TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to ice merchandisers for storing and providing an ice product to customers.

BACKGROUND

Ice merchandisers store and supply ice products (e.g., bagged ice) to patrons. Typically, ice merchandisers are located in or around convenient stores (e.g., a grocery store, a fueling station, etc.). Many patrons of these convenient stores complement their purchases with one or more bags of ice stored in the ice merchandiser.

Ice merchandisers are usually fairly large and heavy temperature-controlled storage units. Their size and shape is often dependent upon the ice product that they are designed to store (e.g., one-hundred seven pound bags of ice, three-hundred seven pound bags of ice, etc.), the presence of a refrigeration system, the use of heavy-duty weather-resistant (e.g., rust resistant) materials, and the like. In operation, a patron opens a door of the ice merchandiser, reaches their arms within an interior volume of the ice merchandiser, and removes the ice product from the ice merchandiser. In some configurations, the interior volume may include a platform or shelving system structured to support the ice products. After obtaining the ice product, the door is shut to maintain the temperature of the interior volume to prevent the ice product from melting.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system for facilitating a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser. The payment system includes a mass determination module structured to determine a mass of bagged ice product removed during the bagged ice product transaction, and a transaction module structured to determine an amount of currency required for the bagged ice product transaction based on the determined mass of bagged ice product removed. By including a payment system with the ice merchandiser, patrons may purchase bagged ice directly at the ice merchandiser thereby alleviating the need to make the purchase in a nearby convenient store. This added convenience may lead to an increase in sales potential for the operator of the ice merchandiser.

Another embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer. The ice merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity, a platform located in the cavity for holding a bagged ice product, a load cell structured to measure a mass of the bagged ice product, and a payment system communicably coupled to the load cell. The payment system is structured to determine a mass of bagged ice product removed during a bagged ice product transaction and determine an amount of currency required for the bagged ice product transaction based on the determined mass of bagged ice product removed. By charging a patron on a per-mass-removed basis, the patron is free to change their mind regarding how much ice they would like in the middle of the transaction. This provides flexibility and convenience to the patron.

Still another embodiment relates to a method of operating an ice merchandiser. The method includes receiving an initiation of a bagged ice product transaction; validating the bagged ice product transaction; receiving weight data, the weight data corresponding to a mass of bagged ice product stored by the ice merchandiser; determining that the bagged ice product transaction is complete; determining a mass of bagged ice product removed by a customer during the bagged ice product transaction based on the weight data; and charging the customer for the determined mass of bagged ice product removed.

One embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system structured to enable a patron to facilitate a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser, and an access control system structured to selectively provide access to the ice merchandiser during the bagged ice product transaction based on the payment system providing an indication that payment for the ice product has been validated. Accordingly, the access control system selectively controls access to the ice merchandiser, which alleviates the need for constant monitoring of the ice merchandiser.

Another embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser. The ice merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity for storing a bagged ice product; an opening defined by the housing, wherein the opening provides access to the cavity of the ice merchandiser; and a door movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the door covers the opening and in the second position, the door is positioned away from the opening such that the cavity is accessible. The ice merchandiser also includes a payment system structured to enable a patron to facilitate a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser, and an access control system structured to selectively provide access to the cavity. The access control system includes one or more locks configured to selectively lock the door to cover the opening. The access control system also includes a timer mechanism structured to unlock the one or more locks for an unlock position duration following the payment system providing an indication that payment for the bagged ice product has been validated.

Still another embodiment relates to a method of operating an ice merchandiser. The method includes receiving an initiation of a bagged ice product transaction; providing access to the ice merchandiser for an unlock position duration; receiving position data, the position data providing an indication of at least one of a position of a door for the ice merchandiser and a door-to-ice merchandiser contact area; determining that the bagged ice product transaction is complete; and locking the door of the ice merchandiser to prohibit access to the ice merchandiser.

One embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer. The ice merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity, and a platform located in the cavity for holding and supplying a bagged ice product. The platform is structured to elevate based on bagged ice product being removed from the platform, wherein the platform is movable between a loaded position height and an ice product removal height. According to one embodiment, the self-elevating platform is configured to maintain an ergonomic ice product removal height to alleviate much of the need for the patron to bend over into the ice merchandiser. As a result, injury caused from the lifting and removing of the bagged ice product, such as back strain, may be reduced.

Another embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser. The ice merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity and a self-elevating platform assembly located in the cavity for holding and supplying a bagged ice product. The self-elevating platform assembly includes a platform structured to hold the bagged ice product, one or more springs coupled to the platform, and a support frame coupled to the one or more springs. The one or more springs are structured to move the platform between a loaded position height and an ice product removal height based on at least one of bagged ice product being added to and removed from the platform.

Still another embodiment relates to method of operating an ice merchandiser. The method includes receiving a bagged ice product on a platform of the ice merchandiser; descending the platform toward a ground surface based on the received bagged ice product; providing at least a portion of the received bagged ice product; and elevating the platform based on the at least a portion of the bagged ice product being provided.

One embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer. The ice merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity and an opening, wherein the opening provides access to the cavity of the ice merchandiser; a door including a window for viewing into the cavity, wherein the door is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the door covers the opening and in the second position, the door is positioned away from the opening such that the cavity is accessible; a handle located on the door; and an anti-microbial coating, wherein the anti-microbial coating is provided on the handle and an interior surface of the housing within the cavity. The anti-microbial coating is configured to at least partly kill or inhibit growth of harmful microorganisms to thereby maintain a relatively hygienic ice merchandiser.

Another embodiment relates to an ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer. The ice merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity and an opening, wherein the opening provides access to the cavity of the ice merchandiser; a door that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the door covers the opening and in the second position, the door is positioned away from the opening such that the cavity is accessible; and an ultraviolet lamp located in the cavity of the ice merchandiser. According to one embodiment, the ultraviolet lamp is configured to emit a germicidal beam that is configured to kill or inhibit growth of harmful microorganisms to thereby maintain a relatively hygienic ice merchandiser.

Still another embodiment relates to a method of providing hygienic ice merchandiser. The method includes providing an ice merchandiser that includes a housing defining a cavity and an opening, wherein the opening provides access to the cavity of the ice merchandiser; providing an ultraviolet lamp in the cavity of the ice merchandiser; and providing an anti-microbial coating on a surface of the housing.

The described features, structures, advantages, and/or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or implementations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to impart a thorough understanding of embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment or implementation. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. Further, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the subject matter of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

