System for Storing of Goods Requiring Refrigeration and Storage Device Adapted for Use in such System

The present invention relates to a system for storing of goods requiring refrigeration comprising at least a first storage device adapted for the storage of goods in a storage space of a first housing, and at least a second storage device adapted for the storage of goods in a storage space of a second housing. The invention is further directed to a storage device for use as one of the first and second storage devices of such a system.

Refrigerating storing devices for providing chilled or refrigerated goods to customers or for storing of goods requiring refrigeration, for example, in bars or the like are known in a variety of constructions. For example, such refrigerating storing device may have the construction of a refrigerating cabinet having a vertically oriented storage space for the storing of goods, which storage space may be accessed by opening a door of the cabinet, the door thus representing an access element for accessing the storage space of the cabinet. According to another implementation, the refrigerating storing device may be constructed as a storage container having one or a plurality of drawers which may be pulled out from the container in order to have access to the goods stored in the draw- ers. Thus, such drawer represents an access element of the storage container for providing access to the goods stored therein.

With access members, such as doors or drawers, of refrigeration storing devices, such as used for refrigerated bars or the like, there may be used a mechanical key operated lock for locking and unlocking the respective access member of the storage device. With such mechanical lock, it is possible to prevent any unauthorized access to the storage device when the respective access member is in a locked state. On the other hand, authorized personnel may have access to the respective storage device with use of the respective key for un- locking the storage device. Typically, when used for example at refrigerated

bars, there is not only one storage device which is accessed by the respective personnel, there are rather a number of storage devices each having a respective locking device for locking and unlocking the respective access member. With an increasing number of storage devices to be operated in this way the overall handling of the number of storage devices becomes cumbersome.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an improved system for storing of goods requiring refrigeration having multiple storage devices which is capable of providing easy access for persons using the system.

Embodiments of the invention include, according to one aspect of the invention, a system for storing of goods requiring refrigeration, comprising at least a first storage device adapted for the storage of goods in a storage space of a first housing, the first storage device comprising at least a first access member which is lockable and unlockable for providing access to the storage space of the first housing, and at least a second storage device adapted for the storage of goods in a storage space of a second housing, the second storage device comprising at least a second access member which is lockable and unlockable for providing access to the storage space of the second housing. The first stor- age device comprises a first locking device operable for locking and unlocking the first access member and the second storage device comprises a second locking device operable for locking and unlocking the second access member. The first locking device is operable by key means for locking and unlocking the first locking device, and the second locking device is operable by operation of the first locking device.

Other embodiments of the invention include, according to another aspect of the invention, a storage device adapted for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration, comprising a housing including a storage space for the storage of goods, an access member which is lockable and unlockable for providing access to the storage space of the housing, a first locking device operable for locking and unlocking the access member, and a coupling connected with the first locking device, wherein the coupling is adapted to be connected with another storage device which comprises a second locking device operable for locking an unlocking a respective access member thereof. The first locking

device is operable by key means for locking and unlocking the first locking device, and is operable to actuate the second locking device through the coupling when coupled with the other storage device.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an embodiment of the invention includes a storage device adapted for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration, comprising a housing including a storage space for the storage of goods, an access member which is lockable and unlockable for providing access to the storage space of the housing, a first locking device operable for locking and un- locking the access member, and a coupling connected with the first locking device, wherein the coupling is adapted to be connected with another storage device which comprises a second locking device operable for locking and unlocking a respective access member thereof. The first locking device is adapted for being actuated by the second locking device through the coupling when coupled with the storage device.

Further embodiments and aspects of the invention are evident from the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following disclosure of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a modular system for storing of goods requir- ing refrigeration having different storage devices with locking mechanisms according to the invention, in which the devices are not yet connected with each other;

Fig. 2 shows the system according to the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a connec- ted condition of the storage devices;

Fig. 3 shows cross-sectional views of a storage device having a locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows different conditions of an example of a mechanical lock assembly of a locking device which can be used in a system according to the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a modular system comprising a plurality of storage devices for storing of goods requiring refrigeration according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a number of different storage devices 1 to 5 which are all designed as respective parts of a modular system, wherein the storage devices 1 to 5 are adapted as modular storage segments of the system 10. Each of the storage devices 1 to 5 is adapted to be movable independently from one another. According to the modular design of the system 10, the storage devices 1 to 5 are adapted to be coupled with each other via a respective coupling device 61 as explained in more detail below. The storage devices 1 to 5 may have the same design as concerns construction of their respective storage case and/or access member, or may be designed differently as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. For example, the storage devices 2 and 3 are designed as respective self-supporting storage containers having respective access members 23 to 25 and 33 to 35, respectively, the access members comprising or being designed as drawers which may be pulled out from the storage containers when accessing the goods which are stored in the drawers. On the other hand, the storage devices 1 and 4, 5 are designed as self-supporting storage containers each comprising a respective door 13, 43 and 53 as an access member thereof, wherein the door 13, 43 and 53 may be opened or closed for providing access to the storage space of the containers 1, 4, 5, respectively.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the storage containers 4 and 5 are constructed to have almost the same design, wherein the hinge of the door 53 is on the left-hand side and the hinge of the door 43 is on the right-hand side of the respective container. Each of the storage devices 1 to 5 are formed as refrigerating storing devices, and may for example be formed as a refrigerating cabinet or refrigerating bar container. In the present application as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the storage devices 1 to 5 are designed as a respective refrigerating bar container. When the storage containers 1 to 5 are connected side by side to one another, as shown in Fig. 2, the overall assembly of the system 10

of storage containers 1 to 5 is a storage module assembly having a substantially uniform access front.

As shown in an exemplary manner in Fig. 3 with respect to the storage contain- er 2, the storage container 2 comprises a housing 21 which includes a storage space 22 which is adapted for the storage of goods which require refrigeration. The access members 23 to 25, which are designed as drawers in the present example, may be pulled out from the housing 22 in order to provide access to the respective storage space of the corresponding drawer. As shown in more detail in Fig. 3B which shows in more detail an upper portion of the storage container 2 as shown in Fig. 3A, the storage container 2 also comprises a locking device having components 26, 28 and 29 which is operable for locking and unlocking the access members 23 to 25. For example, the component 26 is an actuator which actuates a rod 28 for operating respective hooks 29 which may be raised for locking the respective drawers 23 to 25 when engaging the hook 29 with a corresponding projection of the drawer. Conversely, for unlocking the respective drawer, the hook 29 is lowered so as not to be in engagement with the corresponding projection of the drawer.

A similar principle may be used for locking and unlocking an access member which is formed as a door, wherein the skilled person is aware of how to construct a respective locking mechanism for locking and unlocking such access member. According to another embodiment, the locking device comprising components 26, 28 and 29 as shown in Fig. 3B may be implemented differently depending on the respective application, so that the present invention shall not be limited to the locking device as shown.

Modular refrigeration system 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may, in principle, comprise any number of storage devices of a particular design depending on the respective application. In the following description, the system according to the invention shall be described, at first, with respect to a system 10 only comprising storage devices 1 and 2 which may be coupled with each other. The principles described herein may also be applied when coupling storage device 1 with any other of the storage devices 3, 4 and 5.

The storage container 1 includes, similarly to storage container 2 shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, a storage space 12 of a housing 11, and further comprises a first locking device 16 which is operable for locking and unlocking the access member 13 which shall have the form of a door in the present ex- ample. The first locking device 16 comprises a receiving part for receiving key means for locking and unlocking the locking device 16. For example, the key means may be in the form of a mechanical key which is to be inserted into a corresponding key hole, or the key means may have the form of a chip card or the like which is designed for operating the locking device 16 in an electronical way, as is commonly known in the art. In contrast to storage container 1, the storage container 2 does not comprise a receiving part for receiving key means for operating the locking device 26, 28, 29 of the storage container 2. Rather, the second locking device 26, 28, 29 is operable by operation of the first locking device 16.

Particularly, the storage containers 1 and 2 are coupled with each other via a coupling 61 which may comprise counteracting parts on each of the storage containers 1 and 2 which may be coupled with each other. Through such a coupling, such as shown in an exemplary manner at reference numeral 61 in Figs. 1 and 2, the storage containers 1 and 2 may be connected with each other, and thus connecting the first locking device 16 with the second locking device 26, 28, 29. The coupling device for coupling the storage containers to one another, such as coupling device 61 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may comprise at least one device for providing at least one of an electrical wire connection, and electrical wireless connection, a magnetic connection and a mechanical connection between the storage containers 1 and 2. For example, the locking device 16 of the storage container 1 comprises an electrical actuator which actuates upon a corresponding operation of the key means the locking device 26, 28, 29 of storage container 2 through an electrical wire connection of coupling 61 between the storage container 1 and storage container 2.

The first locking device 16 thus functions as a central locking device which is operable to operate the second locking device 26, 28, 29 when operating the key means through the electrical wire connection (or any other connection as mentioned above) between the different storage containers, and is also oper-

able to operate any further locking device for locking and unlocking a respective access member when coupled to the storage container 1. Therefore, locking device 16 functions as a kind of "master locking device" operating respective "slave locking devices" in respective storage containers 2 to 5.

Therefore, the invention provides a kind of central electronic locking system which only needs to operate a locking device 16 of storage container 1 for locking and unlocking anyone of the storage containers 1 to 5, so that there is no need to separately operate the storage containers 2, 3, 4 and 5 with separate key means. Therefore, the system according to the invention provides improved ergonomic properties.

In the embodiment as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the storage containers 1 and 2 are arranged side by side, wherein the coupling device 61 is arranged at one peripheral surface of one of the storage containers, such as peripheral surface 17 and/or 18 of storage container 1. According to another embodiment, two corresponding coupling devices may be arranged at peripheral surfaces of the storage containers 1 and 2 facing each other for connection with each other.

If it is desired to enlarge the system 10 consisting of storage containers 1 and 2 as described above by adding another storage container to the system, a third storage container 3 or 4 may be coupled to either one of the storage containers 1 or 2 for enlarging the system. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the third storage container may be storage container 3 coupled side by side to the storage con- tainer 2, or may be storage container 4 coupled side by side to the storage container 1 opposite to storage container 2. Each of the storage containers 3 and 4 comprises a locking device, such as locking device 26, 28, 29 as shown with respect to storage container 2, which is operable for locking and unlocking a respective access member of the storage container. Such locking device also acts as a "slave locking device", that is the locking device is operable by operation of the locking device 16.

In the case in which storage container 4 is added to the system 10, the storage container 1 is arranged between the storage containers 2 and 4 and is arranged in a way that the locking device 16 operates the respective locking devices of

storage containers 2 and 4 through respective coupling devices 61 which are arranged at opposing surfaces 17, 18 of the storage container 1. On the other hand, if storage container 3 is added to the system 10 consisting of storage containers 1 and 2, the storage container 1 is arranged side by side to the stor- age container 2 which is arranged side by side to the storage container 3. In this embodiment, the locking device 16 operates the locking device of storage container 3 through a first coupling device 61 arranged between the storage containers 1 and 2 and through a second coupling device 61 arranged between storage containers 2 and 3.

In a particular implementation, the storage container 1 functioning as a kind of "central machine unit" may involve the following components: The locking device 16 may comprise an electrically operable key switch provided with a corresponding power supply for providing power to the electrical key switch. Further, the locking device may comprise at least one bi-stable solenoid functioning as an actuator, such as actuator 26 shown in Fig. 3. Such solenoid may operate at least one mechanical lock assembly such as the lock assembly shown in Fig. 3 with respect to components 28 and 29 which are operable by the solenoid for locking and unlocking the respective access member. These components may analogously be implemented in any or each of the locking devices provided in storage containers 1 to 5.

In a neutral position of the key switch, no power is supplied to the solenoids of the locking devices. When the key switch of the "master locking device" 16 is turned to the left, all electrical connected solenoids of all storage containers 1 to 5 will lock all access members of the system 10, that is all access members of the assembly of storage segments as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the electrical key switch of the "master locking device" 16 is turned to the right, all electrical connected solenoids of storage devices 1 to 5 will unlock all access mem- bers of the system 10. After turning to the left or to the right, the key switch of the "central machine unit" 1 will automatically go back to the neutral position. In other words, there is just a short electrical pulse required to be sent towards the solenoids of the whole system to lock and unlock respective access members.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the mechanical lock assembly which is operable by a respective solenoid for locking and unlocking a respective access member may comprise components such as shown in Fig. 4. The mechanical lock assembly 80 according to Fig. 4 comprises at least one pin 83, at least one hook 81 operated by the pin and at least one spring 82 coupled with the pin. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the mechanical lock assembly comprises several components which interact as follows:

The involved components as shown in Fig.4 are the hook 81, a push-spring 82, the pin 83, this is the 'shaft' of the solenoid, and a pull-spring 84 (not visible) connecting the pin 83 and the hook 81. The solenoid needs an electrical pulse only for the move from locked to unlocked position or from unlocked to locked position. If the mechanism is in the locked-position, the solenoid is in the position as mentioned in the first picture of Fig. 4 (situation 91), a static magnet (not shown) keeps the pin and the complete mechanism in this position (no current supply required). So, in this position the static magnet is stronger than the push-spring 82.

If the mechanism is in the unlocked position, the solenoid is in the position as shown in the second picture of Fig. 4 (situation 92), the push-spring 82 keeps the pin 83 and the complete mechanism in this position (no current supply required). So, in this position the push-spring 82 is stronger than the static magnet. The pull-spring 84 will only be stretched if the mechanism is locked and the door will be closed afterwards. This is shown in the third picture of Fig. 4 (situation 93). The position in situation 94 equals the position in situation 91. In this way, the springs of the mechanical lock assembly make it possible to close the access member even when the hook is already in the locked position.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodi- ments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt the particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but

that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.