GB2532330A

GB2532330A - Counter comprising a curved pane, method of producing a counter

Info

Publication number: GB2532330A
Application number: GB1516778.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aloys Petrus Anna Van Boven Patricius
Original assignee: Fri-Jado Euro Products BV
Current assignee: Fri-Jado Euro Products BV
Priority date: 2014-10-13
Filing date: 2015-09-22
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-22
Also published as: FR3026930A3; DE202015006903U1; DE202015006903U8; FR3026930B3; GB201516778D0; NL2013620B1; GB2532330B

Abstract

A presentation counter comprising a frame 2 supporting a presentation surface 4 and a glass cover 6 wherein the glass cover is positioned over the surface 4 to form a presentation space 12 and has perpendicular panes which are formed from a single piece joined by a right angled curve. The curve may have a radius of curvature below 15mm measured on an inner surface, the panes may be horizontal and vertical in use and various dimensions for the panes are disclosed. The cover 6 may be attached to the frame 2 by a horizontal hinge 24 to allow it to pivot upwards. A method of production involving bending a glass pane on a bed in an oven and tempering it by thermal toughening are disclosed. The device is designed for displaying products to a customer.

Description

Brief title: counter comprising a curved pane, method of producing a counter The invention relates to a counter for presenting articles to customers, according to the preamble of Claim 1.

A counter of this type is used at points of sale, such as shops and the hotel, restaurant and catering trade to present foodstuffs or other merchandise to potential customers. In this case, the foodstuffs are protected from the customers by means of a pane. As a result thereof, the customers are able to see the foodstuffs, but are not able to touch them themselves. In addition, such a pane improves the possibilities for conditioning the space in which the foodstuffs are situated, for example cooling or heating. However, the invention is not limited to such conditioned spaces. A pane having a horizontal top part and a vertical front part has various advantages compared to curved panes, which are also used for counters. Thus, such a pane causes less reflection, as a result of which the customers are better able to see the contents of the counter. Also, the horizontal top part can be used to exchange money and bought foodstuffs between the customer and the seller.

These advantages are also present in the case of orientations which deviate slightly from a precisely horizontal or vertical plane, respectively. In this document, substantially horizontal is defined as planes which deviate by at most +/-5 degrees from a precisely horizontal plane. Furthermore, substantially vertical is defined as planes which deviate by at most +/-10 degrees from a precisely vertical plane.

A counter of this type is known from DE-10.2012.018.162-A1. This document discloses a counter for presenting and selling foodstuffs. The counter comprises a frame and a glass front pane. The front pane comprises a horizontal and a vertical pane element which have been glued to each other. To this end, the relevant longitudinal sides of the two elements have been glued to each other at an angle. The front pane is connected to the frame by means of a horizontally oriented hinge. This hinge is situated on the bottom side of the front pane, as a result of which the front pane can fold forwards so that it can be cleaned.

A drawback of the known counter is the fact that the angular part where the two glass pane elements meet is sharp and fragile. Objects and actions which take place on the counter may touch the sharp edges and consequently the glass may be damaged or scratches may be caused or small pieces may break off. As a result thereof, the glass becomes even sharper and unsafe to use.

Further damage could cause the pane to break spontaneously upon a relatively small action of forces from outside.

It is an object of the invention to overcome this drawback or at least to provide an alternative. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a counter comprising a horizontal and vertical pane portion which is less fragile in use.

This object is achieved by the invention by means of a counter as defined in Claim 1. The S invention furthermore relates to a method of producing such a counter, as defined in Claim 8. Embodiments of the counter and method are defined in the dependent claims.

A counter for presenting articles to customers comprises a frame, a presentation surface and a glass pane. The frame is configured to be placed on a floor and supports the presentation surface and the glass pane. The glass pane comprises a substantially horizontally oriented flat first pane portion and a substantially vertically oriented flat second pane portion. The presentation surface and the glass pane delimit a presentation space for the articles. The glass pane is formed as a single piece, with the transition from the first pane portion to the second pane portion being a pane portion with a substantially right-angled curve. The expression substantially right-angled is defined here as an angle between 75 degrees and 105 degrees, in particular an angle between 80 degrees and 100 degrees, more particularly an angle between 85 degrees and 95 degrees.

A pane portion with a right-angled curve is less fragile than a glued angle portion. It can withstand greater loads from outside without becoming damaged. A further advantage is the fact that it is smoother, as a result of which a user will not get hurt as quickly.

In particular, the curved pane portion with a substantially right-angled curve has a radius of at most SO mm, in particular at most 20 mm, more particularly at most 15 mm, measured on an inner side of the pane portion with a right-angled curve. The smaller the radius, the smaller the curved pane portion and the better the customers' view of the articles.

In an embodiment, a perpendicular line from an inner side of the pane portion with a substantially right-angled curve to an imaginary plane which is defined by longitudinal edges of the glass pane is longer than 320 mm, in particular longer than 350 mm. Such a minimum length creates a large presentation space.

In an embodiment, the counter comprises a substantially horizontal hinge which is provided between the glass pane and the frame for hingeably connecting the glass pane to the frame. As a result thereof, the glass pane can be pivoted out of the way in order to clean the inner side thereof or to improve access to the presentation space.

In an embodiment, the horizontal hinge is provided at an edge of the first pane portion for pivoting the glass pane upwards. By pivoting the glass pane upwards rather than to the front, as is the case in the prior art, the glass pane is less of an impediment to a sales person who wants to clean the pane or reach the presentation space.

The invention, its effects and advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a counter according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a pane of the counter from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the pane from Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a detail IV from Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows the cross section from Fig. 3 with additional size information.

Fig. 1 shows a counter according to the invention which is denoted overall by reference numeral 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the counter 1 is intended for presenting cooled foodstuffs to customers. The counter 1 comprises a frame 2, a presentation surface 4 and a glass pane 6. The frame 2 supports the presentation surface 4.

The glass pane 6 comprises a flat horizontal pane portion 8 and flat vertical pane portion 10.

In this case, the term flat is understood to mean that the respective pane portions 8, 10 are not substantially curved. The presentation surface 4 and the glass pane 6 delimit a presentation space 12 for the articles. The presentation surface 4 is configured to support the foodstuffs and may be provided with trays (not shown). In addition, shelves (not shown) may be provided in the presentation space which are, optionally detachably, connected to the frame in order to support foodstuffs.

The glass pane 6 is formed as a single piece in a way as will be described in more detail below. The transition from the horizontal pane portion 8 to the vertical pane portion 10 is a pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve. In this exemplary embodiment, the glass pane 6 has a thickness of 6 mm, whereas the pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve has a radius R of 14 mm, measured on an inner side of the pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve. Measured on the outer side, the radius is thus 20 mm. A pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve and of such a radius hardly obstructs the customers' view of the foodstuffs, while it is still sufficiently rounded to render the glass pane 6 strong and to prevent customers hurting themselves. The glass pane 6 furthermore has longitudinal edges 16, 18 which run parallel to the curved pane portion 14. The longitudinal edge 16 which is situated behind delimits the horizontal pane portion 8. The longitudinal edge 18 which is situated below delimits the vertical pane portion 10. The glass pane 6 has lateral edges 20, 22 which are at right angles to the longitudinal edges 16, 18. Each of the lateral edges 20, 22 thus delimits the horizontal pane portion 8, the vertical pane portion 10 and the pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve.

In this exemplary embodiment, the counter 1 comprises a horizontal hinge 24 which is provided between the glass pane 6 and the frame 2. The horizontal hinge 24 is provided at that longitudinal edge 16 of the horizontal pane portion 8 which is situated behind in order to pivot the glass pane 6 upwards into a position which is denoted in Fig. 1 by reference numeral 6'.

The frame 2 furthermore comprises a substructure 26 which is provided with feet 28 in order to be able to place the counter 1 on a floor. The presentation surface 4 is situated on the upper side of the substructure 26. The frame 2 also comprises a rear part 30 which is formed by a tubular body having a rectangular cross section. The front side 32 of the rear part 30 forms part of the boundary of the presentation space 12. The upper side of the rear part 30 forms a work surface 34 for serving staff.

The frame 2 furthermore comprises several obliquely oriented supports 36 which are connected to the rear part 30 at their underside. On their upper side, the supports 36 support the horizontal hinge 24. The space between the supports 36 is open, so that the serving staff can take foodstuffs from the presentation space 12.

The substructure 26 and the rear part 30 contain a cooling installation (not shown). This cooling installation cools the presentation surface 4 from the bottom side and takes cooled air into the presentation space 12 via the rear part 30.

Fig. 5 shows a perpendicular line 40 from an inner side of the pane portion 14 with a substantially right-angled curve to an imaginary surface 42 which is defined by the longitudinal edges 16, 18 of the glass pane 6. In this exemplary embodiment, this perpendicular line is 397 mm.

The horizontal pane portion 8 has a depth 44, measured from the pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve to the longitudinal edge 16 which is situated behind of 540 mm. The vertical pane portion 10 has a height 46, measured from the pane portion 14 with a right-angled curve to the longitudinal edge 18 which is situated below of 621 mm. Thus, the glass pane 6 delimits more than half the presentation space, as a result of which customers have a good view of the foodstuffs.

In this exemplary embodiment, the frame is made of stainless steel. This is both strong and easy to clean. However, other materials are possible within the scope of the invention. The pane 6 is made of glass, as this is more scratch-resistant than transparent plastic. In addition, it is highly resistant to both high and low temperatures and to UV light.

In this exemplary embodiment, the sides of the counter 1 are open, as a result of which it can be coupled to other counters. The sides of a single counter 1 or of a row of coupled counters are covered by lateral partitions (not shown).

A method of producing a counter, such as for example a counter 1, as described above, comprises various stages. A frame is produced in a manner known in the field. A glass pane is produced by first providing a flat glass pane. This flat pane is curved on a lower bed in an oven which heats the glass pane to a temperature at which glass is mouldable. The lower bed has the desired shape and thus comprises two flat parts which are at right angles to each other and an intermediate part which has a curvature of the desired outer radius of, in the above example, 20 mm. In this way, a flat first pane portion, a flat second pane portion and a pane portion with a right-angled curve are formed. In standard ovens, it is not possible to bend glass panes of the dimensions mentioned above. In order to make this possible, the lower bed is movable in the vertical direction.

After bending, the glass pane is tempered by heating it further and then cooling it. Subsequently, the glass pane is connected to the frame by a hinge.

Several variants are possible within the scope of the attached claims. The elements of the above-described embodiments may be replaced by any desired other element within the scope of the claims, such as elements which are described in the following paragraphs.

The glass pane may completely or partly be provided with a heat-reflecting coating or other layers to reflect heat, to colour the glass pane or to provide information thereon. Also, a film may 15 be provided on the glass pane in order to reinforce the pane and protect it from breaking, as a result of which it is possible to dispense with the heat treatment for tempering the glass pane.

The horizontal pane portion may slant slightly with respect to the precisely horizontal plane. However, it is horizontal in such a way that objects which are placed thereon do not slide off. The vertical pane portion may also slant slightly with respect to the precisely vertical plane. A surface which slants forward slightly, for example, has the advantage that reflections are reduced still further, while at the same time also preventing dirt from adhering to the vertical pane portion more effectively. If the horizontal pane portion and the vertical pane portion deviate from the horizontal or vertical plane, respectively, to the same degree and in the same direction, the pane portion with a right-angled curve is exactly perpendicular. If the horizontal pane portion and the vertical pane portion do not deviate from the horizontal or vertical plane, respectively, to the same degree and/or in the same direction the pane portion with a right-angled curve will no longer be exactly perpendicular, but will be at an angle which is greater or smaller than 90 degrees.

Although a horizontal hinge on the upper side in combination with the glass pane of the invention has several advantages, other solutions are possible within the scope of the claims. Thus, 30 a hinge may be provided at that longitudinal edge of the glass pane which is situated below or the glass pane may be configured to be entirely removable.

The opening between the supports may be closed by providing it with hingeable or slidable panels made of glass, transparent plastic or another material.

The counter may also be provided with a heating installation instead of with a cooling installation. It is also possible to eliminate a cooling or heating installation if the articles to be presented in the counter do not require cooling or heating.

The thickness of the glass panes depends on the overall dimensions of the counter and the desired load-bearing capability of the pane. In some cases, a thickness of 5 mm may suffice, but a thickness of 8 mm or more is also possible. With increasing thickness, the weight of the glass pane also increases. It is possible within the scope of the invention to take additional measures therefor, such as a modified hinge construction and/or a gas spring.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Counter (1) for presenting articles to customers, comprising a frame (2), a presentation surface (4) and a glass pane (6), in which the frame (2) supports the presentation surface (4) and the glass pane (6) and is configured to be placed on a floor, the glass pane (6) comprises a substantially horizontally oriented flat first pane portion (8) and a substantially vertically oriented flat second pane portion (10), and the presentation surface (4) and the glass pane (6) delimit a presentation space (12) for the articles, characterized in that the glass pane (6) is formed as a single piece, with the transition from the first pane portion (8) to the second pane portion (10) being a pane portion (14) with a substantially right-angled curve.
2. Counter according to Claim 1, in which the pane portion (14) with a substantially right-angled curve has a radius (R) of at most 50 mm, in particular at most 20 mm, more particularly at most 15 mm, measured on an inner side of the pane portion with a right-angled curve.
3. Counter according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a perpendicular line (40) from an inner side of the pane portion (14) with a substantially right-angled curve to an imaginary plane which is defined by longitudinal edges (16, 18) of the glass pane (6) is longer than 320 mm, in particular longer than 350 mm.
4. Counter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first pane portion (8) has a depth (44), measured from the pane portion (14) with a substantially right-angled curve to a longitudinal edge (16) of the first pane portion (8) which is situated behind, of at least 400 mm, in particular at least 500 mm.
5. Counter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second pane portion (10) has a height (46), measured from the pane portion (14) with a substantially right-angled curve to a longitudinal edge (18) of the second pane portion (10) which is situated below, of at least 500 mm, in particular at least 600 mm.
6. Counter according to one of the preceding claims, furthermore comprising a substantially horizontal hinge (24) which is provided between the glass pane (6) and the frame for hingeably connecting the glass pane to the frame (2).
7. Counter according to Claim 6, in which the horizontal hinge (24) is provided at a longitudinal edge (16) of the first pane portion (8) which is situated behind for pivoting the glass pane (6) upwards.
8. Method of producing a counter (1), comprising providing a frame (2) and a glass pane (6) and fitting the pane (6) to the frame (2), in which providing the glass pane (6) comprises: producing a flat glass pane, bending the flat glass pane on a lower bed in an oven to form a flat first pane portion (8), a flat second pane portion (10) and a curved pane portion (14), in which the first and the second pane portion are connected to each other by the curved pane portion (14) and the curved pane portion is curved substantially at right angles.
9. Method according to Claim 8, in which the lower bed is movable in the vertical direction.
10. Method according to Claim 8 or 9, in which the glass pane is tempered after bending and before fitting.
11. Method according to Claim 10, in which the tempering is effected by thermal toughening, in which the pane is provided on a lower bed, and in particular the lower bed is movable in the vertical direction.