Multi-purpose retail display merchandising cabinet with detachable cooling system

Abstract

A multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity is provided. An insulated case defines an internal product display area. The internal display area can be non-refrigerated and may only use a detachable fan cooling cartridge to maintain the ambient room temperature inside the internal product display area. Alternatively, the cavity can become refrigerated when a detachable refrigerated cooling cartridge is used to refrigerate the internal display area, thus allowing the cabinet to be easily and interchangeably used as either a dry goods cabinet for non-refrigerated goods or as a refrigerator for refrigerated goods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity comprising:
 a case including a product display area within the case;   a cooling cartridge insertion slot attached to the case; and   a case air vent extending from within the product display area of the case into the cooling cartridge insertion slot;   wherein the cooling cartridge insertion slot is configured to removably receive a cooling cartridge, the cooling cartridge including a cartridge air vent which is configured to be coupled to the case air vent to allow the cooling cartridge to circulate cooled air into the product display area; and   wherein the cavity is adapted to serve as a refrigerated unit upon insertion of the cooling cartridge into the cooling cartridge insertion slot, and wherein the cavity is adapted to serve as a dry goods cabinet upon removal of the cooling cartridge from the cooling cartridge insertion slot.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is configured to be installable within one of a trimmed wall insertion or a customized kiosk. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , further comprising shelving within the product display area. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes a door connected to the case which encloses the product display area. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes at least one of lighting, marketing elements, signage, and temperature sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes one of insulated walls or insulated lining. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is configured to be installed in a computer-controlled, automated store outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge insertion slot is disposed below the product display area. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge insertion slot is situated on top of the case. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , further comprising rails attached to the cooling cartridge insertion slot to facilitate insertion and removal of the cooling cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge is a refrigerated cooling cartridge including a compressor, condenser, and evaporator. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge includes at least one of a blower, thermostat, and visual status display indicators. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge includes an electrical cord for providing power to the cooling cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge air vent comprises an air outlet and an air inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge is configured to stop circulation of cooled air into the product display area when the temperature inside the product display area has reached a predetermined degree, and wherein the cooling cartridge is configured to restart circulation of cooled air into the product display area when the temperature inside the product display area has exceeded the predetermined degree. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge is a fan cartridge including a fan vent, the fan vent being configured to be coupled to the case air vent to allow the cooling cartridge to circulate ambient air into the product display area, the cavity being adapted to serve as a dry goods cabinet upon insertion of the fan cartridge into the cooling cartridge insertion slot. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 16 , wherein the fan cartridge includes an exhaust fan to exhaust heated air from the product display area. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cartridge insertion slot includes a decorative grill for concealing the cooling cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes thermostat controls for monitoring and adjusting the temperature within the product display area. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , further comprising wheels attached to the cavity to facilitate movement of the cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity of  claim 1 , wherein if the cooling cartridge has failed, the cavity is restorable into a refrigerated unit only by replacement of the cooling cartridge. 
     
     
         22 . A multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavity comprising:
 a case including a product display area within the case;   a cooling cartridge insertion slot attached to the case;   a case air vent extending from within the product display area of the case into the cooling cartridge insertion slot; and   a cooling cartridge removably received within the cooling cartridge insertion slot, the cooling cartridge including a cartridge air vent which is configured to be coupled to the case air vent to allow the cooling cartridge to circulate cooled air into the product display area;   wherein the cavity is adapted to serve as a refrigerated unit upon insertion of the cooling cartridge into the cooling cartridge insertion slot, and wherein the cavity is adapted to serve as a dry goods cabinet upon removal of the cooling cartridge from the cooling cartridge insertion slot.   
     
     
         23 . A plurality of multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavities comprising:
 a plurality of cases disposed adjacent to each other, each case including a product display area, each of the plurality of cases including a cooling cartridge insertion slot attached to each individual case; and   a plurality of case air vents, each case air vent extending from within the product display area of each case into each cooling cartridge insertion slot;   wherein each cooling cartridge insertion slot is configured to removably receive a cooling cartridge, each cooling cartridge including a cartridge air vent which is configured to be coupled to the case air vent to allow the cooling cartridge to circulate cooled air into the product display area; and   wherein each cavity is adapted to serve as a refrigerated unit upon insertion of the cooling cartridge into the cooling cartridge insertion slot, and wherein each cavity is adapted to serve as a dry goods cabinet upon removal of the cooling cartridge from the cooling cartridge insertion slot.   
     
     
         24 . The plurality of multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavities of  claim 23 , wherein the cavities are configured to be self-standing. 
     
     
         25 . The plurality of multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavities of  claim 23 , wherein the cavities are configured to be installable within one of a trimmed wall insertion or a customized kiosk. 
     
     
         26 . The plurality of multi-purpose retail display merchandising cavities of  claim 23 , wherein the cavities are configured to be installed in a computer-controlled, automated store outlet with customized trays, wiring, and a product detection system installed inside each product display area.