Convertible food merchandising counter construction and method

Abstract

A counter construction for merchandising prepared foods comprises a support fitted with and extending above the counter and an elongated sneeze guard assembly carried by the support means above the counter top. The sneeze guard is extensible into and out of the counter to permit the assembly to be raised and lowered relative to the counter top, permitting both full service and self-service modes of operation. The sneeze guard assembly further includes other features, including an illuminating light, a shelf and an advertising/accent panel, all of which are carried by the sneeze guard assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A counter construction for merchandising prepared foods, the construction comprising: 
 a counter having a bottom adapted to rest upon a support surface, opposing sides and ends extending upwardly from the bottom, the counter further including an upper serving counter top adapted to receive food retaining means;    support means fitted with and extending above the counter; and    an elongated sneeze guard assembly carried by the support means and extending above the counter top, the sneeze guard assembly including a unitary member and a transparent panel retained by the unitary member, the transparent panel extending to a height and in a direction relative to the counter top which permits the transparent panel to function as a sneeze guard, the sneeze guard assembly further including at least one of a light, a shelf and an advertising/accent panel fitted to the unitary member.    
     
     
         2 . The counter construction recited in  claim 1  wherein the sneeze guard assembly comprises both a light and a shelf fitted to the unitary member.  
     
     
         3 . The counter construction recited in  claim 1  wherein the sneeze guard assembly comprises both a light and an advertising/accent panel fitted to the unitary member.  
     
     
         4 . The counter construction recited in  claim 1  wherein the sneeze guard assembly comprises both a shelf and an advertising/accent panel fitted to the unitary member.  
     
     
         5 . The counter construction recited in  claim 1  wherein the sneeze guard assembly comprises all of a light, a shelf, and an advertising/accent panel fitted to the unitary member.  
     
     
         6 . The counter construction recited in  claim 1  wherein the unitary member comprises an extrusion defining at least one internal channel and plural special purpose channels facing outwardly relative to the interior channel, a first one of the outwardly-facing channels shaped and dimensioned to receive and support an interior end of the transparent sneeze guard panel, and a second outwardly-facing channel shaped and dimensioned to receive one of a light, a shelf, an advertising/accent panel and a mounting plate.  
     
     
         7 . The counter construction recited in  claim 6  further comprising means for releasably locking the interior end of the transparent panel within the first outwardly-facing channel.  
     
     
         8 . The counter construction recited in  claim 7  wherein the releasably locking means comprises: 
 plural elongated mullions, each having a first end dimensioned to extend into the first outwardly-facing channel and a second end dimensioned to extend away from the unitary member;  
 means along the second end of each mullion for supporting the transparent panel; and  
 a riser on one and a corresponding groove on the other of the first outwardly-facing channel and the interior end of each mullion, the riser and groove releasably locking each mullion within the first outwardly-facing channel.  
 
     
     
         9 . The counter construction recited in  claim 7  wherein the releasably locking means comprises a sealing strip along an interior edge of the transparent sneeze guard panel, the sealing strip dimensioned to retain the interior end of the transparent panel within the first outwardly-facing channel.  
     
     
         10 . The counter construction recited in  claim 6  wherein the second outwardly-facing channel comprises a light-retention channel with light fixture means positioned therein, the light-retention channel positioned and dimensioned such that a light therein will illuminate the counter top.  
     
     
         11 . The counter construction recited in  claim 6  wherein the second outwardly-facing channel comprises a shelf-retention channel with a shelf having a shelf stanchion extending into the shelf-retention channel.  
     
     
         12 . The counter construction recited in  claim 6  wherein the second outwardly-facing channel comprises an advertising/accent retention channel above the first outwardly-facing channel, with an advertising/accent strip positioned in the second channel.  
     
     
         13 . The counter construction recited in  claim 6  wherein the second outwardly-facing channel comprises a mounting plate retention channel with a mounting plate releasably contained therein, with the mounting plate fitted to the support means.  
     
     
         14 . The counter construction recited in  claim 6  wherein the unitary member comprises the second and a third outwardly-facing channel, including: 
 a light-retention channel with light fixture means positioned therein, the light-retention channel positioned and dimensioned to illuminate the counter top; and  
 a mounting plate retention channel with a mounting plate releasably contained therein, the mounting plate fixed to the support means.  
 
     
     
         15 . The counter construction recited in  claim 14  further comprising a fourth outwardly-facing channel comprising a shelf-retention channel with shelves having a shelf stanchion extending into the shelf-retention channel.  
     
     
         16 . The counter construction recited in  claim 15  further comprising a fifth outwardly-facing channel comprising an advertising/accent retention channel above the first outwardly-facing channel, with an advertising/accent strip positioned in the second channel.  
     
     
         17 . The counter construction recited in  claim 1  wherein the support means is extensible into and out of the counter, thereby permitting the sneeze guard assembly to be raised and lowered relative to the counter top.  
     
     
         18 . A counter construction for selectively merchandising prepared foods in either a full-service mode or a self-service mode, the construction comprising: 
 a counter having a bottom adapted to rest upon a support surface, opposing sides and ends extending upwardly from the bottom, the counter further including an upper serving counter top adapted to receive food retaining means;    support means carried by and extensible into and out of the counter;    an elongated sneeze guard assembly carried by the support means and extending above the counter top, the sneeze guard assembly including a unitary member and a transparent panel retained by the unitary member, the transparent panel extending to a height and in a direction relative to the counter top which permits the transparent panel to function as a sneeze guard; and wherein    extension of the support means into and out of the counter permits the sneeze guard assembly to be raised and lowered relative to the counter top.    
     
     
         19 . The counter construction recited in  claim 18  wherein the unitary member comprises an extrusion defining plural channels, including a first outwardly-facing channel shaped and dimensioned to receive and support an interior end of the transparent sneeze guard panel, and a second outwardly-facing channel shaped and dimensioned to receive one of a light, a shelf, an advertising/accent panel and a mounting plate.  
     
     
         20 . The counter construction recited in  claim 19  wherein the second outwardly-facing channel comprises means in combination with locking tabs for coupling together end-to-end lengths of the extruded unitary member.  
     
     
         21 . The counter construction recited in  claim 20  wherein the second outwardly-facing channel comprises a shelf retention channel dimensioned to receive a shelf having a shelf stanchion extending into the shelf-retention channel.  
     
     
         22 . A method for constructing and using a modular counter for merchandising food in either a full-service mode or a self-service mode, the method comprising: 
 constructing a counter having an upper counter top with food retaining means therein;    fitting the counter with support means and a sneeze guard assembly carried by the support means, the sneeze guard assembly including a transparent panel;    dimensioning the sneeze guard assembly and the transparent panel such that the panel extends to a height and in a direction relative to the counter top so as to permit the transparent panel to function as a sneeze guard;    constructing the sneeze guard assembly and the support means such that the sneeze guard assembly may be raised or lowered in relation to the counter top; and wherein    the sneeze guard assembly may be raised when the counter is to be used in a self-service mode and may be lowered when the counter is to be used in a full-service mode.    
     
     
         23 . The method recited in  claim 22  further comprising the steps of: 
 constructing the sneeze guard assembly with an elongated unitary extrusion; and  
 supporting the transparent panel with the unitary extrusion.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method recited in  claim 23  further comprising the step of fitting the elongated unitary extrusion with lighting means for illuminating food in the food retaining means.