MERCHANDISE SUPPLY DEVICE FOR STORING AND MAKING AVAILABLE FOR PICKING SELL-BY-WEIGHT LOOSE PRODUCTS

Abstract

Merchandise supply device for storing and making available for picking sell-by-weight loose products. The device comprises a container (10) having side walls (12, 12,13) and a bottom wall (14), which walls (11-14) together define a storage space for the product, wherein a sloped bottom wall (14) is arranged for gravity feeding the product from a rear fill opening (15) to a front pick-out opening (17), which pick-out opening (17) is covered by an openable lid (13). The pick-out opening (17) is covered by an intrusion barrier device (30) comprising an iris port (40). An intrusion barrier device for use with a merchandise supply device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Merchandise supply device for storing and making available for picking sell-by-weight loose products, comprising: a container (10) having side walls (12, 12, 13) and a bottom wall (14), which walls (11-14) together define a storage space for the product, wherein a sloped bottom wall (14) is arranged for gravity feeding the product from a rear fill opening (15) to a front pick-out opening (17), which pick-out opening (17) is covered by an openable lid (13), characterized in that the pick-out opening (17) is covered by an intrusion barrier device (30) comprising an iris port (40).

2. Merchandise supply device according to claim 1, wherein the iris port (40) comprises a membrane (41) of a resiliently flexible material.

3. Merchandise supply device according to claim 2, wherein the membrane (41) exhibits at least one through penetrating slit (42a, 42b) which defines at least one resiliently deflectable sealing tongue (43a-d).

4. Merchandise supply device according to claim 3, wherein the membrane (41) exhibits two through penetrating slits (42a, 42b) arranged in a cross formation and defining four generally triangular sealing tongues (43a-d).

5. Merchandise supply device according to claim 1, wherein a maximum opening dimension of the iris port (40) is smaller than 10 cm.

6. Merchandise supply device according to claim 1, wherein the intrusion barrier device (30) comprises a mounting bracket (31) to which the iris port (40) is fixed, which mounting bracket (31) is insertable through the pick-out opening (17) and fixable to the container (10).

7. Merchandise supply device according to claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket (31) comprises a base plate (32) with a port opening (36) covered by the iris port (40) and at least two mounting legs (33, 34) extending from the base plate (32) and being supported by the bottom wall (14) of the container (10).

8. Merchandise supply device according to claim 7, wherein the port opening (36) has an opening area which is smaller than approx. 50 cm.sup.2.

9. Merchandise supply device according to claim 6, wherein the iris port (40) is detachably fixed to the mounting bracket (31).

10. Merchandise supply device according to claim 6, wherein the iris port (40) is clamped between the mounting bracket (32) and a peripheral mounting disc (37).

11. Merchandise supply device according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral disc (37), the iris port (40) and the mounting bracket (32) each exhibits a number of mutually aligned fixation holes (32a, 37a, 41a) receiving fastening elements.

12. Merchandise supply device according to claim 1, wherein the intrusion barrier device (30) is retrofittable to existing merchandise supply devices.

13. An intrusion barrier device (30) for a merchandise supply device comprising a container (10) having a rear fill opening (15), a front pick-out opening (17), side walls (11, 12, 13) and a bottom wall (14), which walls (11-14) together define a storage space for a product, which intrusion barrier device (30) comprises a mounting bracket (31) with a base plate (32) exhibiting a port opening (36) covered by an iris port (40) and at least two mounting legs (33, 34) extending from the base plate (32).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Aspects and embodiments are now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective, partly exploded view of a merchandise supply device according to one embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the merchandise supply device shown in FIG. 1 when assembled and further illustrating a tool for picking out products stored in the device.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 schematically illustrating the tool being inserted through the iris port of the merchandise supply device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The aspects of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown.

[0037] These aspects may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of all aspects of invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the merchandise supply device when partly disassembled. The merchandise supply device comprises a container 10 which has a number of side walls including opposed walls 11, 12, a curved front wall 13 and a rear wall (nor shown). A bottom wall 14 extends between lower portions of walls 11, 12 and front wall 13. The side walls 11, 12, 13 and the bottom wall 14 define an interior space for storing a bulk product (not shown) such as sweets, candy, cereal or the like. The container exhibits a rear fill opening 15 which is arranged at the top of an upwardly protruding rear portion of the container 10. The fill opening 15 is covered by a removable fill opening lid 16.

[0039] The curved front wall 13 exhibits a front most generally vertical portion 13a, an intermediate sloping portion 13b and a rear, generally vertical portion 13c. A pick-out opening 17 is arranged in the intermediate sloping portion 13b. A openable lid 18 is pivotally connected to the container 10 by means of two hinges 19a, 19b. The lid 18 is pivotal between a fully open position shown in FIG. 1 and a fully closed position (not shown) in which the lid fully covers the pick-out opening 17. The hinges 19a, 19b are damped to provide a braked soft closing of the lid when released from a vertical position.

[0040] In the shown example the merchandise supply device further exhibits a chassis 20 fixed to the container 10 and arranged for attaching the device to a shelf, a stand, a bracket or the like (not shown).

[0041] The merchandise supply device further comprises an intrusion barrier device 30. The barrier device 30 comprises a mounting bracket 31 which exhibits a base plate 32 and two mounting legs 33, 34 extending perpendicularly downwards from opposing side edges of the base plate 32. A pair of fixation tabs 35 extend rearwardly from the rear edge of the base plate 32. A rectangular port opening 36 is formed centrally in the base plate 32. The port opening 36 is fully covered by an iris port 40 which is clamped between the base plate 32 and a peripheral mounting disc 37, which exhibits a central opening having essentially the same dimensions as the port opening 36.

[0042] The iris port 40 is formed of a rectangular membrane 41 of a resiliently flexible material such as silicone or a vinyl-based material. A number of fixation holes 41a are distributed along a peripheral portion of the membrane 41. Each fixation hole 41a is aligned with a corresponding hole 32a, 37a through the base plate 32 and the mounting disc 37. The iris port 40 is fixed to the mounting bracket 31 by being interposed between the base plate 32 and the mounting disc 37. The membrane 41 is clamed between the base plate 32 and the mounting disc 37 by fastening means (not shown) inserted through the aligned holes 37a, 41a, 32a. The fastening means may be formed e.g. as snap-fitted pins, rivets, screws and bolts or the like.

[0043] The intrusion barrier device is attached to the container 10 by insertion through the pick-out opening 17. In the mounted position the mounting legs 33, 34 rest on a front portion of the bottom wall 14, a peripheral portion of the base plate 32 rests against a support flange or lip arranged around the pick-out opening 17 and the fixation tabs 35 are engaged under the rear edge of pick-out opening 17. Preferably, the mounting bracket 31, the iris port 40 and the mounting disc 37 are each formed of a transparent material for enhancing the display of the stored product and facilitating picking-out of the product.

[0044] A pair of through penetrating slits 42a, 42b are formed in a cross-shaped configuration in the membrane 41. The slits 42a, 42b thus forms four generally triangular shaped resilient tongues 43a-d of the membrane 41. In the unloaded condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the resiliency of the membrane material urges the tongues 43a-d to regain their natural position being coplanar with the peripheral portion of the membrane 41. In this unloaded condition the neighbouring tongues contact each other over the respective slit 42a, 42b such that the iris port is fully closed and seals the interior space from the surrounding atmosphere.

[0045] In use, the customer first opens the pivotal lid 13 as shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, he or she grabs a suitable tool such as a pair of pliers 50 which should normally be provided in the vicinity of the merchandise supply device. When the pliers 50 is brought into contact with the closed iris port 40 and pushed through the pick-out opening 17, the resilient tongues 42a-d are yieldingly deformed to allow insertion of the front end of the pliers 50 into the container. The resiliency of the tongues 43a-d causes the tongues 42a-d to be temporarily formed so as to follow the outer contour of the portion of the pliers which is inserted through the iris port 40. By this means the iris port 40 only opens to the degree necessary for inserting and moving the front end of the pliers 50 inside the container 10. This in turn results in that the opening needed for inserting the pliers 50 is kept to a minimum thereby to minimize the risk of foreign matter to be introduced into the container 10.

[0046] When the desired product amount has been grabbed by the pliers 50 or collected by the scoop, the tool 50 is withdrawn through the pick-out opening 17 and the iris port 40 and the picked-out product may then be dropped into a bag or other receptacle. When the tool 50 is withdrawn from the iris port 40, the iris port automatically resumes its closed condition by the tongues 42a-d resiliently resuming their natural planar sealing position as shown in FIG. 2

[0047] The iris port 40 also prevents insertion of a human hand into the container 10. The maximum opening area of the iris port is defined by the length of the slits 42a, 42b. It has proven especially advantageous to give the two slits somewhat different longitudinal extensions. In the shown example the shortest slit 42a is approx. 4-6 cm and the longest slit 42b approx. 6-9 cm. By such slit lengths the pliers 50 and other suitable tools may readily be inserted and manipulated for picking-out any desired product amount from the container. At the same time, such slit lengths limit the maximum opening area of the iris port 40, such that a human hand of normal size may not be introduced through the iris port 40. Insertion of a human hand may be further prevented by limiting the opening area of the port opening 36. Typically, the dimensions of the port opening 36 are chosen to correspond with the length of the slits 42a, 42b. Hence, in the shown example, the port opening 36 may be rectangular with one side having the length 4-6 cm and one side the length 6-8 cm. By making the dimensions of the port opening essentially corresponding to the length of the slits 42a, 42b rapture initiated at the ends of the slits is also prevented.

[0048] The arrangement of the iris port 40 as a part of intrusion barrier device 30 having a mounting bracket allows for that the barrier member with iris port may be retrofitted onto existing merchandise supply devices having a container with a pick-out opening.

[0049] The aspects of the present disclosure have mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments and examples thereof. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims. For example, the iris port may comprise other numbers of slits than two for defining the resiliently deflectable sealing tongues. It may e.g. be sufficient to provide a single curved slit which defines a single generally U-shaped resiliently deflectable tongue. Alternatively, the iris port may comprise three or more slits arranged to define several resilient tongues arranged in a star or flower shaped configuration.