displayed food. Smell is stimulated by the characteristic bouquet of the displayed food products, in particular by those contained in the heated zone 8 of the display trolley 3, whose aroma diffused in the air is dispersed due to the heat flows and to the forced ventilation. Taste is stimulated since at least one station 12 is provided that is adapted to allow the tasting and sampling of the food products displayed in the display box 1 , where they are suitably and optimally preserved in a manner so as to preserve the quality and original organoleptic characteristics of such food products.

In one embodiment of the invention, each compartment 4 of the shelving 2 and each zone of the display trolley is provided with at least one opening 18 connected with the temperature regulation plant. From said openings 18, an air flow exits outward at the set temperature. The setting of the temperature of each compartment and each zone is regulated by means of a common thermostat 19; each compartment 4 and each zone of the display trolley 3 whose temperature is to be regulated are provided with such thermostat 19. Alternatively, by means of a single thermostat it is possible to regulate the temperature of a plurality of compartments 4 of the shelving 2.

The display box 1, object of the present invention, is particularly advantageous for the display of food products in places such as shopping malls, airports, train stations and fairs, both in closed structures and outdoors. The components of the box that require electric current for the functioning thereof, according to one embodiment of the invention, are in fact autonomously power supplied by means of at least one generator (not shown), such that the box can be positioned and made to function anywhere. Alternatively, such components are power supplied by means of common electric current outlet.

The fact that the temperature of the single compartments 4 of the shelving 2 and the single zones into which the display trolley 3 is divided can be independently regulated is particularly advantageous when one intends to display a variety of food products which are different from each other. It is known in fact that each food requires a specific temperature, or temperature range, so that edibility is maintained and particular organoleptic properties are preserved. Preferably the temperature of the compartments 4 of the shelving 2 can be regulated between about 15°C and -5°C, the temperature of the refrigerated zone 5 of the display trolley 3 can be regulated between about 10°C and -5°C, the temperature of the ventilated zone 6 of the display trolley 3 can be regulated between about 10°C and 15 °C, and the temperature of the heated zone 8 of the display trolley 3 can be regulated between about 30°C and 50°C. The range of preservation temperatures of the products which is offered by the display box 1 in its entirety is therefore quite large, thus allowing the display and preservation of a wide quantity of products. In addition, according to a particular embodiment, one or more compartments 4 of the shelving 2 and/or one or more zones of the display trolley 3 are provided with a common door 20, preferably made of transparent material, more preferably made of glass or polymethylmethacrylate. In this manner, the internal temperature of the compartments 4 and/or the zones of the display trolley 3 is rendered more stable, thus obtaining energy as well as economical savings, without negatively affecting the attractiveness of the display box, since the doors 20 are transparent. In addition, the display trolley 3 is particularly advantageous both from the standpoint of transportability of the merchandise, and from an aesthetic standpoint. Indeed, it is possible to use a display trolley 3 structured in a different manner in accordance with the products that one intends to display. For example, if one wishes to display typical food specialties of the Sicily region, it is possible to use a display trolley 3 which is structured like a typical Sicilian cart, in a manner so as to capture the attention of potential buyers in a particularly alluring manner.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the display trolley 3 is reversibly and firmly constrained to the shelving by means of common locking means 21 , therefore providing a more stable positioning of the display trolley 3. Indeed, in this manner, undesired movements of the trolley are prevented, which are due for example to slopes of the support surface or to impact/collisions with people.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the display box 1 comprises an aroma diffuser 22, preferably a common rotatable fan, preferably placed in proximity to the heated zone 8 of the display trolley 3. In this manner, the natural and characteristic scent of the foods displayed in the heated zone 8 is diffused in an amplified manner and to a greater distance in the zone surrounding the display box 1. The fact that the diffuser 22 is placed in proximity to the heated zone allows a facilitated diffusion of the scents, also due to the heat flows. In this manner, also the passers-by who are unable to see the display box 1 from where they are situated - since for example such box is covered by obstacles or by a crowd of people - are able to detect the presence thereof by means of smell, and be enticed to purchase the products.

According to another embodiment, the display box 1 , object of the present invention, comprises a station 23 in which a common electronic device 24 is housed for the online purchasing of products. Preferably said device is provided with a color touch screen for the selection of products and with a credit card and/or ATM card reader. According to a further embodiment, said device is also capable of being interfaced, by means of wifi or Bluetooth networks, with any one cell phone in a manner so as to allow payment by means of the latter. Due to these two embodiments of the invention, the user can autonomously proceed with the purchase after having been enticed to purchase by the particular characteristics of the multisensory display box 1, without giving rise to second thoughts. In addition, the aforesaid electronic devices allow the direct sending of the ordered products to the home of the client. According to another embodiment, moreover, the artificial lights 10 are directable and can have adjustable intensity, in order to create an atmosphere that is even more attractive and/or focus the attention of potential clients on several products in particular rather than on other products. Preferably the lights are common LED lights.