Accessible check-out counter

Abstract

A check-out counter includes a base having a top, a stationary countertop and a slidable countertop. The stationary countertop has a top surface and is fixedly mounted to the top of the base. The slidable countertop has a top surface and is slidably mounted to the top of the base adjacent to the stationary countertop. The top surface of the stationary countertop is coplanar with the top surface of the slidable countertop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A check-out counter comprising:
 an unload area that supports merchandise to be purchased;   a bagging area located down stream from the unload area and used to support bags for receiving the purchased merchandise;   a deck area located down stream from the unload area and the bagging area, the deck area comprising:
 a base having a top; 
 a stationary countertop having a top surface and being fixedly mounted to the top of the base; and 
 a slidable countertop having a top surface and being slidably mounted to the top of the base adjacent to the stationary countertop; 
 wherein the top surface of the stationary countertop is coplanar with the top surface of the slidable countertop. 
   
     
     
         2 . The check-out counter of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary countertop comprises a down stream end, a first side end and an opposing second side end and wherein the slidable countertop comprises a down stream end, an up stream end, a first side end and an opposing second side end, the down stream end of the stationary countertop being in alignment with the down stream end of the slidable countertop and the second side end of the stationary countertop being adjacent the first side end of the slidable countertop when in a first position. 
     
     
         3 . The check-out counter of  claim 2 , wherein the stationary countertop comprises a lip located along the down stream end and protruding upwards from the top surface of the stationary countertop. 
     
     
         4 . The check-out counter of  claim 2 , wherein the slidable countertop comprises a first lip located along the up stream end of the slidable countertop and a second lip located along the second side end of the slidable countertop, the first lip and the second lip protruding upwards from the top surface of the slidable countertop. 
     
     
         5 . The check-out counter of  claim 2 , wherein when the slidable countertop is moved from the first position to a second accessible position, the slidable countertop is cantilevered relative to the base and the down stream end of the slidable countertop is out-of-alignment with the down stream end of the stationary countertop. 
     
     
         6 . The check-out counter of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one recessed surface recessed from the top surface of the base to house a plurality of slides, wherein each slide includes at least a base member fastened to the at least one recessed surface and a top member fastened to a bottom surface of the slidable countertop, and wherein the top member of each slide slidably engages with the base member of each slide. 
     
     
         7 . The check-out counter of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a detent that protrudes from a top surface of the base to releasably engage with a recess located on a bottom surface of the slidable countertop, the detent configured to prevent the slidable countertop from sliding until a threshold level of force is applied to move the slidable countertop. 
     
     
         8 . A counter comprising:
 a base deck having a top surface and at least one recessed surface that is recessed from the top surface of the base deck;   a top deck having a moveable portion coupled to the at least one recessed surface of the base deck with at least one slide, the at least one slide including a base member coupled to the at least one recess surface of the base deck, a top member coupled to a bottom of the moveable top deck and a slide member for slidably engaging the base member to the top member.   
     
     
         9 . The counter of  claim 8 , wherein the top deck further comprises a fixed portion coupled to the top surface of the base deck and wherein the fixed portion is located adjacent to the moveable portion. 
     
     
         10 . The counter of  claim 9 , wherein the fixed portion of the top deck comprises a down stream end, a first side end and an opposing second side end and wherein the moveable portion of the top deck comprises a down stream end, an up stream end, a first side end and an opposing second side end, the down stream end of the fixed portion of the top deck being in alignment with the down stream end of the moveable portion and the second side end of the fixed portion of the top deck being adjacent to the first side end of the moveable portion of the top deck when in a first position. 
     
     
         11 . The counter of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed portion of the top deck comprises a top surface and a build-up contour located along the down stream end of the fixed portion that protrudes upwards from the top surface of the fixed portion of the top deck. 
     
     
         12 . The counter of  claim 10 , wherein the moveable portion of the top deck comprises a first build-up contour located along the up stream end of the moveable portion and a second build-up contour located along the second side end of the moveable portion, the first build-up contour and the second build-up contour protruding upwards from the top surface of the moveable portion of the top deck. 
     
     
         13 . The counter of  claim 10 , wherein when the moveable portion of the top deck is moved from the first position to a second accessible position, the moveable portion is cantilevered relative to the base deck and the down stream end of the moveable portion is out-of-alignment with the down stream end of the fixed portion of the top deck. 
     
     
         14 . The counter of  claim 8 , wherein the base deck comprises a detent that protrudes from the top surface of the base deck to releasably engage with a recess located on a bottom surface of the moveable portion of the top deck, the detent configured to prevent the moveable portion from sliding until a threshold level of force is applied. 
     
     
         15 . A method of transitioning a check-out counter comprising:
 providing a base and a countertop mounted to the base that is in a first position, the countertop being located in a deck area that is down stream from an unload area and a bagging area of the check-out counter and including a fixed section having a down stream end and a top surface and a slidable section having a down stream end and a top surface that is coplanar with the top surface of the fixed section, wherein in the first position the slidable section is located adjacent to the fixed section such that the down stream end of the slidable section is in alignment with the down stream end of the fixed section; and   moving the slidable section of the countertop to a second position that is different from the first position, wherein in the second position the down stream end of the slidable section is cantilevered from the base and is out-of-alignment from the down stream end of the fixed section.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the slidable section of the countertop to the second position comprises using a sliding force that is greater than a threshold amount of force to overcome a detent located on the base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving the slidable section of the countertop back to the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the slidable section of the countertop back to the first position comprises using a force that is greater than a threshold amount of force to lock the slidable section back into the detent that is located on the base. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising preventing items from sliding off the down stream end of the fixed section of the countertop by providing a lip along the down stream end of the fixed section that protrudes from the top surface of the fixed section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising preventing items from sliding off an up stream end that is opposite the down stream end of the slidable section by providing a lip along the up stream end of the slidable section that protrudes from the top surface of the slidable section.