Thermal frame

• US 10,045,638 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Artwohl, Paul J., Nicholson, Jeffery W., Rolek, Matthew, Baugh, David Briggs
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US15/362,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/325 comprising insulation between two metal section members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/524 Mullions; Transoms
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/04 Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/082 Strips
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/087 Sealing strips
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

The invention features a refrigerator cabinet door frame. The frame includes a thermally conductive outer frame, a thermally insulating inner frame member, and a sealing plate. The outer frame member includes a forward end having an outer surface that is disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame mounted, and a rearward end defining a joint. The inner frame member includes a first end retained in the joint, and a second end. The sealing plate includes a first edge coupled to the outer frame member at the rearward end, forward of the joint, a second edge supported by the second end of the inner frame member, and a thermally conductive sealing surface. The first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface and the outer surface of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path.

Claims

1. A refrigerator cabinet door frame, comprising, in cross-section:

an outer frame member of thermally conductive material and comprising;

a forward end having an outer surface arranged to be disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame mounted, and

a rearward end defining a joint;

an inner frame member of thermally insulating material and comprising;

a first end retained in the joint, and

a second end spaced from the first end; and

a sealing plate comprising;

a first edge coupled to the outer frame member at the rearward end of the outer frame member, forward of the joint,

a second edge supported by the second end of the inner frame member, and

a sealing surface of thermally conductive material exposed to receive a door seal,

wherein the first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface of the sealing plate and the outer surface of the forward end of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path of material more thermally conductive than the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member.

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the joint is a crimp joint.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the joint is a crimp groove, and

wherein the first end of the inner frame member is retained in the crimp groove of the outer frame member by a crimp of the outer frame member adjacent the groove.

4. The frame of claim 1, wherein the joint is an adhesive joint.

5. The frame of claim 1, wherein thermal conductivity of the outer frame member is greater than 10 times thermal conductivity of the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member.

6. The frame of claim 1, further comprising a heater wire in contact with the sealing plate.

7. The frame of claim 1, further comprising a retaining clip coupling the sealing plate to the second end of the inner frame member.

8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the sealing plate comprises a first, thermally conductive part and a second, thermally insulating part.

9. A refrigerated cabinet door frame assembly comprising:

a sealing plate comprising a sealing surface of thermally conductive material exposed to receive a door seal;

an inner frame member of thermally insulating material and comprising a first end and a second end spaced from the first end; and

an outer frame member of thermally conductive material and comprising;

a forward end having an outer surface arranged to be disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame assembled,

a rearward end defining a joint arranged to accept the first end of the inner frame member with the frame assembled, and

a channel positioned at the reward end, forward of the joint to receive an edge of the sealing plate,

wherein, with the frame assembled, the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface of the sealing plate and the outer surface of the forward end of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path of material more thermally conductive than the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the joint is a crimp joint.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the joint is a crimp groove, and

wherein the first end of the inner frame member is configured to be retained in the crimp groove of the outer frame member by a crimp of the outer frame member adjacent the groove.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a thermal conductivity of the outer frame member is greater than 10 times thermal conductivity of the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member.

13. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a heater wire support configured to retain a heating wire in contact with the sealing plate with the frame assembled.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the sealing plate comprises a first, thermally conductive part and a second, thermally insulating part.

15. A refrigerated cabinet comprising:

a door frame mounted to an opening of the refrigerated cabinet, the door frame comprising, in cross-section;

an outer frame member of thermally conductive material and comprising;

a forward end having an outer surface arranged to be disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame mounted, and

a rearward end defining a joint;

an inner frame member of thermally insulating material and comprising;

a first end retained in the joint of the outer frame member, and

a second end spaced from the first end; and

a sealing plate comprising;

a first edge coupled to the outer member at the rearward end of the outer member, forward of the crimp joint,

a second edge supported by the second end of the inner frame member, and

a sealing surface of thermally conductive material exposed to receive a door seal;

wherein the first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer member such that the sealing surface of the sealing plate and the outer surface of the forward end of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path of material more thermally conductive than the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member.

16. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, wherein the joint is a crimp joint.

17. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, wherein the joint is a crimp groove, and

wherein the first end of the inner frame member is retained in the crimp groove of the outer frame member by a crimp of the outer frame member adjacent the groove.

18. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, wherein a thermal conductivity of the outer frame member is greater than 10 times thermal conductivity of the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member.

19. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, further comprising a heater wire in contact with the sealing plate.

20. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, further comprising a retaining clip coupling the sealing plate to the second end of the inner frame member.

21. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, wherein the sealing plate comprises a first, thermally conductive part and a second, thermally insulating part.