Chilling and ice making system and methods

Abstract

There is provided a product merchandising display device for cooling products therein and associated methods. The product merchandising display device may include a housing having a tub portion, and a source of water to supply an integrated ice making system. The ice making system dispenses ice into the tub portion, and melted water is removed from the tub portion and recycled to the production of ice by the ice making system. The system provides an interactive experience to the consumer to enhance its attractiveness and impulse sales therefrom. The invention provides an attractive, inviting display in which the articles for sale are made conveniently accessible while providing a display of light and movement of ice to attract the consumer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product merchandising system, comprising:
 a housing system supporting a tub portion, a source of water and an ice making system at a position above the tub portion, wherein ice produced by the ice making system is dispensed by gravity into the tub portion.   
     
     
         2 . The product merchandising system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of water is a water reservoir provided in the housing system. 
     
     
         3 . The product merchandising system of  claim 1 , further comprising the tub portion having at least one drain therein, wherein water melted from ice dispensed into the tub portion is drained to the water reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The product merchandising system of  claim 3 , wherein water drained from the tub portion is recycled to a water reservoir for use in further ice production. 
     
     
         5 . The product merchandising system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice distribution system for causing distribution of ice dispensed from the ice making system around the tub portion. 
     
     
         6 . The product merchandising system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice distribution control system for causing distribution of ice dispensed from the ice making system to different location around an ice distribution system. 
     
     
         7 . The product merchandising system of  claim 5 , wherein the ice distribution system is formed into a shape to cause distribution of ice to different locations in the tub portion. 
     
     
         8 . The product merchandising system of  claim 5 , wherein the ice distribution system is formed into a simulated shape of a natural or manufactured object. 
     
     
         9 . The product merchandising system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filtration system for filtering water before being pumped to the ice making system for production of ice. 
     
     
         10 . The product merchandising system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for controlling operations selected from the group consisting of ice production, ice cube size, ice distribution, sound effects, lighting and/or backlighting effects, water level management, allowing a plurality of merchandising system to operate together in a coordinated manner, sound alerts, visual alerts, power saving operations, on/off operations, operation shut downs, temperature control, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A product merchandising system, comprising a housing having a tub portion and an ice making system for automatically refreshing ice disposed in the tub portion, wherein the housing system is a portable, stand-alone housing to allow positioning of the system at a desired location for displaying chilled product within the tub portion. 
     
     
         12 . The product merchandising system of  claim 11 , further comprising a water reservoir provided in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The product merchandising system of  claim 12 , further comprising the tub portion having at least one drain therein, wherein water melted from ice dispensed into the tub portion is drained to the water reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The product merchandising system of  claim 11 , further comprising an ice distribution system wherein the ice distribution system directs ice produced by the ice making system around the tub portion. 
     
     
         15 . The product merchandising system of  claim 11 , further comprising a filtration system for filtering water before being pumped to the ice making system for production of ice. 
     
     
         16 . The product merchandising system of  claim 11 , further comprising a control system for controlling operations selected from the group consisting of ice production, ice cube size, ice distribution, sound effects, lighting and/or backlighting effects, water level management, allowing a plurality of merchandising system to operate together in a coordinated manner, sound alerts, visual alerts, power saving operations, on/off operations, operation shut downs, temperature control, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A product merchandising system, comprising a housing having a tub portion and an ice making system disposed above the tub portion for automatically refreshing ice disposed in the tub portion, wherein the system includes at least one visible feature including movement of ice or water from a different position within the housing into the tub portion. 
     
     
         18 . The product merchandising system of  claim 17 , further comprising a water reservoir provided in the housing, and wherein the tub portion has at least one drain therein, wherein water melted from ice dispensed into the tub portion is drained to the water reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The product merchandising system of  claim 17 , further comprising a filtration system for filtering water before being pumped to the ice making system for production of ice. 
     
     
         20 . The product merchandising system of  claim 17 , further comprising an ice distribution system formed into a shape to cause distribution of ice to different locations in the tub portion.