PACKAGED PRODUCT DISPENSER FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a packaged product dispenser such as a packaged drink dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A substantial number of consumers choose to purchase bottled water instead of bottled or canned soft drinks. Many of these consumers would prefer to purchase their bottles of water at ambient temperature rather than at a lower than ambient temperature. Most bottled water, however, is displayed in a refrigerated display cabinet in the store. Ambient temperature water, however, requires that the drinks be stored outside of a refrigerated cabinet. Shop owners are reluctant to provide additional shelving outside of their refrigerated display cabinet for water to be stored because additional shelving occupies a significant amount of floor space. Thus ambient temperature water is often unavailable to an interested consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a packaged product dispenser comprising: a framework structure; one or more vertically spaced apart shelves connected to the framework, each shelf being adapted for holding at least one packaged product; magnetic fasteners attached to the framework structure and adapted to hold the dispenser against the side of a refrigerated display cabinet; and wheel means attached to the framework and adapted to enable the product dispenser to be moved together with the refrigerated display cabinet.

Preferably each of the shelves is sloped for gravity feeding the packaged products. More preferably the each shelf is of a width to accommodate a single column of packaged products.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a packaged product dispenser comprising: a framework structure; one or more vertically spaced apart shelves connected to the framework, at least one of the shelves being sloped for gravity feeding of a packaged product; and magnetic fasteners attached to the framework structure and adapted to hold the dispenser against the side of a refrigerated display cabinet.

Preferably the dispenser includes wheel means attached to the framework and adapted to enable the product dispenser to be moved together with the refrigerated display cabinet. More preferably the wheel means includes a directionally orientatable castor wheel.

Preferably the framework includes an attached graphics panel attachment member. More preferably the graphics panel attachment member is arranged to receive adhesive and/or double sided tape for connecting a graphics panel.

Preferably the framework includes a vertically attached pin. More preferably the pin has a hinge plate that is rotatably mounted to it, the hinge plate being arranged to attach to a surface of the refrigerated display cabinet. Preferably the packaged product dispenser includes a lanyard attached to the framework. More preferably the lanyard is also attached to the refrigerated display cabinet.

Preferably the packaged product dispenser is splitable at a position between opposing ends. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the invention preferred embodiments of a packaged product dispenser will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a packaged product dispenser according to the invention, connected to a refrigerated display cabinet;

Figure 2 shows the embodiment of a packaged product dispenser shown in figure 1 including a magnet fastener;

Figure 3 shows the embodiment of a packaged product dispenser shown in figures 1 and 2, this figure showing a close up of packaged drink product on a shelf of the packaged product dispenser;

Figure 4 shows the embodiment of a packaged product dispenser shown in figures 1 to 3 with a lanyard connecting the dispenser to a refrigerated display cabinet;

Figure 5 is another view of the embodiment of a packaged product dispenser shown in figures 1 to 4;

Figures 6 are (A) side elevational, (B) plan and (C) front elevational schematic views of the embodiments of a packaged product dispenser shown in figures 1 to 5 and (D) the hinge and pin in detail and (E) a detail of a shelf; and Figure 7 is a right hand version of the embodiment of a packaged product dispenser according to the invention shown in figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION/PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of a package product dispenser according to one aspect of the invention is shown in figure 1 and generally designated by the number 10. It has a framework structure formed of rod steel. The framework structure 12 defines a long and narrow rectangular region. The packaged product dispenser 10 includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart shelves 14 which are connected to the framework 12. Each shelf 14 is adapted to hold a single column of packaged products 16 such as bottles of water. Some other embodiments, however, may have each shelf adapted to hold a plurality of columns of packaged products 16.

As shown in figure 2, magnetic fasteners 18 are bolted to the framework structure 12. These magnet fasteners 18 enable the dispenser 10 to be held against the side of a refrigerated display cabinet 20 as a result of the magnetic attraction between the outer steel shell of the refrigerated display cabinet 20 and the magnet fastener 18 attached to the framework 12. Figures 4 and 5 show that the packaged product dispenser 10 includes a lanyard 32 which is attached to the framework structure 12 by a clip 33 at one end and to a door pin 21 of the refrigerated display cabinet 20. The lanyard 32 ensures that in the case that the magnetic fastener 18 fails to hold the packaged product dispenser 10 against the refrigerated display cabinet 20 that it is still held in proximity to the refrigerated display cabinet 20. The lanyard may also be arranged to prevent theft or removal of the packaged product dispenser 10.

As shown in figures 1 , 2 and 3 the shelves 14 are sloped so that the packaged product16 is gravity fed to one end of the shelves 14 for handy access by a consumer.

Figure 6 shows various views of a left hand version of a packaged product dispenser 10 for attaching to the right hand side of a refrigerated display cabinet 20. The dispenser 10 includes wheel means in the form of directionally orientatable castor wheels 22 attached adjacent to and projecting away from one end of the framework 12. The castor wheels 22 ensure that when the refrigerated display cabinet 20 is moved that the packaged product dispenser 10 attached to the cabinet 20 can move or roll with it. The castor wheels 22 also support the weight of the packaged product dispenser 10.

The framework structure 12 includes two graphic panel attachment members 24 in the form of vertical metal strips welded to the framework 12. The metal strips 24 have flat surfaces which can receive adhesive or double sided tape for connecting a graphic panel 26 such as shown in figure 1. The framework 12 is adapted to have further graphics panels 27 attached.

The packaged product dispenser 10 can be split at a set position 34 of the framework structure 12. This allows easy transport and storage of the dispenser 10.

The framework 12 includes a vertically orientated pin 28 connected to it. To this pin 28 is fitted a hinge plate 30 which can rotate about the pin 28. The hinge plate 30 has a flat surface suitable for attachment to the back surface of the refrigerated display cabinet 20 by way of dual lock tape 36.

This allows easy attachment of the packaged product dispenser 10 to the back surface of the refrigerated display cabinet 20 without precise alignment.

A packaged product dispenser 10 also can be made as a right hand version as shown in figure 7, which is suitable for attachment to the left hand side of a refrigerated display cabinet 20.

Now that a preferred embodiment of a packaged product dispenser has been described, it will be appreciated that at least some embodiments of a packaged product dispenser will have at least some of the following advantages:

• A product, such as bottled water, can be displayed and sold at ambient temperature;

• consumer attention is drawn to the product; • advertising can be fixed to the dispenser;

• increased sales of product are achieved; and

• only a small amount of floor space is used.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.