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 merchandiser 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 comprising
 a front display side for displaying merchandise to a customer, the display side including a refrigerated display section having a refrigerated compartment, the refrigerated compartment having a front and being adapted for holding refrigerated products for a customer to view and access,   a rear preparation side for use by an employee in preparing food to be served to a customer, the preparation side including a food preparation section positioned behind the front of the refrigerated compartment, said food preparation section comprising
 a counter having a substantially horizontal food preparation surface for preparing food for customers, and 
 an appliance area in front of the food preparation surface configured for supporting at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance to be used by said employee, and 
   an electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to the at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerated compartment has an open front and a closed back, and the merchandiser includes 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 wall extending up in front of the appliance area for concealing the appliance area from view from the display side. 
     
     
         4 . The merchandiser of  claim 3 , wherein said wall comprises a partition mounted by a releasable connection. 
     
     
         5 . The merchandiser of  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
         6 . The merchandiser of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holding device is positioned on a front side of said wall for holding non-refrigerated merchandise for the customer to view and access. 
     
     
         7 . The merchandiser of  claim 3 , further comprising side panels extending up at opposite sides of the appliance area, and a top panel bridging the side panels and extending over the appliance area, said wall, side panels and top panel forming an enclosure enclosing a front, opposite left and right sides, and top of the appliance area. 
     
     
         8 . The merchandiser of  claim 7 , 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. 
     
     
         9 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , in combination with the at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance, the at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance comprising at least one food warming or cooking oven in the appliance area. 
     
     
         10 . The merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the food preparation section includes a second appliance area below the counter for holding at least one second electrically powered appliance to be used by said employee, and the merchandiser includes a second electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to said at least one second electrically powered appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The merchandiser of  claim 10 , in combination with the at least one second electrically powered appliance, the at least one second electrically powered appliance comprising at least one food warming or cooking oven in the second appliance area. 
     
     
         12 . The merchandiser of  claim 1  wherein the refrigerated compartment includes a support surface configured for holding refrigerated products for a customer to view and access, and said support surface is positioned lower than the food preparation surface of the food preparation section. 
     
     
         13 . The merchandiser of  claim 1  further comprising an enclosure for concealing the appliance area from the display side. 
     
     
         14 . The merchandiser of  claim 13  wherein the enclosure includes a panel extending over a top of the appliance area for concealing the top of the appliance area. 
     
     
         15 . The merchandiser of  claim 1  wherein the electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to the at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance is on the rear preparation side. 
     
     
         16 . A merchandiser comprising
 a front display side for displaying merchandise to a customer, the display side including a refrigerated display section having a refrigerated compartment, the refrigerated compartment having a front and being adapted for holding refrigerated products for a customer to view and access,   a rear preparation side for use by an employee in preparing food to be served to a customer, the preparation side including a food preparation section positioned behind the front of the refrigerated compartment, said food preparation section comprising
 a counter having a substantially horizontal food preparation surface for preparing food for customers, and 
 an appliance area configured for supporting at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance to be used by said employee, and 
   an electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to the at least one electrically powered food preparation appliance,   wherein the refrigerated compartment includes a support surface configured for holding refrigerated products for a customer to view and access, and said support surface is positioned lower than the food preparation surface.   
     
     
         17 . The merchandiser of  claim 16  wherein the support surface is a first support surface, and the refrigerated compartment further comprises a second support surface positioned higher than the first support surface, the second support surface being configured for holding refrigerated products for a customer to view and access. 
     
     
         18 . The merchandiser of  claim 16  wherein the refrigerated compartment includes a first portion positioned immediately above said support surface and positioned underneath the appliance area of the food preparation section. 
     
     
         19 . The merchandiser of  claim 18  wherein the refrigerated compartment extends from the first portion to a second portion positioned higher than the food preparation surface of the food preparation section, the second portion being configured for holding refrigerated products for a customer to view and access. 
     
     
         20 . The merchandiser of  claim 16  wherein the refrigerated display section includes a shield forming at least part of one of the left or right sides of the refrigerated compartment, the shield having a side segment extending along said one of the left or right sides of the refrigerated compartment, the side segment being transparent or semitransparent to permit viewing through the side segment of products in the refrigerated compartment.