Merchandiser

Abstract

A merchandiser is adapted for displaying and/or serving merchandise to customers. In some embodiments, the merchandiser includes a display section which may include a refrigerated display section and/or a non-refrigerated display section adapted for holding merchandise for customers to view and access. In some embodiments, the merchandiser also includes a food preparation section accessible to an employee serving the customers. The food preparation section may include an electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to one or more appliances. The merchandiser may include a partition for concealing an appliance area from view by the customers. Shields may be provided for preventing flow of air into or out of an open front of a refrigerated compartment in the refrigerated display section. A curtain may be provided for selectively covering the open front of the refrigerated compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A merchandiser for use by an employee in preparing food to be served to a customer and for displaying merchandise for the customer to view and access, the merchandiser comprising
 a cabinet having a front, a rear, and opposite left and right sides,   a refrigerated display section at the front of the cabinet adapted for holding refrigerated products for the customer to view and access,   a food preparation section at the rear of the cabinet accessible by the employee serving the customer, said food preparation section comprising
 a counter having a substantially horizontal food preparation surface for preparing food for customers, 
 an appliance area in front of the food preparation surface configured for supporting one or more food preparation appliances to be used by said employee, and 
 an electrical outlet in the appliance area for supplying electrical power to the one or more appliances. 
   
     
     
         2 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerated display section comprises a refrigerated compartment having an open front and a closed back, at least one support surface for supporting refrigerated products in the refrigerated compartment, and a cooling system for circulating cooling air to create an air curtain at the front of the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-refrigerated display section above the refrigerated display section and in front of the food preparation section, the non-refrigerated display section including at least one holding device for holding non-refrigerated merchandise for the customer to view and access. 
     
     
         4 . The merchandiser of  claim 3 , wherein said non-refrigerated display section comprises a partition extending up from the cabinet in front of the appliance area for concealing the appliance area from the customer at the front of the cabinet. 
     
     
         5 . The merchandiser of  claim 4 , wherein said partition has a releasable connection with the cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The merchandiser of  claim 5 , wherein said releasable connection is a quick-release connection. 
     
     
         7 . The merchandiser of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one holding device is positioned on a front side of the partition for holding non-refrigerated merchandise for the customer to view and access. 
     
     
         8 . The merchandiser of  claim 7 , wherein said holding device has a releasable connection with the partition whereby the holding device can be removed from and replaced on the partition. 
     
     
         9 . The merchandiser of  claim 4 , further comprising side panels extending up from the cabinet at opposite sides of the appliance area, and a top panel bridging the side panels and extending over the appliance area, said partition, side panels and top panel forming an enclosure enclosing a front, opposite left and right sides, and top of the appliance area. 
     
     
         10 . The merchandiser of  claim 9 , wherein the top panel is movable between a closed position forming said enclosure and an open position in which a top of the appliance area is at least partially exposed to facilitate cleaning or servicing of the one or more appliances. 
     
     
         11 . The merchandiser of  claim 10 , wherein the top panel is pivotable between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         12 . The merchandiser of  claim 11 , wherein the top panel is connected to at least one of the side panels by a parallelogram pivot connection. 
     
     
         13 . The merchandiser of  claim 11 , further comprising a piston connected to one of the side panels and connected to the top panel, the piston being operable to assist in pivoting the top panel to the open position and operable to maintain the top panel in said open position. 
     
     
         14 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-refrigerated educational display section above the refrigerated display section and in front of the food preparation section, the non-refrigerated educational display section including an upright display surface and at least one educating device mounted on said upright display surface for displaying visual educational material for the customer to view. 
     
     
         15 . The merchandiser of  claim 14 , wherein the educating device is an electronic display screen operable to display educational electronic images for the customer to view. 
     
     
         16 . The merchandiser of  claim 15 , further comprising an electrical outlet on the merchandiser for supplying electrical power to the electronic display screen. 
     
     
         17 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one food warming or cooking oven in the appliance area. 
     
     
         18 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising a second appliance area below the counter accessible from the rear of the cabinet for holding one or more appliances to be used by said employee, and a second electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to one or more appliances in the second appliance area. 
     
     
         19 . The merchandiser of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one food warming or cooking oven in the second appliance area. 
     
     
         20 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerated display section includes a refrigerated compartment having a front, a back, and opposite left and right sides, the front including an opening permitting access to the refrigerated compartment by the customer, at least one support surface for supporting refrigerated products in the refrigerated compartment, further comprising a cooling system adapted for circulating cooling air to create an air curtain at the front of the refrigerated compartment, and further comprising a curtain for covering the opening at the front of the refrigerated compartment, the curtain having a retracted position in which the opening is uncovered for permitting access to the refrigerated products in the refrigerated compartment and a covering position in which the opening is covered to decrease heat infiltration into the refrigerated compartment through the opening, the curtain comprising porous material which permits fluid communication between the refrigerated compartment and ambient when the curtain is in said covering position, the curtain being positioned below the opening when in the retracted position and movable to the covering position by extending the cover upward over the opening.