ACCESSIBLE CHECK-OUT COUNTER
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.
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The supermarket and merchandising industries use a variety of different styles of check-out counters. In most jurisdictions, counters having cash registers that provide for the sales or distribution of goods or services should include at least one counter that complies with accessibility codes for the customer. Generally, accessibility codes require the counter to have a minimum length and a maximum height above the floor in combination with an accessible route for the customer.
However, many jurisdictions are now implementing more stringent requirements. For example, a jurisdiction may now require that an accessible counter not only have a minimum length and a maximum height, but also provide adequate knee space having a minimum counter width and minimum counter depth.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
SUMMARYA check-out counter includes an unload area that supports merchandise to be purchased, a bagging area that is located down stream from the unload area and used for supporting bags that receive the purchased merchandise and a deck area located down stream from the unload area and the bagging area. The deck area 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.
In other embodiments, the check-out counter includes a base deck and a top deck. The base deck has a top surface and at least one recessed surface that is recessed from the top surface of the base deck. The top deck has 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 includes 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.
A method of transitioning a check-out counter is also described. A base and a countertop mounted to the base are provided that are in a first position. The countertop includes a fixed section and a slidable section. The fixed section has a down stream end and a top surface. The slidable section has a down stream end and a top surface that is coplanar with the top surface of the fixed section. 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. The slidable section of the countertop is then moved to a second position that is different from the first position. 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.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
Retailers process transactions for goods or services at counters. In some jurisdictions, an accessible counter is one that is barrier free and has adequate knee space for the customer. As defined in these jurisdictions, a barrier free counter is one that is not more than 865 mm above the floor and has adequate knee space that is not less than 760 mm wide, 685 mm high and 485 mm deep. As described herein, a check-out counter is provided that can be transitioned into a customer accessible check-out counter when the need arises. More specifically, the check-out counter is described as being able to transition into a barrier free counter having adequate knee space for the customer.
Merchandise is placed in unload area 102 and advanced along a processing path 110 (
Point-of-sale area 104 includes a point-of-sale terminal (not illustrated in
Bagging area 106 is located down stream from unload area 102 and point-of-sale area 104 and is used to support bags for receiving purchased merchandise. As illustrated in
Each bag rack 122 and 124 has a pair of spaced apart elongated support rods that laterally extend from different walls in bagging area 106 and support a plurality of shopping bags located between each pair of support rods. It should be realized that other types of bag racks other than those illustrated in
Deck area 108 is located down stream from unload area 102, point-of-sale area 104 and bagging area 106 and is used to support loaded bags and used to provide further work surface areas. In one embodiment, after the cashier finishes loading purchased merchandise into bags located in bagging area 106, the loaded bags are removed from upper or lower bag racks and/or removed from upper and lower support shelves 126 and 128 and placed in deck area 108. The customer and/or the cashier can then pick up the loaded bags from deck area 108 for transport away from check-out counter 100. In another embodiment and in addition to deck area 108 holding loaded bags, deck area 108 can be transitioned or converted to an accessible check-out counter space. As previously described, an accessible counter for the customer is one that is barrier free and has adequate knee space. As defined in some jurisdictions, a barrier free counter is one that is not more than 865 mm above the floor and a counter with adequate knee space is a counter that is not less than 760 mm wide, 685 mm high and 485 mm deep.
Moveable portion or slidable countertop 136 is moved into the second position or the accessible configuration by sliding moveable portion 136 in a first direction 137. In the second position or accessible configuration (
Fixed portion or stationary countertop 134 of top deck 132 is fixedly mounted to top or top surface 138 of base or base deck 130, while moveable portion or slidable countertop 136 is slidably mounted to recessed surface 140 of base or base deck 130. A top surface 148 of fixed portion or stationary countertop 134 is substantially coplanar with a top surface 150 of moveable portion or slidable countertop 136. In one embodiment and although not illustrated, top surface 148 of stationary countertop 134 and top surface 150 of slidable countertop 136 are substantially coplanar with upper support shelf 128 of bagging area 106 so that loaded bags can be easily slid down stream to deck area 108 from upper support shelf 128. In another embodiment and although not illustrated, top surface 148 of stationary countertop 134 and top surface 150 of slidable countertop 136 are substantially coplanar with lower support shelf 126. Directly sliding loaded bags from lower support shelf 126 or upper support shelf 128 to deck area 108 reduces the need for the cashier to lift and move heavily loaded bags. In yet another embodiment and as illustrated clearly in
As illustrated in
Besides overcoming the frictional forces of slides 152, 154 and 156 to move moveable portion or slidable countertop 136 in first direction 137 to transition check-out counter 100 into the second position or the accessible configuration, the force provided by a detent 180 also needs to be overcome. Base deck 130 includes detent 180 that protrudes from top surface 138 of base deck 130 to releasably engage or lock with a recess (not illustrated) located on a bottom surface of moveable portion or slidable countertop 136. Detent 180 is configured to prevent moveable portion or slidable component 136 from sliding or moving in first direction 137 until a threshold level or threshold amount of force is applied to moveable portion or slidable countertop 136. Although detent 180 can be made from various components, detent 180 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
Claims
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2015
Applicant: Target Brands, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
Inventors: Blake M. Johnson (St. Paul, MN), Mitchell Knoll (Eagan, MN), David J. Floersch (Minneapolis, MN)
Application Number: 14/033,826
International Classification: A47F 9/04 (20060101);