WO2013170304A1

WO2013170304A1 - Lighting system for transparent media display

Info

Publication number: WO2013170304A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000507
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Michael Mcnair
Original assignee: Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Limited
Priority date: 2012-05-17
Filing date: 2013-05-17
Publication date: 2013-11-21
Also published as: AR091081A1

Abstract

A display system comprises a container body with a compartment for product and a transparent display screen. The transparent display screen is coupled to the body so that a display surface covers a portion of the container compartment, creating a light path through the transparent display screen to the enclosed compartment. A boundary lighting system is disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent display screen. The boundary lighting system backlights the transparent display screen and directing light into the compartment to illuminate items within the compartment.

Description

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TRANSPARENT MEDIA DISPLAY

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to display systems, particularly beverage display systems, with media displays and associated lighting systems.

BACKGROUND TO THE DISCLOSURE

Display systems for beverages often take the form of coolers or vending machines. These systems include

refrigerated cabinets for storing the beverage product and in some instances for dispensing that product. The display systems often include transparent panels (typically glass) that allow for visual inspection of the product to encourage selection or purchase of the product. Such display systems are commonly used in retail establishments or in public areas (in the case of vending machines) .

To promote brand awareness and encourage product purchase, signage has been associated with the display systems and in more recent times media display screens have been used providing video or picture content in association with the display system. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed in some forms is a display system comprising: a container body that defines a compartment for storing product, a transparent media display screen coupled to the container body, the transparent media display screen allowing visual inspection of product stored within the compartment through the media display screen, and a boundary lighting system disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent media display screen, the boundary lighting system backlighting the transparent media display screen and directing light into the compartment to illuminate product within the compartment. In some forms the display system is a beverage display system. In some forms, the container body comprises a refrigerated cabinet.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage display system in the form of a cooler; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the display system illustrated in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other

embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

This disclosure is directed generally to display systems. While the disclosure is described generally in the context of beverage display systems, such as beverage coolers or beverage vending machines, having refrigerated containers for storage, display, and/or dispensing of a beverage or other product, it may be used in other display systems providing access to a food or drink product such as, for example, heated units or room temperature containers.

Display systems using media display screens to advertise the product held therein are known. In retail applications display systems may incorporate a media display screen showing images of the product in an effort to attract a customer to the product.

Disclosed are embodiments of a display system such as a beverage display system having a refrigerated cabinet for storing, displaying and/or dispensing beverages. In some forms the display system comprises a container body that defines a compartment for storing product, a transparent media display screen coupled to the container body, the transparent media display screen allowing visual inspection of product stored within the compartment through the media display screen, and a boundary lighting system disposed adjacent an outer edge of the transparent media display screen, the boundary lighting system backlighting the transparent media display screen and directing light into the compartment to illuminate items within the compartment.

The boundary lighting system may comprise a strip light disposed adjacent an edge of the transparent media display screen, the strip light may be orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent media display screen display surface and into the compartment.

The boundary lighting system may comprise a plurality of strip lights that are disposed adjacent opposing edges of the transparent media display screen, each strip light may be orientated to direct light toward the centre of the

transparent media display screen display surface and into compartment . The one or more strip light may be disposed on an internal surface of the container body. In one form, the transparent media display screen may be disposed in a door of the container body that provides access to the compartment. In one form, one or more strip lights may be disposed on the door of the container body along one or more edges of the screen. In another form, one or more strip lights may be disposed on a fixed part of the container body adjacent the door opening and the strip light (s) registers with the edge of transparent media display screen when the door is in a closed position. In one form of this latter arrangement, the strip lighting may change state when the door is opened. For example the strip lighting may dim or switch off when the door is opened.

The display system may further comprise a diffuser disposed between the transparent media display screen and the compartment, the diffuser may scatter light from within the container body across the display surface of the transparent media display screen, the strip light (s) may be oriented to direct light toward the diffuser. The diffuser may comprise a diffuser panel that is generally commensurate in area with the display surface of the transparent media display screen, the diffuser panel may be aligned with the transparent media display screen so that visual inspection of product in the compartment is through the transparent media display screen and through the diffuser panel .

The strip light (s) may be disposed at, or comes into register with, a perimeter edge of the diffuser and direct light into the diffuser.

The diffuser may scatter light transverse to the transparent media display screen to illuminate items within the compartment and backlight the transparent display screen.

The strip light (s) may comprise a strip of light emitting diodes (LED's) .

The strip light (s) may be disposed at a perimeter edge(s) of a panel diffuser and direct light into the panel diffuser .

Strip lights may extend only around one or more parts of the perimeter of the transparent media display screen or may extend around the entire perimeter of the screen. The container of the display system may be a

refrigerator and the body may have a refrigeration system that chills the product compartment.

In some forms the refrigerated cabinet is configured for storing and/or dispensing beverages.

A reflective lip may be disposed adjacent the

transparent media display screen, the strip light (s) may be disposed between the reflective lip and the compartment so that the reflective lip shields the strip light (s) from the exterior of the container body and redirects incident light into the compartment.

The transparent media display screen is adapted to display media content (such as still images and/or video) whilst allowing a user to have visual contact with the product within the compartment. This reguires at least a portion of the media display screen to be transparent at least for a portion of the time, or in a resting state, to allow a user to see through the media display screen. This visual contact allows a user to view product in the

compartment while viewing the display screen. In one form, the transparent media display screen is in the form of a transparent LCD, plasma or LED display.

A beverage display system in the form of a beverage cooler 1 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The cooler 1 has a container body 25 that defines a compartment for product. The illustrated cooler 1 is an upright cabinet style of refrigerator. The general principles explained in this specification may also be applied to other display systems where it is desirable for a consumer to see the enclosed products. This is frequently the case with refrigerated consumer goods, but is also applicable to vending machines and certain arcade systems (such as the crane claw game) among other applications. Similarly, these principles may be applied to different refrigerator configurations, such as beer fridges and chest freezers.

The body 25 of the illustrated cooler 1 is generally rectangular cuboid. The body 25 defines a compartment where products (such a chilled drinks or food items) are positioned for display. The cooler compartment is enclosed by the body 25 so that stored products may be efficiently chilled. The body 25 may also house an integrated refrigeration system to chill the product compartment. The illustrated cooler 1 has a single door 15 that provides access to the compartment.

The door 15 forms part of the refrigerator body 25 and covers one of the elongated side of the refrigerator compartment. The remaining five sides of the cooler body 25 are formed from fixed panels in the illustrated embodiment.

The illustrated cooler door 15 is hinged to the remainder of the refrigerator body 25. A set of hinges (not shown) couples the door 15 along one of the elongate sides. Other door arrangements (such as sliding door) may be substituted depending on installation requirement and merchant preferences. A handle 16 is disposed in a side of the door 15 opposite the hinges. The illustrated handle 16 is formed by a recess in an elongated edge of the door 15. The recess allows a consumer or merchant to easily grasp the door and access the enclosed compartment. A transparent media display screen 10 is coupled to the illustrated container body such that the cooler 1 can display media content on the screen 10. That media may be video or still images or a combination of both. The screen 10 has a display surface that covers a portion of the refrigerator compartment so that a light path is created through the transparent display screen 10 to the enclosed compartment thereby allowing visual inspection of product in the compartment. The transparent display screen 10 replaces the regular glass panel that is often encountered in conventional merchant cooler, but still allows a consumer to see items within the refrigerator 1 in most circumstances.

The transparent media display screen 10 is mounted to the refrigerator door 15 in the illustrated embodiment. The display surface of the screen 10 has a surface area that is generally commensurate with the frontal surface area of the door 15. Additional transparent display screens may be mounted to other parts of the cooler body (such as replacing the touch screen display 20 illustrated on the side of the refrigerator shown in the figures) . The door may not necessarily incorporate a media display screen in all embodiments .

The media display screen 10 is adapted to allow a user to have visual contact with the product within the compartment. In some forms, this requires at least a portion of the media display screen to be transparent at least for a portion of the time, or in a resting state, to allow a user to see through the media display screen. This visual contact allows a user to view the product and packaging while viewing the media display screen 10. Transparent LCD, plasma and LED displays typically facilitate this functionality. These displays can be mounted to the container door 15 (either set within the container enclosure or mounted to the door exterior) and interfaced with an interactive control system that manages the media content presented through the cooler.

The media display screen 10 allows an image or moving content to be displayed thereon for a user. In the

illustrated display system, the media display screen is in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying content and images to the user. The LCD is capable of obscuring the product contained within the compartment by restricting or preventing the passage of light through the door 15 and media display screen 10. This is typically accomplished by displaying an obstructive image on segments of the LCD. In some forms these images cover the items housed within the compartment. Obstructive images generally comprise a black strip or block that occupies specific sections of the LCD. The images are typically black (or darkly coloured) as the transparent LCD panel is repressing backlighting from within the body 25 that is responsible for illuminating the LCD.

The contents of the cooler 1 are generally visible through the transparent door screen 10 whenever the display surface is not occupied by an obstructing image. Colour images or images where only the image outline is obstructive retain a light path through the door and allow items within the refrigeration compartment to remain visible from outside the cooler 1.

A touch screen display 20 is disposed in a side of the cooler body 25 in the figures. The touch screen display 20 allows a customer to interact with the refrigerator 1. The touch screen display 20 may also be transparent in some embodiments (although the illustrated touch screen display 20 is not) . An exploded view of the cooler 1 is illustrated in Figure 2. The cooler further comprises a boundary lighting system. The boundary lighting system backlights the transparent display screen 10 and directs light into the refrigeration compartment to illuminate items positioned within the refrigerator 1.

The boundary lighting system incorporates one or more lights. Ideally, the lights are arranged to emit light uniformly across the display surface of the transparent media display screen. The illustrated boundary lighting system has two strip lights 103 that are disposed adjacent opposing edges of the transparent media display screen 10. A single strip light may also be used and the strip light (s) may extend around the entire perimeter of the transparent display screen. Ideally, the strip lights 103 are orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent media display screen display surface and into the refrigeration compartment .

The strip light may comprise a single continuous light source (such as a CCFL tube) or a plurality of discrete light sources regularly spaced along the strip (such as an LED strip light) . The illustrated strip lights 103 comprise a strip of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are housed in a common body. The strip lights may also comprise multiple individual light sources coupled directly to the cooler body 25 (ie strip lights without a integrated or unitary body) . Ideally, the selected strip lights provide an elongate light source that emits a uniform intensity of light along the length of the strip.

The one or more strip light 103 may be disposed on an internal surface of the container body. In one form, the transparent media display screen may be disposed in the door 15 of the cooler that provides access to the compartment. In one form, one or more strip lights may be disposed on the door of the container along, or in close proximity to, one or more edges of the media screen 10. In another form, one or more strip lights may be disposed on a fixed part of the container adjacent the door opening and the strip light (s) 103 registers with the edge of transparent media display screen 10 when the door is in a closed position. In one form of this latter arrangement, the strip lighting may change state when the door is opened. For example the strip lighting may dim or switch off when the door is opened.

The display system may also incorporate a diffuser to promote uniform backlighting. The illustrated cooler 1 incorporates a panel diffuser 102 that is disposed behind the transparent media display screen 10. The illustrated diffuser 102 is generally commensurate in area with the display surface of the transparent display screen 10. The strip lights 103 and the diffuser 102 are disposed within the refrigerated body 25 directly behind the transparent display screen 10 in the illustrated embodiment.

The strip lights 103 are disposed at a perimeter edge of the diffuser panel 102 and direct light into the diffuser. The diffuser 102 scatters light from the strip lights 103 transverse to the display surface of the transparent display screen 10 to illuminate items within the refrigerator compartment and backlight the transparent display screen 10.

The illustrated configuration of boundary lighting system illuminates the items within the refrigerator

compartment from an extremity of the refrigerator body 25.

As the boundary lighting system is disposed between the items and the consumer, the consumer facing portion of the items is illuminated (the portion of the items closest to the

transparent display screen) . This lighting position

illuminates the items so that they are easily identifiable through the transparent display screen (as opposed to a lighting source disposed behind the items, which would create a silhouette) .

The diffuser panel 102 is generally aligned with the transparent display screen 10 and disposed between the display screen 10 and the refrigeration compartment. This arrangement produces a light path through the transparent display screen 10 into the refrigeration compartment that also passes through the diffuser panel 102. As such visual inspection of product in the compartment is through the transparent media display and the diffuser. As such the diffuser needs to be sufficiently transparent to allow the products in the compartment to be seen. The illustrated boundary lighting system enables the diffuser to scatter light from within the refrigerator body 25 (including light emitted from the strip lights disposed at the edges of the diffuser panel 102) uniformly across the display surface of the transparent display screen 10.

Ideally, a reflective lip is disposed adjacent the display screen in front of the boundary lighting system 103 so that the strip lights are positioned between the

reflective lip and the refrigeration compartment. The reflective lip shields the strip lights from the exterior of the container body, redirecting incident light into the refrigeration compartment and isolating the consumer from the light source.

The touch screen display 20 is mounted to one side of the refrigerator body 25. The touch screen display 20 provides an interactive interface for consumers.

The touch screen display 20 may be used for various applications, including interactive games or promotions, displaying reviews of the products placed by other consumers, selecting images or video to be displayed on the transparent media display screen 10 and watching promotional material. The touch screen display 20 may also be used by technicians for fault finding and maintenance analysis.

Both the touch screen display 20 and the transparent media display screen 10 can be used to promote products displayed within the cooler 1 and generate interest by capturing the attention of potential consumers. The transparent media display screen 10 coupled to the cooler door 15 may also incorporate touch screen capabilities to improve user interactions . To enable touch screen

functionality, the toughened glass protective layer 101 disposed in front of the transparent display screen 10 may be replaced by a touch sensitive overlay (similar to the overlay 202 disposed over the touch screen display 20) . This functional alteration may be made without modifying the illustrated mounting frame 105 that the couples the

transparent display screen assembly to the cooler body 25. Similarly a mounting frame 205 may be provided to mount the touch screen display 20 and a face panel 210 mounted over the screen display 20 to form the outer side surface of the cooler 1

An electronics cooling system 17 is disposed adjacent the bottom edge of the refrigerator door 15. The cooling system 17 may circulate chilled air across the boundary lighting system 103 and transparent display screen 10 to dissipate heat generated by these components.

The foregoing describes a container including

embodiments thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims .

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word

"comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A display system comprising: a container body that defines a compartment for storing product, a transparent media display screen coupled to the container body, the transparent media display screen allowing visual inspection of product stored within the compartment through the media display screen, and a boundary lighting system disposed within the container body adjacent an outer edge of the transparent media display screen, the boundary lighting system backlighting the transparent media display screen and directing light into the compartment to illuminate product within the compartment.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein the boundary lighting system comprises a strip light disposed adjacent an edge of the transparent media display screen, the strip light being orientated to direct light toward the centre of the transparent media display screen display and into the compartment .

3. The display system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the boundary lighting system comprises a plurality of strip lights that are disposed adjacent opposing edges of the transparent media display screen, each strip light being orientated to direct light toward the centre of the

transparent media display screen display surface and into compartment .

4. The display system of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the display system further comprises a diffuser disposed between the transparent display screen and the compartment, the diffuser scattering light from within the container body across the display surface of the transparent display screen, the strip light (s) being oriented to direct light toward the diffuser .

5. The display system of claim 4 wherein the diffuser comprises a diffuser panel that is generally commensurate in area with the display surface of the transparent media display screen, the diffuser panel being aligned with the transparent media display screen so that the light path through the transparent media display screen passes through the diffuser panel.

6. The display system of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the strip light (s) are disposed at a perimeter edge of the diffuser and direct light into the diffuser.

7. The display system of any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the diffuser scatters light transverse to the display surface of the transparent display screen to illuminate items within the compartment and backlight the transparent display screen.

8. The display system of any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the strip light (s) comprises a strip of light emitting diodes (LED' s) .

9. The display system of any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the strip light (s) are disposed at a perimeter edge(s) of a panel diffuser and direct light into the panel diffuser.

10. The display system of any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein strip lights extend around the entire perimeter of the transparent media display screen.

11. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the transparent display screen is disposed in a door of the container body, the door providing access to the compartment.

12. The display system of claim 11, wherein the lighting system, wherein the boundary lighting system is disposed on the door of the container body along one or more edges of the screen .

13. The display system of claim 11, wherein the boundary lighting system is disposed on a fixed part of the container adjacent the door opening and registers with the edge of transparent media display screen when the door is in a closed position .

14. The display system of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the boundary lighting system changes state when the door is opened.

15. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 14, being a beverage display system.

16. The display system of claim 15, wherein the container body is a refrigerator and has a refrigeration system that chills the product compartment.

17. The display system of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein a reflective lip is disposed adjacent the transparent media display screen, the boundary lighting system being disposed between the reflective lip and the compartment so that the reflective lip shields the boundary lighting system from the exterior of the container body and redirects incident light into the compartment.