ICE MERCHANDISER
An ice merchandiser is provided having a self-elevating platform for supplying ice product to a user.
1 . An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer, the ice merchandiser comprising:
a housing defining a cavity; and
a platform located in the cavity for holding and supplying a bagged ice product;
wherein the platform is structured to elevate based on bagged ice product being removed from the platform, wherein the platform is movable between a loaded position height and an ice product removal height.
2 . The ice merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the ice product removal height of the platform is based on a type of bagged ice product that the platform is structured to hold, wherein different types of bagged ice products have different ice product removal heights.
3 . The ice merchandiser of claim 2 , wherein for relatively heavier bagged ice products, the platform is structured to elevate to relatively a higher ice product removal height than for relatively lighter bagged ice products.
4 . The ice merchandiser of claim 1 , further comprising:
an opening defined by the housing, wherein the opening provides access to the cavity of the ice merchandiser; and
a door including a window for viewing into the cavity, wherein the door is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the door covers the opening and in the second position, the door is positioned away from the opening such that the cavity is accessible.
5 . The ice merchandiser of claim 4 , wherein the ice product removal height is at a height approximately equal to a height of a bottom edge of the door relative to a ground surface.
6 . The ice merchandiser of claim 4 , wherein the ice product removal height is based on a height of a bottom edge of the window relative to a ground surface, wherein the ice product removal height is at least one of greater than or equal to the height of the bottom edge of the window.
7 . The ice merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the ice product removal height is between approximately 26 inches and 35 inches relative to a ground surface.
8 . The ice merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the platform is structured as a rigid platform, wherein the rigid platform is triangular prism shaped, wherein a surface of the platform that holds the bagged ice product is angled towards a door of the ice merchandiser.
9 . The ice merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the platform is structured as a non-rigid platform, such that the non-rigid platform is configured to at least one of expand and contract based on addition and removal of the ice product.
10 . An ice merchandiser, comprising:
a housing defining a cavity;
a self-elevating platform assembly located in the cavity for holding and supplying a bagged ice product, wherein the self-elevating platform assembly includes:
a platform structured to hold the bagged ice product;
one or more springs coupled to the platform; and
a support frame coupled to the one or more springs;
wherein the one or more springs are structured to move the platform between a loaded position height and an ice product removal height based on at least one of bagged ice product being added to and removed from the platform.
11 . The ice merchandiser of claim 10 , wherein the ice product removal height of the platform is based on a type of bagged ice product that the platform is structured to hold, wherein different types of bagged ice products have different ice product removal heights.
12 . The ice merchandiser of claim 11 , wherein for relatively heavier bagged ice products, the platform is structured to elevate to a relatively higher ice product removal height than for relatively lighter bagged ice products.
13 . The ice merchandiser of claim 10 , wherein the one or more springs move the platform toward the ice product removal height as bagged ice product is removed from the platform, wherein the ice product removal height is at a height greater than the loaded position height relative to a ground surface.
14 . The ice merchandiser of claim 10 , wherein the ice product removal height is between approximately 26 inches and 35 inches relative to a ground surface.
15 . A method of operating an ice merchandiser, comprising:
receiving a bagged ice product on a platform of the ice merchandiser;
descending the platform toward a support surface for the ice merchandiser based on the received bagged ice product;
providing at least a portion of the received bagged ice product; and
elevating the platform based on the portion of the bagged ice product provided.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the platform is structured to elevate to an ice product removal height, wherein the ice product removal height is based on a type of bagged ice product, wherein different types of bagged ice products have different ice product removal heights.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein relatively heavier bagged ice products have a relatively higher ice product removal height than relatively lighter bagged ice products.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the platform is movable between a loaded position height and an ice product removal height, wherein the ice product removal height is between approximately 26 inches and 35 inches relative to the support surface.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the platform is structured to rotate between the ice product removal height and the loaded position height.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the platform is structured as a non-rigid platform, such that the non-rigid platform is configured to at least one of expand and contract based on addition and removal of the bagged ice product.