Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a sales kiosk and, more
particularly, to a molded plastic sales kiosk having a
unique closure system.
In the modern enclosed shopping malls, various small
sales units are being used in the open and com~on areas
of the mall. These small sales units may sell jewelry,
snacks, orange juice, etc.
A problem with these small sales units has been to
provide a design which will be visually very attractive
while positioned in the open areas of the mall, while also
being functionally useful in that they can be completely
closed when not in use.
The present invention provides a unique solution to
the above requirements.
Thus, the present invention relates to a sales kiosk
`~ comprising
(a) a fixed substantially spherical shell member mount-
- ed on a cylindrical base, said shell member belng truncated
by a vertical chordal plane in the region of the center
line thereof, said vertical chordal plane extending between
the top of the shell and a horizontal serving counter in an
; intermediate region of the shell, said serving counter being
annular and extending between the vertical truncated edges
of the shell, and said serving counter including an entry
way gap adjacent one of said vertical truncated edges and
(b) an outer shell including a spherical segment
portion merging into a chordal skirt portion mounted for
rotation on and surrounding said fixed shell, with said chordal
skirt portion adjacent said cylindrical base, said outer
shell being truncated by a vertical chordal plane located
forward of the center line thereof and being arranged to
rotate relative to the fixed shell suc;~ that in the normal
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open position the serving counter is exposed and the en-try
gap is covered by tlle outer shell, in the normal closed
position the serving counter and entry gap are entirely
covered by the outer shell and in the entry position the
entry gap ls uncovered.
The outer sheil can conveniently be supported on the
ixed shell by means of a single pivot between the central
vertical axis of the outer shell and the central vertical
axis of the fixed shell. Also, to assist in the ease of
rotating the outer shell, guide rollers or casters can be
mounted between the outer shell skirt and the fixed shell
cylindrical base.
The fixed shell can have an interior construction of
wood and plastic laminates covered by a molded plastic shell.
The outer shell is preferably entirely constructed from
molded plastic and, in order to provide good weight:strength
characteristics it is preferably formed with a urethane foam
core covered by glass fiber.
The entire structure provides a design which is not
only functionally very practical but also a design which is
equally attractive whether the kiosk is open or closed.
Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are
illustrated by the attached drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the kiosk in open
position;
' Figure 2 is a side elevation of the kiosk in closed
position; - ~ j
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the view shown in j
Figure l;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the view shown in
~ Figure l;
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~ igure 5 is a perspective view of the kiosk in the
entry position, and
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a guide wheel assembly.
As illustrated, the Eixed portion includes a cylindrical
base member 10 having crossed wooden support members 23 and
~n outer cylindrical rim of Fiberglas reinforced plastic.
The bas~ 10 :is covered by a circular floor 23a, which forms
the floor of the kiosk. A second cylindrical shell 11 of
lesser diameter than the base 10 rests on the floor 23 with
an annular portion of the floor projecting beyond the shell
11 to form an annular ledge.
Mounted from the cylindrical shell 11 is the inner shell
member 12 which is of a generally spherical shape having
a truncated portion at the bottom merging into the
cylindrical shell 11. The shell 12 has a rear partial
spherical portion 14 which extends upwardly to a point
just beyond its vertical central axis. It terminates at
that point by vertical edges 15 which extend downwardly
to a serving counter 17 . A small spherical portion 16
continues down from the outer region of counter 17 to
cylindrical member 11. ;
As will be seen from Figure 4, the counter is annular
~` in configuration and can be manufactured from a wood
construction covered in a plastic laminate. A gap 18 is
provided which serves as an entry way and this gap extends
through the serving counter 17, down through the wall portion
, 16 and down through cylindrical portion ll. This entry `~
i~ way 18 provides easy access to the work area l9.
i The serving counter 17 can be organi~ed in any desir-
i 30 able manner with the particular arrangement shown in Figure -~
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4 being intended for serving fresh orange juice. Thus, there
is shown an orange squeezing machine 20, a cash register 21
and an orange rack 22. Of course~ any variety of snacks,
drinks or smal]. merchandise, such as jewelry, etc. can
be sold Erom this kiosk.
The outer or closure shell 13 is a simple molded plastic
shell and is preferably ~ormed ~ th a urethane foam core
encased in layers of Fiberglas reinforced plastic. This
provides a strong, rigid, yet light-weight construction. The
shell 13 includes a spherical portion 25 which merges at a
lower region into a cylindrical skirt portion 26. This skirt
portion 26 is adjacent the cylindrical base portions 10 and 11.
The shell 13 is supported in position by means of a
pivot 27 which supports the central point of shell 13
directly above the central point of shell 12. Thus, the
shell 13 is entirely supported from the one pivot point 27
providing extremely easy rotation. To further assist this ~ -
ease of rotation, several casters 28 may be positioned
between the inner face of skirt 26 and the outer face of ;~
` 20 cylindrical base portion 11.-
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The castor assemblias 28 include a horizontally rot~table
wheel 29 which engages cylindrical shell 11 and a vertically
rotatable wheel 30 which engages the projecting annular ledge
~ ~ of floor 23a. As shown in greater detail in Figure 6, each
`~ pair of wheels is mounted on a support bracket, including
` a plate member 31 connected to skirt 26, projecting plates
32 supporting a U-shaped wheel supporting member 33 and pro-
`~ jecting plates 34 supporting a U-shaped wheel supporting member
34.
As will be evident from the drawings, the outer shell
13 includes a main spherical portion 25 which extends beyond
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the central axis thereof and terminates in a vertical qdge
24. The purpose of this particular design will be evident
from Figures 1, 3 and 4. Thus, in the normal open or
operating posi-tion, the front edge 24 of shell 13 extends
just forward of the entryway 18 so that it completely
encloses the entryway while leaving the main serving counter
17 open to the public. When the kiosk is to be closed
either for a night or weekend or even for only a few minutes,
the outer shell 13 is simply rotated around to the position
shown in Figure 2 so that the serving counter 17 and the
entryway 18 are entirely closed . In this position the
outer shell 13 may be locked with a key so that any access
; to the interior is prevented other than by destruction of
the shell.
The outer shell 13 also serves the third function of
providing a closable door to the entryway 18. Moreover,
the entryway 18 can be maintained in an open or closed
position at the choice of the kiosk attendant and it will
- be evident from Figure 4 that the entryway 18 can be
maintained in an open position by rotating the outer
shell slightly in a clockwise position while still
leaving the majority of the serving counter open to the
public.
Thus, it will be seen that the structural configuration
according to this invention provides a unique combination ;
of an inner construction with a rotatable outer shell
which is entirely functional in terms of being able to
-` completely close the kiosk to the public while providing
a most attractive visual design in either open or closed ~ f
position.
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