Display case door assembly with vacuum panel

• US 10,165,870 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Artwohl, Paul J., Nicholson, Jeffery W., Rolek, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J
• Application Number:
  US14/563,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• 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: E04B 1/803 with vacuum spaces included in the slab
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/02 gravity-actuated , e.g. by use of counterweights
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/061 with cams or helical tracks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/025 consisting of multiple glazing units units per se E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6617 one of the panes being larger than another
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/663 Elements for spacing panes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66366 specially adapted for units comprising more than two panes or for attaching intermediate sheets
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6715 specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/249 Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/22 Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/231 Filled with gas other than air; or under vacuum

Abstract

A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a frame defining an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device and a transparent unit coupled to the frame. The transparent unit includes a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes. The evacuated gap has a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit. The transparent unit further includes a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein.

Claims

1. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a frame defining an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device; and

a transparent unit coupled to the frame, the transparent unit comprising;

a first vacuum pane,

a second vacuum pane,

an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, the evacuated gap having a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit,

a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap with the vacuum drawn therein,

an additional glass pane laminated to one of the first vacuum pane or the second vacuum pane, the additional glass pane being made of tempered glass, and

a handle attached to a front surface of the additional glass pane without penetrating the additional glass pane, the handle arranged to extend away from the temperature-controlled storage device,

wherein at least one of the first vacuum pane and the second vacuum pane is made of non-tempered glass.

2. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first vacuum pane and the second vacuum pane is made of a low emissivity material configured to reduce radiation heat transfer through the transparent unit.

3. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers are arranged in a grid and separated from each other by a distance approximately ten times the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap.

4. The display case door assembly of claim 1, further comprising a protective layer laminated to an outside surface of the transparent unit and configured to prevent the transparent unit from breaking into a plurality of uncontained shards.

5. The display case door assembly of claim 1, further comprising a film or coating laminated to a surface of the transparent unit, the film or coating comprising at least one of an anti-condensate layer, an ultraviolet inhibiting layer, and a low emissivity layer.

6. The display case door assembly of claim 1, further comprising a perimeter seal bonding a perimeter of the first vacuum pane to a perimeter of the second vacuum pane and providing an airtight seal within the evacuated gap.

7. The display case door assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rail hingedly connected to the frame and defining a channel within which an edge of the transparent unit is contained, wherein the rail and the transparent unit are configured to rotate as a unit relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position.

8. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent unit is coupled to the frame via at least one of a hinged connection and a sliding connection, wherein the transparent unit is configured to move relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position.

15. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises extruded aluminum.

18. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is bonded to the front surface of the additional glass pane.

9. A vacuum panel for a temperature-controlled storage device, the vacuum panel comprising:

a first vacuum pane;

a second vacuum pane;

an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, the evacuated gap having a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the vacuum panel;

a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap with the vacuum drawn therein;

an additional glass pane laminated to one of the first vacuum pane or the second vacuum pane such that the additional glass pane forms a front surface of the vacuum panel that faces away from the temperature-controlled storage device when the vacuum panel is mounted thereto, wherein the additional glass pane is made of tempered glass; and

a handle attached to a front surface of the additional glass pane without penetrating the additional glass pane, the handle arranged to extend away from the enclosure, and

wherein at least one of the first vacuum pane and the second vacuum pane is made of non-tempered glass having an increased flatness relative to tempered glass.

10. The vacuum panel of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first vacuum pane and the second vacuum pane is made of a low emissivity material configured to reduce radiation heat transfer through the vacuum panel.

11. The vacuum panel of claim 9, wherein the plurality of spacers are arranged in a grid and separated from each other by a distance approximately ten times the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap.

12. The vacuum panel of claim 9, further comprising a protective layer laminated to an outside surface of the vacuum panel and configured to prevent the vacuum panel from breaking into a plurality of uncontained shards.

13. The vacuum panel of claim 9, further comprising a film or coating laminated to a surface of the vacuum panel, the film or coating comprising at least one of an anticondensate layer, an ultraviolet inhibiting layer, and a low emissivity layer.

16. The vacuum panel of claim 9, wherein the handle comprises extruded aluminum.

19. The vacuum panel of claim 9, wherein the handle is bonded to the front surface of the additional glass pane.

14. A thermally-insulated transparent unit:

a first vacuum pane;

a second vacuum pane;

an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, the evacuated gap having a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit;

a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap with the vacuum drawn therein;

a plastic pane laminated to one of the first vacuum pane or the second vacuum pane such that the plastic pane forms a front surface of the thermally-insulated transparent unit that faces away from an enclosure when the thermally-insulated transparent unit is mounted thereto; and

a handle attached to a front surface of the plastic pane without penetrating the plastic pane, the handle arranged to extend away from the enclosure, and

wherein at least one of the first vacuum pane and the second vacuum pane is made of non-tempered glass having an increased flatness relative to tempered glass.

17. The thermally-insulated transparent unit of claim 14, wherein the handle comprises extruded aluminum.

20. The thermally-insulated transparent unit of claim 14, wherein the handle is bonded to the front surface of the plastic pane.