Modular radial counter system

Abstract

The present disclosure radically departs from conventional teaching and creatively offers a flexible alternative to the orthogonal arrangement. The present disclosure provides a system of modular counters that can be mixed to create arrangements shaped as an “S”, “C”, or a multitude of other modular arrangements by mixing predefined toroidal shaped modular radial counters with other modular radial counters and/or modular orthogonal counters. For the present disclosure, such radial arrangements represent a significant change in the accepted understanding of orthogonal counter design. Examples of such flexible radial arrangements are disclosed herein. Despite decades of efforts in this field and the opportunities to design similar modules, the field has simply been absent of such modular radial solutions.

1 . A modular radial counter system comprising:
 a first modular radial counter comprising:
 a structural support system; 
 a countertop coupled to the support system having an inner first arcuate surface having a first radius with a first origin in space and an outer second arcuate surface having a second radius with a second origin in space, and 
 a first end and a second end coupled to the countertop, each end being radially aligned to project toward a convergence substantially at the origin of at least one of the radii. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first origin and the second origin converge to a common point. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a plurality of modular radial counters coupled to each other on an end of each counter. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is adapted to form an “S” shape by alternating a position of the radii origins of the radial counters between a first side and a second side of the system. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is adapted to form a “C” shape by positioning a plurality of the modular radial counters with the radii origins on a first side of the system. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first modular orthogonal counter having at least two adjacent surfaces formed at right angles along at least a portion of their length, the first modular orthogonal counter being coupled to the first modular radial counter. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of modular orthogonal counters coupled to at least one modular radial counter. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a breath protector coupled to the counter. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the countertop is formed with at least one opening for a food service or preparation device. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display shelf coupled to the counter. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerated display case coupled to the counter. 
   
   
       12 . A method of arranging the modular radial counter system of  claim 3 , comprising:
 positioning the first modular radial counter so that the origins of the first modular radial counter are disposed toward a first side of the system, and   positioning a second modular radial counter adjacent an end of the first radial counter so that the origins of the second modular radial counter are disposed toward a second side of the system different from the first side.   
   
   
       13 . A method of arranging the modular radial counter system of  claim 3 , comprising:
 positioning a second modular radial counter adjacent an end of the first radial counter so that the origins of the first modular radial counter and the origins of the second modular radial counter are disposed toward a common side of the system.   
   
   
       14 . A modular radial counter system comprising:
 a first modular radial counter comprising:
 a structural support system; 
 a countertop coupled to the support system having an inner first arcuate surface having a first radius with a first origin in space and an outer second arcuate surface having a second radius with a second origin in space, and 
 a first end and a second end coupled to the countertop, each end being radially aligned to project toward a convergence substantially at the origin of at least one of the radii; and 
   a second modular radial counter coupled to the first modular radial counter, the second modular radial counter comprising:
 a structural support system; 
 a countertop coupled to the support system having an inner first arcuate surface having a first radius with a first origin in space and an outer second arcuate surface having a second radius with a second origin in space, and 
 a first end and a second end coupled to the countertop, each end being radially aligned to project toward a convergence substantially at the origin of at least one of the radii, 
   the system being adapted to form an “S” shape by an arrangement of the counters defined by the origins of the first modular radial counter disposed toward a first side of the system and the origins of the second modular radial counter disposed toward a second side of the system different from the first side, and the same system being adapted to form a “C” shape by an alternative arrangement of the counters defined by the origins of the first modular radial counter and the origins of the second modular radial counter disposed toward a common side of the system.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first origin and the second origin of each radial counter converge to a common point for each radial counter. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the system further comprises a third modular radial counter coupled at least one of the first or second modular radial counters. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one modular orthogonal counter having at least two adjacent surfaces formed at right angles, the orthogonal counter coupled to at least one of the modular radial counters. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a breath protector coupled to the counter. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a display shelf coupled to the counter. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a refrigerated display case coupled to the counter.