Display case door assembly with vacuum panel

• US 10,368,658 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• 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:
  US15/429,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 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 vacuum-insulated refrigerated display case door, comprising:

a hinge rail comprising a channel portion and a hinge receiving portion, the hinge receiving portion defining two openings configured to receive hinge pins for mounting the door to a refrigerated case;

a vacuum-insulated glass (VIG) panel assembly having a front surface arranged to face away from a refrigerated display case with the door mounted, and a rear surface arranged to face into the refrigerated display case with the door mounted, the VIG panel assembly comprising two panes of glass bounding a sealed evacuated space between the panes; and

an additional pane of tempered glass laminated to one of the two panes, one of the two panes of glass comprising a low emissivity layer, wherein a first edge of the VIG panel assembly is disposed within the channel portion of the hinge rail and the VIG panel assembly is arranged such that the additional pane of glass is at the front surface of the VIG panel assembly;

a handle secured to a front surface of the VIG panel assembly without penetrating the additional pane of glass, the handle arranged to extend away from the refrigerated display case with the door mounted;

edge guards coupled to each of a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge of the VIG panel assembly, wherein one of the edge guards comprises a wiper configured to seal the door when the door is in a closed position; and

an anti-condensate coating at the rear surface of the VIG panel assembly.

2. The door of claim 1, wherein an adhesive is disposed between the first edge of the VIG panel and the channel portion of the rail.

3. The door of claim 1, wherein the handle has an arched shape.

4. The door of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises aluminum.

5. The door of claim 1, wherein the rail comprises extruded aluminum.

6. The door of claim 1, wherein the edge guards are substantially transparent.

7. The door of claim 1, wherein the edge guards are bonded to the respective ones of the first, second, and third edges of the VIG panel assembly.

8. The door of claim 1, wherein the VIG panel assembly comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between the panes.

9. The door of claim 1, wherein the handle is secured to the VIG panel assembly by an adhesive bond.

20. The door of claim 1, wherein the VIG panel assembly comprises a vacuum port passing through the rear surface of the VIG panel assembly, and wherein the VIG panel assembly is arranged in the hinge rail such that the vacuum port faces into the refrigerated display case with the door mounted when the door is in a closed position.

21. The door of claim 20, wherein the VIG panel assembly is arranged in the hinge rail such that the vacuum port is positioned adjacent a corner formed between the first edge and the second edge, the second edge forming a top edge of the door.

10. A refrigerated display case comprising:

a frame; and

a first vacuum-insulated door and a second vacuum-insulated door mounted to the frame, each of the first vacuum-insulated door and the second vacuum-insulated door comprising;

a hinge rail comprising a channel portion and a hinge receiving portion, the hinge receiving portion defining two openings configured to receive hinge pins for mounting the door to a refrigerated case;

a vacuum-insulated glass (VIG) panel assembly having a front surface arranged to face away from a refrigerated display case with the door mounted, and a rear surface arranged to face into the refrigerated display case with the door mounted, the VIG panel assembly comprising two panes of glass bounding a sealed evacuated space between the panes; and

an additional pane of tempered glass laminated to one of the two panes, one of the two panes of glass comprising a low emissivity layer, wherein a first edge of the VIG panel assembly is disposed within the channel portion of the hinge rail and the VIG panel assembly is arranged such that the additional pane of glass is at the front surface of the VIG panel assembly;

a handle secured to a front surface of the VIG panel assembly without penetrating the additional pane of glass, the handle arranged to extend away from the refrigerated display case with the door mounted;

edge guards coupled to each of a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge of the VIG panel assembly, wherein one of the edge guards comprises a wiper configured to seal the door when the door is in a closed position; and

an anti-condensate coating at the rear surface of the VIG panel assembly.

11. The refrigerated display case of claim 10, wherein the wiper of the first vacuum-insulated door cooperates with the wiper of the second vacuum-insulated door to seal the display case when both the first vacuum-insulated door and the second vacuum-insulated door are in the closed position.

12. The display case of claim 10, wherein an adhesive is disposed between the first edge of the VIG panel and the channel portion of the rail.

13. The display case of claim 10, wherein the handle has an arched shape.

14. The display case of claim 10, wherein the handle comprises aluminum.

15. The display case of claim 10, wherein the rail comprises extruded aluminum.

16. The display case of claim 10, wherein the edge guards are substantially transparent.

17. The display case of claim 10, wherein the edge guards are bonded to the respective ones of the first, second, and third edges of the VIG panel assembly.

18. The display case of claim 10, wherein the VIG panel assembly comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between the panes.

19. The display case of claim 10, wherein the handle is secured to the VIG panel assembly by an adhesive bond.