Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Apparatus for keeping packages containing smoking articles
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus useful for keeping
packages that contain smoking articles ready for sale. The apparatus
may further be used for temporarily displaying these packages to a
customer.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
Smoking articles, such as cigarettes and the like, are commonly sold
to the customer by the retailers in small packages, which may
contain, for example, a number of approximately 20 cigarettes, and
which can have the form of a box made of cardboard or of a pack made
of soft paper.
A considerable number of different types of smoking articles, in
particular many sorts of cigarettes, can today be found in the
market. The types of smoking articles may differ, for example, in
their flavor, the tobacco mixture used, the price, the brand and so
on. As the types of smoking articles are many, and as the retailer
will usually prefer to keep a certain number of individual packages
of each type in readiness for sale, it has already in the past been
found advantageous to provide some kind of shelf arrangement for
presentation and sale of these packages, preferably in ordered
manner according to the brand and flavor, for example, of the
smoking articles contained in the packages.
Such a conventional display shelf is described in DE 94 17 898 Ul
and comprises shelves fixed to vertical stands. These shelves are
divided into compartments for packages containing the smoking
articles, and are inclined so that, when a first package is taken
out from a compartment, the packages remaining therein slide to the
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front of the shelf under the action of a pushing roller acting on a
rear end of a respective row of packages.
However, when packages containing smoking articles, like cigarettes,
are kept ready for sale using a conventional arrangement of this
type, the packages contained in the compartments are permanently
visible to any client present in the shop where the smoking articles
are sold. However, recent legislation may require the retailer to
prevent packages of smoking articles, which the retailer keeps in
the shop for selling them, from being seen by the customers present
in the salesroom, except when a package is actually sold.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus which, on the one hand, is suitable for keeping packages
containing smoking articles ready for sale, and which may, if
desired, also be used for temporarily displaying these packages to a
customer who is desirous of purchasing one or more such packages,
and which, on the other hand, is compliant with display ban
regulations of the afore-mentioned type. The apparatus preferably
should be suitable for keeping a significant number of different
types of packaged smoking articles ready for sale. Further
preferably, the apparatus should only require a limited amount of
space in the shop.
Accordingly, an apparatus for keeping packages containing smoking
articles ready for sale and/or for temporarily displaying the
packages to a customer is provided, which comprises:
a rack carrying a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle
being adapted to contain a predefined number of the packages in
such a manner that the packages can be taken out from the
respective receptacle one after the other;
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a cabinet being adapted to house the rack, the cabinet being
provided with an access aperture to access the rack, the
receptacles and the packages therein.
According to the invention, the rack is mounted within the cabinet
in such a manner that the rack is rotatable about an axis of
rotation at least in a first direction of rotation. Further, the
rack and the cabinet are arranged in such a manner that, in an
initial angular position of the rack none of the receptacles is
accessible from an outside of the cabinet through the access
aperture for taking out a package from any receptacle, and that an
accessible subset of the receptacles is accessible only after
rotation of the rack in the first direction of rotation to a
delivery angular position or to one of several delivery angular
positions of the rack. The accessible subset is dependent on the
angular position of the rack with respect to the cabinet.
The idea underlying the present invention is that, by arranging the
rack rotatably inside of a cabinet, and by accommodating the
individual packages containing the smoking articles in a number of
receptacles, preferably sorted by type of smoking article, a
significant number of packages of various types of smoking articles
can be easily held ready for sale, and the receptacle containing
packages of the type of smoking articles the consumer desires can be
easily selected by rotating the rack. The inventive apparatus, due
to the rotatable arrangement of the rack inside the cabinet, thus
has a limited footprint and also a limited front area, and a
comparatively narrow access aperture will be sufficient for
accessing a considerable number of different types of smoking
articles. After a package has been sold to a client, the rack can be
rotated back to its initial angular position, so that the packages
and corresponding labeling which may be present on the receptacles
cannot be seen from the outside of the cabinet. In this way, the
apparatus of the present invention also complies with the display
ban regulations discussed above.
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According to an advantageous improvement of the apparatus according
to the invention, the axis of rotation of the rack is oriented along
a vertical direction of the cabinet. By vertical direction, in the
present context, the direction with respect to the cabinet is meant
which is oriented vertically when the cabinet has been set up and
has been positioned for use by the retailer. Rotating the rack about
an axis oriented along the vertical direction has the advantage that
the receptacles carried by the rack will not be turned upside down
during rotation of the rack, and that therefore, means for
preventing the packages containing the smoking articles from falling
out of the receptacles are not needed.
According to a further preferred development of the apparatus of the
invention, the rack comprises a helical surface on which the
receptacles are disposed. Preferably, the helical surface has a
small lead angle of, in particular, less than 20 degrees, and more
preferably of less than 10 degrees. Such a rack provides a unique
appearance, which is significantly different from the conventional
shelf arrangements for smoking articles and which arouses a client's
interest while the client purchases a package of smoking articles,
which the retailer or shop assistant takes out from a receptacle
carried by the rack. Moreover, disposing the receptacles on a
helical surface, as proposed according to the present development,
can be useful for aiding the retailer or shop assistant when he/she
needs to quickly identify a receptacle containing a specific type of
smoking article, as the vertical position of the accessible subset
of receptacles varies when the rack is turned.
According to another preferred development of the apparatus
according to the invention, the receptacles are arranged along
portions of an imaginary cylindrical enveloping surface of the rack.
In this manner, a large number of receptacles can be accommodated by
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the rotatable rack, at a given size of the cabinet, and the
receptacles are easily accessible due to their arrangement along an
enveloping surface of the rack.
In accordance with another preferred development, each receptacle is
provided with an opening which enables packages contained in the
receptacle to be taken out therefrom. The receptacles are arranged
on the rack with their openings facing outward from the axis of
rotation. Preferably, the receptacles are arranged in such a manner
that the openings enabling the packages to be taken out face
radially outward from the axis of rotation. In this way, when the
rack has been rotated into a delivery angular position, the retailer
can easily take out a package from the receptacle of the desired
type and sell it to the customer.
According to a further enhancement of the apparatus according to the
invention, the receptacles are arranged on the rack in a plurality
of levels. This makes it possible to accommodate an even greater
number of receptacles and thus an even greater number of ditferent
types of smoking articles within the cabinet by means of the rack.
According to another improvement of the apparatus according to the
invention, the receptacles are arranged on the rack in such a manner
that a sector of the rack is left devoid of receptacles along the
entire longitudinal extent of the rack. Preferably, the sector
extends through an angle of between 60 degrees and 180 degrees when
measured in a plane normal to the axis of rotation. In particular,
the sector may be oriented towards the access aperture when the rack
is in its initial angular position. By this improvement, it can be
avoided in a simple manner that any receptacles or packages
contained therein can be accessed or seen by the customer in the
initial angular position.
According to an improvement, the apparatus further comprises an
openable and closeable door adapted to cover the access aperture in
a closed position of the door in order to essentially prevent the
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rack from being seen from the outside of the cabinet. The door may
be opened by the retailer when proceeding to a sale of one or more
of the packages kept by means of the apparatus. After the sale, the
door provided according to this improvement can be closed and
allows, in its closed position, to prevent the receptacles, the
packages and also labelling possibly present on the receptacles from
being seen by customers present in the salesroom even better.
Moreover, the door may be useful for further improving the aesthetic
appearance of the apparatus when the door is closed.
According to a further development, the door is arranged so as to be
pivotable from its closed position about an axis parallel to or
coinciding with the axis of rotation of the rack in order to uncover
the access aperture and enable access to the receptacles on the
rack. According to this development, when the access aperture is
fully uncovered, the door is essentially contained within the
cabinet. When the door and the rack are arranged in this way, the
movements of the door and the rack can be coupled to each other in a
simple manner. Further, by this enhancement, the entire access
aperture is easily accessible from the outside of the cabinet, and
the shop assistant or the retailer is not hindered by an open or
half-open door sticking out from the front face of the cabinet.
According to one particularly preferred development, the door is
coupled to the rack so as to be rotated in common with the rack, the
door covering the access aperture in the initial angular position of
the= rack. In this way, the door can simply be opened and closed
along with the rotation of the rack.
According to a variant of the preceding development, the door, being
rotatable in common with the rack, is coupled to the rack so as to
= substantially cover the circumference of the rack in the sector
devoid of receptacles. In this way, the door can be coupled to the
rack in a simple manner without hindering access to the receptacles
for packages containing smoking articles.
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According to a further enhancement, the door is coupled to the rack
in such a manner that, in the closed position of the door, the door
is enabled to be pushed radially inward towards the axis of
rotation, preferably against a force generated by an elastic means,
which couples the door and the rack, so as to enable the access
aperture to be subsequently uncovered by rotating the rack from the
initial angular position in the first direction of rotation.
Preferably, rotation of the rack is prevented by appropriate locking
means when the rack is in its initial angular position and the door
is not pushed inward. The locking means may be operated to enable
rotation of the rack by pushing the door inward, as described.
Unintentional rotation of the rack and unintentional uncovering of
the access aperture is thereby prevented.
In another development, the door is rotatably mounted to the
cabinet, and a pivoting motion of the door is coupled to the
rotation of the rack about the axis of rotation by means of a
transmission, in particular by means of a gear mechanism or a
linkage. This can be useful if it is desired to dispose receptacles
on the rack along the entire circumference of the rack.
In a development of the apparatus, the rack may be rotatable from a
first angular position corresponding to one of the delivery angular
positions about the axis of rotation in the first direction of
rotation until the rack reaches a final angular position which
corresponds to another of the delivery angular positions of the
. rack. Thereby, advantageously, different subsets of the entire
plurality of receptacles carried by the rack become successively
accessible from the outside through the access aperture when the
rack is rotated.
According to a further improvement of the apparatus of the
invention, the door and the rack are arranged and coupled in such a
manner that, when the door is opened, the rack assumes a first
angular position immediately after the access aperture is fully
uncovered. The rack is rotatable= from the first angular position
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about the axis of rotation in the first direction of rotation until
it reaches a final angular position, in which the access aperture is
still fully uncovered. The first angular position and the final
angular position of the rack each correspond to a respective one of
the delivery angular positions of the rack. In this way, different
subsets of the entire plurality of receptacles carried by the rack
become successively accessible from the outside through the access
aperture of the cabinet after the door has been opened. Taking out
packages from receptacles accessible when the rack has reached its
final angular position is as simple as taking out packages from
receptacles that are accessible when the rack assumes its first
angular position.
According to a preferred improvement, the apparatus further
comprises a biasing means, which may preferably be embodied as a
spring means, and which is arranged so as to enable the rack to be
, rotated against a force or torque generated by the biasing means in
the first direction of rotation by an operator. In a preferred
variant, this operation can be performed by the operator by hand.
The biasing means is adapted to induce a rotation of the rack in a
second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of
rotation when the rack is released after having been rotated by the
operator. By this enhancement, when the operator (e.g. the retailer
or the shop assistant) releases the rack, for example by taking
her/his hands off the rack after having rotated the same, the rack
is always returned to a defined previous angular position. This may,
=for example, be advantageous when packages of smoking articles are
to be sold to different clients, one immediately after the other.
Due to the action of the biasing means, the shop assistant or
retailer can be sure that the rack has been rotated back under the
action of the torque or force created by the biasing means after the
last sale.
According to a preferred and advantageous improvement, the biasing
means is adapted to return the rack to the initial angular position
when the rack is released after having been rotated to the delivery
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angular position or to one of the delivery angular positions. By
this improvement, operation of the apparatus is simplified even
further. After a sale of a package, the rack can automatically be
brought into a state in which the receptacles and the packages
contained therein are not accessible through the access aperture,
even in case the shop assistant or retailer forgets to rotate the
rack back into its initial angular position.
In an advantageous improvement, in case the apparatus comprises also
' a door, the door is automatically closed when the rack is returned
to the initial angular position under the action of the biasing
means. This has the advantage that, in case the rack is released
after having been rotated to the delivery angular position or to one
of the delivery angular positions, even when the shop assistant or
retailer forgets to close the door again, this will be accomplished
automatically. In this way, it is made sure that the door is closed
after each sale, without any action of the shop assistant or
retailer, and that the packages containing smoking articles are kept
ready for sale in compliance with the legislation.
According to another advantageous improvement, the biasing means is
adapted to return the rack to the first angular position when the
rack is released after having been rotated to the final angular
position or to any angular position between the first angular
position and the final angular position. This is particularly
advantageous, as the shop assistant or retailer can always be sure
=to start from the first angular position when searching the rack for
a particular receptacle. In addition, it is conceivable to fill the
receptacles of the subset that is accessible when the rack is in its
first angular position with packages containing smoking articles of
those types that should be visible to the particular client, on the
occasion of the purchase of a package, as long as possible.
In order to indicate the type of packages contained in a given
receptacle, according to a preferred development, each receptacle
may, on its front face oriented outward and away from the axis of
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rotation, be provided with a suitable label or signboard. This is
particularly advantageous in case the receptacles enclose the
packages contained almost entirely and are made of intransparent
material. Alternatively or additionally, the receptacles could be
made of a transparent material so that the packages can be at least
partially seen by the customer when the retailer proceeds to a sale
and the door is in an opened position so that the access aperture is
uncovered.
The receptacles and the rack may be, according to one development,
be fermed in one piece. Alternatively, the receptacles may be formed
such as to be removable from the rack. For example, the receptacles
and/or the rack may be provided with means enabling the receptacles
to be releasably fastened to the rack. In a further alternative
development, different sections or stories of the rack, which are
preferably identical, may be formed in one piece with receptacles
arranged on that section or story of the rack. A construction in one
piece, either of the entire rack= and the receptacles or of each of a
number of different sections or stories of the rack, which
afterwards make up the complete rack when assembled to each other,
can be advantageous from the point of view of manufacturing the
apparatus. In particular, manufacture may, as an example, be
simplified by producing the receptacles and the rack from a suitable
plastic synthetic material, for example by injection molding of
thermoplastic synthetic material. Releasably fastened receptacles
may have advantages when the receptacles need to be refilled with
packages containing smoking articles.
All receptacles carried by the rack may be identical, except that
they will usually - if a label or signboard is provided - be
labelled differently in order to indicate different types of smoking
articles. According to a further development, however, different
receptacle types may be provided, in particular different
receptacles adapted to various package sizes and/or package shapes.
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The cabinet of the apparatus may be made from a metal material, for
example from sheet steel or aluminum. More preferably, however, the
cabinet comprises walls made from a synthetic material, in
particular from acrylic glass or PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate),
which is painted or coated so as to render it opaque. In the same
manner, painted or coated acrylic glass or PMMA can also be used for
forming the door.
According to a preferred development, the cabinet is block-shaped or
cuboid-shaped, and preferably has rounded vertical edges. A cabinet
of this type makes it possible to easily arrange several apparatuses
according to the invention next to each other in case the capacity
of a single apparatus - in spite of its ability to accommodate a
considerable number of different types of smoking articles - is not
sufficient for the needs of a particular retailer, for example. An
arrangement for keeping packages containing smoking articles ready
for sale and/or for temporarily displaying the packages to a
customer can thereby be built up in a modular way.
The developments, improvements and enhancements described above may
be arbitrarily combined with each other whenever this makes sense.
Other possible developments, enhancements and implementations of the
invention comprise combinations of features of the invention that
have been described above or will be described in the following in
relation to the detailed description of embodiments, even where such
a combination has not been expressly mentioned.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be explained in the following with
reference to the schematic figures of the drawings, illustrating
embodiments of the invention.
Figure 1 is a
perspective view of an apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, showing a cabinet
and a door of the apparatus, the door being closed;
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Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus
according to the embodiment of Figure 1, additionally
showing a rack carrying a plurality of receptacles; and
Figure 3 is a front view of four apparatuses, each being formed
according to the embodiment of Figure 1, arranged next
to each other, the doors of three of the apparatuses
being open, and the racks of the apparatuses of which
the doors are open being shown in three different
angular positions.
The enclosed drawings are intended to illustrate embodiments of the
invention so that the invention may be further understood. The
drawings, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain
principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many
of the advantages described may be inferred from the drawings.
Elements of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Elements, features and components which are identical or which have
the same function or effect have been labelled in the drawings using
the same reference signs, except where explicitly stated otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In Figure 1, an apparatus 1 for keeping packages containing smoking
articles ready for sale and/or for temporarily displaying the
packages to a customer is shown in perspective view. The apparatus 1
comprises a cabinet 2 having vertical side walls 2a and 2b as well
as a vertical rear wall 2c. The cabinet 2 is generally cuboid-shaped
but has rounded vertical edges 3. A vertical direction of the
cabinet 2 is indicated by reference sign V. At the top and at the
bottom, the cabinet 2 is closed by an essentially flat top wall 4a
and an essentially flat bottom wall 4b, the top and bottom walls 4a,
4b being substantially parallel to each other.
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The cabinet 2 is provided with an access aperture 5, of a
substantially rectangular shape, extending along the front side F of
the cabinet 2 from the bottom wall 4b to the top wall 4a.
In Figure 1, the access aperture 5 is covered by an openable and
closeable door 6, which is shown in Figure 1 in its closed position.
Longitudinal side edges 7 of the door 6, extending along the
vertical direction V, are bent backward towards an inside of the
cabinet 2 in regions 7a.
In Figure 2, the apparatus 1 of Figure 1 is shown again, now in
exploded view. As displayed in Figure 2, the apparatus 1 further
comprises a rack 11 comprising a helical surface 12 winding around a
central axle 13, to which the helical surface 12 is fixedly
connected. The rack 11 carries a plurality of receptacles 14, only
some of which are provided with reference signs in Figure 2 for the
sake of clarity. The receptacles 14 are disposed on the helical
surface 12 of the rack 11 in such a manner as to be seated on top of
the helical surface 12.
As can also be seen in Figure 2, the helical surface 12 is formed
such as to perform a number of windings around the central axle 13.
The lead angle of the helical surface 12 is preferably rather small,
and does not exceed, in particular, 20 degrees, =and preferably is
equal to or less than about 10 degrees.
According to the example shown in Fig. 2, the receptacles 14 are
arranged on the helical surface 12 in five levels 15a-15e, ten
receptacles 14 being arranged on each of the levels 15a-15e along
portions of an imaginary cylindrical envelope surface of the rack
11. Preferably, the receptacles 14 are, within each of the levels
15a-15e, arranged in evenly spaced manner, but preferably close to
each other in order to accommodate a large number of receptacles 14
on the rack 11.
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Each receptacle 14, as shown in Figure 2, is provided with an
opening 16 which is formed so as to enable packages 17 containing
smoking articles to be taken out from the respective receptacle 14.
The receptacles 14 are arranged on the helical surface 12 of the
rack 11 with the openings 16 facing radially outward from the
central axle 13, and thus also radially outward from an axis of
rotation A defined by the central axle 13.
In the embodiment depicted in Figure 2, the receptacles 14 are
preferably each formed box-like but are each open at their tops 14a.
The cross-section of the receptacles 14 is chosen in such a manner
that a pile of packages 17 can be received within each of the
receptacles 14. The receptacles 14 can be filled by inserting
packages 17 through the open top 14a of the receptacles 14. The
opening 16, intended for taking out packages 17 successively from
each of the receptacles 14, is arranged at a lower end of a front
face 14b of the receptacle 14, the front face 14b facing radially
outward from the axis of rotation A and the central axle 13. The
opening 16 is dimensioned to allow a single package 17, in
particular the lowermost package 17 of the pile inside the
receptacle 14, to be taken out from the receptacle 14 through the
opening 16. The remaining packages 17 within the receptacle 14 move
downward under the action of gravity as soon as a package 17 has
been removed through the opening 16.
As is also shown in Figure 2, the cabinet 2 is adapted to
accommodate the rack 11 inside the cabinet 2. The rack 11 is mounted
within the cabinet 2 in such a manner that the axis of rotation A,
defined by the central axle 13, is oriented along the vertical
direction V of the cabinet 2, as indicated by reference sign A' in
Figure 2. In use of the apparatus 1, i.e. when the apparatus 1 is
set up for keeping packages 17 ready for sale, for example in a
shop, the vertical direction V of the cabinet 2 extends
substantially perpendicularly to the ground. As is not shown in
Figure 2 in detail, the rack 11 is mounted within the cabinet 2 in
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such a way that the rack 11 can rotated about the axis of rotation
A.
In Figure 2, the door 6 is also shown. The door 6 serves to
essentially prevent the rack 11, the receptacles 14 and the packages
17 contained within the receptacles 14 from being seen from an
outside of the cabinet 2, in order to comply with legislation
requiring that smoking articles must be hidden from the view of the
customers except when the retailer proceeds to a sale.
Further, in Figure 2, it is shown that the receptacles 14 are
arranged on the rack 11 in such a manner that a sector 21, indicated
in the figure by a dash-dotted line, is devoid of receptacles 14
along the entire longitudinal extent of the rack 11. The sector 21
may extend through an angle p, when measured in a plane normal to
the axis of rotation A, of between 60 degrees and 180 degrees, for
example through an angle p substantially equal to 90 degrees.
On the front face 14b of each of the receptacles 14, a label or
signboard 18 indicating the kind of packages that are contained in
the respective receptacle 14 is fixed in suitable manner. For
example, labels 18 may be adhesively bonded to the front face 14b of
each of the receptacles 14.
Referring now to Figure 3, the mode of operation of the apparatus 1
including the operation of the door 6 and the rack 11 will be
explained. As shown in Figure 3, the rack 11, the cabinet 2 and the
door 6 of the apparatus 1 are dimensioned and arranged in such a
manner that when the door 6 of the apparatus 1 is open, a subset of
the receptacles 14 is accessible through the access aperture 5 from
the outside of the cabinet 2. The subset that is accessible depends
on the angular position a (see Figure 2) of the rack 11 about the
axis of rotation A with respect to the cabinet 2, i.e. different
receptacles 14 become accessible through the access aperture 5 when
the rack 11 is turned inside the cabinet 2 about its axis of
rotation A. This means that the rack 11 can assume several delivery
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angular positions, in each of which a different subset of
receptacles 14 can be accessed through the access aperture 5.
Figure 3 shows four apparatuses 1 according to the embodiment of
Figure 1 and Figure 2, arranged in exemplary manner next to each
other and denoted by reference signs la-d. The door 6 of the
leftmost apparatus la in Figure 3 is closed, so that the rack 11
inside, carrying the receptacles 14 and the packages 17 therein, is
substantially hidden from view and access to the rack 11, the
receptacles 14 and the packages 17 is prevented. The door 6 is
arranged in such a manner that it can be pivoted from its closed
position, shown for apparatus la, about an axis parallel to or
coinciding with the axis of rotation A of the rack 11 in order to
uncover the access aperture 5.
As shown for apparatus lb in Figure 3, when the door is open, access
to the receptacles 14 on the rack 11 is possible. The access
aperture 5 is fully open in the states of operation of apparatuses
1b, lc and ld in this figure, and in these states of operation, the
respective door 6 is contained within the cabinet 2. In Figure 3,
the rack 11 of each of the apparatuses lb, lc and ld assumes a
different delivery angular position with respect to the cabinet 2.
In the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1-3, the door
6 is coupled to the rack 11 so as to be rotated in common with the
rack 11. In the state of apparatus la in Figure 3, the door 6 covers
the access aperture 5 while the rack 11 assumes an initial angular
position with respect to the cabinet 2.
The door 6 is coupled to the rack 11 and dimensioned in such a
manner that it substantially covers the circumference of the rack
11, along the entire length thereof, in the region of the sector 21
which is devoid of receptacles 14, as shown in more detail in Figure
2.
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In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the door 6 is coupled to
the rack 11 by means of a suitable mechanism in such a manner that
the door 6 can be, when in its closed position, as shown in Figure 3
for apparatus la, be pushed radially inward towards the central axle
13. This is indicated by arrow P. There may be an elastic means, not
shown in the Figures, coupling the door 6 and the rack 11 and, for
example, arranged between the door 6 and the rack 11, which
generates a force against which door 6 can be pushed inward by hand
along arrow P.
The door 6 and the rack 11 are rotated in common - after the door 6
has been pushed inward, as the case may be - as indicated by
reference sign R in Figure 3, about the axis of rotation A defined
by the central axle 13, in a first direction of rotation from the
initial angular position of the rack 11 shown for apparatus la to a
first angular position of the rack 11, shown for apparatus lb in
Figure 3. The rack 11 thus assumes the first angular position shown
immediately after the access aperture 5 has become fully uncovered.
In the state of operation of apparatus lb, a given subset of
receptacles 14 is accessible through the access aperture 5.
Preferably, the receptacles 14 accessible in the state of apparatus
lb are filled with those types of packages 17 of smoking articles
that the customer should see most and longest on the occasion of a
sale of a package 17.
In a further, alternative variant of this embodiment, the apparatus
1, la-d may be provided without a door 6. In this case, in order to
provide a function of preventing the packages 17 containing smoking
articles and the labels or signboards 18 from being seen from the
outside of the cabinet 2, the sector 21 which is devoid of
receptacles is arranged so as to be oriented towards the access
aperture 5 when the rack 11 assumes its initial angular position. In
this case, it is preferred that the angle 0 is chosen sufficiently
large, in such a manner that in the initial angular position of the
rack 11, the front face 14b of none of the receptacles 14 on the
rack 11 can be seen through the access aperture 5.
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=
From the first angular position of the rack 11, shown for apparatus
lb and corresponding to a delivery angular position of the rack 11,
the rack 11 can be rotated further within the cabinet 2 in the first
direction of rotation R, to assume a second, intermediate angular
position corresponding to another delivery angular position of the
rack 11, as shown for apparatus lc and, when rotated even further in
the direction R, to assume a final angular position, as this is
shown for apparatus ld. The final angular position of the rack 11
corresponds to a further delivery angular position thereof.
When the rack 11 is in the first angular position, in the final
angular position or in any intermediate angular position, a retailer
or shop assistant can take out a package 17 containing smoking
articles from a chosen receptacle 14 of the respective accessible
subset of the receptacles 14.
The apparatus 1 comprises a biasing means, not shown in the figures,
which may, for example, be formed as a spring means, and which is
arranged preferably so as to couple the rack 11 and the cabinet 2 in
such a manner that the rack 11 is enabled to be rotated against a
force or a torque, which is generated by the biasing means, in the
first direction of rotation R. The biasing means is formed in such a
manner that this operation of rotation in direction R can be carried
out by an operator, in particular by hand. When the retailer or shop
assistant releases the rack 11 after having taken out a package 17,
the biasing means induces a rotation of the rack 11 in a second
direction of rotation R', opposite to the first direction of
rotation R. The rack 11 thus automatically rotates back, in the case
of the embodiment depicted in the figures, to the first angular
position of the rack, shown for apparatus lb, in which the rack 11
displays those receptacles 14 containing packages 17 of smoking
articles that the customer should preferably see as long as possible
on the occasion of a sale. The rotation R' is induced by the biasing
means when the rack 11 is released by the operator in any angular
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position of the rack 11 between the first and the final angular
positions.
In an alternative and preferred embodiment, the biasing means may be
adapted so as to return the rack 11 to the initial position of the
rack 11, shown in Figure 3 for apparatus la, which means that when
the operator releases the rack 11, the door 6 is automatically
closed.
In a preferred variant, when the rack 11 returns to the initial
angular position, the door 6 is moved radially outward from the
central axle 13 under the action of the elastic means mentioned
before, coupling the rack 11 and the door 6, thus covering the
access aperture 5. In this state, rotation of the rack 11 is
preferably prevented by a suitable locking mechanism unless the
operator pushes the door 6 inward along direction P again.
In a further variant of the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the
door 6 may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet 2 in a manner
separate from the rack 11. In this case, a transmission, not shown
in the figures, in particular a suitable gear mechanism or a
suitable linkage, may be provided in order to couple a pivoting
motion of the door 6 to the rotation of the rack 11 about the axis
of rotation A.
As indicated by a dash-dotted line in Figure 1, in a preferred
variant of the embodiment displayed in this figure, the bottom wall
4b of the cabinet 2 may =be replaced by a box-like base 4b', being
larger in height, compared to the bottom wall 4b. The box-like base
4b' can be useful for accommodating mechanical components, not shown
in the figures in detail, for enabling the rotation of the rack 11
and the rotational or pivoting motion of the door 6, as well as for
enabling the door 6 to be pushed inward along arrow P, as described
above. The biasing means described above may also be accommodated
inside the box-like base 4b'.
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In particular, within the box-like base 4b', a rotatable plate 9 may
be provided. This is indicated schematically by a dashed line in
Figure 2. Preferably, such a rotatable plate 9 is circular in shape
and substantially fills a corresponding circular recess provided in
an internal floor 8 of the cabinet 2 so as to be flush with the
internal floor 8, this internal floor 8 being formed by a top of the
box-like base 4b'. By means of the rotatable plate 9, the above-
described rotations in the first and second directions of rotation
R, R' about the axis A (see Figure 3) can be accomplished.
Specifically, the rack 11 can be arranged on the rotating plate 9,
and the door 6 and the rack 11 can be coupled to each other by means
of the rotatable plate 9 in such a manner that the operation of the
apparatus 1, as set forth above with reference to the embodiments of
Figures 1-3 and/or their variants, is achieved.
Top and bottom walls 4a, 4b as well as side walls 2a, 2b and rear
wall 2c of the cabinet 2 - and also the box-like base 4b', if it is
provided - may be formed from a metal material like steel or
aluminum, but preferably are manufactured from acrylic glass or PMMA
(polymethylmethacrylate), which is painted or coated so as to be
opaque. Similarly, the door 6 may be manufactured using a metal
material, such as a steel or aluminum sheet, but preferably is also
formed with acrylic glass. The rack 11 may be formed in one piece
with the receptacles 14 and the central axle 13. Alternatively, rack
11 may be formed by assembling a number of sections or stories, each
of the sections or stories, for example, corresponding to one of the
levels 15a-15e. Each section or story may then be produced in one
piece with the associated receptacles 14. The rack 11 and the
receptacles 14 may be formed from a thermoplastic synthetic
material, for example by injection molding.
Alternatively, the receptacles 14 may be produced separately from
the axle 13 and the helical surface 12 of the rack 11, and the
receptacles 14 may be provided with suitable means, not shown, which
allow to permanently or releasably fix the receptacles in predefined
positions on the helical surface 12.
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Although in the embodiment depicted in the figures, the receptacles
14 are all formed in identical manner and size, and differ only by
the packages 17 contained and by the label or signboard 18 placed on
the respective front face 14b, it is also conceivable to arrange
receptacles 14 of varying size and/or shape, for example of varying
width, on the helical surface 12, although the provision of
identical receptacles 14 may be more preferable.
Although the invention has been completely described above with
reference to preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited
thereto but may be modified in various ways.
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List of reference signs
1 apparatus
2 cabinet
2a side wall (cabinet)
2b side wall (cabinet)
2c rear wall (cabinet)
3 rounded vertical edge (cabinet)
4a top wall (cabinet)
4b bottom wall (cabinet)
4b' box-like base
access aperture (cabinet)
6 door
7 longitudinal side edge (door)
7a region (door)
8 internal floor (cabinet)
9 rotatable plate
11 rack
12 helical surface (rack)
13 central axle (rack)
14 receptacle
14a top (receptacle)
14b front face (receptacle)
15a-15e level (rack)
16 opening (receptacle)
17 package containing smoking articles
18 label or signboard
21 sector devoid of receptacles
front side
V vertical direction
A axis of rotation (rack)
A' axis of rotation (when rack is arranged inside cabinet)
pushing direction
first direction of rotation
R' second direction of rotation opposite to the first
direction of rotation
