Patent attributes
A dual side-by-side refrigerator having a courtesy section and a paid-vend section both cooled by a single cooling unit. A frontal door or double-hung doors are mounted at the front of the cabinet to cover both courtesy and paid-vend sections. An array of sensors including product-removal sensors in the paid-vend section detect removal of products, and door-open sensors the opening of door(s). A programmable controller is connected to all of the sensors for compiling data therefrom and for communicating it to a hotel front desk, and to room service. The fully-monitored refrigerator simplifies and improves housekeeping services because empty containers and wrapper are not left for the next guest, and refrigerators which were not opened since the last cleaning need not be restocked and/or cleaned. Finally, it helps managers oversee housekeeping because a full data compilation is kept, including the date upon which each refrigerator required cleaning/restocking, and the date that it was actually cleaned/restocked.
